Lipolytic and peroxidative enzyme expressions in cultured potato tuber cells

Potato cells (cv. Norchip) were cultured from tuber parenchymal tissue and subcultured to dissociate and habituate the despecialized cells. After several subculturings on a minimal nutrient media, this line of cells demonstrated repeatable physical growth profiles for dry weight (DW), fresh weight (FW) and protein. Two enzymes of plant lipid metabolism were investigated, lipolytic acyl hydrolase (LAH) and lipoxygenase (LOX), which respectively liberate and peroxidize fatty acids from lipid in cellular membranes. LAH, measured as p-nitrophenyl palmitate hydrolase, was present in this line of cells in easily detectable amounts (317 units g^-1 DW) albeit much lower than that found in mother tuber (9878 units g^-1 DW). The presence of LAH in this line is significant because LAH isozymes are often described as storage proteins, yet activity per gram fresh weight in these unorganized cells is reasonably constant until culture growth exits the linear phase. However, LOX, the most active free fatty acid metabolizing enzyme in potato tubers (89,800 units g^-1 DW), was not detectable in this line of callus or suspension cultured cells. The absence of LOX activity in this line of cells was verified by a number of assay approaches and was confirmed by activity staining of extracted enzymes separated in polyacrylamide gels. The absence of LOX in these cultured cells is especially important in determining the functions of this lipid peroxidation system and how it may be genetically regulated.Mention of company or trade name does not imply endorsement by the United States Department of Agriculture over others not named.A laboratory cooperatively operated by the Midwest Area, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, The Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, the North Dakota Agrcultural Experiment Station, and the Red River Valley Potato Grower's Association.     

In vitro adventitious root induction in Antirrhinum majus L.

A broadly applicable method for the successful induction of root systems in a number of cultivars of A. majus has been determined. This involves a double filter-paper bridge with a liquid medium for root induction and allows the transfer of culture-grown plantlets to a glasshouse environment with minimal disturbance to the plant as a whole. 100% survival of transferred plantlets has been achieved with the inclusion of a few simple precautions upon shoot transfer and during the initial stages of plant establishment in vivo.     

Freeze-preservation of buds from Scots pine trees

A procedure has been developed for freeze-preservation of buds of the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Instead of liquid nitrogen, cold storage in –80°C was used. The partly dormant material used in the experiments was obtained directly from a natural stand in Northern Finland and no prefreezing or cryoprotectants for preconditioning were used. Cooling velocity was 1°C/min up to a terminal freezing temperature of –39°C, after which the buds were immersed in liquid nitrogen at –196°C for 10 minutes. The material was then transferred to a deepfreezer at –80°C and stored up to 6 months. After rapid thawing, the buds were sterilized and their viability was tested by FDA staining and by culturing meristems on 1/2 MS medium for at least two weeks. All the freezing experiments were performed during March and April. The best survival of buds (90–100%) was achieved at the beginning of April, after which a pronounced decline in survival occurred obviously due to a rise in the water content of the buds.     

Adventitious shoot formation in cultures of 30-year-old Larix decidua,L. leptolepis,L. eurolepis,and L. laricina trees

Primordial shoot explants excised from buds of one Larix decidua tree, about 30 years old, produced more adventitious buds, elongating into shoots, when grown on half strength Litvay medium than when grown on other basal media. Thidiazuron and N₆-benzyladenine (BA) were equally effective in adventitious bud induction. In a comparative study of 30-year-old L. decidua, L. leptolepis, L. eurolepis, and L. laricina trees, explants from L. eurolepis and L. decidua produced a high number of cultures with adventitious buds that elongated into shoots; those from L. leptolepis were less productive, and those from L. laricina failed to form adventitious buds. The highest response was obtained with material collected in August and September, and in March and April; the lowest response occurred in explants from the October collection.     

