Molecular phylogeny of Cucumis species as revealed by consensus chloroplast SSR marker length and sequence variation.

To investigate phylogenetic relationships in the genus Cucumis, 9 consensus chloroplast simple sequence repeat (ccSSR) primer pairs (ccSSR3, 9, 11, 13, 14, 17, 20, 21, and 23) were employed for DNA fragment length variation and 5 amplified fragments, ccSSR4, 12, 13, 19, and 20, were sequenced using total DNA from 13 accessions representing 7 African Cucumis species (x = 12), 3 Cucumis melo L. (x = 12) accessions, 2 Cucumis sativus L. (x = 7) accessions, and 1 Cucumis hystrix Chakr. (x = 12) accession. A Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai (x = 11) accession was used as an outgroup. While fragment length analysis revealed the existence of 3 major species clusters (i.e., a group of African Cucumis species, a group composed of C. melo accessions, and a group containing C. sativus and C. hystrix species), sequence variation analysis identified 2 major species clusters (i.e., a group of African Cucumis species and a group composed of C. melo, C. sativus, and C. hystrix species). Comparative analysis using nuclear DNA (previous studies) and cpDNA sequence substitution data resulted in the placement of C. melo and C. sativus in different cluster groupings. Thus, both nuclear and cytoplasmic DNA should be employed and compared when a putative progenitor or specimens of an ancestral Cucumis species lineage is investigated. In addition, C. ficifolius (2x) and C. aculeatus (4x) of the African Cucumis species clustered together in this study. This result does not agree with reported isozyme analyses, but does agree with previously characterized chromosome homologies between these 2 species. Although African Cucumis species and C. hystrix do not share a close relationship, genetic affinities between C. sativus and C. hystrix are considerable. Combined evidence from previously published studies and data presented herein lend support to the hypothesis that C. hystrix is either a progenitor species of C. sativus or that they at least share a common ancestral lineage.     

甜瓜属植物种间杂交研究进展

在甜瓜属野生种Cucumis hystrix Chakr. 和栽培黄瓜之间的种间杂交取得成功的基础上,简要回顾了甜瓜属植物种质资源和系统学的研究情况,然后从甜瓜属植物种间杂交的概况、种间杂交的障碍及其解决途径等三个方面,回顾和讨论了甜瓜属植物的种间杂交的研究进展,并对进一步通过种间杂交研究利用甜瓜属野生植物资源的前景进行了展望。     

甜瓜属植物种间杂交研究进展

在甜瓜属野生种Cucumis hystrix Chakr.和栽培黄瓜之间的种间杂交取得成功的基础上,简要回顾了甜瓜属植物种质资源和系统学的研究情况,然后从甜瓜属植物种间杂交的概况、种间杂交的障碍及其解决途径等三个方面,回顾和讨论了甜瓜属植物的种间杂交的研究进展,并对进一步通过种间杂交研究利用甜瓜属野生植物资源的前景进行了展望.     

Comparison of the distribution of the repetitive DNA sequences in three variants of Cucumis sativus reveals their phylogenetic relationships

Repetitive DNA sequences with variability in copy number or/and sequence polymorphism can be employed as useful molecular markers to study phylogenetics and identify species/chromosomes when combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH).Cucumis sativus has three variants,Cucumis sativus L.var.sativus,Cucumis sativus L.var.hardwickii and Cucumis sativus L.var.xishuangbannesis.The phylogenetics among these three variants has not been well explored using cytological landmarks.Here,we concentrate on...     

Phylogenetic relationships in Cucumis（Cucurbitaceae） revealed by SSR and RAPD analyses

Cucumis hystrix is the first wild Cucumis species possessing12basic chromosomes ever found in Asia.This discovery has posed a challenge to the current subgeneric division of this genus which was made mainly based on the differences in basic chromosome num     

Autotoxic potential of cucurbit crops

Soil sickness is often observed in cucurbit crops such as Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis melo and Cucumis sativus, but not in cucurbit crops such as Cucurbita moschata, Lagenaria leucantha and Luffa cylindrica. Results showed that root aqueous extracts of Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis melo and Cucumis sativus were autotoxic, but those of Cucurbita moschata, Momordica charantia and Luffa cylindrica were less autotoxic to the radicle elongation of respective species. Plant growth of Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis melo and Cucumis sativus were greatly inhibited by autotoxic substances released from powered root tissue at a rate of 1 g per seedling. Root exudates of Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis melo and Cucumis sativus were autotoxic to radicle elongation and seedling growth of respective species. However, root exudates of Citrullus lanatus did not inhibit radicle elongation of Cucurbita ficifolia, which is commonly used as rootstock for the grafting of Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis melo and Cucumis sativus to decrease soil-borne diseases in commercial production. It seems possible to overcome autotoxicity in cucurbit crops by grafting on Cucurbita ficifolia. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

