紫茎泽兰入侵前后抗虫物质含量差异及其对泽兰实蝇寄生的响应

【目的】紫茎泽兰是我国重要的入侵杂草,对我国生态环境和农、林、牧业造成重大危害。本研究通过比较紫茎泽兰原产地与入侵地种群地上部抗虫物质含量的差异及其对泽兰实蝇寄生的响应,为探明紫茎泽兰入侵种群持续扩张的化学生态机制提供依据。【方法】选取5个紫茎泽兰种群(3个中国云南种群:C1,C2,C3;2个墨西哥种群:M1,M2),比较原产地和入侵地种群地上部分碳氮比、单宁类(单宁酸、儿茶素、鞣花酸)和类黄酮物质(槲皮素、异槲皮素、山奈酚)含量差异,以及泽兰实蝇寄生前后这些抗虫物质的含量变化。【结果】入侵地种群地上部分碳氮比不同程度地低于原产地种群,茎秆部位差异最明显。紫茎泽兰入侵地种群的单宁类和类黄酮物质含量亦低于原产地种群,其中,芽尖部位单宁酸和儿茶素含量差异尤为明显,分别比原产地种群低26.4%和32.3%。泽兰实蝇寄生后,原产地和入侵地种群单宁类和类黄酮物质含量基本呈上升趋势,其中,M1种群寄生植株在虫瘿破膜前,儿茶素含量比未寄生植株升高了163.2%。【结论】紫茎泽兰入侵种群在抗虫特性方面产生了资源再分配的适应性变化,有利于其在新生境天敌缺乏条件下的持续扩张。虽然泽兰实蝇寄生会诱导紫茎泽兰原产地种群和入侵地种群抗虫物质的增加,但原产地种群增加的幅度更大,表明紫茎泽兰入侵后对专食性天敌胁迫的适应性明显下降。     

丛枝菌根真菌在内的土壤真菌对入侵植物紫茎泽兰的正反馈：证据来自野外实验

包括紫茎泽兰在内的许多外来植物都能够与新入侵生境的丛枝菌根真菌（ AMF）形成互利共生,因此菌根真菌如何调节外来植物种的入侵是当前亟待研究的问题。测定了紫茎泽兰入侵不同阶段（紫茎泽兰呈零星丛状分布于本地植物群落中[部分入侵生境]及紫茎泽兰单优群落形成期[入侵生境]）的土壤化学性状,而后通过野外试验,采用杀真菌剂处理,研究了包括AMF在内的土壤真菌对紫茎泽兰入侵的反馈作用。紫茎泽兰入侵改变了土壤化学性状。施用杀真菌剂降低了紫茎泽兰叶面积、叶片碳、氮、磷、和δ13 C含量。综合分析发现,在紫茎泽兰与本地植物混生群落中,土壤真菌能够增加紫茎泽兰叶片碳和δ13 C含量,但是不能提高紫茎泽兰的光合作用,表明碳和δ13 C含量的提高,不是光合作用的结果,而是通过其他机制实现的。因此可以得出,在部分入侵生境中,碳从土壤或临近植物经由菌丝网向紫茎泽兰转移。紫茎泽兰入侵不同阶段土壤养分的变化利于紫茎泽兰种群建立,同时利于紫茎泽兰借助真菌（尤其是AMF）从土壤或临近植物转移碳,促进种群扩散,这可能是紫茎泽兰入侵的机制之一。     

丛枝菌根真菌在内的土壤真菌对入侵植物紫茎泽兰的正反馈:证据来自野外实验(英文)

