Kin recognition in immatures of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heliconius erato phyllis</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera; Nymphalidae)

Females of the neotropical butterfly Heliconius erato phyllis lay eggs individually, which, after hatching into caterpillars, can be cannibalistic towards neighboring eggs. Laboratory experiments were conducted to test for kin recognition between first instar caterpillars and eggs. Two experiments were performed, putting three eggs in the vertices of an equilateral triangle made of green paper with side length of 0.5 cm. In the first experiment, two of the three eggs were full siblings; in the second experiment, one group consisted of three eggs from three independent nonrelated females, and in the other group all three eggs were full siblings. The frequency of cannibalism in experiment 1 (SSN, sibling–sibling–nonsibling) was 66% for nonrelated eggs and 34% for sibling eggs (P = 0.0018). In experiment 2, in group NNN (three nonsibling eggs) it was 83%, and for group SSS (three sibling eggs), the frequency of cannibalism was 53% (P < 0.0001). These results indicate kin recognition (caterpillar–egg). This recognition may have been important in the evolution of some of the butterfly’s adaptations, and possibly as an opportunity for kin selection.     

Biogeneration of volatile organic compounds produced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phormidium autumnale</Emphasis> in heterotrophic bioreactor

The objective of this study was to investigate the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced from heterotrophic cultivation of the cyanobacterium Phormidium autumnale with different sources of monosaccharides. The volatiles were isolated by headspace solid-phase micro-extraction in different residence times, separated by gas chromatography, and identified by mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS). The profile of volatiles contained a total of 44 volatile compounds when P. autumnale was grown heterotrophically on glucose and 35 when grown on fructose. A combined total of 68 compounds was identified and 11 volatiles were common to both extracts. The compound 3-methyl-butanol was identified among the major volatile compounds formed, reaching a concentration of 141.5 μg mg^?1 dry weight for the glucose-grown cultures and 69.5 μg mg^?1 for the fructose-grown cultures after 144 h. Many of the compounds detected during heterotrophic cultivation originated from terpenoids (β-ionone, β-cyclocitral, and 5,6-epoxy-β-ionone), fatty acids (hexanol, hexanal), or the 2-keto acid pathway (3-methyl-butanol, propanol, butanol).     

Actinomycetemcomitin: a new bacteriocin produced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aggregatibacter</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Actinobacillus</Emphasis>) <Emphasis Type="Italic">actinomycetemcomitans</Emphasis>

Aggregatibacter (Actinobacillus) actinomycetemcomitans P_7–20 strain isolated from a periodontally diseased patient has produced a bacteriocin (named as actinomycetemcomitin) that is active against Peptostreptococcus anaerobius ATCC 27337. Actinomycetemcomitin was produced during exponential and stationary growth phases, and its amount decreased until it disappeared during the decline growth phase. It was purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation (30–60% saturation), and further by FPLC (mono-Q ionic exchange and Phenyl Superose hydrophobic interaction) and HPLC (C-18 reversed-phase). This bacteriocin loses its activity after incubation at a pH below 7.0 or above 8.0, following heating for 30 min at 45°C, and after treatment with proteolytic enzymes such as trypsin, α-chymotrypsin, and papain. Actinomycetemcomitin has a molecular mass of 20.3 KDa and it represents a new bacteriocin from A. actinomycetemcomitans.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ty</Emphasis>1<Emphasis Type="Italic">/copia</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ty</Emphasis>3<Emphasis Type="Italic">/gypsy</Emphasis>-like DNA sequences in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus </Emphasis>species

Two repeated DNA sequences isolated from a partial genomic DNA library of Helianthus annuus, p HaS13 and p HaS211, were shown to represent portions of the int gene of a Ty3 /gypsy retroelement and of the RNase-Hgene of a Ty1 /copia retroelement, respectively. Southern blotting patterns obtained by hybridizing the two probes to BglII- or DraI-digested genomic DNA from different Helianthus species showed p HaS13 and p HaS211 were parts of dispersed repeats at least 8 and 7 kb in length, respectively, that were conserved in all species studied. Comparable hybridization patterns were obtained in all species with p HaS13. By contrast, the patterns obtained by hybridizing p HaS211 clearly differentiated annual species from perennials. The frequencies of p HaS13- and p HaS211-related sequences in different species were 4.3x10(4)-1.3x10(5) copies and 9.9x10(2)-8.1x10(3) copies per picogram of DNA, respectively. The frequency of p HaS13-related sequences varied widely within annual species, while no significant difference was observed among perennial species. Conversely, the frequency variation of p HaS211-related sequences was as large within annual species as within perennials. Sequences of both families were found to be dispersed along the length of all chromosomes in all species studied. However, Ty3 /gypsy-like sequences were localized preferentially at the centromeric regions, whereas Ty1/ copia-like sequences were less represented or absent around the centromeres and plentiful at the chromosome ends. These findings suggest that the two sequence families played a role in Helianthusgenome evolution and species divergence, evolved independently in the same genomic backgrounds and in annual or perennial species, and acquired different possible functions in the host genomes.     

