Salt Tolerance and Crop Potential of Halophytes

Although they represent only 2% of terrestrial plant species, halophytes are present in about half the higher plant families and represent a wide diversity of plant forms. Despite their polyphyletic origins, halophytes appear to have evolved the same basic method of osmotic adjustment: accumulation of inorganic salts, mainly NaCl, in the vacuole and accumulation of organic solutes in the cytoplasm. Differences between halophyte and gly-cophyte ion transport systems are becoming apparent. The pathways by which Na⁺ and Cl^? enters halophyte cells are not well understood but may involve ion channels and pinocytosis, in addition to Na⁺ and Cl^? transporters. Na⁺ uptake into vacuoles requires Na⁺/H⁺ antiporters in the tonoplast and H⁺ ATPases and perhaps PP_i ases to provide the proton motive force. Tonoplast antiporters are constitutive in halophytes, whereas they must be activated by NaCl in salt-tolerant glycophytes, and they may be absent from salt-sensitive glycophytes. Halophyte vacuoles may have a modified lipid composition to prevent leakage of Na⁺ back to the cytoplasm. Becuase of their diversity, halophytes have been regarded as a rich source of potential new crops. Halophytes have been tested as vegetable, forage, and oilseed crops in agronomic field trials. The most productive species yield 10 to 20 ton/ha of biomass on seawater irrigation, equivalent to conventional crops. The oilseed halophyte, Sali-cornia bigelovii, yields 2?t/ha of seed containing 28% oil and 31% protein, similar to soybean yield and seed quality. Halophytes grown on seawater require a leaching fraction to control soil salts, but at lower salinities they outperform conventional crops in yield and water use efficiency. Halophyte forage and seed products can replace conventional ingredients in animal feeding systems, with some restrictions on their use due to high salt content and antinutritional compounds present in some species. Halophytes have applications in recycling saline agricultural wastewater and reclaiming salt-affected soil in arid-zone irrigation districts.     

新疆3种藜科盐生植物NHX基因的克隆与序列分析比较

从新疆野生植物盐角草(Salicornia europaea)、盐爪爪(Kalidium foliatum)和盐穗木(Halostachys caspica)中分别克隆了约1.7kb的NHX基因cDNA片段,此片段均包含了NHX完整基因,三者之间有较高的同源性,盐角草NHX基因与盐爪爪NHX基因同源性达92.81%,盐角草与盐穗木同源性达92.19%,盐爪爪与盐穗木同源性达97.66%.它们与其它几种藜科盐生植物如滨藜、碱蓬、灰绿藜的NHX基因同源性也很高,达到80%以上,与拟南芥同源性也达到86%.此基因在植物尤其是藜科盐生植物中高度保守,其编码的功能性蛋白可能在影响植物耐盐中起作用.     

Ecophysiology of Salt Excretion in Aeluropus litoralis (Graminae)

Various aspects of salt excretion from leaves of Aeluropus were investigated. Salt excretion exhibited an optimum-type of curve when measured against external salt concentration, while sodium content of the leaves increased linearly. The ‘relative excretion’, i.e. rate of excreted ions: change in leaf ion content, was maximal in the low salt concentration range, and decreased when external sodium chloride concentration increased. Concentration of the excreted droplets was higher than the external concentration when the leaves were exposed to low salt concentrations in the medium, but the reverse occurred when the external salt concentrations were high. The excretion process was sensitive to water-stress conditions, caused either by high external salt concentrations or by exposure to dry atmosphere. A considerable fraction of the leaf sodium content in salt-treated leaves was only slightly available for excretion. Salt excretion in Aeluropus was enhanced by light. Such enhancement was indirect and is attributed to the increase of salt transport via transpiration stream. Selectivity of the salt-excretion mechanism is in favour of sodium and against potassium. On the other hand, potassium has a high affinity for the accumulation systems within the leaves. The ecological significance of the results is discussed.     

