薇甘菊花芽分化前后内源激素及相关基因表达的研究

以云南省瑞丽市勐秀林场扦插种植的薇甘菊为试材,采用液相色谱串联质谱(LC-MS/MS)技术对花芽未分化期和花序原基分化期花芽中的生长素(IAA)、赤霉素(GA)、脱落酸(ABA)、反式玉米素(tZ)、异戊烯腺嘌呤(IP)、1-氨基环丙烷羧酸(ACC)、茉莉酸(JA)和水杨酸(SA)含量进行定量分析,同时基于转录组基因功能注释数据对内源激素合成、代谢及信号转导途径相关基因进行表达分析,以探讨不同内源激素对薇甘菊花芽形成的调控作用,以及内源激素合成和信号转导途径相关基因调控薇甘菊花芽分化的机制,为后期通过外源激素调控薇甘菊内源激素水平的方式来控制薇甘菊的有性繁殖提供理论和技术支持。结果表明：(1)薇甘菊未分化期花芽中GA₁₅、GA₁₉、GA₂₀、GA₂₄、IAA、ABA和ETH含量低于花序原基分化期,而未分化期花芽中两种细胞分裂素tZ和IP含量显著高于花序原基分化期。(2)基于RNA-seq测序结果,在薇甘菊两个花芽分化时期共获得7 116个差异表达基因(DEGs),其中上调3 907个,下调3 209个。(3)在内源激素合成方面,参与GA₁₅、GA₁₉、GA₂₀、GA₂₄、IAA、ABA和ACC合成的大量DEGs在花序原基分化期上调表达,这与它们在薇甘菊花序原基分化期的高含量趋势相一致;参与IAA合成的YUCCA基因家族和ACC合成的ACS基因在花序原基分化期的高表达也可能参与促进薇甘菊花芽分化。(4)在植物激素转导途径中,在花序原基分化期,生长素信号转导途径通过AUX/IAA(gene-E3N88_07743)的下调表达和ARF(gene-E3N88_41119)的上调表达,乙烯信号转导途径通过ERF(gene-E3N88_41547)的上调表达,赤霉素信号转导途径通过GID1(gene-E3N88_19448)基因的上调表达,细胞分裂素信号转导途径通过B-ARR(gene-E3N88_28086)和A-RRR(gene-E3N88_40764)基因的下调表达,脱落酸途径通过AREB(gene-E3N88_18558)基因的上调表达,茉莉酸信号转导途径通过JAZ(gene-E3N88_05628)的上调表达和MYC2(gene-E3N88_32405)的下调表达来调控薇甘菊花芽分化。研究发现,高水平的GA₁₅、GA₁₉、GA₂₀、GA₂₄、IAA、ABA和ACC有利于薇甘菊的花芽分化;薇甘菊在花芽分化过程中通过改变不同种类内源激素合成、代谢基因的表达来调控激素浓度,而激素又通过信号转导途径引起下游基因的表达,进而调控薇甘菊的花芽分化。     

Temporal variability in detritus resource maintains diversity of bacterial communities

Competition theory generally predicts that diversity is maintained by temporal environmental fluctuations. One of the many suggested mechanisms for maintaining diversity in fluctuating environments is the gleaner-opportunist trade-off, whereby gleaner species have low threshold resource levels and low maximum growth rates in high resource concentration while opportunist species show opposite characteristics. We measured the growth rates of eight heterotrophic aquatic bacteria under different concentrations of chemically complex plant detritus resource. The growth rates revealed gleaner-opportunist trade-offs. The role of environmental variability in maintaining diversity was tested in a 28-day experiment with three different resource fluctuation regimes imposed on two four-species bacterial communities in microcosms. We recorded population densities with serial dilution plating and total biomass as turbidity. Changes in resource availability were measured from filter-sterilised medium by re-introducing the consumer species and recording short-term growth rates. The type of environmental variation had no effect on resource availability, which declined slowly during the experiment and differed in level between the communities. However, the slowly fluctuating environment had the highest Shannon diversity index, biomass, and coefficient of variation of biomass in both communities. We did not find a clear link between the gleaner-opportunist trade-off and diversity in fluctuating environments. Nevertheless, our results do not exclude this explanation and support the general view that temporal environmental variation maintains species diversity also in communities feeding chemically complex resource.     

