转Bt基因玉米对甜菜夜蛾幼虫存活和发育的影响

在室内测定了2种转Cry1Ab基因的Bt玉米MON810和Bt11不同组织对甜菜夜蛾 Spodoptera exigua （Hübner）初孵幼虫以及心叶对4龄幼虫存活和发育的影响,在田间比较了甜菜夜蛾幼虫取食Bt 和非Bt玉米雌穗的存活和为害情况。结果表明,转Cry1Ab基因的Bt玉米的不同组织对甜菜夜蛾初孵幼虫都具有明显的杀虫活性,取食Bt玉米心叶、苞叶、籽粒时甜菜夜蛾均在幼虫期死亡; 取食MON810和Bt11雄穗的初孵幼虫化蛹率分别为5.2%和2.1%,羽化率为2.1%和1.0%;取食MON810和Bt11花丝的初孵幼虫化蛹率分别为1.0%和2.1%,但不能羽化。4龄幼虫取食MON810玉米心叶的化蛹率与对照差异不显著,而取食Bt11的化蛹率与对照差异显著; 取食两种Bt玉米心叶的４龄幼虫化蛹后的雌、雄蛹重和羽化率与对照组差异显著,但蛹期和平均单雌产卵量差异不显著,虽然对照组羽化的成虫平均产卵量高于Bt玉米组。田间接种初孵幼虫10 天后的调查结果表明,在MON810和Bt11玉米花丝上幼虫存活率分别为1.3%和0.3%, 而对照组分别为12.9%和16.2%;MON810和Bt11玉米雌穗被害率分别为18.3%和5.0%,而对照组分别为93.3%和95.0%,均显著低于对照组。     

转Bt基因抗虫玉米对亚洲玉米螟幼虫取食行为的影响

室内研究了转cry1Ab杀虫蛋白基因的Bt抗虫玉米MON81 0和Bt1 1对亚洲玉米螟Ostriniafurnacalis初孵幼虫和3龄幼虫的取食行为、取食选择性和存活率的影响。在48h的非选择性试验中玉米螟初孵幼虫在MON81 0和Bt1 1玉米心叶组织上的幼虫取食率随时间的增加而下降,在对照玉米上的幼虫取食率随时间的增加而上升,两者间差异极显著。初孵幼虫接虫到MON81 0和Bt1 1玉米叶片48h的累计死亡率分别为67 .5 %和47 .5 % ,而在对照玉米上死亡率均为0. 3龄幼虫在Bt和非Bt玉米穗轴组织上的幼虫取食率随时间的增加呈上升趋势,第48h时在Bt和非Bt玉米上的幼虫取食率分别达到77 5 %和1 0 0 % ,差异极显著。选择性试验中,第4～48h内,初孵幼虫在Bt玉米上的幼虫取食率呈下降趋势,第48h时MON81 0和Bt1 1与各自非Bt对照的组合中初孵幼虫的累计死亡率分别为2 5 .0 %和1 7. 5 % ,二者差异不显著。3龄幼虫在Bt玉米和非Bt玉米上的幼虫取食率均随时间的延长而增加,但在非Bt玉米的幼虫取食率增加速度快,与Bt玉米差异极显著。Bt玉米对玉米螟幼虫取食有抑制和忌避作用。     

