Antibody-based detection of advanced glycation end-products: promises <Emphasis Type="Italic">vs</Emphasis>. limitations

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) of the Maillard reaction were originally measured according to their fluorescent and browning properties. A subsequent study with instrumental analyses such as high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectrometry more clearly demonstrated the involvement of each AGE structure in pathological conditions. Furthermore, immunochemical methods have also been developed to clarify the localization of AGEs in tissues and measurement of AGEs in multiple clinical samples. Although the involvement of AGEs in age-related diseases has progressed due to immunochemical techniques, the relationship between AGE structure and diseases has not been clear because little was known about the epitope structure of each anti-AGE antibody. However, the development of epitope-identified antibodies against AGEs has made it possible to clarify AGE structures involved in diseases. This review discusses not only the usability of anti-AGE antibodies to evaluate AGEs and disease pathology and screen AGE inhibitors, but also describes their usage.     

Embryo rescue and plant regeneration in banana (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Musa</Emphasis> spp.)

An efficient regeneration protocol for zygotic embryos at varying maturity stages was developed for wild banana (Pisang Jajee (AA)). Embryo ontogeny was studied to determine the best maturity stage for embryo rescue, suitable media and culture conditions (light and dark) for germination and regeneration. The conversion of endosperm from transparent fluid into a semi-solid state was followed by visible embryo development, which commenced only after 70% embryo maturity. Zygotic embryos of Pisang Jajee at different maturity levels were excised and cultured on medium fortified with different concentrations of 6-benzyl adenine (BA) and indole acetic acid (IAA). Zygotic embryos produced callus or plantlets 25 days after initiation. The frequency of callus induction was greater in immature embryos irrespective of the media composition and decreased with increasing maturity. Fully matured embryos regenerated directly into plantlets without producing callus. Immature embryos required medium supplemented with plant growth regulators (PGRs) for successful regeneration. Although the culture conditions had no influence, dark conditions favoured callus induction and plant regeneration.     

Comparative study of morphological parameters of Grand Nain banana (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Musa</Emphasis> AAA) after <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> multiplication with growth retardants

Variation in morphological traits and increased disease susceptibility were observed in micropropagated plants of rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum L.), PC49. Our investigations have demonstrated that micropropagated plants can vary substantially in morphological traits and the variation of quantitative traits was substantially greater than conventionally propagated plants. Micropropagated plants produced significantly more leaves than conventional plants under the same growth period, with a more bushy growth habit and/or recumbence. A higher incidence of disease (petiole spotting) was also observed in micropropagated plants. It is concluded that micropropagated PC49 had substantially higher incidence of somaclonal variation and regenerants were not suitable to establish an economic crop comparable to the conventional plants.     

Ultrastructural changes associated with cryopreservation of banana (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Musa</Emphasis> spp.) highly proliferating meristems

Cryopreservation has been shown to improve the frequency of virus elimination - specifically cucumber mosaic virus and banana streak virus - from banana ( Musa spp.) plants. To understand the mode of action of cryopreservation for the eradication of viral particles, we examined the ultrastructure of meristem tips at each step of the cryopreservation process. Excised meristematic clumps produced from infected banana plants belonging to cv. Williams (AAA, Cavendish subgroup) were cryopreserved through vitrification using the PVS-2 solution. We demonstrated that the cryopreservation method used only allowed survival of small areas of cells in the meristematic dome and at the base of the primordia. Cellular and subcellular changes occurring during the cryopreservation process are discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of the dwarf pomegranate (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Punica granatum</Emphasis> L. var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">nana</Emphasis>)

The dwarf pomegranate (Punica granatum L. var. nana) is a dwarf ornamental plant that has the potential to be the model plant of perennial fruit trees because it bears fruits within 1 year of seedling. We established an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system for the dwarf pomegranate. Adventitious shoots regenerated from leaf segments were inoculated with A. tumefaciens strain EHA105 harboring the binary vector pBin19-sgfp, which contains neomycin phosphotransferase (npt II) and green fluorescent protein (gfp) gene as a selectable and visual marker, respectively. After co-cultivation, the inoculated adventitious shoots were cut into small pieces to induce regeneration, and then selected on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 5 μM N⁶-benzyladenine (BA), 0.3% gellan gum, 50 mg/l kanamycin, and 10 mg/l meropenem. Putative transformed shoots were regenerated after 6–8 months of selection. PCR and PCR-Southern blot analysis revealed the integration of the transgene into the plant genome. Transformants bloomed and bore fruits within 3 months of being potted, and the inheritance of the transgene was confirmed in T₁ generations. The advantage of the transformation of dwarf pomegranate was shown to be the high transformation rate. The establishment of this transformation system is invaluable for investigating fruit-tree-specific phenomena.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Actinomucor elegans</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">kuwaitiensis</Emphasis> isolated from the wound of a diabetic patient

