Winter survival of the granary weevil <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sitophilus granarius</Emphasis> and the parasitoid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lariophagus distinguendus</Emphasis> in a simulated grain store

The parasitoid Lariophagus distinguendus Förster (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is a promising candidate for biological control of the granary weevil Sitophilus granarius (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in grain stores. For practical application in northern temperate regions it is important that the parasitoids can survive the cold temperatures in the grain during the winter and resume activity the following spring. In the present study the survival of Lariophagus distinguendus and Sitophilus granarius was followed during a simulated winter with stepwise reductions of temperature down to 6°C which was maintained for 15 weeks. Only 20% of the weevils were alive after eight weeks at 6°C, whereas the survival of L. distinguendus was unaffected by the temperature decrease. After being returned to room temperature an F ₁ generation of the parasitoid emerged and was able to reproduce.     

An investigation of the protein characters of fourPhaseolus species with special reference to the question of their phylogenesis

Byla provedena kvantitativni a kvalitativní analysa bílkovinných znak? z děloh v semenech a z hypokotyl? — ko?ínk? (primárního ko?ene) naklí? enÝch semen těchto druh?:Phaseolus vulgaris L.,Phaseolus coccineus L.,Phaseolus lunatus L.,Phaseolus aureus ROXB. s těmito vÝsledky:

1. 1.
   Fazeolin témě? shodnÝ je v dělohách druh?Phaseolus vulgaris L aPhaseolus coccines L.; u druh?Phaseolus lunatus L. aPhaseolus aureus Roxb. chybí.     
   
   

Voracity of the main stored-product insect pests on wheat grain

The results of an experimental study of voracity of adults and larvae of seven main stored-product insect pests are described. One adult of Sitophilus oryzae, S. granarius, Rhizopertha dominica, Tribolium castaneum, T. confusum, and Oryzaephilus surinamensis consumed 0.38, 0.48, 0.89, 0.15, 0.16, and 0.11 mg of wheat grain per day, respectively. During their development, larvae of these insects consumed 7.60, 13.77, 7.92, 3.32, 3.60, and 2.32 mg of wheat grain, respectively. One larva of Sitotroga cerealella consumed 17.46 mg of wheat grain. The coefficients of harmfulness of these species are calculated, and a method for estimating the “total infestation density” of grain is proposed.     

Effect of Grain Infestation with the Rice Weevil <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sitophilus oryzae</Emphasis> L. (Coleoptera,Dryophthoridae) on the Quality of Grain and Grain Products

The paper presents the results of experimental assessment of the quality parameters of wheat grain infested with the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae and of flour and bread produced from this grain. The most important and the least stable parameters were the flour yield, ash content, whiteness, and fat acidity value. The infested grain had higher densities of micrococci, yeast, Aspergillus glaucus, and A. candidus.     

Specific features of the protein fraction composition of seeds in plants of the subfamily scilloideae

The composition of protein complexes in seeds was studied in plants of the subfamily Scilloideae. Seed protein contents were compared in 59 species of 12 genera: Scilla L., Hyacinthus L., Bellevalia Lapeyr., Chionodoxa Boiss, Puschkinia Adam., Muscari Mill., Ornithogalum L., Eucomis L’Herit, Galtonia Desne, Velthemia Gleditsch., Hyacinthoides Linn., and Hyacinthella Schur. The results confirmed the heterogeneity of the subfamily: its constituent genera proved to differ in the composition of protein complexes and in the coefficient of evolutionary advancement. The group of salt-soluble proteins dominated by albumins prevailed in seeds of all species studied.     

