A Spaceflight Experiment for the Study of Gravimorphogenesis and Hydrotropism in Cucumber Seedlings

peg , on the transition zone between hypocotyl and root. Our spaceflight experiment verified that the lateral positioning of a peg in cucumber seedlings is modified by gravity. It has been suggested that auxin plays an important role in the gravity-controlled positioning of a peg on the ground. Furthermore, cucumber seedlings grown in microgravity developed a number of the lateral roots that grew towards the water-containing substrate in the culture vessel, whereas on the ground they oriented perpendicular to the primary root growing down. The response of the lateral roots in microgravity was successfully mimicked by clinorotation of cucumber seedlings on the three dimensional clinostat. However, this bending response of the lateral roots was observed only in an aeroponic culture of the seedlings but not in solid medium. We considered the response of the lateral roots in microgravity and on clinostat as positive hydrotropism that could easily be interfered by gravitropism on the ground. This system with cucumber seedlings is thus a useful model of spaceflight experiment for the study of the gravimorphogenesis, root hydrotropism and their interaction. Received 13 September 1999/ Accepted in revised form 12 October 1999     

Morphogenesis of Rice and Arabidopsis Seedlings in Space

Oryza sativa L.) and Arabidopsis (A. thaliana L.) were cultivated for 68.5 hr in the RICE experiment on board during Space Shuttle STS-95 mission, and changes in their growth and morphology were analyzed. Microgravity in space stimulated elongation growth of both rice coleoptiles and Arabidopsis hypocotyls by making their cell walls extensible. In space, rice coleoptiles showed an inclination toward the caryopsis in the basal region and also a spontaneous curvature in the same direction in the elongating region. These inclinations and curvatures were more prominent in the Koshihikari cultivar compared to a dwarf cultivar, Tan-ginbozu. Rice roots elongated in various directions including into the air on orbit, but two thirds of the roots formed a constant angle with the axis of the caryopsis. In space, Arabidopsis hypocotyls also elongated in a variety of directions and about 10% of the hypocotyls grew into the agar medium. No clear curvatures were observed in the elongating region of Arabidopsis hypocotyls. Such a morphology of both types of seedlings was fundamentally similar to that observed on a 3-D clinostat. Thus, it was confirmed by the RICE experiment that rice and Arabidopsis seedlings perform an automorphogenesis under not only simulated but also true microgravity conditions. Received 13 September 1999/ Accepted in revised form 12 October 1999     

Growth and Development, and Auxin Polar Transport in Higher Plants under Microgravity Conditions in Space: BRIC-AUX on STS-95 Space Experiment

Received 13 September 1999/ Accepted in revised form 12 October 1999     

The Effect of Exogenous ABA on the Resistance to the Chilling Stress in Cucumber Seedlings

In the cucumber seedlings pretreated with ABA under light and dark or additional photosynthetic inhibitor (DCMU) before chilling, the effect and the regulative role of ABA on the chilling resistance of cucumber seedlings were investigated. After the excised cotyledonary discs were floated on 10-6 mol/l ABA solution for 24 h and the seedlings were sprayed by 10-4 mol/1 ABA in light, it has been found that ABA has an effect of the protection against low temperature injury in cucumber seedlings. The results showed that the leakage of electrolytes in cucumber cotyledory discs was decreased. The content of glutathione and the accumulation of MDA content in cotyledon of cucumber seedlings were decreased, and decline of the photosynthesis of the leaves or the quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence were slowed, thus the rate of survival in cucumber seedlings was raised. The effect of these regulation was able to be limited by dark or DCMU.     

外源一氧化氮对镉胁迫下黄瓜幼苗生长、活性氧代谢和光合特性的影响

镉是植物生长的非必需元素,它具有很大的生物毒性,与其它重金属相比,更易被植物吸收积累。通过采用营养液水培试验的方法,研究了外源一氧化氮（Nitric oxide,NO）对不同浓度Cd^2＋（100μmol L^-1．300μmol L^-1,500μmol L^-1）胁迫下黄瓜幼苗生长、叶片光合特性以及活性氧代谢的影响。结果表明：300μmol L^-1NO供体硝普钠（Sodium nitrop russide,SNP）能显著缓解镉胁迫时黄瓜植株造成的伤害,对300μmol L^-1 Cd^2＋处理的黄瓜幼苗缓解效果最好,可提高幼苗的生长量,增强幼苗叶片超氧物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）活性;提高了叶片叶绿素和脯氨酸（Pro）含量;降低了叶片内二醛（MDA）含量。     

