Identification of molecular markers linked to Rdr1, a gene conferring resistance to blackspot in roses

Blackspot resistance in the tetraploid rose genotype 91/100–5 had been characterised previously as a single dominant gene in duplex configuration. In the present study a tetraploid progeny (95/3) segregating for the presence of the blackspot resistance gene Rdr1 were screened with 868 RAPD and 114 AFLP primers/primer combinations. Seven AFLP markers were found to be linked to Rdr1 at distances between 1.1 and 7.6 cM. The most closely linked AFLP marker was cloned and converted into a SCAR marker that could be screened in a larger population than the original AFLP and was linked at a distance of 0.76 cM. The cloned fragment was used as an RFLP probe to locate the marker on a chromosome map of diploid roses. This is the first report of markers linked to a resistance gene in roses, and the possibilities of using them for a marker-assisted selection for blackspot resistance as well as for map-based cloning approaches are discussed. Received: 23 December 1999 / Accepted: 25 March 2000     

Detailed description of developmental growth stages of Diplocarpon rosae in Rosa: a core building block for efficient disease management

Black spot disease of roses caused by the ascomycetous fungus Diplocarpon rosae teleomorph (Marssonina rosae anamorph) is a widespread and devastating disease. Despite considerable progress in the management of black spot disease in the recent years, it is still unclear by which mechanisms this fungus colonises and invades the host system, and without a good knowledge of such infection machineries, it not possible to fully overcome the challenges of D. rosae infection. By exploring research contributions up to date, we highlight in this review the ultrastructure of D. rosae infection cycle in the host cell by emphasising on several aspects related to its in vitro and in vivo germinations, the infection mechanisms of the fungus, the different fungal structures formed in the host cells and the optimum storage conditions for D. rosae to retain its viability and pathogenicity over time. Here, attention is particularly focused on the asexual life cycle of D. rosae, with the sexual cycle being briefly discussed. In addition, a new dimension of research approaches to effectively control black spot disease of roses, that is, how to accurately use the advanced biotechnology tools to speed up the current state of the disease management, is proposed here.     

Trade‐offs in oviposition choice? Food‐dependent performance and defence against predators of a herbivorous sawfly

The sawfly Athalia rosae L. (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) is a feeding specialist on plant species of the Brassicaceae, which are characterised by secondary metabolites, called glucosinolates. The larvae can take up the respective glucosinolates of their hosts and concentrate them in their haemolymph to protect themselves against predators. Oviposition preferences of naïve females were tested for three species, Sinapis alba L., Brassica nigra (L.) Koch, and Barbarea stricta Andrz., and were related to larval performance patterns. Larvae were reared on either one of these plants and it was investigated how host‐plant quality influences both the developmental times and growth of larvae (bottom‐up) and the defence efficiency against predators (top‐down). Innately, almost all adult females avoided B. stricta for oviposition and clearly preferred B. nigra over S. alba. On average, larvae developed best on B. nigra. Female larvae reached similar final body masses on all host‐plant species, but males reared on S. alba were slightly lighter. The developmental time of larvae reared on B. stricta was significantly longer than on the other two plants. However, larvae reared on B. stricta were best protected against the predatory wasp Polistes dominulus Christ (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). The wasps rejected these larvae most often, while they attacked larvae reared on S. alba most frequently. Thus, larvae feeding on B. stricta theoretically run a higher risk of predation due to a prolonged developmental time, but in practice they are better protected against predators. Overall, oviposition preferences of A. rosae seem to be more influenced by bottom‐up effects on larval performance than by top‐down effects.     

从光合作用特性看铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)的竞争优势

通过测定净光合放氧速率,研究了温度、光照和pH对铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)和玫瑰拟衣藻(Chloromonas rosae)光合作用的影响。两种藻的光合放氧速率都随着温度的升高而加快,在10~35℃范围内,铜绿微囊藻净光合放氧速率随温度升高而直线上升,其最适温度高于35℃,而当温度高于30℃后玫瑰拟衣藻的净光合放氧速率迅速下降;两种微藻的光合放氧速率-光强变化曲线有所不同,铜绿微囊藻光饱和点在500μmol·m^-2·s^-1附近,光强达到900μmol·m^-2·s^-1时仍无光抑制现象发生,玫瑰拟衣藻光饱和点在630μmol·m^-2·s^-1附近,当光强进一步升高,光合放氧速率开始下降;铜绿微囊藻最适pH值是10.0,在pH值6.5~11.5范围内,光合放氧都很活跃,变化幅度不大,玫瑰拟衣藻最适pH值7.0,偏酸或偏碱光合放氧都迅速地下降,pH高于10.0出现了负值。比较两种藻的光合作用特性,铜绿微囊藻光合作用具有3个特点:(1)适应温度范围宽,对高温具有良好的适应性,并且光合作用随温度的升高显著提高;(2)光饱和点低,光合作用活性高,能在弱光环境中高效地进行光合作用,并且抗强光伤害;(3)对pH变化具有超强的适应能力,在中性和碱性环境中,都能进行活跃的光合作用。铜绿微囊藻在光能利用、温度和pH适应性方面的特点,可以使其快速生长繁殖,积累大量的生物量,在与其它藻类的竞争中占据显著的优势。     

