Physicochemical and comparative properties of pectins extracted from Akebia trifoliata var. australis peel

The physicochemical properties of the pectins extracted from Akebia trifoliata var. australis peel with hydrochloric acid and citric acid, namely HEP and CEP, were evaluated as compared with citrus pectin (CP). X-ray diffraction confirmed that CP had more well defined crystal than HEP and CEP. The DE values of HEP, CEP and CP were 59.46%, 76.64% and 71.03%, respectively. CP exhibited the highest viscosity-average molecular weight of 64,848 Da, followed by HEP (45,353 Da) and CEP (28,877 Da). In general, the emulsion activity of HEP and CEP increased as oil concentration was increased, while HEP showed the strongest emulsion activity among the three pectins. Textural analysis demonstrated that the gelling properties of three pectins decreased with increase in pH, and CP displayed superiority in hardness (9.03 g), while CEP was the poorest (1.45 g). All results suggested that A. trifoliata var. australis had the potential in producing pectin for commercial food industry application.     

Prospects of using marine actinobacteria as probiotics in aquaculture

In the present study, optimum culture conditions for the production of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) in submerged culture of an edible mushroom, Laetiporus sulphureus var. miniatus and their stimulatory effects on insulinoma cell (RINm5F) proliferation and insulin secretion were investigated. The maximum mycelial growth (4.1 g l⁻¹) and EPS production (0.6 g l⁻¹) in submerged flask culture were achieved in a medium containing 30 g l⁻¹ maltose, 2 g l⁻¹ soy peptone, and 2 mM MnSO₄·5H₂O at an initial pH 2.0 and temperature 25°C. In the stirred-tank fermenter under optimized medium, the concentrations of mycelial biomass and EPS reached a maximum level of 8.1 and 3.9 g l⁻¹, respectively. Interestingly, supplementation of deep sea water (DSW) into the culture medium significantly increased both mycelial biomass and EPS production by 4- and 6.7-fold at 70% (v/v) DSW medium, respectively. The EPS were proved to be glucose-rich polysaccharides and were able to increase proliferation and insulin secretary function of rat insulinoma RINm5F cells, in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, EPS also strikingly reduced the streptozotocin-induced apoptosis in RINm5F cells indicating the mode of the cytoprotective role of EPS on RINm5F cells.     

Relationship of dehydration rate to drought avoidance,dehydration tolerance and dehydration avoidance of cabbage leaves,and to their acclimation during drought-induced water stress*

Abstract. Drought avoidance due to cuticular control increases with leaf number to a maximum in the intermediate leaves, decreasing to a minimum in the upper leaves. Dehydrated intermediate leaves do not rehydrate detectably when floated on water for several days. Excision of their petioles when submerged, permits full rehydration, presumably via the xylem. Stressing the plant by withholding water for 1–3 weeks fails to increase this already high resistance to water movement through the leaf surface. It does, however, markedly decrease the loss of water from the fully rehydrated (100% RWC) leaves during the first hour of dehydration, presumably due to a more rapid stomatal closure than in the non-stressed leaves. Dehydration tolerance increases with leaf number, without an intermediate maximum. The intermediate and upper leaves were markedly more tolerant of dehydration after drought-induced stress than when non-stressed. Dehydration tolerance in some cases, was inversely proportional to dehydration rate. It was possible, however, to equalize the rates of dehydration of drought-stressed and non-drought-stressed leaves without affecting the greater tolerance of the drought-stressed leaves. Dehydration avoidance by osmotic adjustment was markedly developed in the slowly dehydrated attached leaves of drought-stressed plants, but not in the rapidly dehydrated excised leaves. This is evidence of drought acclimation. It must, therefore, be concluded that the slow dehydration of the drought-stressed plants also leads to the increase in dehydration tolerance by permitting drought-induced acclimation. The overall drought resistance of cabbage leaves depends on the three components: drought avoidance, dehydration avoidance and dehydration tolerance. The latter two increase during acclimation but the cuticular control of drought avoidance does not.     

展毛短柄乌头中的一个新二萜生物碱

从展毛短柄乌头(Aconitum brachypodum var.laxiflorum Fletcher et Lauener)根中分离鉴定了五个二萜生物碱,其中四个为已知成分,分别为乌头碱(aconitine)、3-去氧乌头碱(3-deoxyaconitine)、3-乙酰乌头碱(3-acetylaconitine)、雪乌碱(penduline),另一个为新成分,命名为丽鲁碱(laxiconitine),其结构通过光谱分析及化学反应测定如(1)。     

分株紫萁卵发生的超微结构

用透射电镜对蕨类植物分枝紫萁(Osmunda cinnamamae L. var. asiatica Fernald)卵发牛进行了超微结构的研究。卵发生过程中,许多泡囊不仅移向细胞周围,而且在细胞质膜内排为一列,并通过胞吐作用聚集在细胞质膜外,它们释放或分泌嗜锇物质。观察到少数泡囊内含片层状结构的嗜饿物质紧贴于细胞质膜,似乎将其冲破。与此同时,在卵细胞和颈卵器壁之问形成分离腔,其宽度大于以往报道的真蕨类,在卵细胞质膜外出现额外的卵膜,其宽度大于蕨属和鳞毛蕨属。造粉体被大型常呈三角状半圆形或近椭圆形的淀粉粒所充满,当卵成熟时逐渐减少。核大型平扁状,核内出现2-3对平行的双层膜,紧贴核膜。未发现核外突。线粒体一度似不发育,最后恢复正常。     

