Pathogenicity of four Phytophthora Species on Wild Cherry and Italian Alder Seedlings

Inoculation tests were carried out in the greenhouse on wild cherry (Prunus avium) and Italian alder (Alnus cordata) seedlings, to determine their susceptibility to certain Phytophthora species (P. citrophthora, P. alni, P. megasperma and P. cinnamomi) that are commonly present in the soil. Host susceptibility was evaluated in accordance with a disease index, with the lesion length after stem inoculation, and with a root system disease index. Wild cherry was found to be highly susceptible to P. citrophthora, and was also found to be susceptible to P. alni, although to a lesser extent. Italian alder was very susceptible to P. alni, but had only low susceptibility to P. citrophthora. The other Phytophthora species caused only modest symptoms. The danger to alder and wild cherry is all the greater because these trees not only share the same pathogens, but also commonly planted together in mixed stands. The results will now have to be confirmed by using a more natural inoculation method.     

Oviposition in an eruptive moth species, Yponomeuta evonymellus, is insensitive to the population density experienced during the larval period

We studied if the population density experienced during larval development affects the reproductive schedule of Yponomeuta evonymellus L. (Lepidoptera, Yponomeutidae), a moth species characterized by outbreak population dynamics. More specifically, we predicted that reproduction would be delayed to facilitate emigration from sites with suboptimally high densities of conspecifics. We manipulated larval densities in the laboratory, as well as in those pupae collected from the extremes of natural densities. As the response, we also recorded the timing and sizes of egg clutches laid. The results did not support our initial predictions: the timing of oviposition was not dependent on larval growth conditions. This apparent lack of adaptation might be related to the loss of ‘memory’ during metamorphosis in holometabolous insects. However, oviposition schedules were also only minimally sensitive to elevated adult density. An inability to respond to high larval densities may contribute to the outbreak dynamics in this species.     

Genetic variation in the Afromontane tree Prunus africana,an endangered medicinal species

An understanding of the patterns of variation within and among populations of tropical trees is essential for devising optimum genetic management strategies for their conservation and sustainable utilization. Here, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was used to partition variation within and among 10 populations of the endangered Afromontane medicinal tree, Prunus africana, sampled from five countries across the geographical range of the species (Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar and Uganda). Analysis of molecular variance ( AMOVA ) employed 48 RAPD markers and revealed most variation among countries (66%, P < 0.001). However, variation among individuals within populations and among populations within Cameroon and Madagascar was also highly significant. Analysis of population product frequency data indicated Ugandan material to be more similar to populations from Cameroon than populations from Kenya and Ethiopia, while Malagash populations were most distinct. The implications of these findings for determining appropriate approaches for conservation of the species, particularly in Cameroon and Madagascar, are discussed.     

樱胚珠发育调控基因PrseSTK在单瓣与重瓣花中的表达比较

用同源克隆方法,从日本晚樱（Prunus lannesiana）花芽中克隆出了PrseSTK基因的cDNA全长,GenBank登录号为GU332504。其包括1个共669 bp的完整开放阅读框,编码222个氨基酸和1个终止密码子。同源序列比对和分子系统进化分析表明,PrseSTK是拟南芥的STK同源基因,其编码蛋白的C末端拥有2个高度保守模体：AG motif Ⅰ和Ⅱ,属D类MADS-box转录因子。其在花器官中表达的组织特异性分析表明,在单瓣‘大岛樱’中,PrseSTK主要在雄蕊和雌蕊中表达;但在重瓣品种‘普贤像’中,其在萼片、雄蕊和叶化雌蕊中均有表达。其在2个品种4轮花器官中的表达呈现明显的差异,并与拟南芥STK基因表达的组织特异性也有一定的差别;其在花萼中的异位表达可能与重瓣品种萼筒异位子房的发育调控相关。     

Disentangling relationships between habitat conditions, disturbance history, plant diversity, and American black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) invasion in a European temperate forest

