Studies on reproductive strategies of Vitex negundo L. var. heterophylla (Franch.) Rehder (Lamiaceae) based on morphological characteristics and SSR markers

Vitex negundo L. var. heterophylla (Franch.) Rehder (Lamiaceae) is an important tree species for soil and water conservation, yet the reproductive ecology of this species remains to be elucidated. To investigate the reproductive traits of V. negundo var. heterophylla, the phenology, morphological characteristics (a suite of characters was assessed: floral morphology, nectar production, pollen viability, and stigma receptivity) and mating system of this species were systematically revealed for the first time in this study. Phenological observations, morphological measurements, and nectar production analysis were conducted during anthesis. Pollen viability and stigma receptivity at different flowering stages were measured by biochemical methods. Finally, genetic analysis based on SSR markers was used to reveal the mating system; outcrossing index and pollen‐ovule ratio were also calculated to help analysis. V. negundo var. heterophylla showed several obvious characteristics of outcrossing, such as abundant and attractive flowers, secreting nectar, and emitting scent. In addition, mechanisms such as homogamy and a short anther‐stigma distance that can promote self‐fertilization were also identified in this species. The coexistence of selfing and outcrossing characteristics demonstrates a predominantly outcrossed mixed mating system (outcrossing rate, t = 95%). The scientific information provided by this study may contribute to conservation of V. negundo var. heterophylla from a reproductive perspective.     

Using RAD‐seq to develop sex‐linked markers in a haplodiplontic alga

For many taxa, including isomorphic haplodiplontic macroalgae, determining sex and ploidy is challenging, thereby limiting the scope of some population demographic and genetic studies. Here, we used double‐digest restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD‐seq) to identify sex‐linked molecular markers in the widespread red alga Agarophyton vermiculophyllum. In the ddRAD‐seq library, we included 10 female gametophytes, 10 male gametophytes, and 16 tetrasporophytes from one native and one non‐native site (N = 40 gametophytes and N = 32 tetrasporophytes total). We identified seven putatively female‐linked and 19 putatively male‐linked sequences. Four female‐ and eight male‐linked markers amplified in all three life cycle stages. Using one female‐ and one male‐linked marker that were sex‐specific, we developed a duplex PCR and tested the efficacy of this assay on a subset of thalli sampled at two sites in the non‐native range. We confirmed ploidy based on the visual observation of reproductive structures and previous microsatellite genotyping at 10 polymorphic loci. For 32 vegetative thalli, we were able to assign sex and confirm ploidy in these previously genotyped thalli. These markers will be integral to ongoing studies of A. vermiculophyllum invasion. We discuss the utility of RAD‐seq over other approaches previously used, such as RAPDs (random amplified polymorphic DNA), for future work designing sex‐linked markers in other haplodiplontic macroalgae for which genomes are lacking.     

间伐强度对坝上樟子松林下持水能力的影响

河北坝上地区地势复杂、气候条件较差,导致了水土流失和地质灾害的发生,使华北地区生态安全受到严重威胁。为了改善当地生态环境,樟子松、落叶松等耐贫瘠速生树种被大面积种植,然而不合理的植被密度会导致降雨的低效率利用。本研究以5种间伐强度(0、20%、40%、60%、80%)的樟子松林为对象,分析间伐强度对林下草本、枯落物、土壤各层以及整体持水能力的影响。结果表明: 草本层持水率变化幅度为47.7%～90.7%,且随着间伐强度增加持水能力整体呈减小趋势,间伐强度小于40%时减速较缓,之后迅速减小。随间伐强度的增大,枯落物未分解层、半分解层自然含水率和最大持水率均逐渐减小,而有效持水能力大小依次为60%>40%>20%>80%>0,且半分解层持水能力均优于未分解层。土壤持水能力随间伐强度的增强逐渐降低,间伐强度小于40%时对持水能力起促进作用。不同间伐强度下,林下总持水率是8.3%～14.3%,依次为20%>0>40%>60%>80%。 鉴于林下各层及整体变化,研究区内选择强度为20%的间伐措施能有效提高林下持水能力,实现更好的生态效益。     

