Palynological characteristics of different unifloral honeys from Greece

Three hundred and twenty-nine Greek honey samples of different botanical and geographical origin were collected and examined by organoleptic evaluation, melissopalynological analysis, measurement of electrical conductivity and colour. The results showed that 208 samples were unifloral with 178 of them representing the main types of unifloral honey produced in Greece; that is fir, pine, chestnut, cotton, orange and thyme honey. All honeys had the sensory characteristics typical of their origin and complied with the electrical conductivity standards set by Council Directive 2001/110/EC.

Fir and pine honeydew honey had a low honeydew element/pollen (HDE/P) ratio and belonged to Maurizio's Classes II or III. The pollen types identified in these honeys ranged from 11 to 45%. Chestnut nectar honey contained >90% chestnut pollen, had a total number of plant elements of >245,000/10?g, and low pollen diversity. Cotton honey contained 1.2 to 16.5% cotton pollen, belonged to Maurizio's Class II, and had 22 pollen types, with Castanea sativa L. present in all samples. Orange honey contained 2.9 to 26.5% Citrus spp. pollen, belonged to Maurizio's Class II, and was characterized by the presence of Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Olea europea L., Quercus coccifera L. and Rosaceae. In thyme honeys Thymus capitatus Hoffm. &; Link. pollen was secondary or predominant ranging from 18.3 to 69.3%. These honeys belonged to Maurizio's Classes I or II and contained greater than 30 pollen types. Other Lamiaceae, Hypericum spp., Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Rosaceae, and Cistus spp. pollen types appeared in the greatest number of thyme samples.     

Pollen and sensorial characterization of different honeys from El Hierro (Canary Islands)

The pollen content of 31 honey samples from 19 different apiaries of El Hierro (Canary Islands) were subject to qualitative and quantitative melissopalynological analysis. The quantitative analysis demonstrated that 13% of the honey belonged to Maurizio Class I (<2?000?grains), 68% to Class II (2?000–10?000?grains) and 19% to Class III (10?000–50?000?grains). The pollen density ranges from 1?042?grains/g of honey to 24?478?grains/g with an average of 7?471?grains/g. According to the qualitative analysis, six honeys were typified as unifloral and 25 as multifloral. The unifloral honey samples were broken down as follows: two of heather (Erica arborea L.), two of Chamaecytisus proliferus (L. f.) Link‐type (“tagasaste”), one of Fabaceae (Genisteae sp.) and one of Lamiaceae Origanum vulgare L. ssp. virens (Hoffmanns. &; Link) Ietsw.‐type (thyme: Micromeria hyssopifolia Webb &; Berthel.). Honeydew elements were practically absent. Sixty‐nine pollen types were identified belonging to 42 families. The number of pollen types range between 18 and 39 (mean of 27.42). Foeniculum vulgare Mill.‐type pollen is present in all the samples. Galactites tomentosa Moench‐type, Echium plantagineum L., Echium L. sp., Bituminaria bituminosa (L.) C. H. Stirt., Chamaecytisus proliferus ‐type and Origanum vulgare ssp. virens ‐type pollen were found in 96.8% of the samples. The sensorial analysis indicated that honey types are generally of good quality, because 62% were evaluated as very high (16%), high (23%), and good (23%).     

刺槐根瘤菌的表型多样性研究

从杨陵地区采集豆科树种刺槐的根瘤,经分离、纯化,获得40株未知菌株,并选取35株参比菌株,进行唯一碳源、氮源利用、对抗生素和染料的抗性、耐盐性、初始pH生长、生长温度范围及石蕊牛奶反应等共105项生理生化测定。结果表明：供试的刺槐根瘤菌在碳、氮源利用、抗生素敏感性、对染料的抗性程度等方面存在着差异。部分菌株具有较强的耐盐碱能力,其中42．5％的菌株能耐受3.0％的NaCl,17．5％的菌株可在初始pH12的YMA培养基上生长。从数值分类树状图可见,在86％的相似水平上未知菌株构成了3个新的类群,其中第1、2类群各有10株菌,中心菌株分别为NWYC113和NWYCl29,第3类群有7株菌,中心菌株为NWYC147。其分类地位需进一步研究和确定。     

Geographical,botanical and chemical profile of monofloral Italian honeys as food quality guarantee and territory brand

