Feeding by adult sweet potato weevils, Cylas formicarius elegantulus, on sweet potato leaves

A bioassay was developed to quantify the feeding of adult sweet potato weevils, Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers) (Coleoptera; Curculionidae) on the foliage of four cultivars (Centennial, Jewel, Resisto and Regal) of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) (Convolvulaceae). Weevils fed along the leaf veins, preferring the lower to the upper leaf surface. Males and females had similar levels of feeding. Different levels of feeding by female weevils were observed between cultivars in dual-choice bioassays with Centennial, a susceptible cultivar in field-plot experiments, being most preferred and Resisto least preferred. However, these feeding differences were not observed in no-choice bioassays. Little difference was observed in the leaf surface chemistry of the four cultivars.

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Résumé L'étude a porté sur la consommation pendant 12 h, en boîtes de Pétri de diamètre 9 cm, de rondelles de 2 cm de diamètre de feuilles de 4 cultivars,—Centennial, Jewel, Resisto, Regal—, d'I. batatas par C. formicarius elegantulus. Les charançons ont consommé le long des nervures, préférant la face inférieure à la face supérieure des feuilles. Un index de consommation a été calculé en fonction de la longueur de nervure ayant servi à la consommation, rapportée à la longueur totale des nervures de la surface exposée.Les niveaux de consommation des mâles et des femelles étaient semblables. En présence de choix binaires, le cultivar Centennial a été le plus consommé, et le cultivar Resisto, le moins, par les femelles. De telles préférences n'ont pas été observées en l'absence de choix.La composition chimique de la surface de la feuille a été analysée par chromatographie en phase gazeuse. 8 pics principaux identiques ont été observés chez les 4 cultivars, mais ils avaient différentes hauteurs.

     

Intraspecific hybridization between Coprinus cinereus and Schizophyllum commune by PEG-induced protoplast fusion and electrofusion

Two irreversible inhibitors, iodoacetamide and diethylpyrocarbonate, were used to select intraspecific fusion products of two mushroom species, Coprinus cinereus and Schizophyllum commune. Iodoacetamide was the more suitable inhibitor because it gave a low breakage frequency and low survival rate of the cells in the inactivation experiments. Fusion-induced by polyethylene glycol and electro-fusion were compared and, under optimal conditions, gave fusion frequencies of 16.7% to 50.0% and 6.9% to 8.4%, respectively. All fusion progeny were heterokaryons (dikaryons) and had clamp connections. There were no differences in the morphology and fruiting ability of the fusion progeny and those of the heterokaryons generated from mating.     

Heterologous expression and secretion of sweet potato peroxidase isoenzyme A1 in recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A vector system has been developed to express isoenzyme A1 of sweet potato peroxidase (POD) and was introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The system contains the signal sequence of Aspergillus oryzae -amylase to facilitate the extracellular secretion of peroxidase under the control of constitutive glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) promoter. In a batch culture using YNBDCA medium (yeast nitrogen base without amino acids 6.7 g l^–1, Casamino acids 5 g l^–1 and glucose 20 g l^–1), the recombinant strain expressed the swpa1 gene giving a secretion yield of POD activity of ca. 90% of total expressed peroxidase. Supplementation with PMSF (0.05 mM) and Casamino acids (5 g/50 ml) increased extracellular POD activity to nearly 10 kU ml^–1, equivalent to 1.5 kU g^–1 cell dry wt. This is 9 fold higher than that obtained in medium without PMSF. From SDS-PAGE and native-PAGE analyses POD has an M _r of 53 kDa.     

NaCl-resistant variant cells isolated from sweet potato cell suspensions

Salt-resistant cells of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) were selected by subculturing cell suspensions (11 transfers at 15-day intervals) in MS medium supplemented with 1% NaCl (170.9 mM NaCl).Selected cells showed a brownish pigmentation, and exhibited morphological changes (they were smaller and rounder than non-selected cells). The change in coloration was reversible when the selected cells were subcultured in medium without NaCl. The reduction in size was partially reversed but the change in form was not reversible when selected cells were subcultured 5 times at 15-day intervals in the absence of NaCl.Selected cells exhibited NaCl-tolerance when they were cultured in medium with 1% NaCl and subsequently transferred to NaCl free medium for 3 passages. This finding suggests that the acquired trait is stable for at least 3 passages.     