盐生植物种子的休眠、休眠解除及萌发的特点

本文讨论了盐生植物种子的休眠、休眠解除及萌发的特点 ,主要内容有 :( 1 )盐生植物种子的休眠类型 ;( 2 )打破盐生植物种子休眠的必要条件 ;( 3)盐生种子萌发与土壤盐度的关系。并讨论了盐度抑制盐生植物种子的机理。最后 ,作者提出了将来研究盐生植物种子萌发需要解决的几个重点问题以及研究盐生植物种子休眠和萌发问题的意义     

水稻盐胁迫应答cDNA的克隆、表达和染色体定位

从150 mmol/L盐胁迫3 h和没有胁迫的耐盐水稻(Oryza sativa L.)品种特三矮2号叶片中提取mRNA,构建cDNA文库.通过示差筛选,得到3个盐胁迫应答cDNA克隆Ts1、Ts2和Ts3.Northerd分析表明,3 h的盐胁迫可使Ts1、Ts2和Ts3的转录水平明显上升;3～24 h期间,Ts1和Ts2的转录水平继续上升,而Ts3的转录水平则下降.序列分析表明,这3个cDNA克隆与已知功能的基因没有同源性.利用特三矮2号的耐盐亲本ZYQ8和粳稻JX1 7组合构建了DH群体和分子标记连锁图谱,将Ts1、Ts2和Ts3分别定位在第1、3和7染色体上.值得注意的是,Ts1、Ts2和Ts3与用同一群体定位的主效和微效耐盐QTL位于同一或相邻区域.     

水稻盐胁迫应答cDNA的克隆、表达和染色体定位

从150mmol／L盐胁迫3h和没有胁迫的耐盐水稻(Oryza Sativa L.)品种特三矮2号叶片中提取mRNA,构建cDNA文库。通过示差筛选,得到3个盐胁迫应答cDNA克隆Ts1、Ts2和Ts3。Northern分析表明,3h的盐胁迫可使Ts1、Ts2和Ts3的转录水平明显上升;3～24h期间,Ts1和Ts2的转录水平继续上升,而Ts3的转录水平则下降。序列分析表明,这3个cDNA克隆与已知功能的基因没有同源性。利用特三矮2号的耐盐亲本ZYQ8和粳稻JXl7组合构建了DH群体和分子标记连锁图谱,将Ts1、Ts2和Ts3分别定位在第l、3和7染色体上。值得注意的是,Ts1、Ts3和Ts3与用同一群体定位的主效和微效耐盐QTL位于同一或相邻区域。     

Effect of NaCl on the in vitro Activity of Malate Dehydrogenase in Salt Marsh Halophytes of the U.S.

The in vitro effect of NaCl on NAD-malate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.37; MDH) from desalted extracts of roots and leaves of six salt marsh halophytes was investigated. The plants, all native and important constituents of the salt marshes of the east coast of the U.S., included Spartina alterniflora Loisel., Spartina patens (Aiton) Muhl., Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene, Juncus roemerianus Schleele, Salicornia virginica L., and Borrichia frutescens (L.) DC. In the leaf extracts of all species except Borrichia frutescens, the MDH activity was slightly stimulated by NaCl at concentrations around 0.05 M at optimal pH (8.0–8.5) and was reduced by NaCl in higher concentrations. MDH activity in the leaf extract of Borrichia frutescens was more salt-tolerant and maximal activity occurred around 0.25 M NaCl at optimal pH (7.0). Even though similar pH optimums for activity were exhibited in the root and leaf extracts of each species, the MDH activity in the root extract was more salt-tolerant than that in the leaf extract. NaCl at concentrations up to 0.1 M stimulated the MDH activity in the root extracts of all species except that of Borrichia frutescens, which had an optimal activity in 0.5 M NaCl. In the root and leaf extracts of Borrichia frutescens, the activity of cytosol MDH was much more salt-tolerant than that of the mitochondrial MDH. A shift of the optimal pH to more acidic values with increasing concentrations of NaCl was noted in the extracts of all the species except Borrichia frutescens. The action of NaCl on MDH activity appeared to be a general ionic effect as judged by the response of the enzyme activity in the presence of iso-ionic concentrations of other salts and isoosmotic mannitol. Thus, the response of the MDH from five of the salt marsh plants to NaCl is similar to that of glycophytes. However, Borrichia frutescens possesses a salt-tolerant MDH that has optimal activity in a salt concentration as high as that of the environment.     

De Novo Biosynthesis of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide in Escherichia coli: Excretion of Quinolinic Acid by Mutants Lacking Quinolinate Phosphoribosyl Transferase

The excretion of quinolinic acid was studied in growing and resting cells of Escherichia coli K-12 nadC(13). Under optimal conditions, this organism could synthesize quinolinic acid in several-fold excess of the amount which would be required for normal growth. The excretion of quinolinic acid was controlled by the concentration of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) precursors available to the organism either during growth or during incubation in dense cell suspensions. These observations suggest that biosynthesis of NAD de novo is regulated by both repression and feedback inhibition. Analogues of niacin which inhibit bacterial growth also inhibited and repressed the synthesis (excretion) of quinolinic acid. The pH optimum for quinolinic acid excretion agreed favorably with the optimum observed for its synthesis in vitro. The rate of quinolinic acid excretion was strongly influenced by the concentration of ribose or glycerol in the medium.     