转cry1Ab/cry2Aj和G10evo-epsps基因玉米中Bt蛋白的时空表达及抗性评价

【目的】探讨转cry1Ab/cry2Aj和G10evo-epsps基因玉米双抗505-12-5中外源Bt蛋白时空表达规律,对3种主要鳞翅目害虫亚洲玉米螟、黏虫和棉铃虫的抗性进行鉴定,为转基因玉米双抗505-12-5的商业化推广提供科学的数据支撑。【方法】Bt蛋白时空表达规律采用酶联免疫法(ELISA),田间抗虫性和室内抗虫性鉴定分别采用田间人工接虫和离体组织生测方法。【结果】在玉米6~8叶期,Bt含量表现为根心叶茎,分别为517.3、453.8和312.8 ng·g~(-1);大喇叭口期,Bt含量表现为心叶根茎,分别为353.3、281.3和232.9 ng·g~(-1);吐丝期,Bt含量表现为心叶根茎,分别为188.9、114.1和53.6 ng·g~(-1);乳熟期,根、茎和心叶含量相当,分别为178.0、160.3和185.4 ng·g~(-1);繁殖器官中Bt蛋白含量表现为籽粒花丝花粉雄穗,分别为181.3、100.1、95.0和79.8 ng·g~(-1)。室内抗虫性鉴定表明,转基因玉米双抗505-12-5心叶饲喂黏虫24 h,幼虫死亡率低,但48 h后达98.21%;双抗505-12-5心叶、花丝和籽粒饲喂玉米螟,24 h幼虫死亡率分别为87.37%、100%、100%;双抗505-12-5花丝饲喂棉铃虫,24 h幼虫死亡率达80.18%,48 h死亡率为92.45%。田间鉴定结果显示,转基因玉米双抗505-12-5在心叶期和雌穗期对玉米螟、心叶期对黏虫、雌穗期对棉铃虫的抗性均达高抗水平。【结论】转基因玉米双抗505-12-5各器官在不同生育期中均能表达Bt蛋白,尤其在鳞翅目害虫为害的主要时期6~8叶期和吐丝期及乳熟期,易受害器官中Bt蛋白表达量较高。转基因玉米双抗505-12-5田间及室内对3种鳞翅目害虫均表现了显著的抗性效果,具有推广应用的潜力。     

取食转Bt基因抗虫玉米后亚洲玉米螟幼虫中肠的组织病理变化

利用透射显微镜（TEM）观察亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée)幼虫取食了表达Cry1Ab杀虫蛋白的转Bt基因玉米心叶组织后中肠的组织病理变化, 以探讨转Bt基因玉米对亚洲玉米螟的致病机理, 为其合理、安全和持续利用提供理论依据。结果表明：亚洲玉米螟取食Bt玉米后中肠细胞及其细胞器发生了明显的病变。取食Bt玉米12 h后中肠细胞开始病变, 首先微绒毛脱落、内质网开始肿胀, 24 h后内质网肿胀、增多, 杯状细胞杯腔增大, 48 h后微绒毛大量脱落, 细胞开始空泡化, 随着取食时间的增加, 细胞空泡化程度加剧, 在感染前期细胞间的病变程度差异较大。微绒毛脱落、内质网肿胀断裂是在多数取食Bt玉米的亚洲玉米螟中肠细胞发生的普遍病变。由此表明, 人工修饰的Cry1Ab基因导入到玉米染色体组中所表达的杀虫蛋白可使玉米螟幼虫中肠细胞发生病变, 最终导致其死亡。     

不同食料对亚洲玉米螟种群增长的影响

研究表明,食料对亚洲玉米螟的发育、存活、繁殖和种群增长的影响显著。取食玉米雌穗的幼虫发育快、历期短,取食棉花茎秆的幼虫发育慢、历期长。无论是2代还是3代,均表现为食玉米雌穗的幼虫滞育率高．食棉铃和棉茎的滞育率低。饲以玉米雌穗的种群世代存活率最高,棉铃次之,棉茎最低;以玉米雌穗、棉铃与棉茎为食料的种群趋势指数依次为42．28、25．77和0．64。影响第三代玉米螟种群增长的主要虫期是第二代5龄幼虫的滞育或营养不良。     

转cry1Ab/cry1Ac基因玉米Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac融合蛋白表达及对亚洲玉米螟的室内杀虫效果

