Effect of epiphytes on the extent of necrotic injuries of resistant and susceptible poplar clones infected with Dothichiza populea

Poplar cuttings of a resistant clone, Populus ‘Grandis’, and susceptible clones, Populus nigra ‘Italica’ and Populus ‘Robusta’, were infected with the pathogenic fungus Dothichiza populea alone, or with the pathogen and one of five strains of epiphytes antagonistic towards it (in vitro), isolated from poplar bark. The extent of injury was examined for 28 days after infection by determining the length of necrotic patches and their area as expressed in per cent of the total area of a cutting or the area of necrotic injuries caused by the pathogen alone.All the poplar cuttings of both the resistant and susceptible clones became diseased when infected with the pathogen alone. Surprisingly enough, however, the least affected clone was the susceptible P. ‘Robusta’, in which necrotic injuries covered 28% of the total area, as against 40% and 70% in the resistant P. ‘Grandis’ and the susceptible P. nigra ‘Italica’, respectively.When the cuttings were infected simultaneously with Dothichiza populea and its antagonistic epiphytes, the diseased area in the resistant clone diminished by as much as two-thirds, and in the susceptible P. nigra ‘Italica’, by one-third in comparison with the area affected by the pathogen alone. In turn, in the susceptible P. ‘Robusta’ the introduction of three out of five epiphytes stimulated the growth of the pathogenic fungus producing on average a double increase in the necrotic area. The differences in the response of the pathogen to the presence of epiphytes recorded in the susceptible clones indicate a marked influence of the plant on the nature of interactions between its epiphytic microflora and the pathogen.     

杨树重金属相关异戊二烯化植物蛋白(HIPPs)基因的鉴定及表达分析

金属伴侣在植物的生理活动中发挥关键作用，负责结合金属离子并将其转运至靶蛋白以维持细胞的金属离子稳态。目前关于HIPP （heavy metal-associated isoprenylated plant protein）金属伴侣蛋白的特性和功能分析多集中于模式植物拟南芥。本研究在毛果杨（Populus trichocarpa）中鉴定了14个PtHIPPs蛋白，均具有两个保守的金属离子结合基序MXCXXC，氨基末端可以形成βαββαβ二级结构，羧基末端具有保守的异戊二烯化基序；一些PtHIPPs还具有赖氨酸和/或甘氨酸富集区。根据基因结构、蛋白质的保守基序和进化树分析，PtHIPPs蛋白可分为3个亚组。PlantGenIE的组织特异性表达数据及荧光定量PCR鉴定结果显示，毛果杨PtHIPPs基因及小黑杨（Populus simonii×Populus nigra）PnHIPPs基因具有特定的组织表达特异性且存在差异。此外，利用缺铜及过量铜离子处理小黑杨植株不同时间后，不同组织部位中PnHIPPs基因的表达模式发生改变。本研究为鉴定木本模式植物杨树HIPPs蛋白在维持铜离子稳态过程中发挥的作用提供了参考依据。     

Examination of an Oligocene lacustrine ecosystem using C and N stable isotopes

The Late Oligocene (25.8 Ma) Enspel Fossillagerstätte in Westerwald, Germany, contains a comprehensive fossil ecosystem preserved with specimens retaining morphological detail and a concentration of organic material. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses were used to examine the lacustrine ecosystem preserved in one stratigraphic horizon. These data suggest the presence of several trophic levels, including primary producers (diatoms and higher plants), primary consumers (e.g., tadpoles and insects), and secondary consumers (e.g., the fish species Paleorutilus enspelensis). Terrigenous and aquatic plants were associated with the lowest δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values (mean plant = − 26.28‰ ± 0.45, 3.18‰ ± 1.04), primary consumers such as flies are one trophic level higher, and carnivores such as fish are yet another level higher. The δ¹⁵N values for P. enspelensis also showed enrichment in ¹⁵N with increasing body length, implying a shift in diet or feeding strategy with size. P. enspelensis and tadpole (Pelobates decheni) samples showed intraorganism fractionation between ‘muscle’ and ‘bone’ tissues. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope data from the measurement of components (shale, leaves and seeds) common to a number of different stratigraphic horizons showed significant variation between horizons. A number of the features of the stable isotopic data are similar to those relationships seen in modern ecosystems and therefore suggest that stable isotope analyses can contribute to understanding ancient ecosystems.     

