植物种质资源库的设计与建设要求

我国植物种质资源保存越来越受到重视,不少单位正在筹备建设植物种质资源库。由于植物种质资源库具有较强的专业特点,且至今还没有种质资源库的设计与建设规范,致使一些新建种质资源库需经几次改造和调试后才能投入使用。本文就有关植物种质资源库特点、设计原则和技术指标要求以及建设经验作一概述,以供参考。     

植物种质资源库的设计与建设要求

我国植物种质资源保存越来越受到重视, 不少单位正在筹备建设植物种质资源库。由于植物种质资源库具有较强的专业特点, 且至今还没有种质资源库的设计与建设规范, 致使一些新建种质资源库需经几次改造和调试后才能投入使用。本文就有关植物种质资源库特点、设计原则和技术指标要求以及建设经验作一概述, 以供参考。     

Growth Kinetics of Clostridium bifermentans and Its Ability to Degrade TNT Using an Inexpensive Alternative Medium

A strain of Clostridium bifermentans isolated from a munitions-supplemented anaerobic digester is known to degrade 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in rich media such as Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) broth. In order to make this biodegradation process commercially feasible, a new growth medium was developed. Corn steep liquor and molasses were selected as possible nitrogen and carbon sources. A medium containing 2.4% corn steep liquor and 0.4% molasses was chosen based on the value for maximum specific growth rate. The values of µ_m and K_s from continuous runs were of 0.029 min^-1 and 0.488 g/L, respectively. To reduce the overhead cost for maintaining an anoxic environment for this obligatory anaerobic bacterium, the threshold oxygen level under which the bacterium can survive was determined. The degradation of TNT was then carried out in a batch bioreactor, and in a continuously stirred tank bioreactor. The solubility of TNT was enhanced by using the surfactant, Tween 80, and the optimal concentration of Tween 80 was determined to be 2.5%. This concentration of Tween 80 increased TNT solubility by 100% while the effect on growth rate was minimal. Degradation of TNT was then carried out in a continuously stirred tank bioreactor and was found to follow Michaelis-Menten-type kinetics. Degradation of TNT was found to be possible under limited oxygen presence, but at a reduced degradation rate.     

Evaluation of an Inexpensive Growth Medium for Direct Detection of Escherichia coli in Temperate and Sub-Tropical Waters

The cost and complexity of traditional methods for the detection of faecal indicator bacteria, including E. coli, hinder widespread monitoring of drinking water quality, especially in low-income countries and outside controlled laboratory settings. In these settings the problem is exacerbated by the lack of inexpensive media for the detection of E. coli in drinking water. We developed a new low-cost growth medium, aquatest (AT), and validated its use for the direct detection of E. coli in temperate and sub-tropical drinking waters using IDEXX Quanti-Tray^®. AT was compared with IDEXX Colilert-18^® and either EC-MUG or MLSB for detecting low levels of E. coli from water samples from temperate (n = 140; Bristol, UK) and subtropical regions (n = 50, Pretoria/Tshwane, South Africa). Confirmatory testing (n = 418 and 588, respectively) and the comparison of quantitative results were used to assess performance. Sensitivity of AT was higher than Colilert-18^® for water samples in the UK [98.0% vs. 86.9%; p<0.0001] and South Africa [99.5% vs. 93.2%; p = 0.0030]. There was no significant difference in specificity, which was high for both media (>95% in both settings). Quantitative results were comparable and within expected limits. AT is reliable and accurate for the detection of E. coli in temperate and subtropical drinking water. The composition of the new medium is reported herein and can be used freely.     

A Simple and Inexpensive Design of Chemostat Enabling Steady-state Growth of Acer pseudoplatanus L. Cells under Phosphate-limiting Conditions

Operational and constructional details are given of a relativelysimple and inexpensive chemostat designed for the continuousculture of plant cells in suspension. This apparatus permitscontrol of the growth rate of sycamore, Acer pseudoplatanusL. cells in steady-state conditions. By alteration of the rateof input of medium different steady-state growth rates wereobtained over a wide range (mean doubling times from 182 h to36 h). In order to establish a growth-limiting nutrient thetime course of nutrient uptake in batch culture was measured.In batch culture the maximum growth obtained was proportionalto the initial concentration of phosphate when this was belowa concentration of 17 µg P per ml (as phosphate). It isalso shown in chemostat culture that the steady-state cell densityis proportional to the phosphate concentration in the mediumwhen this is below 17 µg P per ml (as phosphate). Phosphatewas therefore established to be the growth rate-limiting nutrientin chemostat culture at a concentration of 8•5 µgP per ml (as phosphate).     

