Allozyme diversity in the endangered pitcher plant Sarracenia rubra ssp. Alabamensis (Sarraceniaceae) and its close relative S. rubra ssp. rubra

Genetic variability in the federally endangered pitcher plant Sarracenia rubra ssp. alabamensis was assessed in eight Alabama populations using starch gel electrophoresis. Ten populations of the more widespread Sarracenia rubra ssp. rubra were sampled in the southeastern United States for comparison. Fifteen allozyme loci representing 13 enzyme systems were scored for each species. In contrast to S. oreophila and S. jonesii, two previously analyzed endangered pitcher plants, genetic diversity was high for both S. rubra subspecies. Within ssp. alabamensis the percentage polymorphic loci (Ps) was 80.0, the mean number of alleles per polymorphic locus was (APs) = 2.58, and expected heterozygosity (Hes) was 0.209. Genetic diversity was slightly lower for ssp. rubra (Ps = 73.3, APs = 2.91, and Hes = 0.177). The proportion of total genetic diversity found among populations was fairly low for both species (GST = 0.09 for ssp. alabamensis and 0.14 for ssp. rubra). Little genetic divergence has occurred between the two subspecies as indicated by the lack of diagnostic alleles, the proportion of total genetic diversity between taxa (GST = 0.09), and the genetic identity estimate (I = 0.90). The relatively high genetic diversity found for ssp. alabamensis indicates that the maintenance of its evolutionary potential is possible if population sizes are maintained or increased. Low levels of genetic diversity found within small Georgia ssp. rubra populations indicate that genetic erosion may increase extinction risks for these populations.     

SEQUESTRATION,PERFORMANCE, AND FUNCTIONAL CONTROL OF CRYPTOPHYTE PLASTIDS IN THE CILIATE MYRIONECTA RUBRA (CILIOPHORA)1

Myrionecta rubra (Lohmann 1908, Jankowski 1976 ) is a photosynthetic ciliate with a global distribution in neritic and estuarine habitats and has long been recognized to possess organelles of cryptophycean origin. Here we show, using nucleomorph (Nm) small subunit rRNA gene sequence data, quantitative PCR, and pigment absorption scans, that an M. rubra culture has plastids identical to those of its cryptophyte prey, Geminigera cf. cryophila (Taylor and Lee 1971, Hill 1991). Using quantitative PCR, we demonstrate that G. cf. cryophila plastids undergo division in growing M. rubra and are regulated by the ciliate. M. rubra maintained chl per cell and maximum cellular photosynthetic rates (P_max^cell) that were 6–8 times that of G. cf. cryophila. While maximum chl‐specific photosynthetic rates (P_max^chl) are identical between the two, M. rubra is less efficient at light harvesting in low light (LL) and has lower overall quantum efficiency. The photosynthetic saturation parameter (E_k) was not different between taxa in high light and was significantly higher in M. rubra in LL. Lower Chl:carbon ratios (θ), and hence P_max^C rates, in M. rubra resulted in lower growth rates compared with G. cf. cryophila. G. cf. cryophila possessed a greater capacity for synthesizing protein from photosynthate, while M. rubra used 3.2 times more fixed C for synthesizing lipids. Although cryptophyte plastids in M. rubra may not be permanently genetically integrated, they undergo replication and are regulated by M. rubra, allowing the ciliate to function as a phototroph.     

The peel of plantain and cooking banana fruits

The peel of the plantain and cooking banana fruit protects the edible pulp from the surrounding environment. The peel of those cultivars examined contained 85–90% water and between 28 and 60 mg dry weight cm^-2 surface area. The ratio of fruit pulp to peel fresh weights differed between cultivars (1.18-2.28). The surface area of the fruit can be determined from the fresh weight using regression equations for individual cultivars or for all cultivars combined. The stomatal density was generally higher at the fruit tips than at the mid region. Significant differences in stomatal length and density were identified between cultivars although no trends existed between plantains and cooking bananas. There was little difference in the quantity of epicuticular wax on plantains whereas there were differing amounts on cooking bananas. Differences in wax composition between cultivars and for wax extracted with hot or cold chloroform were identified. Removal of the epicuticular wax with chloroform accelerated the rate of weight loss. The use of hot chloroform increased both the amount of wax removed and also the rate of weight loss. The effect of removing the epicuticular wax on water loss is discussed and illustrated with scanning electron micrographs.     

Unexpected reactions of a generalist predator towards defensive devices of cassidine larvae (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

Studies of multitrophic interactions show that insect faeces may act as a defensive device against predators, as kairomone source for attraction of antagonists and as a significant energy source for micro-organisms. In the present study, we investigated effects of larval faeces from leaf beetles of the subfamiliy Cassidinae towards a generalist predator, the ant Myrmica rubra. Most cassidine larvae collect their faeces together with exuviae as so-called abdominal defensive shields on two movable spines at the posterior tip. The effects of these abdominal shields towards M. rubra were studied in three cassidine species, which feed mono- or oligophagously upon tansy (Chrysanthemum vulgare): Cassida denticollis and C. sanguinosa which possess such faecal shields and, for comparison, C. stigmatica with shields made of exuviae only (=skin shield). Bioassays revealed that larvae with both faecal and skin shields were attacked by the ant M. rubra more often than larvae whose shields had been removed. This attractiveness of shields towards ants contrasts with other studies, which found that abdominal shields of chrysomelid larvae act as defensive mechanisms against generalist predators like ants. To characterize the attractive cues of the shields, we studied possible chemical and physical stimuli. Olfactometer bioassays with M. rubra and chemical analyses revealed that plant-derived volatiles from faecal shields of C. denticollis attracted the ant, whereas odour from skin shields of C. stigmatica did not. Skin shields also emitted volatiles which derived from tansy, but in much lower quantities. Exclusion of contact to surface chemicals of a faecal shield reduced the ants' aggressive behaviour, whereas a change in the moisture content of a faecal shield had no influence. Visual stimuli cannot be ruled out as enhancing the ants' reaction towards faecal shields with their attractive volatiles, and are suggested to play a major role in the ants' response towards skin shields. This novel attractive effect of the abdominal shields of cassidine larvae is discussed, especially with respect to host plant chemistry and possible functions of the shields that might outweigh the negative consequences of the attraction of the predator M. rubra. Received: 22 June 1998 / Accepted: 2 November 1998     

