Targeted expression of SbMATE in the root distal transition zone is responsible for sorghum aluminum resistance

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is one of the major limiting factors for crop production on acid soils that comprise significant portions of the world's lands. Aluminum resistance in the cereal crop Sorghum bicolor is mainly achieved by Al‐activated root apical citrate exudation, which is mediated by the plasma membrane localized citrate efflux transporter encoded by SbMATE. Here we precisely localize tissue‐ and cell‐specific Al toxicity responses as well as SbMATE gene and protein expression in root tips of an Al‐resistant near‐isogenic line (NIL). We found that Al induced the greatest cell damage and generation of reactive oxygen species specifically in the root distal transition zone (DTZ), a region 1–3 mm behind the root tip where transition from cell division to cell elongation occurs. These findings indicate that the root DTZ is the primary region of root Al stress. Furthermore, Al‐induced SbMATE gene and protein expression were specifically localized to the epidermal and outer cortical cell layers of the DTZ in the Al‐resistant NIL, and the process was precisely coincident with the time course of Al induction of SbMATE expression and the onset of the recovery of roots from Al‐induced damage. These findings show that SbMATE gene and protein expression are induced when and where the root cells experience the greatest Al stress. Hence, Al‐resistant sorghum plants have evolved an effective strategy to precisely localize root citrate exudation to the specific site of greatest Al‐induced root damage, which minimizes plant carbon loss while maximizing protection of the root cells most susceptible to Al damage.     

盐胁迫对二色补血草光合生理生态特性的影响

以黄河三角洲贝壳堤岛贝壳沙为基质,及该岛上生长的优势草本植物二色补血草幼苗为材料,用不同浓度的NaCl溶液(0,50,100,200,300mmol/L)模拟盐胁迫处理30d,探讨二色补血草光合生理生态特性对盐胁迫的响应特征。结果表明:二色补血草对盐胁迫和光合有效辐射(PAR)具有较强的适应能力,在盐浓度为50～100mmol/L条件下,其净光合速率(Pn)、瞬时水分利用效率(WUE)、表观光能利用效率(LUE)、羧化效率(CE)、光饱和点(LSP)、表观量子效率(AQY)均达到最高值,光补偿点(LCP)最低,表明其在此盐分范围内,利用光的能力较强,光照生态幅最宽。当盐分浓度为300mmol/L时,其Pn、WUE、LUE、CE、LSP和AQY显著下降,LCP升高,Pn、Tr、Gs、WUE、LUE、CE对PAR的响应曲线与对照差异较大,即高盐胁迫加重了二色补血草对光的敏感性;WUE、LUE、CE的最优PAR和盐分范围存在一定的差异,低PAR下有利于光能的利用,中PAR下有利于水分的利用,高PAR下有利于CO2的利用;WUE对盐分的适应范围最大,CE其次,LUE最小。     

Testes degeneration in ants: a histological study of Gnamptogenys bicolor

Allard, D., Ito, F., Aikawa, Y., Gotoh, A. and Billen, J. 2010. Testes degeneration in ants: a histological study of Gnamptogenys bicolor. —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 92 : 372–376. Sperm synthesis in the males of social Hymenoptera is not continuous, as the testes degenerate before the males become sexually active. This article presents the first histological study focusing on the degeneration of testes tissue, using adult males of the ant Gnamptogenys bicolor. At eclosion, spermatogenesis is still in process in the apical part of the testes, while the basal spermatocysts are all packed with mature sperm. During the second week after eclosion, the first signs of degeneration appear as small clear vacuoles inside the spermatocysts, interspersed between maturing sperm cells. Sperm starts migrating into the vasa deferentia shortly after. As spermatocysts void their contents into the vasa deferentia, the follicles start shrinking and losing their shape and the fibrillar capsule tissue gets looser. Cellular breakdown yields dark vacuoles of various density and large granular, multi‐layered bodies.     

