水花生Actin基因片段的克隆及序列分析

肌动蛋白基因编码生物体内一种很重要的组成型表达蛋白质,常被看作看家基因。为分离水花生肌动蛋白基因,根据GenBank上一藜科植物的———Actin基因的EST序列,分别设计引物,提取水花生根的总RNA,对上述的基因片断进行RT—PCR,扩增后测序得到230bp长的核苷酸序列。经同源性比较,这条序列与上述藜科植物Actin的EST序列基本一致,表明获得了水花生肌动蛋白序列。     

空心莲子草具有较强抗盐能力的原因初探

为了探讨空心莲子草(Alternantheraphiloxeroides(Mart.)Griseb)的抗盐机理,测定了盐胁迫条件下的空心莲子草和水稻中保护酶活性和渗透调节物质的变化。结果表明,在盐胁迫下,空心莲子草中的脯氨酸、甜菜碱以及SOD、POD等含量增加速度比水稻快,膜脂过氧化产物丙二醛的含量在两种植物中虽亦增加,但在空心莲子草叶中的增加幅度小于水稻。证明盐胁迫下保护酶活性和渗透调节物质含量的迅速增加是空心莲子草具有较强抗盐能力的重要生理学基础。     

空心莲子草茎的解剖结构对不同水湿生境的适应研究

研究了空心莲子草茎的解剖结构对水分变化的适应,这些空心莲子草生活在因水分差异而形成的3种生境类型中。对茎表蜡质层厚度、髓腔面积/髓部面积、厚角细胞层数、厚角细胞壁厚、韧皮纤维束数、韧皮纤维壁厚、导管束数、导管腔大小8个结构参数的分析结果表明:茎的全部结构参数随水分条件的变化都有显著或极显著的差异,其趋异程度的大小顺序是,导管腔大小>厚角细胞壁厚>蜡质层厚度>髓腔面积/髓面积>韧皮纤维细胞壁厚>韧皮纤维束数>厚角细胞层数>导管束数;水分变化对机械组织细胞壁结构影响较大,而对细胞数量的影响较小;茎的结构在旱生生境中变异较大,保证了它对不均一环境的适应;空心莲子草茎的结构既具有旱生性特点又具有水生性特点,其结构究竟朝哪个方向发展,取决于环境水分条件。从茎的结构上看,治理该种应以限制其导管腔和髓腔分化为主要手段。     

空心莲子草口服治疗乳鼠流行性出血热病毒感染的研究

空心莲子草经口服治疗流行性出血热病毒（ＥＨＦＶ）感染的乳鼠。结果显示,５、７．５、１０．０ｍｇ三个剂量组的存活率各为８０％、７２．２％和４０．０％,平均存活天数（ＭＴＤ）为５６．５±０．９、５３．５±１．１和４１．５±２．７ｄ,而病毒对照组的存活率为０．０％,ＭＴＤ为２６．３±０．８ｄ,经该药治疗的感染鼠体内的ＥＨＦＶ抗原表达减少,而未经治疗的感染乳鼠体内的ＥＨＦＶ抗原则在全病程中都显示出较强的表述。治疗组抗病毒效果类似于病毒唑,且口服病毒唑毒性小。说明空心莲子草在体内对ＥＨＦＶ感染鼠有治疗作用。     

脂肪酸甲酯法检测空心莲子草入侵影响土壤微生物群落结构的初步研究

空心莲子草是我国2003年公布的第一批外来入侵物种。为了进一步了解该植物的入侵机制,采集湖北咸宁、仙桃和武汉三地的土样,采用土壤脂肪酸甲酯谱图分析的方法探讨该植物入侵对土壤微生物的影响。结果显示：空心莲子草入侵后土壤可培养细菌、真菌的数量显著增加,而放线菌的数量显著下降。脂肪酸分析表明土壤微生物群落结构发生一定程度的改变,但其变化因土壤的不同而有差异。     