Molecular characterization and expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 1, 2 and 3 under acute hypoxia and reoxygenation in pufferfish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Takifugu fasciatus</Emphasis>

Hypoxia seriously affects the innate immune system of fish. However, the roles of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS), pivotal anti-inflammatory genes, in response to hypoxia/reoxygenation remain largely unexplored. The primary objective of this study was to elucidate the function of SOCS genes under acute hypoxia and reoxygenation in pufferfish (Takifugu fasciatus). In the present study, SOCS1, 2 and 3 were identified in T. fasciatus referred to as TfSOCS1, 2 and 3. Then, qRT-PCR and western blot analysis were employed to assess their expressions at both the mRNA and protein levels. Tissue distribution demonstrated that the three SOCS genes were predominantly distributed in gill, brain and liver. Under hypoxia challenge (1.63?±?0.2 mg/L DO for 2, 4, 6 and 8 h), the expressions of TfSOCS1 and 3 in brain and liver at the mRNA and protein levels were significantly decreased, while their expressions showed an opposite trend in gill. Different from the expressions of TfSOCS1 and 3, the expression of TfSOCS2 was inhibited in gill, along with its increased expression in brain and liver. After normoxic recovery (7.0?±?0.3 mg/L of DO for 4 and 12 h), most of TfSOCS genes were significantly altered at R4 (reoxygenation for 4 h) and returned to the normal level at R12 (reoxygenation for 12 h). SOCS genes played vital roles in response to hypoxia/reoxygenation challenge. Our findings greatly strengthened the relation between innate immune and hypoxia stress in T. fasciatus.     

Insight into the bacterial diversity of fermentation woad dye vats as revealed by PCR-DGGE and pyrosequencing

The bacterial diversity in fermenting dye vats with woad (Isatis tinctoria L.) prepared and maintained in a functional state for approximately 12 months was examined using a combination of culture-dependent and -independent PCR-DGGE analyses and next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons. An extremely complex ecosystem including taxa potentially contributing to both indigo reduction and formation, as well as indigo degradation was found. PCR-DGGE analyses revealed the presence of Paenibacillus lactis, Sporosarcina koreensis, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus thermoamylovorans, while Bacillus thermolactis, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus megaterium were also identified but with sequence identities lower than 97%. Dominant operational taxonomic units (OTUs) identified by pyrosequencing included Clostridium ultunense, Tissierella spp., Alcaligenes faecalis, Erysipelothrix spp., Enterococcus spp., Virgibacillus spp. and Virgibacillus panthothenicus, while sub-dominant OTUs included clostridia, alkaliphiles, halophiles, bacilli, moderately thermophilic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, aerobes, and even photosynthetic bacteria. Based on the current knowledge of indigo-reducing bacteria, it is considered that indigo-reducing bacteria constituted only a small fraction in the unique microcosm detected in the natural indigo dye vats.     

Characterisation of a novel quantitative trait locus, <Emphasis Type="Italic">GN4</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">1</Emphasis>, for grain number and yield in rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.)

Key message

A novel QTL for grain number, GN4-1, was identified and fine-mapped to an ~ 190-kb region on the long arm of rice chromosome 4.

Abstract

Rice grain yield is primarily determined by three components: number of panicles per plant, grain number per panicle and grain weight. Among these traits, grain number per panicle is the major contributor to grain yield formation and is a crucial trait for yield improvement. In this study, we identified a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) responsible for rice grain number on chromosome 4, designated GN4-1 (a QTL for Grain Number on chromosome 4), using advanced segregating populations derived from the crosses between an elite indica cultivar ‘Zhonghui 8006’ (ZH8006) and a japonica rice ‘Wuyunjing 8’ (WYJ8). GN4-1 was delimited to an ~ 190-kb region on chromosome 4. The genetic effect of GN4-1 was estimated using a pair of near-isogenic lines. The GN4-1 gene from WYJ8 promoted accumulation of cytokinins in the inflorescence and increased grain number per panicle by ~ 17%. More importantly, introduction of the WYJ8 GN4-1 gene into ZH8006 increased grain yield by ~ 14.3 and ~ 11.5% in the experimental plots in 2014 and 2015, respectively. In addition, GN4-1 promoted thickening of the culm and may enhance resistance to lodging. These results demonstrate that GN4-1 is a potentially valuable gene for improvement of yield and lodging resistance in rice breeding.

