The effects of ultraviolet-B radiation on plant competition in terrestrial ecosystems

Evidence regarding the interaction of ultraviolet-B (UV-B, 280-320 nm) radiation and plant competition in terrestrial ecosystems is examined. The competitive interactions of some species pairs were affected even by ambient solar UV-B radiation (as exists without ozone depletion), when compared to control pairs grown without UV-B. Also, the total shoot biomass of these species pairs was depressed under ambient UV-B. Relatively large increases in UV-B radiation (approximating a 40% ozone layer reduction when weighted with the generalized plant action spectrum) altered the competitive interactions of some species pairs grown in pots under field conditions, but did not affect the total shoot biomass production of those pairs. Recent field experiments have examined the competitive interactions of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. cv. Bannock) and wild oat ( Avena fatua L.) under a simulated increased UV-B regime resulting from a 16% ozone layer reduction when weighted with the generalized plant action spectrum. This increase in UV-B altered the competitive interactions of these two species without affecting the total shoot biomass production of the species pair. The manner in which increased UV-B affected the relative competitive abilities of the two species was highly dependent upon the environmental conditions during the early life stages of the plants. The implications of these results for both agricultural and natural plant communities are discussed.     

Interspecific interference between Apoanagyrus lopezi and A. diversicornis, parasitoids of the cassava mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti

The parasitoids Apoanagyrus lopezi De Santis and A. diversicornis (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) have been introduced into Africa for the biological control of the cassava mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). We have studied competition between these species to investigate if they can coexist. Here we report on the influence of the simultaneous presence of non-conspecific adult females on searching efficiency on patches. Wasps of either species foraged on discs of cassava leaf with mealybugs, while at the same time different numbers of non-conspecifics were also depleting the patch. Patch area per parasitoid and number of hosts available to each parasitoid were equal in all treatments.In both species, the presence of other foragers clearly affected several aspects of the parasitoids' behaviour. Patch residence time increased with the number of non-conspecifics in A. diversicornis. In both parasitoid species, the proportion of hosts left unparasitized after the patch visit decreased with increasing numbers of females on the patch. The proportions of super- and multiparasitism did not change with the number of females. Both species produced more offspring during a patch visit in the presence of more non-conspecifics. These behavioural changes did not, however, lead to a change in the offspring production rate on patches. A. diversicornis produced offspring at a rate three times that of A. lopezi when one A. lopezi and one A. diversicornis foraged simultaneously. This is the first report of an aspect of interspecific competition where A. diversicornis has an advantage over A. lopezi. Interference between adult females thus promotes coexistence of the two species on P. manihoti.     

Measuring the toxic effects of high gene dosage on yeast cells

 A novel method, which is rapid, reliable and quantitative, is presented for measuring the toxic effects on yeast cells of high dosage of any given gene. It is based on the possibility of monitoring the presence in cells of a plasmid carrying the ADE2 gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae by direct observation of colonies, the construction of this particular plasmid being easily made by marked homologous recombination in yeast. Four yeast regulatory genes tested were found to result in various degrees of toxicity at high dosage. Possible implications of the measurement of gene toxicity for eukaryotic cell regulatory mechanisms and for the use of novel general approaches to gene selection, such as the gene-gene interference method, are discussed. Received: 18 March 1996 / Accepted: 23 August 1996     

