Morphogenesis of leaves and cones of male short-shoots of Ginkgo biloba L.

Although the subject of several studies, the phylogeny of Ginkgo biloba is still ambiguous. Most of the morphological and some palaeontological studies assume a close relationship to conifers, but other palaeontological studies regard the origin of Ginkgo biloba in groups that exhibit a pinnate bauplan like Peltaspermales or Dicranophyllales. This divergence has led to controversial interpretations of male sporangiophores and leaves. Attempting to resolve this, here we have investigated the male cones and leaves of short-shoots by SEM and light-microscopy. Our results indicate that the male sporangiophores are simple structures, and the observed formation of thickened cell walls at the sterile adaxial side of the sporangiophores, similar to the endothecium of the sporangia, gives weak support for a precursor of Ginkgo-sporangiophores that displayed simple male sporangiophores with radial arrangement of the sporangia. Thus, our interpretations of the male sporangiophores of Ginkgo biloba allude to a relationship with Coniferales, Gnetales and Cordaitales and reject a close relationship of Ginkgo biloba with pinnate groups like Cycadaceae, as assumed by some molecular studies. In contrast to previous studies on long-shoot leaves, our results on short-shoot leaves give no indication for a compound character of Ginkgo leaves. Moreover, we infer that Ginkgo leaves could be derived from a simple bauplan, by two modifications of the basic growth pattern of conifer leaves, assuming that the dissection of Ginkgo leaves is secondary. Although more comparative investigations are necessary, our results support a coniferophyte origin of the Ginkgoales.     

Morphogenesis of Male Sporangiophores of Zamia amblyphyllidia D. W. Stev.

Abstract: Morphology, development and anatomy of the male cones of Zamia amblyphyllidia are studied here to amass additional information to develop a more convincing concept of the evolution of seed plants. The male sporangiophores of the cycads are usually regarded as simple sporangiophores with synangia on the abaxial side. Our developmental study of the male sporangiophores of Zamia amblyphyllidia, by scanning and light microscopy, suggests that the sporangiophores are pinnate, with synangia on reduced leaflets. This indicates that a significant difference between female and male sporangiophores in cycads, as previously stated, does not exist. Comparisons of male sporangiophores of cycads with those of conifers show that they are not homologous. Rather, the synangia of the cycads may better be homologised with the radial synangia groups in some pteridosperm taxa. Although several authors assume that the cycad precursor displayed entire, fertile and sterile leaves, our interpretations of the male sporangiophores indicate that cycads originated from a pinnate pteridospermous ancestor with radial synangia groups. These hypotheses may point to the Medullosaceae, although this remains to be substantiated.     

Stromata, sporangiomata and chlamydosori of Phytophthora ramorum on inoculated Mediterranean woody plants

Three types of multihyphal structures, stromata, sporangiomata and chlamydosori, are described for the plant pathogen Phytophthora ramorum. Their morphology, morphogenesis and position on the host organ were observed by dissecting, compound and scanning electron microscopy. Stromata were consistently formed one to two weeks after zoospore inoculation of detached leaves and fruits of an assortment of Mediterranean sclerophyll shrubs. Stroma initials appeared subcuticularly or subepidermally and developed as small hyphal aggregates by repeated branching, budding, swelling and interweaving, eventually forming a prosenchyma. They always emerged through the adaxial side of the leaf by rupture of the overlying host tissue. Occasionally sporangia and chlamydosori (packed clusters of chlamydospores) were formed on the stromata. Sporangiomata bore short sporangiophores and clusters of 20–100 sporangia and resembled sporodochia of the mitosporic fungi. The biological significance of these multihyphal structures is discussed. Some epidemiological aspects were also studied: several understorey species of the holm oak (Quercus ilex) woodland were susceptible to in vitro infection with three isolates of P. ramorum originally collected from different ornamental hosts. The risk of spread to this ecosystem is evaluated.     

