Drought tolerance of apple rootstocks: Production and partitioning of dry matter

The drought tolerance of the commercial apple ( Malus domestica Borkh.) rootstocks M9, M26, M27 and MM111, and some new selections from the rootstock breeding programme at HRI-East Malling (AR69-7, AR295-6, AR360-19, AR486-1 and AR628-2), was assessed using potted, glasshouse-grown, unworked rootstocks. After an initial period of growth under well-watered conditions the amount of irrigation was gradually reduced, for some treatments, to simulate natural drying in the soil. At the end of a six-month growth period, the rootstocks were harvested and the production of dry matter and its partitioning to various plant parts determined. The rootstocks exhibited large differences in shoot and root dry matter, and root length but not all the rootstocks showed declines in root mass or length in response to the droughting treatment. The dwarfing rootstocks tended to have smaller amounts of both coarse (>2 mm diameter) and fine roots (<2 mm diameter), than the more vigorous rootstocks. Irrespective of rootstock or irrigation treatment there was a close linear relationship between coarse and fine root. There was also no change in the length/weight relationship for fine roots irrespective of rootstock or irrigation treatment, i.e. 42 m of fine root weighed 1 g dry weight. In some cases the amount of root produced could be directly correlated with the rootstock known potential to control scion vigour, but this was not true for all the rootstocks examined. The absence of this relationship was particularly evident in some of the new selections of rootstock. The possible causes for these differences, compared with commercially used rootstocks, is discussed in relation to the origin and parentage of the rootstock selections. Despite this lack of a root length/vigour relationship, the amount of dry matter partitioned to shoot growth reflected the rootstocks' known vigour. The different responses of these rootstocks to drought are discussed along with their implications for understanding the mechanisms by which rootstocks are thought to dwarf scion shoots.     

Quantification of endogenous gibberellins in exudates from fruits of Malus domestica

In exudates from developing apple fruits GA₁, GA₃, GA₄, GA₇, GA₂₀ and GA₃₄ could be identified and subsequently quantified by LC-ESI-MS selected-ion-monitoring analyses on the basis of internal standards. This is the first evidence obtained by mass spectrometrical analysis which demonstrates export of endogenous GAs from the fruits during the period when flower induction occurs. The observed differences in GA₄ export are discussed in connection with biennial bearing.     

抑卵激素对家蝇卵巢周期性发育的调控

抑卵激素是调控家蝇Musca dorncstica vicina卵巢周期性发育的关键因子之一。在家蝇中,当第一个周期的卵母细胞处于卵黄发生期或卵黄发生后期时,其第二个周期的卵母细胞的发育不进入卵黄发生期。本文建立了家蝇抑卵激素的生物测定方法,即用一对卵巢提取物注射1头羽化后12h家蝇,并在羽化后60h观察卵母细胞的发育及卵黄蛋白的沉积情况。抑卵激素的作用首先是延缓了卵母细胞在卵黄发生前期的发育;其次,抑卵激素抑制脂肪体中卵黄蛋白的合成,导致血淋巴中卵黄蛋白含量的下降,从而抑制了卵母细胞的发育。抑卵激素并不抑制卵母细胞对卵黄原蛋白的摄取。卵发育神经激素可以颉抗抑卵激素的抑制作用。抑卵激素无种属特异性。     

Induction of embryogenesis from isolated apple microspores

 We report, for the first time, the induction of embryogenesis and plant formation from isolated apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) microspores in vitro. Different isolation techniques were tested and an optimized protocol was elaborated. Furthermore, the influence of the induction medium and starvation treatment, using different starvation material, temperatures and time, were studied. In addition to embryo induction, the number of multicellular structures per divided microspores was found to be a suitable parameter of assessment and could be used in earlier stages during microspore culture. Although the number of embryos induced in these first experiments is low, the best frequency of embryo induction was shown to be at least twice as efficient as that obtained by anther culture. Received: 9 September 1998 / Revision received: 22 December 1998 / Accepted: 12 January 1999     

家蝇幼虫开发生态工程系统动力学仿真的研究

家蝇（Ｍｕｓｃａｄｏｍｅｓｔｉｃａ）幼虫以营养成分全、蛋白质含量高而逐渐引起人们重视,具有很高的开发利用价值和广阔的前景。系统动力学的发展为研究复杂系统提供了有效途径［１,２］。本文试用系统动力学方法建立家蝇幼虫开发生态工程仿真模型,以期解决这一研究...     

Recombinant expression and characterization of Lucilia cuprina CYP6G3: Activity and binding properties toward multiple pesticides

The Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, is a primary cause of sheep flystrike and a major agricultural pest. Cytochrome P450 enzymes have been implicated in the resistance of L. cuprina to several classes of insecticides. In particular, CYP6G3 is a L. cuprina homologue of Drosophila melanogaster CYP6G1, a P450 known to confer multi-pesticide resistance. To investigate the basis of resistance, a bicistronic Escherichia coli expression system was developed to co-express active L. cuprina CYP6G3 and house fly (Musca domestica) P450 reductase. Recombinant CYP6G3 showed activity towards the high-throughput screening substrates, 7-ethoxycoumarin and p-nitroanisole, but not towards p-nitrophenol, coumarin, 7-benzyloxyresorufin, or seven different luciferin derivatives (P450-Glo™ substrates). The addition of house fly cytochrome b₅ enhanced the k_cat for p-nitroanisole dealkylation approximately two fold (17.8 ± 0.5 vs 9.6 ± 0.2 min⁻¹) with little effect on K_M (13 ± 1 vs 10 ± 1 μM). Inhibition studies and difference spectroscopy revealed that the organochlorine compounds, DDT and endosulfan, and the organophosphate pesticides, malathion and chlorfenvinphos, bind to the active site of CYP6G3. All four pesticides showed type I binding spectra with spectral dissociation constants in the micromolar range suggesting that they may be substrates of CYP6G3. While no significant inhibition was seen with the organophosphate, diazinon, or the neonicotinoid, imidacloprid, diazinon showed weak binding in spectral assays, with a Kd value of 23 ± 3 μM CYP6G3 metabolised diazinon to the diazoxon and hydroxydiazinon metabolites and imidacloprid to the 5-hydroxy and olefin metabolites, consistent with a proposed role of CYP6G enzymes in metabolism of phosphorothioate and neonicotinoid insecticides in other species.     

枯草芽胞杆菌发酵玉米秸秆后对家蝇的饲养效果

作物秸秆是重要的农业资源,为有效利用作物秸秆,本文利用枯草芽胞杆菌发酵玉米秸秆,配制成人工饲料来饲养家蝇。从菌液加入量和发酵天数来考察对家蝇饲养效果的影响,结果表明:枯草芽胞杆菌菌液加入量为3 mL(3.2×10~(11)cfu/mL),发酵天数3d时对家蝇饲养效果较好,幼虫质量为16.91g,与不加菌液的对照组(13.30g)相比存在显著性差异(P0.05)。经过枯草芽胞杆菌发酵和家蝇幼虫处理后,玉米秸秆的纤维素、半纤维素、木质素的绝对含量都显著降低(P0.05)。经过家蝇取食后的饲料残渣,经检测,有机质等均达到国家标准。最优家蝇饲料配方为:枯草芽胞杆菌菌液加入量3mL(3.2×10~(11) cfu/mL),发酵天数3d,玉米秸秆和麦麸各125g,每250g饲料添加初孵幼虫200mg。本研究利用枯草芽胞杆菌发酵玉米秸秆,提高其营养价值,并进一步饲养家蝇,为秸秆的资源化利用和家蝇规模化饲养奠定了基础。     

艾蒿精油对家蝇的忌避及熏蒸活性

应用“Y”型嗅觉仪对家蝇进行了生物测定。结果表明,艾蒿(Artemisia vulgars L．)精油20μL和25μL剂量对家蝇Musca domestica rieina有很强的忌避活性,平均忌避活力分别为86％和88％,显著高于5和10μL剂量。植物精油对家蝇成虫具有很好的熏蒸活性。随着精油浓度的升高和熏蒸时间的延长,试虫的死亡率显著增加。艾蒿精油浓度为20μL／mL时,家蝇成虫的死亡率在24h后即达到100％;对照在24,48,72和96h时家蝇成虫的死亡率分别为0,0,5％和11％。     

The Effect of Plant Polygalaturonase-Inhibiting Protein on the Rate of Oligouronide Formation

The effects of the polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein (PGIP) on the rate of oligouronide formation were studied in a model system containing polygalacturonic acid and polygalacturonase (PG) from the culture medium of phytopathogenic fungi. PGIP preparations were prepared from stored potato tubers and sprouts and also from apple fruits. The PGIP effects on oligouronide synthesis depended markedly on the physiological state of the source plant. Apple cultivars differing in their earliness differed in PGIP effects as well. The PGIP from potato tubers, which were in deep dormancy, suppressed oligouronide formation. The inhibitory PGIP action was decreased after dormancy release and tuber sprouting, which resulted in the oligouronide accumulation. The effects of PGIP from apple fruits on the oligouronide synthesis in the system containing PG from various phytopathogenic fungi were not correlated with tissue damage induced by these fungi. The PGIP effects on oligouronide formation are evident; however, their role in plant-cell processes related to the pectin compound conversions and plant resistance to diseases remains to be elucidated.     

Evaluation of commercial and field‐expedient baited traps for house flies,Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae)

A comparison of nine commercial baited fly traps on Florida dairy farms demonstrated that Terminator traps collected significantly more (13,323/trap) house flies (Musca domestica L.) than the others tested. Final Flight, Fly Magnet, and FliesBeGone traps collected intermediate numbers of flies (834‐2,166), and relatively few were caught with ISCA, Advantage, Fermone Big Boy, Squeeze & Snap, or OakStump traps (<300). Terminator traps collected about twice as many flies (799.8/trap) as FliesBeGone traps (343.8) when each trap was baited with its respective attractant, but when the attractants were switched between the two trap types, collections were significantly lower (77‐108) than was observed with traps baited with their respective attractant. Solutions of molasses were significantly more attractive to house flies than honey, maple syrup, or jaggery (date palm sugar). Field‐expedient traps constructed from discarded PET water bottles were much less effective than commercial traps, but painting the tops of such traps with black spray paint resulted in a six‐fold increase in trap capture.