Inhibition of Aflatoxin B1 Production by Aspergillus parasiticus Using Nonaflatoxigenic Strains: Role of Vegetative Compatibility

The effect of vegetative compatibility on the inhibition of aflatoxin B₁ production by Aspergillus parasiticus was examined using nonaflatoxigenic strains. Nonaflatoxigenic white-conidial mutants were paired in different proportions on an agar medium with aflatoxigenic yellow-conidial mutants belonging to the same isolate, to the same vegetative compatibility group but with the original wild types differing in phenotype, and to different vegetative compatibility groups. Heterokaryosis as a result of hyphal anastomosis was detected by the presence of conidiogenous structures with a mixture of green and parental (white and/or yellow) chains of conidia. Sclerotium production (number and dry weight) was significantly greater in pairings of compatible strains that formed heterokaryons than in pairings of strains from different vegetative compatibility groups. In contrast, there were no consistent differences in aflatoxin B₁ inhibition by nonaflatoxigenic strains in pairings from the same vegetative compatibility group and pairings from different groups. Therefore, the composition of vegetative compatibility groups within a population may be of minor importance in predicting the efficacy of a particular nonaflatoxigenic strain for the biological control of aflatoxin contamination of crops.     

Molecular differences distinguish clonal lineages within East African populations of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense

Molecular approaches for the assessment of intraspecific diversity within an economically important plant pathogen were compared with traditional physiological methods (vegetative compatibility testing). The vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) of 14 isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense (FOC) from Kenya were first assessed using nitrate non-utilizing mutants. Nine of these isolates, from different areas of the country, were compatible with one or more of VCGs 0124, 0125, 0128 and 01220, i.e. they formed a single clonal lineage. Three isolates, all originating from the banana growing district of Kisii, were compatible with the VCG 01212 and formed a second distinct clonal lineage. Mutants could not be recovered from one isolate (62) and two isolates (27 and 30) were not vegetatively compatible with any of the VCG testers and may represent two novel VCGs. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fingerprinting, especially when using the M13 derived primer, was found to produce banding patterns that correlated with clonal lineage and also distinguished isolates 27 and 30 when analysed by unweighted pair group method analysis and principle co-ordinate analysis. This approach also distinguished FOC from F. oxysporum IMI350438 isolated from Triticum sp. and from isolates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides . Total protein profiles were analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and although clonal lineages were not separated, isolates 27 and 30 were again distinguishable and FOC produced a different profile to F. oxysporum (IMI 350438) and C. gloeosporioides.     

Diversity and compatibility of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) bradyrhizobia and their host plants

A high degree of genetic diversity among 125 peanut bradyrhizobial strains and among 32 peanut cultivars collected from different regions of China was revealed by using the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique. Eighteen different peanut bradyrhizobial genotypes and six peanut cultivars were selected for symbiotic cross-inoculation experiments. The genomic diversity was reflected in the symbiotic diversity. The peanut cultivars varied in their ability to nodulate with the strains used. Some cultivars had a more restricted host range than the others. Also the strains displayed a range of nodulation patterns. In yield formation there were clear differences between the plant cultivar/bradyrhizobium combinations. There was good compatibility between some peanut bradyrhizobial strains and selected cultivars, with inoculation resulting in well-nodulated, high-yielding symbiotic combinations, but no plant cultivar was compatible with all strains used. The strains displayed a varying degree of effectiveness, with some strains being fairly effective with all cultivars and others with selected ones. The AFLP genotypes of the strains did not explain the symbiotic behavior, whereas the yield formation of the plant cultivars was more related to the genotype. It is concluded that to obtain optimal nitrogen fixation efficiency of peanut in the field, compatible plant cultivar-bradyrhizobium combinations should be selected either by finding inoculant strains compatible with the plant cultivars used, or plant cultivars compatible with the indigenous bradyrhizobia.     