黄瓜和绿豆下胚轴不定根发生的研究

在MS基本培养基上,黄瓜和绿豆幼苗的下胚轴切段培养4d时即可见不定根发生。下胚轴不同部位切段的发根能力不同。下胚轴切段反插时比正插时发根快1-2d,发根率也高于正插的;0.01-0.05mg/L的NAA还诱导下胚轴切段在形态学上端发根。TIBA对正插或反插的下胚轴切段的不定根发生都有抑制作用。结果提示,生长素极性运输活性对不定根形成起着重要作用。     

Enhancement of the Tolerance to Oxidative Stress in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Seedlings by UV-B Irradiation: Possible Involvement of Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidative Enzymes

Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings were irradiated or not irradiated with UV-B for several days in environment-controlled growth chambers. The first leaves irradiated with UV-B were retarded in growth but simultaneously acquired a remarkably high tolerance to oxidative stress, as induced by paraquat treatment, compared with the non-irradiated leaves. This enhanced tolerance was observed within 1d after the start of UV-B irradiation and was maintained during the 12 d period of UV-B treatment. The effects of UV-B on several antioxidative enzymes were examined, and activities of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and guaiacol peroxidase, but not of glutathione reductase, were found to be enhanced. However, activation of these enzymes occurred only from 6 d after the start of irradiation. In contrast, accumulation of phenolic compounds was observed within 1d after the start of UV-B irradiation. HPLC analysis of phenolic compounds showed the distinct enhancement of a substance, which may have antioxidative properties in cucumber seedlings irradiated with UV-B. On the basis of these results, we conclude that not only antioxidative enzymes but also other factors in cucumber seedlings irradiated with UV-B, such as phenolic compounds, may participate in the enhanced tolerance to oxidative stress. Received 10 June 2000/ Accepted in revised form 1 July 2000     

外源亚精胺对盐胁迫下黄瓜幼苗游离态多胺含量和多胺合成酶基因表达的影响

以黄瓜品种‘津春2号’（Cucumis sativusL.cv.Jinchun No.2）为材料,采用营养液栽培,研究了外源亚精胺（Spd）对NaCl胁迫下黄瓜幼苗叶片游离态多胺含量和多胺合成酶基因表达的影响。结果表明,75 mmol/LNaCl胁迫下,幼苗株高、茎粗和干鲜重显著降低,外源喷施1 mmol/L Spd处理可明显缓解盐胁迫对幼苗生长的抑制。盐胁迫下叶片游离态多胺含量显著增加,外源Spd进一步促进了游离态Spd和精胺（Spm）的积累,降低了游离态腐胺（Put）的积累。多胺合成酶基因表达分析表明,盐胁迫上调了adc、odc、samdc和spds基因的表达,施用外源Spd后进一步上调了samdc基因,下调了adc、odc、spds基因的表达。表明外源Spd参与了黄瓜幼苗体内多胺代谢的调节,通过下调盐胁迫下adc、odc基因的表达,抑制游离态Put的积累,上调samdc基因的表达促进游离态Spd和Spm的积累,进而缓解盐胁迫对植物生长的抑制。     

外源亚精胺对不同盐浓度下黄瓜幼苗可溶性蛋白表达的影响

采用营养液水培的方法,以黄瓜品种‘津春2号’为试材,研究了叶片喷施外源亚精胺(Spd)对不同浓度NaCl(0、50、75、100 mmo.lL-1)胁迫下幼苗植株可溶性蛋白表达的影响。结果表明,50 mmol.L-1NaCl胁迫下植株叶片和根系中可溶性蛋白含量提高;75 mmol.L-1和100 mmol.L-1NaCl胁迫明显降低了幼苗植株叶片和根系中可溶性蛋白的含量。不同浓度NaCl胁迫下喷施Spd后可溶性蛋白含量在根系中没有明显变化规律,而叶片可溶性蛋白含量提高。SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)对黄瓜幼苗根系可溶性蛋白分析表明,至少有3种分子量约为61.5、50、47 kD蛋白在50 mmo.lL-1和75 mmol.L-1NaCl胁迫下表达量增强,但100 mmo.lL-1NaCl胁迫下变化不明显;50 mmol.L-1和75 mmol.L-1NaCl胁迫下喷施Spd后61.5 kD和47 kD蛋白表达量明显减弱,50 kD蛋白甚至消失,100 mmol.L-1NaCl胁迫下61.5 kD和47 kD蛋白无明显变化,50 kD蛋白反而增强。     

