The Genetics of Evolutionary Change in Senecio vulgaris L.: A QTL Mapping Approach

Abstract: The cosmopolitan weed Senecio vulgaris var. vulgaris is likely to have originated from the non-weedy S. vulgaris ssp. denticulatus from which it differs by showing no seed dormancy, by completing its life cycle from germination to seed formation much faster and by lacking ray florets. An F2 generation of 120 individuals obtained through selfing of one hybrid individual between var. vulgaris and ssp. denticulatus was used to construct a linkage map based on RAPD polymorphisms and the presence or absence of ray florets. This linkage map was used for a QTL analysis of 12 characters distinguishing the two taxa. For seven of these 12 characters, three significant QTLs could be found. One of these QTLs controls the speed of development, height of plants, leaf number, number of lateral branches and number of outer involucral bracts. A second QTL, located in the same linkage group, coincides with the ray floret locus and controls the number of disc florets. Plant height and leaf number are controlled by a third QTL in a different linkage group. Considering earlier evidence on the genetics of seed dormancy, it is argued that probably only three chromosomal regions, or even genetic loci, control seed dormancy, speed of development and presence or absence of ray florets as the ecologically most important differences between var. vulgaris and ssp. denticulatus. These findings have important implications for the genetics of evolutionary change and speciation.     

Survivorship and fecundity of the radiate and non-radiate morphs of Groundsel,Senecio vulgaris L., raised in pure stand and mixture

British populations of Senecio vulgaris frequently contain two common capitulum morphs (radiate and non-radiate) and one rare intermediate morph. The radiate morph shows a higher maternal rate of intermorph outcrossing than the non-radiate morph and due to the ‘cost of outcrossing’ should decline in frequency, ultimately to be lost from a population. To determine whether the radiate morph exhibits some inherent advantage in fitness to offset the ‘cost of outcrossing’, a comparison was made of the survivorship and fecundity of the radiate and non-radiate morphs raised in pure stands and 1 : 1 mixture at three planting dates (autumn 1983, and spring and autumn 1984). Plants in stands established in spring 1984 were harvested in late August 1984, while plants in stands established in autumn overwintered before being harvested the following summer. In spring planted stands, the two morphs exhibited equivalent survivorships, while the fecundity of the non-radiate morph tended to be greater than the radiate morph. In autumn planted stands, survivorship and Net Reproductive Output (survivorship × fecundity) of the non-radiate morph was greater than that of the radiate morph in mixture, and also in pure stands established in 1983. In no instance was the Net Reproductive Output of either morph significantly greater in mixture than in pure stand. Density had a contrasting effect on morph survivorship and fecundity in the spring and autumn 1984 planted stands. Whereas, in spring stands, fecundity was subject to compensating density dependent regulation while survivorship was density independent, the opposite trend was observed in autumn planted stands. It is concluded that under the conditions of the experiments, the radiate morph exhibited no fitness advantage which might offset the inherent disadvantage it suffers in natural polymorphic populations due to the ‘cost of outcrossing’.     

Differential efficiency of photosynthetic oxygen evolution in flashing light in triazine-resistant and triazine-susceptible biotypes of Senecio vulgaris L.

Photosynthetic oxygen evolution in response to flashing light was studied in triazine-susceptible and triazine-resistant biotypes of Senecio vulgaris L. Studies were conducted to determine if the modification of the herbicide-binding site which confers s-triazine resistance also affects the oxygen-evolving system. Oxygen evolution was measured using a Joliot-type oxygen-specific electrode on broken, stroma-free chloroplasts of both biotypes. We observed abnormal patterns of oxygen evolution in resistant chloroplasts. The S′₁ → S₂ transition is slower while the S₂ decay is faster. The S′₂ → S₃ transition, in contrast, is slightly faster in resistant chloroplasts, while the decay of the S₃ state is the same as in susceptible chloroplasts. These altered kinetics may be due to altered Q → B (B^?) electron flow in resistant chloroplasts. These results are also consistent with the hypothesis that back-reactions from the reducing (acceptor) side of Photosystem II to the oxidizing (donor) side occur with greater frequency in resistant than susceptible chloroplasts. These events are responsible for lower oxygen yield and increased ‘misses’ and ‘double hits,’ resulting in abnormal yield patterns and lower quantum yield of CO₂ fixation in resistant chloroplasts compared to the susceptible ones.     