甜瓜属种间杂交线粒体DNA的遗传分析

为了研究甜瓜属种间杂交线粒体DNA的遗传规律,对甜瓜属人工杂交合成的异源四倍体新种(Cucumis hytivus Chen and Kirkbride.)的S5后代及其杂交母本甜瓜属野生种（Cucumis hystrix Chakr.）和父本栽培种黄瓜‘北京截头’(Cucumis sativus L.)线粒体中apocytochrome b (cob), NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad 1), NADH dehydrogenase subunit 7(nad 7) 基因序列片断进行了测序与分析。结果显示3个种长度为909 bp cob, 943 bp nad 1和880 bp nad 7基因片断序列中分别存在着相应的1、7和17个多态性核苷酸位点,其中新种与父本‘北京截头’相同而与母本野生种不同的多态性碱基位点分别有1、6和14个,nad 1和nad 7中分别只有1和3个多态性位点与双亲都不相同。该结果表明甜瓜属hystrix譻ativus种间杂交后代线粒体DNA多态性碱基位点主要来源于父本而不是母本,线粒体DNA主要表现为父系遗传。     

Variability and phylogenetic relationships of the Cucumis sativus L. species inferred from NBS profiling and RAPD analysis

Genetic variability of the Cucumis sativus species and its phylogenetic relationsips with other species of the genus were studied on the basis of RAPD marking and analysis of intra- and interspecific polymorphism of the nucleotide sequences of the NBS-LRR gene family in species of the genus Cucumis with the use of the NBS profiling method. According to RAPD analysis, cucumber cultivars from different geographic regions are highly similar, except for accessions k-3835 and k-3833 from Afghanistan. NBS profiling analysis revealed phylogenetically most distinct accessions expected to be characterized by specificity of resistance: k-3845 from Uzbekistan, k-3851 from Kyrgyzstan, line 701, k-3835 and k-3833 from Afghanistan, k-2757 and k-3079 from Netherlands, vr.k. 908 from Canada, k-2926 from Bulgaria, Russian cultivars Monastyrskii, Izyashchnyi, and Lel'. Three essentially different groups of species were distinguished, and the C. sativus species (subgenus Cucumis) was found to be distant from the species belonging to the subgenus Melo.     

Distinction between Nuclear Satellite DNAs and Chloroplast DNA in Higher Plants

Triton X-100 solubilized chloroplast DNA but not nuclear DNA from a mixture of chloroplasts and nuclei. The buoyant density of chloroplast DNA was different from that of the satellite DNA in all of the species examined (Phaseolus coccineus, Cucumis sativus, Cucumis melo, Antirrhinum majus, Vicia faba, Oenothera fruiticosa youngii). Chloroplast DNA constituted between 4.3% and 0.25% of the total leaf DNA in these species, and was present as 5 to 20 copies in each chloroplast.     

A comparative analysis of phloem exudate proteins from Cucumis melo,Cucumis sativus and Cucurbita maxima by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing

Summary Proteins in sieve tube exudate from Cucumis melo L., Cucumis sativus L. and Cucurbita maxima Duch. were analysed by gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. Estimated molecular weights and isoelectric points for the major and minor proteins from each plant species are presented. Electrophoresis revealed striking differences between the protein complements of exudatc from the two genera investigated. Similarly, although a few exudate proteins from the two species of Cucumis possessed identical molecular weights, several major proteins were peculiar to each species. Isoelectric focusing of proteins in exudate samples from the three plants confirmed the marked differences in their protein complements. Furthermore, focusing also revealed differences between cultivars of Cucumis sativus. Both Cucumis sativus and Cucurbita maxima possessed relatively large amounts of basic proteins; these were absent in exudate from Cucumis melo. The implications of these results are discussed in relation to present concepts regarding the interrelationships and possible functional roles of P-proteins.Abbreviations DTT dithiothreitol - Bis N,N-methylenebisacrylamide - SDS Sodium dodecyl sulphate - TCA trichloroacetic acid     

Flavonoids from some species of the genus Cucumis

From the leaves of Cucumis sativus the following C-glycosides were isolated and identified: isovitexin 2"-O-glucoside, isovitexin, isoorientin, 4'-X-O-diglucosides of isovitexin and swertiajaponin. In the flowers of the above species chromatographically (HPLC, TLC) the presence of kaempferol 3-O-rhamnoside and 3-O-glycosides of kaempferol, quercetin, isoramnetin was revealed. The flavonoids complexes occuring in other species of Cucumis: C. metuliferus, C. myriocarpus and six cultivar varieties of C. sativus chromatographically (HPLC, TLC) were campared.     

