High frequency of plant regeneration from hypocotyl explants of Brassica carinata A. Br.

An efficient tissue culture system for high frequency of plant regeneration from hypocotyl explants of Brassica carinata was developed via manipulation of culture medium and selection of explants. Explants grown on medium containing combinations of 2 mg l^-1 BA and 0.01 mg l^-1 NAA or 4 mg l^-1 kinetin and 0.01 mg l^-1 2,4-D regenerated shoots at 100% frequency. High frequency shoot regeneration occurred only from explants originating from 6 to 7-day-old but not younger or older seedlings. Explants showed higher regeneration capacity at the distal end than the proximal end, and the upper segment was more regenerative than the lower segment of hypocotyl. Regenerants were rooted on half-strength growth regulator-free medium, acclimatized and developed into normal, fertile plants.Abbreviations BA benzyladenine - 2-4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - MS Murashige & Skoog     

Decomposition and nutrient liberation rates of plant material in the Parana medio River (Argentina)

The degradation of plant material was studied in order to obtain degradation coefficients and nutrient release kinetics of the vegetation that will be submerged during the filling of the future Parana Medio man-made lake. A group of 13 plant species representative of the whole vegetation of the area were chosen.The plant samples (submerged at 2.5–4 m in the Setubal lagoon), were periodically analyzed during 97 days. The experimental data were fitted to an exponential decomposition model. The plants were classified according to their velocities of degradation into three groups: fast (K>0.01), mean (0.01>K>0.005) and slow (K<0.005). The curves of release of P, N, Ca, Mg, Na and K in function of time are presented and discussed.     

Assessment of genetic fidelity of micropropagated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Swertia chirayita</Emphasis> plantlets by ISSR marker assay

Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) marker assay was employed to validate the genetic fidelity of Swertia chirayita plantlets multiplied in vitro by axillary multiplication upto forty-two passages. Sixteen ISSR primers generated a total of 102 amplicons among the tissue-cultured plants. Forty-eight amplicons were amplified in the outlier (a Swertia species). The outlier (negative control) was employed to rule out the possibility that the invariant fingerprint was due to chance alone and that the ISSR technique employed was not discriminatory enough to detect the off-types. A homogenous amplification profile was observed for all the micropropagated plants. The results confirmed the clonal fidelity of the tissue culture-raised S. chirayita plantlets and corroborated the fact that axillary multiplication is the safest mode for multiplication of true to type plants.     

免疫信号轴揭示水稻与病原菌斗争的秘密

近年,我国学者在水稻(Oryza sativa)广谱抗病机制、抗性与产量协调机制等方向的研究取得了一系列突破性进展。最近,何祖华和杨卫兵团队在水稻抗病性研究中再次取得突破,发现1个以钙感应蛋白ROD1和过氧化氢酶CatB为核心的信号轴,通过负调控水稻免疫反应,保证正常生长条件下维持低水平的免疫反应,促进水稻正常生长发育...     

高油玉米优良自交系再生体系的建立

以供试的5个高油玉米优良自交系为材料,建立了一个高效的高油玉米幼胚再生体系.研究表明,高油玉米幼胚组织培养的最适幼胚长轴长度在0.5 mm～2.0 mm左右;MB培养基是最适的胚性愈伤组织诱导培养基;各材料胚性愈伤组织诱导率差异较大,以4K261和4K296的胚性愈伤诱导率较高;不同材料最适的继代培养条件存在差异,但基因型仍然是决定各自交系胚性愈伤组织的继代能力的主导因素,其中以4K261最佳.5个自交系均能分化出幼苗,但分化率差异较大,以4K059分化率最高,达82.0 %;其次是4K261和4K296,分别为63.2 %和59.0 %;4K060和4K061表现最差.所以4K059、4K261和4K296均可作为遗传转化的受体材料.该体系的建立为高油玉米的遗传转化奠定了基础.     

Fraying around the edges: negative effects of the invasive Tradescantia zebrina Hort. ex Bosse (Commelinaceae) on tree regeneration in the Atlantic Forest under different competitive and environmental conditions

Aims Invasive plants modify the structure and functioning of natural environments and threat native plant communities. Invasive species are often favored by human interference such as the creation of artificial forest edges. Field removal experiments may clarify if invasive plants are detrimental to native plant regeneration and how this is related to other local factors. We assessed the joint effect of environment and competition with the invasiveTradescantia zebrinaon tree species recruitment in an Atlantic Forest fragment.     