呼伦贝尔沙地樟子松径向生长特征的VS模型模拟分析

利用Vaganov-Shashkin模型对呼伦贝尔地区4个样点的沙地樟子松标准化宽度年表进行模拟研究,在2000年以前时段拟合度较好,而2000年以后时段拟合度较差。进而选取2000年以前的模拟结果进行径向生长过程分析。结果表明: 呼伦贝尔沙地樟子松主要的生长季为每年的5—9月,温度对每年樟子松生长初期与末期具有显著影响,而在树木生长季旺盛期,土壤湿度的不足是制约树木生长的主要因素。极端窄年树木径向生长速率受土壤湿度的影响较极端宽年明显,生长季中期7—8月树木径向生长速率在宽窄年份均呈降低趋势,表明该时期沙地樟子松生长均受到不同程度的干旱胁迫。研究结果与我国半干旱地区树木年轮生理模型分析特征相符,模型对呼伦贝尔沙地樟子松径向生长模拟具有一定的适用性。     

镉胁迫对吊兰及银边吊兰生长及镉富集特性的影响

选择吊兰和银边吊兰为试验材料,采用水培法研究其在不同Cd²⁺处理浓度(0、20、80、200 μmol·L^-1)下生长及生理特性的变化。结果表明: 20 μmol·L^-1镉对两种吊兰的影响较小,单叶面积、总叶面积、叶绿素(Chl)a含量、总叶绿素[Chl (a+b)]含量、类胡萝卜素含量、Chl a/Chl b值、胞间二氧化碳浓度(C_i)和蒸腾速率(T_r)与对照(CK)基本无显著差异;80 μmol·L^-1镉胁迫下两种吊兰叶片初始荧光(F_o)和非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ)升至最高水平;200 μmol·L^-1镉胁迫下,两种吊兰生物量、叶绿素含量、最大净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(g_s)、最大光化学量子产量(F_v/F_m)、实际光化学量子产量Y_(II)、转移系数(TF)以及各部分生物量均降至最低水平,而两种吊兰的过氧化物酶(POD)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)及过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性和银边吊兰的丙二醛(MDA)含量均有不同程度的增加。随着镉处理浓度的增加,两种吊兰各器官Cd含量持续升高,且主要富集在根部;吊兰各器官Cd含量及富集系数(BCF)在胁迫处理下均高于银边吊兰。研究表明,两种吊兰对镉具有一定的耐性,其中吊兰对Cd的耐受能力强于银边吊兰,可考虑作为绿化植物用于修复镉污染水体或土壤。     

Casearia sylvestris Essential Oil Degradation Products Generated by Leaf Processing

Casearia sylvestris is an endemic tree of the Latin America that the essential oil (EO) has anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective actions. This study evaluates the chemical composition of the EO from the volatile fractions of in natura, fresh, and dried C. sylvestris var. sylvestris and var. lingua leaves. For both varieties, the dried leaves presented higher EO yield as compared to fresh leaves. The major EO chemical components were (E)-caryophyllene, α-humulene, germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, spathulenol, caryophyllene oxide, and humulene epoxide II. In both varieties, the content of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons decreased and oxygenated sesquiterpenes increased on going from in natura to fresh and dried leaves, which indicated that leaf drying and hydrodistillation modified the volatile composition. The results also suggested that bicyclogermacrene and (E)-caryophyllene were oxidized during processing, to generate spathulenol and caryophyllene oxide, respectively. C. sylvestris varieties and in natura, fresh, and dried leaves differed in terms of the chemical composition of volatiles, which could affect the EO biological activities.     

A New Method for the Preparation of Minicells for Physiological Studies

A procedure has been developed for preparing minicells that does not rely on sucrose gradients in a rate-zone centrifuge. In the presence of low levels (10 units/ml) of penicillin, the contaminating bacteria present in minicell cultures after low-speed differential centrifugation are turned into long filamentous cells and can be killed by sonic treatment. An additional low-speed centrifugation (2, 000 g for 5 min) yields purified minicells with less than one contaminating cell per 10 minicells.     

In vitro and in vivo antimicrobial efficacy of essential oils and individual compounds against Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae

Aim

To evaluate the antimicrobial effects of essential oils (EOs) from cassia, basil, geranium, lemongrass, cumin and thyme, as well as their major components, against Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae; to investigate morphological changes in hyphae and sporangia in response to treatment with cinnamaldehyde; and to further evaluate potential biocontrol capacities against tobacco black shank under greenhouse conditions.

