Expression of Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA-I′) from elderberry bark in transgenic tobacco plants results in enhanced resistance to different insect species

Tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum cv Samsun NN) have been transformed with the gene encoding the type-2 ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) SNA-I′ from elderberry (Sambucus nigra) under the control of the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S promoter. Previous research confirmed that these plants synthesize, correctly process and assemble a fully active RIP. Variability in protein expression was observed within the transgenic lines. The effects of the type-2 RIP SNA-I′ delivered through a leaf feeding assay were evaluated in the laboratory on two economically important pest insects belonging to the orders of Hemiptera, the tobacco aphid (Myzus nicotianae) and Lepidoptera, the beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua). In the experiment with aphids, significant effects were observed on the life parameters, such as survival, intrinsic rate of increase, net reproductive rate, mean generation time and mean daily offspring, whereas with caterpillars significant reduction in fresh weight as well as retardation in development were observed. In addition, significant increases in mortality were noted for insects fed on the transgenic lines as compared to wild type plants. This information provides further support for RIPs having a role in plant resistance to insect pest species.     

Entomotoxic action of Sambucus nigra agglutinin i in Acyrthosiphon pisum aphids and Spodoptera exigua caterpillars through caspase‐3‐like‐dependent apoptosis

In this project, the toxicity and mechanism of action of the ricin‐B‐related lectin SNA‐I from elderberry (Sambucus nigra) in the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) and the beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), two important pest insects in agriculture, were studied. SNA‐I is a chimeric lectin belonging to the class of ribosome‐inactivating proteins and consists of an A‐chain with N‐glycosidase activity and a carbohydrate‐binding B‐chain. Incorporation of 2 mg/ml of SNA‐I in the diet of neonates and adults of A. pisum caused 40–46% mortality within 2 days, while in third instars of S. exigua, the larval biomass was significantly reduced by 12% after feeding for 3 days on a diet containing 5 mg/g of SNA‐I. Interestingly, extracts of the (mid)gut of treated A. pisum and S. exigua demonstrated DNA fragmentation and this was accompanied with an increase in caspase‐3‐like activity. The involvement of cell death or apoptosis in the entomotoxicity of SNA‐I through induction of caspase‐3‐like activity was also confirmed by addition of the permeable caspase‐3 inhibitor III in the diet, leading to a rescue of the treated aphid neonates. Finally, similar to the chimeric lectin SNA‐I, the hololectin SNA‐II, consisting of two carbohydrate‐binding B‐chains caused high mortality to neonate A. pisum aphids with an LC₅₀ of 1.59 mg/ml, suggesting that the entomotoxic action of the lectins under study mainly relies on their carbohydrate‐binding activity. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Seed Dispersal by a Frugivore Pycnonotus sinensis and the Distribution of Sambucus chinensis

Frugivorous birds play an important role in the distribution of those plants on whose fruits they feed and affect species composition of plant communities. The fruiting phenology of Sambucus chinensis Lindl. in Wuhan area ranges from July to November, while abundant fruits are available in July and August. Although other seven species of frugivores were found in the study area, only Pycnonotus sinensis (Gmelin), a resident bird endemic to China, was observed foraging in the fruits of this plant for the field. Pycnonotus sinensis shifts from eating fruits of Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent. to those of S. chinensis from July to August. Identification of seeds in a total of 658 feces disseminated by P. sinensis which were collected in the field showed that most of the seeds came from S. chinensis and B. papyrifera. Seeds in those feces collected at the end of August were all of S. chinensis. Field investigation of the associations of S. chinensis shows that its frequent companion species are B. papyrifera, Cinnamomum camphora, Ligustrum lucidum and Rubus biflorus, whose fruits are also preferred by this frugivore in different seasons. The distribution of Pycnonotus sinensis is limited to the south of Qinling Mountain in China. The distribution of S. chinensis is basically consistent with that of Pycnonotus sinensis. The result indicates that seed dispersal of S. chinensis depends on the foraging of this frugivore. Likewise, the fruits of S. chinensis are the primary food for this frugivore in autumn. As the result suggests, conservationists and restoration biologists should highlight the study of plant-disperser mutualism in the future work.     