Epiphytic microflora of poplar clones susceptible and resistant to infection by Dothichiza populea

One-year-old poplar shoots (nodes, internodes and lenticels) of clones susceptible to infection by the pathogenic fungus Dothichiza populea, viz. Populus nigra Italica and P. Robusta, resistant ones, viz. P. Grandis and P. Hybrida 275, as well as a hybrid of a susceptible and a resistant clone, viz. P. maximowiczii x P. nigra (P. Kórnik 42), were used. The plate method was employed to determine: 1. the abundance of the epiphytic microflora on a mineral medium with glucose; 2. the quantitative composition of epiphytic communities by determining the numbers of typical bacteria (including rod-shaped, spherical and sporulating forms), actinomycetes and yeasts in microscopic preparations from epiphyte colonies; 3. the abundance and level of activity of epiphytes antagonistic towards Dothichiza populea. In all poplar clones the epiphytic microflora was most abundant on nodes and least abundant on lenticels. In the resistant clones epiphytes were 7 (P. Grandis) to as many as 84 times (P. Hybrida 275) less numerous than in the susceptible ones. In the microflora communities of the susceptible poplars, rod-shaped bacteria were the most abundant, and in the resistant ones and the hybrid, yeasts, which made up from 60% to 70% of the strains tested. Spherical and sporulating bacteria as well as actinomycetes were found in numbers not exceeding 4% of the total number of epiphytes. The proportion of antagonistic microflora in whole epiphytic communities was higher in the resistant clones and the hybrid than in the susceptible clones, with the microflora having a more restrictive effect on the development of the pathogen.     

A simple in-vitro 'wet-plate' method for mass production of Phytophthora nicotianae zoospores and factors influencing zoospore production

A simple in-vitro ‘wet-plate’ method for mass-producing Phytophthora nicotianae zoospores at ≥ 1.0 × 10⁶ zoospores/ml is described. Temperature critically affected zoospore production; 22 °C was optimum, while 36 °C was completely inhibitory. Zoospores being the most important propagule of P. nicotianae, temperature of recycled irrigation water may be manipulated to reduce diseases in irrigated nursery crops.     

小黑杨基因组的初步组装及SSR信息分析

小黑杨是人们以小叶杨和欧洲黑杨为亲本培育出的杂交种,兼具双亲生长速度快、抗性强的优点。本研究通过二代测序技术,对小黑杨进行全基因组测序,初步组装出小黑杨基因组,并以此为基础,识别分析其SSR序列,为小黑杨品种划分、表型性状关联等提供参考。结果表明,共组装得到了366 876条总计368.96 Mbp的contig序列;对其中不小于2 000 bp的21 788条的非冗余contig进行SSR分析,共识别出18 111条SSR序列,其中一、二、三核苷酸重复基序较多。对得到的SSR序列设计引物,共得到12 838对引物,供今后实验使用。     

Screening the physical properties of novel Pseudomonas exopolysaccharides by HPSEC with multi-angle light scattering and viscosity detection

The physical properties of three novel acidic exopolysaccharides obtained from P. marginalis types A, B and C, one from P. ‘gingen’, one from P. andropogenis and one from P. fluorescens have been partially characterized. These EPSs were chromatographed on three serially placed SE Shodex OH pak columns covering a molar mass range for pullulans from about 4 × 10⁷ to 1 × 10³. The mobile phase was 0.05 M NaNO₃. Physical measurements were performed on about 30 mg of sample for each EPS. The weight average molar mass of these EPSs ranged from about 0.71 to 2.85 × 10⁶, the weight average intrinsic viscosity from 7.15 to 35.3 dl/ g and the radius of gyration from 62 to 123nm. The polydispersities of these EPSs ranged from 1.01 to 1.37. The large molar mass, size and viscosities of these EPSs may indicate that they have potential for use as thickeners, stabilizers, emulsifiers, and gelling agents in the food and non-food industries.     