Efficacy of random primer-pair arrays in plant genome analysis: a case study of Cucumis (Cucurbitaceae) for identification of wild and cultivated species

The efficacy of random primer-pair arrays compared to conventional RAPD method with a single decamer primer was evaluated using DNA from two species of Cucumis. The banding patterns of amplicons revealed enhanced utility of primer-pair arrays over conventional RAPDs, producing more bands and a higher degree of polymorphism, both at intra- and inter-specific levels. Amplification produced by both methods clearly distinguished a wild from a cultivated species of the genus Cucumis. The main advantage of the primer-pair RAPD over single-primer-based RAPD is the increase in the number of reactions and amplification products in the form of novel/unique bands with a limited number of primers. It also enables the generation of reliable amplicons with a large number of polymorphic bands, which can be linked to gene-governing traits, allowing sequence-characterized partial genome analysis.     

Ty1-copia retrotransposon-based SSAP marker development and its potential in the genetic study of cucurbits.

Three long terminal repeat (LTR) sequences of Ty1-copia retrotransposons were identified in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and named Tcs 1, Tcs 2, and Tcs 3. A sequence-specific amplification polymorphism (SSAP) marker system based on these LTR sequences displayed a higher level of polymorphism than AFLPs in cucumber. This marker system could also detect loci in other Cucumis species for genetic diversity analysis. The three Tcs LTRs existed within the exons of genes because of the effective amplification band patterns from the cDNA templates. The potential usefulness of the SSAP marker system in studies of the evolution of genes or genomes was verified after exploring loci changes in first and second generations of a synthetic allotetraploid in Cucumis. This study is the first report of the development of a retrotransposon-based marker system and the SSAP technique in cucurbits.     

The heterogeneity of phloem exudate proteins from different plants: A comparative survey of ten plants using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Summary Proteins in sieve tube exudate from Ricinus communis L., Acer pseudoplatanus L., Aesculus hippocastanum L., Cucumis melo L., and two cultivars each of Cucumis sativus L., Cucurbita pepo L. and Cucurbita maxima Duchesne were fractionated and compared using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Striking differences in major exudate proteins were displayed among the genera and species examined. Even cultivars within a single species, although showing general similarities, differed in some prominent proteins. Estimated molecular weights of the major exudate proteins from each plant are presented. The effects of reducing and chaotropic agents on the aggregation and subunit composition of exudate proteins from Cucumis sativus have been investigated. The problems involved in relating structure, function and biochemistry of P-protein are discussed.     

三种模式植物性别决定的研究进展(综述)

综述白麦瓶草、玉米和黄瓜等模式植物性别决定的研究进展,并展望今后研究方向。     

Effects of ultraviolet-B irradiation on plants during mild water stress.

Cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L. cv. Delikatess) and radish ( Raphanus sativus L. cv. Saxa Treib) were grown in a factorial design under two ultraviolet-B (UV–B) irradiances and three levels of water stress. On a weighted, daily dose basis the UV–B radiation treatments were equivalent to ambient levels during the beginning of the growing season (controls) and those predicted for an 11.6% ozone depletion during the summer solstice at 49°N latitude. Water stress was achieved by varying the frequency of watering. The combination of UV–B radiation and water stress resulted in large species differences in the pattern of stomatal resistances. This study indicated that Cucumis is one of the most sensitive crop species to UV–B radiation yet identified and that the primary effect of UV–B radiation in this species is a decrease in the leaf diffusive resistance to water vapor. This, therefore, may result in reductions in growth via increased water stress.     

New species of Cucumis (Cucurbitaceae) from northeast tropical Africa

The new species Cucumis hastatus (widespread in southern Somalia, in deciduous bushlands), C. pubituberculatus (central Somalia, on open coastal dunes), C. Jeffrey-anus (southwestern Somalia and eastern Ethiopia, on alluvial soils), and C. baladensis (south-central Somalia, on fixed dunes), are described and illustrated. C. figarei is shown to be illegitimate, the correct name for the species apparently being C. pustulatus.     

Comparison of the distribution of the repetitive DNA sequences in three variants of Cucumis sativus reveals their phylogenetic relationships

Repetitive DNA sequences with variability in copy number or/and sequence polymorphism can be employed as useful molecular markers to study phylogenetics and identify species/chromosomes when combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Cucumis sativus has three variants, Cucumis sativus L. var. sativus, Cucumis sativus L. var. hardwickii and Cucumis sativus L. var. xishuangbannesis. The phylogenetics among these three variants has not been well explored using cytological landmarks. Here, we concentrate on the organization and distribution of highly repetitive DNA sequences in cucumbers, with emphasis on the differences between cultivar and wild cucumber. The diversity of chromosomal karyotypes in cucumber and its relatives was detected in our study. Thereby, sequential FISH with three sets of multi-probe cocktails (combined repetitive DNA with chromosome-specific fosmid clones as probes) were conducted on the same metaphase cell, which helped us to simultaneously identify each of the 7 metaphase chromosomes of wild cucumber C. sativus var. hardwickii. A standardized karyotype of somatic metaphase chromosomes was constructed. Our data also indicated that the relationship between cultivar cucumber and C. s.var. xishuangbannesis was closer than that of C. s. var. xishuangbannesis and C. s. var. hardwickii.