Bees represent an important element for the preservation of plant biodiversity. During their activities, bees cover a large area around the hive and their products strictly reflect the distinctive traits of these environments. In honey, the floral diversity of the areas inspected by bees is revealed by their pollen spectra. The present work characterized 460 Italian unifloral honeys by melissopalynological and physicochemical analyses. Obtained data contributed to: confirm the botanical identity of the samples; determine the plant biodiversity revealed in each honey; differentiate the samples of the same monofloral typology in relation to their geographical origin; and identify peculiar floristic associations in the Italian regions. Moreover, gas chromatographic analysis was carried out on rare unifloral honey to study their sugar profiles. This work provided the scientific base to create a valid tool able to assign a territorial brand and an authenticity guarantee to the honey, protecting the consumers from adulterations.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers from Robinia pseudoacacia L

Microsatellite markers were isolated from Robinia pseudoacacia L. using an enrichment method. Eleven of the 23 primer pairs designed successfully amplified unambiguous and polymorphic single loci among 39 individual R. pseudoacacia L. from northeastern Japan. The observed and expected heterozygosities of the 11 microsatellite markers ranged from 0.333 to 0.821 and from 0.489 to 0.867, respectively. The polymorphisms observed at the 11 microsatellite loci are useful genetic data for forest ecological studies involving R. pseudoacacia L.     

Palynological characterization of honeys from the Andean Patagonia (Chubut,Argentina)

The pollen content of 58 honey samples of Apis mellifera L. from the Andean region of Chubut (Argentinian Patagonia) was analyzed. The samples were provided by beekeepers between 1999 and 2004. Eighty‐eight pollen types were identified, 30 of them are not reported in Argentinian honeys. Identified types belong to 47 families, of which the most diverse were Asteraceae (15 pollen types), Fabaceae (13 pollen types), and Rosaceae (four pollen types). From the samples analyzed, 47% were monofloral and corresponded to the following taxa: Trifolium spp. (16%), Rosaceae (10%), Aristotelia chilensis (Molina) Stuntz (7%), Discaria‐Colletia (5%), Escallonia spp. (3%), Schinus patagonica (Phil.) I. M. Johnst. (2%), Phacelia secunda J. F. Gmel. (2%), Myrtaceae (2%). The results of this study show a high level of utilization of native flora by Apis mellifera. Four new types of monofloral honey were recognized: Aristotelia chilensis, Discaria‐Colletia, Phacelia secunda, and Schinus patagonica. The high representation of native flora distinguishes these honeys geographically.     

欧洲中部刺槐种源群体等位酶变异研究

从欧洲中部及美国收集了18个刺槐种源种子,以2年生苗木为材料,采用水平切片淀粉凝胶电泳和聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳对11个酶系统进行了检测,共发现20个酶位点,其中14个为多态位点,多态性位点百分数为70％。在参加计算的7个酶系统的12个多态性位点中,平均每个位点的等位基因数(A)和平均每位点等位基因有效数(Ae)为2.733和1．794,平均每个位点的实际杂合度(Ho)和预期杂合度(He)为0．368和0．400,固定指数(F)为0．080,绝大多数位点固定指数为正值。各基因位点遗传参数与12个位点平均值进行相关分析表明,Fe-6和Lap-a的大部分群体遗传参数(A、Ae、Ho、He等)与平均值存在紧密的相关关系,其他位点各项遗传参数和总平均值相关不明显,这些位点的重要性可能比相关性较好的位点更大。德国8个种源群体间遗传距离变化在0．09-0．26之间,来自匈牙利的6个种源之间遗传距离很小,绝大部分均在0．11以下;德国的8个种源与匈牙利和斯洛伐克的8个种源之间的遗传距离变化在0．09-0．24之间;来自美国的2个种源,与欧洲的种源间的遗传距离在0．09-0．23之间,这一距离没有超出欧洲种源之间的差异。匈牙利和斯洛伐克的8个种源群体的各项遗传参数均高于德国种源,表明这两个国家的遗传多样性水平较高。同时来自这两个国家的种源群体间变异系数变化在2．92％-9．97％,说明群体之间的遗传差别很小。德国的8个种源群体各项遗传参数相对较低,但群体间变异系数较高,群体间遗传差别较大。以各个国家为群体单位,4个群体间各项遗传参数的变异均较小,变异系数变化在3．861％-5．139％,表明刺槐种源间地理变异模式不明显。     