Essential‐Oil Composition and Chemical Variability of Senecio vulgaris L. from Corsica

The chemical composition of the essential oils isolated from the aerial parts of Senecio vulgaris plants collected in 30 Corsican localities was characterized using GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses. Altogether, 54 components, which accounted for 95.2% of the total oil composition, were identified in the 30 essential‐oil samples. The main compounds were α‐humulene ( 1 ; 57.3%), (E)‐β‐caryophyllene ( 2 ; 5.6%), terpinolene ( 3 ; 5.3%), ar‐curcumene ( 4 ; 4.3%), and geranyl linalool ( 5 ; 3.4%). The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from separate organs and during the complete vegetative cycle of the plants were also studied, to gain more knowledge about the plant ecology. The production of monoterpene hydrocarbons, especially terpinolene, seems to be implicated in the plant‐flowering process and, indirectly, in the dispersal of this weed species. Comparison of the present results with the literature highlighted the originality of the Corsican S. vulgaris essential oils and indicated that α‐humulene might be used as taxonomical marker for the future classification of the Senecio genus. A study of the chemical variability of the 30 S. vulgaris essential oils using statistical analysis allowed the discrimination of two main clusters according to the soil nature of the sample locations. These results confirmed that there is a relation between the soil nature, the chemical composition of the essential oils, and morphological plant characteristics. Moreover, they are of interest for commercial producers of essential oil in selecting the most appropriate plants.     

千里光肌动蛋白基因（Actin）的生物信息学及功能分析

肌动蛋白（Actin）是广泛存在于高等植物中的组成型表达蛋白质,与细胞分裂、细胞运动、细胞信号转导等功能密切相关。为明确肌动蛋白性质与功能的关系,本研究从千里光全长cDNA文库中分离得到Actin基因。序列分析结果表明：该基因长度为1 481 bp,编码360个氨基酸残基的多肽,与甘草Actin基因编码的氨基酸序列（GenBank登录号：ABW71681.1）的同源性最高,达96%;预测蛋白质的分子量为40.02 kDa,理论等电点为5.85;结构分析发现,螺旋结构和无规则卷曲构成Actin二级结构的主要组分;三级结构预测发现,Actin具有4个结构域;蛋白系统发生树发现,与甘草和鹰嘴豆的亲缘关系较近。本研究认为,高等植物Actin可能参与基因的转录调控,其氨基酸突变位点未对功能结构域产生影响。     

菜豆胚乳游离核中的线粒体(简报)

在植物细胞中,细胞核以及具DNA的细胞器——质体和线粒体,在结构上通常各具自身的被膜而独立存在。关于核与这两种细胞器以及两种细胞器之间通过外膜的连接在一些植物中已有报道。最近,Yu和Russell在烟草中发现了细胞核中存在线粒体的现象。本     

菊状千里光中Jacaranone类化合物

从菊状千里光(Senecio laetus)全草中分离得到7个Jacaranone类化合物,它们的结构运用现代波谱技术确定为jacaranone (1);3-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrojacaranone methyl ester (2);1-羟基-4-氧代-2,5-环己二烯-1-醋酸乙酯(3);2-jacaranone酰基-α-D-吡喃葡萄糖酯和2-jacaranone酰基-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖酯的混合物(4、5); l-jacaranone乙酯-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷(6);1-羟基-4-氧代-2,5-环己二烯-1-醋酸(7).首次报道菊状千里光中Jacaranone类化合物的存在,支持了国外学者认为该类化合物是千里光属植物特征次生代谢产物的推论.     

细裂银叶菊叶的组织培养繁殖研究

以细裂银叶菊叶片为材料,进行愈伤组织的诱导、分化培养及生根诱导培养。结果表明：叶片愈伤组织的诱导以MS 2,4-D2mgL^-1 BA1mgL^-1 NAA0．1mgL^-1。培养基较好：分化培养以MStBA0．5mgL^-1 NAA0．1mgL^-1为好：生根诱导以1／2MS NAA0．01mgL^-4效果最好。