Detection and Molecular Characterization of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ in European Hazel (Corylus avellana) in Poland

Stunted European hazel (Corylus avellana L.) plants showing leaf yellowing were observed in south‐eastern Poland. Phytoplasma‐specific primers P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2, as well as primers specific for aster yellows (16SrI), X‐disease (16SrIII) and apple proliferation (16SrX) groups were singly used in nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the 16S rDNA from 22 symptomatic and asymptomatic hazel plants. Restriction fragment length polymorphism with MseI, HhaI, RsaI and BfaI enzymes of the 16S rRNA gene fragments amplified with the primers R16F2n/R16R2 from three symptomatic hazel plants of cvs Katalonski, Webba and Halle revealed patterns identical to those from the AY1 strain related to ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’. The nucleotide sequence analysis confirmed this result. This is the first report of the natural occurrence of ‘Ca. P. asteris’ in European hazel in Poland.     

四川榛属新分布(英)

据报道,维西榛（Coryluswangii）仅分布在云南西北部。我们鉴定了中国科学院植牧研究所标本馆（PE）的标本,发现了该种在四川东部的新分布。该种与Corylusjacquemon-tii在形态学和分子水平上存在间断性。     

Xishania的异物同名问题以及对Xishania fusiformis Hong,1981和Xishania longiusula Hu,2002的一些讨论

洪友崇1981年建立了京西早白垩世卢尚坟昆虫群,认为Xishania fusiformis(梭形西山蝽)为其中的代表类型,并由此建立1新科1新属1新种。胡世学2002年报道了昆明海口耳材村剖面澄江动物群蠕虫化石Xishania longiusula(长形西山虫),建立1新属1新种。因此,Xishania Hu,2002为Xishania Hong,1981的晚出异物同名,且Xishania fusiformis和Xishania longiusula的分类位置也存在很大争议。文中结合多年来收集的大量梭形西山蝽和长形西山虫标本对二者进行讨论,指出梭形西山蝽与Mesolygaeus laiyangensis(莱阳中蝽)存在区别,代表不同的种类。而长形西山虫属于澄江动物群中的火把虫类,但与模式种存在显著区别,可作为Facivermis(火把虫)一新种。     

Revised dominance hierarchy for S-alleles in Corylus avellana L.

Pollen-stigma compatibility was studied in cultivars and more than 1800 seedlings of the European hazelnut (Corylus avellana L). Four new S-alleles were identified, bringing the total to 25 unique alleles within C. avellana. The new alleles are the recessive alleles in ‘Tonda di Giffoni’ and ‘Segorbe’ (S₂₃), in ‘Neue Riesennuss’ (S₂₅), in ‘Gasaway’ (S₂₆), and a dominant allele in a seedling of Turkish origin (S₂₄). Dominance relationships in 233 of the possible 300 pairs of alleles were determined in both pistil and pollen. All alleles exhibited independent action in the pistil, whereas in the pollen either dominance or codominance was exhibited. The dominance hierarchy of alleles in the pollen was revised in light of the new information obtained. All 25 alleles have been assigned to a level in the hierarchy that is linear and now has eight levels. S₆ and S₉ were reassigned to lower levels in the hierarchy. Thirteen of the alleles are on the level of S₁, while S₄, S₆, S₁₁, and S₂₃ occupy unique positions in the hierarchy. Improved pollen tester clones were identified for several S-alleles. The alleles in 55 cultivars were determined. The alleles identified in ‘DuChilly’ (S₁₀ S₁₄) did not agree with previous reports. Four cultivars have the same alleles as ‘Römische Nuss’ (S₁₀ S₁₈) and are morphologically indistinguishable from it: ‘Frutto-grosso’, ‘Istarski Okrogloplodna’, ‘Payrone’, and ‘Romai’. ‘Belle di Giubilino’ and ‘Tonda di Biglini’ are both S₁ S₁₀ and appear to be synonyms for the same cultivar.     