Non‐pathogenic association of L‐form bacteria (pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola) with bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and its potential for biocontrol of halo blight disease

L‐forms of the halo blight pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae phaseolicola, were maintained in a medium which suppressed cell wall synthesis. These L‐forms, unlike revertants (walled forms derived from unstable L‐forms) and cell walled (parent) organisms, did not elicit a hypersensitive response in tobacco leaves. Association of L‐forms with Phaseolus vulgaris was established by seed imbibition in L‐form suspensions compared with appropriate control treatments (5% mannitol or heat‐killed cells). Seedling emergence and plant growth was not affected by L‐form imbibition. The association was detected by agglutination assays using polyclonal antibody. The L‐form association was localized to the lower shoot tissue and was progressively lost with age of plants. Plants with associated L‐forms had vigour and shoot weights equivalent to controls and showed no disease symptoms. The cell walled form could not be isolated from plants showing positive agglutination. On challenge with the pathogen, plants associated with L‐forms showed significantly less disease symptoms than controls. Stem extracts, from associated plants, were inhibitory to in vitro cultures of both L‐forms and parent forms of Ps. syr. phaseolicola. These results indicate that L‐form associations confer induced systemic resistance to bean plants and might be developed as novel biocontrol systems.     

Frontiers in mycoplasma pathogenicity

Four different strains ofLactobacillus delbrueckii subsp.bulgaricus (Ss₁ and Yop₁₂) andStreptococcus salivarius subsp.thermophilus (Ss₂ and Yop₉) were isolated from two different yogurt sources in Argentina. In medium containing different carbon sources: lactose, fructose, sucrose or glucose plus fructose, the growth of a mixed culture (Yop₁₂+Ss₂) shows stimulation ofS. thermophilus and inhibition ofL. bulgaricus with respect to pure cultures. Both microorganisms in mixed culture grew less well on glucose plus galactose. However, in medium with glucose or galactose, both microorganisms were stimulated.     

石灰菌代谢产物的化学研究(Ⅰ)

从石灰菌(Lactarius hysginus Fr.)提取物的中性部分,分离得到六个化合物,经物理常数和光谱分析,鉴定为麦角甾醇(A)、硬脂酸甲脂(B)、N-苯基-2-萘胺(C)、24E-麦角甾7,22-二烯-6-酮一3β,5α-二醇(D)、庚酰胺(E)、24E-麦角甾-7.22-二烯-3β,5α,6β-三醇(F),其中化合物D作为天然产物尚未见文献报道。     

In vitro activity of 15-azasterol (A25822B) against chalkbrood pathogen Ascosphaera apis in the honey bee

The antifungal agent 15-azasterol A25822B was examined for effects on the growth and development of Ascosphaera apis. The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of azasterol against A. apis was 1 m. Growth and development of A. apis was completely controlled at this concentration. At a concentration of 0.01 m growth of A. apis was retarded and although sporocysts were formed developing spores were not be able to reach maturation. A major effect of azasterol at this low concentration was the accumulation of lipid in the hyphae, sporocysts and immature spores. In addition it caused a conformational change in mitochondria and damage to the spore membrane structure. On the basis of these results, further investigations of azasterol for the treatment of chalkbrood disease in the honey bee are warranted.Work was performed during sabbatical leave at the University of California, Davis.     

Nitrate and ammonium absorption by plants growing at a sufficient or insufficient level of phosphorus in nutrient solutions

Summary Absorption of nitrate and ammonium was studied in water culture experiments with 4 to 6 weeks old plants of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum L. Moench) and rape (Brassica napus L.). The plants were grown in a complete nutrient solution with nitrate (5.7±0.2 mM) or nitrate (5.6±0.2 mM) + ammonium (0.04±0.02 mM). The pH of the nutrient solution was kept at 5.0 using a pH-stat. It was found that phosphorus deficiency reduced the rate of nitrate uptake by 58±3% when nitrate was the sole N source and by 83±1% when both nitrate and ammonium were present. The reduction occurred even before growth was significantly impeded by P deficiency. The inhibition of the uptake of ammonium was less,i.e. ammonium constituted 10±1% of the total N uptake in the P sufficient plants and 30±5% in the P deficient plants. The reduction of nitrate absorption greatly decreased the difference between the uptake of anions and cations. It is suggested that P deficiency reduced the assimilation of NO ₃ ^– into the proteins, which might cause a negative feedback on NO ₃ ^– influx and/or stimulate NO ₃ ^– efflux.