盐胁迫对空心莲子草生长和光合作用的影响

用NaCl浓度为0(对照)、50、100、150、200、250、300、350mmol/L处理空心莲子草[Alternantheraphiloxeroides(Mart.)Griseb]。结果表明:盐胁迫下,植株鲜重、干重和根冠比都下降,含水量和肉质化程度先略高于对照,而后逐渐下降;根、茎和叶中Na 含量呈上升趋势,而K 含量呈下降趋势,且在同一浓度的盐处理下,叶的Na 和K 含量最高,茎的次之,根的最低;游离氨基酸(free amino acid,FAA)逐渐减少,脯氨酸(proline,Pro)含量先略低于对照,而后则急剧上升,可溶性糖含量(soluble sugar,SS)的变化正相反;净光合速率(net photosynthetic rate,Pn)、气孔导度(stomatal conductance,Gs)和蒸腾速率(transpirationrate,Tr)呈下降趋势,胞间CO2浓度(intercellular CO2concentration,Ci)呈上升趋势;膜稳定性呈下降趋势。因此,空心莲子草是一种盐生植物,且最适盐浓度较低;Na 主要积累在地上部的茎和叶中。推测它有可能向盐渍土壤蔓延。     

Growth and Osmotic Adjustment of Cultured Suspension Cells from Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb After an Abrupt Increase in Salinity

We have developed a cell suspension culture from alligator weed(Alternanthera philoxeroides [Mart.] Griseb), a C₃ member ofthe Amaranthaceae. Intact plants of alligator weed can growat 400 mol m^–3 NaCl. Growth of alligator weed suspensionswas compared to growth of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv.Wisconsin 38) suspensions after subculture to 200 mol m^–3NaCl. Fresh weight and cell density of salt-treated alligatorweed suspensions more than doubled by 7 d after subculture,but the fresh weight of salt-treated tobacco suspensions didnot double during the 21 d experiment. Correspondingly, cellviability dropped from about 90% to 77% in alligator weed andto 41% in tobacco, at 1 d after subculture to 200 mol m^–3NaCl. The symplastic volume of alligator weed cells declined36% by 2 h after subculture to 200 mol m^–3 NaCl, but cellcontents became iso-osmotic with the media at this point. Between2 h and 6 h there was a further decrease in osmotic potential,an increase in turgor potential and a partial recovery of symplasticvolume. Turgor potential was similar to that in control cellsby 24 h, indicating significant osmotic adjustment. Turgor potentialsremained similar in both treatments from 24 h through 21 d butthe average symplastic volume of salt-treated cells was 11 %less than in control cells. Therefore, alligator weed suspensioncells exhibit a rapid recovery of water balance and cell growthafter an abrupt and substantial increase in salinity. Key words: Cell culture, growth, osmotic adjustment, salinity, turgor potential     

Non-target plant testing of the flea beetle Agasicles hygrophila,a biological control agent for Alternanthera philoxeroides (alligatorweed) in China

Non-target plant selection tests using 20 representative species showed that Agasicles hygrophila could feed on Alternanthera sessilis, but the mature larvae did not pupate successfully. A. hygrophila could not complete their life cycle on the other plant species tested. Thus, A. hygrophila is safe for controlling Alternanthera philoxeroides in China.     

空心莲子草、大豆和向日葵叶组织K~+(~(86)Rb~+)的吸收和通量分析

空心莲子草叶片K~+吸收的K_m比大豆和向日葵的要高,但I_m都相近。空心莲子草根系的溢泌速率及溢泌液中K~+浓度都比大豆和向日葵的高。后两者的溢泌速率相近,但向日葵根系溢泌液中K~+浓度却高于大豆。 这三种植物叶组织K~+含量因液泡的含K~+量不同而有明显差别。而液泡含K~+量和K_cv/K_cv的比值相一致。     

Establishment and rapid spread of the bitou seed fly, Mesoclanis polana Munro (Diptera: Tephritidae), in eastern Australia

The establishment and spread of the seed fly Mesoclanis polana Munro, an introduced biological control agent for Chrysanthemoides monilifera (L.) Norlindh, is described. From an initial release of 124 adult flies in August 1996, the species occupied virtually the entire range of bitou bush by October 1998, from Rainbow Beach in the north to Tathra in the south, a distance of over 1200 km. Early data on abundance are provided.     

Weed invasions in wetlands of Australia's Top End: reasons and solutions

Weed invasions are an increasing threat to the extensive wetlands of the Northern Territory's wet-dry tropics. Although the conservation value of these wetlands is in some ways undisputed, it is evident from the Government's multiple land use policy that it is also misunderstood. This policy aims to maximise economic returns from wetlands while protecting their ecological integrity at a time when ecological and economic costs associated with weeds are, at least in the short term, set to worsen. The underlying reasons behind wetland loss and degradation in Australia parallel those identified in Mediterranean Europe where there was antipathy from bureaucracies toward science and ecology. Several case studies from the Northern Territory explore how ecological, anthropogenic, political and economic factors contribute to weed problems. Caution is necessary when translating experience from agricultural weeds to environmental weeds. Managers have not always heeded the advice of specialists and practitioners, whose understanding of the ecological basis to weed invasions is not in as parlous a state as sometimes thought. Even when faced with sound information from which to manage, it was non-ecological reasons that slowed down or prevented effective weed control. If the floristic identity and diversity of Australia's natural wetlands is to be retained, then weeds need serious and immediate attention. Weed impacts progress beyond loss of wetland habitat and biodiversity to regional changes in landscape processes. We advocate that governments and industry recognise and address the underlying non-ecological reasons that exacerbate weed problems and set priorities to fund relevant practical studies and control programs that enable inventive weed management. Cooperation between land users, custodians and the wider community can help to overcome bureaucratic obstacles and enable judicious weed control that contributes effectively to wetland protection.     

The ecological barriers to the recovery of bridal creeper (Asparagus asparagoides (L.) Druce) infested sites: Impacts on vegetation and the potential increase in other exotic species

Abstract To protect native biodiversity from environmental weeds, the impacts that these weeds cause need to be known before weed control commences. Asparagus asparagoides (L.) Druce (bridal creeper) (Asparagaceae) is a serious environmental weed and has been selected for biological control in Australia. To predict the responses of plant communities to the control of bridal creeper, a prerelease baseline of the impacts of bridal creeper on native plant communities was undertaken. Plant assemblages in areas invaded by bridal creeper were compared with reference areas that contained little or no bridal creeper. Areas invaded by bridal creeper contained 52% fewer native plant species when compared with nearby reference areas. However, there was no difference in the number of other exotic plant species between areas. Similar trends were found for the germinable seed bank. Although a greater number of exotic species were present in the seed bank compared with the vegetation surveys, there was still no difference between areas with and without bridal creeper. In a glasshouse trial, exotic species germinated more frequently compared with native species. This could indicate that as bridal creeper density decreases following control, exotic species have an advantage over native species when colonizing areas left vacant by bridal creeper. Second, as bridal creeper areas contained reduced native species richness and cover, they may be susceptible to further weed invasion after bridal creeper is removed. Therefore, simply reducing the presence of bridal creeper may not guarantee successful restoration of invaded areas and additional restoration efforts will be needed to ensure the ultimate goal of protecting native biodiversity is reached.     

Genome‐wide DNA methylation alterations of Alternanthera philoxeroides in natural and manipulated habitats: implications for epigenetic regulation of rapid responses to environmental fluctuation and phenotypic variation

Alternanthera philoxeroides (alligator weed) is an invasive weed that can colonize both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Individuals growing in different habitats exhibit extensive phenotypic variation but little genetic differentiation in its introduced range. The mechanisms underpinning the wide range of phenotypic variation and rapid adaptation to novel and changing environments remain uncharacterized. In this study, we examined the epigenetic variation and its correlation with phenotypic variation in plants exposed to natural and manipulated environmental variability. Genome‐wide methylation profiling using methylation‐sensitive amplified fragment length polymorphism (MSAP) revealed considerable DNA methylation polymorphisms within and between natural populations. Plants of different source populations not only underwent significant morphological changes in common garden environments, but also underwent a genome‐wide epigenetic reprogramming in response to different treatments. Methylation alterations associated with response to different water availability were detected in 78.2% (169/216) of common garden induced polymorphic sites, demonstrating the environmental sensitivity and flexibility of the epigenetic regulatory system. These data provide evidence of the correlation between epigenetic reprogramming and the reversible phenotypic response of alligator weed to particular environmental factors.     

Strategies for the biological control of invasive willows (Salix spp.) in Australia

Abstract  Willows ( Salix spp.) are Weeds of National Significance in Australia where a large number of taxa are naturalised in temperate regions and can cause serious environmental degradation of riparian and wetland habitats. Several species are of economic or ornamental value and conflicts of interest could arise with planning their suppression. Biological control of six willow species ( S. alba L., S. cinerea L . , S. fragilis L., S. nigra Marshall, S. viminalis L., S . x  rubens Schrank) is under consideration in Australia using three approaches based on targeting different morphological structures. A rich phytophagous biota associated with Salix in their regions of origin indicate a range of organisms are available for development as biological control agents. Implementation strategies will depend on the host species targeted for biological control, their reproductive strategies, the level of control required to reduce environmental impacts and the level of conflict of interest associated with a biological control program.     

Host specificity testing,release and establishment of Urophora solstitialis (L.) (Diptera: Tephritidae), a potential biological control agent for Carduus nutans L., in Australia

The seed‐fly Urophora solstitialis was imported into Australia from southern France. Previous workers had shown that this seed‐fly limited its attack to selected members of the genus Carduus. Host specificity studies revealed that no native Australian plant tested from the family Asteraceae was a suitable host plant. Permission to release the fly was granted, and it was released in three regions of the New South Wales tablelands. The fly underwent a second generation at two of the release sites, and reasons for its failure to do so at the third are suggested. It has successfully established itself in all three regions, having completed a full seasonal cycle in the field.     

The leafmining Leurocephala schinusae (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae): not suitable for the biological control of Schinus terebinthifolius (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae) in continental USA

The host range of Leurocephala schinusae Davis & Mc Kay (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) was studied to assess its suitability as a biological control agent of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Anacardiaceae), a serious environmental weed in the USA and elsewhere in the world. The host range was determined in the laboratory with adult no-choice oviposition (Argentina and USA) and larval development tests (USA). Seventeen plant species in ten genera were selected based on taxonomic relatedness to S. terebinthifolius, economic importance, and availability. Additional information was obtained by sampling foliage of S. terebinthifolius and six other South American native Anacardiaceae species in north-eastern Argentina. In the laboratory, except for Lithrea molleoides and Spondias mombin, all of the tested species were accepted for oviposition with a marked preference for Rhus aromatica. Incipient mines successfully developed into complete mines, pupae and adults on R. aromatica, Rhus copallinum, Schinus molle, Schinus lentiscifolius and S. terebinthifolius. In the field, although L. schinusae showed a clear preference for S. terebinthifolius, the host range, as determined by samples of host use in the native range, included three other Schinus species (S. lentiscifolius, Schinus longifolius, Schinus weinmannifolius) and one Astronium species (Astronium balansae). In conclusion, L. schinusae will not be considered for the biological control of S. terebinthifolius in continental US. However, the utilisation of this species in other infested areas such as Hawaii and Australia should be further discussed.     

Effects of Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle (Hydrocharitaceae) growing conditions and nutrient content on the performance of a leaf-mining fly,Hydrellia purcelli Deeming (Diptera: Ephydridae)

Host plant quality for insects used in weed biological control influences their performance and hence their ability to suppress target host populations. Determining the specific response of these insects to the quality of their host is important because phytophagous insects have variable tolerances of the different constituents of host plant quality, most notably dietary nitrogen (N), but also other physical and chemical components. The invasive aquatic weed Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle (Hydrocharitaceae) was cultivated under varying nutrient conditions to determine the influence of plant quality on immature survival, development, larval mining, reproductive output and adult longevity of a leaf-mining fly Hydrellia purcelli Deeming (Diptera: Ephydridae). Additionally, field-collected H. verticillata was included in the investigations to assess the potential performance of H. purcelli in the field. Variation in plant tissue N and phosphorus (P) concentrations had no effects on larval survival, female fecundity, or adult longevity, but high levels of N and P were associated with reduced immature development times and higher body mass of females. Overall, plant quality factors not measured in this study appeared to have a greater impact on the performance of the fly, rather than dietary N and P. The results provided insights into optimal mass-rearing conditions for H. purcelli and the potential performance of the fly in the field in South Africa. Furthermore, the results demonstrate the importance of considering other aspects of plant quality for insect agents, in addition to dietary N and P, when developing mass-rearing protocols or predicting their potential impact in the field.