Comparative proteomic analysis of pistil abortion in Japanese apricot (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc)

The phenomenon of pistil abortion widely occurs in Japanese apricot and has seriously affected the yield in production. We used a combination of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight/time of flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) approaches to identify the differentially expressed proteome between perfect and imperfect flower buds in Japanese apricot. More than 400 highly reproducible protein spots (P<0.05) were detected and 27 protein spots showed a greater than two-fold difference in their expression values. The proteins identified were classified into eight functional classifications and ten process categories, according to the Gene Ontology (GO). Acetyl-CoA produced by ATP citrate lyase (ACL) as a structural substance during formation of the cell wall could regulate pistil abortion in Japanese apricot. S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolases (XTHs) and caffeoyl-CoA-O-methyl transferase (CCoAOMT) could promote cell wall formation in perfect flower buds of Japanese apricot, greatly contributing to pistil development. Spermidine hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (SHT) may be involved in the O-methylation of spermidine conjugates and could contribute to abnormal floral development. The identification of such differentially expressed proteins provides new targets for future studies that will assess their physiological roles and significance in pistil abortion.     

Pistil abortion in Japanese apricot (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus mume</Emphasis> Sieb. et Zucc.): isolation and functional analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">PmCCoAOMT</Emphasis> gene

The abnormal pistils widely occur in Japanese apricot (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc) and seriously affect the fruit production. In this study, a CCoAOMT homologue, PmCCoAOMT, was cloned in Japanese apricot and the bioinformatics software analyzed the structural characteristics. The PmCCoAOMT protein was detected to be located in the cell cytoplasm by onion transient expression experiment. Analysis of the real-time PCR data showed that PmCCoAOMT gene expressed in the prophase development of pistil and the expression level in ‘Daqiandi’ was higher than ‘Longyan.’ The expression level in ‘Longyan’ was higher than ‘Daqiandi’ in the late period development of pistil, and the expression level of perfect flower (perfect pistil) was higher than imperfect flower (pistil deformity and no pistil). Compared with the control, the over-expression of PmCCoAOMT transgenic tobacco lines showed bigger flowers, darker petals. The lignin monomer composition in transgenic tobacco lines was also measured, and the results showed that transgenic tobacco lines had a higher S (Syringyl)/G (Guaiacyl) ratio (22.3 %) than control lines (11.8 %). Also, the perfect flower buds contained more S/G ratio (92.62 %) than imperfect flower buds (83.55 %) in ‘Daqiandi.’ Our results indicated that the PmCCoAOMT gene might have function in lignin accumulation, which contributed to pistil development in Japanese apricot.     

敦煌‘李光杏’花芽发育过程中雌蕊败育观察及生物学特性调查

为克服杏生产中雌蕊败育现象、提高坐果率,该研究以甘肃省敦煌市的‘李光杏’盛果期不同树势(强势树、中庸树和弱势树)和不同类型结果枝(花束状果枝、短果枝、中果枝、长果枝)的花芽为试材,对其开花物候期及生物学特性进行调查,采用石蜡切片观察易发生败育时期(花芽分化初期、雌蕊分化期、花粉细胞期和花蕾膨大期)的花芽内部组织结构形态,同时测定各主要败育时期叶片可溶性糖、淀粉含量及矿质元素的变化。结果表明:(1)弱树花芽的平均败育率最高(91.26%),中庸树最低(71.08%);不同类型结果枝中,花束状果枝花芽的败育率最低,长果枝的败育率最高。(2)不同结果枝类型的花粉生活力表现为花束状果枝>短果枝>中果枝>长果枝,花粉发芽率表现为短果枝>花束状果枝>中果枝>长果枝。各花型花粉生活力表现为雌蕊高于雄蕊>雌雄等长>雌蕊低于雄蕊>无雌蕊,发芽率的表现为雌雄等长>雌蕊高于雄蕊>雌蕊低于雄蕊>无雌蕊。(3)各树势花芽雌蕊分化期叶片可溶性糖与淀粉含量显著低于其他时期;叶片P、K、Ca含量在分化前期较高,但是雌蕊、雄蕊分化期显著下降。(4)与正常花相比,败育花主要表现为子房发育异常,多数生长点不均匀,子房萎缩,胚珠原基发育停滞;雌蕊的花柱低于花丝,且花粉粒急剧减少。研究发现,‘李光杏’树势的强弱会造成败育花比例和坐果率的差异,并以中庸树果实坐果率最高,且花败育率最低;雌蕊发育是否正常直接关系到‘李光杏’正常开花,雌蕊的发育受阻,最终成为整个花芽退化的主要形式;叶片碳水化合物和矿质元素等营养物质参与并保证了花器官的正常发育。     