【目的】室内抗螟性评价是转Bt基因抗虫玉米研发和安全性评价的重要环节。【方法】采用酶联免疫吸附测定法(ELISA)测定了转cry1Ab/cry1Ac基因玉米ZZM030心叶中Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac融合杀虫蛋白的表达量;采用室内生测法测定了分别取食转基因玉米ZZM030和非转基因玉米X249心叶后亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis敏感品系ACB-BtS、Cry1Ab抗性品系ACB-AbR和Cry1Ac抗性品系ACB-AcR初孵幼虫的存活率。【结果】转基因抗虫玉米ZZM030 4叶期和8叶期心叶中Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac融合杀虫蛋白的表达量分别是10.62和2.94 μg/g FW。敏感品系亚洲玉米螟初孵幼虫取食转基因玉米ZZM030心叶2 d的存活率仅为23.6%,4 d后存活率为0,而取食非转基因对照玉米X249心叶4 d的存活率高达93.1%。Cry1Ab抗性品系和Cry1Ac抗性品系初孵幼虫取食转基因玉米ZZM030心叶6 d后的存活率分别为11.1%和12.5%,而取食非转基因玉米X249心叶6 d后的存活率分别为81.9%和77.8%。【结论】转cry1Ab/cry1Ac基因玉米ZZM030心叶中高表达的Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac融合蛋白对亚洲玉米螟初孵幼虫具有极高的杀虫效果。     

转Bt cry1Ah基因抗虫玉米对亚洲玉米螟、棉铃虫和黏虫的抗性评价

利用农杆菌介导法将Bt cry1Ah基因转入玉米自交系综31,获得对玉米螟有显著抗性的转基因玉米HGK60,为了研究其对鳞翅目害虫的杀虫活性,在室内和田间分别用亚洲玉米螟、棉铃虫和黏虫幼虫对HGK60玉米的杀虫效果进行检测。室内生物活性检测结果表明,取食HGK60玉米心叶的亚洲玉米螟幼虫在3 d后死亡率达100%;HGK60玉米对棉铃虫幼虫有毒杀作用,玉米不同部位对棉铃虫幼虫的杀虫效果存在差异;与非转基因玉米对照相比,取食HGK60玉米叶片一周后的黏虫幼虫体重增长明显受到抑制。田间生物活性检测结果表明,HGK60玉米对于亚洲玉米螟和棉铃虫有很强的杀虫活性,达到高抗级别,对于黏虫有一定的杀虫活性,为抗性级别。     

螟长距茧蜂、玉米螟与春玉米间相互关系的初步研究

研究表明,螟长距茧蜂发生高峰期比玉米螟成虫高峰期大约推迟6-9天,与春玉米抽雄期相一致。玉米抽雄开花时绝大部分玉米螟幼虫处在易被螟长距茧蜂寄生的Ⅲ、Ⅳ龄。玉米开花后雄穗的形态结构和营养成分发生改变,致使幼虫下垂转移寻找更适宜的食物。螟长距茧蜂被取食玉米雄穗的玉米螟幼虫所吸引。其寄生与玉米螟幼虫的发育和玉米生育期密切相关。     

螟长距茧蜂、玉米螟与春玉米间相互关系的初步研究

研究表明,螟长距茧蜂发生高峰期比玉米螟成虫高峰期大约推迟6-9天,与春玉米抽雄期相一致。玉米抽雄开花时绝大部分玉米螟幼虫处在易被螟长距茧蜂寄生的Ⅲ、Ⅳ龄。玉米开花后雄穗的形态结构和营养成分发生改变,致使幼虫下垂转移寻找更适宜的食物。螟长距茧蜂被取食玉米雄穗的玉米螟幼虫所吸引。其寄生与玉米螟幼虫的发育和玉米生育期密切相关。     

