Characteristics of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Phomopsis sclareae</Emphasis> obtained from sage (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Salvia officinalis</Emphasis>)

In the years 2004–2006 the species P. sclareae was isolated from sage stems showing the symptoms in the form of bark peeling off and breaking. On the basis of 5 isolates randomly chosen from the fungus population, morphology and the conditions of temperatures favourable for the most intensive growth and creation of the fungus infectious material were studied. The temperature of −6°C was viewed as unfavourable for the fungus growth, and that of 32°C was considered to prevent the formation of picnidia and conidia. The dynamic growth of the colonies and the formation of numerous picnidia and conidia were observed at the temperatures ranging from 20°C to 28°C.     

Physiological changes and essential oil composition of clary sage (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvia sclarea</Emphasis> L.) rosette leaves as affected by salinity

Since soil salinity is a widespread problem, we proposed to focus on its effect on seedling growth, mineral composition and particularly on essential oil composition known to be reliable to abiotic conditions. Clary sage seedlings were hydroponically cultivated under different salt concentrations (0, 25, 50, and 75 mM NaCl). The dry biomass and the mineral element contents were determined. The essential oils were extracted and analyzed by GC and GC–MS. Results showed that growth was reduced by 42% at 75 mM. This growth decrease was accompanied by a decrease in tissue hydration and a slight restriction in K⁺ uptake, as well as an increase in Na⁺ levels. Concerning essential oil yields, the application of 25 mM NaCl increased significantly the oil yield which decreased with increasing salt concentration. Besides, the chemical composition of clary sage was found to be also strongly affected by salt treatment since each salt concentration appeared to induce a different new chemotype in clary sage essential oil.     

A new name in <Emphasis Type=Italic>Pavetta</Emphasis> L. (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Rubiaceae</Emphasis>)

Summary  The name Pavetta modesta (Hiern) S. E. Dawson is a later homonym of P. modesta Bremek. Pavetta crystalensis is proposed as a new name.     

Modeling individual leaf area of rose (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Rosa hybrida</Emphasis> L.) based on leaf length and width measurement

Accurate and nondestructive methods to determine individual leaf areas of plants are a useful tool in physiological and agronomic research. Determining the individual leaf area (LA) of rose (Rosa hybrida L.) involves measurements of leaf parameters such as length (L) and width (W), or some combinations of these parameters. Two-year investigation was carried out during 2007 (on thirteen cultivars) and 2008 (on one cultivar) under greenhouse conditions, respectively, to test whether a model could be developed to estimate LA of rose across cultivars. Regression analysis of LA vs. L and W revealed several models that could be used for estimating the area of individual rose leaves. A linear model having L×W as the independent variable provided the most accurate estimate (highest r ² , smallest MSE, and the smallest PRESS) of LA in rose. Validation of the model having L×W of leaves measured in the 2008 experiment coming from other cultivars of rose showed that the correlation between calculated and measured rose LA was very high. Therefore, this model can estimate accurately and in large quantities the LA of rose plants in many experimental comparisons without the use of any expensive instruments.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>In vitro</Emphasis> propagation and secondary metabolites production in wild germander (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Teucrium polium</Emphasis> L.)

A protocol for in vitro propagation of the wild germander (Teucrium polium L.) was developed. In vitro plants were developed from ex vitro axillary buds. Then, shoot tips were excised and established on Murashige and Skoog medium. Proliferation of shoots was tested with different levels of 6-furfurylaminopurin, 6-benzyladenine, or thiadiazuron. The highest proliferation of T. polium was obtained when 6-benzyladenine and 6-furfurylaminopurin were used at 2.0 and 1.6 mg l⁻¹, respectively. Thiadiazuron gave the lowest response for shoot proliferation. Rooting was experimented at different levels of Indol-3-butric acid, Indol-3-acetic acid, or 1-naphthaleneacetic acid. 1-Naphthaleneacetic was the only growth regulator which promoted root induction. Rooted plants were acclimatized successfully with 75% survival and grown in the greenhouse. In vitro- and in vivo-grown plants were analyzed for essential oil production. In vitro-grown T. polium on MS medium supplemented with 6-benzyladenine and 1-naphthaleneacetic gave higher oil yield than that grown on hormone-free Murashige and Skoog medium. In vivo (wild)-grown T. polium produced different oil yield when collected in different months (April and October). β-caryophyllene, used as a marker compound in the essential oil, was identified and quantified by gas chromatography (GC) analysis. Gas chromatography/mass (GC-MS) spectrometry analysis was also used to identify other components of in vitro cultures and to compare with in vivo-grown plants.     