Genetic diversity and vegetative compatibility among Trichoderma harzianum isolates

Trichoderma harzianum is the collective name of a set of asexual fungal strains which exhibit heterogeneity in genome structure, DNA sequence and behavior. Contour-clamped homogeneous field (CHEF) electrophoresis of the chromosomes of ten isolates of T. harzianum revealed six clearly distinct electrophoretic karyotypes. Of the ten isolates analyzed, four (GH12, G109, Y and YF) could be classified in a single group with identical karyotypes, while the strains T35 and 315 formed a second group. The genome size characteristic of the different isolates fell into a broad range varying from 29.6 to 56.1?Mb. Gene assignments to the resolved chromosomes showed that all genes analyzed were localized on equivalent chromosomes in the isolates belonging to the same group. Analysis of randomly amplified polymorphic DNAs from the ten isolates confirmed the classification into groups and allowed us to distinguish between isolates T35 and 315, as well as between isolates GH12, G109, Y and YF. Direct confrontation assays using isolates of the same group showed compatible interactions, whereas the same experiment carried out with isolates of different groups showed an incompatible interaction characterized by an area of cell damage. Microscopic observation of the compatible interactions showed hyphal fusions between the isolates, similar to those described for vegetative compatible groups in other fungi. The molecular karyotypes correlated well with the compatibility of the isolates. In addition, we have evaluated both electrophoretic karyotype and randomly amplified polymorphic DNAs analysis as criteria for grouping isolates within the genus according to their capacity for biocontrol of plant pathogens.     

Compatibility groups in Ascobolus immersus — an indication of speciation

Summary The mating pattern between 38 strains collected at various places in Europe and Southern India was determined. There are at least three compatibility groups: A (23 strains) and B (9 strains) comprising the European isolates, and C (6 strains), the Indian isolates. Within each compatibility group sexual reproduction is, as expected, controlled by a bipolar mechanism of homogenic incompatibility. No fertile offspring are obtained in any intergroup crossing showing that there is genetic separation by heterogenic incompatibility. However, the European group B seems to be closer related to the Indian (C) group in that sterile fruit bodies are produced between + and – mating types. An indication for a further subdivision is the occurrence of a barrage-like phenomenon between representatives of all three groups. The data thus indicate how the start of speciation may be occurring in Ascobolus immersus by means of both spatial and genetic isolation.     

Genetic diversity and vegetative compatibility among Trichoderma harzianum isolates

Trichoderma harzianum is the collective name of a set of asexual fungal strains which exhibit heterogeneity in genome structure, DNA sequence and behavior. Contour-clamped homogeneous field (CHEF) electrophoresis of the chromosomes of ten isolates of T. harzianum revealed six clearly distinct electrophoretic karyotypes. Of the ten isolates analyzed, four (GH12, G109, Y and YF) could be classified in a single group with identical karyotypes, while the strains T35 and 315 formed a second group. The genome size characteristic of the different isolates fell into a broad range varying from 29.6 to 56.1 Mb. Gene assignments to the resolved chromosomes showed that all genes analyzed were localized on equivalent chromosomes in the isolates belonging to the same group. Analysis of randomly amplified polymorphic DNAs from the ten isolates confirmed the classification into groups and allowed us to distinguish between isolates T35 and 315, as well as between isolates GH12, G109, Y and YF. Direct confrontation assays using isolates of the same group showed compatible interactions, whereas the same experiment carried out with isolates of different groups showed an incompatible interaction characterized by an area of cell damage. Microscopic observation of the compatible interactions showed hyphal fusions between the isolates, similar to those described for vegetative compatible groups in other fungi. The molecular karyotypes correlated well with the compatibility of the isolates. In addition, we have evaluated both electrophoretic karyotype and randomly amplified polymorphic DNAs analysis as criteria for grouping isolates within the genus according to their capacity for biocontrol of plant pathogens. Received: 27 July 1996 / Accepted: 23 April 1997     

Lipopolysaccharides of the motile aeromonads; core oligosaccharide analysis as an aid to taxonomic classification

Twelve motile Aeromonas strains have been examined with respect to the hexose and heptose monosaccharide residures present in the core region of their cell wall lipopolysaccharides. These strains were divided into three distinctly separate groups on the basis of the various combinations of hexose and heptose residues. The assignment of a strain to any one of the three groups furnishes a distribution which is substantially the same as that recently reported in a computerbased numerical analysis. All strains tested which were previoulsy named A. liquefaciens fall into the same group.     

Inheritance of mating factors in nocardial recombinants

The segregation of mating loci with other unselected genes was analyzed in recombinants obtained from matings of Nocardia canicruria and N. erythropolis. The loci C/c and E/e control nocardial compatibility. Four mating genotype combinations were observed: cE, Ce, CE, and ce. Strains of N. erythropolis bear the genotype cE and strains of N. canicruria bear the Ce alleles. The CE recombinant mating type is capable of mating with both organisms, whereas the ce-containing recombinant is nonfertile. The E locus was found to segregate with StrA1 (streptomycin-resistance gene) on the N. erythropolis linkage group. The C locus appeared linked to PurB2 (purine-requiring gene) on the N. canicruria linkage group. A few observed recombinants were capable of further segregation of unselected characters after colonial purification, suggesting a possible heterogenomic condition or multiple rounds of mating. Prior treatment of recombinants with acriflavine failed to alter their compatibility or the frequency at which recombinants were recovered. The segregation pattern of the mating loci allowed for specific recombinant class types to be compatible.     