Whether non-native plant invasions are causes, consequences, or independent of the low species diversity in recipient ecosystems remains a debated question. We tried to test these three hypotheses in the special case of the American black cherry ( Prunus serotina Ehrh.), a gap-dependent tree species, which is invading European temperate forests. We compared plant communities, soil properties, and disturbance history between P. serotina -invaded and uninvaded paired-stands in a managed mixed forest. Relationships between invasion, disturbances, plant communities, and environmental conditions were investigated using redundancy analyses with variation partitioning. Several soil characteristics differed between paired stands, but were rather components of stand invasibility than invasion effects, except for topsoil available phosphorus. The disturbance history was similar among paired stands except for the amount of storm-induced tree falls, which correlated with the invader's density. Wild boar-disturbed soil areas were more important beneath P. serotina canopies, suggesting a positive feedback on its own establishment. Overall, species assemblages in invaded and uninvaded stands were similar; their ecological inconsistency suggested a management-sustained non-equilibrium. Habitat conditions and disturbances explained most of the variation in both plant diversity and P. serotina density, the last two factors exhibiting a weak direct association. We conclude that in managed forest ecosystems where plant communities are mainly driven by non-interactive factors and immigration processes, non-native plant species can naturalize without being directly influenced by measured features of the plant community in the receiving environment on the short term.     

凯特杏花粉的离体培养及影响因子分析

采用离体培养法,在不同培养基组分含量、pH值、温度及植物生长调节物质的培养条件下,对凯特杏(Prunus armeniacaL.cv Katy)花粉的离体萌发和花粉管生长状况进行观察研究。结果表明:(1)凯特杏花粉离体萌发及花粉管生长的适宜培养基为20%蔗糖 0.04%硼酸 0.01?Cl2,最适pH为6.0,最适温度为20℃,培养20 h后,花粉的萌发率达68.76%,花粉管长度达1 083.53μm。(2)不同植物生长调节物质对花粉萌发和花粉管生长作用不同,赤霉素浓度为5~8 mg/L、矮壮素浓度为10~150 mg/L、多效唑浓度为5~10 mg/L时对凯特杏花粉萌发和花粉管生长都有促进作用,但国光丁酰肼对凯特杏花粉萌发和花粉管生长均有抑制作用。     

欧李自交不亲和S基因的克隆及序列分析

以6株欧李优选株系为实验材料,利用引物EM-PC2consFD和EM-PC3consRD对欧李进行S等位基因的专一性PCR扩增、克隆测序,获得了9个大小不同的序列,经BLAST分析确定为欧李的9个新S基因,分别命名为S1~S9,GenBank登录号依次为EF569602、EF569603、EF577404、EF577405、EF595836、EF595837、EF601047、EF653137、EF653138,并确定了6株欧李优选株系的S基因型。依据欧李的9个新S基因和李属其它S基因构建系统树,聚类结果显示李、杏、梅、欧李、扁桃及甜樱桃种间相互交叉,表明李属果树的S基因起源于共同的祖先;李、杏、梅、扁桃及甜樱桃应归为一个属,即李属;并初步探讨了欧李的分类地位。     