果梅完全花与不完全花的差异蛋白分析

应用双向电泳技术对果梅完全花与不完全花的蛋白质组分进行了比较分析。经专业分析软件（PDQuest）对电泳图谱分析表明两者的蛋白分布相似,在完全花中发现了1个特异蛋白、1个上调蛋白、21个下调蛋白,在不完全花中发现2个特异蛋白,这些蛋白差异点可能与雌蕊的败育有关。应用质谱技术对3个特异点及5个差异大的蛋白点进行分析,得到的肽段数据与蛋白质数据库比对发现其中一个蛋白（28．2kD,pI4．53）与光敏色素B有关。     

不同品种杏的性器官发育和结实性比较研究

通过对原产于不同地区的５１个杏品种的性器官发育和结实性的系统调查和测定,结果表明,１．花粉上和形状少数虽有一定差异,而大数色大多数品种相似,吕种间花粉萌发率尽管差异很大,但所有品种均为花粉可育型。２．大多数品种不完全花百分率很高,自然授粉率很,其主要原因是雌蕊败育。３．品种间不完全花百分率与花粉萌发率呈正相关;４．欧洲生态群品种与中国生态群品种比较芬粉大小和形态基本相似,而花粉萌发率和不安全花百分     

红花玉兰MwAG基因在花发育不同时期的表达

MwAG基因是调控红花玉兰(Magnolia wufengensis)雌雄蕊发育的关键转录因子。采用半定量RT-PCR、Northern blot杂交和实时荧光定量PCR技术检测了MwAG基因在红花玉兰花芽形态分化几个关键时期表达的组织特异性和表达水平的变化。研究结果表明, MwAG基因仅在红花玉兰雌雄蕊中表达, 而在幼叶、外轮花被和内轮花被中不表达。在花器官形态分化过程中, MwAG基因在雌雄蕊原基分化期和雌雄蕊成熟期均维持在一个较高的水平, 且在雄蕊中的表达波峰早于雌蕊, 这与雌雄蕊形态分化的时间基本吻合; 在花芽分化早期, 相同大小的花芽, 瓣数越多, MwAG基因在雌雄蕊中的表达量越低, 其结果与不同瓣数雌雄蕊分化的时间一致, 即瓣数越多, 雌雄蕊分化越晚。     

Characterization of ethylene effects on sex determination in cucumber plants

Sex differentiation in cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L.) appears to be determined by the selective arrest of the stamen or pistil primordia. We investigated the influence of an ethylene-releasing agent (ethephon) or an inhibitor of ethylene biosynthesis (aminoethoxyvinyl glycine) on sex differentiation in different developmental stages of flower buds. These treatments influence sex determination only at the stamen primordia differentiation stage in both monoecious and gynoecious cucumbers. To clarify the relationships between the ethylene-producing tissues and the ethylene-perceiving tissues in inducing female flowers in the cucumber, we examined the localization of mRNA accumulation of both the ACC synthase gene (CS-ACS2) and the ethylene-receptor-related genes (CS-ETR1, CS-ETR2, and CS-ERS) in flower buds by in situ hybridization analysis. CS-ACS2 mRNA was detected in the pistil primordia of gynoecious cucumbers, whereas it was located in the tissues just below the pistil primordia and at the adaxial side of the petals in monoecious cucumbers. In flower buds of andromonoecious cucumbers, only CS-ETR1 mRNA was detected, and was located in the pistil primordia. The localization of the mRNAs of the three ethylene-receptor-related genes in the flower buds of monoecious and gynoecious cucumbers overlap but are not identical. We discuss the relationship between the mRNA accumulation patterns and sex expression in cucumber plants.     

Correlation between development of female flower buds and expression of the CS-ACS2 gene in cucumber plants

Ethylene plays a key role in sex determination of cucumber flowers. Gynoecious cucumber shoots produce more ethylene than monoecious shoots. Because monoecious cucumbers produce both male and female flower buds in the shoot apex and because the relative proportions of male and female flowers vary due to growing conditions, the question arises as to whether the regulation of ethylene biosynthesis in each flower bud determines the sex of the flower. Therefore, the expression of a 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase gene, CS-ACS2, was examined in cucumber flower buds at different stages of development. The results revealed that CS-ACS2 mRNA began to accumulate just beneath the pistil primordia of flower buds at the bisexual stage, but was not detected prior to the formation of the pistil primordia. In buds determined to develop as female flowers, CS-ACS2 mRNA continued to accumulate in the central region of the developing ovary where ovules and placenta form. In gynoecious cucumber plants that produce only female flowers, accumulation of CS-ACS2 mRNA was detected in all flower buds at the bisexual stage and at later developmental stages. In monoecious cucumber, flower buds situated on some nodes accumulated CS-ACS2 mRNA, but others did not. The proportion of male and female flowers in monoecious cucumbers varied depending on the growth conditions, but was correlated with changes in accumulation of CS-ACS2 mRNA in flower buds. These results demonstrate that CS-ACS2-mediated biosynthesis of ethylene in individual flower buds is associated with the differentiation and development of female flowers.     