Ultrastructural Characteristics of the Nacre in Some Gastropods

The nacreous layer in Gibbula, Calliostoma, Trochus and Haliotis is described on the basis of scanning electron microscopic studies. The central part of each nacreous tablet contains a significant amount of calcified organic matrix which is insoluble in a chromium sulphate and a 25% glutaraldehyde solution. In most cases, the tablet is subdivided by radial vertical organic membranes into a varying number (2 to 50) of crystalline sectors. These sectors represent polysynthetically twinned crystal individuals which form cyclic or interpenetrant twins. The nacreous tablets in gastropods are compared with those in bivalves, and with the non-biogenic aragonite. The mechanical properties of the nacre, and the effects of the interlamellar conchiolin membranes upon the nucleation of the tablets, are discussed.     

Ultrastructural Visualization of Surface Carbohydrate Structures on Mycoplasma Membranes by Concanavalin A

Surface carbohydrates of Mycoplasma mycoides var. capri were made visible by the cytochemical staining procedure with concanavalin A, horseradish peroxidase, and diaminobenzidine.     

Physiological and Ultrastructural Changes in Isolated Wheat Embryos During Salt and Osmotic Shock

Physiological and ultrastructural changes were followed duringearly germination in isolated wheat embryos exposed to isotonicsolutions of NaCl and sorbitol. Both NaCl and sorbitol enteredthe embryos, and imbibition during the first 4 h was similar.Thereafter, the increase in embryo fresh weight, respiration,and the uptake and incorporation of precursors into proteinsand nucleic acids were strongly inhibited by NaCl while sorbitolonly slightly reduced these aspects of metabolic reactivation.Electron microscopic observations also showed that the effectsinduced by NaCl were more severe than those produced by sorbitol.The results are discussed in relation to the previously observedlack of sodium toxicity in wheat embryos germinating withinthe intact seeds. Germination, osmotic stress, salinity, sorbitol, Triticum durum L, wheat embryo     

猪传染性胸膜肺炎放线杆菌毒素apxH基因无药物抗性标记突变株HBC-/GFP+的构建及其生物学特性研究

通过使用枯草芽胞杆菌一个蔗糖敏感sacB基因发展了一种依靠蔗糖的负向筛选系统,这种方法允许没有标记突变的基因进入胸膜肺炎放线杆菌染色体。首先,构建了猪传染性胸膜肺炎放线杆菌毒素apxⅡ基因GFP插入失活型的重组质粒pOSAKCG,其中一个表达盒含有氨苄青霉素基因和以外膜蛋白omlA作为启动子表达sacB基因。重组质粒pOSAKCG通过电穿孔转化,它的突变apxⅡCA基因与野生型亲本菌株胸膜肺炎放线杆菌HB03染色体上野生型apxⅡCA基因发生同源交换,两步法筛选获得了apxⅡ基因突变株HBC^-／GFP^ ,PCR和Southern blot对突变株进行初步鉴定,进一步对突变株的一些生物学特性,包括它的溶血活性、免疫原性、生长特性及其对小鼠的安全性进行了研究。结果表明,无药物抗性标记突变株的构建是成功的。该突变株的构建为进一步研究突变株作为载体和疫苗奠定了坚实的基础。     

三种国产阴地蕨科植物叶的表皮构造

运用光学显微镜和扫描电镜对三种国产阴地蕨科植物 :劲直蕨萁 (Botrypusstrictus)、小阴地蕨(Botrychiumlunaria)和薄叶阴地蕨 (Sceptridiumdaucifolium)叶的成熟表皮构造进行了详细观察和研究。它们具有共同的特征 :气孔散生 ,气孔类型无规则型 ,气孔长轴方向多与叶脉延伸方向一致。但也存在明显区别 ,特别是劲直蕨萁与另外二个种的区别更为明显 :前者表皮细胞垂周壁直 ,相邻气孔不接触 ,保卫细胞平周壁具细条纹。但后二者之间亦有一定区别 :薄叶阴地蕨的气孔为下生式 ,不下陷 ,而小阴地蕨的气孔为两面气孔型 ,气孔下陷。本文是国内首次对阴地蕨科叶的表皮构造进行研究 ,其研究结果表明 ,表皮构造在阴地蕨科植物的鉴定上具有重要意义 ,并且在研究阴地蕨科的分类以及起源和演化上也有一定参考价值。     

BCR-ABL Induces Neurite-like Structures and BCR Lacking the SH2-Binding Domain Induces Cell Rounding in PC12 Cells