弱光对三年生油桃源叶韧皮组织超微结构的影响

以日光温室内栽培的三年生油桃"早红艳"(Prunus persica L. var. nectarine Ait "Zao Hong Yan")为试材,利用透射电子显微镜(TEM)技术首次对处于正常光照条件和弱光条件下的源叶的韧皮组织进行了超微结构观察,重点研究了叶片超微结构对弱光的响应.结果表明:在正常光照条件下,油桃源叶各级叶脉的筛管和伴胞的平均直径均比弱光条件下的大,表明光能影响细胞的发育,而弱光抑制了细胞的生长.在正常光照下的伴胞具有致密的细胞质,内含丰富的线粒体、内质网、多泡体、囊泡和质体,而弱光下的伴胞明显液泡化,同时含有少量的线粒体和内质网.在弱光条件下也观察到叶绿体基粒片层边缘紊乱,筛孔处于阻塞状态.在弱光下,邻近维管束鞘细胞的叶肉细胞内积累了大量的淀粉粒和少量的线粒体.淀粉粒的积累可能是由于光合同化产物的生产与输出之间的不平衡,这一观察结果有力地支持了大部分叶片是在光照条件下输出其大部分同化产物的观点.在筛管/伴胞、伴胞/韧皮薄壁细胞、韧皮薄壁细胞/韧皮薄壁细胞和韧皮薄壁细胞/维管束鞘细胞之间的胞间连丝密度都在弱光条件下下降,在正常光照强度下支脉筛管/伴胞和韧皮薄壁细胞/维管束鞘细胞之间可以观察到胞间连丝,而在弱光下几乎观察不到胞间连丝的存在,所以同化物的运输在弱光条件下可能以质外体运输为主,而在正常光照强度下,共质体运输可能是主要的运输方式.这些研究结果证明,日光温室内油桃通过源叶韧皮组织超微结构的变化对弱光做出适应性响应.     

Luxury food and ornamental plants at the 15th century a.d. Renaissance court of the Este family (Ferrara, northern Italy)

This paper reports the archaeobotanical data from the so-called Vasca Ducale (Ducal Pit), a brick rubbish pit discovered in the basal floor of the ducal palace of Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy. It was in use during the second half of the 15th century a.d. when the rich and powerful Este family inhabited the palace. Therefore, the results help to investigate the eating customs of a Renaissance court. The pit fill largely consisted of zoological remains, especially small bones and shellfish, with mainly waterlogged plant remains and some artefacts. Though the seed/fruit concentration was not high, a long list of taxa was identified of which the largest part belonged to food and ornamental plants. The data suggest that the pit was used for the disposal of dining waste and floor sweepings. The archaeobotanical data are compared with those obtained from other medieval sites in the city, and with two Renaissance sources of documentary evidence, the frescos in the Salone dei Mesi (Room of the months) in Ferrara’s Palazzo Schifanoia, and the cookbook by Cristoforo da Messisbugo, chef at the Este court. The archaeobotanical record of the Vasca Ducale (Ducal Pit) proved to be quite different from the other sites in Ferrara, especially because of the presence of luxury or exotic foods such as, for example, Punica granatum, Prunus armeniaca and Coriandrum sativum.     

A cherry map from the inter-specific cross Prunus avium ‘Napoleon’ × P. nipponica based on microsatellite, gene-specific and isoenzyme markers

One hundred and sixty microsatellite (simple sequence repeat (SSR)) and six gene-specific markers revealing 174 loci were scored in 94 seedlings from the inter-specific cross of Prunus avium ‘Napoleon’ × Prunus nipponica accession F1292. The co-segregation data from these markers were used to construct a linkage map for cherry which spanned 680 cM over eight linkage groups with an average marker spacing of 3.9 cM per marker and just six gaps longer than 15 cM. Markers previously mapped in Prunus dulcis ‘Texas’ × Prunus persica ‘Earlygold’ allowed the cherry map to be anchored to the peach × almond map and showed the high level of synteny between the species. Eighty-four loci segregated in P. avium ‘Napoleon’ versus 159 in P. nipponica. The segregations of 32 isoenzyme loci in a subset of 47 seedlings from the progeny were scored, using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and/or isoelectric focusing separation followed by activity staining, and the co-segregation data were analysed along with those for 39 isoenzymes reported previously and for the 174 sequence-tagged site loci plus an additional two SSR loci. The second map incorporates 233 loci and spans 736 cM over eight linkage groups with an average marker spacing of 3.2 cM per marker and just two gaps greater than 15 cM. The microsatellite map will provide a useful tool for cherry breeding and marker-assisted selection and for synteny studies within Prunus; the gene-specific markers and isoenzymes will be useful for comparisons with maps of other rosaceous fruit crops. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.