Maackiain in Cicer bijugum Rech. f. associated with resistance to Botrytis grey mould

Resistance in Cicer bijugum Rech. f. a wild relative of chickpea, to Botrytis grey mould (BGM), caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers., was shown to be associated with high concentrations of maackiain when compared to three susceptible species. The two BGM resistant accessions of C. bijugum contained between 200 and 300 μg maackiain g⁻¹ of foliage whereas the BGM susceptible species C. arietinum, C. echinospermum and C. reticulatum contained less than 70 μg g⁻¹. Furthermore, the concentration of maackiain increased to more than 400 μg g⁻¹ in the resistant wild species after being inoculated with the pathogen whereas no significant increase was recorded in the susceptible species. The germination of spores of Botrytis cinerea, treated with maackiain, was inhibited in a dose dependent manner; less than 10% of spores germinated when treated with 500 μg ml⁻¹. The data indicate that maackiain may be an important component in BGM resistance in the wild chickpea C. bijugum and that the resistance is enhanced in the presence of the pathogen.     

Oxidase of the white rot fungus Panus tigrinus 8/18

Extracellular oxidase of the white rot fungus Panus tigrinus earlier reported as laccase)contains copper but has no absorption spectrum typical of ‘blue’ oxidases. Thioglycolate and sodium azide inhibit the activity of this enzyme at concentrations 2.5–3 orders lower than those needed for fungal laccases. The oxidase of P. tigrinus oxidizes syringaldazine, coniferyl alcohol, ABTS, syringic acid, diaminobenzidine, guaiacol, catechol and vanillylacetone with different efficiencies. Oxygen consumption and no hydrogen peroxide formation were detected during substrate oxidation by P. tigrinus oxidase. It is proposed that P. tigrinus oxidase is a new ligninolytic enzyme.     

小黑杨转录因子PsnbZIP1应答盐胁迫功能分析

为揭示小黑杨(Populus simonii×P. nigra)在面对非生物胁迫时,转录因子PsnbZIP1在植物体内发挥的功能,以小黑杨为试验材料,克隆得到PsnbZIP1的ORF区序列长为432 bp,并初步分析PsnbZIP1盐胁迫下的分子机制。采用q-PCR分析PsnbZIP1在150 mmol·L^-1 NaCl处理小黑杨组培苗时的表达模式,发现该基因的表达量快速上升;通过生物信息学分析预测PsnbZIP1转录因子为无跨膜结构且具有信号肽的亲水性不稳定蛋白;用农杆菌(Agrobacterium)介导的烟草(Nicotiana)瞬时表达观察该基因的亚细胞定位情况,结果表明该基因为核定位蛋白;用酵母单杂交实验证明该基因编码的蛋白在酵母体内不具有转录激活功能。对PsnbZIP1基因的启动子序列进行分析,结果表明该启动子包含了生长素应答、脱落酸应答元件、光应答元件以及种子特异性调控的顺式作用调控元件,该基因可能在植物的生长发育与响应胁迫过程中发挥了重要作用;启动子还包括参与干旱诱导的MYB结合位点和MYBHv1结合位点,表明该基因有可能与一些干旱诱导相关MYB基因...     

小黑杨转录因子PsnbHLH162基因在盐和低温胁迫下应答分析

为揭示小黑杨(Populus simonii×P. nigra)在面对非生物胁迫时,转录因子PsnbHLH162在植物体内发挥的作用,同时探究该基因在植物体内的信号转导过程,进而为未来获取优良的抗逆树种提供理论基础。以小黑杨为原材料,克隆获取PsnbHLH162基因,对目的基因和启动子进行生物信息学分析;之后用150 mmol·L^-1 NaCl、4℃低温分别对野生型小黑杨进行胁迫处理,利用荧光定量PCR,分析基因响应非生物胁迫的功能。结果显示：PsnbHLH162 cDNA基因片段长537 bp,基因N端内含1个高度保守的HLH结构域。该基因表达蛋白是不含跨膜区域的稳定的亲水性蛋白,其定位在细胞核内且没有转录激活活性。启动子区域内含多种ABA应答、生长素应答、光应答和circadian元件,证实此基因参加非生物胁迫应答。荧光定量PCR结果表明在盐胁迫下,与茎、叶组织相比,基因在根组织的表达量最高;在低温胁迫下,与叶、根组织相比,基因在茎组织的表达量最高。发现野生植株内,PsnbHLH162能被盐、低温诱导表达。     