Cloning of the promoter region of plasma membrane aquaporin BnPIP1 from Brassica napus and its functional analysis

Aquaporins make water-selective channels in plants, facilitating the permeation of water through membranes and adjusting water fast transport during seed germination, cell elongation, stoma movement, fertilization and responses to environmental stresses. They belong to the MIP (major intrinsic protein) family with molecular weight of 2629 kD and are characterized by six membrane-spanning a-helixes connected by five loops and short N-terminal and C-terminal domains in the cytoplasm[13]. The p…     

Growth, productivity, and competitiveness of introgressed weedy Brassica rapa hybrids selected for the presence of Bt cry1Ac and gfp transgenes

Concerns exist that transgenic crop x weed hybrid populations will be more vigorous and competitive with crops compared with the parental weed species. Hydroponic, glasshouse, and field experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of introgression of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cry1Ac and green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenes on hybrid productivity and competitiveness in four experimental Brassica rapa x transgenic Brassica napus hybrid generations (F1, BC1F1, BC2F1 and BC2F2). The average vegetative growth and nitrogen (N) use efficiency of transgenic hybrid generations grown under high N hydroponic conditions were lower than that of the weed parent (Brassica rapa, AA, 2n = 20), but similar to the transgenic crop parent, oilseed rape (Brassica napus, AACC, 2n = 38). No generational differences were detected under low N conditions. In two noncompetitive glasshouse experiments, both transgenic and nontransgenic BC2F2 hybrids had on average less vegetative growth and seed production than B. rapa. In two high intraspecific competition field experiments with varied herbivore pressure, BC2F2 hybrids produced less vegetative dry weight than B. rapa. The competitive ability of transgenic and nontransgenic BC2F2 hybrids against a neighbouring crop species were quantified in competition experiments that assayed wheat (Triticum aestivum) yield reductions under agronomic field conditions. The hybrids were the least competitive with wheat compared with parental Brassica competitors, although differences between transgenic and nontransgenic hybrids varied with location. Hybridization, with or without transgene introgression, resulted in less productive and competitive populations.     

Loss of C-genome-specific markers during transgene introgression from Brassica napus to wild Brassica juncea

Transgene flow from engineered Brassica napus to wild weed relatives could potentially have an environmental effect. To evaluate the introgression of transgenic B. napus into wild Brassica juncea, the hybrid F₁ and backcross progenies derived from B. juncea (genome constitution AABB) and transgenic B. napus (AACC) crosses were investigated. C-genome-specific simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers corresponding to linkage groups N11–N19 in B. napus were screened and used to estimate the marker frequency in hybrid F₁ and backcross progenies. C-genome-specific markers could be stably detected in hybrid F₁ and backcross BC₁ plants, but were only rarely found in the BC₂–BC₅ generations. For example, a specific SSR marker for linkage group N12 segregated in BC₂ generation but were completely lost in BC₃–BC₅, while a specific SSR marker of linkage group N15 segregated in BC₁, BC₂ and BC₃ generations and was absent in more advanced backcrossed generations (BC₄ and BC₅). The results indicate that a certain gene regions in Brassica napus plants are transmitted at a relatively lower frequency to wild relatives, and more rapidly disappeared in subsequent backcross generations. We propose that a foreign gene or transgene that is integrated in the C-chromosome of Brassica napus could reduce the risk of introgression in nature.     

Antibacterial potential of some Saudi honeys from Asir region against selected pathogenic bacteria

Honey is a nutrient rich natural product and has been utilized as traditional and complementary medicine since ancient times. In this study, antibacterial activity of Sider (Ziziphus spina-christi), Dharm (Lavandula dentata), and Majra (Hypoestes forskaolii) honey samples collected from Asir region of Saudi Arabia was in vitro evaluated at 80% and 50% w/v concentrations against five pathogenic bacteria i.e. Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella flexneri, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Well diffusion assays to measure the average zone of inhibition (ZOI) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were employed in the experiments. All the tested honey samples showed antibacterial activity in a dose-dependent manner. Sider and Dharm exhibited a good antibacterial activity at high concentrations while, Majra honey of Apis mellifera jemenitica and of Apis florea showed comparatively low antibacterial activity. The average MIC values of Sider, Dhram from Rijal Alma, Dharm from Al-Souda, Majra (A.m. jemenitica), and Majra (A. florea) honey against all tested bacteria were 22%, 16%, 18%, 32%, and 28% (v/v) respectively. Dharm and Sider honeys showed better antibacterial activity than Majra honey. Saudi honey can be considered as a promising future antimicrobial agent and should be further investigated as an alternative candidate in the management of resistant bacterial pathogens.     