Genetic analysis of incompatibility in the diploid Ipomoea species closely related to the sweet potato

Summary In order to identify the genotypic constitutions of incompatibility in the diploid species, Ipomoea leucantha Jacq. (K221), which is most closely related to the sweet potato, the progenies derived from the reciprocal crosses, backcrosses and testcrosses were analysed. All the plants examined were self-incompatible, and pollen germination was inhibited on the stigma after incompatible pollinations. No reciprocal differences were found in the incompatibility reactions. In the progenies three incompatibility groups were observed which showed the rather simple segregation ratios. The homozygous plants for incompatibility alleles were obtained in the progenies. The experimental results demonstrated a sporophytic type of incompatibility controlled by a single locus with multiple S-alleles exhibiting a dominance relationship in both the pollen and the stigma. The plants obtained in the progenies had the following genotypes: S ₁ S ₂, S ₁ S ₃, S ₂ S ₂, S ₂ S ₃ and S ₃ S ₃.     

甘薯蔗糖转运蛋白的功能分析

甘薯(Ipomoea batatas)是重要的粮食和工业加工原料作物。蔗糖是植物体内碳水化合物长距离转运的主要形式,蔗糖转运蛋白(sucrose transporter,SUT)在植物的生长代谢中调控蔗糖的跨膜运输和分配,在韧皮部介导的源-库蔗糖运输和为库组织供应蔗糖的生理活动中起关键作用。本研究根据不同淀粉性状甘薯块根中差异表达的2个SUT基因转录本,进行cDNA末端快速扩增(rapid amplification of cDNA ends,RACE)克隆,获得IbSUT62788和IbSUT81616的全长cDNA序列;通过系统发育分析明确其分类;通过在本氏烟草(Nicotiana benthamiana)中瞬时表达明确其亚细胞定位;通过酵母功能互补系统鉴定IbSUT62788和IbSUT81616是否具有吸收、转运蔗糖和己糖的能力。通过实时荧光定量PCR(real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction,RT-qPCR)分析IbSU62788和IbSUT81616在甘薯各器官中的表达特征;通过蘸花法得到外源表达IbSUT62788和IbSUT81616基因的拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)植株,比较与野生型拟南芥的淀粉和糖含量的差异。结果表明,IbSUT62788和IbSUT81616分别编码505个和521个氨基酸的SUT蛋白,均属于SUT1亚家族。IbSUT62788和IbSUT81616均定位于细胞膜,在酵母系统中具有转运蔗糖、葡萄糖和果糖的能力。此外,IbSUT62788还具有转运甘露糖的能力。IbSUT62788在甘薯叶片、侧枝和茎中的表达量更高,IbSUT81616在侧枝、茎和块根中表达量更高。IbSUT62788和IbSUT81616在拟南芥中异源表达后,植株可以正常生长,但生物量增加。IbSUT62788的异源表达增加了拟南芥植株叶片可溶性糖含量、叶片大小和种子千粒重;IbSUT81616的异源表达增加了拟南芥植株叶片、根尖的淀粉积累量和种子千粒重,但减少了可溶性糖含量。本研究结果表明,IbSUT62788和IbSUT81616可能是调控甘薯蔗糖和糖含量性状的重要基因,在细胞膜上进行着蔗糖的跨膜运输、蔗糖进出库组织、韧皮部蔗糖的运输与卸载等生理功能,在拟南芥中异源表达造成的性状改变说明其在提高其他植物或作物产量中的应用潜力。本研究为揭示甘薯淀粉和糖代谢及重要品质性状形成机制提供了重要信息。     

A rapid and efficient method for the extraction of total DNA from the sweet potato and its related species

Secondary metabolites, latex/mucilagenous secretions, polysaccharides, and proteins interfere with the extraction of high-quality, restrictable total cellular DNA from sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lamk.] and related species. A method for the DNA extraction is described which overcomes these problems.     

Induction of umbelliferone in sweet potato cell suspension culture using mercuric chloride

HgCl₂ was used at up to 10 mg l^–1 as an elicitor of phytoalexins in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. cv Centennial) cell suspension cultures. Maximum stimulation of a coumarin compound was after one day of exposure using 1 mg HgCl₂ l^–1. The compound was identified by HPLC and GC-MS analyses as 7-hydroxycoumarin (umbelliferone).     