The new variety of Actinomucor elegans var. kuwaitiensis, isolated from an open necrotic wound of a diabetic patient is described. This strain differed from the two previously described varieties of A. elegans, A. elegans var. elegans and A. elegans var. meitauzae by nearly 1% or more sequence divergence within D1/D2 regions of 28S rRNA and the ITS region of rRNA genes. Like the other two varieties, no zygospores were observed, however, there was evidence suggesting intersexual diploidy, a feature not described previously in this species. Additionally, A. elegans var. kuwaitiensis was pathogenic to white mice causing 100% mortality within 5 days.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Longidorus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">kheirii</Emphasis> n. sp. (Nematoda: Longidoridae) from Iran

Longidorus kheirii n. sp., a parthenogenetic species, was found in soil samples collected from the rhizosphere of Rosa sp. growing in a natural mountainous region close to Maragheh city, northwestern Iran. It is characterised by having a long body (6.7-9 mm), a 19.5-23 mum wide head continuous with the body contour, a truncate and slightly concave lip region with convex sides between the anterior end and the guide-ring, an odontostyle 113-130 mum long, an odontophore 69-97.5 mum long, a body width of 90.5-117.5 mum at the mid-body, a long, wide oesophageal bulb (149.5-193.5 x 39.5-48 mum), a tail length of 47-72 mum, a male with 11 ventromedian supplements and spicules of 85 mum in length, and four juvenile stages. The ribosomal 18S rDNA gene of L. kheirii n. sp., L. leptocephalus Hooper, 1961, L. profundorum Hooper, 1966 L. euonymus Mali & Hooper, 1973 and two unidentified species listed as Longidorus sp. 1 and Longidorus sp. 2, all recovered from northwestern Iran in the same survey, and the ITS1 of L. kheirii n. sp. and Longidorus sp. 1 were sequenced in order to investigate the phylogenetic relationships with other previously sequenced Longidorus species.     

Life cycle of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Uromyces appendiculatus</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">azukicola</Emphasis> on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna angularis</Emphasis>

Field observations and inoculation experiments revealed that Uromyces appendiculatus var. azukicola has an autoecious and macrocyclic life cycle and produces spermogonia, aecia, uredinia, and telia on Vigna angularis var. angularis and V. angularis var. nipponensis. From inoculation experiments, it was suggested that this rust fungus has different host relationships from other varieties. Morphological examinations revealed that the characteristics of urediniospores and teliospores are different among varieties, although aeciospores are morphologically similar to each other.Contribution no. 182, Laboratory of Plant Parasitic Mycology, Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Tsukuba, Japan     

Complete chloroplast genome sequence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">baccatum</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">baccatum</Emphasis>

Molecular markers derived from the complete chloroplast genome can provide effective tools for species identification and phylogenetic resolution. Complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequences of Capsicum species have been reported. We herein report the complete chloroplast genome sequence of Capsicum baccatum var. baccatum, a wild Capsicum species. The total length of the chloroplast genome is 157,145 bp with 37.7 % overall GC content. One pair of inverted repeats, 25,910 bp in length, was separated by a small single-copy region (17,974 bp) and large single-copy region (87,351 bp). This region contains 86 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, 4 rRNA genes, and 11 genes contain one or two introns. Pair-wise alignments of chloroplast genome were performed for genome-wide comparison. Analysis revealed a total of 134 simple sequence repeat (SSR) motifs and 282 insertions or deletions variants in the C. baccatum var. baccatum cp genome. The types and abundances of repeat units in Capsicum species were relatively conserved, and these loci could be used in future studies to investigate and conserve the genetic diversity of the Capsicum species.     