The activated tyrosine kinase oncoprotein BCR-ABL is responsible for pathogenesis of Philadelphia chromosome-positive human leukemias. Because BCR carries a GAP (GTPase-activating protein) activity toward cytoskeleton-related small GTP-binding proteins, we utilized a neuronal PC12 cell system to test morphogenic potentials of BCR-ABL or BCR. We report here unique morphological phenotypes of PC12 cells expressing either BCR-ABL or a BCR mutant which lacks the SH2-binding domain (BCR Δ162-413). Although MAP kinase was not activated in PC12 cells expressing BCR-ABL, they showed incomplete neurite extensions even in the absence of the nerve growth factor (NGF). Overproduction of BCR Δ162-413 in PC12 cells, on the other hand, induced cell rounding in the absence of NGF. Interestingly, those cells could hardly make terminal differentiation in the presence of NGF and continued to grow without changing their round shape, although NGF receptor as well as MAP kinase appeared to be activated. Interestingly, the botulinum C3 toxin induced neurite-like structures in PC12 cells overexpressing BCR Δ162-413 without NGF.     

海滨锦葵的抗盐特性

在温室沙培条件下,用含有0、100、200、300mm01·L-1NaC1的Hoagland培养液分别处理已长出8片真叶的海滨锦葵幼苗.15 d后取样,测定根、茎基、茎、叶柄和叶中无机离子(Na 、K 、Ca 、Cl-、NO3-)含量,以及叶和根中可溶性有机物质脯氨酸(Pro)、总游离氨基酸(FAA)、可溶性糖(SS)和有机酸(OA)含量,计算无机离子和有机物质对渗透势的影响的结果表明:海滨锦葵具有拒盐特性,随着盐浓度的升高,Na 和Cl-主要分布在海滨锦葵的根、茎和叶柄中;海滨锦葵的渗透调节物质以无机离子为主.     

Ultrastructural and Morphological Characteristics of Cultivated Wheat Growing on Copper-Polluted Fields

A cultivated Greek variety of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Vergina) growing in fields naturally polluted by outcrops of copper ores was investigated. Wheat plants show a negative response to increasing quantities of soil copper, including reduced growth and chlorosis. Copper toxicity was demonstrated in the laboratory by a rooting test; the frequency of mitoses declines sharply with increasing copper concentration in the nutrient solution. The mesophyll cells of polluted plants display a circular shape (in transverse sections) with a few chloroplasts parietally distributed, in contrast with the elongate or pleomorphic shape of control leaves that contain numerous chloroplasts crowded at the cell periphery. Ultrastructurally, the chloroplasts of polluted plants contain a poorly developed internal membrane system consisting of thylakoids arranged parallel to each other with only a few, rudimentary grana. In addition, a number of statistically significant differences were found, including the number of starch grains and plastoglobuli, chloroplast surface area, volume fraction of starch grains and, most important, the volume fraction of the internal membrane system. All ultrastructural changes are attributed to the toxic effect of high concentrations of soil copper.     

宁夏枸杞异型绒毡层发育的超微结构特点

采用半薄和超薄切片技术对宁夏枸杞(Lycium barbarum L.)异型绒毡层的来源、结构及发育特点进行了研究,结果表明:(1)枸杞异型绒毡层由药隔绒毡层和药壁绒毡层组成,两种绒毡层除了来源、形态及分布位置不同外,其分化、成熟和降解时间,以及细胞质组成、分泌物成分等均有差异.(2)小孢子母细胞期间,药隔绒毡层细胞电子密度大,具有很强的脂质性质,光滑内质网和脂质小泡很丰富;而药壁绒毡层细胞中的核糖体和粗糙内质网较多.四分体后期,两种绒毡层细胞均含有很丰富的核糖体、粗糙内质网和分泌团.减数分裂前,两种绒毡层的细胞壁出现松散并呈絮状.之后,由于不同发育时期绒毡层细胞的不同分泌物在絮状细胞壁中的分布,致使二者的细胞壁都出现了一系列变化.(3)从小孢子早期开始,两种绒毡层细胞的质膜都发生了局部解体.分析推测,在母细胞期间药隔绒毡层具有较高的糖和脂类合成率,药壁绒毡层具有较高的蛋白质类合成率;在四分体后期,药隔绒毡层具有加强胼胝质酶合成和分泌的功能;而两种绒毡层絮状松散的细胞壁和局部解体的质膜有利于绒毡层的较大颗粒分泌物大量、顺利地分泌出绒毡层细胞.