【背景】包括紫茎泽兰在内的许多外来植物都能够与新入侵生境的丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)形成互利共生,因此菌根真菌如何调节外来植物种的入侵是当前亟待研究的问题。【方法】测定了紫茎泽兰入侵不同阶段(紫茎泽兰呈零星丛状分布于本地植物群落中[部分入侵生境]及紫茎泽兰单优群落形成期[入侵生境])的土壤化学性状,而后通过野外试验,采用杀真菌剂处理,研究了包括AMF在内的土壤真菌对紫茎泽兰入侵的反馈作用。【结果】紫茎泽兰入侵改变了土壤化学性状。施用杀真菌剂降低了紫茎泽兰叶面积、叶片碳、氮、磷、和δ13C含量。【结论与意义】综合分析发现,在紫茎泽兰与本地植物混生群落中,土壤真菌能够增加紫茎泽兰叶片碳和δ13C含量,但是不能提高紫茎泽兰的光合作用,表明碳和δ13C含量的提高,不是光合作用的结果,而是通过其他机制实现的。因此可以得出,在部分入侵生境中,碳从土壤或临近植物经由菌丝网向紫茎泽兰转移。紫茎泽兰入侵不同阶段土壤养分的变化利于紫茎泽兰种群建立,同时利于紫茎泽兰借助真菌(尤其是AMF)从土壤或临近植物转移碳,促进种群扩散,这可能是紫茎泽兰入侵的机制之一。     

原产地和入侵地紫茎泽兰对泽兰实蝇的选择性、卵巢蛋白质含量与解毒酶活性的影响

[目的] 紫茎泽兰是我国危害严重的恶性入侵杂草。比较专一性天敌泽兰实蝇对该杂草入侵前后植株的适应性,是揭示外来植物入侵后适应性机制的重要科学问题之一。[方法] 比较泽兰实蝇对原产地和入侵地紫茎泽兰植株的寄主选择性,并测定寄生于2类植株的上泽兰实蝇卵巢蛋白质含量及乙酰胆碱酯酶、羧酸酯酶、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶活性。[结果] 泽兰实蝇对原产地和入侵地紫茎泽兰的选择无显著性差异;寄生在紫茎泽兰入侵地植株上的卵巢蛋白质含量较原产地植株上更高。解毒酶活力比较表明,入侵地紫茎泽兰上泽兰实蝇的羧酸酯酶活性低于原产地上的,但谷胱甘肽S-转移酶（雌虫）活性比较则相反,乙酰胆碱酯酶活性比较均无显著性差异。[结论] 紫茎泽兰入侵后,专一性天敌泽兰实蝇的适应性有所下降,丰富了外来植物入侵机制中天敌逃逸假说的内涵。     

三种土壤条件下紫茎泽兰根际的酶活性及细菌群落状况

紫茎泽兰被列为我国危害最严重的外侵植物,为探索其侵入机制,以四川省凉山州的3种主要土壤?红壤、黄壤和紫色土为研究对象,比较了根际和非根际土壤(距离根系约20 cm)的酶活性及细菌群落。结果表明,尽管土壤类型不同,根际酶活性(过氧化氢酶、酸性磷酸酶、脲酶和蔗糖酶)及微生物量碳氮显著高于非根际,说明紫茎泽兰的根系生命活动促进根际微生物生长繁殖,数量增加,活性增强,有益于土壤养分供应,促进紫茎泽兰生长,提高生存竞争优势。在不同类型的土壤中,紫茎泽兰根际细菌的分类单元数和主成分方差比非根际降低或无显著变化,说明紫茎泽兰对土壤细菌群落的影响因土壤而异。3种土壤的优势菌株种类差异极大,根际20种优势细菌中仅链霉菌1(Streptomyces1)为共有菌株,非根际仅有绿弯菌(Chloroflexi KD4-96)为共有菌株,说明紫茎泽兰能在细菌群落不同的土壤上生长,具有极强的适应性。但是,3种土壤的优势细菌均为放线菌门、变形菌门和拟杆菌门,合计占细菌总量的60.69%—78.75%;就同一种土壤而言,根际20种优势细菌中有8—11株与非根际相同。因此,土壤类型是决定细菌群落的主要因素,但因紫茎泽兰入侵而发生一定程度的变化。     