Increased apoptosis during neonatal brain development underlies the adult behavioral deficits seen in mice lacking a functional paternally expressed gene 3 (Peg3)

Inactivation of the maternally imprinted, paternally expressed gene 3 (Peg3) induces deficits in olfactory function, sexual and maternal behaviors, oxytocin neuron number, metabolic homeostasis and growth. Peg3 is expressed in a number of developing hypothalamic and basal forebrain structures and is a component of the P53 apoptosis pathway. Peg3 inactivation in neuronal cell culture lines inhibits P53 mediated apoptosis, which is important in the early postnatal development and sexual differentiation of the brain. In this study, we investigated the effect of inactivating the Peg3 gene on the incidence of caspase 3 positive cells (a marker of apoptosis) in 4‐ and 6‐day postpartum mouse brain. Inactivating the Peg3 gene resulted in an increase in the incidence of total forebrain caspase 3 positive cells at 4 and 6 days postpartum. Increases in specific neuroanatomical regions including the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, nucleus accumbens, caudate putamen, medial pre‐optic area, arcuate nucleus, medial amygdala, anterior cortical and posteriodorsal amygdaloid nuclei, were also observed. In wild‐type mice, sex differences in the incidence of caspase 3 positive cells in the medial amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, nucleus accumbens, arcuate nucleus and the M2 motor cortex, were also observed. This neural sex difference was ameliorated in the Peg‐3 mutant. These findings suggest that the neuronal and behavioral deficits seen in mice lacking a functional Peg3 gene are mediated by increases in the incidence of early neonatal apoptosis in neuroanatomical regions important for reproductive behavior, olfactory and pheromonal processing, thermoregulation and reward. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2009     

Studies on the Growth and Indole-3-Acetic Acid and Abscisic Acid Content of Zea mays Seedlings Grown in Microgravity

Measurements were made of the fresh weight, dry weight, dry weight-fresh weight ratio, free and conjugated indole-3-acetic acid, and free and conjugated abscisic acid in seedlings of Zea mays grown in darkness in microgravity and on earth. Imbibition of the dry kernels was for 17 h prior to launch. Growth was for 5 d at ambient orbiter temperature and at a chronic accelerational force of the order of 3 × 10⁻⁵ times earth gravity. Weights and hormone content of the microgravity seedlings were, with minor exceptions, not statistically different from seedlings grown in normal gravity. The tissues of the shuttle-grown plants appeared normal and the seedlings differed only in the lack of orientation of roots and shoots. These findings, based upon 5 d of growth in microgravity, cannot be extrapolated to growth in microgravity for weeks, months, and years, as might occur on a space station. Nonetheless, it is encouraging, for prospects of bioregeneration of the atmosphere and food production in a space station, that no pronounced differences in the parameters measured were apparent during the 5 d of plant seedling growth in microgravity.     

Growth and Development in Arabidopsis thaliana through an Entire Life Cycle under Simulated Microgravity Conditions on a Clinostat

Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype Columbia and Landsberg erecta were studied. Horizontal clinorotation affected little germination of seeds, growth and development of rosette leaves and roots during early vegetative growth stage, and the onset of the bolting of inflorescence axis and flower formation in reproductive growth stage, although it suppressed elongation of inflorescence axes. The clinorotation substantially reduced the numbers of siliques and seeds in Landsberg erecta, and completely inhibited seed production in Columbia. Seeds produced in Landsberg erecta on the clinostat were capable of germinating and developing rosette leaves normally on the ground. On the other hand, growth of pin-formed mutant (pin/pin) of Arabidopsis ecotype Enkheim, which has a unique structure of inflorescence axis with no flower and extremely low levels of auxin polar transport activity, was inhibited and the seedlings frequently died during vegetative stage on the clinostat. Seed formation and inflorescence growth of the seedlings with normal shape (pin/+ or +/+) were also suppressed on the clinostat. These results suggest that the growth and development of Arabidopsis, especially in reproductive growth stage, is suppressed under simulated microgravity conditions on a clinostat. To complete the life cycle probably seems to be quite difficult, although it is possible in some ecotypes. Received 18 June 1999/ Accepted in revised form 27 August 1999     