Anatomy and lignin distribution in reaction phloem fibres of several Japanese hardwoods

Background and Aims Although tension wood formation and the structure of gelatinous fibres (G-fibres) have been widely investigated, studies of the influence of the reaction phenomenon on phloem fibres have been few and incomplete in comparison with those of xylem wood fibres. This study was undertaken to clarify the influence of stem inclination on phloem fibres using several Japanese hardwood species that produce different G-fibre types in tension wood. Methods Eight hardwood species were inclined at 30-45° at the beginning of April. Specimens were collected in July and December. The cell-wall structure and lignin distribution of phloem fibres on both the tension and opposite sides were compared by light microscopy, ultraviolet microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy after staining with acriflavine, and transmission electron microscopy after staining with potassium permanganate. Key Results Three types of changes were found in tension-side phloem fibres: (1) increases in the proportion of the syringyl unit in lignin in the S(1) and S(2) layers and compound middle lamella (Cercidiphyllum japonicum), (2) formation of unlignified gelatinous layers (Melia azedarach and Acer rufinerve) and (3) increases in the number of layers (n) in the multi-layered structure of S(1) + S(2) + n (G + L) (Mallotus japonicus). Other species showed no obvious change in cell-wall structure or lignin distribution. Conclusions Phloem fibres of the tree species examined in our study showed three types of changes in lignin distribution and cell-wall structure. The reaction phenomenon may vary with tree species and may not be closely related to G-fibre type in tension wood.     

Age-associated and tissue-specific expression of osteopontin in male Hu sheep reproductive tract

Osteopontin (OPN) is indispensable in mammalian reproduction, but the role of OPN in male reproductive tract and fertility remains unclear. The objective of this study is to elucidate the function of OPN by unveiling the localization and expression of OPN in the reproductive tract (testis, epididymis, and ductus deferens) of male Hu sheep in different ages (10-days, 4-months, and 8-months). To accomplish this, the localization, mRNA and protein expression patterns of OPN in all samples were investigated. Immune staining showed that OPN was present in the testicular interstitium of prepubertal Hu sheep testis (10-days and 4-months group), while it was immunostained in acrosomes of spermatids nearby adluminal compartment of seminiferous tubules in sexual maturity Hu sheep testis (8-months group). The localization of OPN in epididymis gradually changed from the loose connective tissue to the apical region of principal cells (pseudostratified columnar epithelium) with growing (10-days to 8-months). In addition, increase trend was observed in the mRNA expression levels of OPN with growing in the same reproductive tissues (P < 0.05). Furthermore, two different OPN isoforms of 30 kDa and 34 kDa were detected in the reproductive tract of male Hu sheep by western blot. Immunofluorescence detection showed that OPN was localized in the cauda epididymal spermatozoa. These results suggested that the expression of OPN might be closely related to spermatogenesis and spermatozoa function in Hu sheep. This will be helpful for us to understand how OPN regulate the high reproductive capacity in Hu sheep.     

琴叶风吹楠(肉豆蔻科)分类学位置再研究

琴叶风吹楠(Horsfieldia pandurifolia Hu)自1963年命名发表以来,其分类学位置一直存在争议。本文以中国野生肉豆蔻科(Myristicaceae)11个种为材料,从形态学、油脂化学和分子遗传学方面对琴叶风吹楠分类学位置进行研究。结果表明,琴叶风吹楠与H.macrocoma ssp. prainii的形态特征高度一致,与中国风吹楠属其它类群,以及红光树属和肉豆蔻属植物在形态学和油脂化学方面存在决定性差别,在分子遗传学方面存在较大差异。支持将H.pandurifolia并入H.macrocoma ssp. prainii,以H.macrocoma为模式种建立Endocomia属,琴叶风吹楠的学名变更为Endocomia macrocoma(Miq.) de Wilde ssp. prainii(King) de Wilde。     