Early detection of graft incompatibility in apricot (Prunus armeniaca) using in vitro techniques

Graft compatibility has been studied in vitro using callus tissues of apricot ( Prunus armeniaca) and different Prunus rootstocks to form scion/rootstock combinations with different degrees of graft compatibility. In these species, incompatibility is manifested by a breakdown of the trees at the union area that can occur some years after grafting. Here, the possibility of obtaining an early detection method to determine graft incompatibility is explored by callus fusion in vitro. The adhesion of the two callus partners, the development of the cells at the contact surface (cell arrangement, intensity of cell-wall staining), and the presence of lipid and phenolic compounds have been studied during the first 3 weeks after grafting in both compatible and incompatible combinations. Differences were observed at the second and the third week of callus co-culture in most of the characters determined, although these differences were present as early as the first week in the case of phenolic compounds. The behaviour of the grafts grown in vitro was correlated to that of the same combinations in the field, suggesting that callus fusion in vitro could be a possible and reliable method for an early detection of graft incompatibility in different Prunus combinations.     

分支分类学中和谐性概念与和谐性分析方法

和谐性是分支分类学中的一个基本概念。本文给出一个和谐性的数学定义,称为Kexue和谐性。并在Kexue和谐性的基础上开发出一个新的和谐性分析方法。并对该方法在分支分类研究中的应用进行讨论。     

Compatible solute biosynthesis in cyanobacteria

Compatible solutes are a functional group of small, highly soluble organic molecules that demonstrate compatibility in high amounts with cellular metabolism. The accumulation of compatible solutes is often observed during the acclimation of organisms to adverse environmental conditions, particularly to salt and drought stress. Among cyanobacteria, sucrose, trehalose, glucosylglycerol and glycine betaine are used as major compatible solutes. Interestingly, a close correlation has been discovered between the final salt tolerance limit and the primary compatible solute in these organisms. In addition to the dominant compatible solutes, many strains accumulate mixtures of these compounds, including minor compounds such as glucosylglycerate or proline as secondary or tertiary solutes. In particular, the accumulation of sucrose and trehalose results in an increase in tolerance to general stresses such as desiccation and high temperatures. During recent years, the biochemical and molecular basis of compatible solute accumulation has been characterized using cyanobacterial model strains that comprise different salt tolerance groups. Based on these data, the distribution of genes involved in compatible solute synthesis among sequenced cyanobacterial genomes is reviewed, and thereby, the major compatible solutes and potential salt tolerance of these strains can be predicted. Knowledge regarding cyanobacterial salt tolerance is not only useful to characterize strain-specific adaptations to ecological niches, but it can also be used to generate cells with increased tolerance to adverse environmental conditions for biotechnological purposes.     

Biogenesis of mitochondria. 30

Summary Mitchondrial gene recombination in S. cerevisiae was investigated using four combinations of mitochondrial markers: [oli1-r ery1-r], [oli1-r spi2-r], [oli1-r spi3-r] and [oli1-r spi4-r] in cis bifactorial crosses to [oli-s ery-s spi-s] strains. A number of sensitive strains including representatives of both mating types and of diverse origin were used. The crosses were analysed for frequency and polarity of mitochondrial gene recombination as well as the frequency of transmission into the diploid progeny of individual mitochondrial determinants.The results show that the polarity of recombination varied markedly in crosses between a single pair of mitochondrial markers and many unrelated sensitive strains. For example, one series of crosses included polarity values of 1.7,0.34,0.081, and 0.021. Furthermore, there was also considerable variability in frequency of recombination and frequency of transmission of individual markers and these frequencies were not correlated in many cases with polarity values. However, in certain other crosses involving different marker combinations there was a correlation between extreme polarity, high recombination frequency and high transmission frequency of one marker. The results are not compatible with polarity being determined by a simple mitochondrial sex factor and suggest that several different interactions are operating which might include nuclear phenomena.     