NaCl胁迫对黄瓜幼苗植株生长和光合特性的影响

采用营养液水培法,选用耐盐性不同的2个黄瓜品种,研究了不同浓度N aC l处理对黄瓜幼苗植株生长及叶片光合特性的影响。结果表明,在盐胁迫下,净光合速率(Pn)呈下降趋势,气孔导度(G s)变化趋势与Pn相一致;气孔限制值(L s)在处理的前4 d显著升高,随处理时间延长而下降;细胞间隙CO2浓度(C i)的变化趋势与L s相反;光合碳同化的量子效率(Φc)明显下降。耐盐性较弱的‘津春2号’各项光合参数变化幅度明显大于耐盐性较强的‘长春密刺’。短期N aC l处理,Pn下降以气孔限制因素为主,较长期N aC l处理,Pn下降转向非气孔限制因素。     

黄瓜苗期低温弱光下耐低温性主基因-多基因联合遗传分析

选取耐低温弱光性不同的2份黄瓜材料9507、9517及其配制的BC1、BC2、F1、F2等6个世代,进行低温弱光处理,每天光照处理7.5h,强度为30μmol/m2.s,约合2000lx,白天12℃,晚上8℃,共处理14d。运用主基因-多基因联合遗传模型方法研究耐低温性的遗传规律,并估算遗传参数。结果表明,耐低温性的遗传受2对加性主基因+加性-显性多基因控制,F1平均值略低于中亲值,主基因的遗传率为62.871%～79.310%,多基因的遗传率为3.448%～7.792%,主基因+多基因的遗传率为74.026%～82.759%,环境方差占表型方差的比率为17.241%～25.974%。即低温弱光条件下环境对耐低温性的遗传起很小作用,对于这个性状适于早代选择。     

Biological treatment of a synthetic space mission wastewater using a membrane-aerated,membrane-coupled bioreactor (M2BR)

This paper describes the membrane-aerated, membrane-coupled bioreactor (M2BR), which was developed for wastewater treatment during long-term space missions because it achieves aeration and biomass separation using components that are compatible with microgravity conditions. In the experiments described herein, the M2BR was used to treat a synthetic wastewater formulated by NASA to simulate the wastewater typically collected during space missions. The M2BR was able to achieve more than 90% removal of both chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total nitrogen when it was fed a modified NASA wastewater that had a 4:1 COD to nitrogen ratio. When the full-strength synthetic wastewater was fed to the M2BR (COD:N=1), however, the nitrogenous pollutant removal efficiency was adversely affected because of either insufficient oxygen transfer to support nitrification (an air-fed M2BR) or insufficient electron donor to support denitrification (an oxygen-fed M2BR). In conclusion, the M2BR provides considerable promise for wastewater treatment during long-term space missions, although additional research is needed to identify the best approach to treat the space mission wastewater, which poses a unique challenge because of its low COD:N ratio.     

Expression of Actin Gene During Development of Snake Gourd (Luffa cylindrica) and Cucumber (Cucumis sativum)

Results of Northern blot and Dot blot analysis indicated that actin genes exhibit organ-specific expression in snake gourd (Luffa cylindrica L. ) and cucumber (Cucumis sativum L. ). Actin genes showed obvious developmental specificity during'the development of snake gourd seedlings, mRNA levels in stems of 30-day old seedlings were 4 ～ 6 times higher than that of roots and cotyledons of 8-day old seedlings and roots and hypocotyls of 15-day old seedlings, and were even 10～12 times higher than that of stems and leaves of flowering plants. Actin genes also showed organ-specific expression in young fruits (15 days after flowering) of cucumber.     