Bt抗、感种群亚洲玉米螟幼虫取食Bt玉米后Cry1Ab杀虫蛋白在其体内的组织分布与含量

采用ELISA方法检测了实验室汰选的对Cry1Ab产生107倍抗性的亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée)种群与敏感种群3龄幼虫取食表达Cry1Ab杀虫蛋白的Bt玉米心叶后,杀虫蛋白在幼虫体内的分布情况。结果表明：Cry1Ab杀虫蛋白在抗性种群幼虫中的组织分布情况与敏感种群相近,主要存在于中肠组织和血淋巴中。抗、感种群中均以含有内含物的中肠组织中含量最高,分别为277.2 ng/g 和104.9 ng/g;其次为血淋巴,分别为93.7 ng/g 和69.5 ng/g;不含内含物的中肠组织中52.7 ng/g 和40.1 ng/g;在丝腺和马氏管组织的含量很低,丝腺中分别为8.5 ng/g和11.7ng/g,而马氏管中分别为6.7 ng/g和6.5 ng/g。脂肪体、生殖器官中未检测到杀虫蛋白。抗性种群中肠组织(含有内含物和不含内含物)中Cry1Ab的含量显著高于敏感种群。幼虫期取食过Bt玉米的亚洲玉米螟发育的蛹、成虫及其卵中均不含杀虫蛋白,说明Bt杀虫蛋白不会通过幼虫取食向蛹、成虫及卵传递。     

不同番茄种质叶表次生代谢物质

多毛番茄(Solanum habrochaites)为重要的番茄种质资源, 其叶表存在大量次生代谢物质, 对多种虫害具有趋避或/和毒害作用。利用气相色谱-质谱联用(GC-MS)技术分析栽培番茄(S. lycopersicum ) 9706与3份多毛番茄(LA2329、LA1777和PI134417)材料叶表次生代谢物质。结果表明, 3份多毛番茄叶表可检测到的次生代谢物质种类和总含量均高于普通番茄, 同时多毛番茄亚种间次生代谢物质的种类和含量也存在差异。普通番茄叶表次生代谢物质为3种单萜和3种倍半萜类物质, 其中单萜和倍半萜类物质分别占次生代谢物质总量的60.3%和39.7%。多毛番茄LA2329和LA1777叶表倍半萜类物质的种类和含量较高, 有些萜类物质具有物种特异性。如LA2329中含量最高的α-姜烯, 其含量为2 409.1 μg·g^–1; LA1777中含量较高的γ-榄香烯和E-β-法尼烯, 含量分别为573.3 μg·g^–1和289.9 μg·g^–1, 在其它番茄材料中未检测到这3种倍半萜类物质。PI134417中含量最高的是月桂酸乙酯, 其含量为5 312.8 μg·g^–1, 在普通番茄中这一物质未见报道。PI134417中甲基酮类物质含量也较高, 其中2-十一烷酮和2-十三烷酮的含量分别为689.8 μg·g^–1和1 459.7 μg·g^–1。研究结果可为番茄种质资源利用和次生代谢物质开发提供理论依据。     

PFOS对蚯蚓急性毒性和回避行为的影响

全氟辛烷磺酰基化合物(PFOS)作为一种新型持久性有机污染物,已经成为环境科学和毒理学的研究热点,其对生态环境的影响值得深入研究.本文采用OECD标准滤纸接触法、人工土壤法及自然土壤法研究了PFOS对蚯蚓急性致死作用及回避行为的影响.结果表明： PFOS对蚯蚓的急性毒性作用与染毒时间和染毒浓度相关,试验求得滤纸法48 h、人工土壤法14 d和自然土壤法14 d的LC₅₀值分别为13.64 μg·cm^-2、955.28 mg·kg^-1和542.08 mg·kg^-1;人工土壤和自然土壤中蚯蚓在PFOS的最大试验浓度组160 mg·kg^-1中均表现出显著的回避行为,表明蚯蚓可以明显感知较高浓度PFOS污染土壤并作出回避反应.与急性毒性试验的测试终点LC₅₀相比,蚯蚓行为测试终点对PFOS的反应更为敏感.自然土壤中PFOS对蚯蚓的急性毒性大于人工土壤,相同浓度PFOS作用下,蚯蚓于自然土壤中的回避行为较人工土壤明显.     