紫茎泽兰不同入侵区域土壤细菌群落多样性比较研究

【目的】紫茎泽兰的入侵将对入侵地生态环境和农业经济造成严重危害,比较紫茎泽兰不同入侵区域土壤细菌多样性,丰富入侵植物的土壤微生物假说,也为紫茎泽兰的防控提供重要的理论依据。【方法】采用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFAs)分析法和16s rDNA高通量测序法,对不同紫茎泽兰重度入侵区域其根际土壤细菌群落进行分析比较,在此基础上使用相关性分析和主成分分析等统计方法,比较土壤细菌群落差异,探究其与土壤环境因子之间的相互关系。【结果】(1)各采样点中紫茎泽兰根际土壤细菌含量占微生物总量的比例均高于60%。其中Y2样点土壤细菌含量显著高于其他样点样品,达123.74μg·g~(-1),但该样地中检测到的门、科、属数量均低于其他样点。(2)从门水平上看,各样点土壤样品中相对丰度最高的前五个门分别是变形杆菌门、放线菌门、酸杆菌门、拟杆菌门和疣微菌门,其中变形杆菌门的相对丰度均为最高,在细菌群落中所占比例均超过30%;从属水平上看,四个样点存在不同的优势菌群,Y1样点优势菌群为固氮菌属和芽孢杆菌属,Y2样点优势菌群为乳酸杆菌属、结核分枝杆菌属以及根瘤菌属等,Y3样点优势属为鞘氨醇单胞菌属,Y4中的优势菌群为假单胞菌属。(3)土壤速效钾、铵态氮、有机碳、蔗糖酶、脲酶以及蛋白酶等环境因子与土壤细菌群落Alpha多样性指数存在显著相关性;土壤速效钾、硝态氮、有机碳、蔗糖酶、脲酶、蛋白酶等环境因子影响不同样点紫茎泽兰根际土壤细菌群落组成。【结论】不同紫茎泽兰重度入侵区域其根际土壤细菌在含量、门水平和属水平上均存在差异。土壤速效钾、有机质含量、蔗糖酶、脲酶等是影响土壤细菌群落结构的主要因素。     

紫茎泽兰根际土壤中优势细菌的筛选鉴定及拮抗性能评价

采用分离培养的方法,从紫茎泽兰根际土壤中筛选鉴定了优势细菌25株,并测定了其中8株优势细菌及其代谢产物对病原菌的拮抗性能．结果表明：紫茎泽兰根际土壤中存在着丰富的芽孢杆菌和假单胞菌,其中枯草芽孢杆菌和巨大芽孢杆菌数量最多,占鉴定细菌总数的55．6％;这些优势细菌类群对番茄枯萎病菌和青枯病菌有不同程度的拮抗作用,以枯草芽孢杆菌BS-5和苏云金芽孢杆BT-1对番茄枯萎病菌的拮抗效果最为明显,其代谢产物的抑菌率分别为85．5％和83．8％;优势细菌代谢液比菌体对病原菌的拮抗作用更强．紫茎泽兰根际丰富的具有强拮抗性能的细菌类群可能是紫茎泽兰不受土传病害侵扰的原因,也是其逃避天敌的重要手段;通过这种根际有益微生物的反馈作用,紫茎泽兰在与当地植物竞争中直接或间接地处于有利地位,从而有利于其排挤当地植物,迅速扩张蔓延．     