White cabbage (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica oleracea</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">capitata</Emphasis> f. <Emphasis Type="Italic">alba</Emphasis>): botanical,phytochemical and pharmacological overview

White cabbage (Brassica oleraceae var. capitata f. alba) is a cruciferous vegetable used worldwide as a food and in traditional medicine. Due to its common availability in local markets, affordability, and consumer preference, it represents a significant source of phytonutrients in the human diet. This review provides an overview of white cabbage origin, taxonomy, geographical distribution, botanical characteristics, and contemporary and traditional uses, as well as its phytochemicals and pharmacology. Special emphasis is placed on a health-promoting phytochemicals such as glucosinolates, polyphenols, and vitamins, as well as anticancerogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflamantory and cardioprotective effects. The majority of so far published research on white cabbage was focused on qualitative determination of phytochemicals (targeted analysis), while only few recent papers published data based on untargeted metabolomic profiling. Hence, this review discusses and emphasizes a further need of studying the white cabbage phytochemicals using modern metabolomics platforms which will enable scientists to pinpoint the exact bioactive metabolites which are responsible for certain bioactivity.     

Somatic hybrids obtained by asymmetric protoplast fusion between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Musa</Emphasis> Silk cv. Guoshanxiang (AAB) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Musa acuminata</Emphasis> cv. Mas (AA)

To attempt to introduce genetic information of disease resistance from Musa acuminata cv. Mas (AA) to Musa silk cv. Guoshanxiang (AAB) and obtain somatic hybrids, we developed an asymmetric protoplast fusion with 20% (w/v) polyethylene glycol (PEG). The protoplasts derived from embryogenic suspension cultural cells of cv. Guoshanxiang (AAB) and cv. Mas (AA) were, respectively treated with 1.5 mM iodoacetamide (IOA) and with ultraviolet light (UV) at an intensity of 50 W/m² for 120 s. A total of 47 regenerated green plants were obtained and eight of which were survived in greenhouse. Six of the survived plants were identified as hybrids by RAPD analysis and only three hybrids were retained vigorously in field. The hybrid nature of the three plants was further confirmed according to their ISSR (inter-simple sequence repeat) patterns and the results indicated that they were true somatic hybrids. Chromosome analysis revealed that the three hybrids possessed an aneuploid chromosome number (2n = 34).     

Distribution pattern of antioxidants in white cabbage heads (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica oleracea</Emphasis> L. var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">capitata</Emphasis> f. <Emphasis Type="Italic">alba</Emphasis>)

The aim of this paper has been to investigate the occurrence of health-promoting antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E as well as antioxidative enzymes, e.g. superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase in different parts of the cabbage head (the outer one green leaves, the central leaf layer and the inner layer young, etiolated leaves). Vitamin C content in both the central (209 mg/dm³) and inner (202 mg/dm³) layers of cabbage heads was higher in comparison to the outer one (163 mg/dm³), while vitamin E content (α-tocopherol) in the outer layer (4 μg/g FW) was higher by about 26 and 34% in comparison to the central and inner layers, respectively. The cooperation between vitamins and enzymatic antioxidants led to the highest H₂O₂ level in the outer layer, while the O₂^·− level was the highest in the inner part of the cabbage head. We conclude that leaf layers in cabbage heads reflect the different potential of bioactive compounds accumulation, related to the stage of tissue development, as well as tissue-specific stress response.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sarcocystis</Emphasis> sp. in red foxes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vulpes vulpes</Emphasis>) from northern Croatia

The prevalence of Sarcocystis sp. was assessed in foxes from northern Croatia (city of Varadin). The intestine of 50 (29 male and 21 female) foxes aged 1–5 years, killed during the rabies control campaign, were examined. Sarcocystis sp. was identified in 62% of the fox intestinal samples examined. There was no sex difference in the rate of invasion. However, the rate of invasion differed significantly between the animals aged 1 year (47%), and those aged 2 (71%) and 3–5 years (71%).     

The influence of low temperature on photosynthesis and antioxidant enzymes in sensitive banana and tolerant plantain (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Musa</Emphasis> sp.) cultivars

Low temperature (LT) is one of the major factors that limit crop production and reduce yield. To better understand the cold-tolerance mechanism in the plantains, a sensitive cultivar Williams (Musa acuminata AAA cv. Williams) and a tolerant cultivar Cachaco (Musa paradisiaca ABB cv. Dajiao) were used. LT resulted in increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content, elevated contents of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and superoxide radical (O₂^·−), and decreased photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m) and net photosynthetic rate (P _N), but cv. Cachaco showed better LT tolerance than cv. Williams. After LT treatment for 120 h, total scavenging capability (DPPH^· scavenging capability) in Williams showed a significant decrease but no significant alternations was found in Cachaco. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and peroxidase (POD) displayed a significant increase but superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed no significant alternations and catalase (CAT) showed a significant decrease in Cachaco after 120 h of LT treatment. All the four antioxidant enzymes above showed a significant decrease in Williams after 120 h of LT treatment. Our results suggest that higher activities of APX, POD, SOD, and DPPH^· scavenging capability to a certain extent can be used to explain the higher cold tolerance in the plantain, which would provide a theoretical guidance for bananas production and screening cold-resistant variety.     

