Lactation weight loss influences subsequent reproductive performance of sows

In order to examine the effect of different lactation weight losses of sows of different parity on subsequent reproductive performance, the present trial was performed in German (n = 4) and Slowakian (n = 11) indoor pig breeding units (n = 1677 sows evaluated). Weaning-to-service-intervals, farrowing rates and total-born litter sizes in sows with different lactation weight losses were compared. Sows were categorized according to lactation weight losses of <5%, 5-10%, 11-15%, 16-20%, >20%. Lactation weight losses exerted a quadratic effect (P < 0.01) on weaning-to-service-intervals. When analyzed across parity categories, with parity category included as a fixed effect, the weaning-to-service-intervals appeared to be minimized at lactation weight losses of <5%. Weaning-to-service-intervals increased (P < 0.05) when lactation weight losses increased above 5% for parity 1 sows, but not until lactation weight losses exceeded 10% for animals of parity 2 and more. There was a parity effect observed at lactation weight losses of <10%, P < 0.05, but the difference was not significant any more at lactation weight losses of >10%. Lactation weight losses >10% had a negative (P < 0.05) effect on subsequent farrowing rates to first service. The difference was higher (P < 0.01) in sows with lactation weight losses >20%. Lactation weight losses exerted a negative (P < 0.001) effect on total-born litter sizes in parity 1 versus parity >5 and parity 1 versus parity 2-5 sows at lactation weight losses of >10%. CONCLUSION: As weight loss of sows during lactation increases subsequent reproduction performance decreases.     

The interaction between host and host plant influences the oviposition and performance of a generalist ectoparasitoid

The successful development of parasitoids of herbivores depends on the quality of their host, which is often affected by the host plant. Therefore, a parasitoid’s oviposition decisions will directly depend on the host, but also on plant quality. Here, we investigated the direct effects of host species and the indirect effects of the host’s food plant on the oviposition decisions and performance of the gregarious ectoparasitoid Euplectrus platyhypenae Howard (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). With a series of no‐choice experiments, we determined the oviposition and performance of the parasitoid on: (1) two caterpillar species, fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda JE Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and velvet armyworm, Spodoptera latifascia Walker, reared on maize (Zea mays L., Poaceae), (2) the same caterpillars reared on maize, bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L., Fabaceae), or squash (Cucurbita pepo L., Cucurbitaceae) leaves, and (3) S. latifascia caterpillars reared on leaves of wild and cultivated lima bean, Phaseolus lunatus L. All these insects and plants originate from Mesoamerica where they have coexisted for thousands of years in the traditional agricultural system known as Milpa in which maize, beans, and squash are planted together. We found that the preferred and best combination of host and host plant for parasitoid performance was S. frugiperda on maize. Parasitoids laid larger clutches, had higher survival, and more females and larger adults emerged from S. frugiperda reared on maize. However, when both caterpillar species were reared on squash, S. latifascia was the better host. Contrary to the literature, S. frugiperda was not able to develop on bean plants. Results from the lima bean experiment showed that parasitoid performance was best when S. latifascia was reared on leaves of cultivated compared to wild lima bean. These findings are discussed in the context of mixed cropping in which the ability of generalist parasitoids to switch among hosts and host plant species could be advantageous for pest management.     

Landscape structure influences pollinator movements and directly affects plant reproductive success

Pollinators play a key role within most terrestrial communities in maintaining plant populations, as well as pollinating many agricultural crops for seed and fruit production. The mobility of pollinating animals is significant to their importance but we know little about how landscape structure influences pollinator movements. Linear landscape features such as hedgerows and embankments are conspicuous features of agricultural landscape structure and are important artificial habitats in their own right. However, there has been some debate as to the function of these landscape elements as corridors between larger expanses of semi‐natural habitat separated by urban and agricultural habitats. Few studies have specifically studied insect flight responses to linear landscape elements. By observing bumblebee flight behaviour along hedgerows and, by creating a medium‐scale experimental array of flower patches using an artificial linear feature, we examined whether such structures can elicit an oriented flight response along them and therefore facilitate insect movement through the landscape. We found that both hedgerows and artificial linear landscape features can influence the flight directions of bumblebees (Bombus spp. Hymenoptera, Apidae), one of Europe's most important groups of pollinators. A bioassay experiment in which Salvia pratensis (Lamiaceae) was planted into landscape patches with differing numbers of connecting hedgerows showed that this directional response can have a profound effect on plant reproductive success – plants had increased pollinator activity, pollen receipt and subsequent seed set in patches with more connections. The overall hedgerow connectedness of a landscape is therefore important both to bumblebee movement and to those plants which depend on bumblebees for pollination services.     