不同入侵程度紫茎泽兰碳氮磷生态化学计量特征研究

紫茎泽兰(Ageratina adenophora)是一种生态危害性较大的入侵植物。为探讨不同入侵程度下紫茎泽兰的化学计量特征,进一步揭示其营养策略与入侵机制,该研究以紫茎泽兰及其本土伴生种条叶猪屎豆(Crotalaria linifolia)为对象,测定研究了轻度入侵、中度入侵和重度入侵下紫茎泽兰根、茎、叶中碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)化学计量特征与其入侵地土壤养分状况,并进一步比较了紫茎泽兰和条叶猪屎豆的C、N、P化学计量特征。结果表明：(1)3种入侵程度下,紫茎泽兰叶N、P含量均显著大于根和茎N、P含量,将更多的N和P分配至叶,增加资源获取,以利快速生长。(2)3种入侵程度下,紫茎泽兰茎N∶P<根N∶P<叶N∶P,且茎N∶P在中度入侵下显著大于轻度入侵,在入侵过程中其茎呈现出较高的生长速率,可促进其获取更多环境资源,增强生长竞争优势。(3)与本土种条叶猪屎豆相比,紫茎泽兰具有更高的根P、茎P含量,根和茎C∶P、N∶P均显著小于条叶猪屎豆,各器官C∶N均显著大于条叶猪屎豆,显示出较高的养分利用效率及较低的资源需求量。(4)紫茎泽兰茎C和叶C、茎N和叶N均呈显著正相关,茎...     

Bacillus promotes invasiveness of exotic Flaveria bidentis by increasing its nitrogen and phosphorus uptake

芽孢杆菌通过提高黄顶菊对氮和磷的吸收促进外来黄顶菊的入侵 外来植物入侵对土壤芽孢杆菌(Bacillus)多样性的影响及芽孢杆菌在外来植物入侵中的作用目前尚不清楚。黄顶菊(Flaveria bidentis)是入侵中国的有害杂草,狗尾草(Setaria viridis)是黄顶菊入侵地常见的伴生植物种。本研究利用野外大田试验和温室盆栽试验,比较黄顶菊和狗尾草根际土壤芽孢杆菌群落结构的差异,以及黄顶菊和狗尾草根际土壤芽孢杆菌对黄顶菊竞争生长的影响。野外大田试验包括黄顶菊 单种、黄顶菊和狗尾草混种、狗尾草单种3个处理。利用16S rRNA基因测序技术研究了不同处理两种植物 根际土壤芽孢杆菌的多样性,获知黄顶菊根际土壤聚集的优势芽孢杆菌;利用温室盆栽试验探究优势芽孢杆菌对黄顶菊竞争生长的影响。研究结果表明,黄顶菊和狗尾草根际土壤芽孢杆菌多样性差异显著,其中耐寒芽孢杆菌是黄顶菊和狗尾草根际土壤聚集的优势芽孢杆菌,但是黄顶菊根际土壤中耐寒芽孢杆菌相对丰度显著高于狗尾草根际土壤耐寒芽孢杆菌的相对丰度。接菌试验表明,与狗尾草根际土壤中的耐寒芽孢杆菌相比,黄顶菊根际土壤聚集的耐寒芽孢杆菌提高了黄顶菊体内氮和磷的水平。总之,黄顶菊入侵改变了根际土壤芽孢杆菌的群落结构,黄顶菊根际土壤聚集的耐寒芽孢杆菌通过提高黄顶菊植株体内氮、磷水平来促进黄顶菊的生长。     

Shifts in chemical and microbiological properties belowground of invader Ageratina adenophora along an altitudinal gradient

入侵植物紫茎泽兰根围土壤化学及微生物属性海拔变化格局 热带地区山地生态系统是外来植物入侵的重要区域,是研究外来植物扩散机制的“天然实验室”。本研究试图探明入侵植物紫茎泽兰(Ageratina adenophora)根围土壤化学(pH及土壤养分)和微生物(酶活性和细菌群落)特性沿海拔梯度的变化规律。本研究以哀牢山(1400–2400 m)不同海拔梯度分布的紫茎泽兰为研究对象,采集根围土,测定土壤有机碳及养分含量,以及植物根系碳和氮含量。分析与土壤有机碳、氮及磷循环的酶活性,通过计算土壤酶化学计量参数,探究微生物生长代谢利用碳、氮及磷的规律。借助高通量测序技术对16S rDNA的V4区测序,分析细菌群落结构。研究结果显示,海拔显著影响紫茎泽兰根系氮及及其根围土壤有机碳含量,且这些测量指标在海拔2000 m  出现拐点。处在低海拔,入侵植物快速生长耗竭土壤中相对缺乏的磷,磷素是限制微生物生长的重要养分元素;而在高海拔,微生物需要投入更多的能量降解有机质获取碳,导致微生物生长的碳限制。细菌群落β多样性及pH  是决定不同海拔酶化学计量参数差异的重要因子;变形菌门和酸杆菌门是决定微生物养分利用状况的主要细菌门类。这些结果阐明了不同海拔梯度上紫茎泽兰根围土壤微生物的养分利用规律,有助于认识入侵植物沿海拔扩散机制。     