全光和遮阴下两种亚热带木本植物的光合作用对光的响应

以气体交换和调制叶绿素荧光测定技术测定了2年生亚热带乔木黧蒴,林下灌木九节在全自然光和17％自然光下叶片同部位的光合作用和与之相关的荧光参数的日变化。和全光照比较,遮阴下植物叶片净光合速率Pn,气孔导度gs,胞间CO2浓度与大气CO2浓度之比Ci/Ca,类胡萝卜素与叶绿素含量之比Car/Chl,光系统Ⅱ原初光[化学效率Fv/Fm 的变化幅度相对较小,种间差异较不明显,全光照黧蒴和九节Pn的口变化图式与gs,Ci/Ca类似,与Φpsll,qp的下降吻合。全光下黧蒴叶片qN和Car/Chl的口进程表现为增加,九节则下降,低的Car/Chl可能是导致强光下九节未能提高其qN的原因,正午前后,黧蒴qN和Car/Chl增大,而qp和Φpsll降低,Fv/Fm则保持相对稳定,反映其开放的PSII反应中心数目在此期间虽有所减少,但仍然维持了较高的光化学效率,提高的Car/Chl和qN则说明其肯有较强的对过剩激发能的耗散能力,此条件下九节的gs,Fv/Fm和qN下降且明显低于黧蒴,Φpsll和qp保持相对稳定但高于黧蒴的水平,表明九节的PSII反应中心活性较稳定,但强光下气孔部分关闭,较低的Fv/Fm和qN限制了CO2供应和对光能的有效利用,且未能诱导热能耗散机制的积极运行及对光合器起到保护作用。总体上说,九节对高光强反应比黎蒴敏感。     

补增UV—B辐射对香蕉叶片光合作用和叶氮在光合碳循环组分中分配 …

补增UV -B辐射的香蕉叶片光下呼吸速率 (Rd)和不包括光下呼吸的CO2 补偿点 (г ) ,分别为0 .33μmol·m- 2 ·s- 1 和 46.5μl·L- 1 ,较对照植株分别高 5.6%和 1 0 .0 %。在较高CO2 浓度 (>340 μl·L- 1 )条件下的An/θp关系最初直线部分斜率 ,即表观量子产率 (αA)为 0 .0 2 3± 0 .0 0 7,而补增UV B辐射处理的植株则降低 1 3.0 % ,光能转换效率 (δ)亦降低 2 8.6% ,表明UV B辐射明显降低αA 和δ。在高θp(1 1 0 0 μmol·m- 2 ·s- 1 )和Ci<2 0 0 μl·L- 1 条件下 ,对照植株的An/Ci关系为An =0 .0 2 8Ci 1 .44,补增UV B辐射处理的植株则为An =0 .0 2 1Ci 1 .0 1 ,UV B辐射降低羧化限制速率。最大羧化速率 (Vcmax)和电子传导速率的光饱和值 (Jmax)亦较低 ,补增UV B辐射的叶片 ,叶氮在Rubisco的分配系数 (PR)和叶氮在生物力能学组分的分配系数 (PB)分别较对照低 8.1 %和 3.0 % ,叶氮分配到类囊体膜捕光色素蛋白组分的则略见增高 ,UV B辐射降低叶氮在光合循环组分的分配     

A simple procedure for the isolation of high quality RNA from ripening banana fruit

Isolation of high quality RNA from ripening banana fruit tissue is difficult due to high levels of polysaccharides and other substances that interfere when using conventional procedures for RNA isolation. These substances not only decrease the yield but the quality of RNA is almost unusable. We describe here a simple RNA procedure that effectively removes these contaminating substances without affecting the yield. Following this procedure, we routinely obtained 80–150 μg of total RNA per g fresh tissue. The RNA is of good quality and suitable for northern analysis, RT-PCR and cDNA library construction. NBRI publication No. 488(NS).     

Analysis of the expression of outer-membrane proteins in Neisseria meningitidis in iron-replete and iron-deficient media

Fusions to the beta-lactamase (bla) gene were employed to analyze the presence of localization information in the mature part of OmpC, a major pore-forming outer membrane protein in Escherichia coli K-12. Six translational ompC-bla gene fusions were constructed, the shortest of them containing only part of the ompC signal sequence and the largest approximately 90% of the sequence encoding mature OmpC protein. Export of the hybrid proteins to a non-cytoplasmic location was a prerequisite for ampicillin resistance. Localization of the hybrid proteins by cell fractionation and solid phase iodination of whole cells suggested that the exported hybrid proteins possibly interacted with the outer membrane in vivo. No specific sequence of the mature OmpC protein, however, was found to promote this interaction.