Genotype-environment interaction effects on reproductive performance in Tribolium castaneum

Summary The genetical expectations of the means, variances and covariances of populations of doubled haploid lines derived from f₁, F₂, F₃ and intermated F₂ (S₃) generations are presented. These expectations are identical, regardless of genetical architecture, providing there is no linkage disequilibrium. In the presence of linkage disequilibrium differences will occur whose magnitude and direction will depend on the degree of disequilibrium, recombination frequency and the presence or absence of epistasis.Data from an experiment to detect linkage disequilibrium in a cross between two spring barley varieties are presented. This involved a comparison of means, variances and covariances of doubled haploid populations derived from the F₁ and F₂ generations using the H. bulbosum system. Linkage disequilibrium was detected for important agronomic characters and the effect of this disequilibrium on the choice of generation for doubled haploid production is discussed.     

Salicylic acid and the plant pathogen Erwinia carotovora induce defense genes via antagonistic pathways

Infection of tobacco plants with the plant pathogenic bacterium Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora or treatment of plants with Erwinia -derived elicitor preparations leads to the induction of a number of genes thought to play a role in plant defense response to pathogens. In order to determine the role of salicylic acid (SA) in the induction of the Erwinia responsive genes, the accumulation of mRNAs for these and other genes encoding pathogenesis-related proteins (PR genes) in response to both Erwinia elicitors and SA was determined. PR genes were identified which were preferentially induced by Erwinia elicitor preparations, one gene was induced by SA but not by Erwinia , and another gene was induced by both type of treatments. The differential expression of these genes and the timing of induction suggest that SA is not the signal molecule leading to the early response of plants to Erwinia . This was demonstrated by experiments using transgenic NahG plants that overproduce a salicylate hydroxylase inactivating SA. The elicitation of PR genes by Erwinia was similar in NahG and wild-type plants. Therefore, induction of plant defense genes by Erwinia and SA seems to be by two distinct pathways leading to expression of separate sets of genes. Furthermore, we could demonstrate that Erwinia elicitors antagonize the SA-mediated induction of PR genes. Similarly, SA appeared to inhibit the induction of PR genes elicited by Erwinia . The observed antagonism between the two signal transduction pathways indicates the presence of a common regulatory element in both pathways that acts downstream of SA in the SA-mediated response.     

HPS4/SABRE regulates plant responses to phosphate starvation through antagonistic interaction with ethylene signalling

The phytohormone ethylene plays important roles in regulating plant responses to phosphate (Pi) starvation. To date, however, no molecular components have been identified that interact with ethylene signalling in regulating such responses. In this work, an Arabidopsis mutant, hps4, was characterized that exhibits enhanced responses to Pi starvation, including increased inhibition of primary root growth, enhanced expression of Pi starvation-induced genes, and overproduction of root-associated acid phosphatases. Molecular cloning indicated that hps4 is a new allele of SABRE, which was previously identified as an important regulator of cell expansion in Arabidopsis. HPS4/SABRE antagonistically interacts with ethylene signalling to regulate plant responses to Pi starvation. Furthermore, it is shown that Pi-starved hps4 mutants accumulate more auxin in their root tips than the wild type, which may explain the increased inhibition of their primary root growth when grown under Pi deficiency.     

Selection on plant optical traits and floral scent: Effects via seed development and antagonistic interactions

Evolutionary explanations of plant reproductive traits have usually emphasized optical characteristics of plants and selection mediated by pollinators. In recent years, studies have been broadened by incorporating also interactions with antagonists and by studying plant fragrant cues. Here, we examined if optical and fragrance traits of the perennial herb Primula veris correlated with reproductive success, in terms of fruit and seed set, and with avoidance of seed predators. Selection path analysis showed that both optical and fragrance traits influenced total seed production, and effects occurred both via fruit and seed set and via predator avoidance. In one case the same trait, inflorescence height, influenced total seed production both positively and negatively through effects on different components of fitness. Our results lend support to the notion that selection by mutualists and antagonists simultaneously acts on optical and fragrance traits.     

Co-flowering neighbor alters pollinator composition and influences reproductive success in a plant pollinated by multiple insects

Plant Ecology - The effect of the interactions among co-flowering plants for pollination has always been explained by changes in pollinator visiting frequency and/or foraging behavior. For most...     