     

Participation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">SRM5/CDC28</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">SRM8/NET1</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">SRM12/HFI1</Emphasis> genes in checkpoint control in yeast <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis>

About twenty genes participating in checkpoint control are known in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The involvement of SRM genes in the cell cycle arrest under the action of DNA damaging agents was studied in this work. These genes were earlier defined as genes affecting genetic stability and radiosensitivity. It was shown that mutations srm5/cdc28-srm, srm8/net1-srm, and srm12/hfi1-srm fail the cell cycle arrest in the presence of DNA damage and influence the checkpoint arrest in G0/S (srm5, srm8), G1/S (srm5, srm8, srm12), S (srm5, srm12), and G₂/M (srm5). It seems likely that genes SRM5/CDC28, SRM12/HFI1/ADA1, and SRM8/NET1 are involved in a cell response to DNA damage, and in checkpoint regulation in particular.     

Photosynthetic pigments of phytoperiphyton in the Sylva River (Middle Ural)

The pigment composition of phytoperiphyton algocenoses on stones and macrophytes (Potamogeton lucens L., P. perfoliatus L., P. gramineus L., P. pectinatus L., Mirophyllum spicatum, Petasites hybridus (L.) Gaertn., Mey. et Sxherb, Nuphar lutea L., and Alisma plantago-aquatica L.) in the submontane Sylva River (Middle Ural) is considered based on the surveys of 2000–2012. The wide variability in the content of plant pigments in phytoperiphyton depends on the season and type of substrate. The maximum values similar for all substrates are observed at the end of summer. The concentrations of Chl a increase during warm low-water years. Chlorophyll a prevails among green pigments in periphyton; the relative concentration of other pigments is lower. The concentration of plant carotenoids in epiphyton is slightly higher compared to epilithon and is comparable to the Chl a level. The trophic state index of the Sylva River may be determined as mesotrophic or weakly eutrophic when the Chl a concentration in phytoperiphyton is used as a marker.     

Host range of wheat striate virus

Na sání p?irozeně infikovaného p?ena?e?e viru prou?kovitosti p?enice (VPP) k?ísaCalligypona pellucida F. reagovaly charakteristickými p?íznaky v poměrně zna?ném rozsahuBromus arvensis L.,B. mollis L.,Avena fatua L.,A. nuda L. (HOEJ.),Triticum aestivum L. s. s.,T. compactum HOST.,T. dicoccum SCHRANK aHordeum murinum L., v men?ím podílu pakLolium multiflorum LAM.,L. perenne L.,Bromus tectorum L.,Poa annua L., Avena strigosa SCHREB., A. sterilis L.,Triticum spelta L.,T. durum DESF.,T. turgidum L. aT. polonicum L. Dal?ích 42 rostlinných druh? ze 6 ?eledí v této testaci neonemocnělo. Negativně vyzněl i pokus o umělé naka?eníPhleum pratense L.,tîeba?e u tohoto rostlinného druhu jsme v p?írodě pozorovali typické p?íznaky VPP. Máme za to, ?e některé negativní výsledky byly asi v p?í?inné spojitosti se ?na?ně kolísající p? ena?e?skou ú?inností vektora, známou ji? z d?ívěj?ích prací. V kulturách pícnin prvního u?itkového roku v místech s nadměrně hojným výskytem larevCalligypona pellucida bylo p?i terénních pozorováních zaznamenáno v některých lokalitách na ?eskomoravské vyso?ině silněj?í napadení VPP uLolium multiflorum. Charakteristické p?íznaky VPP jsme p?i tom zjistili i naPhleum pratense, Lolium perenne a Bromus mollis.     

