Lipoxygenase from cucumber fruit: Localization and properties

The subcellular localization of lipoxygenase (LOX) from cucumber fruit has been studied. Two methods have been employed to obtain organelles; (1) maceration of the tissue, followed by separation on a linear sucrose gradient and (2) release from protoplasts by osmotic shock, followed by a discontinuous Ficoll gradient. It was possible to obtain high LOX activity in the intact protoplasts from both peel and flesh tissue. However, fewer intact vacuoles were obtained following osmotic rupture than from macerated tissue. Both methods produced more particulate LOX activity from the peel than from flesh tissue, and both showed that this activity was associated with the vacuoles. The cucumber LOX enzyme was similar to the potato and tomato enzymes, both in pH characteristics and substrate specificity.     

The enzymic degradation of lipids resulting from physical disruption of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruit

Homogenization of fresh tissue from cucumber fruits results in a loss of endogenous lipid catalysed by acyl hydrolase enzymes. Deacylation of lipids is not accompanied by accumulation of free fatty acids. The levels of both saturated (mainly palmitic) and polyunsaturated (linoleic and linolenic) fatty acids in the lipids are reduced. Losses of the major acyl lipid constituents of cucumber (triacylglycerols and phospholipids) are mainly responsible for the observed hydrolysis. Triacylglycerol acyl hydrolase (lipase), phospholipase D and polar lipid acyl hydrolase enzyme activities were demonstrated. It is suggested that hydrolytic attack on endogenous lipids is the initial event on disruption of cucumber tissue, in the formation of lipid degradation products, amongst which are the volatile carbonyl compounds responsible for the characteristic flavour of cucumber.     

Indices of water deficit in susceptible and resistant cucumbers in response to infection by cucumber mosaic virus

Indices of water deficit were determined under conditions of non-limited water supply in cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)-infected seedlings of the susceptible cv. Bet Alpha. An increase in the concentration of soluble solids, decrease of water and osmotic potentials, and increase of proline concentration were found in the CMV-infected cotyledons. In the cv. Shimshon, which is resistant to CMV, virus infection caused only a slight change in the concentration of the soluble solids and in the osmotic potential; water potential and proline content were not affected. Concomitantly, infectivity of cotyledons by CMV was much lower in the tolerant cv. Shimshon than in the susceptible cv. Bet Alpha. The possible association of water deficit with virus-induced growth retardation is discussed.     

H2S作为下游信号参与SA对低温弱光下黄瓜幼苗光合作用的调控

水杨酸(SA)和硫化氢(H₂S)在调控非生物胁迫下植物生长发育和生理代谢中均起着非常重要的作用,但二者作为信号分子在调控低温弱光下黄瓜光合作用中的互作关系还不清楚。本试验以黄瓜幼苗为试材,分别用SA和硫氢化钠(NaHS,H₂S供体)及其清除剂或抑制剂喷撒叶面,以适宜温光下去离子水处理为对照(CK),研究低温(8 ℃/5 ℃,昼/夜)弱光(100 μmol·m^-2·s^-1)下SA和H₂S对黄瓜幼苗光合作用的调控及互作关系。结果表明: SA可明显增强L-/D-半胱氨酸脱巯基酶(LCD、DCD)活性及其mRNA表达,促进内源H₂S产生;NaHS对苯丙氨酸解氨酶和异分支酸合成酶活性、mRNA表达量及内源SA含量影响不大。SA和NaHS可使低温弱光下黄瓜幼苗的光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率明显提高,胞间CO₂浓度显著降低;同时增强核酮糖-1,5-二磷酸羧化酶、Rubisco活化酶、景天庚酮糖-1,7-二磷酸酯酶和果糖-1,6-二磷酸醛缩酶活性及其mRNA表达,促进光合碳同化;提高光下PSⅡ实际光化学效率和暗下PSⅡ最大光化学效率,从而减轻低温弱光胁迫对黄瓜幼苗的光合机构的损伤和生长量的影响。H₂S清除剂次牛磺酸(HT)可使SA对低温弱光下黄瓜幼苗的光合作用和生长促进效应明显减弱,而SA抑制剂多效唑和氨基茚磷酸对H₂S诱导的黄瓜幼苗光合机构对低温弱光的耐受性无显著影响,说明H₂S作为SA的下游信号,参与调控低温弱光下黄瓜幼苗的光合作用。     