Epiphytic microflora of poplar clones susceptible and resistant to infection by Dothichiza populea

One-year-old poplar shoots (nodes, internodes and lenticels) of clones susceptible to infection by the pathogenic fungus Dothichiza populea, viz. Populus nigra Italica and P. Robusta, resistant ones, viz. P. Grandis and P. Hybrida 275, as well as a hybrid of a susceptible and a resistant clone, viz. P. maximowiczii x P. nigra (P. Kórnik 42), were used. The plate method was employed to determine: 1. the abundance of the epiphytic microflora on a mineral medium with glucose; 2. the quantitative composition of epiphytic communities by determining the numbers of typical bacteria (including rod-shaped, spherical and sporulating forms), actinomycetes and yeasts in microscopic preparations from epiphyte colonies; 3. the abundance and level of activity of epiphytes antagonistic towards Dothichiza populea. In all poplar clones the epiphytic microflora was most abundant on nodes and least abundant on lenticels. In the resistant clones epiphytes were 7 (P. Grandis) to as many as 84 times (P. Hybrida 275) less numerous than in the susceptible ones. In the microflora communities of the susceptible poplars, rod-shaped bacteria were the most abundant, and in the resistant ones and the hybrid, yeasts, which made up from 60% to 70% of the strains tested. Spherical and sporulating bacteria as well as actinomycetes were found in numbers not exceeding 4% of the total number of epiphytes. The proportion of antagonistic microflora in whole epiphytic communities was higher in the resistant clones and the hybrid than in the susceptible clones, with the microflora having a more restrictive effect on the development of the pathogen.     

Plant regeneration from cell suspension-derived protoplasts of Primula malacoides and Primula obconica

Protoplasts were isolated from cell suspension cultures of Primula malacoides cv. ‘Lovely Tokyo’ and P. obconica cv. ‘Aalsmeer Giant White’. P. obconica protoplasts were embedded in 0.1% (w/v) gellan gum-solidified discs comprising MS medium supplemented with 3 mg/l of 2,4-D or picloram, 0.1 mg/l of zeatin, 0.2 M glucose and 0.2 M mannitol, and surrounded by a liquid medium of the same composition except for the addition of 0.1% (w/v) activated charcoal. The protoplasts formed visible colonies, which were transferred to the regeneration medium containing 30 g/l of sucrose, 0.1 mg/l of picloram and 2 mg/l of zeatin for shoot induction. P. malacoides protoplasts formed visible colonies when cultured in disc culture using 0.1% (w/v) gellan gum-solidified MS medium containing 5 mg/l of 2,4-D, 1 mg/l of NAA, 0.1 mg/l of zeatin and 0.4 M glucose. Small calli were transferred to MS medium supplemented with 5 mg/l of zeatin for shoot regeneration. The shoots of both species readily rooted on plant growth regulator-free 1/2 MS medium and successfully acclimatized to greenhouse conditions. The protoplast-derived plants showed some alterations in morphological characteristics from those of the in-vitro-germinated control plants.     

Phenolics and antimicrobial activity of traditional stoned table olives 'alcaparra'

In the present work, we report the determination of phenolic compounds in ‘alcaparra’ table olives by reversed-phase HPLC/DAD, and the evaluation of their extract in vitro activity against several microorganisms that may be causal agents of human intestinal and respiratory tract infections, namely Gram positive (Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus), Gram negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and fungi (Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans). Three flavonoidic compounds were identified and quantified: luteolin 7-O-glucoside, apigenin 7-O-glucoside, and luteolin. At low concentrations (0.05 mg/mL) ‘alcaparra’ extract revealed significant inhibition of both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria growth, with exception of P. aeruginosa. Nevertheless, no antifungal activity was observed at the tested concentrations.     