Heritability of regeneration in tissue cultures of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)

Summary A population of open-pollinated progeny from 12 parents, and the 12 parents, was surveyed for in vitro growth and regeneration characteristics. Four different tissue culture procedures involving different media and the use of different explants to initiate the cultures were used. Petiole explants from young leaves were used as explants for initiation of callus cultures. These were evaluated for callus growth rate, friability, and callus color and texture, before transferring to each of three different regeneration media for evaluation of morphogenetic potential. Small shoot tips also were used to initiate callus cultures, which were evaluated for the same growth characteristics and transferred to growth-regulator free regeneration media. Regeneration occurred through root or shoot regeneration or through embryogenesis. Tissue culture treatment effects, as well as genotypic effects, were highly significant in determining: the types of callus produced, callus growth rates, color and texture on the two types of media used for the second and third subcultures. The family x treatment interaction was generally not statistically significant, affecting only callus color. Estimates of narrow sense heritability for callus growth rate in both the second and third subcultures were high enough (0.35 and 0.63, respectively) for the evaluation of parental lines for selection procedures. These characteristics were also the only early culture callus traits that were consistently correlated with later morphogenesis of the cultures. They were negatively correlated with root or shoot regeneration. The occurence of somatic embryogenesis was not correlated with early callus growth characteristics. Genetic and treatment effects were highly significant in the evaluation of morphogenetic potential, through root or shoot regeneration, or through embryogenesis. Regeneration of all types was of low frequency for all procedures, expressed in 11% of the cultures of the total population.Paper No. 9906 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, NC 27695-7601, USA. From a thesis submitted by the senior in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree     

Plant regeneration from protoplast fusion inPassiflora spp.

Summary Protoplasts were isolated from leaf explants ofPassiflora edulis var.flavicarpa (the yellow passion fruit) and from cell suspensions of fivePassiflora species. Chemical fusion was performed using polyethylene glycol and the microcolonies obtained were transferred to growth medium to produce calli. Electrophoresis of soluble proteins and analysis of isoenzymes from calli produced from the fusion experiments were performed to select somatic hybrids. Specific polypeptide bands allowed the identification of somatic hybrids betweenP. edulis var.flavicarpa (+)P. alata, P. edulis var.flavicarpa (+)P. amethystina, P. edulis var.flavicarpa (+)P. cincinnata, P. edulis var.flavicarpa (+)P. giberti andP. edulis var.flavicarpa (+)P. coccinea. An average of 3 to 5% hybrid calli were obtained. With the exception of theP. edulis var.flavicarpa (+)P. coccinea, whole plants were recovered from all hybrids. These somatic hybrids showed 4n=36 chromosomes, which represents a further evidence of their hybridity.     

Production and characterization of intergeneric somatic hybrids through protoplast electrofusion between potato (Solanum tuberosum) and Lycopersicon pennellii

Mesophyll protoplasts of Lycopersicon pennelli Corr., a wild relative of tomato, were electrofused with those from a dihaploid potato clone, cv Nicola, with the objectives of transferring saline tolerance from L. pennellii to cultivated potato. 150 calli were selected from the fusion experiments, finally giving 2 hybrid shoots. Their hybrid nature was verified by examining isoenzyme patterns for esterases (EST), peroxidase (PRX), phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD), and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT). The hybrid plants had an intermediate morphology, and grew vigorously in vitro. When transplanted to soil, they were less vigorous, due to difficulties in rooting, but were still capable of flowering, and forming short stolons and mishaped tubers, probably resulting from the effects of gene dosage due to the novel association of two genomes from a tuberizing (potato) and a non tuberizing species (L. pennellii). The characteristics of such mishaped tubers provided strong evidence of a hybrid nature for the selected plants. The hybrid plants were highly sterile, producing only 3–7% viable pollen. Tests for salt tolerance showed that the growth of the somatic hybrid plants was reduced by 50% as for L. pennellii, whilst potato did not grow at all under saline conditions.Abbreviations MS Murashige and Skoog basal medium - 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - PEG polyethylen glycol 6,000 - MES 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid - AC alternating current - EST esterases - PRX peroxidase - 6-PGD phosphogluconate dehydrogenase - GOT glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase - FDA fluorescein diacetate     

Touch-induced gene (IbTCH1) from sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.]: molecular cloning and functional analysis

The cDNA of the touch-induced genes (TCH) of the sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] has been cloned and analyzed. IbTCH1, which exists as at least two-copy genes in the genome of the sweet potato, encodes for 148-amino acid polypeptides, and harbors four conversed Ca²⁺-binding motif EF-hands. IbTCH1 was shown to be expressed in the flower, leaf, thick pigmented root, and particularly in the white fibrous root, but expressed only weakly in the petiole. IbTCH1 is upregulated upon exposure to environmental stresses, dehydration, and jasmonic acid. Furthermore, IbTCH1 is developmentally regulated in the leaf and root. These results strongly indicate that the gene performs functions in both plant development and in defense/stress-signaling pathways.     