敲减神经肽F基因(npf)对亚洲玉米螟取食、生长发育和繁殖的影响

【目的】神经肽F(neuropeptide F, NPF)是无脊椎动物特有的一类神经肽,因其C末端是苯丙氨酸(F)而命名,参与昆虫的取食、生物节律、学习记忆等多种生理功能的调控。本研究旨在明确NPF对亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis生长发育的影响,为害虫防治提供重要依据。【方法】采用一种基于工程菌高效合成靶向昆虫基因的dsRNA的方法经济有效地敲降npf,用低浓度(0.01%)和高浓度(0.02%)dsNPF和dsGFP(对照)分别饲喂亚洲玉米螟1龄初、3龄初和5龄初幼虫直至化蛹,检测5龄幼虫平均取食量、体重、体长、存活率和化蛹率,蛹羽化率和成虫产卵量,以及幼虫各龄期、蛹发育历期和成虫寿命。【结果】从亚洲玉米螟1, 3和5龄初幼虫开始饲喂0.01%和0.02% dsNPF时,与饲喂相应浓度dsGFP的对照相比,除个别点外,5龄幼虫的取食量、体重、体长、存活率和化蛹率,蛹羽化率和成虫单雌产卵量均显著降低,幼虫各龄期、蛹发育历期均显著延长,成虫寿命显著缩短。且dsNPF处理幼虫的龄期越早对发育的影响越大。其中0.01% dsNPF处理的1龄幼虫和0.02% dsNPF处理的3龄幼虫有90%的个体在蛹期死亡,而0.02%dsNPF处理的1龄幼虫有90%的个体在幼虫期死亡。【结论】结果提示NPF对亚洲玉米螟的发育和取食具有调控作用,这为探索新型绿色的害虫防治提供了依据。     

Effect of host age on life cycle and morphological characteristics of Glyptapanteles liparidis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of Acronicta rumicis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The life cycle of Glyptapanteles liparidis was 23.75 ± 1.26, 21.95 ± 2.44 and 20.83 ± 0.78 days when fed on the first, second and third instar larvae of Acronicta rumicis, respectively. Although insufficient numbers hindered statistical analysis, the life cycle of G. liparidis appeared to be shortest, 19 days, when fed on fourth instar larvae. The life cycle of G. liparidis tends to shorten as the larvae of A. rumicis fed upon are more advanced. The body length, forewing length and head capsule width of female G. liparidis fed on first instar larvae of A. rumicis were greater than those of males, while the antennae of males were longer than those of females. When fed on second instar larvae, there was no difference in body length and head capsule width between males and females, but the male antennae were longer than the female, and the female forewings were longer than the male. When fed on third instar larvae, there was no significant difference in head capsule width between the sexes, but female body length and forewing length were greater than the male, and the male antennae were longer than the female. On the whole, females were bigger than males in terms of body length and forewing length, while antennae of the males were longer than those of the females. There was no difference in head capsule width between males and females. Body length, antenna length, forewing length and head capsule width of male and female G. liparidis were relatively larger when fed on first instar larvae of A. rumicis than when fed on second and third instar larvae.     

Use of formate gradients for improving biomass yield of Pichia pinus growing continuously on methanol

Summary Investigations were made into the improvement of growth yield (Y) of Pichia pinus MH 4 growing continuously on methanol by feeding formate so as to create an increasing concentration gradient (transient state). Under particular formate supply conditions, Y could be increased from 0.37 g·g^-1 on methanol alone to 0.55 and 0.47 g·g^-1 in the presence of formate at dilution rates (D) of 0.045 and 0.075 h^-1, respectively. These differences could be explained as being due to a limiting formate consumption rate of 50–60 nmol·min^-1·g^-1 dry wt., coupled to a net-energy generation independent of D. Any further formate oxidation proceeded without energy gain. Deviations from optimum conditions of biomass increase are discussed in terms of different formate oxidizing systems and uncoupling properties of formate itself. These results are compared to and confirmed by steady-state considerations.Abbreviations a steepness of the formate gradient (g·l^-1·h^-1) - a acceleration of change of formate concentration in the fermenter (g·l^-1·h^-2) - D dilution rate (h^-1) - Ft formate - S₁ and S₂ initial and final formate concentration of the gradient (g·l^-1) - Y growth yield in g·g^-1 methanol     