新疆杨高效遗传转化系统的建立

选择新疆杨(Populus alba L.var．pyramidalis Bge．)为遗传转化受体材料,为建立根癌农杆菌介导新疆杨高效遗传转化系统,从预培养时间、侵染时间、共培养时间、添加乙酰丁香酮(AS)的时机、共培养培养基中添加乙酰丁香酮浓度、侵染菌液的制备方法、外植体继代方式等7个方面优化筛选。结果显示较合适的转化系统为：预培养8h,农杆菌菌液(OD600=0．4)侵染15min,共培养5d,侵染菌液的最优制备方法是液体培养活化农杆菌2次加离心收集菌体重悬,共培养培养基中添加乙酰丁香酮80μmol／L。新疆杨叶盘转化频率可达38．10％。     

多胺对裸大麦离体叶片活性氧代谢的影响

裸大麦离体叶片分别在光照和暗诱导下,以腐胺(Put)、亚精胺(Spd)和精胺(Spm)等 3种多胺,分别用2 mmol/L、0.5 mmol/L、和 0.2 mmol/L3种浓度处理,均使丙二醛(MDA)累积减少,延缓过氧化氢酶和SOD活性的下降。以 CaCl_2(5 mmol/L)+Spd(0.5mmol/L)处理,可降低Spd(0.5 mmol/L)的效应。因此多胺延缓离体叶片衰老与活性氧代谢有关,并且进入细胞时,与Ca发生竞争。     

Sensitivity of Resistance to Net Blotch in Barley

The aim of this study was to demonstrate various methods of analysing terminal net blotch, Pyrenophora teres Drechs. f. teres Smedeg., severity data from 15 spring barleys, Hordeum vulgare L., grown in Finnish official variety trials in five environments. The analyses have been developed and used principally by plant breeders for assessing crop yield, but lend themselves to use by plant pathologists. Pyrenophora teres is the major barley phytopathogen in Finland and improved resistance to it is sought. Joint regression analysis (JRA) and an additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model were used to investigate the data. Statistically significant genotype by environment (GE) interaction for resistance was indicated, and this included qualitative (crossover) interactions among genotypes over environments. A stable, non-sensitive, response to net blotch over environments, combined with a low mean score for terminal severity of the disease characterized the six-row barley 'Thule' which showed statistically significant crossover interaction only with 'Tyra'. 'Kustaa' exhibited the lowest mean terminal net blotch severity, but was relatively sensitive to net blotch. 'Arve' exhibited severe terminal net blotch in all environments, was relatively sensitive to environment and exhibited no crossover interaction with other genotypes. AMMI analysis appeared to represent a useful method for analysing these disease severity data, facilitating the selection of useful sources of resistance. Plots of AMMI-adjusted mean net blotch severities against first principal component axis (PCA) scores were informative for differentiating genotype response over environments, and are therefore potentially useful to plant pathologists and barley breeders seeking to gauge and subsequently improve the resistance status of barley to net blotch.     

A rhizobia strain isolated from root nodule of gymnosperm Podocarpus macrophyllus

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation of rhizobia and leguminous plants is considered as the most important biologic nitrogen fixation system on earth. Symbiotic nodulafion of gymnosperm Podocarpus macrophyllus and rhizobia has never been reported. In this study, 11 endophytic bacteria strains were isolated from root nodules of P. macrophyllus and its variation P. macrophyllus var. maki. The plant infection tests on these strains indicated that the isolated strains could be nodulated on P. macrophyllus plants, and weak nitrogenase activity of nodules was found in acetylene reduction method. According to the physiological and biochemical characteristics of the 11 strains, GXLO 02 was selected as the representative strain. 16S rDNA full-length sequence analysis of GXLO 02 confirmed that the representative strain GXLO 02 belongs to Rhizobium sp.     

Oviposition behavior of orange wheat blossom midge on low- vs. high-ranked grass seed heads

The discovery of Sm1, a highly effective resistance (R) gene that targets the first instar of the orange wheat blossom midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), has created concerns about wheat midge adaptation. Strategies for delaying adaptation to Sm1 include the simultaneous deployment of a resistance trait targeting a different life stage, i.e., the ovipositing adult female. Previous studies have shown that adult females distinguish between wheat genotypes and seed head developmental stages and are attracted by volatiles from young wheat heads. We focused on what happens after the female lands on the seed head, comparing in three tests a seed head of the high‐ranked pre‐anthesis ‘Roblin’ wheat, Triticum aestivum L. (Poaceae), and a head of one of three lower‐ranked types: post‐anthesis ‘Roblin’, pre‐anthesis ‘Key’ wheat (T. aestivum), and pre‐anthesis ‘Robust’ barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Within each test, high‐ and low‐ranked heads were presented in choice and no‐choice assays, with the behavior of wheat midge females scored every 5 min from 20:30 to 23:00 hours, under mid‐summer natural light conditions and sunset occurring between 20:50 and 21:20 hours. Head type influenced both proportions of females observed on the head and proportions of females probing with the ovipositor. Head*assay interactions occurred only in the test comparing wheat to barley, with barley reducing females observed on the wheat head and wheat increasing females probing on barley. Results indicate that the wheat midge female detects plant cues while examining the seed head and that this detection contributes to differences in egg counts.