Effects of simulated nitrogen deposition on fine root morphology,nitrogen and phosphorus efficiency of Pinus massoniana clone under phosphorus deficiency

Aims In forest ecosystems with phosphorus (P) deficiency, the impact of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition on nutritional traits related to N and P uptake potentially affect plant growth and vegetation productivity. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of simulated N deposition on fine root morphological characteristics and effiency of N and P absorption in Pinus massoniana under under low P stress.
Methods Two clones of P. massoniana seedling with different P efficiency (high P efficiency 19-5 vs. low P efficiency 21-3) were used. A two-year pot experiment was applyed with treatments of two P conditions, (i.e. homogeneous low P availability vs. heterogeneous low P availability) and three N deposition levels (0, 30 and 120 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1; i.e., N0, N30, or N120, respectively) .
Important findings 1) The growth of P. massoniana seedling was interactively affected the three factors: simulated N deposition, P condition and genotypes. Simulated N deposition increased the seedling height and dry mass under heterogeneous P deficiency, but did not significantly affect those traits under homogeneous P deficiency. Under heterogeneous P deficiency and N120 treatment, the seedling height and dry mass of clone 19-5 were 1.1 times and 1.6 times higher than that of clone 21-3, respectively. 2) Fine root length and surface area decreased as root diameter increased. N deposition significantly stimulated proliferation of fine root with diameter ≤1.5 mm, while roots with diameters ranged from 1.5 to 2.0 mm and over 2.0 mm were not influenced. The length of fine root ≤1.5 mm in diameter accounted for 90.4%-92.8% of the total root length and was not affected by N deposition. 3) Under the heterogeneous low P condition, clone 19-5 was found to respond to the simulated N deposition with increased root length and surface area in fine-root diameter class of ≤1.5 mm. Additionally, in compared with control, its N and P absorption efficiency were significantly enhanced 93.3% and 148.4%, respectively under N120 treatment. However, the N and P absorption efficiency of clone 21-3 was less affected by the simulated N deposition. The N and P use efficiency had no notable variation. Finally, we found that the proliferation of fine-root ≤1.5 mm in diameter and high N (P) absorption efficiency maybe the adaptive mechanisms of P. massoniana responding to atmospheric N deposition under P deficiency.     

模拟氮沉降对低磷胁迫下马尾松无性系细根形态和氮磷效率的影响

根系是植物吸收土壤营养的关键部位, 不同径级根系的形态和功能差异不仅与植株自身的遗传因素有关, 而且受到土壤中营养元素分布和水平的影响。在我国亚热带高氮沉降和酸性红壤磷匮乏及不均一的土壤环境下, 研究林木不同径级根系对外界营养环境变化的响应有利于深入了解林木根系的觅养机制及规律。该文以马尾松(Pinus massoniana)无性系19-5 (高磷效率)和21-3 (低磷效率)为材料, 在同质低磷和异质低磷两种盆栽处理下, 设置3个氮水平(对照、中氮和高氮)的模拟氮沉降实验。结果表明: 1)马尾松无性系苗木的生长受磷环境、氮水平和无性系三因素共同影响, 模拟氮沉降显著促进了异质低磷下马尾松苗高和整株干物质量的增加, 而在同质低磷下氮效应不显著; 在异质低磷、高氮下, 无性系19-5的苗高和整株干物质量分别是无性系21-3的1.1倍和1.6倍。2)马尾松各径级细根长度和表面积随径级增大而减小, 模拟氮沉降促进了直径≤1.5 mm的细根的增生发育, 直径1.5-2.0 mm的细根和>2.0 mm的较粗根无明显变化; 另外, 直径≤1.5 mm的细根长度占总根长的比例保持在90.4%-92.8%范围内, 受氮影响较小。3)模拟氮沉降显著提高了异质低磷下无性系19-5≤1.5 mm的细根长度和表面积, 同时, 其根系氮、磷吸收效率较对照分别高出93.3%和148.4%; 无性系21-3的根系氮、磷吸收效率受氮影响较小; 根系氮、磷利用效率均无显著变化。上述结果表明, ≤1.5 mm的细根的增生发育和氮、磷吸收效率的提高可能是磷高效马尾松无性系应对高氮低磷环境的重要响应机制。     

Cytochrome oxidase and its derivatives. VIII. Formation and properties of the ‘oxygenated’ from of cytochrome oxidase and its reconversion to ferrous and ferric oxidase

1. The ‘oxygenated’ compound of cytochrome c oxidase used in our experiments is more stable than the compound of previous reports. It is quantitatively reversible to ferrous oxidase.