Production of sorbitol and gluconic acid by permeabilized cells of Zymomonas mobilis

Summary Zymomonas mobilis is able to convert glucose and fructose to gluconic acid and sorbitol. The enzyme, glucose-fructose oxidoreductase, catalysing the intermolecular oxidation-reduction of glucose and fructose to gluconolactone and sorbitol, was formed in high amounts [1.4 units (U)·mg^-1] when Z. mobilis was grown in chemostats with glucose as the only carbon source under non-carbon-limiting conditions. The activity of a gluconolactone-hydrolysing lactonase was constant at 0.2 U·mg^-1. Using glucose-grown cells for the conversion of equimolar fructose and glucose mixtures up to 60% (w/v), a maximum product concentration of only 240 g·1^-1 of sorbitol was found. The gluconic acid accumulated was further metabolized to ethanol. After permeabilizing the cells using cationic detergents, maximum sorbitol and gluconic acid concentrations of 295 g·1^-1 each were reached; no ethanol production occurred. In a continuous process with -carrageenan-immobilized and polyethylenimin-hardened, permeabilized cells no significant decrease in the conversion yield was observed after 75 days. The specific production rates for a high yield conversion ( > 98%) in a continuous two-stage process were 0.19 g·g^-1·h^-1 for sorbitol and 0.21 g·g^-1·h^-1 for gluconic acid, respectively. For the sugar conversion of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-treated -carrageenan-immobilized cells a V _max of 1.7 g·g^-1·h^-1 for sorbitol production and a K _m of 77.2 g·1^-1 were determinedOffprint requests to: B. Rehr     

Effects of Bacillus thuringiensis toxin Cry1Ac and cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (HaCPV) on cotton bollworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

In this study, interactions on the mortality and debilitating effects between Cry1Ac, a toxic protein produced by Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) and HaCPV (Chinese strain) on first and third instars larvae of Helicoverpa armigera were evaluated in laboratory. When first instar was exposed to combination of Bt cotton leaf discs containing HaCPV (6 × 10⁶, 1 × 10⁷, and 3 × 10⁷ PIB ml⁻¹) the effect on mortality was additive, when such instar larvae exposed to combination of Cry1Ac (0.9, 2.7, or 8.1 μg g⁻¹) and the same concentrations of HaCPV the effect on mortality was additive except for the combination of Cry1Ac (0.3 μg g⁻¹) and HaCPV concentrations that showed synergism. When third instars of H. armigera were infected using a suspension containing both HaCPV and Cry1Ac, most combinations of them showed additive effect except for the combination of Cry1Ac (0.3 μg g⁻¹) and HaCPV (3 × 10⁷ PIB ml⁻¹) that showed synergism. However, when they exposed to Bt cotton leaf discs and HaCPV the effect on mortality was synergism except combination of Bt cotton leaf discs and HaCPV (6 × 10⁶ PIB ml⁻¹) that showed additive. Most of the combinations are showed additive effect in the toxicity and in combinations of Cry1Ac at lowest and HaCPV at highest concentrations synergism is observed. Not only were larval growth and development delayed, but pupation and pupal weight also decreased when larvae were fed on artificial diet containing Cry1Ac and HaCPV or transgenic Bt cotton leaf discs specially in first instar.     