蓬莱玉参早期发育的形态学观察

本研究对仿刺参(Apostichopus japonicus)的一个特殊品系蓬莱玉参产卵、受精及胚胎和幼体发育过程进行显微观察,并与普通仿刺参进行比较。在19~21℃水温下,蓬莱玉参受精卵分别在受精12 min和24 min后释放第一、二极体,1 h后卵裂成2细胞期,之后每30 min左右完成一次卵裂,6 h后进入囊胚期,19 h后发育成原肠胚;40 h后进入耳状幼体阶段,在其后侧臂的一端出现一个不规则形的石灰质骨片,并发现其位置与水体腔处于同一侧这一规律;5 d和8 d后发育为中耳状幼体和大耳状幼体,10 d后变态发育为樽形幼体,骨片由不规则状发育为齿轮状,并出现第二个石灰质骨片;12 d后发育为五触手,14 d后发育成稚参,40 d后发育为幼参。蓬莱玉参胚胎和幼体发育时序与当前已报道的仿刺参无显著差异,但从幼参开始蓬莱玉参通体始终为白色,而普通仿刺参在45日龄时体表局部出现色素,疣足处较为明显,60日龄幼体一半以上全身布满色素。蓬莱玉参因通体纯白色而受到了众多养殖企业和研究领域的关注,本文的结果为其今后的研究奠定了可靠的理论基础。     

黄瓜自交系选育中产量性状的灰色关联和相关分析

对8个黄瓜自交系产量构成性状的灰色关联和相关分析结果表明,决定黄瓜自交系产量的因素是果长、果肉厚度、果径大小、单株瓜数、单株产量和早期产量.黄瓜自交系选育中应注重综合性状.     

Proteome Analysis of Roots in Cucumber Seedlings Under Iso-Osmotic NaCl and Ca(NO3)2 Stresses

The growth and productivity of cucumber are severely affected by salinity. To understand the complex salt response mechanism, the physiological and biochemical responses of cucumber seedlings to iso-osmotic NaCl and Ca(NO₃)₂ stresses were investigated. In this study, the biomass was significantly decreased under iso-osmotic NaCl and Ca(NO₃)₂ stresses, and the inhibitory effect of Ca(NO₃)₂ stress was less than that of NaCl stress. The soluble protein contents were increased under Ca(NO₃)₂ stress, whereas they were decreased after 6 days of NaCl stress. A sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that there were 14 differentially expressed protein bands in roots under iso-osmotic NaCl and Ca(NO₃)₂ stresses at 0, 3, 6, and 9 days, and seven protein bands were little expressed under NaCl stress at 6 and 9 days. Based on these results, 2-D gel electrophoresis was used to separate cucumber root proteins in response to iso-osmotic NaCl and Ca(NO₃)₂ stresses at 3 days. A total of 43 protein spots changed under salt stress. Of these proteins, 33 were successfully identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and liquid chromatography electro-spray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) and categorized into classes, including those corresponding to antioxidants and defense-related proteins and energy and metabolism. The functions of the significantly differentially expressed root proteins were analyzed, which may facilitate a better understanding of different salt response mechanisms, and we suggest that cucumber seedlings showed a more powerful ability to resist Ca(NO₃)₂ stress.

     

硝态氮对黄瓜子叶谷氨酰胺合成酶和谷氨酸脱氢酶活性的影响

在硝态氮存在或缺乏的条件下,测定了黄瓜(Cucumis sativus L．)种子萌发和子叶发育过程中子叶可溶性蛋白质含量以及谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)和谷氨酸脱氢酶(NAD(H)-GDH)活性的变化。在子叶发育初期,无论外源氮存在与否,每对子叶可溶性蛋白质含量和GS、NADH—GDH、NAD^ -GDH活性随发育上升。在外源氮存在下,第4d后,可溶性蛋白质含量虽有所下降,但基本保持恒定;第6d后,GS和NADH—GDH活性逐渐降低,NAD^ -GDH却相反增高。但在无外源氮条件下,于第4d后,可溶性蛋白质水平以及GS、NADH—GDH和NAD^ -GDH活性都逐渐降低。在子叶发育的整个过程中,外源氮对GS和NAD^ -GDH活性有促进作用,尤其是在子叶发育的后期对NAD^ -GDH活性的促进更为明显。