Mycelial interactions inSclerotinia sclerotiorum

Mycelial interactions were examined among 35 isolates ofSclerotinia sclerotiorum and two Asian species,Sclerotinia asari and an unnamed, Japanese species. Pairings were scored as compatible when strains merged to form one colony and incompatible when strains grew to form two distinct colonies. Incompatible mycelial pairings resulted in an interaction zone in which a distinct reaction line and abundant aerial mycelium or thin mycelium were observed with some variation among replicates. All pairings of a strain with itself were compatible. Of the 31 strains ofS. sclerotiorum tested, 21 were mycelially incompatible with all others. Among the remaining 10 strains ofS. sclerotiorum, there were four mycelial compatibility groups consisting of two or three strains each. Pairings ofS. asari with all other strains resulted in a unique incompatible reaction, a mycelium-free interaction zone. Two of three strains of the Japanese species were intercompatible, but pairings of each of the three strains with all other strains were incompatible. Microscopically, mycelial interactions in pairings of strains were complex. Anastomosis between paired strains was not always observed. This may be due in part to the conversion of many hyphal tips, in both compatible and incompatible interactions, to sites of microconidiogenesis no longer capable of hyphal fusion. Incompatible pairings were followed by hyphal deterioration in one or both strains; hyphal deterioration was not observed in compatible interactions. Of the 31 strains tested, 4 strains ofS. sclerotiorum produced apothecia. Pairings between single ascospore isolates within each strain were compatible, as were pairings with the parent isolate. Mycelial interactions of single ascospore isolates with other strains were identical to those of the parent isolate, indicating that the parent fruitbody was homozygous for any determinant(s) of mycelial incompatibility. The data from this study suggest that a high level of mycelial incompatibility exists among strains ofS. sclerotiorum, comparable to levels of vegetative incompatibility reported in other ascomycetes, that the extent of mycelial incompatibility indicates that genetic heterogeneity exists within the species, and that mycelial compatibility/incompatibility reactions may be an effective way of categorizing intraspecific heterogeneity.     

香菇交配型因子次级重组体的鉴定

对13个香菇菌株的担孢子后代进行了交配型分析,其中8个菌株非亲和反应与亲和反应之比与预期的3∶1的比例无显著差异。另外5个菌株非亲和反应与亲和反应之比不符合3∶1,其中4个菌株在0.05显著水平的X2值仅略高于理论值,而另一菌株HL01具有特殊的表现,其单核体132个随机配对的非亲和反应与亲和反应之比为82∶50,X2值显著偏离3∶1的临界值。用4个标准测试菌株鉴定了来自HL01同一子实体的189个孢子单核体的交配型,在189个单核体中,161个单核体归于4种正常交配型(A1B1,A2B2,A1B2,A2B1)之一。而另外28个可能源于次级重组的单核体可分成另外4个类群。通过以所有可能的组合进行配对杂交,进一步分析了28个单核体的交配型。结果表明,次级重组同时在A因子和B因子中发生,重组值分别为8.5%和11.6%。A因子至少由2个亚基组成而B因子可能由不止2个亚基组成。随后的出菇试验表明,至少含有1个重组体的所有可亲和配对均具有结实能力。     

新疆北疆棉田立枯丝核菌菌丝融合群及其营养亲和群研究

从新疆北疆棉区采集了典型的棉花立枯病病苗及棉田土标样686份,按常规分离方法分离得到399个分离物,从中鉴定出272个纯化的立枯丝核菌(Rhizotonia solaniKühn)菌株,经玻片吉姆萨氏染剂(Gimsa′sstain)染色程序观察细胞核数目,全部测试菌株均属于多核。用标准菌株,通过载玻片菌丝融合实验测定,将纯化的272个菌株划归为3个菌丝融合群:AG-2、AG-4和AG-5,分别占总菌株的6.24%、84.2%和1.1%。另有23个菌株不与任何标准菌株融合,占8.46%,说明新疆北疆棉田立枯丝核菌的优势菌系是多核丝核菌的AG-4融合群。通过从10种不同配方的培养基中筛选的效果好的麦芽蛋白胨(MPDA)配方培养基(Ⅱ)进行对峙培养,以建立标准菌株,将纯化获得的272个丝核菌菌株,划分为6个不同的营养亲和群,研究说明新疆北疆地区棉田立枯丝核菌各菌丝融合群内确有不同程度的分化。     

Body size,fitness and compatibility in Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis

Large-sized Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis of both sexes had a higher probability of breeding successfully in any particular year and produced more goslings than did smaller birds. Large females paired at an earlier age, suggesting that they were preferred as mates and were likely to have entered the breeding population earlier. The relative sizes of the pair bond members also affected fitness. Most birds were able to maximize their breeding performance by mating with relatively similar sized partners; the greater the size disparity of mates, the lower the breeding performance. This supports the idea that compatibility of mates may be important in determining fitness of the pair. The success of different pair types was also affected by environmental conditions, with certain size combinations doing better in some years and poorly in other years.     