Isolation and Expression Analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">PeDWF1</Emphasis> in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllostachys edulis</Emphasis>

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are steroidal hormones that play crucial roles in various processes of plant growth and development. DWF1 encodes a delta(24)-sterol reductase that participates in one of the early stage in the brassinosteroids’ biosynthetic pathway: the conversion of 24-methylenecholesterol to campesterol. Here we report the isolation and expression of one DWF1 homologous gene, PeDWF1, in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) J. Houz.). Sequence analysis revealed that the open reading frame of PeDWF1 was 1686-bp encoding a protein composed of 561 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 65.1 kD and a theoretic isoelectric point of 8.32. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that PeDWF1 was very close to the cell elongation protein Dwarf1 in rice (Oryza sativa). Furthermore, transient expression of a PeDWF1::GFP fusion protein showed that PeDWF1 was an integral membrane protein most probably associated with the endoplasmic reticulum similar to Dwarf1. Tissue specific expression analysis showed that PeDWF1 was constitutively expressed in moso bamboo with the highest level in shoots and the lowest level in mature leaves. In the early growing stage of shoots, the expression level of PeDWF1 had a rising trend with the increasing height of shoots. These results indicated that PeDWF1 might be involved in the regulation of shoot development by participating in BRs biosynthesis. Moreover, PeDWF1 was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant protein was about 65 kD, which facilitated further study on the gene function of PeDWF1 in bamboo.     

Chloroplast genome aberration in micropropagation-derived albino <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bambusa edulis</Emphasis> mutants, <Emphasis Type="Italic">ab1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">ab2</Emphasis>

Two albino mutants (ab1 and ab2) have been derived from long-term shoot proliferation of Bambusa edulis. Based on transmission electronic microscopy data, the chloroplasts of these mutants were abnormal. To study the mutation of gene regulation in the aberrant chloroplasts, we designed 19 pairs of chloroplast-encoded gene primers for genomic and RT-PCR. Only putative NAD(P)H-quinone oxidoreductase chain 4L (ndhE; DQ908943) and ribosomal protein S7 (rps7; DQ908931) were conserved in both the mutant and wild-type plants. The deletions in the chloroplast genome of these two mutants were different: nine genes were deleted in the chloroplast genomic aberration in ab1 and 11 genes in ab2. The chloroplast genes, NAD(P)H-quinone oxidoreductase chain 4 (ndhD; DQ908944), chloroplast 50S ribosomal protein L14 (rpl14; DQ908934), and ATP synthase beta chain (atpB; DQ908948) were abnormal in both mutants. The gene expressions of 18 of these 20 genes were correlated with their DNA copy number. The two exceptions were: ATP synthase CF0 A chain (atpI; DQ908946), whose expression in both mutants was not reduced even though the copy number was reduced; ribosomal protein S19 (rps19; DQ908949), whose expression was reduced or it was not expressed at all even though there was no difference in genomic copy number between the wild-type and mutant plants. The genomic PCR results showed that chloroplast genome aberrations do occur in multiple shoot proliferation, and this phenomenon may be involved in the generation of albino mutants.     

Revision of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serrulati</Emphasis> species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penstemon</Emphasis> section <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccanthera</Emphasis> subsection <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serrulati</Emphasis>

A revision of Penstemon sect. Saccanthera subsect. Serrulati includes a new species (P. salmonensis), a new variety (P. triphyllus var. infernalis), and the elevation of a subspecies to species (P. curtiflorus), bringing the total number of species to eight, which are keyed and described, complete with nomenclature and type citations.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Galleria</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">mellonella</Emphasis> are Resistant to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pneumocystis</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">murina</Emphasis> Infection

Studying Pneumocystis has proven to be a challenge from the perspective of propagating a significant amount of the pathogen in a facile manner. The study of several fungal pathogens has been aided by the use of invertebrate model hosts. Our efforts to infect the invertebrate larvae Galleria mellonella with Pneumocystis proved futile since P. murina neither caused disease nor was able to proliferate within G. mellonella. It did, however, show that the pathogen could be rapidly cleared from the host.     

