FROM CLONAL TO SEXUAL HYBRIDS: GENETIC RECOMBINATION VIA TRIPLOIDS IN ALL-HYBRID POPULATIONS OF WATER FROGS

Speciation via interspecific hybrids is very rare in animals, as compared to plants. Whereas most plants overcome the problem of meiosis between different chromosome sets by tetraploidization, animal hybrids often escape hybrid sterility by clonal reproduction. This comes at the expense of genetic diversity and the ability to purge deleterious mutations. However, here we show that all-hybrid populations of diploid (LR) and triploid (LLR and LRR) water frogs ( Pelophylax esculentus ) have secondarily acquired sexual reproduction. First, in a crossing experiment analyzed with microsatellite markers, triploid hybrids of both sexes and genotypes (LLR and LRR) recombined their homospecific genomes. Second, the great majority of natural populations investigated had low multilocus linkage disequilibrium, indicating a high recombination rate. As predicted from mating system models, the L genome had constant, low levels of linkage disequilibrium, whereas linkage disequilibrium in the R genome showed a significant reduction with increasing proportion of recombining triploids. This direct evidence of sexual reproduction in P. esculentus calls for a change of the conventional view of hybridogens as clonally reproducing diploids. Rather, hybridogens can be independent sexually reproducing units with an evolutionary potential.     

Resistance of Hibiscus esculentus L. and Vigna sinensis (L.) Endl. to Pseudocercospora and plant peroxidase activity in relation to infection

Five cultivars of Hibiscus esculentus L. and six cultivars of Vigna sinensis (L.) Endl. were tested for their relative resistance to Pseudocercospora spp. Differences in susceptibility to the leaf spot pathogen were observed in both host and non-host interactions. The H. esculentus cv. South Sea and V. sinensis cv. Purple Mart were most susceptible to Pseudocercospora abelmoschi and P. cruenta, respectively. The H. esculentus cv. Pure Luck was most tolerant to P. abelmoschi while the V. sinensis cv. KY Bush was highly resistant to P. cruenta. A distinct host-specific interaction was observed among the different species of Pseudocercospora. Cultivar specific interactions were most pronounced between V. sinensis and P. cruenta. A direct correlation was observed between the variation in peroxidase activity in the soluble fraction of inoculated leaves and resistance to infection in H. esculentus and V. sinensis cultivars. The soluble fraction of inoculated leaves had higher peroxidase activity than either mitochondrial or chloroplast extracts.     

碎米莎草穗部总生物碱化感活性和抑菌效果的研究

以种子萌发率、幼苗根长、幼苗株高和单株鲜质量以及菌落直径为指标,对碎米莎草(Cyperus iria L. )穗部总生物碱的化感活性及抑菌效果进行了初步研究.结果表明,不同质量浓度的总生物碱溶液对6种供试植物的种子萌发和幼苗生长均有不同程度的影响;质量浓度为500～4 000 mg·L~(-1)的总生物碱溶液对水稻(Oryza sativa L. )种子萌发率和幼苗的株高和单株鲜质量无显著影响(P>0.05),但4 000 mg·L~(-1)总生物碱溶液对水稻幼苗的根长有显著的抑制作用(P<0.05);总生物碱溶液对烟草(Nicotiana tabacum L. )、鳢肠[Eclipta prostrata (L. ) L. ]、千金子[Leptochloa chinensis (L. ) Nees]、三叶鬼针草(Bidens pilosa L. )及丁香蓼(Ludwigia prostrata Roxb. )的种子萌发和幼苗生长的抑制作用随质量浓度的提高而增强,且当质量浓度达到4 000 mg·L~(-1)时, 种子萌发率和幼苗的根长、株高和单株鲜质量均最低, 与对照差异显著(P<0.05). 碎米莎草穗部总生物碱溶液对6种供试植物病原真菌的抑菌效果有一定的差异, 但总体上随质量浓度(25～400 mg·L~(-1))的提高抑菌效果逐渐增强;当质量浓度达到400 mg·L~(-1)时,总生物碱溶液对苹果轮纹病病菌(Physalospora piricola Nose)、油菜菌核病病菌[Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib. ) de Bary]、水稻稻瘟病病菌[Magnaporthe grisea (Hebert) Barr. ]、小麦赤霉病病菌(Fusarium graminearum Schw. )和番茄早疫病病菌(Alternaria solani Jones et Grout. )的抑菌率最高,分别达到74.05%、64.73%、43.54%、35.09%和32.56%,与对照差异显著(P<0.05);但25～400 mg·L~(-1)总生物碱溶液对杨树溃疡病病菌(Dothiorella gregaria Sacc. )无显著的抑菌作用(P>0.05).研究结果显示,碎米莎草穗部总生物碱具有被开发为稻田用生物源农药的潜力.     

