多子房性状应用于杂种小麦的研究——Ⅱ．多子房小麦的杂种优势与利用

利用3个多子房小麦与8个普通小麦品种杂交后获得的24个杂种及其相应的亲本材料,对多子房小麦的杂种优势与利用进行了研究。结果表明,F1各性状的杂种优势依次为株高＞穗粒数＞单株产量＞千粒重。单株产量有较强的杂种优势,18个组合超双亲均值,平均均产32．71％,12个组合有超标正优势,幅度为3．41－42．84％。多子房小麦杂种优势的主要表现是穗粒数增多,其生产应用还应注意加强对子房小麦其它农艺性状的改良。     

簇毛麦染色体组特异性RAPD标记的筛选、定位和应用

以普通小麦中国春、中国春－簇毛麦二体附加系以及不同来源的簇毛麦为材料,用100个10碱基随机引物进行RAPD扩增。引物OPF02能在不同来源的簇毛麦及所有中国春－簇毛麦二体附加系中扩增出一条长约750bp的片段OPF02 750。普通小麦和硬粒小麦不能扩增出该片段。因此,OPF02 750为分布于簇毛麦所有染色体上的一个簇毛麦染色体组特异片段。用引物OPF02对普通小麦－簇毛麦双二倍体、硬粒小麦－簇毛麦双二倍体以及几个普通小麦的簇毛麦二体代换系、二体附加系进行检测,发现NAU302已经丢失了其所附加的簇毛麦3V染色体。     

通过荧光差异显示PCR法分离水稻中由ABA调节的基因

脱落酸（ABA）在植物种子发育以及植物地外源环境因子（如逆境,胁迫等）反应过程中起着重要的作用,对其调节基因的分离将有助于了解其相关信号传导途径及作用机制。通过荧光差异显示PCR法我们由水稻中分离了部分ABA调节的cDNA片段,在所分离克隆的17个片段中,有14个片段被ABA诱导（2,4,8,12h),有2个片段被ABA抑制（8h),测序及序列分析表明这些片段可能分别编码与植物光合作用（7）,信号传导（1）,转录调控（2）,代谢（6）相关的蛋白或未知蛋白（1）而且其表达可能受到ABA的调节或ABA参与了其作用,对其中可能编码α/β水解酶折叠蛋白,酪氨酸磷酸酶,液泡H^ -ATPase的mRNA进行的RT－PCR和Northern blot分析,确证了ABA对它们表达的调节作用。在此基础上对FDD－PCR技术及ABA作用的可能机制进行了讨论。     

Identification and virulence characterization of entomopathogenic fungus <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Lecanicillium attenuatum</Emphasis> against the pea aphid <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Acyrthosiphon pisum</Emphasis> (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

An entomopathogenic fungal strain was originally isolated on artificial medium from the corpse of a pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris) collected at Jingzhou, China (N30°21′18.15″, E112°08′41.63″). Based on tests of the morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics and analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, it was considered to be a strain of Lecanicillium attenuatum Zare & W. Gams. Therefore, the strain was designated L. attenuatum YZU 151121. The activity of the biological agents under study was determined at 26 °C and 90% relative humidity. The number of A. pisum killed was increased by increasing the concentration of L. attenuatum. The results demonstrated that L. attenuatum YZU 151121 showed a high efficacy against 3rd-instar nymphs (LC₅₀ = 2.91 ± 0.365 × 10⁵ conidia/ml) and adults (LC₅₀ = 3.12 ± 0.398 × 10⁶ conidia/ml) after 6 days of exposure. Crude extract from this strain was tested for contact toxicity and showed high activity in 3rd-instar nymphs and adults, with LC₅₀ values of 251.34 ± 49.54 and 315.46 ± 87.66 mg/l, respectively. In addition, crude extract at a concentration of 200 mg/l could significantly reduce fecundity in adults. These results revealed that the strain YZU 151121 may be useful in biopesticides for controlling pea aphid.     