Water and solute transport along developing maize roots

Hydraulic and osmotic properties were measured along developing maize (Zea mays L.) roots at distances between 15 and 465 mm from the root tip to quantify the effects of changes in root structure on the radial and longitudinal movement of water and solutes (ions). Root development generated regions of different hydraulic and osmotic properties. Close to the root tip, passive solute permeability (root permeability coefficient, P_sr) was high and selectivity (root reflection coefficient, _sr) low, indicative of an imperfect semipermeable root structure. Within the apical 100–150 mm, P_sr decreased by an order of magnitude and _sr increased significantly. Root hydraulic conductivity (Lp_r) depended on the nature of the force (hydrostatic and osmotic). Osmotic Lp_r was smaller by an order of magnitude than hydrostatic Lp_r and decreased with increasing distance from the root tip. Throughout the root, responses in turgor of cortical cells and late metaxylem to step changes in xylem pressure applied to the base of excised roots were measured at high spatial resolution. The resulting profiles of radial and longitudinal propagation of pressure showed that the endodermis had become the major hydraulic barrier in older parts of the root, i.e. at distances from the apex ä 150 mm. Other than at the endodermis, no significant radial hydraulic resistance could be detected. The results permit a detailed analysis of the root's composite structure which is important for its function in collecting and translocating water and nutrients.Abbreviations and Symbols CPP cell pressure probe - IT root segments with intact tips; - Lp_r root hydraulic conductivity - Lp_rh hydrostatic hydraulic conductivity of root - Lp_ro osmotic hydraulic conductivity of root - P_app hydrostatic pressure applied to cut end of root - P_c cell turgor - P_{c, cor} turgor of cortical cell - P_c,xyl turgor of late metaxylem vessel - P_ro stationary root pressure - P_r0,seal stationary root pressure of sealed root segment - P_sr solute permeability coefficient of root - RPP root pressure probe - TR root segments with tip removed - _sr reflection coefficient of root Dedicated to Professor Andreas Sievers on the occasion of his retirement     

肝胆显像螯合物—氮基三乙酸单酰苯胺及其类似物的合成

本课题合成四个氮基三乙酸单酰苯胺(IDA)类及其类似物肝胆显像螯合物。(1)用家兔做了肝胆显像扫描实验,其显像效果较好。(2)～(3)为未见报道的化合物。     

Evidence for the Predator Attraction Hypothesis in an amphibian predator–prey system

Many species possess damage-released chemical alarm cues that function in alerting nearby individuals to a predator attack. One hypothesis for the evolution and/or maintenance of such cues is the Predator Attraction Hypothesis, where predators, rather than prey, are the “intended” recipients of these cues. If a predator attack attracts additional predators, these secondary predators might interfere with the predation event, providing the prey with a better chance to escape. In this study, we conducted two experiments to explore this hypothesis in an amphibian predator/prey system. In Experiment 1, we found that tiger salamanders (Ambystoma mavortium) showed a foraging attraction to chemical cues from wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) tadpoles. Salamanders that were experienced with tadpole prey, in particular, were strongly attracted to tadpole alarm cues. In Experiment 2, we observed experimental encounters between a tadpole and either one or two salamanders. The presence of the second predator caused salamanders to increase attack speed at the cost of decreased attack accuracy (i.e., increasing the probability that the tadpole would escape attacks). We also found that the mere presence of visual and chemical cues from a second predator did not affect this speed/accuracy trade-off but did cause enough of a distraction to increase tadpole survival. Thus, our findings are consistent with the Predator Attraction Hypothesis for the evolution and/or maintenance of alarm cues.     

Artificial nanovesicles for dsRNA delivery in spray-induced gene silencing for crop protection

Spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) is an innovative and eco-friendly technology where topical application of pathogen gene-targeting RNAs to plant material can enable disease control. SIGS applications remain limited because of the instability of RNA, which can be rapidly degraded when exposed to various environmental conditions. Inspired by the natural mechanism of cross-kingdom RNAi through extracellular vesicle trafficking, we describe herein the use of artificial nanovesicles (AVs) for RNA encapsulation and control against the fungal pathogen, Botrytis cinerea. AVs were synthesized using three different cationic lipid formulations, DOTAP + PEG, DOTAP and DODMA, and examined for their ability to protect and deliver double stranded RNA (dsRNA). All three formulations enabled dsRNA delivery and uptake by B. cinerea. Further, encapsulating dsRNA in AVs provided strong protection from nuclease degradation and from removal by leaf washing. This improved stability led to prolonged RNAi-mediated protection against B. cinerea both on pre- and post-harvest plant material using AVs. Specifically, the AVs extended the protection duration conferred by dsRNA to 10 days on tomato and grape fruits and to 21 days on grape leaves. The results of this work demonstrate how AVs can be used as a new nanocarrier to overcome RNA instability in SIGS for crop protection.     

