Intraspecfic variation in cold-temperature metabolic phenotypes of Arabidopsis lyrata ssp. petraea

Atmospheric temperature is a key factor in determining the distribution of a plant species. Alongside this, plant populations growing at the margin of their range may exhibit traits that indicate genetic differentiation and adaptation to their local abiotic environment. We investigated whether geographically separated marginal populations of Arabidopsis lyrata ssp. petraea have distinct metabolic phenotypes associated with exposure to cold temperatures. Seeds of A. petraea were obtained from populations along a latitudinal gradient, namely Wales, Sweden and Iceland and grown in a controlled cabinet environment. Mannose, glucose, fructose, sucrose and raffinose concentrations were different between cold treatments and populations, especially in the Welsh population, but polyhydric alcohol concentrations were not. The free amino acid compositions were population specific, with fold differences in most amino acids, especially in the Icelandic populations, with gross changes in amino acids, particularly those associated with glutamine metabolism. Metabolic fingerprints and profiles were obtained. Principal component analysis (PCA) of metabolite fingerprints revealed metabolic characteristic phenotypes for each population and temperature. It is suggested that amino acids and carbohydrates were responsible for discriminating populations within the PCA. Metabolite fingerprinting and profiling has proved to be sufficiently sensitive to identify metabolic differences between plant populations at different atmospheric temperatures. These findings show that there is significant natural variation in cold metabolism among populations of A. l. petraea which may signify plant adaptation to local climates. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Variation in Response of Wild Lycopersicon and Solanum spp. against Tomato Powdery Mildew (Oidium lycopersici)

A set of 154 accessions of nine wild Lycopersicon spp. and five accessions of three closely related Solanum spp. were tested for resistance to tomato powdery mildew ( Oidium lycopersici ). Screening revealed valuable sources of resistance, mainly among L. hirsutum, L. pennellii, L. cheesmanii, L. chilense, L. peruvianum and L. parviflorum. L. esculentum (all ssp.) and L. pimpinellifolium expressed high susceptibility to O. lycopersici inoculation. Results of variance and cluster analysis of responses to O. lycopersici coincide with recent taxonomic classification and genetic relationships within genus Lycopersicon .     

Engineering Streptomyces tenebrarius to synthesize single component of carbamoyl tobramycin

Aims: To engineer Streptomyces tenebrarius for producing carbamoyl tobramycin as a main component. Methods and Results: The aprH‐M gene fragment (apramycin biosynthetic gene from GenBank) in S. tenebrarius Tt49 was knocked out by genetic engineering to form S. tenebrarius T106 (△aprH‐M). Compared to the wild‐type strain, mutant strain T106 (△aprH‐M) no longer produced apramycin, while mainly synthesize carbamoyl tobramycin. TLC and HPLC‐MS analyses indicated that the mutant strain significantly increased the production of carbamoyl tobramycin. Conclusions: The metabolic flow for the apramycin and its analogues biosynthesis was blocked by disrupting the aprH‐M gene clusters. The aprH‐M gene clusters might be essential for the biosynthesis of apramycin. The mutant strain T106 mainly synthesized carbamoyl tobramycin. Significance and Impact of Study: The mutant T106 mainly produces carbamoyl tobramycin without synthesizing apramycin, which will reduce cost of postextraction from fermentation products. Therefore, it has good prospects for industrial application.     

Abundance,diversity and temporal activity of adult Culicoides spp. associated with cattle in West Bengal,India

Relative abundance, species composition and temporal activity of Culicoides midges were studied for a period of 2 years (2012–2014) using suction ultra violet light traps at two sites located in the agriculture heartland of West Bengal, India. Surveillance in close proximity to cattle recorded predominance of five species with C oxystoma and C. peregrinus as the most dominant species followed by C. fulvus, C. innoxius and C. anophelis. The temporal activity of midges was investigated for seven consecutive nights at one site in August-September, 2012 and the predominant species was Culicoides oxystoma followed by Culicoides peregrinus. All of the species exhibited crepuscular activity with their flight activity increasing from dusk to dawn. Engorged adults constituted dominant age group in collections. Studies on population ecology of the adults midges are of considerable importance predicting for the epidemicity of midge-borne diseases in cattle.     

Seasonal variations of Fusarium species in wheat fields in Upper Egypt

Abstract

Populations of the genus Fusarium in wheat fields were studied within the crop-growing season at Qena area (Upper Egypt) using two different types of media (DCPA and DRBA) at 25°C. Fourteen Fusarium species were isolated during this study, namely F. anthophilum, F. aquaeductuum, F. chlamdosporum, F. dimerum, F. merismoides, F. moniliforme, F. oxysporum, F. poae, F. proliferatum, F. sambucinum, F. scripi, F. solani, F. sporotrichioides and F. subglutinans. Fusarium merismoides, F. oxysporum and F. sambucinum were the most common Fusarium species isolated from different wheat plant parts (rhizosphere and rhizoplane) as well as from the wheat fields (soil and air). Fusarium spp. rarely appeared at the beginning of the season and increased sharply between January to March and decreased slightly or sharply at the end of the season according to the type of media and isolation source.     

