Actomyosin contractility and microtubules drive apical constriction in Xenopus bottle cells

Cell shape changes are critical for morphogenetic events such as gastrulation, neurulation, and organogenesis. However, the cell biology driving cell shape changes is poorly understood, especially in vertebrates. The beginning of Xenopus laevis gastrulation is marked by the apical constriction of bottle cells in the dorsal marginal zone, which bends the tissue and creates a crevice at the blastopore lip. We found that bottle cells contribute significantly to gastrulation, as their shape change can generate the force required for initial blastopore formation. As actin and myosin are often implicated in contraction, we examined their localization and function in bottle cells. F-actin and activated myosin accumulate apically in bottle cells, and actin and myosin inhibitors either prevent or severely perturb bottle cell formation, showing that actomyosin contractility is required for apical constriction. Microtubules were localized in apicobasally directed arrays in bottle cells, emanating from the apical surface. Surprisingly, apical constriction was inhibited in the presence of nocodazole but not taxol, suggesting that intact, but not dynamic, microtubules are required for apical constriction. Our results indicate that actomyosin contractility is required for bottle cell morphogenesis and further suggest a novel and unpredicted role for microtubules during apical constriction.     

Host-age-dependent parasitism and reproductive success of Apanteles stantoni (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a larval parasitoid of Diaphania indica (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The relative suitability of five instars of Diaphania indica (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) as a substrate for the development of a larval parasitoid, Apanteles stantoni Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), was investigated. Maximum parasitism (22.25?±?1.21%) under laboratory conditions was observed in the early larval instars. The highest parasitoid emergence was recorded from the second (86.07?±?0.70%) and third (98.93?±?0.72%) instar larvae of D. indica, and that from the first larvae was 71.43?±?1.18%. The number of cocoons in each cluster, length and width of single cocoons, percentage emergence, sex ratio and adult longevity of A. stantoni collected from different instars of D. indica were also recorded. These results indicated that the life stage of the host when the parasitoid larvae complete their final instar is particularly important for their development. Therefore, considering the efficiency of parasitism and reproduction, the second-instar larvae of D. indica is the most suitable stage for mass rearing A. stantoni in the laboratory.     

Efficient plant regeneration from cotyledon explants of bottle gourd (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lagenaria siceraria</Emphasis> Standl.)

Using cotyledon explants excised from seedlings germinated in vitro, an efficient plant regeneration system via organogenesis was established for bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria Standl.). Maximum shoot regeneration was obtained when the proximal parts of cotyledons from 4-day-old seedlings were cultured on MS medium with 3 mg/l BA and 0.5 mg/l AgNO₃ under a 16-h photoperiod. After 3–4 weeks of culture, 21.9–80.7% of explants from the five cultivars regenerated shoots. Adventitious shoots were successfully rooted on a half-strength MS medium with 0.1 mg/l IAA for 2–3 weeks. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that most of the regenerated plants derived from culture on medium with AgNO₃ were diploid.     

瓠瓜劝苗的乙烯释放与ACC,乙烯利的吸收和运转

以~14G—ACC饲喂瓠瓜幼苗基部叶片,其放射性在植株各部位呈不均匀分布,大部分集中于生长旺盛的生长点与正在形成的花芽。饲喂后4h内,ACC主要以游离形式存在,24h后,出现ACC的结合物MACC.     

冬瓜和节瓜DNA提取及RAPD反应体系优化

以8份冬瓜和节瓜为材料,采用改良CTAB法提取基因组DNA,采用正交试验设计,对冬瓜和节瓜RAPD条件进行了优化,建立了最佳反应体系:25μL反应体系中含1×buffer,模板DNA、Mg2+、dNTPs、引物和Taq酶的浓度分别为20 ng、2.0mmol/L、0.24 mmol/L、0.3μmol/L和1.0 U。PCR扩增程序为:94℃预变性5 min;94℃变性45 s,36.9℃退火45 s,72℃延伸1.5min,共40个循环;72℃延伸10 min,12℃保存。     

Influence of physico-chemical traits of bitter gourd, Momordica charantia L. on larval density and resistance to melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett)

Abstract:  Melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) is one of the most important pests of bitter gourd, Momordica charantia L. Because of the difficulties associated with chemical control of this pest, it is important to identify the traits associated with resistance and their influence on pest multiplication. There were significant differences in test genotypes for fruit infestation and larval density/fruit. The wild accessions, IC 256185, IC 248256, IC 213311, IC 248282, IC 256110 and IC 248281 were identified as resistance sources to melon fruit fly. There was a significant and positive correlation ( r  = 0.96) between percentage fruit infestation and larval density/fruit. Percentage fruit infestation and larval density/fruit were positively correlated with depth of ribs, flesh thickness, fruit diameter and fruit length, and negatively associated with fruit toughness. Flesh thickness and fruit diameter explained 93.0% of the total variation for fruit fly infestation, and flesh thickness and fruit length explained 76.3% of the variation for larval density/fruit. Ascorbic acid, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, protein, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars and total sugars were negatively correlated, while the moisture content showed a positive association with fruit fly infestation and larval density/fruit. Moisture, potassium and reducing sugar content explained 97.4% of the total variation in fruit infestation, while moisture, phosphorus, protein, reducing and total sugars explained 85.7% variation for larval density/fruit.     

丝瓜种质资源亲缘关系的SRAP分析

利用SRAP标记,对来源不同的56份有棱丝瓜和8份无棱丝瓜种质的亲缘关系进行了分析。从144对SRAP引物中筛选出60对多态性强、重复性好的SRAP引物。共扩增得到1433条谱带,其中多态性谱带1280条,平均每对引物扩增得到21.33条多态性谱带,多态性位点百分率为88.74%。将丝瓜种质利用UPMGA方法进行聚类分析,结果表明,64份丝瓜种质的遗传相似系数为0.17～0.98。在遗传相似系数0.17处,供试种质被分为2大类群,第一大类群为普通丝瓜,第二大类群为有棱丝瓜,在第二大类群中又被分为以长绿型丝瓜为主和短果型丝瓜2亚群。丝瓜类群的划分与形态学性状比较一致,即首先与棱沟的有无密切相关,其次与瓜条的长短、颜色有较高的相关性。