The role of NLRP3-CASP1 in inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation and autophagy dysfunction in manganese-induced,hippocampal-dependent impairment of learning and memory ability

Central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and autophagy dysfunction are known to be involved in the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases. Manganese (Mn), a neurotoxic metal, has the potential to induce microglia-mediated neuroinflammation as well as autophagy dysfunction. NLRP3 (NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3)- CASP1 (caspase 1) inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation in microglia has specific relevance to neurological diseases. However, the mechanism driving these phenomena remains poorly understood. We demonstrate that Mn activates the NLRP3-CASP1 inflammasome pathway in the hippocampus of mice and BV2 cells by triggering autophagy-lysosomal dysfunction. The autophagy-lysosomal dysfunction is induced by lysosomal damage caused by excessive Mn accumulation, damaging the structure and normal function of these organelles. Additionally, we show that the release of lysosomal CTSB (cathepsin B) plays an important role in Mn-induced NLRP3-CASP1 inflammasome activation, and that the increased autophagosomes in the cytoplasm are not the main cause of NLRP3-CASP1 inflammasome activation. The accumulation of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL1B (interleukin 1 β) and IL18 (interleukin 18), as well as the dysfunctional autophagy pathway may damage hippocampal neuronal cells, thus leading to hippocampal-dependent impairment in learning and memory, which is associated with the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD).     

Orally administrated rare earth element cerium induces metallothionein synthesis and increases glutathione in the mouse liver

The influence of oral administration of rare earth element cerium (Ce) was studied in relation to metallothionein (MT) and glutathione (GSH) content in the organs of ICR mice, which were administered heavy metal cadmium (Cd) for comparison. Male ICR mice were divided into 9 groups: 1 control group, 4 cerium groups and 4 cadmium groups, each with 4 mice, for a total of 36 mice. Ce groups included a 20 ppm CeCl3 diet (Ce-low) group and a 200 ppm CeCl3 diet (Ce-high) group, as did Cd groups, i.e., a 20 ppm CdCl2 diet (Cd-low) group and a 200 ppm CdCl2 diet (Cd-high) group. Each group was subdivided in 2 groups except a control group: 6-week administration group and 12-week administration group. The level of plasma aspartate aminotransferase(AST) activity, plasma alanine aminotransferase(ALT) activity, plasma cholesterol and plasma triglyceride in the Ce-low, Cd-low, Ce-high, and Cd-high group were higher than that of control group, although there were no significant differences (p > 0.05). By contrast, both Ce and Cd groups had higher levels of MT and GSH in hepatic cells compared to the control group (p < 0.05) and decreased liver tissue level of lipoperoxide (p < 0.05). These groups also had decreased plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (p < 0.05), and increased plasma level of lipoperoxide (p > 0.05). In conclusion, it is suggested that orally administered Ce increases MT and GSH as an antioxidant in the mouse liver, and these reaction are probably caused by increases in the oxidative stress with Ce.     

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of maize embryos using a standard binary vector system

We have achieved routine transformation of maize (Zea mays) using an Agrobacterium tumefaciens standard binary (non-super binary) vector system. Immature zygotic embryos of the hybrid line Hi II were infected with A. tumefaciens strain EHA101 harboring a standard binary vector and cocultivated in the presence of 400 mg L-1 L-cysteine. Inclusion of L-cysteine in cocultivation medium lead to an improvement in transient beta-glucuronidase expression observed in targeted cells and a significant increase in stable transformation efficiency, but was associated with a decrease in embryo response after cocultivation. The average stable transformation efficiency (no. of bialaphos-resistant events recovered per 100 embryos infected) of the present protocol was 5.5%. Southern-blot and progeny analyses confirmed the integration, expression, and inheritance of the bar and gus transgenes in R0, R1, and R2 generations of transgenic events. To our knowledge, this represents the first report in which fertile, stable transgenic maize has been routinely produced using an A. tumefaciens standard binary vector system.