Antigenotoxic activity of biologically active substances from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Inula britannica</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Limonium gmelini</Emphasis>

The antigenotoxic and antioxidant activities of biologically active substances of extracts from Inula britannica L. and Limonium gmelinii (Willd.) Kuntze in E. coli strains MG1655 (pColD-lux), MG1655 (pSoxS-lux), and MG1655 (pKatG-lux) were studied by the bioluminescent test. Plant extracts from I. britannica and L. gmelinii in all used concentrations (0.5, 5.0, 50.0, and 500.0 μg/mL) had no genotoxic or oxidant activity. The extracts statistically significantly reduced the bioluminescence intensity of the pColD-lux, pKatG-lux, and pSoxS-lux sensors (p < 0.05) induced by 4-NQO and dioxidine, hydrogen peroxide, and paraquat, respectively. The activity of the extracts depended on their concentration; the greatest antigenotoxic and antioxidant effects were detected at a concentration of 500.0 μg/mL.     

Mitochondrial DNA divergence and phylogenetic relationships in mullets (Pisces: Mugilidae) of the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Azov revealed by PCR-RFLP-analysis

Three Mugilid species: Mugil cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Liza haematocheila (Temminck et Schlegel, 1845; syn. Mugil soiuy, M. haematocheilus, L. soiuy, Chelon haematocheilus) from the Sea of Japan, as well as M. cephalus and Liza aurata (Risso, 1810) from the Sea of Azov were investigated on the basis of PCR-RFLP analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) fragments, which included 12S/16S rRNA, and ND3/ND4L/ND4 genes. Among 61 individuals of three Mugilid species thirteen different haplotypes were detected. Eight and thirteen restriction endonucleases were found to be species-specific in 12S/16SrRNA and ND3/ND4L/ND4 respectively. This method may be useful for species identification. M. cephalus showed the largest genetic divergence while L. haematocheila and L. aurata were closely related and clustered together. The level of mtDNA differentiation between the two M. cephalus samples from the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Azov, i.e., nucleotide substitutions of approximately 3%, appeared to be relatively high.     

Enhanced expression of ginsenoside biosynthetic genes and in vitro ginsenoside production in elicited <Emphasis Type="Italic">Panax sikkimensis</Emphasis> (Ban) cell suspensions

Dual metabolite, i.e., ginsenoside and anthocyanin, co-accumulating cell suspensions of Panax sikkimensis were subjected to elicitation with culture filtrates of Serratia marcescens (SD 21), Bacillus subtilis (FL11), Trichoderma atroviridae (TA), and T. harzianum (TH) at 1.25% and 2.5% v/v for 1- and 3-week duration. The fungal-derived elicitors (TA and TH) did not significantly affect biomass accumulation; however, bacterial elicitors (SD 21 and FL11), especially SD 21, led to comparable loss in biomass growth. In terms of ginsenoside content, differential responses were observed. A maximum of 3.2-fold increase (222.2 mg/L) in total ginsenoside content was observed with the use of 2.5% v/v TH culture filtrate for 1 week. Similar ginsenoside accumulation was observed with the use of 1-week treatment with 2.5% v/v SD 21 culture filtrate (189.3 mg/L) with a 10-fold increase in intracellular Rg2 biosynthesis (31 mg/L). Real-time PCR analysis of key ginsenoside biosynthesis genes, i.e., FPS, SQS, DDS, PPDS, and PPTS, revealed prominent upregulation of particularly PPTS expression (20–23-fold), accounting for the observed enhancement in protopanaxatriol ginsenosides. However, none of the elicitors led to successful enhancement in in vitro anthocyanin accumulation as compared to control values.     

Root-shoot ratio in irrigated plants

Relationship between roots and shoots ofPimpinella saxifraga L.,Petroselinum hortense Hoffm.,Lactuca sativa L., andBeta vulgaris subsp.esculenta (Salisbury) Gürke var.altissima Roessig was studied in irrigated and non-irrigated plants. It was found that the irrigation water did not influence distinctly the root-shoot ratio of the experimental plants. From the statical point of view, this relationship could be expressed by the following quantitative ratios for irrigated and non-irrigated plants: 3∶1 forPimpinella saxifraga L., 2∶1 forPetroselinum hortense Hoffm., 9∶1 forLactuca sativa L., and 1∶1 for beetroot. From the dynamic point of view it is possible to state that this ratio changes in the course of individual development. With plants cultivated for their aerial parts, it increased with age, while with plants cultivated for their roots, it decreased with age. The irrigation water produced much greater morphological changes (the shape and the surface area) in the root and shoot system of experimental plants.     