Changes in reproductive investment with altitude in an alpine plant

Aims In perennial species, the allocation of resources to reproduction results in a reduction of allocation to vegetative growth and, therefore, impacts future reproductive success. As a consequence, variation in this trade-off is among the most important driving forces in the life-history evolution of perennial plants and can lead to locally adapted genotypes. In addition to genetic variation, phenotypic plasticity might also contribute to local adaptation of plants to local conditions by mediating changes in reproductive allocation. Knowledge on the importance of genetic and environmental effects on the trade-off between reproduction and vegetative growth is therefore essential to understand how plants may respond to environmental changes.Methods We conducted a transplant experiment along an altitudinal gradient from 425 to 1?921 m in the front range of the Western Alps of Switzerland to assess the influence of both altitudinal origin of populations and altitude of growing site on growth, reproductive investment and local adaptation in Poa alpina .Important findings In our study, the investment in reproduction increased with plant size. Plant growth and the relative importance of reproductive investment decreased in populations originating from higher altitudes compared to populations originating from lower altitudes. The changes in reproductive investment were mainly explained by differences in plant size. In contrast to genetic effects, phenotypic plasticity of all traits measured was low and not related to altitude. As a result, the population from the lowest altitude of origin performed best at all sites. Our results indicate that in P. alpina genetic differences in growth and reproductive investment are related to local conditions affecting growth, i.e. interspecific competition and soil moisture content.     

Optimal task performance of antagonistic muscles

Movements against a variety of loads are relatively invariant in form. These movements are controlled in general by antagonistic groups of muscles. In this paper optimal control strategies are computed for coupling antagonistic muscles so as to minimize deviations from a desired trajectory. Simulations are presented for linear and nonlinear decision functions linking control of the two muscles for a variety of movements in a way that may be compared with experimental observations.This work was partly supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Grant NSERC OGP-4345 and by the Medical Research Council of Canada Grant MRC PG-47 through the University of Alberta     

Shrub canopy matrix decreases reproductive output of a sheltered plant via pollinator exclusion

Shrubs establish microenvironments under their canopies that can favor the growth of other plants. However, the shrub canopy could impede pollination by reducing the number of pollinator visits to sheltered plants, resulting in pollen limitation and decreased reproductive output. We assessed whether the presence of a nurse shrub species (Flourensia thurifera) alters the reproductive output of a sheltered cactus (Eriosyce coimasensis) via the restriction of access by the giant hummingbird (Patagona gigas) to E. coimasensis flowers. During two consecutive years (2018 – 2019), we excluded hummingbirds from individual cacti (using cages) and studied fruit set and seed production in two microhabitats: underneath shrubs and in open sites. In addition, we compared the reproductive mode of E. coimasensis in the two microhabitats. We observed that shrubs limit the reproduction of E. coimasensis, which strongly depends on P. gigas for seed production. Plants in open sites produced 80% more fruit and 76% more seeds than those growing underneath shrubs. The reproduction of caged individuals was low and similar to those growing beneath shrubs. In addition, plants underneath shrubs, but not in open sites, may suffer pollen limitation. Our results offer novel insights into plant-plant interactions and suggest potential trade-offs for sheltered cacti between the mild microclimatic conditions under the canopy, that could lead to larger plants and pollinator preclusion, which decreases the reproductive performance of sheltered plants.     

Male reproductive effort and breeding system in an hermaphroditic plant

Summary Male reproductive effort was estimated from flower, seed and fruit biomass data in populations of the self-compatible plant Gilia achilleifolia that differ in genetically estimated selfing rate. Male reproductive effort decreases with increased rate of selfing, a finding that is consistent with theoretical arguments pertaining to the allocation of resources to male and female reproductive functions in hermaphroditic organisms.     

Alkaloid level in narrow-leafed lupin, Lupinus angustifolius, influences green peach aphid reproductive performance

Two viviparous parthenogenetic clones of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), one collected from Rydalmere, New South Wales (NSW), and the other from South Perth (SP), Western Australia, were reared on radish, Raphanus sativus L. cv. Scarlet Globe, under controlled conditions. The NSW clone was fed on simple artificial diets containing alkaloid extracted from narrow-leafed lupin, Lupinus angustifolius L. cv. Fest., and its reproductive performance monitored over 112 h. Forty (40) h into the experiment and thereafter, aphids on the control diet (sucrose solution) produced significantly more offspring (P<0.05) than those on diets containing alkaloid. In a separate experiment, apterae of each clone were caged on three lines (cv. Yorrel, cv. Danja and 84L:441) of narrow-leafed lupin, and allowed to reproduce. The first three offspring were retained, and all developed to 3rd or 4th instar stage. Two nymphs were removed, and the remaining nymph reared through. All three lines produced adults. The number of young produced were counted over 11 days. Fecundity of the SP clone was lower on line 84L:441, but there was no difference in the fecundity of the NSW clone. Phloem exudate and green tissue was concomitantly collected from all lines, and analysed by GC-MS for the alkaloids lupanine and 13-hydroxylupanine. Line 84L:441 contained the highest level of total alkaloids in both phloem and tissue. All experiments indicate that alkaloid level may suppress fecundity of green peach aphids.     