An improvement of tomato protoplast culture for rapid plant regeneration

Tomato mesophyll protoplasts were cultured in TM2 medium containing 5.7 M -naphthaleneacetic acid and 2.4 M benzyladenine and were incubated either in stationary culture or on an orbital shaker at 25–30 strokes per min, in combination with interval addition of fresh medium. The effects of stationary and shaking conditions on the growth of the colonies and their subsequent shoot organogenesis were significantly different. The cultures maintained in stationary condition without adding fresh medium accumulated a thin membranous layer on the medium surface and whitish substance in the medium that seemed to precede cell browning and premature colony death. Mild shaking conditions along with the reduction of colony density by one half by dividing the contents of one dish into two dishes, after adding 2 ml of fresh medium on the 4th day and further addition of fresh medium (0.5 ml) on the 8th day of plating, provided optimal conditions for colony growth and suppressed thin layer and whitish substance accumulation. Ten-day-old colonies raised through this protocol regenerated shoots rapidly (within 19–20 days after initial plating) after transfer to regeneration medium (MS medium with 2.8 M zeatin riboside, 0.06–0.1 M gibberellic acid, 4% sucrose and 1% type VII agarose) directly bypassing the callus phase.Abbreviations BA benzyladenine - GA₃ gibberellic acid - IAA indoleacetic acid - MS Murashige & Skoog (1962) medium - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - SPM stroke per min - GLM General Linear Models - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid     

PEG-enhanced,electric field-induced fusion of tonoplast and plasmalemma of grape protoplasts

Cultured grape cells accumulate anthocyanins in vacuoles rather than secreting them into the nutrient medium. Therefore, grape cells that contain tonoplast segments in their plasmalemma should be capable of excreting anthocyanins rather than sequestering them in their vacuoles. In initial attempts to construct such novel cells, small vacuoles were fused with the plasmalemma of cultured plant cells. Protoplasts were isolated from grape calluses that produce and accumulate anthocyanins. Small vacuoles were formed by gently rupturing vacuoles isolated from grape protoplasts. Although small vacuoles and protoplasts became aligned in an AC field, the tonoplast and plasmalemma did not readily fuse when subjected to 3 DC pulses of 1200 V cm^–1 for 50 s each. Changes in the intensity, number and/or duration of the DC pulses had no effect on the fusion process. When 1.0% polyethylene glycol was added to the electrofusion buffer, however, small vacuoles and protoplasts fused within a few minutes after the DC pulses were applied. These novel grape cells remained viable for several hours.Abbreviations BSA bovine serum albumin - 2,4-D 2,4-dichloro-phenoxyacetic acid - DTT dithiothreitol - EGTA ethyleneglycol-bis-(-amino-ethyl ether)-N,N,N,N - MES 2-[N-Morpholino]ethanesulfonic acid - MOPS 3-[N-Morpholino]propanesulfonic acid - PVP polyvinylpyrrolidone     

Studies of protoplast culture and plant regeneration from commercial and rapid-cyclingBrassica species

Protoplasts were isolated from aseptic shoot cultures of commercial cultivars ofBrassica napus, B. oleracea andB. campestris, and from the six rapid-cycling brassica species. Of the rapid-cycling species, onlyB. napus responded well to the culture conditions used; 2% of protoplasts formed calli and up to 5% of calli regenerated shoots. Regeneration was also achieved from commercial cultivars ofB. napus andB. oleracea. For these two species the plating density, time of dilution with fresh medium and the composition of the shoot-inducing medium were all found to have an important influence on the efficiency of plant regeneration. Both responded better to maltose than to sucrose-based media. Under the optimum conditionsB. napus showed a plating efficiency of 7.8% and shooting efficiency of 17%; forB. oleracea the figures were 2% and 56%, respectively.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid     

Expression of green-fluorescent protein gene in sweet potato tissues

Green-fluorescent protein (GFP) gene expression, transient and stable after electroporation and particle bombardment, was analyzed in tissues of sweet potato cv.Beauregard. Leaf and petiole tissues were used for protoplast isolation and electroporation. After 48 h, approximately 25–30% of electroporated mesophyll cell protoplasts regenerated cell walls, and of these, 3% expressed GFP. Stable expression of GFP after four weeks of culture was observed in 1.0% of the initial GFP positive cells. In a separate experiment, we observed 600–700 loci expressing GFP 48 h after bombarding leaf tissue or embryogenic calli, and stable GFP-expressing sectors were seen in leaf-derived embryogenic calli after four weeks of protoplast culture without selection. These results demonstrate GFP gene expression in sweet potato tissues. Screening for GFP gene expression may prove useful to improve transformation efficiency and to facilitate detection of transformed sweet potato plants.     