On distribution and ecology of some species of cleonines (Coleoptera,Curculionidae): IV. Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lixus</Emphasis> F., subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eulixus</Emphasis> Reitt.

Data on habitats, food plants of larvae and adults, feeding, mating, oviposition, larval and pupal development, natural enemies, and distribution of seven weevil species (Lixus canescens F.-W., L. iridis Ol., L. myagri Ol., L. punctirostris Boh., L. subtilis Boh., L. incanescens Boh., and L. brevipes Bris.) are given. New host plants of L. canescens and L. iridis are revealed. Gall induction by L. brevipes is reported for the first time. Distribution of all the species in Ukraine and Russia (the latter based on the literature) are given in more detail. Information on the known and potential economic importance of every species is provided.     

Cloning and characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tabas1</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">B1</Emphasis> gene associated with flag leaf chlorophyll content and thousand-grain weight and development of a gene-specific marker in wheat

The chloroplast photosystem of flag leaves contributes the largest proportion of photosynthates to grain in crops and consequently affects grain weight. The plant 2-Cys peroxiredoxin BAS1 is involved in chlorophyll protection against chloroplast damage. In the present study, we cloned a Tabas1 gene in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), comprising seven exons and six introns with a complete sequence of 2847 bp and an open reading frame of 789 bp. The gene was located on chromosome 2B, and designated Tabas1-B1. A codominant gene-specific marker TaS1 was developed based on a 1-bp InDel (-/A) in the second intron of Tabas1-B1. Two alleles, Tabas1-B1a and Tabas1-B1b, at the Tabas1-B1 locus were identified by TaS1. Linkage and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping indicated that Tabas1-B1 was linked to Xcfa2278 (5.23 cM) and Xbarc167 (10.38 cM) on chromosome 2BL. A stable QTL co-segregating with Tabas1-B1 explained 9.0–19.2 % of phenotypic variations for chlorophyll content (ChlC) and 9.5–15.5 % for thousand-grain weight (TGW), respectively, across three environments. Association analysis further indicated a significant and positive effect of Tabas1-B1a on the ChlC of flag leaf post-anthesis and TGW in two populations across four environments. Geographic distribution analysis suggested a slightly higher frequency of Tabas1-B1a than Tabas1-B1b in the main wheat-growing regions of China. Selection of Tabas1-B1a may increase grain weight in wheat breeding.     

Laboratory and simulated-field bioassays for assessing mixed cultures of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lysinibacillus sphaericus</Emphasis> against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aedes aegypti</Emphasis> (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae resistant to temephos

Aedes aegypti (L.) is the main vector of tropical diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika. Due to the overuse of insecticides, Ae. aegypti resistant populations have increased. Biological control with Lysinibacillus sphaericus (Ahmed) has been used against Culex sp. and Anopheles sp. Although Ae. aegypti is refractory to the binary toxin of L. sphaericus spores, vegetative cells have been shown to be effective against Ae. aegypti larvae. In this work, the effect of L. sphaericus vegetative cells on Ae. aegypti temephos-resistant larvae was assessed under lab and simulated field conditions. L. sphaericus caused about 90% mortality of insecticide-resistant Ae. aegypti larvae under simulated field conditions. Likewise, Ae. aegypti larvae were more sensitive to mixed cultures of L. sphaericus than to individual strains; then, the most effective mixed culture exhibited an LC₅₀ of 1.21 × 10⁵ CFU/mL with Rockefeller larvae and 8.04 × 10⁴ CFU/mL with field-collected larvae. Additionally, we found that mixed cultures composed of two L. sphaericus strains were more effective than a culture formed by the three strains. Our results suggest that mixed cultures comprising L. sphaericus vegetative cells could be useful for controlling temephos-resistant populations of Ae. aegypti, as evidenced by the effectiveness demonstrated under laboratory and simulated field conditions.