Rainfall and flowering synchrony in a tropical shrub: Variable selection on the flowering time ofErythroxylum havanense

Summary We tested the adaptive significance of flowering synchrony by means of a quantitative analysis of selection and by flowering induction experiments with the deciduous shrubErythroxylum havanense. Temporal schedules of flower and fruit production were determined for a local population (in three sites) in a Mexican seasonal forest for 2 years (1987–1988). The consequences of natural variation in flowering time (flowering initiation day) on maternal reproductive success (fecundity) were evaluated. We observed high levels of inter- and intraindividual flowering synchrony in 1987, but not in 1988 and this contrast was related to differences in rainfall patterns between the two years. A significant proportion (15.4%) of the phenotypic variation in flowering initiation day was accounted for by environmental variance. The expression of phenotypic variance of flowering time and, consequently, the opportunity for selection to act, are controlled by annual variation in rainfall. Despite the between-year difference in flowering synchrony, we detected a relatively intense directional selection on flowering initiation day in both years, but selection coefficients were of opposite sign (standardized directional gradients were –0.326 and 0.333 for 1987 and 1988, respectively). For both years there was a significant relationship between individual relative fitness and the number of neighbouring flowering plants in a given day, suggesting positive frequency-dependent selection.     

Chromosome numbers and reproduction inRubus subgen.Malachobatus

A review of current knowledge of chromosome numbers and modes of reproduction in the genusRubus L. is presented. Chromosome numbers from some species of subg.Malachobatus Focke together with results of crossing experiments are reported for the first time.     

超临界CO2流体萃取苦丁茶多糖的工艺优化

为了探讨超临界CO_2萃取广西苦丁茶中多糖的工艺条件,该研究采用超临界CO_2流体萃取技术分离苦丁茶多糖,利用苯酚-硫酸法对苦丁茶多糖含量进行测定,并考察不同萃取温度(35、40、45、50、55、60℃)、萃取压力(20、25、30、35、40、45、50 MPa)、萃取时间(30、60、90、120、150 min)、夹带剂(甲醇、95%甲醇、50%甲醇、无水乙醇、95%乙醇、50%乙醇)以及夹带剂(95%乙醇)用量(2.0、2.5、3、3.5、4.0、4.5、5.0 mL·min~(-1))对多糖得率的影响,通过设计正交实验方案,对超临界CO_2萃取广西苦丁茶多糖的提取工艺进行优化。结果表明:通过单因素和正交实验考察了苦丁茶多糖提取的主要影响因素,得到的最佳萃取工艺条件为萃取温度50℃,萃取压力40 MPa,夹带剂流量3.5 mL·min~(-1),萃取时间150 min;采用苯酚-硫酸法对苦丁茶多糖含量进行测定。在最优萃取条件下得到的苦丁茶多糖的提取率为7.05%。由此可知,采用超临界CO_2流体萃取,具有提取温度低、萃取率高、萃取周期短、低耗以及污染小等优点,适用于苦丁茶多糖的提取。     

薏米黄酒的急性毒性研究

目的:研究薏米黄酒的急性毒性,评价该酒的食用安全性。方法:以ICR小鼠为受试对象,一次性给予最大剂量,观察薏米黄酒对小鼠的急性毒性反应,测定薏米黄酒的LD50和最大耐受剂量。结果:小鼠无一只死亡,无法测出LD50,最大耐受量大于20400 mg/kg。结论:实验检测表明,该黄酒无毒,为薏米黄酒的应用提供了毒理学依据。     

Transgenic Melon and Squash Expressing Coat Protein Genes of Aphid-borne Viruses do not Assist the Spread of an Aphid Non- transmissible Strain of Cucumber Mosaic Virus in the Field

Transgenic melon and squash containing the coat protein (CP) gene of the aphid transmissible strain WL of cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV) were grown under field conditions to determine if they would assist the spread of the aphid non-transmissible strain C of CMV, possibly through heterologous encapsidation and recombination. Transgenic melon were susceptible to CMV strain C whereas transgenic squash were resistant although the latter occasionally developed chlorotic blotches on lower leaves. Transgenic squash line ZW-20, one of the parents of commercialized cultivar Freedom II, which expresses the CP genes of the aphid transmissible strains FL of zucchini yellow mosaic (ZYMV) and watermelon mosaic virus 2 (WMV 2) potyviruses was also tested. Line ZW-20 is resistant to ZYMV and WMV 2 but is susceptible to CMV. Field experiments conducted over two consecutive years showed that aphid-vectored spread of CMV strain C did not occur from any of the CMV strain C-challenge inoculated transgenic plants to any of the uninoculated CMV-susceptible non- transgenic plants. Although CMV was detected in 3% (22/764) of the uninoculated plants, several assays including ELISA, RT- PCR-RFLP, identification of CP amino acid at position 168, and aphid transmission tests demonstrated that these CMV isolates were distinct from strain C. Instead, they were non-targeted CMV isolates that came from outside the field plots. This is the first report on field experiments designed to determine the potential of transgenic plants expressing CP genes for triggering changes in virus-vector specificity. Our results indicate that transgenic plants expressing CP genes of aphid transmissible strains of CMV, ZYMV, and WMV 2 are unlikely to mediate the spread of aphid non-transmissible strains of CMV. This finding is of practical relevance because transgenic crops expressing the three CP genes are targeted for commercial release, and because CMV is economically important, has a wide host range, and is widespread worldwide.     

Ingestion of Large Centric Diatoms, Mangrove Detritus, and Zooplankton by Zoeae of Aratus pisonii (Crustacea: Brachyura: Grapsidae)

Ingestion rates of zoeae of Aratus pisonii Milne Edwards (Brachyura: Grapsidae) were determined offering natural plankton-detritus mixtures in laboratory food selection experiments. The food mixtures were sampled in the Itamaracá estuary, north-eastern Brazil, and standardised to a size range of 50–200 μm. Zoeae ingested significant amounts of large centric diatoms (Coscinodiscus spp.), mangrove detritus, tintinnids (Favella ehrenbergi) and adult copepods during feeding experiments. Diatoms were positively selected by A. pisonii zoeae in all three experiments, with ingestion rates of 3.3–21.3 cells zoea⁻¹ day⁻¹. Detritus particles were always more abundant than phytoplankton and zooplankton in the particle size spectrum offered. Detritus was ingested in two of three experiments, with ingestion rates of up to 34.1 particles zoea⁻¹ day⁻¹, being the most important food item during one experiment. Adult copepods (up to 1.8 ind. zoea⁻¹ day⁻¹) and tintinnids (up to 0.4 ind. zoea⁻¹ day⁻¹) were ingested by A. pisonii zoeae during one experiment each. In spite of a wide range of zoeal density, food particle composition, and density, zoeae of A. pisonii displayed a consistent pattern of food selectivity. This hints at a consistent sensory and behavioural mechanism related to capture and handling of food particles, that most likely also affects larval feeding under natural conditions. Although detritus showed to be quantitatively ingested under estuarine conditions, zoeae of A. pisonii preferred large diatoms and ingested zooplankton only occasionally.