Effects of MULTIFOLIATE-PINNA, AFILA, TENDRIL-LESS and UNIFOLIATA genes on leafblade architecture in Pisum sativum

In order to dissect the genetic regulation of leafblade morphogenesis, 16 genotypes of pea, constructed by combining the wild-type and mutant alleles of MFP, AF, TL and UNI genes, were quantitatively phenotyped. The morphological features of the three domains of leafblades of four genotypes, unknown earlier, were described. All the genotypes were found to differ in leafblade morphology. It was evident that MFP and TL functions acted as repressor of pinna ramification, in the distal domain. These functions, with and without interaction with UNI, also repressed the ramification of proximal pinnae in the absence of AF function. The expression of MFP and TL required UNI function. AF function was found to control leafblade architecture multifariously. The earlier identified role of AF as a repressor of UNI in the proximal domain was confirmed. Negative control of AF on the UNI-dependent pinna ramification in the distal domain was revealed. It was found that AF establishes a boundary between proximal and distal domains and activates formation of leaflet pinnae in the proximal domain.     

Presence of Rhizobium Etli bv . Phaseoli and Rhizobium Gallicum bv . Gallicum in Egyptian Soils

Seven bean rhizobial strains EBRI 2, 3, 21, 24, 26, 27 and 29 identified as Rhizobium etli, and EBRI 32 identified as Rhizobium gallicum, isolated from Egyptian soils and which nodulated Phaseolus vulgaris efficiently, were subjected to hybridization with a nifH probe in order to estimate the copy number of this gene. Seven strains (EBRI 2, 3, 21, 24, 26, 27 and 29) which were only able to nodulate Phaseolus vulgaris, contained three copies of the nifH gene, consistent with their identification as Rhizobium etli bv. phaseoli. Only one strain (EBRI 32) which nodulated both Phaseolus vulgaris and Leucaena leucocephala, had one copy of nifH gene. This confirmed the classification of this strain as Rhizobium gallicum bv. gallicum.     

Characterisation of cell wall polysaccharides, arabinogalactans-proteins (AGPs) and phenolics of Cola nitida, Cola acuminata and Garcinia kola seeds

Many Cola plant species are endemic to West and Central Africa. Cola acuminata and Cola nitida are used as masticatory when fresh, while the dried nuts are used for beverages and pharmaceutical purposes in Europe and North America. Garcinia kola seeds, that serve as a substitute for the true kola nuts, are used in African traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including colic, headache and liver cirrhosis. Seeds extracts of G. kola are also known for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral properties. To gain information on the chemical properties of the kolas, we have isolated and analyzed cell wall polysaccharides, arabinogalactan-proteins and phenolic substances from the seeds of the three kola species. The sugar composition of cell wall material of C. acuminata, C. nitida and G. kola revealed that Gal (up to 30%), Ara, GalA and Glc as the predominant monosaccharides, representing approximately 90% by mol of the total hydrolysable sugar present in this material. In Ammonium oxalate cell wall fraction, GalA was found to be the major sugar present in all kola species. In the alkali-soluble fraction, there were significant differences in the level of Glc and Gal. The level of Glc was high in C. acuminata and C. nitida while the level of Gal and Xyl were high in C. nitida and G. cola. Isolation and quantification of arabinogalactan-proteins demonstrate that G. kola seeds contained four to eight times more of these proteoglycans than the seeds of the other two species. Finally, analysis of soluble phenolic substances shows that caffeine and catechin were largely represented in C. acumina and C. nitida seeds, with caffeine accounting for 50% of all soluble phenolics. These findings indicate that the three Kola seeds are highly enriched in pectins and proteoglycans and that C. acuminata and C. nitida can be used as a possible source of caffeine and catechin.     