Expansins in Plant Growth and Development: an Update on an Emerging Topic

Abstract: Expansins are a class of proteins identified by their ability to induce the extension of isolated plant cell walls. Expansins are encoded by an extensive multigene family in higher plants, several members of which have been shown to be expressed in a tissue-specific manner. Besides playing an apparently key role in wall expansion, and hence in cell growth, expansins have been implicated in an increasing number of processes during plant growth and development. These include: leaf organogenesis, fruit softening, and wall disassembly. A second class of closely related proteins (referred to as β-expansins) has been identified. Other recent advances in expansin research include the recovery of transgenic plants with altered level of expansins, and the production of recombinant expansins in het-erologous expression systems.     

拟南芥中与植物生长和耐寒相关的miRNA表达载体的构建

本研究通过PCR方法从拟南芥基因组序列中分离了3个理论推断与耐寒相关的miRNA片段(miRNA402,miRNA319和miRNA393)和1个与植物生长相关的片段miRNA172。利用重叠延伸PCR技术将miRNA172小分子,以及3个与耐寒相关的miRNA402,miRNA319和miRNA393小分子串连在一起分别导入植物表达载体pVKH-35S-GUS-pA,取代表达载体中的GUS基因,构建了pVKH-35S-mir172-pA和pVKH-35S-mir31+402+393-pA融合表达载体。经PCR和双酶切及测序鉴定,pVKH-35S-mir172-pA和pVKH-35S-mir319+402+393-pA构建成功,为后续利用基因工程手段,miRNA转化木薯,提高木薯生长和木薯耐寒相关研究奠定基础。     

植物微流芯片——一种实时定量监测生长发育的 高通量整合分析平台

生长发育是一个复杂的动态过程, 了解其发生细节是生命科学研究的重要内容。最新发展起来的微流芯片技术为实现这个目标提供了新的途径。动物及微生物中的应用表明, 该技术兼有实时定量监测和高通量整合处理的优势。在植物研究领域, 用针对根生长特点和要求设计的根微流芯片结合荧光共振能量转移探针已经成功地检测出拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)根细胞内葡萄糖和游离的Ca²⁺、Zn²⁺的浓度。随着各种底物特异的荧光共振能量转移探针的开发和应用, 根微流芯片还可以用来检测植物细胞内激素或其它代谢中间产物的浓度及其动态变化过程。不仅如此, 以微流芯片为基础发展起来的Plant Chip和Tip Chip则为研究植物与微生物的相互作用以及植物花粉管极性生长和细胞分裂分化提供了理想的平台。作为了解遗传因素或环境刺激导致细胞生命活动变化细节的有力工具, 微流芯片技术有望为植物研究领域带来更多新的进展和突破。     

Flooding and Plant Growth

This Special Issue is based on the 7th Conference of the InternationalSociety for Plant Anaerobiosis (ISPA), held in Nijmegen, TheNetherlands, 12–16 June 2001. The papers describe andanalyse many of the responses that plants display when subjectedto waterlogging of the soil or deeper submergence. These responsesmay be injurious or adaptive, and are discussed at various levelsof organizational complexity ranging from ecosystem processes,through individual plants to single cells. The research incorporatesmolecular biology and genetics, cell physiology, biochemistry,hormone physiology, whole plant physiology, plant demographyand ecology. The study of the damage to young rice plants causedby submergence, especially as experienced in the rainfed lowlandsof Asia, is comprehensively addressed. This work integratesvarious specialized approaches ranging from agronomy to moleculargenetics, and demonstrates how plant biology can be harnessedto improve stress tolerance in an important crop species whilesimultaneously improving basic understanding of tolerance mechanismsand plant processes.     

Promotion of Plant Cell Division by an Epidermal Growth Factor

In some specified treatments, an epidermal growth factor (EGF)promoted adventitious root formation in epicotyl cuttings ofVigna angularis. The number of the roots induced in cuttingstreated with 0.1 mg liter^-1 EGF during the first 24 h and with210^-4 M IAA during the second 24 h was 15% greater than thatof the roots in cuttings treated without EGF and with IAA. Analysisof the optimum timing of EGF application was performed by dividingthe first 24 h period into three sequential 8 h periods (0–8h, 8–16 h and 16–24 h). The most effective timeperiods in terms of the root formation were 8–16 h and16–24 h. The 0–8 h period was ineffective with respectto the formation. When carrot suspension cells were culturedfor 15 days at a very low cell density (1,000 cells/3 ml Murashigeand Skoog's medium) with more than 0.1 mg liter^-1 EGF, cellnumbers were 72% higher than those cultured without EGF. Theseresults suggest that EGF promotes cell division of plants. (Received October 5, 1992; Accepted May 24, 1993)     

Storage Organs and Plant Growth

The purpose of this activity is to model the expansion of the universe by investigating the behavior of water waves. It is designed for students in the upper grades of physics and physical science who are learning about the wave nature of light and are ready to discover such important questions about science. The article explains first the Doppler effect through water waves and then extends to how to interpret light waves coming from other galaxies. Therefore, in addition to raising the scientific curiosity of the students, this activity also gives them an understanding of the hypothesis–evidence relation and the interpretation of data.     