Structure‐activity relationship studies of shortened analogues of the antimicrobial peptide EeCentrocin 1 from the sea urchin Echinus esculentus

EeCentrocin 1 is a potent antimicrobial peptide isolated from the marine sea urchin Echinus esculentus. The peptide has a hetero‐dimeric structure with the antimicrobial activity confined in its largest monomer, the heavy chain (HC), encompassing 30 amino acid residues. The aim of the present study was to develop a shorter drug lead peptide using the heavy chain of EeCentrocin 1 as a starting scaffold and to perform a structure‐activity relationship study with sequence modifications to optimize antimicrobial activity. The experiments consisted of 1) truncation of the heavy chain, 2) replacement of amino acids unfavourable for in vitro antimicrobial activity, and 3) an alanine scan experiment on the truncated and modified heavy chain sequence to identify essential residues for antimicrobial activity. The heavy chain of EeCentrocin 1 was truncated to less than half its initial size, retaining most of its original antimicrobial activity. The truncated and optimized lead peptide ( P6 ) consisted of the 12 N‐terminal amino acid residues from the original EeCentrocin 1 HC sequence and was modified by two amino acid replacements and a C‐terminal amidation. Results from the alanine scan indicated that the generated lead peptide ( P6 ) contained the optimal sequence for antibacterial activity, in which none of the alanine scan peptides could surpass its antimicrobial activity. The lead peptide ( P6 ) was also superior in antifungal activity compared to the other peptides prepared and showed minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in the low micromolar range. In addition, the lead peptide ( P6 ) displayed minor haemolytic and no cytotoxic activity, making it a promising lead for further antimicrobial drug development.     

风车草(Cyperus alternifolius)人工湿地系统氮去除及氮转化细菌研究

研究了风车草人工湿地污水处理系统TN去除率及氮转化细菌的数量。结果表明:风车草人工湿地对TN的去除率为73.8%,与无植物人工湿地系统相比较,去除率提高了17.4%。风车草人工湿地氨化细菌为7.98×10⁵cfu·g^-1(细砂),硝化细菌为1.95×10⁵MPN·g^-1(细砂),反硝化细菌为5.89×10⁴1.95×10⁴MPN·g^-1(细砂)。与无植物系统氮转化细菌相比,氨化细菌无明显差异,硝化细菌及反硝化细菌均高出1个数量级。     

氮输入和水淹对短叶茳芏生长、养分及固碳的影响

外源氮输入显著改变河口湿地植物生长和固碳能力,进而影响河口湿地生态系统碳、氮循环过程。以闽江口湿地土著种短叶茳芏(Cyperus malaccensis)为研究对象,通过15个月的中型生态系实验,分析不同氮输入水平(CK,0 g N m~(-2)a~(-1);N8,8 g N m~(-2)a~(-1);N16,16 g N m~(-2)a~(-1))和2种水淹(T1,每天水淹时长2—3 h;T2,每天水淹时长11—12 h)处理对短叶茳芏生长、养分和固碳的影响,探讨短叶茳芏在环境变化下的生长、固碳特征。结果表明:T2处理株高极显著高于T1处理,N8、N16处理的植物株高显著高于CK处理,植物成熟季节的株高也极显著最高(P0.001)。水淹状况和植物生长期对短叶茳芏的密度有显著影响:T1处理密度极显著高于T2处理,植物成熟季节的密度也极显著最高(P0.001),但是氮输入没有显著提高植物密度。植物碳含量较为稳定,T2处理地上碳含量显著高于T1处理(P0.05),但是氮输入和植物生长期对地上碳含量影响不显著。氮输入水平、水淹状况和植物生长期则对植物地上氮含量都有显著影响(P0.05)。N8处理的植物地上生物量和固碳量极显著最高,CK处理极显著最低,植物成熟期的地上生物量和固碳量也极显著最大(P0.001),但是不同水淹处理植物生物量和固碳量无显著差异。闽江口湿地短叶茳芏具有较强的环境适应能力,在持续氮输入环境下,闽江口湿地的短叶茳芏可能向高潮滩拓展。     

A benzoquinone and flavonoids from Cyperus alopecuroides

A benzoquinone, named alopecuquinone, was isolated from the ethanol extract of the inflorescences of Cyperus alopecuroides. Its structure was primarily elucidated by spectroscopic analysis including 1H, 13C NMR, APT, HMQC, 1H-1H COSY and CIMS. The known flavonoids, vicenin 2, orientin, diosmetin, quercetin 3,3'-dimethyl ether and its 3,4'-dimethyl ether, were also isolated and characterized. The ethanol extract of the plant material showed moderate estrogenic activity using a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.     

闽江河口短叶茳芏潮汐湿地甲烷排放通量

采用静态箱-气相色谱法,测定了闽江河口短叶茳芏（Cyperus malaccensis）潮汐湿地甲烷排放通量.结果表明：夏季和冬季短叶茳芏潮汐湿地甲烷排放通量的日变化范围分别在1.29～2.93 mg·m^-2·h^-1和0.06～0.22 mg·m^-2·h^-1;涨潮前、涨落潮过程中和落潮后甲烷排放通量分别在0.11～1.52 mg·m^-2·h^-1、0.10～1.05 mg·m^-2·h^-1和0.05～1.70 mg·m^-2·h^-1,月平均值分别为0.73、0.47和0.72 mg·m^-2·h^-1,其排放峰值均出现在9月,最低值出现在3月,涨落潮过程中的甲烷排放通量明显低于涨潮前和落潮后（P< 0.05）;甲烷排放通量的季节变化表现为：夏季>秋季>春季>冬季;潮汐是影响甲烷排放日变化的重要因子,植物生长阶段和温度是甲烷排放月变化和季节变化的主要控制因子.     

Interclonal differences, plasticity and trade-offs of life history traits of Cyperus esculentus in relation to water availability

Cyperus esculentus is an exotic clonal (or pseudoannual) weed in Japan, and its range is steadily increasing. To investigate its interclonal variation and phenotypic plasticity in response to water availability, five clones of C. esculentus , collected from different sites in Japan, were grown singly in pots placed outdoors under dry and wet conditions. All the traits examined showed considerable variation among the five clones. However, two clones from Tochigi were similar to each other; thus, they might have originated from the same founder population. The clone from Ibaraki was quite different from the others. Therefore, it is suggested that the Japanese populations of C. esculentus might have resulted from multiple introductions of genotypes from geographically separated and, hence, genetically differentiated, source populations. All the clones also showed considerable plasticity in response to water availability. Clones with a larger ramet number had a greater plasticity, whereas tuber size was invariant across water treatments. Highly plastic traits had generally low interclonal variation in plasticity. All the clones had high productivity and produced more ramets and tubers under wet conditions than under dry conditions. Moreover, water availability could partially regulate the mode of its reproduction; wet conditions favored tuber production (vegetative propagation) while dry conditions favored sexual reproduction. A number of trade-offs occurred between the traits of clonal growth, storage and sexual reproduction, indicating that allocation among the competing functions/organs is mutually exclusive in plants. The results obtained here suggest that C. esculentus is more likely to invade wet habitats than dry habitats.