Molecular identification of species in Juglandaceae:A tiered method

DNA barcoding is a method of species identification and recognition using DNA sequence data. A tiered or multilocus method has been recommended for barcoding plant species. In this study, we sampled 196 individuals representing 9 genera and 54 species of Juglandaceae to investigate the utility of the four potential barcoding loci (rbcL, matK, trnH-psbA, and internal transcribed spacer (ITS)). Our results show that all four DNA regions are easy to amplify and sequence. In the four tested DNA regions, ITS has the most variable information, and rbcL has the least. At generic level, seven of nine genera can be efficiently identified by matK. At species level, ITS has higher interspecific p-distance than the trnH-psbA region. Difficult to align in the whole family, ITS showed heterogeneous variability among different genera. Except for the monotypic genera (Cyclocarya, Annamocarya, Platycarya), ITS appeared to have limited power for species identification within the Carya and Engelhardia complex, and have no power for Juglans or Pterocarya. Overall, our results confirmed that a multilocus tiered method for plant barcoding was applicable and practicable. With higher priority, matK is proposed as the first-tier DNA region for genus discrimination, and the second locus at species level should have enough stable variable characters.     

种植条件下海滨盐土理化性状与生物学特征

以苏北海滨盐土种植实验区7个不同特征的地块为对象,研究了海滨盐土基本理化性状及其生物学特征的季节变化,以及其与植物种植和植被条件的关系.结果表明:海滨盐土的土壤性状随种莓年限和植被状况的不同有较大的变异性,种植耐盐植物地块平均土壤电导率(0.95 dS·m-1)低于自然植被地块(2.77 dS·m-1),但部分地块电导率水平较种植前有所升高;土壤肥力普遍较低,水解性氮含量平均低于50 mg·kg-1,有效磷含量(除施肥地块)平均低于3 mg·kg-1,有机质含量低于1%,种植耐盐植物地块因施肥而有所改善.土壤电导率和养分水平是影响盐土植被生长与分布的主要因素,前者尤为关键;土壤氮磷含量与微生物数量密切相关.不同植被和干扰状况下土壤性状的季节变化差异明显,植被盖度高、人为干扰少的土壤环境相对稳定,反之则波动剧烈.     

一株副溶血弧菌噬菌体的分离鉴定及生理特性

为了探寻有效的控制副溶血弧菌的方法, 从水产品市场的污水中分离出来一株烈性噬菌体qdvp001。采用双层平板法分离纯化噬菌体qdvp001, 电镜观察其形态特征, 并利用双层平板法测定其生理特性, 包括热稳定性试验、最适pH、最佳感染复数及一步生长曲线, 然后提取基因组进行酶切和序列分析。结果显示该烈性噬菌体qdvp001头部直径大约为79 nm, 尾长大约118 nm, 属于肌尾噬菌体科。它对60 °C以下的温度耐受力较强, 最适pH为7.0?8.0左右, 最佳感染复数是0.000 1, 感染宿主菌的潜伏期约20 min, 裂解期约70 min, 并获得部分DNA片段的序列。将获得的DNA序列在NCBI上进行比对, 结果显示, qdvp001与其他噬菌体的同源性较低。该噬菌体很可能是一种新发现的噬菌体。     

一亚热带蜚蠊（Periplaneta japanna）两地理种群间相异的光周期反应模式

为弄清光周期对一种亚热带蜚蠊（Periplaneta japanna）若虫发育的控制机理,检测了光周期对冲绳（26°N）和八丈岛（33°N）两个地理种群若虫发育的影响。结果表明,光周期显著影响两地理种群的若虫发育,然而,冲绳和八丈岛种群间显示不同的光周期反应模式。冲绳种群在长日条件下（LD 16∶8h）若虫发育显著快于中间日长（LD 14∶10h）和短日条件下（LD 12∶12h）的若虫发育,孵化后60d 或120d 将若虫自LD 16∶8h向LD 12∶12h转移,若虫发育受到抑制,而自LD 12∶12h向LD 16∶8h转移,则促进若虫发育。八丈岛种群的若虫在短日条件下发育最快,其次是中间日长,长日条件下若虫发育最慢,孵化后60d 或120d 将若虫自LD 16∶8h向LD 12∶12h转移抑制若虫发育,反方向转移的若虫快速发育。两地理种群间不同的光周期反应模式可以认为是趋异进化的结果。     

Poly(dG)-poly(dC) DNA appears shorter than poly(dA)-poly(dT) and possibly adopts an A-related conformation on a mica surface under ambient conditions

Three types of DNA: approximately 2700 bp polydeoxyguanylic olydeoxycytidylic acid [poly(dG)-poly(dC)], approximately 2700 bp polydeoxyadenylic polydeoxythymidylic acid [poly(dA)-poly(dT)] and 2686 bp linear plasmid pUC19 were deposited on a mica surface and imaged by atomic force microscopy. Contour length measurements show that the average length of poly(dG)-poly(dC) is approximately 30% shorter than that of poly(dA)-poly(dT) and the plasmid. This led us to suggest that individual poly(dG)-poly(dC) molecules are immobilized on mica under ambient conditions in a form which is likely related to the A-form of DNA in contrast to poly(dA)-poly(dT) and random sequence DNA which are immobilized in a form that is related to the DNA B-form.     