Bactericidal activity of some plant essential oils against Ralstonia solanacearum infection

Potato plants and their tubers in Egypt are affected by one of the most renowned soil-borne pathogen, Ralstonia solanacearum, that caused brown rot in potato tubers and wilt in plants. There is no efficient therapeutic bactericide so; control of bacterial wilt is very rough.The study investigated three different concentrations of seven essential plant oils under in vitro and in vivo conditions as a result of their effects on Ralstonia solanacearum growth and their possibility use as potato seed pieces dressing for controlling bacterial wilt disease incidence. In vitro, anise oil at the three tested different concentrations (0.04, 0.07, and 0.14% vol/vol) was the most effective one inhibiting the growth of T4 and W9 isolates of Ralstonia solanacearum then pursued by thyme, lemongrass, and clove oils. On the other hand, rocket oil at the tested concentration was the least effective one followed by fennel oil. However, wheat germ oil was not completely effective. In vivo, experiment revealed that anise oil at the three concentrations significantly reduced disease incidence and severity in sponta and hermes potato cultivars and their effect was associated with increase of peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase, phenols and the foliar fresh weight of treated plants as well as the weight of tubers/plant followed by thyme and lemongrass oils compared to the infected untreated control.Morphological differences in bacterial cell structure have been observed using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Anise oil at higher concentration caused of cell wall rupture and degraded cellular components.     

Detection and Quantification of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum Race 1 in Plants and Soil by Real-time PCR

Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon) is the most serious soil-borne disease in the world and has become the main limiting factor of watermelon production. Reliable and quick detection and quantification of Fon are essential in the early stages of infection for control of watermelon Fusarium wilt. Traditional detection and identification tests are laborious and cannot efficiently quantify Fon isolates. In this work, a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay has been described to accurately identify and quantify Fon in watermelon plants and soil. The FONRT-18 specific primer set which was designed based on identified specific sequence amplified a specific 172 bp band from Fon and no amplification from the other formae speciales of Fusarium oxysporum tested. The detection limits with primers were 1.26 pg/μl genomic DNA of Fon, 0.2 pg/ng total plant DNA in inoculated plant, and 50 conidia/g soil. The PCR assay could also evaluate the relationships between the disease index and Fon DNA quantity in watermelon plants and soil. The assay was further used to estimate the Fon content in soil after disinfection with CaCN₂. The real-time PCR method is rapid, accurate and reliable for monitoring and quantification analysis of Fon in watermelon plants and soil. It can be applied to the study of disease diagnosis, plant-pathogen interactions, and effective management.     

Efficient GA3-assisted plant regeneration from cell suspensions of three grape genotypes via somatic embryogenesis

Petioles from in vitro grown plants of interspecific grapevine hybrids cvs `Bianca', `Podarok Magaracha' and `Intervitis Magaracha' were cultured on solid NN medium supplemented with 2,4-D and BA at various concentrations. The callus developed was cultured in liquid NN medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l<sup>–1</sup> BA to induce formation of somatic embryos. Somatic embryos of globular and heart-stage developed in suspensions of `Podarok Magaracha' and `Intervitis Magaracha'. In contrast, `Bianca' did not undergo embryogenesis beyond globular stage. This made it necessary to perform subculture of the suspensions to HTE liquid medium supplemented with 0.2 mg l^–1 BA for the development of globular embryos into heart stage. Heart-stage embryos developed into torpedo-stage after subculturing suspensions of all three cultivars to liquid HTE medium supplemented with 0.1 mg l^–1 IAA and 30 mg l^–1 sodium hummate. Torpedo-stage embryo suspensions were subcultured in liquid HTE medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l^–1 BA, 0.5 mg l^–1 GA₃ and 0.5 mg l^–1 GA₃ + 0.2 mg l^–1 BA. After 12 days of incubation, plantlets were cultured on solid M2MS medium: without growth regulators and with 0.5 mg l^–1 BA. Plantlets that developed in liquid HTE media with 0.5 mg l^–1 GA₃ or 0.5 mg l^–1 GA₃ + 0.2 mg l^–1 BA produced 82–90% shoots on solid M2MS medium with 0.5 mg l^–1 BA after 50 days of culture.