Pistil-Specific and Ethylene-Regulated Expression of 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate Oxidase Genes in Petunia Flowers

The differential expression of the petunia 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) oxidase gene family during flower development and senescence was investigated. ACC oxidase catalyzes the conversion of ACC to ethylene. The increase in ethylene production by petunia corollas during senescence was preceded by increased ACC oxidase mRNA and enzyme activity. Treatment of flowers with ethylene led to an increase in ethylene production, ACC oxidase mRNA, and ACC oxidase activity in corollas. In contrast, leaves did not exhibit increased ethylene production or ACC oxidase expression in response to ethylene. Gene-specific probes revealed that the ACO1 gene was expressed specifically in senescing corollas and in other floral organs following exposure to ethylene. The ACO3 and ACO4 genes were specifically expressed in developing pistil tissue. In situ hybridization experiments revealed that ACC oxidase mRNAs were specifically localized to the secretory cells of the stigma and the connective tissue of the receptacle, including the nectaries. Treatment of flower buds with ethylene led to patterns of ACC oxidase gene expression spatially distinct from the patterns observed during development. The timing and tissue specificity of ACC oxidase expression during pistil development were paralleled by physiological processes associated with reproduction, including nectar secretion, accumulation of stigmatic exudate, and development of the self-incompatible response.     

盐胁迫对Bt棉棉蕾杀虫蛋白表达的影响

为探讨土壤盐分对转Bt基因抗虫棉棉蕾抗虫性的影响程度,采用盆栽试验,以2个Bt棉品种‘新棉33B’(盐敏感)和‘中07’(耐盐)为试验材料,设置5个土壤盐分水平(0、0.15%、0.30%、0.45%和0.60%), 研究盐分对蕾期Bt棉棉蕾中杀虫蛋白含量、Bt基因相对表达量及氮代谢相关酶和物质代谢的影响.结果表明: 棉蕾中Bt杀虫蛋白含量随土壤盐分的升高而降低,与对照相比(0%),2个不同类型棉花品种在土壤盐分0.30%及以上时,棉蕾中杀虫蛋白含量显著下降,且随土壤盐分水平的升高,Bt 杀虫蛋白含量下降幅度增大.土壤盐分胁迫提高了棉蕾中Bt基因的相对表达量.在相同土壤盐分水平下,盐敏感品种棉蕾中Bt杀虫蛋白含量受土壤盐分影响较大.杀虫蛋白表达量下降幅度大的品种,其可溶性蛋白含量、谷氨酸丙酮酸转氨酶(GPT)和谷氨酸草酰乙酸转氨酶(GOT)活性下降幅度较大,游离氨基酸含量、蛋白酶和肽酶活性上升幅度也较高.说明土壤盐分胁迫下,Bt棉棉蕾蛋白质合成能力下降,分解能力增强,可能是导致杀虫蛋白表达量下降的主要原因.     

Whole‐genome association study for fatty acid composition of oleic acid in Japanese Black cattle

Fatty acid composition, especially oleic acid (C18:1), plays an important role in the eating quality of meat in Japanese Black cattle. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify loci associated with C18:1 in the intramuscular fat of the trapezius muscles in Japanese Black cattle using the Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip whole genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assay. We also evaluated the relationship between C18:1 and three fatty acid synthesis genes, fatty acid synthase (FASN), stearoyl‐CoA desaturase and sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐1. In this experiment, we applied a mixed model and Genomic Control approach using selective genotyping to perform a genome‐wide association study. A total of 160 animals (80 animals with higher values and 80 animals with lower values), selected from 3356 animals based on corrected phenotype, were genotyped using the Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip and three fatty acid synthesis genes, and the quality of these SNPs was assessed. In this study, a total of 38 955 SNPs, which included SNPs in the three fatty acid synthesis genes, were used, and the estimated inflation factor was 1.06. In the studied population, a total of 32 SNPs, including the FASN gene, had significant effects, and in particular 30 SNPs of all significant SNPs were located between 49 and 55 Mbp on chromosome 19. This study is one of the first genome‐wide association studies for fatty acid composition in a cattle population using the recently released Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip.