Cyclic AMP Promotion and Abscisic Acid Inhibition of {alpha}-Amylase Activity in the Seeds of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Cyclic AMP and GA₃ stimulated both -amylase activity in riceendosperm and the germination of the seed. In combination theyalso induced germination of ABA-treated seeds but cyclic AMPalone failed to neutralize the inhibitory effect of ABA; withadded kinetin, however, it promoted the -amylase activity ofthe dormant seeds. The enzyme activity decreased as the storageperiod of seeds increased. Cyclic AMP and GA     

Changes in {alpha} and {beta}-Amylase Activities during Germination of Seeds of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

We examined the methods available for the assay of -amylasein alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and found the Phadebas test mostsuitable. The Phadebas assay and activity staining on ampholinegels after isoelectrofocusing revealed that an amylase is presentin the dry seeds of alfalfa and that its activity decreasesrapidly after the second day of seed germination. An amylasewas purified by affinity chromatography and gel filtration.The kinds of sugar generated from soluble starch by the purifiedamylase resembled those generated by other -amylases from plants,in particular those from mung bean (Vigna radiata). These resultsindicate that the amylase in alfalfa seeds belongs to the familyof -amylases. The molecular weight and isoelectric point ofthe -amylase were determined to be 43 kDa and 4.92, respectively. The Pantrac assay and activity staining on immobiline gels afterisoelectrofocusing revealed that the activities of ß-amylasesincreased during the initial 4 to 5 days of germination. Furthermore,treatment of whole seedlings with cycloheximide or actinomycinD inhibited the increase in activity of ß-amylasesbut did not affect the reduction in activity of -amylase. During germination of alfalfa seeds, -amylase activity decreaseswhile, in contrast, ß-amylase activity increases (inthe cotyledons of germinating seeds), changes that are specificto the germinating seeds of alfalfa. (Received September 8, 1990; Accepted February 20, 1991)     

{alpha}-Amylase Production by Pre-mature Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Embryos

Embryo/scutellar tissue of pre-mature wheat grains usually containslittle -amylase but readily produces the enzyme upon removalfrom the caryopsis. Enzyme production is accompanied by cytologicalchanges in the scutellar epithelium cells characteristic ofgerminating mature embryos, although -amylase production bypre-mature tissue is not always associated with germinativegrowth of the embryonic axis. Production of -amylase is influencedby embryo age, stimulated by GA₃ and overall is inhibited byABA. Examination by isoelectric focussing and rocket-line immuno-electrophoresisreveals the presence of both -AMYl and -AMY2 isoenzymes, thelatter being the major constituent. In the presence of ABA certain-AMY2 isoenzymes not detected previously are observed. Key words: a-Amylase, wheat, embryo     

Purification and Properties of a Basic Endo-1,3-r{beta}-Glucanase from Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A 1,3-rß-glucanase purified from rice grain is a 33kDa monomer with a pI of     

Effect of Gibberellic Acid on the Ultrastructure and {alpha}-Amylase Activity of Aleurone Cells of Avena sativa L.

The -amylase activity and ultrastructure of aleurone cells inseeds of Avena sativa L. were studied using seed halves withembryo (embryo seeds) which had imbibed water and seed halveswithout embryo (embryo-less seeds) which had imbibed water withor without GA₃. -Amylase activity was detected in the aleurone layers of embryoseeds that had imbibed water and embryo-less seeds that hadimbibed GA₃-water. The ultrastructure of aleurone cells withdetectable -amylase activity showed marked changes in the roughsurfaced endoplasmic reticulum (rER), in the flattened sacculesforming stacks and in the aleurone grains. The progressive changesin the rER were as follows: first, the number of slender rERincreased; then, the inner space became wider and showed roundor oval profile; and finally, the rER became slender again witha reduced number of adhering ribosomes. The flattened sacculesforming stacks were appressed to the surface of aleurone grains.With time, they decreased in number and finally disappeared.In parallel with the decrease of flattened saccules, digestionof proteinaceous material inside the aleurone grains proceeded. (Received February 24, 1987; Accepted September 3, 1987)     

Coleoptile Senescence in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

We investigated the cellular events associated with cell deathin the coleoptile of rice plants (Oryza sativa L.). Seeds germinatedunder submergence produced coleoptiles that were more elongatedthan those grown under aerobic conditions. Transfer of seedlingsto aerobic conditions was associated with coleoptile opening(i.e. splitting) due to death of specific cells in the sideof the organ. Another type of cell death occurred in the formationof lysigenous aerenchyma. Senescence of the coleoptile was alsonoted, during which discolouration of the chlorophyll and tissuebrowning were apparent. DNA fragmentation was observed by deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediateddUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay, and further confirmedby the appearance of oligonucleosomal DNA ladders in senescentcoleoptile cells. Two nucleases (Nuc-a and Nuc-b) were detectedby in-gel-assay from proteins isolated from coleoptiles. Nuc-a,commonly observed in three cell death phases required eitherCa²⁺or Mg²⁺, whereas Nuc-b which appeared during senescencerequired both Ca²⁺and Mg²⁺. Both nucleases were strongly inhibitedby Zn²⁺. Copyright 2000 Annals of Botany Company Aerenchyma, rice, cell death, coleoptile, fragmentation, nuclease, Oryza sativa, senescence, split, submergence, TUNEL     

水稻体细胞无性系变异

水稻体细胞无性系变异研究取得了很大进展 ,获得了大量抗病、抗逆、优质、矮杆等突变体。对这些突变体遗传分析表明 ,大多数突变性状由 1对或 2对基因控制。水稻体细胞无性系变异的发生与基因型、性状、继代时间、培养方式等有关 ,并具有内在的机制 ,点突变和反转录转座子插入可能是引起水稻无性系变异的两个重要原因。     

Penicillin Induction of Gibberellin and {alpha}-Amylase Biosynthesis in Rice Endosperm

Penicillin induces the synthesis of -amylase in embryoless riceendosperm and enhances the gibberellin-induced response. Penicillininduction of -amylase can be prevented by inhibitors of nucleicacid and protein synthesis, CCC and 2,4-DNP. A characteristic gibberellin-like activity in the extracts frompenicillin-treated endosperms becomes detectable after 12 hfrom the addition of penicillin. This gibberellin-like activityis located on paper chromatograms at the R_F typical for GA₃and its formation is blocked by CCC, an inhibitor of GA biogenesis.Glucose has no effect on the biosynthesis of either gibberellinor -amylase induced by penicillin. The time-course study of the levels of different constituentsshows that penicillin probably induces RNA and DNA synthesisin the first place, which results in gibberellin biosynthesis,which in turn stimulates the synthesis of -amylase. The possiblemode of action of penicillin in higher plants is discussed.     

Presence of a Chloroplast DNA Sequence in an Autonomous Circular DNA Molecule in Cultured Rice Cells (Oryza sativa L.)

Sequence analysis of twelve DNA fragments, which had previouslybeen found to be extensively amplified in suspension-culturedrice cells, revealed that two of them, isolated on plasmidsdesignated _pE10 and _pE11, have sequences identical to distinctregions of chloroplast DNA (ct-DNA). Both sequences are partof an extrachromosomal circular DNA molecule (ECD). The molecularstructure of the ECD was investigated by a combination of restrictionanalysis, standard and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, hybridizationwith ct-DNA probes and amplification by the polymerase chainreaction in the presence of oligonucleotide primers homologousto selected regions of rice ct-DNA. The results showed thata continuous and unrearranged stretch of ct-DNA from the longsingle-copy region, of at least 28 kbp in length, is presentin the ECD. It was estimated that the number of copies of theECD in cultured cells was almost equivalent to that of ct-DNAmolecules in rice leaves, while the ratio of ECD to ct-DNA moleculesin the cultured cells was approximately 200: 1. (Received December 12, 1994; Accepted April 4, 1995)     

Analysis by {delta}13C Measurement on Mechanism of Cultivar Difference in Leaf Photosynthesis of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Our previous paper showed that cultivar difference of flag leafphotosynthesis (LPS) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) was attributedto the difference in mesophyll resistance (r_m). In this paper,we tried to divide r_m into CO₂ transfer resistance (r_m) andCO₂ fixation resistance (r_c) for further analysis of r_m by meansof     

应用微卫星标记鉴别水稻籼粳亚种

应用70个微卫星标记分析了3个籼稻测验种和3个粳稻测验种的多态性,发现其中36个标记可以区分籼粳测验种。再以18个籼粳品种进一步筛选,找到了分布于12条染色体的21个籼粳特异性微卫星标记。在这21个标记中,20个在籼粳亚种间带型相异,其中7个在亚种内带型一致,13个在亚种内带型不一致;1个标记在12个籼稻品种和1个粳稻品种检测到相同的带型,其余11个粳稻品种具有另一种带型。微卫星标记和RFLP标记检测籼粳亚种不仅具有一致性,而且还有互补性。 Abstract:Six indica and japonica testers were assayed using 70 microsatellite markers.Thirty-six markers distinguishing indicas from japonicas were detected.By further-screening among 18 indica and japonica varieties,21 markers distributed on 12 rice chromosomes were found to be indica-japonica differentiated.No indica varieties shared same patterns with any japonica varieties at 20 marker loci,of which identical patterns were observed within subspecies at 7 loci while within-subspecies variations were observed at 13 loci.At the remaining locus,12 indica and 1 japonica varieties had the same allele,while other 11 japonica varieties had another allele.It also showed that SSLP was not only consistent,but also complementary,to RFLP for the subspecies identification.     

Mechanism of Anther Dehiscence in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

This paper presents a new explanation of the mechanism of antherdehiscence in rice during the period from floret opening topollen dispersal. The theca dehisced on the stomium in the apicalpart and the anther wall in the basal part of the large locule.Comparison of the anther dehiscence process under various airhumidity conditions showed that the process, until the splittingat the apical and basal parts, was a moisture-requiring processwhereas the widening of the splits in both parts was a desiccatoryprocess. Observation of the anther transverse section, revealedthe marked development of the U-shaped thick cell wall in theendothecium adjacent to these two splits. From these observations,the anther dehiscence mechanism may be explained as follows.At the time of anthesis, pollen grains swell rapidly in responseto the floret opening and cause the theca to bulge, rupturingthe septum. The pollen pressure combined with the inward bendingof the locule walls adjacent to the stomium causes splittingof the stomium in the apical part of the theca. At the sametime, the septum rupture extends to the bottom of the largelocule supported by the pollen pressure. After these processes,the locule walls adjacent to both splits straighten probablydue to their water loss. This straightening widens the splitsand the swollen pollen grains overflow from the widened splits.Copyright1999 Annals of Botany Company Anther dehiscence, Oryza sativa L., pollen grain swelling, rice, septum, stomium, theca.     

水稻米粒延伸性的遗传剖析

以籼稻ZYQ8与粳稻JX17为亲本的DH群体作为研究材料,考察DH群体及双亲的米粒延伸率相关性状,并使用该群体的分子连锁图谱进行QTL分析.共检测到14个与稻米延伸性有关的QTL,包括2个粒长QTL、7个饭粒长QTL和5个米粒延伸率QTL,分别位于第1、2、3、5、6、7、10、11和12染色体.所有QTL的LOD值介于2.26～9.25,分别解释性状变异的5.31%～17.21%.在第3染色体上的G249～G164、第6染色体上的G30～RZ516和第10染色体上的G1082～GA223区间同时检测到控制饭粒长和米粒延伸率的QTL.米粒延伸性受多基因控制,Wx基因与位于第6染色体上的qCRE-6的G30～RZ516区间相近,对米饭的延伸性具重要影响.     

Ethylene-Induced Polyamine Accumulation in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Coleoptiles

The light-harvesting complex (LHC) of photosystem II is composed of several different pigment-binding apoproteins. We have identified a cDNA clone LHCIIa-1 encoding the 31-kilodalton LHC IIa (CP29, Chl a/b-P1) apoprotein of barley (Hordeum vulgare). Direct protein microsequencing of an internal peptide fragment from the LHC IIa apoprotein has been used to identify unequivocally the cDNA clone as that coding for the LHC IIa apoprotein. Microsequencing of the 28-kilodalton LHC IIc protein (CP26) showed only minor sequence similarity to the LHC IIa protein, indicating that they are two different gene products. LHCIIa-1 codes for a protein of 286 amino acid residues (molecular weight, 31,308), which displays strong similarities to other pigment-binding LHC proteins, and yet contains an additional 42 amino acid residue segment. Two regions of strong intramolecular sequence similarity are also observed.     

Isolation and Characterization of Golgi Membranes from Suspension-cultured Cells of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The isolation of Golgi membranes from suspension-cultured cellsof rice (Oryza sativa L.) was attempted by linear glycerol densitygradient centrifugation. When "burst" membranes in the pelletobtaind after differential centrifugation at 100,000 ? g weresuspended in 20% (w/w) glycerol in 50 mM malate-NaOH (pH 6.0)and loaded onto a linear density gradient of glycerol, whichextended from 30 to 80% (w/w) in 1 mM EDTA in 50 mM glycylglycine-NaOH(pH 7.5), IDPase, a marker enzyme for Golgi membranes, was separatedfrom other membrane markers on the glycerol gradient. In addition,UDPase and GDPase activities overlapped with the peak fractionof IDPase activity. Furthermore, membrane glycoproteins in eachfraction were characterized by lectin-peroxidase staining. ConcanavalinA and lentil lectin, which have the ability to bind to the high-mannosetype of oligosaccharide, bound to glycoproteins distributedin ER membrane fractions, while wheat germ lectin, castor beanlectin, peanut lectin, and Ulex europaeus lectin-I which recognizethe complex type and/or the mucin type of oligosaccharides interactedwith glycoproteins in the Golgi membrane fractions but not withthose in the ER membrane. These results strongly suggest thatthe oligosaccharide structures of glycoproteins in the ER membraneare of the high-mannose type, whereas glycoproteins in the Golgimembrane have modified N-linked and/or O-linked oligosaccharidechains. (Received November 9, 1988; Accepted October 17, 1989)     

Purification and Characterization of Phosphatidylinositol-specific Phospholipase C in Suspension-cultured Cells of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C was purified from the soluble fraction of suspension-cultured rice cells. The apparent molecular weight of rice enzyme was estimated to be 50,000 by both Sephadex G-100 gel filtration and SDS–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, indicating that the enzyme is composed of a single polypeptide. The enzyme had an isoelectric point of 6.3. The soluble phospholipase C had a high degree of specificity toward phosphatidylinositol and a weak activity toward phosphatidyl-inositol monophosphate, while the enzyme did not hydrolyze the other phospholipids or p-nitrophenylphosphorylcholine. V_max and K_m values were 5.0, μmol/min/mg protein and 0.3 mM, respectively. The pH dependency of the enzyme activity was sharp with an optimum of 5.2. In addition, the phospholipase C was a Ca²⁺ -dependent enzyme. The marked activation of enzyme was observed in the presence of 10 to 250, μM Ca²⁺ and higher Ca ²⁺ concentrations than 1 mM had a strong inhibitory effect. A possible regulation of the phospholipase C activity by pH and Ca²⁺ concentrations in the rice cells is discussed.     

水稻分蘖角度的ＱＴＬs分析

分蘖角是水稻株型构成的重要性状之一,在育种上人有极其重要的意义,利用分蘖角度差异显著的１对籼粳亲本,将其杂交Ｆ１代花培加倍,构建了１个ＤＨ群体,考察了１１５个ＤＨ株系的分蘖角度,并使用该群体构建的分子图谱进行数量性状座痊（ＱＴＬs)分析。分别在第９和１２个染色体上检测３个ＱＴＬs(qTA-9a、qTA－９b和qTA－１２）,贡献率分别为２２．７％、１１．９％和２０．９％,其加性效应均为负,表明由分蘖角度较大的窄占青８号的基因控制,并讨论了这种由主产和微效基因控制的分蘖性状在育种学上的应用。     

QTL Analysis of Aluminum Resistance in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is considered as one of the primary causes of low-rice productivity in acid soils. In the present study, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling Al resistance based on relative root elongation (RRE) were dissected using a complete linkage map and a recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross of Al-tolerant japonica cultivar Asominori (Oryza sativa L.) and Al-sensitive indica cultivar IR24 (O. sativa L.). A total of three QTLs (qRRE-1, qRRE-9, and qRRE-11) were detected on chromosomes 1, 9, and 11 with LOD score ranging from 2.64 to 3.60 and the phenotypic variance explained from 13.5 to 17.7%. The Asominori alleles were all associated with Al resistance at all the three QTLs. The existence of these QTLs was confirmed using Asominori chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) in IR24 genetic background (IAS). By QTL comparative analysis, the two QTLs (qRRE-1and qRRE-9) on chromosomes 1 and 9 appeared to be consistent among different rice populations while qRRE-11 was newly detected and syntenic with a major Al resistance gene on chromosome 10 of maize. This region may provide an important case for isolating genes responsible for different mechanisms of Al resistance among different cereals. These results also provide the possibilities of enhancing Al resistance in rice breeding program by marker-assisted selection (MAS) and pyramiding QTLs.     

Chronopathological Aspects of Disease Incidence in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice seedlings maintained under uncontrolled glasshouse conditions were inoculated with conidial suspensions of a fungal pathogen, Helminthosporium oryzae, at various times during the 24 h. Significant increase in the percent germination and germ tube length of conidia were observed in the rice samples inoculated at 02:00 and 06:00h. The 24 h temporal variation in leaf temperature was positively correlated with variation in stomatal movements. The results indicate a 24 h rhythm in the behavior of the fungal pathogen on the host in relation to the conditions of the growing environment. In all the inoculated seedlings, the appearance of a large number of brown leaf spots was confined to the light span. Among the plants inoculated, earlier initiation of brown leaf spot appearance, maximum number of leaf spots, and highest disease severity were observed when plants were inoculated at 02:00h. There was a positive correlation between disease severity of the host and in vivo values of percent germination of conidia and germ tube length of the pathogen in plants inoculated between 02:00 and 06:00h. The findings of this study implicate that light intensity and temperature could play a predominant role in controlling disease susceptibility rhythms in plants.