An In Vitro Inhibition Test That Predicts Toxicity of Bacterial Pathogen Combinations in the Colorado Potato Beetle

Many insect bacterial pathogens are not toxic enough for field control. Combinations of bacteria may increase toxicity. Bacteria toxic to Colorado potato beetle , Photorhabdus luminescens, Chromobacterium violaceum and Serratia marcescens , were tested in pair-wise combinations in an in vitro double streak test to determine bacterial compatibility. Only C. violaceum and S. marcescens grew to confluency. Their combined toxicity in vivo was additive. Other bacterial combinations had clear zones between bacterial streaks indicating inhibition. In the insect, the combined toxicity was less than the most toxic bacteria of the pair. For these strains, this in vitro test predicted compatibility in the insect.     

On the mod resc model and the evolution of Wolbachia compatibility types.

Cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) is induced by the endocellular bacterium Wolbachia. It results in an embryonic mortality occurring when infected males mate with uninfected females. The mechanism involved is currently unknown, but the mod resc model allows interpretation of all observations made so far. It postulates the existence of two bacterial functions: modification (mod) and rescue (resc). The mod function acts in the males' germline, before Wolbachia are shed from maturing sperm. If sperm is affected by mod, zygote development will fail unless resc is expressed in the egg. Interestingly, CI is also observed in crosses between infected males and infected females when the two partners bear different Wolbachia strains, demonstrating that mod and resc interact in a specific manner: Two Wolbachia strains are compatible with each other only if they harbor the same compatibility type. Here we focus on the evolutionary process involved in the emergence of new compatibility types from ancestral ones. We argue that new compatibility types are likely to evolve under a wider range of conditions than previously thought, through a two-step process. First, new mod variants can arise by mutation and spread by drift. This is possible because mod is expressed in males and Wolbachia is transmitted by females. Second, once such a mod variant achieves a certain frequency, it can create the conditions for the deterministic invasion of a new resc variant, allowing the invasion of a new mod resc pair. Furthermore, we show that a stable polymorphism might be maintained in natural populations, allowing the long-term existence of "suicidal" Wolbachia strains.     

海链藻属一新变种艾伦海链藻肋纹变种

为了澄清海链藻属Thalassiosira的物种多样性, 采用毛细管复洗技术建立了单克隆培养株系。利用光镜和扫描电镜观察形态学特征, 并扩增其核糖体小亚基和大亚基序列, 用于分子系统树的构建。结合形态学和分子系统学数据, 发现艾伦海链藻株系之间存在一定的形态差异和遗传多样性。经过与原始文献的比对, 确认了艾伦海链藻原变种的特征, 并报道了该种的一个新变种艾伦海链藻肋纹变种Thalassiosira allenii var. striata X. H. Guo, Y. Q. Guo & Y. Li。该变种与原变种的形态特征基本相似, 区别在于壳面边缘具有肋纹结构, 原变种则无。基于核糖体小亚基和大亚基的系统树均显示, 肋纹变种与原变种聚在同一个分支上, 形成姐妹支(BPP>0.90), 表明两者之间具有最近的亲缘关系。2个变种的核糖体小亚基序列完全一致, 没有碱基差异。但用于分析的556个核糖体大亚基序列中, 两者存在11个差异碱基, 遗传距离为0.01。     

The location and analysis of two heterokaryon incompatibility (het) loci in strains of Aspergillus nidulans

The heterokaryon incompatibility system in Aspergillus nidulans has been investigated by parasexual methods. The use of complementary auxotrophs with a repeated serial transfer method or with a protoplast fusion technique has enabled heterokaryons and diploid strains to be recovered from heterokaryon incompatible combinations of strains. The effects of allelic interaction at heterokaryon incompatibility (het) loci on the morphologies of the heterokaryon and diploid colonies isolated are described. Parasexual analyses conducted among strains belonging to the heterokaryon compatibility groups, h-cGl and h-cB, and the two recombinant compatibility classes, have located the hetA and hetB genes to linkage groups V and VI respectively.