拮抗烟草疫霉的枝穗霉菌株筛选

【背景】烟草疫霉(Phytophthora nicotianae)引起的烟草黑胫病(tobacco black shank)是烤烟生产上重要的土传根茎病害之一,生产上防治困难。【目的】筛选对病原菌具有强拮抗能力的有益微生物菌株是开展生物防治的基础。【方法】采用平板对峙法筛选对烟草疫霉具有拮抗作用的枝穗霉菌株。根据枝穗霉在烟草疫霉菌落上的覆盖程度和产孢量,以及对烟草疫霉菌丝、孢囊梗和孢子囊的缠绕情况,将枝穗霉的拮抗能力划分为强、中等、弱和无4个等级。【结果】供试8种65株枝穗霉中,6株具有强拮抗能力、27株具有中等拮抗能力、22株具有弱拮抗能力、10株无拮抗能力;不同枝穗霉菌株对烟草疫霉的抑制率大小为20.0%-86.7%。【结论】粉红枝穗霉(Clonostachys rosea)菌株7901、11361和亚麻生枝穗霉(C. byssicola)5072、6729、7507及条孢枝穗霉(C. grammicospora)6730对烟草疫霉具有强拮抗能力,这为后续盆栽试验及作用机理研究等提供了种质资源。     

From near extinction to diversification by means of a shift in pollination mechanism in the gymnosperm relict Ephedra (Ephedraceae,Gnetales)

Pollination in gymnosperms is usually accomplished by means of wind, but some groups are insect‐pollinated. We show that wind and insect pollination occur in the morphologically uniform genus Ephedra (Gnetales). Based on field experiments over several years, we demonstrate distinct differences between two Ephedra species that grow in sympatry in Greece in pollen dispersal and clump formation, insect visitations and embryo formation when insects are denied access to cones. Ephedra distachya, nested in the core clade of Ephedra, is anemophilous, which is probably the prevailing state in Ephedra. Ephedra foeminea, sister to the remaining species of the genus, is entomophilous and pollinated by a range of diurnal and nocturnal insects. The generalist entomophilous system of E. foeminea, with distinct but infrequent insect visitations, is in many respects similar to that reported for Gnetum and Welwitschia and appears ancestral in Gnetales. The Ephedra lineage is well documented already from the Early Cretaceous, but the diversity declined dramatically during the Late Cretaceous, possibly to near extinction around the Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary. The clade imbalance between insect‐ and wind‐pollinated lineages is larger than expected by chance and the shift in pollination mode may explain why Ephedra escaped extinction and began to diversify again.     

The phylogenetic positions of the conifer genera Amentotaxus,Phyllocladus, and Nageia inferred from 18s rRNA sequences

To determine the evolutionary positions of the conifer genera Amentotaxus, Phyllocladus, and Nageia, we obtained 18S rRNA sequences from 11 new taxa representing the major living orders and families of gymnosperms. With the published Chlamydomonas as an outgroup, phylogenetic analyses of our new data and available sequences indicate that (1) the Gnetales form a monophyletic group, which is an outgroup to the conifers, (2) the conifers are monophyletic, (3) Taxaceae, Cephalotaxaceae, Cupressaceae, and Taxodiaceae form a monophyletic group, (4) Amentotaxus is closer to Torreya than to Cephalotaxus, suggesting that Amentotaxus is better to be classified as a member of Taxaceae, (5) Phyllocladus, Dacrycarpus, Podocarpus, and Nageia form a monophyletic group, and (6) Pinaceae is an outgroup to the other families of conifers. Our finding that Phyllocladus is a sister group of the Podocarpaceae disagrees with the suggestion that the phylloclade of the genus is an ancient structure and that the genus is a terminal taxon within the Podocarpaceae. The genus Nageia is more closely related to Podocarpus than to Dacrycarpus and was derived from within the Podocarpaceae. In conclusion, our data indicate that in conifers, the uniovulate cone occurred independently in Taxacaeae and Cephalotaxaceae, and in Podocarpaceae after the three families separated from Pinaceae, and support the hypothesis that the uniovulate cone is derived from reduction of a multiovulate cone.Correspondence to: S.-M. Chaw     

Heterologous Expression and Characterization of L-Amino Acid Deaminase from Proteus mirabilis in Escherichia coli

We expressed an L-amino acid deaminase (Pma) from Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis) in Escherichia coli and characterized the kinetics of phenylpyruvic acid production. P. mirabilis Pma was well expressed in E. coli in an active state and was found to be associated with membranes. The association of Pma with cellular membranes is likely to be necessary for its enzymatic activity.     