甘蓝型油菜BnGOLS1基因启动子的克隆、序列分析及瞬时表达

以甘蓝型油菜‘德油五号’基因组DNA为模板,通过反向PCR扩增得到肌醇半乳糖苷合成酶基因（BnGOLS1）启动子片段,长度为827bp。PLACE和PlantCARE启动子预测工具分析表明：序列中含有TATA-Box、CAAT-Box等基本转录元件,以及ABRE、DRE、HSE、w-Box等顺式作用元件。将克隆得到的BnGOLS1启动子取代pBI121中的CaMV35S启动子,构建BnGOLS1启动子控制报告基因的GUS表达载体pBI-GS-GUS,通过农杆菌介导的方法在油菜组织中进行瞬时表达。GUS染色结果表明BnGOLS1启动子可以驱动GUS基因在油菜组织中的表达。     

Cloning of the promoter region of plasma membrane aquaporin<Emphasis Type="Italic">BnPIP1</Emphasis> from<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> and its functional analysis

A 1.6 kb upstream regulatory sequence (GenBank accession no. AF472487) of plasma membrane aquaporinBnPIP1 gene fromBrassica napus was obtained by genomic walking based on ligation-mediated PCR method. Sequence analysis indicated that this fragment contained seed germination specific and vascular specific sequences. The 1.6 kb upstream sequence and various 5′ end deleted sequences were fused withuidA gene and constructed into plant expression vectors which were used for tobacco transformation. GUS histochemical assay showed that the 1.6 kb fragment had high levels of promoter activity and the GUS staining was mainly distributed in vascular systems and tissues with rapid expanding and proliferating cells. Promoter deletion analysis showed that the deletion of -1610 — -1030 bp resulted in a dramatic reduction in GUS activity. It was assumed that there might be cis-acting element(s) existing in this region. Whereas, the region located at -1030 — -902 bp strongly inhibited the expression ofgus and probably contained negative regulatory element(s). The fragment of -902 — -19 bp could also directgus expression at high level.     

黄土高原刺槐细根生长模型

通过室分析方法建立了细根表面积密度随土层深度变化的房室模型,并根据黄土高原人工刺槐林细根的调查数据,从数值上验证了模型S=Ah~B（C＋Dh＋Eh~2＋Fh~3）是房室模型的简化形式,还进一步建立了黄土高原刺槐细根生长关于土层深度和时间的动态生长模型.经验证,该模型能准确地计算黄土高原不同水分生态区及不同时间和土层的刺槐细根表面积密度,具有很高的应用价值.     

蛋白质组学研究揭示的甘蓝型油菜非生物胁迫应答机制

油菜(Brassica napus L.)是我国的主要油料作物之一,在生长发育过程中经常受到干旱、高温、高盐和营养缺乏等非生物胁迫。这些胁迫通常会阻碍油菜的生长发育,导致品质和产量下降。近年来,快速发展的高通量蛋白质组学技术为揭示油菜胁迫响应分子机制提供了新线索。本文综合分析了油菜不同组织/器官(如:叶片、根、下胚轴和种子)在响应盐、高温、干旱、草酸和缺素(磷、硫和硼)等逆境过程中675种蛋白质的丰度变化特征,揭示了其胁迫应答机制,主要包括:(1)通过G蛋白介导的信号通路感知与传递胁迫信号;(2)通过改变参与糖类与能量代谢相关酶的丰度调节代谢水平;(3)通过叶绿素合成的变化调节光合作用;(4)调节转录因子、蛋白质合成与命运相关蛋白质的丰度,从而在转录、翻译以及翻译后修饰等水平上应答逆境;(5)通过调节膜联蛋白、V型H+-ATP酶等质膜蛋白质,促进细胞内物质吸收与转运;(6)通过细胞骨架动态重塑保持正常细胞结构;(7)利用调节抗氧化酶系统清除活性氧,并通过合成多种防御物质减轻细胞受到的伤害。本综述为解析油菜逆境应答网络体系中的关键调控及代谢通路的变化提供了重要信息。     