Sodium is the critical factor leading to the positive halotropism of the halophyte Limonium bicolor

Previous studies indicate that the roots of nonhalophytes showed negative halotropism to salt stress to avoid salt damage. However, halotropism of euhalophytes and their possible reasons are little known. Limonium bicolor, a typical recretohalophyte with multicellular salt glands, was used to study halotropism compared with Arabidopsis thaliana under NaCl, KCl and Na₂SO₄ stress. The elongation of the roots in L. bicolor was significantly promoted by the appropriate concentrations of NaCl, KCl and Na₂SO₄, but those of A. thaliana was markedly inhibited. However, isosmotic mannitol with 200?mM NaCl did not affect the root growth of both L. bicolor and A. thaliana. The root activity of both L. bicolor and A. thaliana was enhanced by salts. Compared with K⁺, Cl^–, and SO₄^2?, Na⁺ played a critical role in halotropism of L. bicolor. Furthermore, the gravitropic setpoint angle of L. bicolor increased under NaCl, KCl and Na₂SO₄ treatments compared with controls, and the phenomenon was most apparent under NaCl treatments. The endogenous IAA content of the NaCl-treated L. bicolor seedlings was significantly higher than that of the controls. These results suggest that the recretohalophyte L. bicolor has positive halotropism and Na⁺ plays a pivotal role in L. bicolor’s positive root halotropism by regulating IAA.     

Identification of a New Race of Sporisorium reilianum and Characterization of the Reaction of Sorghum Lines to Four Races of the Head Smut Pathogen

Sporisorium reilianum is the causal agent of head smut on sorghum and maize. In order to effectively utilize host resistance to control this important disease in crops, it is necessary to monitor changes in disease dynamics and virulence of the pathogen. An outbreak of head smut was recently observed in a sorghum field, near Gaoping, Shanxi, China, and research was undertaken to characterize a putative new race of S. reilianum. A set of differential sorghum lines with resistance to several conventional races was used to characterize the newly collected isolate of S. reilianum. The reactions of differential cultivars/germplasm lines to the new isolate indicate that it is a new physiological race of S. reilianum. The new race is highly virulent on sorghum line A₂V4 and its hybrid, Jinza 12, that are known as resistant to all existing Chinese races of S. reilianum, including races 1, 2, and 3. The new isolate of S. reilianum is different from all of the described races of the pathogen; thus, it is designated as race 4 of S. reilianum. Furthermore, a collection of 34 sorghum genotypes including commercial cultivars and germplasm lines was evaluated for disease reaction to the newly described race and the three known races of the pathogen.     

Appendicular skeleton in Bachia bicolor (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae): osteology,limb reduction and postnatal skeletal ontogeny

The osteology of the appendicular skeleton and its postnatal development are described in Bachia bicolor, a serpentiform lizard with reduced limbs. The pectoral girdle is well developed and the forelimb consists of a humerus, ulna, radius, five carpal elements (ulnare, radiale, distal carpals 4–3, centrale), four metacarpals (II, III, IV, V) and phalanges (phalangeal formula X‐2‐2‐2‐2). In the hindlimb, the femur is small and slender, and articulates distally with a series of ossified amorphous and extremely reduced elements that correspond to a fibula, tibia and proximal and distal tarsals 4 and 3. The pelvic girdle consists of ischium, pubis and ilium, but its two halves are widely separated; the ilium is the least reduced element. We describe the ossification and development during postnatal skeletal ontogeny, especially of epiphyseal secondary centres, ossifications of carpal elements, apophyseal ossifications and sesamoids. Compared to other squamates, B. bicolor shows an overall reduction in limb size, an absence of skeletal elements, a fusion of carpal elements, an early differentiation of apophyseal centres, and a low number of sesamoids and apophyseal centres. These observations suggest that the reductions are produced by heterochronic changes during postnatal development and probably during embryonic development; therefore the appendicular skeleton exhibits a pattern of paedomorphic features.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers from three species of swallows in the genus Tachycineta: T. albilinea, T. bicolor and T. leucorrhoa

We describe 30 microsatellite loci developed from three species of swallows in the genus Tachycineta: T. bicolor (tree swallow), T. albilinea (mangrove swallow), and T. leucorrhoa (white‐rumped swallow). These commonly studied birds nest in secondary cavities and are distributed from Alaska to Argentina. Primer pairs were designed for each species individually and tested for cross‐amplification in 40–48 individuals of all three species. Polymorphism ranged from 5 to 65 alleles per locus (mean = 19.1). These markers will allow comparative studies of extra‐pair paternity rates among members of the genus as well as the assessment of population structure.