中国毛茛科翠雀属的分类学研究(十四):光序翠雀花二新异名

广布于中国-喜马拉雅地区的毛茛科光序翠雀花（Delphinium kamaonense Huth）在我国甘肃、青海、四川和西藏具有相当连续的分布区,在分布区内颇为常见,几为杂草。通过标本室和野外观察,发现根据西藏波密、察隅标本描述的展毛光序翠雀花[D. kamaonense var. glabrescens（W. T. Wang）W. T. Wang]和根据西藏类乌齐标本描述的倒心形翠雀花（D. obcordatilimbum W. T. Wang）与光序翠雀花没有本质区别,故将二者均处理为光序翠雀花的异名。     

奇异变形杆菌毒力因子的研究进展

奇异变形杆菌是革兰阴性细菌,在自然界中广泛存在,具有特殊的群集运动能力,与临床关系密切,可在膀胱和肾脏中形成结石,在尿道留置管外表面、内腔中形成结晶生物膜,是引起复杂尿路感染的主要病原体,主要的毒力因子包括菌毛、黏附素、尿素酶、溶血素、金属摄取和免疫逃避等。综述了近年来有关奇异变形杆菌毒力因子的研究,为相关研究提供参考。     

Cytology of Thamnidium elegans link

The resting nuclei in hyphae, sporangiophores and sporangiospores of sporangia and sporangiola of Thamnidium elegans consist of a large centrals nucleolus and a shell of chromatin surrounding the nucleolus. Division of the nucleus in hyphae and sporangiospores is achieved by elongation and constriction.     

The phylogenetic position of taxaceae based on 18S rRNA sequences

The evolutionary position of the yew family, Taxaceae, has been very controversial. Some plant taxonomists strongly advocate excluding Taxaceae from the conifer order and raising its taxonomic status to a new order or even class because of its absence of seed cones, contrary to the case in the majority of conifers. However, other authors believe that the Taxaceae are not fundamentally different from the rest of the conifers except in that they possess the most reduced solitary-ovule cones. To resolve the controversy, we have sequenced the 18S rRNA genes from representative gymnosperms: Taxus mairei (Taxaceae), Podocarpus nakaii (Podocarpaceae), Pinus luchuensis (Pinaceae), and Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgoales). Our phylogenetic analysis of the new sequence data with the published 18S rRNA sequence of Zamia pumila (a cycad) as an outgroup strongly indicates that Taxus, Pinus, and Podocarpus form a monophyletic group with the exclusion of Ginkgo and that Taxus is more closely related to Pinus than to Podocarpus. Therefore, Taxaceae should be classified as a family of Coniferales. Our finding that Taxaceae, Pinaceae, and Podocarpaceae form a clade contradicts both the view that the uniovulate seed of Taxaceae is a primitive character and the view that the Taxaceae are descendants of the Podocarpaceae. Rather, the uniovulate seed of Taxaceae and that of some species of Podocarpus appear to have different origins, probably all reduced from multiovulate cones. Correspondence to: W.-H. Li     

Diversity and evolution of 5S rRNA gene family organization in Pythium

The 5S rRNA gene family organization among 87 species and varieties of Pythium was investigated to assess evolutionary stability of the two patterns detected and to determine which pattern is likely the ancestral state in the genus. Species with filamentous sporangia (Groups A-C according to the ITS phylogenetic tree for Pythium) had 5S genes linked to the rDNA repeat that were predominantly coded for on the DNA strand opposite to the one with the other rRNA genes (‘inverted’ orientation). A small group of species with contiguous sporangia (Group D) is related to Groups A-C but had unlinked 5S genes. The main group of species with spherical zoosporangia (Groups E-J) generally had unlinked 5S genes in tandem arrays. The six species in Group K, although they also have spherical sporangia, had linked genes on the same strand as the other rRNA genes ‘non-inverted’ and most of them had pairs of tandem 5S genes. The evolutionary stability of 5S sequence organization was compared with the stability of morphological characters as interpreted from a phylogeny based on ITS sequence analysis. Features of 5S sequence organization were found to be just as consistent within groups as were the morphological characters. To determine the ancestral type of 5S family organization, a survey of Phytophthora strains was conducted to supply an outgroup reference. The most parsimonious interpretation of the data in this survey yielded the tentative conclusion that the linked condition of the 5S sequences was ancestral.     