水椰八角铁甲和椰心叶甲对椰子和银海枣的寄主选择性

【目的】水椰八角铁甲和椰心叶甲均为棕榈科植物的重要入侵害虫,两者的外部形态、取食部位和危害特征相似。研究它们的寄主选择性有助于了解这2种害虫的扩散和成灾机制。【方法】在室内用椰子和银海枣2种寄主植物分别饲养水椰八角铁甲和椰心叶甲,研究在不同寄主植物上水椰八角铁甲和椰心叶甲的存活率、产卵率、发育历期等以及这2种害虫对不同寄主植物的选择性。【结果】水椰八角铁甲在2种寄主上的存活率差异显著,除了卵期和蛹期之外,幼虫期各虫态在银海枣上的存活率明显比在椰子上的存活率高;椰心叶甲在椰子上的存活率高于银海枣,各虫态平均存活率分别为95%和86%。取食银海枣的水椰八角铁甲达标准卵量概率为0.23,取食椰子不产卵,无法完成整个世代;取食椰子的椰心叶甲达标准卵量概率为0.86,取食银海枣不产卵,也无法完成整个世代;水椰八角铁甲取食银海枣完成世代的实验种群趋势指数为12.55,椰心叶甲取食椰子完成世代的实验种群趋势指数为66.55。【结论】水椰八角铁甲和椰心叶甲分别对银海枣和椰子这2种寄主植物具有明显的选择性。在海南椰子树的数量远远超过银海枣,该实验结果在一定程度上解释了椰心叶甲在海南岛广泛分布而水椰八角铁甲只是零星发生的原因。     

Comparative study of Bifidobacteriumanimalis, Escherichiacoli, Lactobacilluscasei and Saccharomycesboulardii probiotic properties

The present work investigates some probiotic properties of four different microorganisms (Bifidobacterium animalis var. lactis BB-12, Escherichia coli EMO, Lactobacillus casei and Saccharomyces boulardii). In vitro and in vivo tests were carried out to compare cell wall hydrophobicity, production of antagonistic substances, survival capacity in the gastrointestinal tract of germ-free mice without pathological consequence, and immune modulation by stimulation of Küpffer cells, intestinal sIgA and IL-10 levels. In vitro antagonism against pathogenic bacteria and yeast was only observed for the probiotic bacteria B. animalis and L. casei. The hydrophobic property of the cell wall was higher for B. animalis and E. coli EMO, and this property could be responsible for a better ability to colonize the gastrointestinal tract of germ-free mice. Higher levels of sIgA were observed mainly for S. boulardii, followed by E. coli EMO and B. animalis, and only S. boulardii induced a significant higher level of IL-10. In conclusion, for a probiotic use, S. boulardii presented better characteristics in terms of immunomodulation, and B. animalis and L. casei for antagonistic substance production. The knowledge of the different probiotic properties could be used to choice the better microorganism depending on the therapeutic or prophylactic application.     

Multiplex PCR for simultaneous detection of enterococcal genes vanA and vanB and staphylococcal genes mecA, ileS-2 and femB

The experimental transfer of the vanA gene cluster from Enterococcus faecalis to Staphylococcus aureus has raised fears about the occurrence of such genetic transfer in clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant staphylococci. Recently, infections by a S. aureus strain carrying the enterococcal vancomycin resistance vanA gene cluster were reported. The possible emergence and dissemination of these strains is a serious health threat and makes optimization of prevention strategies and fast detection methods absolutely necessary. In the present study, we developed a PCR protocol for simultaneous detection of enterococcal vanA and vanB genes , the staphylococcal methicillin and mupirocin resistance markers mecA and ileS-2, and identification of S. aureus. As no vancomycin-resistant S. aureus isolates were available for our study, we used mixtures of enterococcal and staphylococcal colonies that harbored the different resistance markers to show that these genes could be detected simultaneously. This protocol could be used to facilitate the detection and identification of predictable S. aureus or methicillin-resistant strains carrying vanA or vanB.     