Cyclopoids feed selectively on free-living stages of parasites

1. Many aquatic organisms can consume parasite larvae, thus hampering parasite transmission; however, information about feeding on them in the presence of an alternative prey remains scarce. When having a food choice, predators may decrease parasite consumption, therefore, it is important to assess the role of parasites in the diet of predators in natural communities with different types of prey available. Our study aims to test whether common freshwater cyclopoids feed on trematode free-living stages (cercariae) when an alternative food source is present.
2. We experimentally studied ingestion rates of cyclopoids Macrocyclops distinctus fed with cercariae of trematode Diplostomum pseudospathaceum, a common and harmful parasite of freshwater fishes, and ciliates Paramecium caudatum (an alternative prey, known as suitable food for copepods). First, the feeding response of cyclopoids to different densities of each prey was studied. Then, feeding selectivity in the mixtures of cercariae and ciliates was tested.
3. Feeding rates of cyclopoids increased with prey densities (both ciliates and cercariae) but almost stopped growing at high prey densities, which indicated saturation (Holling type II functional response). In most cases, cyclopoids consumed cercariae at higher rates than ciliates. Maximum ingestion rates estimated from the obtained curves were 37 cercariae ind⁻¹ hr⁻¹ and 17 ciliate ind⁻¹ hr⁻¹.
4. When exposed to prey mixtures, cyclopoids fed on cercariae selectively. When cercariae were offered to cyclopoids at concentrations exceeding the saturation level, the ingestion of ciliates remained constantly low at all ciliate densities. In contrast, the ingestion of cercariae increased with rising cercariae densities even when ciliates were presented ad libitum, decreasing only at very high prey densities. Possible reasons of such feeding preferences are discussed.
5. Our study demonstrated that cyclopoids may prefer to feed on cercariae when there is an alternative food choice and can ingest cercariae at high rates. These experimental results could be extended to natural communities, suggesting that cyclopoids can reduce the transmission of parasites and contribute to the incorporation of parasite production in food webs of lentic ecosystems.

     

Studies on bucephalid digeneans parasitising molluscs and fishes in Finland I. Ecological data and experimental studies

Two types of bucephalid cercariae are reported from the bivalve Anodonta anatina in two Finnish lakes. One, Type A, resembles in gross morphology the cercaria of Bucephalus polymorphus, and the other, Type B, resembles the cercaria of Rhipidocotyle campanula. Type A daughter-sporocysts develop more slowly, have a greater cercarial productivity and exhibit a differential diurnal rhythm to that of Type B. Cercariae of Type A have a shorter longevity than Type B and tend to encyst in the fins rather than the gill-arches of fish intermediate hosts. The main definitive host of Type A is pike Esox lucius and, in the case of Type B, perch Perca fluviatilis. Adults of Types A and B are morphologically very similar and both species belong to the genus Rhipidocotyle.     

Individual variation in immune function in the ant Formica exsecta; effects of the nest, body size and sex

It has been generally thought that sex differences in the immune system are the result of the differing life history strategies of the sexes, although the available data are not entirely consistent with the hypothesis. In this study, we studied the variation in the immune function in the mound-building wood ant Formica exsecta. F. exsecta has two forms of males, distinguished by size: the small males (micraners) and the large males (macraners), which die after the mating period, whereas females live tens of years laying their eggs. We found that in general males have a lower encapsulation response against nylon monofilament (i.e. lower immune function) than queens. Among males, the micraners had a lower encapsulation rate than the macraners. However, in queens, there was no correlation between size and encapsulation rate. The origin nest had an effect on the encapsulation rate of males: males from the large nests had a stronger encapsulation rate than males from small nests. However, in queens, nest size did not have any effect on encapsulation response. The observed variation between sexes and individuals in the encapsulation rate is discussed in the context of reproductive strategies and parasite-mediated sexual selection.     