基于Cre/loxP系统的睾丸组织特异性敲除Elovl4基因小鼠模型的构建及敲除效率检测

极长链多不饱和脂肪酸(very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids,VLC-PUFAs)是哺乳动物视网膜、睾丸等极少数组织中特有的脂肪酸,其生物合成的关键酶为极长链脂肪酸延长酶4(very long chain fatty acid elongase 4,Elovl4)。建立组织特异性敲除Elovl4基因的动物模型有利于深入研究VLC-PUFAs的生物学功能,因此,本研究基于Cre/loxP系统,先分别构建了Stra8-Cre小鼠和Elovl4 floxed小鼠,通过杂交获得(Elovl4[flox/+],Stra8-Cre)杂合子基因敲除小鼠,再选择雌鼠与Elovl4 floxed纯合子雄鼠即Elovl4 [flox/flox]雄鼠杂交,通过基因型鉴定筛选获得(Elovl4[flox/flox], Stra8-Cre)纯合子小鼠。利用RT-PCR、qRT-PCR、Western blotting、免疫组化和免疫荧光检测Elovl4在睾丸组织中的敲除效率,结果表明,无论是杂合子还是纯合子基因敲除小鼠,其睾丸组织中Elovl4的表达在mRNA及蛋白水平显著下调,但其他组织未受影响。本研究成功构建了睾丸组织特异性敲除Elovl4基因小鼠,为后续研究VLC-PUFAs对雄性小鼠生殖功能的影响及相关分子机制提供可靠的动物模型。     

丛枝菌根真菌促进南美蟛蜞菊生长及对难溶磷的吸收

为了解2种丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)摩西管柄囊霉(Funneliformis mosseae, FM)和地表球囊霉(Glomus versiforme, GV)对入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊(Wedelia trilobata)的生长和对难溶性磷酸盐利用的影响,采用沙培盆栽方式,研究了南美蟛蜞菊在接种AMF与添加难溶性磷酸盐的生长和磷含量的变化。结果表明,在磷限制环境下FM对南美蟛蜞菊的侵染率达55%～69%,GV的侵染率达到63%～80%。添加难溶性磷酸盐后,2种AMF均促进了南美蟛蜞菊茎的伸长(FM:+46%; GV:+65%)、总生物量的增加(FM:+27.2%; GV:+40%)和磷含量的增加(FM:+36.6%; GV:+40.7%)。对比FM,GV对植物利用难溶性磷有更显著的促进作用。因此,南美蟛蜞菊与2种AMF形成的共生体系可以促进植物生长和对营养资源的利用,提高对难溶性磷的吸收效率可能使得南美蟛蜞菊在营养贫乏的环境中更好地建立种群。     

长春地区鸡源奇异变形杆菌的分离鉴定及毒力分析

【背景】奇异变形杆菌(Proteus mirabilis)是一种机会致病菌,广泛存在于周围环境中,常导致动物和人类感染。【目的】探究吉林省长春地区某养鸡场病鸡死亡原因,为疾病防控提供参考。【方法】从病死青年鸡脏器分离到病原菌TSA-1,通过革兰氏染色、生化试验和16S rRNA基因序列鉴定,并进行药敏试验、毒力基因检测、细胞毒性和黏附性试验、大蜡螟攻毒试验研究。【结果】分离株TSA-1在镜下呈短杆状、球状的革兰氏阴性菌,生化特性与奇异变形杆菌相一致,16S rRNA基因序列比对显示与奇异变形杆菌相似度为100%;药敏试验结果显示分离株TSA-1对氨苄西林、四环素、卡那霉素、头孢唑林等14种药物耐药,对环丙沙星、恩诺沙星等7种药物敏感;分离株还具有较强的生物被膜形成能力,携带ireA、ucaA、pmfA、atfA、ptA、zapA、hpmA和flhC这8种毒力基因,并对巨噬细胞RAW264.7表现出细胞毒性,而且对Caco-2细胞具有很强的黏附作用;同时对大蜡螟幼虫表现出比禽致病性大肠杆菌(avian pathogenic Escherichia coliO78,APEC-O78)更强的致死作用。【结论】从病死鸡脏器分离得到的奇异变形杆菌TSA-1具有多重耐药性,并携带多种毒力基因,对细胞和大蜡螟幼虫表现出强毒性作用,说明该菌是引起病鸡死亡的主要致病菌之一,应引起重视。     