Intratumoral immunocytokine treatment results in enhanced antitumor effects

Immunocytokines (IC), consisting of tumor-specific monoclonal antibodies fused to the immunostimulatory cytokine interleukin 2 (IL2), exert significant antitumor effects in several murine tumor models. We investigated whether intratumoral (IT) administration of IC provided enhanced antitumor effects against subcutaneous tumors. Three unique ICs (huKS-IL2, hu14.18-IL2, and GcT84.66-IL2) were administered systemically or IT to evaluate their antitumor effects against tumors expressing the appropriate IC-targeted tumor antigens. The effect of IT injection of the primary tumor on a distant tumor was also evaluated. Here, we show that IT injection of IC resulted in enhanced antitumor effects against B16-KSA melanoma, NXS2 neuroblastoma, and human M21 melanoma xenografts when compared to intravenous (IV) IC injection. Resolution of both primary and distant subcutaneous tumors and a tumor-specific memory response were demonstrated following IT treatment in immunocompetent mice bearing NXS2 tumors. The IT effect of huKS-IL2 IC was antigen-specific, enhanced compared to IL2 alone, and dose-dependent. Hu14.18-IL2 also showed greater IT effects than IL2 alone. The antitumor effect of IT IC did not always require T cells since IT IC induced antitumor effects against tumors in both SCID and nude mice. Localization studies using radiolabeled ¹¹¹In-GcT84.66-IL2 IC confirmed that IT injection resulted in a higher concentration of IC at the tumor site than IV administration. In conclusion, we suggest that IT IC is more effective than IV administration against palpable tumors. Further testing is required to determine how to potentially incorporate IT administration of IC into an antitumor regimen that optimizes local and systemic anticancer therapy.     

Allozyme diversity and genetic structure of marginal and central populations of Corylus avellana L. (Betulaceae) in Europe

Corylus avellana L. (hazel, Betulaceae) is a long-lived, widespread shrub in Europe, having its northern range margin in Fennoscandia and a postglacial history involving range-expansion from refugial areas in southern Europe. In this study, we tested for a relationship between marginality and low within-population genetic diversity by assessing patterns of variation at 14 putatively neutral allozyme loci (comprising 43 putative alleles) within and between 40 natural populations of C. avellana along a north-south transect in Europe. Geographically marginal populations (central Sweden) showed lower levels of within-population diversity than populations in more central regions, as indicated by significant negative correlations between latitude and the percentage of polymorphic loci (r_S=–0.47, P < 0.001), the average number of alleles per locus (r_S=–0.65, P < 0.001), the expected heterozygosity (r_S=–0.19, P < 0.05), and the proportion of distinguishable genotypes (r_S=–0.56, P < 0.001). These patterns, combined with the unusually high between-population component of gene diversity (G_ST=19.7%) and allelic richness (A_ST=24%) in the marginal region, can be attributed to historical bottlenecks during the species postglacial range-expansion, but may also reflect a history of genetic drift in the small, isolated populations occupying the marginal region. Information on the spatial distribution of genotypes provide further support for a role of vegetative reproduction (layering) in the structuring of genetic variation within populations.     

湖羊、同羊12个同工酶座位的检测

Gene frequencies of Hu sheep and Tong sheep were obtained with “Random sampling in typical colonies of a central area“.of the 12 loci tested in Hu shpee.11 loci were polymorphic.Reliability of the estimated frequencies of 27 alleles reached 0.95 except for Po^F,Tf^A,Tfd,Hb-β^A and CAF which had reliabilities of 0.5222,0.7478,0.5222,0.6212 and 0.899,respectively,Of the 12 loci tested in Tong sheep,11 loci were polymorphic.Reliability of the estimated frequency of 25 alleles reached 0.95 except for Tf^A,Tf^E and CAF which had reliabilities of 0.931,0.6922 and 0.7924,respectively.The average heterozygosity(H) and average homozygosity(J) was computed and the J of the two sheep colonies was 0.6619 and 0.6448,respectively.Consistent with our conclusions based on genetic data,previous research divided the native sheep populations of East and South Central Asia into three group:the “mongolian group“ “south-Asian group“and “European group“ .Consequently,the degree of genetic similarity between populations and known groups would seem to provide a reliable means of determining the genetic relationships between populations and may reflect the true genetic origin of Hu sheep and Tong sheep in China.