Methods and Results

The results revealed that the extent of mycelial growth inhibition was primarily dependent on the composition and concentration of the EOs and the structure of individual compounds. Cinnamaldehyde had a significantly higher inhibitory effect on mycelial growth, formation of sporangia, and production and germination of zoospores in P. parasitica var. nicotianae in vitro, achieving complete inhibition of these phenotypes at 72, 36, 36 and 18 mg l^?1, respectively. Scanning electron microscopic observations revealed that cinnamaldehyde can cause considerable morphological degenerations of hyphae and sporangia such as cytoplasmic coagulation, shrivelled mycelia and sporangia aggregates and swelling and lysis of mycelia and sporangia walls. In vivo assays with cinnamaldehyde demonstrated that this compound afforded protective effect against tobacco black shank under greenhouse conditions in susceptible tobacco plants.

Conclusions

The results of in vitro and in vivo bioassays, together with SEM imaging of the microstructure of P. parasitica var. nicotianae supported the possibility of using cinnamaldehyde as a potent natural biofungicide in the greenhouse.

Significance and Impact of the Study

This study provides a theoretical basis for the potential use of cinnamaldehyde as commercial agents or lead compounds that can be exploited as commercial biofungicides in the protection of tobacco plants from P. parasitica var. nicotianae infection.     

江西铅山红芽芋脱毒苗球茎愈伤组织诱导及其再生体系的建立

以江西铅山红芽芋脱毒苗为试材,研究不同因素对红芽芋脱毒苗球茎愈伤组织诱导及其再生体系的影响,以期对红芽芋脱毒苗的再生体系进行优化。结果表明,红芽芋脱毒苗球茎愈伤组织诱导的最佳培养基是MS+TDZ 2 mg·L^-1+2,4-D 1 mg·L^-1。红芽芋脱毒苗球茎愈伤组织分化的最佳培养基是MS+TDZ 2 mg·L^-1+NAA 1 mg·L^-1。红芽芋脱毒苗不定芽生根的最佳培养基是1/2MS+NAA 0.5 mg·L^-1+PP₃₃₃ 0.5 mg·L^-1。红芽芋再生苗最好的移栽基质为发酵后的腐锯木屑。红芽芋脱毒苗球茎愈伤组织再生苗移栽时最佳的PP₃₃₃浓度为20～50 mg·L^-1。本试验成功建立了红芽芋脱毒苗球茎愈伤组织的再生体系,为红芽芋脱毒苗转基因的研究和种质创新奠定了基础。     

Feeding behavior of Brevicoryne brassicae in resistant and susceptible collard greens genotypes: interactions among morphological and chemical factors

The cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical areas of the world. The main crops attacked by B. brassicae are cabbage, collard greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. To survive the attack of pest insects, plants have evolved various resistance mechanisms that may affect pest feeding behavior. The use of electronic monitoring through EPG (electrical penetration graph) can help characterize and distinguish the resistance mechanisms involved. This study evaluated the feeding behavior of B. brassicae in eight genotypes of collard greens, Brassica oleraceae L. var. acephala (Brassicaceae), exhibiting antixenosis and/or antibiosis resistance to this insect. Possible correlations were established between the glucosinolate levels, the hardness, and the epicuticular wax on the leaves vs. aphid feeding behavior. On the genotypes 22V, 5E, and 27VA, for which many ‘potential drop’ waves were performed, aphid development was slower, indicating antixenosis as resistance type. Aphids on the genotypes 22V and 24X required more time until accessing the phloem, also suggesting antixenosis as resistance category. Genotypes 22V and PE had hard leaves, which also points at antixenosis. Genotypes 20T and HS had higher total wax and wax mg⁻¹. Feeding parameters on ARI and 24X were similar to those observed on HS; antibiosis is likely to be the predominant resistance category of this germplasm. Because HS was considered as a susceptible standard genotype in this study, a higher gluconapin amount indicates that this compound does not influence cabbage aphid feeding behavior. The present study confirms that analysis of the physical and chemical aspects of collard greens genotypes by the EPG technique can provide a useful approach for the study of plant resistance to cabbage aphids.