Phylogenetic relationships of graminicolous downy mildews based on cox2 sequence data

Graminicolous downy mildews (GDM) are an understudied, yet economically important, group of plant pathogens, which are one of the major constraints to poaceous crops in the tropics and subtropics. Here we present a first molecular phylogeny based on cox2 sequences comprising all genera of the GDM currently accepted, with both lasting (Graminivora, Poakatesthia, and Viennotia) and evanescent (Peronosclerospora, Sclerophthora, and Sclerospora) sporangiophores. In addition, all other downy mildew genera currently accepted, as well as a representative sample of other oomycete taxa, have been included. It was shown that all genera of the GDM have had a long, independent evolutionary history, and that the delineation between Peronosclerospora and Sclerospora is correct. Sclerophthora was found to be a particularly divergent taxon nested within a paraphyletic Phytophthora, but without support. The results confirm that the placement of Peronosclerospora and Sclerospora in the Saprolegniomycetidae is incorrect. Sclerophthora is not closely related to Pachymetra of the family Verrucalvaceae, and also does not belong to the Saprolegniomycetidae, but shows close affinities to the Peronosporaceae. In addition, all GDM are interspersed throughout the Peronosporaceae s lat., suggesting that a separate family for the Sclerosporaceae might not be justified.     

中国毛茛科翠雀属的分类学研究(十一): 巴唐翠雀花二新异名

毛茛科巴塘翠雀花（Delphinium batangense Finet & Gagnep.）是我国四川西部和云南西北部一种较广布的高山植物,形态变异颇大。标本室和野外观察表明白缘翠雀花（D.chenii W.T.Wang）和雅江翠雀花（D.yajiangense W.T.Wang）在形态上处于该种的变异范围之内,故将二者均处理为巴塘翠雀花的异名。     

In vitro pollination of angiosperm ovules with gymnosperm pollen grains

Summary Pollen grains of the gymnosperm species Ephedra distachya and Pinus wallichiana germinated abundantly on the in vitro cultured placentae of the angiosperm species Nicotiana tabacum, Melandrium album and Allium moly. Some P. wallichiana pollen tubes entered the micropyles of M. album. Embryological observations of cross-pollinated M. album ovules 2 or 3 d after cross-pollination revealed the presence of pollen tube remnants within the embryo sacs. Karyological disturbances in the two- and three-celled proembryos and endosperm nuclei indicated their probable hybrid origin. In some crosses, gynogenetic haploid proembryos were also noticed.     

中国毛茛科翠雀属的分类学研究(十三):狭序翠雀花的名实订正

发现根据甘肃南部标本描述的毛茛科狭序翠雀花（Delphinium angustipaniculatum W.T.Wang）与此前记载分布于甘肃南部和四川北部的松潘翠雀花（D.sutchuenense Franch.）属于同一种植物,故将前者处理为后者的异名。讨论了松潘翠雀花与其可能的近缘种秦岭翠雀花（D.giraldii Diels）和疏花翠雀花（D.sparsiflorum Maxim.）的形态区别。     

迁西乌头(毛茛科)的名实订正

通过标本观察,发现描述自我国河北迁西县的毛茛科乌头属植物迁西乌头(Aconitum qianxiense W.T.Wang)与华北和东北地区常见的北乌头(A.kusnezoffii Reichb.)没有本质区别,故将前者处理为后者的异名。