Variation in Nectar and Pollen Availability,Sucrose Preference,and Daily Response in the Use of Flowers by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heliconius erato phyllis</Emphasis>

The mechanisms mediating the use of flowers in the butterfly Heliconius erato phyllis (Nymphalidae) are poorly understood. Availability of nectar and pollen, nectar concentration, and abundance of Stachytarpheta cayennensis and Lantana camara (Verbenaceae), two flower species commonly used by H. erato phyllis in the Neotropics, as well as flower use by this butterfly species in the field were examined in southern Brazil. Under insectary conditions, the preference of H. erato phyllis for different sucrose concentrations (0, 10, 20, 40, and 80%) and the ability to associate sucrose concentrations with preferred and non-preferred flower colors were evaluated through choice tests. Lantana camara inflorescences were less abundant, but contained larger amounts of pollen and nectar than S. cayennensis, and H. erato phyllis utilized the flowers of the former species with higher frequency compared to the latter. In the choice tests, butterflies fed more intensely on 20 and 40% sucrose solutions, an interval in which the nectars of L. camara and S. cayennensis are situated, and were able to associate preferred sucrose concentrations with flower color efficiently within the color spectrum of L. camara flowers (i.e., preferred colors), but not within that of S. cayennensis (non-preferred colors). Thus, the greater use of L. camara flowers by H. erato phyllis is related to the plant’s superior floral rewards and not flower abundance, and to the cognitive abilities of these butterflies to adjust their feeding to the availability of pollen and nectar. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing sucrose preferences in a butterfly species.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">tumefaciens</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of callus cells of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crataegus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">aronia</Emphasis>

A genetic transformation system has been developed for callus cells of Crataegus aronia using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Callus culture was established from internodal stem segments incubated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5 mg l⁻¹ Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 0.5 mg l⁻¹ 6-benzyladenine (BA). In order to optimize the callus culture system with respect to callus growth and coloration, different types and concentrations of plant growth regulators were tested. Results indicated that the best average fresh weight of red colored callus was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1.5 mg l⁻¹ kinetin (Kin) (callus maintenance medium). Callus cells were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium harboring the binary plasmid pCAMBIA1302 carrying the mgfp5 and hygromycin phosphotransferase (hptII) genes conferring green fluorescent protein (GFP) activity and hygromycin resistance, respectively. Putative transgenic calli were obtained 4 weeks after incubation of the co-cultivated explants onto maintenance medium supplemented with 50 mg l⁻¹ hygromycin. Molecular analysis confirmed the integration of the transgenes in transformed callus. To our knowledge, this is the first time to report an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system in Crataegus aronia.     

In planta transformation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Notocactus scopa</Emphasis> cv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Soonjung</Emphasis> by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium </Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">tumefaciens</Emphasis>

Notocactus scopa cv. Soonjung was subjected to in planta Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation with vacuum infiltration, pin-pricking, and a combination of the two methods. The pin-pricking combined with vacuum infiltration (20-30 cmHg for 15 min) resulted in a transformation efficiency of 67-100%, and the expression of the uidA and nptII genes was detected in transformed cactus. The established in planta transformation technique generated a transgenic cactus with higher transformation efficiency, shortened selection process, and stable gene expression via asexual reproduction. All of the results showed that the in planta transformation method utilized in the current study provided an efficient and time-saving procedure for the delivery of genes into the cactus genome, and that this technique can be applied to other asexually reproducing succulent plant species.     

Diversity of volatile compounds of <Emphasis Type="Italic">afitin</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">iru</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">sonru</Emphasis>, three fermented food condiments from Benin

Volatile compounds in afitin, iru and sonru, three traditional food condiments produced in Benin by natural fermentation of the African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) were identified and quantified, using the Likens-Nickerson simultaneous distillation-extraction method and GC-MS analysis. A total of 13 chemical groups of volatile compounds were identified and classified in six major groups: pyrazines, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, esters and benzene derivatives. From these groups, 2,5–dimethylpyrazine, tetramethylpyrazine, 3-methylbutanal, 2-decanone, 3,5-dimethylphenylmethanol, ethyl linoleate and chlorobenzene were found in higher amounts in the three condiments. Afitin was characterized by high concentration of 2-decanone, whereas 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, tetramethylpyrazine, 3-methylbutanal and ethyl linoleate were found particularly in higher concentration, both in iru and sonru.     

The composition of volatile components of cepe (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Boletus edulis</Emphasis>) and oyster mushrooms (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus ostreatus</Emphasis>)

The composition of aroma compounds in cooked and canned cepe (Boletus edulis) and in cooked oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) is studied using capillary gas chromatography and chromatographymass spectrometry. It is found that unsaturated alcohols and ketones containing eight atoms of carbon determine the aroma of raw mushrooms and take part in the formation of the aroma of cooked mushrooms as well. The content of these compounds was the highest in canned cepes. In oyster mushrooms, the concentration of these alcohols and ketones was lower in comparison with cepes. The content of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes was much higher in oyster mushrooms. Volatile aliphatic and heterocyclic Maillard reaction products and isomeric octenols and octenones formed the aroma of cooked and canned mushrooms.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caenorhabditis</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">briggsae</Emphasis> genome contains active <Emphasis Type="Italic">CbmaT1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tcb1</Emphasis> transposons