基于CRISPR/Cas系统的多重基因编辑与调控技术

规律成簇的间隔短回文重复序列(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, CRISPR)及其相关Cas蛋白所构建的CRISPR/Cas系统是古细菌或细菌中特有的一种获得性免疫系统。研究人员将其开发成基因编辑工具之后,凭借其高效、精准和通用性强等优点迅速成为合成生物学领域的热门研究方向,在生命科学、生物工程技术、食品科学及农作物育种等多个领域引发了革命性的影响。目前基于CRISPR/Cas系统单基因编辑与调控技术日益完善,但在多重基因编辑和调控方面仍存在挑战。本文聚焦基于CRISPR/Cas系统的多重基因编辑与调控技术开发及应用,针对单个细胞内实现多位点基因编辑或调控和细胞群体内实现多位点基因编辑或调控技术,依据作用原理对其进行了系统总结和阐述,包括基于CRISPR/Cas系统的双链断裂、单链断裂以及多重基因调控技术等。这些工作丰富了多重基因编辑与调控的工具,为CRISPR/Cas系统在多领域的应用作出了贡献。     

气候变化导致青藏高原马鹿种群适应性分布退缩：以类乌齐马鹿国家级自然保护区为例

近50年青藏高原的气候变化速率是全球平均值的2倍,对高原有蹄类的种群分布和多样性维持带来严重影响。本研究以西藏类乌齐马鹿国家级自然保护区的马鹿种群为例,通过2013年和2021年对马鹿和牦牛种群数量、分布的调查,并整合了物种分布模型和种群动态模型,评估了当前和未来气候变化及人类活动(放牧、道路、居民点等)对马鹿种群适应性分布的影响。研究表明,马鹿种群在2013—2021年由890头增加到1 400头,根据种群增长模型预计在2050年马鹿种群数量将达到1 735头,但其适宜栖息地在2050年代下降43.4%,2070年代下降5.1%,表明马鹿种群增长与适宜栖息地缩小之间的冲突将不利于马鹿种群的可持续发展。同时,当前马鹿与牦牛栖息地重合率为19%,2050年代为60%,2070年代为37%,且牦牛与马鹿存在食物竞争,这在一定程度上减少了马鹿原有的适宜栖息地。为保护马鹿,建议减少牦牛的饲养量1 000～1 500头。本研究将种群增长模型、种间竞争关系与物种分布模型整合,把气候变化对物种的影响延伸到种群层面,对其他物种的保护具有借鉴意义。     

植物多基因干扰载体体系构建与效用分析

多数重要的功能基因属于多基因家族,这些家族成员间存在功能冗余,高效的多基因干扰体系对研究多基因家族成员的生物学功能及其分子调控机制具有重要意义。对pCAMBIA1301载体改造,构建了适用于植物的多基因干扰体系pCAMBIA1301m和pCAMBIA1301s。使用该多基因干扰体系构建了四基因的干扰载体pCAMBIA1301m：35S∷SlPP2C1-2-3-4,4个目标基因为来源于番茄PP2C家族A组的PP2C1、PP2C2、PP2C3和PP2C4,并通过遗传转化导入番茄,用GUS染色和PCR检测转基因阳性植株,再利用RT-qPCR技术检测T₁和T₂代转基因植株中目标基因的干扰效率,用T₂代种子分析转基因番茄对ABA敏感性。结果表明,应用该干扰体系成功获得了四基因干扰的转基因植株35S∷SlPP2C1-2-3-4。在转基因番茄中4个目标基因的表达量显著低于野生型,其干扰效率均高于70%,转基因番茄种子萌发具有强烈的ABA不敏感性。多基因干扰体系能高效地同时沉默多个目标基因。