2. It is best formed with an excess of O₂ after reduction with a minimum amount of dithionite. It can also be formed at low O₂ tension, but then contains some ferric oxidase.

3. Its formation from ferrocyanide-reduced oxidase remains incomplete and subsequent reduction by dithionite is also incomplete.

4. Cyanide does not inhibit its formation from ferrous oxidase. If only ferricytochrome a but no ferricytochrome a₃ is reduced in the presence of cyanide by dithionite, there is no reaction with O₂.

5. The anaerobic reduction of ‘oxygenated’ oxidase by dithionite is monophasic and fast. In contrast, that of ferric oxidase is biphasic, with an initial fast reduction of ferricytochrome a followed by a much slower reduction of ferricytochrome a₃. The rate of cytochrome a, but not that of cytochrome a₃ reduction depends on dithionite concentration.

6. In the presence of dissolved O₂, the ferric oxidase reduction comes to a temporary standstill when one-third of the absorbance increase at 444 mμ has been reached.

7. Ethyl hydrogen peroxide reacting with ferrous oxidase forms a compound similar to the ‘oxygenated’ compound.

8. Hydrogen donors known to react with peroxidase-H₂O₂ complexes, particularly pyrogallol, accelerate the transformation of ‘oxygenated’ to ferric oxidase, though not at a rate comparable to that of cytochrome c.

9. These results strengthen the evidence for cytochromes a and a₃ but indicate that this difference has disappeared in ‘oxygenated’ oxidase.     

Direct heat injury of roots of woody swamp species

1. 1.Three month-old seedlings of Taxodium distichum, Nyssa aquatica, Cephalanthus occidentalis and cuttings of Salix nigra were acclimated to simulated natural swamp conditions (ambient temperature, saturated soil) and then used to assess direct high temperature injury of root tissue.

2. 2.Electrolyte leakage from excised root tissue exposed for 30 min to temperatures ranging from 30 to 66°C was used to assess cellular injury.

3. 3.The relationship between leakage and temperature was sigmoidal for each species.

4. 4.Inflection point temperatures on the response curves, ranged from 45.4 to 51.0°C, were species-specific, and indicated differences in thermal tolerance of root membranes.

5. 5.Root of C. occidentalis and N. aquatica were more heat tolerant than roots of T. distichum and S. nigra.

Production of erythropoietic cells in vitro for continuous culture of Plasmodium vivax

Plasmodium vivax cannot be maintained in a continuous culture. To overcome this major obstacle to P. vivax research, we have developed an in vitro method to produce susceptible red blood cell (RBC) precursors from freshly isolated human cord hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which were activated with erythropoietin to differentiate into erythroid cells. Differentiation and maturation of erythroid cells were monitored using cell surface markers (CD71, CD36, GPA and Fy6). Duffy⁺ reticulocytes appeared after 10 days of erythroid cell culture and exponentially increased to high numbers on days 14–16. Beginning on day 10 these erythroid cells, referred to as growing RBCs (gRBCs), were co-cultured with P. vivax-infected blood directly isolated from patients. Parasite-infected gRBCs were detected by Giemsa staining and a P. vivax-specific immunofluorescence assay in 11 out of 14 P. vivax isolates. These P. vivax cultures were continuously maintained for more than 2 weeks by supplying fresh gRBCs; one was maintained for 85 days before discontinuing the culture. Our results demonstrate that gRBCs derived in vitro from HSCs can provide susceptible Duffy⁺ reticulocytes for continuous culture of P. vivax. Of particular interest, we discovered that parasites were able to invade nucleated erythroid cells or erythroblasts that are normally in the bone marrow. The possibility that P. vivax causes erythroblast destruction and hence inflammation in the bone marrow needs to be addressed.