Saccharothrix yanglingensis sp. nov., an antagonistic endophytic actinomycete isolated from cucumber plant

An endophytic actinomycete strain, designated Hhs.015^T, was isolated from roots of cucumber seedlings. The endophytic isolate was identified by means of a polyphasic taxonomic approach. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, strain Hhs.015^T was closely related to members of the genus Saccharothrix. DNA–DNA hybridization with the four closest relatives, Saccharothrix longispora NRRL B-16116^T, Saccharothrix xinjiangensis NRRL B-24321^T, Saccharothrix autraliensis CGMCC 4.1355^T and Saccharothrix espanaensis CGMCC 4.1714^T, gave similarity values of 33.8, 28.2, 44.1 and 29.5%, respectively, which indicated that strain Hhs.015^T represents a novel species of the genus Saccharothrix. This is consistent with the morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic data. As a whole, these results suggest that strain Hhs.015^T represents a novel Saccharothrix species. The name Saccharothrix yanglingensis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain Hhs.015^T (=CGMCC 4.5627^T = KCTC 19722^T).     

Understanding plant reproductive diversity

Flowering plants display spectacular floral diversity and a bewildering array of reproductive adaptations that promote mating, particularly outbreeding. A striking feature of this diversity is that related species often differ in pollination and mating systems, and intraspecific variation in sexual traits is not unusual, especially among herbaceous plants. This variation provides opportunities for evolutionary biologists to link micro-evolutionary processes to the macro-evolutionary patterns that are evident within lineages. Here, I provide some personal reflections on recent progress in our understanding of the ecology and evolution of plant reproductive diversity. I begin with a brief historical sketch of the major developments in this field and then focus on three of the most significant evolutionary transitions in the reproductive biology of flowering plants: the pathway from outcrossing to predominant self-fertilization, the origin of separate sexes (females and males) from hermaphroditism and the shift from animal pollination to wind pollination. For each evolutionary transition, I consider what we have discovered and some of the problems that still remain unsolved. I conclude by discussing how new approaches might influence future research in plant reproductive biology.     

Adaptation in an insect host–plant pathogen interaction

Selection on parasites to adapt to local host populations may be direct or through other components of the system such as vectors or the food plant on which the parasite is ingested. To test for local adaptation of nucleopolyhedrovirus among island populations of western tent caterpillars, Malacosoma californicum pluviale, we compared virus isolates from three geographically distinct sites with different dominant host plants. Pathogenicity, speed of kill and virus production of each isolate were examined on the three food plants. Virus isolates from the two permanent host populations had the fastest speed of kill on the host plant from which they were isolated. This was not the case for a caterpillar population that goes extinct when populations are regionally low. Virus isolates on some plant species combined rapid speed of kill with high virus yield. Infection of hosts by mixed microparasite populations could facilitate local adaptation in response to differing food plant chemistry.     

A Phytophthora capsici effector suppresses plant immunity via interaction with EDS1

EDS1 (Enhanced Disease Susceptibility 1) plays a crucial role in both effector-triggered immunity activation and plant basal defence. However, whether pathogen effectors can target EDS1 or an EDS1-related pathway to manipulate immunity is rarely reported. In this study, we identified a Phytophthora capsici Avirulence Homolog (Avh) RxLR (Arg-any amino acid-Leu-Arg) effector PcAvh103 that interacts with EDS1. We demonstrated that PcAvh103 can facilitate P. capsici infection and is required for pathogen virulence. Furthermore, genetic evidence showed that PcAvh103 contributes to virulence through targeting EDS1. Finally, PcAvh103 specifically interacts with the lipase domain of EDS1 and can promote the disassociation of EDS1–PAD4 (Phytoalexin Deficient 4) complex in planta. Together, our results revealed that the P. capsici RxLR effector PcAvh103 targets host EDS1 to suppress plant immunity, probably through disrupting the EDS1–PAD4 immune signalling pathway.