Plant Regeneration from Petiole Protoplasts of Brassica napus

Two cultivars of Brassica napus, Altex and Canadian twins, were used as materials. Protoplasts isolated from petioles of plants grown in vitro were cultured in Nitsch medium supplemented with 0.5mg/L BA, 0.5mg/L NAA, lmg/L 2,4-D, 100mg/L serine, 800mg/L glutamine, 4% sucrose and 0.4mol/L mannitol. After 2 days of culture, the first division was observed. The division frequency estimated after 10 days of culture was 30-60%. One week after transferring onto MS medium containing 6mg/L GA3. and 3mg/L BA, protoplast-derived calli regenerated into shoots. The regeneration frequency of the two cultivars was 24% and 31% respectively. It was found that the protoplasts isolated from petioles could float on the surface of the 3% sucrose contained solution which was very favourable both to purification, and culture of the protoplasts.     

成都平原水稻-油菜轮作系统氧化亚氮排放

2005年6月—2006年6月利用静态箱/气相色谱法对成都平原水稻 油菜轮作系统氧化亚氮（N₂O）排放进行定位观测, 研究了该系统N₂O排放特征及土壤水热状况、氮肥施用、作物参与对N₂O排放的影响. 结果表明: 成都平原水稻-油菜轮作系统N₂O排放总量为（8.3±2.8）kg·hm^-2·a^-1, 水稻季、油菜季和休闲期对整个轮作周期N₂O排放总量的贡献分别为30%、65%和5%. 水稻季N₂O平均排放速率表现为排灌交替期最大, 持续淹水期和排水晒田期相当;氮肥施用是N₂O排放高峰出现的主要驱动力;土壤表层含水量偏低是旱季出现土壤N₂O吸收现象的主要原因. 土壤水分、土壤温度、施用氮肥和作物参与均在不同程度上影响N₂O排放, 土壤水分是影响N₂O排放的关键因子, 避免水稻季土壤频繁干湿交替或控制旱季土壤水分(表层土壤含水孔隙率介于50%～70%)可有效抑制N₂O排放.     

油菜抗冷相关基因BnCOR14的克隆及序列分析

以油菜沪油15幼叶为材料,采用RACE技术克隆获得1条新的抗冷相关基因(BnCOR14,GenBank登录号AY456378).该基因全长为564bp,含有1个387bp的开放阅读框(ORF),编码129个氨基酸的多肽,其理论分子量约为14kD.序列分析表明BnCOR14与拟南芥及荠菜等COR蛋白具有较高的相似性,且BnCOR14具有典型的LEA蛋白序列特征,表明BnCOR14可能在油菜抵抗冷胁迫的过程中具有重要的作用.     

Purification and characterization of a nitrilase from Brassica napus

In germinating seedlings of Brassica napus glucosinolate levels decrease and are potentially degraded to nitriles by a myrosinase. Little is known about the metabolism of glucosinolate aglycone products and the objective of this work was to investigate nitrilase activity and carry out a purification of the enzyme from seedlings of B. napus . A nitrilase capable of converting phenylpropionitrile to phenylpropionic acid was purified to apparent homogeneity from seedlings of B. napus . The protein has a molecular mass of approximately 420 kDa made up of 38 kDa subunits. The pI of the native protein was found to be 4.6. Under denaturing conditions on an isoelectric focusing (IEF) gel a major and minor protein was observed with pI in the range of 5.4-5.9, suggesting the presence of isoforms. Apart from the potential role of the nitrilase in indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) synthesis a developmental study with seedlings indicates that the increase in activity observed may be linked to the in vivo degradation of glucosinolates.     

甘蓝型油菜矮秆突变材料99CDAM的发现及遗传分析

随着杂种优势的利用,油菜株高增加了20cm以上,导致油菜生长后期倒伏的风险加大。通过利用特殊矮秆基因来控制株高将是解决倒伏问题的有效方法。在甘蓝型油菜自交多代品系中发现了一个株高85cm左右的矮秆突变株99CDAM,该突变株具有开花早、分枝多等优良特性,产量性状和品质性状较好,各性状都能稳定遗传,具有重要的育种价值。对99CDAM和高秆品系2091、7045和7350的正反交F1以及99CDAM和2091的F2、BC1及F2:3代的遗传分析结果表明： 99CDAM的矮秆性状受3对隐性基因控制,存在母体细胞质效应,与以往的甘蓝型矮秆油菜有明显的区别。