Efficient separation and purification of allophycocyanin from <Emphasis Type=Italic>Spirulina</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Arthrospira</Emphasis>) <Emphasis Type=Italic>platensis</Emphasis>

Allophycocyanin (APC) is a minor component of phycobiliproteins in cyanobacteria and red algae. This paper describes a simple and inexpensive extracting method for isolating APC from Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis with high efficiency. The crude phycobiliprotein extract was pretreated by ammonium sulfate fractionation. Then, by adding hydroxylapatite into crude phycobiliprotein extract dissolved in 20 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), APC was selectively adsorbed by hydroxylapatite but C-phycocyanin (C-PC) was not. The hydroxylapatite was collected and APC was extracted from the crude phycobiliprotein extract. Then, the enriched APC was washed off from the hydroxylapatite using 100 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). In this simple extracting method it was easy to remove C-PC and isolate APC in large amounts. The absorbance ratio A ₆₅₀/A ₂₈₀ of extracted APC reached 2.0. The recovery yield was 70%, representing 4.61 mg · g⁻¹ wet weight. The extracted APC could be further purified by a simple anion-exchange chromatography with a pH gradient from 5.6 to 4.0. The absorbance ratio A ₆₅₀/A ₂₈₀ of the purified APC reached 5.0, and the overall recovery yield was 43%, representing 2.83 mg · g⁻¹ wet weight. Its purity was confirmed by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE.     

Attenuation of fibrosis <Emphasis Type=Italic>in vitro</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>in vivo</Emphasis> with <Emphasis Type=Italic>SPARC</Emphasis> siRNA

Introduction  

SPARC is a matricellular protein, which, along with other extracellular matrix components including collagens, is commonly over-expressed in fibrotic diseases. The purpose of this study was to examine whether inhibition of SPARC can regulate collagen expression in vitro and in vivo, and subsequently attenuate fibrotic stimulation by bleomycin in mouse skin and lungs.     

Dynamics of energy metabolism in ontogenesis of striped shield bug (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Graphosoma lineatum</Emphasis> L.) and cabbage moth (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Mamestra brassicae</Emphasis> L.)

Dynamics of growth and oxygen consumption during ontogenesis of insects with direct (striped shield bug Graphosoma lineatum L.) and indirect (cabbage moth Mamestra brassicae L.) development have been compared. The correlation between a character of energy metabolism alteration and peculiarities of development of the insects has been shown. Cyclic decrease of oxygen consumption during molt and sharp dropping during metamorphosis have been observed in insects with indirect development. The decrease of oxygen consumption has been observed in insects with direct development only during molts. The coefficient a of allometric dependence of oxygen consumption on body weight of imago for cabbage moth was two times higher than that for striped shield bug.     

DNA markers linked to the <Emphasis Type=Italic>R</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type=Italic>2</Emphasis></Subscript> rust resistance gene in sunflower (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Helianthus annuus</Emphasis> L.) facilitate anticipatory breeding for this disease variant

Pre-emptive breeding for host disease resistance is an effective strategy for combating and managing devastating incursions of plant pathogens. Comprehensive, long-term studies have revealed that virulence to the R ₂ sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) rust resistance gene in the line MC29 does not exist in the Australian rust (Puccinia helianthi) population. We report in this study the identification of molecular markers linked to this gene. The three simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers ORS795, ORS882, and ORS938 were linked in coupling to the gene, while the SSR marker ORS333 was linked in repulsion. Reliable selection for homozygous-resistant individuals was efficient when the three markers, ORS795, ORS882, and ORS333, were used in combination. Phenotyping for this resistance gene is not possible in Australia without introducing a quarantinable race of the pathogen. Therefore, the availability of reliable and heritable DNA-based markers will enable the efficient deployment of this gene, permitting a more effective strategy for generating sustainable commercial cultivars containing this rust resistance gene.     

Probiotic <Emphasis Type=Italic>Lactobacillus</Emphasis> strains: <Emphasis Type=Italic>in vitro</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>in vivo</Emphasis> studies

Three Lactobacillus strains (LOCK 0900, LOCK 0908, LOCK 0919) out of twenty-four isolates were selected according to their antagonistic activity against pathogenic bacteria, resistance to low pH and milieu of bile salts. Intragastric administration of a mixture of these strains to Balb/c mice affected cytokine T_H1-T_H2 balance toward nonallergic T_H1 response. Spleen cells, isolated from lactobacilli-treated mice and re-stimulated in vitro with the mixture of heat-inactivated tested strains, produced significantly higher amounts of anti-allergic tumor necrosis factor- and interferon-γ than control animals whereas the level of pro-allergic interleukin-5 was significantly lower. Lactobacillus cells did not translocate through the intestinal barrier into blood, liver and spleen; a few Lactobacillus cells found in mesenteric lymph nodes could create antigenic reservoir activating the immune system. The mixture of Lactobacillus LOCK 0900, LOCK 0908 and LOCK 0919 strains represents a probiotic bacterial preparation with possible use in prophylaxis and/or therapy of allergic diseases.     

Functional characterization of the powdery mildew susceptibility gene <Emphasis Type=Italic>SmMLO1</Emphasis> in eggplant (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Solanum melongena</Emphasis> L.)