羧化壳聚糖在蚊净香草组培中的应用研究

本文研究羧化壳聚糖在蚊净香草组培中的应用。试验结果表明,在诱导培养基中附加2 g/L羧化壳聚糖,有利于提高蚊净香草诱导率;附加4 g/L羧化壳聚糖,试管苗增殖率达6倍,且根系发达。     

The ultimate effect of being cleaned: does ectoparasite removal have reproductive consequences for damselfish clients?

The mutualistic nature of cleaning symbioses has long remainedunconfirmed because of the difficulty in showing net benefitsfor clients. We have previously shown that cleaning gobies (Elacatinusspp.) within territories of Caribbean longfin damselfish (Stegastesdiencaeus) reduce the number of gnathiid isopod ectoparasiteson territory owners. We now investigate whether this benefitof being cleaned has reproductive consequences for male longfindamselfish. The mating success, rate of egg loss, and parentalaggression of 40 nest-guarding males were assessed during sixconsecutive monthly reproductive periods. Ten males had cleaningstations within their territory, 10 males were without cleaningstations, and 20 males initially with a cleaning station hadtheir cleaners removed half-way through the study. Ectoparasiteloads on our focal fish were very low; however, damselfish withcleaning stations still had significantly fewer ectoparasitesthan did fish without cleaning stations. There was, however,no significant difference in the number of eggs, clutches, orarea of clutches received, or in the number of eggs lost beforehatching between damselfish with and without cleaners. We alsofound no difference in parental male aggression between damselfishwith and without cleaners. We conclude that although ectoparasiteremoval appears to have no direct consequence for reproduction,at least for the levels of infestations observed on our studysite, it may still affect other aspects of damselfish fitnesssuch as survival.     

Cloning and identification of saprolmycin biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces sp. TK08046

Saprolmycins A–E are anti-Saprolegnia parasitica antibiotics. To identify the gene cluster for saprolmycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces sp. TK08046, polymerase chain reaction using aromatase and cyclase gene-specific primers was performed; the spr gene cluster, which codes for angucycline biosynthesis, was obtained from the strain. The cluster consists of 36 open reading frames, including minimal polyketide synthase, ketoreductase, aromatase, cyclase, oxygenase, and deoxy sugar biosynthetic genes, as defined by homology to the corresponding genes of the urdamycin, Sch-47554, and grincamycin biosynthetic gene clusters in Streptomyces fradiae, Streptomyces sp. SCC-2136, and Streptomyces lusitanus, respectively. To establish the function of the gene cluster, an expression cosmid vector containing all 36 open reading frames was introduced into Streptomyces lividans TK23. The transformant was confirmed to express the biosynthetic genes and produce saprolmycins by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of the extract.     

Temperature and plant nutrient effects on the development, survival and reproduction of Cinara sp. nov., an invasive pest of cypress trees in Africa

Cinara sp. nov., previously identified as Cinara cupressi (Buckton) (Homoptera: Aphididae), is an important alien aphid pest of cypresses and junipers, and invaded Africa in the late 1980s. The work reported here was carried out as part of a larger programme aimed at the classical biological control of the aphid in Africa. Basic life history attributes including life table statistics of the aphid were quantified in order to facilitate the development of efficient aphid culturing methods and essential baseline information necessary for the culturing of potential parasitoid biological agents prior to selection for introduction to Africa. Developmental rates and fecundity were studied under four constant temperatures (10 °C, 15 °C, 20 °C, and 25 °C). The effects of several plant nutrients (nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus) supplied at different dose levels on life history attributes of Cinara sp. nov. were also studied.Unlike most other aphids, the apterous morph of Cinara sp. nov. developed through only three instars, and the alate four instars. The aphid is highly aggregative and exploits a wide range of feeding sites from young green branches to woody stems. The developmental period of Cinara sp. nov. ranged from 9.3 days at 25 °C to 22.3 days at 10 °C and the developmental threshold was 0.61 °C. Reproduction was delayed, because of the longer duration of development, and nymph production decreased with decreasing temperature. The intrinsic rate of increase ranged between 0.117 at 25 °C and 0.060 at 10 °C. Aphid size increased significantly as temperature was lowered. Wing formation was not induced when apterae were reared for up to three generations at each constant temperature but continuous crowding in the supply cultures held at 21 °C resulted in a high number of alates being formed. No appreciable effects of the different plant nutrients, supplied either singly or in combination, on the duration of instars or overall survival could be detected.