解磷菌对设施土壤金属元素有效含量及黄瓜秧苗金属元素吸收量的影响

通过向设施土壤中添加解磷菌和秸秆,达到活化土壤中作物所需金属元素的含量,促进作物对中微量元素吸收的目的。试验设置对照、秸秆、解磷菌、解磷菌+秸秆4个处理,在不同时间测试土壤及秧苗中钙、镁、铜、铁、锌等的含量,确定解磷菌及秸秆对设施土壤金属元素含量及黄瓜秧苗吸收量的影响。试验结果表明,秸秆、解磷菌、秸秆+解磷菌处理能明显增加黄瓜秧苗吸收钙、镁、铁、铜的能力,对锌的吸收没有影响,其中秸秆+解磷菌处理对黄瓜秧苗吸收钙、镁、铜影响最大,促进作用分别达到6.26%、8.25%和11.57%,3种处理对设施土壤中有效钙、镁、铁的含量没有影响,但是能明显提高土壤中有效铜、锌的含量,盛果后期有效铜含量分别比对照提高12.19%、15.41%、16.49%,盛果后期有效锌含量分别比对照区提高38.8%、33.26%、56.81%。     

Microbial interactions associated with secondary cucumber fermentation

Aims

To evaluate the interaction between selected yeasts and bacteria and associate their metabolic activity with secondary cucumber fermentation.

Methods and Results

Selected yeast and bacteria, isolated from cucumber secondary fermentations, were inoculated as single and mixed cultures in a cucumber juice model system. Our results confirmed that during storage of fermented cucumbers and in the presence of oxygen, spoilage yeasts are able to grow and utilize the lactic and acetic acids present in the medium, which results in increased brine pH and the chemical reduction in the environment. These conditions favour opportunistic bacteria that continue the degradation of lactic acid. Lactobacillus buchneri, Clostridium bifermentans and Enterobacter cloacae were able to produce acetic, butyric and propionic acids, respectively, when inoculated in the experimental medium at pH 4·6. Yeast and bacteria interactions favoured the survival of Cl. bifermentans and E. cloacae at the acidic pH typical of fermented cucumbers (3·2), but only E. cloacae was able to produce a secondary product.

Conclusions

The methodology used in this study confirmed that a complex microbiota is responsible for the changes observed during fermented cucumber secondary fermentation and that certain microbial interactions may be essential for the production of propionic and butyric acids.

Significance and Impact of the Study

Understanding the dynamics of the development of secondary cucumber fermentation aids in the identification of strategies to prevent its occurrence and economic losses for the pickling industry.     

Intercropping cucumber with amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.) to suppress populations of major insect pests of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

A study was conducted in 2007 and 2008 to investigate the effectiveness of grain amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.) planted at different times in an amaranth/cucumber intercrop to reduce the density of cucumber insect pests. Cucumber varieties, Marketmore and hybrid F_1, were established from seed as a monocrop or intercropped with amaranth, and with amaranth established at two weeks before cucumber (2 WBC) on the same day as cucumber (SDC) or two weeks after cucumber (2 WAC). The population of cucumber beetles and fruit flies was lower with amaranth established 2 WBC and SDC than with 2 WAC. Populations of the insects were influenced by cropping system and time of introducing amaranth. Fruit damage by cucumber beetles and fruit flies was lower with 2 WBC and SDC than with 2 WAC. However, the damage was reduced in the intercrop compared with the monocropped cucumber. With SDC, the reduction was about 75 and 50% in 2007 and 2008, respectively. In intercrops and monocrops, cucumber fruit yield was influenced by the time of inter-cropping; in the mono- and inter-crop, the highest yield was with SDC. The highest land equivalent ratios for cucumber were 1.0 and 0.7 in 2007 and 2008, respectively, with SDC. Planting amaranth and cucumber on the same day (SDC) achieved effective control of cucumber insect pests.     