植物生长物质与植物抗旱性的关系(综述)

脱落酸、乙烯、多胺和细胞分裂素等是与植物抗旱性关系较为密切的几种植物激素。文章就植物在遭受干旱胁迫时其体内激素变化及喷施植物生长调节剂对植物抗旱性的影响进行概述,为生化调控植物抗旱性提供参考。     

Control of Leaf Growth and its Role in Determining Variation in Plant Growth Rate from an Ecological Perspective

Abstract: Plants vary widely in their relative growth rate (RGR), be it dependent on environmental conditions or due to their genetic background. In a comparison of the RGR of grasses growing under different environmental conditions, variation in RGR tends to correlate with that in the leaf elongation rate (LER). When different species or genotypes thereof are compared under identical growing conditions, variation in LER may or may not correlate with that in RGR, depending on the comparison. However, since RGR is described by an exponential equation, whereas LER is mainly a linear process, we conclude that any correlation between RGR and LER must be fortuitous. That is, exponential growth must be due to increases with time in plant traits such as 1) leaf dry mass per unit leaf length invested per unit time, and/or 2), i.e., the total LER of all the growing leaves at one point in time. The latter can be achieved as follows: 1) each subsequent leaf has a higher LER than the preceding one; 2) leaves appear at an increasing rate; 3) the duration of the process of leaf elongation increases for subsequent leaves. In this review, we only explore possible factors that account for changes in with time, in different genotypes and under different environmental conditions. Inherent variation in LER of individual leaves and variation due to environmental factors may reflect variation in the rate of cell division and/or in cell elongation.     

根黄酮在植物生长和营养中的作用

 本文简要综述了80年代以来国际上对根黄酮在调节植物根生长、完善根功能、影响氮素循环及在施加他感作用方面的研究进展,并对有关方面作了一些展望,以期引起植物营养工作者对植物次生物质的注意。     

Design,Construction, and Operation of a Fast Pyrolysis Plant for Biomass

A continuous fluidized‐bed plant (PDU‐scale) for fast pyrolysis of lingnocellulosic biomass gives rise to bio‐oil yields of 65 wt.‐%. The average reactor gas residence time was 1.2 s only. The gas and charcoal yields were 15–20 wt.‐%, respectively. The bio oils were chemically characterized. The main monomeric products of the thermal degradation of carbohydrates are acetic acid, hydroxyacetaldehyde, hydroxypropanone, and levoglucosan. The process described in this paper can also be used for disposal of inorganic‐, metal‐organic‐, and chlorine‐organic contaminated waste‐wood. Inorganic compounds of wood preservatives are concentrated in the charcoal fraction and can be separated easily. Chlorine‐organic wood preservatives are mostly degraded. The process has been positively tested as a technique for disposal, recycling, and exploitation of industrial biomass waste (wood waste, grinding grit, fibre sludge, cocoa shell and modern composites like HPL). Bio oil from fast pyrolysis can be used for the production of energy and chemical feedstock. Research for these purposes is ongoing.     

Design and Construction of an Urban Runoff Research Facility

As the urban population increases, so does the area of irrigated urban landscape. Summer water use in urban areas can be 2-3x winter base line water use due to increased demand for landscape irrigation. Improper irrigation practices and large rainfall events can result in runoff from urban landscapes which has potential to carry nutrients and sediments into local streams and lakes where they may contribute to eutrophication. A 1,000 m² facility was constructed which consists of 24 individual 33.6 m² field plots, each equipped for measuring total runoff volumes with time and collection of runoff subsamples at selected intervals for quantification of chemical constituents in the runoff water from simulated urban landscapes. Runoff volumes from the first and second trials had coefficient of variability (CV) values of 38.2 and 28.7%, respectively. CV values for runoff pH, EC, and Na concentration for both trials were all under 10%. Concentrations of DOC, TDN, DON, PO₄-P, K⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺ had CV values less than 50% in both trials. Overall, the results of testing performed after sod installation at the facility indicated good uniformity between plots for runoff volumes and chemical constituents. The large plot size is sufficient to include much of the natural variability and therefore provides better simulation of urban landscape ecosystems.     

Construction and Analysis of an Augmented Lattice Square Design

Augmented designs are useful for screening experiments involving large numbers of new and untried treatments. Since resolvable row‐column designs are useful for controlling extraneous variation, it is desirable to use such designs for the check or standard treatments to construct augmented lattice square experiment designs. A simple procedure is described for constructing such designs using c = 2k and c = 3k check treatments and n = rk(k ‐— 2) and n = rk(k — 3) new treatments, respectively, r being the number of complete blocks. A trend analysis for these designs, which allows for solutions of fixed effects, is presented. The random effects case is also discussed. A SAS computer code and the output from this code illustrated with a small numerical example are available from the author.