南京地区繁缕和小繁缕群体的研究

繁缕(Stellaria media)和小繁缕(S.apetala)是两个形态相似的近缘种,有人把后者作为前者的亚种或变种来处理。本文通过对南京地区不同生境的三个自然群体和三个人工控制栽培群体的取样,以群体为单位,分别测算了叶、萼片、雄蕊、花瓣、果实和种子的8个数量性状的变异,绘制了多角形图;对花粉粒和种子进行了扫描;还通过花蕾套袋试验对种子活力作了检查。结果发现繁缕和小繁缕都是近亲繁殖植物,在形态上区别明显,对生态环境的要求基本相同,但小繁缕似更能耐受人为的践踏和刈割。     

DNA structures associated with autonomously replicating sequences from plants

DNA fragments capable of conferring autonomous replicating ability to plasmids inSaccharomyces cerevisiae were isolated from four different plant genomes and from the Ti plasmid ofAgrobacterium tumefaciens. The DNA structure of these autonomously replicating sequences (ARSs) as well as two from yeast were studied using retardation during polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and computer analysis as measures of sequence-dependent DNA structures. Bent DNA was found to be associated with the ARS elements. An 11 bp ARS consensus sequence required for ARS function was also identified in the elements examined and was flanked by unusually straight structures which were rich in A+T content. These results show that the ARS elements from genomes of higher plants have structural and sequence features in common with ARS elements from yeast and higher animals.Supported by Grant 1RO1-GM41708-O1 from the National Institute of Health.     

Relationships between some genetic parameters and test environments in open-pollinated families of Pinus elliottii in South Africa

Summary Growth traits, stem form and branch characteristics in three series of well-replicated trials, comprising open-pollinated families of Pinus elliottii Engelmann, were analysed to investigate whether the absolute value of the component of variance for family effect and its relative value (which is equivalent to one-quarter of heritability on individual values) were related, with trial averages of the traits studied taken as productivity indices of the sites tested. The first series, called the foreign selection series, consisted of four trials comprising open-pollinated families from single clones from a Florida seed orchard and from selected trees in Queensland, Australia. Two trials were established in the eastern Transvaal, at Tweefontein and Frankfort State Forests (SF), and two in Zululand, at Dukuduku and KwaMbonambi SF. The second series, called the Zululand selection series, consisted of open-pollinated families from single trees selected in Zululand that were compared in three trials: in the eastern Transvaal at Wilgeboom SF, in Zululand at Dukuduku SF and in the southern Cape at Lottering SF. The third series, called the South African selection series, consisted of open-pollinated families from single trees selected in the different forest areas of South Africa and compared in four trials: two trials in the eastern Transvaal at Tweefontein and Mariti SF and two in the Natal province at Dukuduku and Weza SF. Some positive and linear relationships between absolute sizes of the variance component for family and trial average for all traits studied, except stem form, were discernible for the foreign selections and for the Zululand selections. The South African selections presented a more erratic pattern of variation. However, when the origin of the genetic material was disregarded, the positive trends were undeniable. Curvilinear relationships between relative values and site averages were discernible, when the origin of the genetic material was disregarded. Further research is needed in order to confirm the suggested effect of site on genetic expressivity of open-pollinated families of slash pine grown in South Africa.     

Trypanosoma cruzi (Kinetoplastida Trypanosomatidae): ecology of the transmission cycle in the wild environment of the Andean valley of Cochabamba, Bolivia

An active Trypanosoma cruzi transmission cycle maintained by wild rodents in the Andean valleys of Cochabamba Bolivia is described. Wild and domestic Triatoma infestans with 60% infection with T. cruzi were found and was evidenced in 47.5% (rodents) and 26.7% (marsupial) by parasitological and/or serologycal methods. Phyllotis ocilae and the marsupial species Thylamys elegans, are the most important reservoirs followed by Bolomys lactens and Akodon boliviensis. In spite of both genotypes (TCI and TCII) being prevalent in Bolivia, in our study area only T. cruzi I is being transmitted. Our data suggest that wild T. infestans and wild small mammals play an important role in the maintenance of the transmission cycle of T. cruzi. Furthermore, the finding of high prevalence of T. cruzi infection in wild T. infestans point to the risk of the dispersion of Chagas' disease.