Serological detection of yam viruses in farmers' fields in Ogun State,Nigeria

A field survey was conducted in eight local government areas (LGA) of Ogun state, Nigeria to assess the incidence of viral diseases of yams in the areas. Leaf samples were collected from 90 yam plants which were either symptomatic or asymptomatic. These were bulked into 45 during serological tests and the viruses indexed include yam mosaic virus (YMV); Dioscorea alata bacilliform virus (DaBV) and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). DaBV was the most prevalent virus on the field with incidence of 48.9% (22/45) followed by YMV which occurred in 42.2% (19/45). CMV had the lowest percentage of incidence; 2.2% (1/45). Of all the LGAs visited, Abeokuta north and Abeokuta south had the highest incidence of YMV and DaBV, respectively. Mixed virus infections were also detected.     

Evidence for matrotrophy in the viviparous sea cucumber Leptosynapta clarki: A role for the genital haemal sinus?

Summary

Viviparity, where the embryos develop in the female reproductive system, is a rare form of reproduction in marine invertebrates, being described in only 14 species of echinoderm. In the intraovarian brooding sea cucumber, Leptosynapta clarki Heding 1928 (cf., Sewell et al. 1995), we used direct evidence (changes in energetic content) to show that significant additional nutrients are provided to the embryos during viviparous development (matrotrophy). In the transition from a structure used to produce gametes to a long-term brooding structure there are visual, histological and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) changes in the structure of the ovarian wall. Changes occur primarily in the cells of the visceral peritoneum and involve an increase in size of the connective tissue/genital haemal sinus (CT/GHS). In the latter part of the brooding period the visceral peritoneum returns to a flattened form, and new oocytes develop along the tubule wall. Similar changes in the intraovarian brooding sea cucumber Oneirophanta mutabilis affinis lead us to suggest that there is a role for the genital haemal sinus in providing nutrition during the brooding period in viviparous echinoderms. Future research is suggested to focus on changes in the ovarian wall structure during the different phases of reproduction (gamete production/brooding) in these species.     

南美斑潜蝇为害对黄瓜体内4种防御酶活性的影响

植物对昆虫取食产生的防御反应,在昆虫与植物相互作用关系中起着重要的作用。为明确南美斑潜蝇Liriomyza huidobrensis(Blanchard)取食与植物防御之间的作用关系,本文分别测定了南美斑潜蝇幼虫持续为害1、3、5、7及9d后黄瓜叶片中苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)、多酚氧化酶(PPO)、过氧化物酶(POD)及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性的变化。结果表明：在南美斑潜蝇幼虫持续取食下,PAL、PPO、POD和SOD等4种酶活性显著上升;PAL、PPO和POD等3种酶活性随受害程度的加重而上升幅度加大,即重度受害>轻度受害>系统对照>健康对照,而SOD活性变化没有规律。在系统对照黄瓜叶片中,PAL、PPO、POD和SOD等4种酶活性最大值分别在第5、1、5和5d;在轻度受害黄瓜叶片中,PAL、PPO、POD和SOD等4种酶活性最大值分别在第5、9、5和9d;在重度受害黄瓜叶片中,PAL、PPO、POD和SOD等4种酶活性最大值分别在第7、7、5和5d。黄瓜叶片受害后,POD和PPO活性上升幅度较大,PAL和SOD活性上升幅度较小,说明POD和PPO对取食胁迫响应比PAL和SOD更灵敏。