Production of interspecific somatic hybrid plants in the genus Medicago through protoplast fusion

Summary Symmetric somatic hybrid plants have been produced by electrofusion of leaf protoplasts of Medicago sativa and callus protoplasts of Medicago coerulea. The selection of hybrid individuals has been performed at the cellular level by recording the positions of single heterocaryons immobilized in a semisolid culture medium. The hybrid nature of the heterokaryons was assessed in fluorescent light on the basis of their color. Hybrid minicalli were picked up manually and grown first on propagating, and then on regenerating, media. Six putative hybrid calli were selected and two of them regenerated several plants. The hybrid nature of the regenerants was confirmed by cytological and isozyme analysis. Among the several morphological traits taken into account for the characterization of somatic hybrid plants, some were intermediate, some lower, and some higher, with respect to the parents. The somatic hybrid plants were fertile and set seed. The production of somatic hybrid plants in the genus Medicago is discussed in relation to the regenerating capability of parental protoplasts.This research was supported by the National Research Council of Italy, Special Project RAISA, Subproject N. 2 paper N. 347     

Plant regeneration from stem and petiole protoplasts of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and its wild relative,I. lacunosa

A protoplast-to-plant regeneration system has been established for sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) and its wild relative, I. lacunosa L. Viable protoplasts, isolated from preplasmolyzed stems and petioles of in vitro-grown plants, were cultured on liquid MS (Murashige & Skoog 1962) medium that supported cell division and colony formation. Embryogenic calli of sweet potato were induced on agar-solidified MS medium supplemented with 3% (w/v) sucrose, 50 mg l^-1 casamino acids, 0.2–0.5 mg l^-1 2,4-d, 1.0 mg l^-1 kinetin and 1.0 mg l^-1 ABA. On average, 3 plants were regenerated from a single sweet potato callus subcultured on semi-solid MS medium containing 3% (w/v) sucrose, 800 mg l^-1 glutamine, 2.0 mg l^-1 BA or 1.0 mg l^-1 kinetin and 1.0 mg l^-1 GA₃. Embryogenic calli of I. lacunosa L. were initiated on semi-solid MS medium containing 0.2–0.5 mg l^-1 IAA and 1.0–2.0 mg l^-1 BA. An average of 5 plants was regenerated from a single sweet potato callus subcultured on semi-solid MS medium containing 0.5 or 1.0 mg l^-1 GA₃.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - BA benzyladenine - 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - GA₃ gibberellic acid - IAA indole acetic acid - MES 2-(N-morpholino)-ethane sulfonic acid - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid     

Interspecies protoplast fusion inLarix: Comparison of electric and chemical methods

Summary Larix was chosen for the study on interspecies protoplast fusion due to its ability to regenerate plants from protoplasts derived from embryogenic cultures.L. laricina line L2 was used in fusion experiments with eitherL. × eurolepis line L6 orL. × leptoeuropaea line L5. A method of unambiguous labeling of parental protoplasts prior to fusion was developed using vital fluorescent dyes. Of a number of dyes tested, only rhodamine B hexyl ester chloride (R6) and 3,3′-dihexylox-carbocyanine iodide (DiOC₆) stained the protoplasts in a consistent and uniform fashion. The fusion of mixed parental protoplasts that were internally labeled was carried out either in the presence of a 20% polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution or in an electric field. The progress of fusion was readily observed, taking only minutes under the experimental conditions. The fusion products could be identified by dual fluorescence several h after the onset of fusion. Heterofusion frequencies of approximately 18% and 6% in the presence of PEG and an electric field, respectively, were attained. Postfusion cultures betweenL. × laricina protoplasts and protoplasts ofL. × leptoeuropaea gave rise to cell colonies and betweenL. laricina andL. × eurolepis, to mature somatic embryos.