Monitoring populations of the carrot fly, Psila rosae, with sticky and water traps

The relative, effectiveness of Rebell®, small cylinder, large cylinder, windmill and water traps, the five types of trap used currently for monitoring populations of the carrot fly, Psila rosae, was assessed in nine field experiments, three in south west Lancashire, four in the Fens (Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire), one in East Suffolk and one at Wellesbourne, Warwickshire. Regression analysis of the numbers of flies caught on each type of trap against the numbers caught on the Rebell® trap indicated that each trap samples a constant proportion of the fly population relative to the other traps. Therefore, provided the fly population was sufficiently large for insects to be caught on the least effective traps, any of the five traps would monitor adequately fluctuations in carrot fly populations. However, the Rebell® trap caught 4–17 times as many flies/trap and 5–7 times as many flieshnit area of trap as any of the other traps tested.
Operators considered the Rebell® trap to be the easiest to use. However, it was more expensive than any of the other traps tested.     

Ovarian development and vitellogenesis in the sawfly,Athalia rosae ruficornis Jakovlev (Hymenoptera,Tenthredinidae)

Summary

Ovarian development in Athalia rosae ruficornis Jakovlev (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) is described. Number of nurse cells per egg chamber is most often around 60 (close to 63 according to the 2ⁿ–1 rule), but in many cases it deviates from this number significantly. Two major yolk proteins [vitellins: large (apparent molecular weight 160–170 kD) and small (48–50 kD] were identified by SDS-PAGE. Western blotting and immunochemical detection using polyclonal antibodies prepared against each of the vitellins revealed that adult female but not male (both haploid and diploid) hemolymph contains vitellogenins corresponding to these vitellins. Vitellogenins become detectable in the hemolymph of late pupae, and vitellins one day later in the oocytes of adults. Transplantation of immature ovaries into the adult male abdomen caused not only significant accumulation of vitellins in the oocyte but also appearance of small amounts of hemolymph vitellogenins in host males. Injection of homogenate of immature ovaries also caused appearance of small amounts of hemolymph vitellogenins in host males.     

BTH-Induced Accumulation of Extracellular Proteins and Blackspot Disease in Rose

Treatment of rose shoots with 50 µM acibenzolar-S-methyl (BTH) resulted in increased protection against Diplocarpon rosae. This was accompanied by the induction and accumulation of a set of extracellular proteins as shown by SDS-PAGE and 2D-PAGE. Some of these proteins have been identified as PR-1, PR-2, PR-3 and PR-5 proteins by immunoblot analysis probed with tobacco antisera against PR-1c, PR-N, PR-Q and PR-S protein. Most of the extracellular proteins activated by BTH were also induced and found to accumulate in leaves upon infection with Diplocarpon rosae. However, their accumulation was much more pronounced in BTH-pretreated leaves than in water-pretreated leaves upon a challenge inoculation with D. rosae, particularly, the 15 kD PR-1, 36 and 37 kD PR-2 proteins. They may be more important in the expression of disease resistance.     

Fatty acid composition remains stable across trophic levels in a gall wasp community

Acquiring sufficient nutrients is particularly important for insects that are unable to synthesize certain nutrient types de novo, as is the case for numerous parasitoid species that do not synthesize lipids. The lipid reserves of parasitoids are acquired from a single host during larval development. This imposes constraints on the quantity and quality of available lipids. In the present study, the lipid dynamics throughout the trophic cascade are investigated by measuring lipogenic ability, modifications in fatty acid composition and host exploitation efficiency in species at different trophic positions within the community of parasitoids associated with the gall wasp Diplolepis rosae L. (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae). The results obtained show that lipid levels remain stable or decline after feeding in all species, indicating that none of the wasps synthesize lipids. Fatty acid composition is highly similar between the gall wasp, parasitoid and hyperparasitoid species, with the exception of the parasitoid Orthopelma mediator Thunberg (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). The divergence of fatty acid composition in O. mediator suggests that this species is able to modify its fatty acid composition after the consumption of host lipids. The efficiency of exploitation of host resource, in terms of dry body mass acquired, varies among the species (41–70%), although it is high overall compared with the efficiencies reported in other animals. Hence, for parasitoid wasps that lack lipid synthesis capabilities, the efficiency of host exploitation is high and fatty acids are consumed directly from the host without modification, leading to stable fatty acid compositions throughout the trophic cascade.