百合LbCAT和LbGPX基因的克隆与表达分析

以切花百合(Lilium brownii var. viridulum)‘卡瓦纳’cDNA为模板,克隆了过氧化氢酶(LbCAT)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(LbGPX)基因。序列分析表明,这2个基因分别包含1 479 bp和519 bp的开放阅读框(ORF),编码492个和172个氨基酸。进化分析结果表明,LbCAT蛋白与岷江百合CAT蛋白的氨基酸序列相似性最高(99.19%),且亲缘关系最近;LbGPX蛋白与油棕GPX蛋白的氨基酸序列相似性最高(78.61%),亲缘关系最近。qRT PCR结果显示,LbCAT和LbGPX在百合根、鳞茎、叶和花中都有表达。LbCAT在叶中表达量最高,LbGPX在花中表达量最高。这2个基因在百合花蕾的生长发育过程中均有表达,且表达量逐渐增加;在PEG处理后2个基因的转录水平升高,但独角金内酯(SLs)处理却显著降低了这2个基因的转录水平;该结果为百合抗逆性机理研究以及抗逆育种奠定了基础。     

Doc and copia instability in an isogenic Drosophila melanogaster stock

A high degree of heterogeneity and an overall increase in number of insertion sites of the mobile elements Doc and copia were revealed in one substock of an isogenic Drosophila melanogaster stock, while in two other substocks the distribution of copia sites was highly homogenous, but that of Doc sites was again heterogenous. We therefore concluded that copia was unstable in one of the substocks and Doc was unstable in all. Doc instability presumably arose earlier than copia instability. Doc and copia transpositions were directly observed in experiments with one substock. An abundance of copia insertions was revealed in the X chromosome where insertions with deleterious effects are exposed to selection in hemizygous condition. The locations of many other mobile elements (mdg1, mdg2, mdg3, mdg4, 297, B104, H.M.S. Beagle, I, P, BS, FB) were found to be conserved in each substock and did not differ between them, indicating that these mobile elements were stable. This homogeneity is a strong argument against any possibility of inadvertent contamination.     

Hydroxylation of steroids by Fusarium oxysporum, Exophiala jeanselmei and Ceratocystis paradoxa

The potential of Fusarium oxysporum var. cubense UAMH 9013 to perform steroid biotransformations was reinvestigated using single phase and pulse feed conditions. The following natural steroids served as substrates: dehydroepiandrosterone (1), pregnenolone (2), testosterone (3), progesterone (4), cortisone (5), prednisone (6), estrone (7) and sarsasapogenin (8). The results showed the possible presence of C-7 and C-15 hydroxylase enzymes. This hypothesis was explored using three synthetic androstanes: androstane-3,17-dione (9), androsta-4,6-diene-3,17-dione (10) and 3α,5α-cycloandrost-6-en-17-one (11). These fermentations of non-natural steroids showed that C-7 hydroxylation was as a result of that position being allylic. The evidence also pointed towards the presence of a C-15 hydroxylase enzyme.The eleven steroids were also fed to Exophialajeanselmei var. lecanii-corni UAMH 8783. The results showed that the fungus appears to have very active 5α and 14α-hydroxylase enzymes, and is also capable of carrying out allylic oxidations.Ceratocystis paradoxa UAMH 8784 was grown in the presence of the above-mentioned steroids. The results showed that monooxygenases which effect allylic hydroxylation and Baeyer–Villiger rearrangement were active. However, redox reactions predominated.