Total Hydrolysis of Xylotetraose and Xylobiose by Soluble and Cross-linked Crystalline Xylanase II from Trichoderma reesei

The ability of Trichoderma reesei xylanase II (EC 3.2.1.8) to hydrolyse the small xylo-oligomer substrates, xylotetraose and xylobiose, was studied. Xylanase was used in both soluble and cross-linked enzyme crystal (CLEC) form. Hydrolysis reactions with crystalline xylanase cross-linked with glutaraldehyde and lysine were performed in a column reactor. By using appropriate combination of column packing length and flow rate, xylotetraose and xylobiose (initial concentrations 10 mg ml &#109 1 ) were hydrolysed completely to xylose in less than 1 h. The observed reaction rate in the column depended substantially on the flow rate of the eluent, probably due to an enhanced mass-transfer with higher flow rates. With soluble xylanase, using extended reaction times of 24 h and extremely high enzyme/substrate ratios of 20 (w/w) or above, the hydrolysis reaction reached completion with both xylotetraose and xylobiose as substrates. Even with the lowest flow rate, the reaction in the column appeared to be faster than soluble enzyme hydrolysis with comparable enzyme/substrate ratios.     

Distributions,life cycles and hybridization of two Mysis relicta group species (Crustacea: Mysida) in the northern Baltic Sea and Lake Båven

We used electrophoretically identified material to assess the geographical distributions, life cycles and interspecific hybridization of two sibling species of the Mysis relicta species group (sp. I and sp. II) in the northern Baltic region. In the Gulf of Finland, sp. I prevails in inshore waters and sp. II in the open sea; the distributions overlap in the outer archipelago zone. In the Gulf of Bothnia, only sp. II was found in the southern part (Bothnian Sea), whereas the two species coexist throughout the northerly Bothnian Bay. Both the local and large-scale distributions are salinity-related, but salinity alone does not explain the differences. The two species exhibit different patterns of geographical variation in their life histories. In strict sympatry in the north they have identical two-year life cycles with winter breeding. Further south (Gulf of Finland), sp. I exhibits a predominantly one-year winter-breeding cycle, whereas sp. II breeds throughout the year. The patterns comply with the concept of a great phenotypic flexibility and environmental control of life history characteristics in the Mysis relicta group, and make a contrast to the stable life cycle of the congeneric M. mixta. F1 hybrids between the two M. relicta group species were found at a low frequency (0.6%) in the Bothnian Bay, but not in other areas of sympatry. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Environmental impacts of wooden,plastic, and wood-polymer composite pallet: a life cycle assessment approach

Purpose

Waste recycling is one of the essential tools for the European Union’s transition towards a circular economy. One of the possibilities for recycling wood and plastic waste is to utilise it to produce composite product. This study analyses the environmental impacts of producing composite pallets made of wood and plastic waste from construction and demolition activities in Finland. It also compares these impacts with conventional wooden and plastic pallets made of virgin materials.

Methods

Two different life cycle assessment methods were used: attributional life cycle assessment and consequential life cycle assessment. In both of the life cycle assessment studies, 1000 trips were considered as the functional unit. Furthermore, end-of-life allocation formula such as 0:100 with a credit system had been used in this study. This study also used sensitivity analysis and normalisation calculation to determine the best performing pallet.

Result and discussion

In the attributional cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment, wood-polymer composite pallets had the lowest environmental impact in abiotic depletion potential (fossil), acidification potential, eutrophication potential, global warming potential (including biogenic carbon), global warming potential (including biogenic carbon) with indirect land-use change, and ozone depletion potential. In contrast, wooden pallets showed the lowest impact on global warming potential (excluding biogenic carbon). In the consequential life cycle assessment, wood-polymer composite pallets showed the best environmental impact in all impact categories. In both attributional and consequential life cycle assessments, plastic pallet had the maximum impact. The sensitivity analysis and normalisation calculation showed that wood-polymer composite pallets can be a better choice over plastic and wooden pallet.

Conclusions

The overall results of the pallets depends on the methodological approach of the LCA. However, it can be concluded that the wood-polymer composite pallet can be a better choice over the plastic pallet and, in most cases, over the wooden pallet. This study will be of use to the pallet industry and relevant stakeholders.