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is one of the most important vegetables among the Solanaceae and can be a host to fungal species causing powdery mildew (PM) disease. Specific homologs of the plant Mildew Locus O (MLO) gene family are PM susceptibility factors, as their loss of function results in a recessive form of resistance known as mlo resistance. In a previous work, we isolated the eggplant MLO homolog SmMLO1. SmMLO1 is closely related to MLO susceptibility genes characterized in other plant species. However, it displays a peculiar non-synonymous substitution that leads to a T → M amino acid change at protein position 422, in correspondence of the MLO calmodulin-binding domain. In this study, we performed the functional characterization of SmMLO1. Transgenic overexpression of SmMLO1 in a tomato mlo mutant compromised resistance to the tomato PM pathogen Oidium neolycopersici, thus indicating that SmMLO1 is a PM susceptibility factor in eggplant. PM susceptibility was also restored by the transgenic expression of a synthetic gene, named s-SmMLO1, encoding a protein identical to SmMLO1, except for the presence of T at position 422. This indicates that the T → M polymorphism does not affect the protein role as PM susceptibility factor. Overall, the results of this work are of interest for the functional characterization of MLO proteins and the introduction of PM resistance in eggplant using reverse genetics.     

QTLs for fertility in table grape (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Vitis vinifera</Emphasis> L.)

Fertility (number of inflorescences per shoot) is a trait of major importance for grapevine breeding. We present and compare the results of quantitative trait locus (QTL) detection for fertility in two table grape progenies, MTP3140 and MTP3234. Novel parental and consensus maps were built for MTP3140. We found a main QTL on linkage group (LG) 5 in both progenies, which was also the most stable one across years. It explained up to 18.5% of the total intra-cross phenotypic variance. Three other QTLs, one on LG 5 and two on LG 14, were repeated over years but were found in a single progeny. Our results suggest that QTLs effect was mainly additive. The prospects for testing candidate genes are discussed as well as the potential interest of these results for marker-assisted selection.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>Pseudomonas</Emphasis> bacteria and phosphorous fertilization,affecting wheat (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Triticum</Emphasis><Emphasis Type=Italic>aestivum</Emphasis> L.) yield and P uptake under greenhouse and field conditions

We have recently indicated the plant growth promoting activities of Pseudomonas sp. as well as their alleviating effects on some soil stressors such as salinity. This is because in recent years, biological fertilizers have received special attention by scientists in sustainable agriculture. Accordingly, it is pertinent to specify the beneficiary level of such soil bacteria on plant growth including phosphorous (P) uptake. Hence, the objectives were to determine: (1) the plant growth promoting effects of the tested Pseudomonas sp., and (2) its combined effects with different P fertilization rates on the nutrient uptake (N, P, and K) and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under greenhouse and field conditions. The experiments were factorially arranged on the basis of a completely randomized block design with three replicates and were conducted at the Research Farm of Agriculture and Natural Resources Research Center of Khorasan, Mashhad, Iran. P was fertilized at three levels including 0, 25 and 50 kg/ha P₂O₅. Pseudomonas sp. including Pseudomonas fluorescens 153, P. fluorescens 169, P. putida 4, and P. putida 108 were tested. Activities such as production of ACC deaminase and IAA-like products, as well as P solubilization were among the most important activities of the tested Pseudomonas sp. Such bacterial effects greatly enhanced wheat growth and yield under greenhouse and field conditions. The results also showed that the effects of Pseudomonas sp. on wheat nutrient uptake and the effects of bacteria as well as P fertilization on wheat yield were significant. P. putida 108 was the most effective strain enhancing wheat P uptake and grain yield under greenhouse (96 and 58%) and field (80 and 37%) conditions, respectively. Hence, although Pseudomonas sp. could be a suitable replacement for high P fertilization, however, the optimum wheat yield resulted when the bioinoculants are combined with 50% (25 kg/ha P₂O₅) P fertilization. This finding has great agricultural and environmental implications.     

Evidence for gametoclonal variation in potato (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Solanum tuberosum</Emphasis> L.)

Gametoclonal variation that occurs in gametic cells in culture and is recovered in their regenerated derivatives has not been reported in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Based on a set of 24 differentiating phenotypic traits, canonical variates analysis genetically distinguished the androgenic (di)haploid (2n = 2x = 24) D4 from its tetraploid (2n = 4x = 48) anther-derived sibs and anther donor JTH/C-107. Nuclear microsatellite analysis over six polymorphic loci indicated that meiotic rearrangements and mutant alleles were primarily associated with the release of gametoclonal variation. The incidence of null alleles in D4 at the loci STACCAS3 and STM0031 was also indicative of mutations occurring within the priming sequence. Microsatellite results were supported by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assays that characterized a total of 567 loci (bins) representing 4,258 amplified fragments. Sixty-five new RAPDs that were absent in the anther donor and in either of its parents, viz., S. phureja Juz. & Buk. IVP-35 and S. tuberosum cv. Kufri Jyoti were present in D4, indicating the occurrence of extensive recombinational events. The results have been discussed in the context of microsatellite null alleles providing the most conclusive evidence for gametoclonal variation.