The maT clade of transposons is a group of transposable elements intermediate in sequence and predicted protein structure to mariner and Tc transposons, with a distribution thus far limited to a few invertebrate species. We present evidence, based on searches of publicly available databases, that the nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae has several maT-like transposons, which we have designated as CbmaT elements, dispersed throughout its genome. We also describe two additional transposon sequences that probably share their evolutionary history with the CbmaT transposons. One resembles a fold back variant of a CbmaT element, with long (380-bp) inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) that show a high degree (71%) of identity to CbmaT1. The other, which shares only the 26-bp ITR sequences with one of the CbmaT variants, is present in eight nearly identical copies, but does not have a transposase gene and may therefore be cross mobilised by a CbmaT transposase. Using PCR-based mobility assays, we show that CbmaT1 transposons are capable of excising from the C. briggsae genome. CbmaT1 excised approximately 500 times less frequently than Tcb1 in the reference strain AF16, but both CbmaT1 and Tcb1 excised at extremely high frequencies in the HK105 strain. The HK105 strain also exhibited a high frequency of spontaneous induction of unc-22 mutants, suggesting that it may be a mutator strain of C. briggsae.     

Identification of metabolites produced from <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-phenylpiperazine by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium</Emphasis> spp

Mycobacterium sp. 7E1B1W and seven other mycobacterial strains known to degrade hydrocarbons were investigated to determine their ability to metabolize the piperazine ring, a substructure found in many drugs. Cultures were grown at 30°C in tryptic soy broth and dosed with 3.1 mM N-phenylpiperazine hydrochloride; samples were removed at intervals and extracted with ethyl acetate. Two metabolites were purified from each of the extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography; they were identified by mass spectrometry and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as N-(2-anilinoethyl)acetamide and N-acetyl-N′-phenylpiperazine. The results show that mycobacteria have the ability to acetylate piperazine rings and cleave carbon-nitrogen bonds.     

Variability in cardiac activity of the bivalves <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mytilus edulis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Modiolus modiolus</Emphasis>

A noninvasive method was applied to study the heart rates of the White Sea bivalves Mytilus edulis and Modiolus modiolus in a long-term field experiment during the winter. No cardiac arrest and relatively high levels of cardiac activity (5.26 and 3.49 beats/min, respectively) were observed in both species. Oscillations of heart rate and signal amplitude with wavelengths of 3 to 6, 9 to 16, and 18 to 24 h were found. The oscillations of heart rate and cardiac signal amplitude occurred simultaneously and were connected with the tidal cycle only in the case of the short-term rhythms.     

Bio-resolution of glycidyl (<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>)-methylphenyl ethers by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus megaterium</Emphasis>

A newly isolated Bacillus megaterium with epoxide hydrolase activity resolved racemic glycidyl (o, m, p)-methylphenyl ethers to give enantiopure epoxides in 84–99% enantiomeric excess and with 21–73 enantiomeric ratios. The (S)-enantiomer was obtained from rac-glycidyl (o or m)-methylphenyl ether while the (R)-epoxides was obtained from glycidyl p-methylphenyl ether. The observations are explained at the level by enzyme-substrate docking studies.     

New combinations and typifications in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bistorta</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Persicaria</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polygonum,</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rumex</Emphasis> (Polygonaceae)

New combinations are proposed in anticipation of the Polygonaceae treatment in the forthcoming volume of Intermountain Flora: Polygonum kelloggii var. esotericum, P. kelloggii var. watsonii , Rumex densiflorus var. pycnanthus , R. salicifolius var. utahensis, and R. occidentalis var. tomentellus. Typifications are proposed to facilitate ongoing studies in Polygonaceae and to maintain current usage.     

Yeheb (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cordeauxia</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">edulis</Emphasis>) extract deters feeding and oviposition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plutella xylostella</Emphasis> and attracts its natural enemy

The effects of yeheb (Cordeauxia edulis Hemsl.) leaf extract on feeding and oviposition by diamondback moth (DBM) (Plutella xylostella L.) and the behavior of DBM parasitoid, Cotesia vestalis (Haliday), were studied. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the headspace of intact and DBM-damaged broccoli plants sprayed with yeheb extracts (YE) were also analyzed. Larval feeding and growth, and oviposition by adult DBM were strongly inhibited by the extract. Cotesia vestalis were attracted to volatile blends from intact or DBM-damaged broccoli plants sprayed with YE over intact plants sprayed with water or methanol. Analyses of VOCs in the headspace of broccoli plants revealed that both intact and DBM-damaged plants sprayed with YE showed remarkable differences in sesquiterpene compounds compared to intact control treatments. These combined negative effects of YE on DBM fitness together with positive effects on the parasitoid show that yeheb is a potential source of compounds for use in integrated pest management to control damage caused by DBM.