Sporulation and regeneration efficiency of phosphobacteria (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus megaterium</Emphasis> var <Emphasis Type="Italic">phosphaticum</Emphasis>)

Sporulation in Bacillus megaterium var phosphaticum (PB — 1) was induced using modified nutrient media. This modified medium induced sporulation within 36 h. After spore induction the spores were kept under refrigerated (5°C) and room temperature (32°C) for five months and survival of spores was studied at 15 days intervals by plating them in nutrient agar medium. It was observed that there was not much variation in the storage temperature (5°C & 32°C). The spore cells of Bacillus megaterium var phosphaticum (PB — 1) were observed up to five months of storage under refrigerated (5°C) and room temperature (32°C). Regeneration of spore cells into vegetative cells was studied in tap water, rice gruel, nutrient broth, sterile lignite and sterile water at different concentrations of spore inoculum. The multiplication of sporulated Bacillus megaterium var phosphaticum culture was fast and reached its maximum (29.5 × 10⁸ cfu ml⁻¹) in nutrient broth containing 5 per cent inoculum level.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lasiosphaeriopsis pilophori</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Sordariales) and other lichenicolous fungi on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pilophorus</Emphasis>

Seven representatives of the Arthoniales, Dothideales, Lecanorales and Sordariales are known to occur on the lichen genus Pilophorus. Lasiosphaeriopsis pilophori sp. nov. is described from the north of the Holarctic. Cercidospora cephalodiorum is reported as new to North America. Cercidospora punctillata and Dactylospora deminuta are reported on Pilophorus for the first time. The host specificity, niche specialization and distribution of the taxa are discussed. A key to the lichenicolous fungi on Pilophorus is provided.     

Comparative <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> germination ecology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calopogon tuberosus</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">tuberosus</Emphasis> (Orchidaceae) across its geographic range

Seed responses to temperature are often essential to the study of germination ecology, but the ecological role of temperature in orchid seed germination remains uncertain. The response of orchid seeds to cold stratification have been studied, but the exact physiological role remains unclear. No studies exist that compare the effects of either cold stratification or temperature on germination among distant populations of the same species. In two separate experiments, the role of temperature (25, 22/11, 27/15, 29/19, 33/24°C) and chilling at 10°C on in vitro seed germination were investigated using distant populations of Calopogon tuberosus var. tuberosus. Cooler temperatures promoted germination of Michigan seeds; warmer temperatures promoted germination of South Carolina and north central Florida seeds. South Florida seed germination was highest under both warm and cool temperatures. More advanced seedling development generally occurred at higher temperatures with the exception of south Florida seedlings, in which the warmest temperature suppressed development. Fluctuating diurnal temperatures were more beneficial for germination compared to constant temperatures. Cold stratification had a positive effect on germination among all populations, but South Carolina seeds required the longest chilling treatments to obtain maximum germination. Results from the cold stratification experiment indicate that a physiological dormancy is present, but the degree of dormancy varies across the species range. The variable responses among populations may indicate ecotypic differentiation.     

Germination,growth and survival of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Berberis thunbergii</Emphasis> DC. (Berberidaceae) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Berberis thunbergii</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">atropurpurea</Emphasis> in five natural environments

Germination, growth and survival of green Berberis thunbergii and its purple ornamental form, Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea, were compared in five natural environments (full sun meadow, edge of woods, moist woods, dry woods, pine woods) to determine whether these two forms have a similar ability to naturalize. Berberis thunbergii and Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea had similar germination rates of about 25% at the end of 3 years. Most of the seed germination occurred in year one (89%), with a small amount of additional germination in year two (10%), and even less in year three (1%). Greatest germination occurred in the moist woods and full sun meadow sites and the least occurred at the pine woods site. Germination was reduced in the pine woods environment by the thick leaf litter layer present there. Barberry seedling survival during the first year was only 22% and survival dropped to 11.3% by the end of 2 years. Purple barberry seedlings had a lower 2 year survival rate than green barberry. There was no difference in seedling growth between purple and green barberry seedlings, but surviving seedling growth rates at the five environments were comparable. Seedlings achieved maximum growth in the edge of woods environment, but also grew well in the full sun meadow environment. At harvest, the full sun meadow had the greatest number of seedlings present, while no seedlings survived in the pine woods site.