Evolution of slow and fast development in predatory ladybirds

The frequency distribution of the durations of development of 516 larvae of Adalia bipunctata is unimodal, and the fast‐ and slow‐developing larvae can be identified at the beginning of the fourth (=last) instar. To determine the advantages of fast and slow development, the survival, duration of development, growth and number of aphids consumed by fast‐ and slow‐developing fourth instar larvae fed different numbers aphids were recorded. The percentages of fast‐ and slow‐developing fourth instar larvae that survived when fed 0.5, 1 or an excess of aphids per day, surprisingly, did not differ. The slow‐developing larvae of both sexes took longer to complete their development than the fast‐developing larvae when fed 1 or an excess of aphids per day, and although the weights of the fast‐ and slow‐developing fourth instar larvae differed at the beginning of the instar, they did not differ at the end of this instar when fed 1 aphid per day. However, when reared on an excess of aphids per day, the adult weights of the fast‐developing individuals was greater than that of slow‐developing individuals. The average durations for which the larvae in the two groups survived when fed 0.5 aphids/day differed with the larvae of the fast‐developing individuals surviving for 9.8 ± 0.5 days and slow‐developing individuals 17 ± 1.3 days. Assuming that it is the rate of predator biomass increase, which is maximized by evolution, a model of the relationship between the rate of development/growth of a predator and that of its prey indicates that the optimum growth rate of a predator is positively associated with that of its prey. The evolutionary implications of these results are discussed.     

An evaluation of the role of cytokinins in the development of abnormal inflorescences in oil palms (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) regenerated from tissue culture

Tissue cultures and regenerant plants from cell lines producing palms with normal and abnormal flowers were analyzed for cytokinin content and compared with zygotic embryos and seedlings. Immature inflorescences at the critical stage of flower development dissected from normal and abnormal palms were also analyzed. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/radioimmunoassay and HPLC/enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods were used over a period of several years to measure the isoprenoid cytokinins. The results of analyses of endogenous aromatic cytokinins, present at comparable levels, will be reported separately. Oil palm cultures and regenerant plants contained relatively high concentrations of the 9-glucosides of isopentenyladenine ([9G]iP) and zeatin ([9G]Z). The predominant biologically active isoprenoid cytokinin present was zeatin riboside ([9R]Z), with lesser amounts of isopentenyladenine (iP) and isopentenyladenosine ([9R]iP). There was evidence of small amounts of dihydrozeatin compounds, but high concentrations (mainly as dihydrozeatin-9-glucoside ([9G]DHZ)) were confined to the haustorium of the zygotic embryo. Callus tissue contained very low concentrations of cytokinin. Frequently only [9G]iP could be detected, at about 1 pmol · g^-1 fresh weight, with [9R]Z at less than 0.05 pmol · g^-1. In comparison, nodular embryogenic tissues in vitro contained between 30 and 1,500 pmol · g^-1 of [9G]iP, 5–50 pmol · g^-1 of [9G]Z, and up to 12 pmol · g^-1 of [9R]Z. Shoots of regenerant plantlets and seedlings contained lower concentrations of [9G]iP (3–30 pmol · g^-1), although this was still the predominant cytokinin. [9R]Z and [9G]Z were present at between 2 and 15 pmol · g^-1, with iP at 1–5 pmol · g^-1 and [9R]iP at between 1 and 12 pmol · g^-1. Seedlings contained similar amounts with the exception of a lower [9G]iP content (5–10 pmol · g^-1) and more [9R]iP (10–20 pmol · g^-1). Root tissues of ramets contained significantly higher concentrations of [9G]iP than shoots. Comparison of two isogenic lines of one clone giving rise to normal and abnormal palms showed significantly higher concentrations of [9R]Z and [9G]Z in the normal than in the abnormal line and, in embryoids only, higher [9G]iP in the normal line. In all other cases the between-done differences were greater than any normal/abnormal differences. There was a general tendency for increased concentrations of [9G]iP in abnormal lines and for this compound to be in a higher concentration in embryoids and plants derived from culture than in zygotic embryos and seedlings. Analysis of cytokinins in immature female inflorescences of normal and abnormal palms of a single clone showed the abnormal inflorescences to have higher concentrations of [9R]Z and [9R]DHZ and less [9G]Z than the normal inflorescences at comparable stages of development.Abbreviations HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - [9G]iP 9-glucoside of isopentenyladenine - [9G]Z 9-glucoside of zeatin - [9R]Z zeatin riboside - iP isopentenyladenine - [9R]iP isopentenyladenosine - [9G]DHZ dihydrozeation-9-glucoside - ELISA enzyme-linked radioimmunosorbentassay - ANOVAR analysis of variance