喜旱莲子草和接骨草竞争对模拟增温的响应

研究外来入侵植物与本地植物种竞争对气候变暖的响应, 对于预测未来气候变化背景下入侵植物的入侵趋势、理解其入侵机制以及筛选生态替代种具有重要的意义。以入侵我国的外来植物喜旱莲子草(Alternanthera philoxeroides)和本地植物种接骨草(Sambucus chinensis)为材料, 通过两种植物单栽、纯栽和混栽, 采用红外辐射加热器模拟增温, 研究了两种植物竞争对模拟增温的响应。结果表明: (1)在模拟增温期间(2013年5-12月), 增温组空气平均温度比不增温组提高了0.47 ℃, 相对湿度降低了1.87%; (2)混栽的喜旱莲子草除根冠比与单栽无显著差异外, 其余各生物量和根系形态指标均显著低于单栽喜旱莲子草; 无竞争、种间竞争和种内竞争三种竞争间, 接骨草除根冠比、细根与总根生物量比、比根长和比根表面积无显著差异外, 其余指标均呈现无竞争>种间竞争>种内竞争的趋势; (3)无竞争、种间竞争和种内竞争三种条件下, 喜旱莲子草各指标在增温和不增温处理间差异均不显著, 而接骨草总生物量和根生物量在无竞争和种间竞争条件下增温处理均显著低于不增温处理, 在种内竞争条件下则相反; (4)增温使接骨草的相对拥挤系数降低, 接骨草对温度升高反应敏感, 而喜旱莲子草则表现出一定的适应性。由此推测, 在中度遮阴陆生生境中, 接骨草有望成为喜旱莲子草生物替代控制的材料。     

A remodeling system for the oligosaccharide chains on glycoproteins with microbial endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidases

Endo-M, endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase from Mucor hiemalis, transferred the complex type oligosaccharide of sialoglycopeptide to partially deglycosylated proteins (N-acetylglucosamine-attached proteins), which were prepared by excluding high-mannose type oligosaccharides from glycoproteins with Endo-H, endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase from Streptomyces plicatus. This finding indicated that the high-mannose type oligosaccharides on glycoproteins can be changed to complex type ones by the transglycosylation activity of Endo-M. This is the first report of the establishment of a remodeling system for the different types of oligosaccharides on glycoproteins with microbial endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidases having different substrate specificities. Endo-M is a powerful tool for the in vitro synthesis of glycoproteins containing complex type oligosaccharides from glycoproteins produced by yeast.     

Ethnobotany ofSambucus nigra L. in catalonia (Iberian Peninsula): The integral exploitation of a natural resource in mountain regions

Ethnobotany of Sambucus nigraL. in Catalonia (Iberian Peninsula):The Integral Exploitation of a Natural Resource in Mountain Regions. Economic Botany 58(3):456-469, 2004. We present in this paper data about the popular uses of elder (Sambucus nigra) obtained in two ethnobotanical studies carried out in the districts (comarques) of Pallars Jussà and Pallars Sobirà (Pyrenees) and in the Montseny Massif (Catalan Prelittoral Range), complemented with others from different Catalan regions (also investigated by our group) and compared with those from other Iberian and Mediterranean territories. This bush or small tree belonging to the family Caprifoliaceae is one of the plants that have been most reported and used (for medicinal and other purposes) by the informants, not only in the two regions studied but in all Catalonia and in many Mediterranean areas as well. It is one of the most versatile of plants, being used for food, medicine, crafts and games, as well as for ornamental purposes. In addition, almost every part of the plant, including the bark, roots, leaves, flowers, and fruit, has some uses.     

接骨木化学成分及杀鼠活性初步研究

采用试管预试法初步确定了接骨木茎叶中所含化学成分,研究结果表明,其中含有生物碱、甾体成分、蒽醌及其苷类、三萜皂苷、香豆素及其苷类、酚性成分、鞣质、油脂、黄酮类化合物等化学成分。对接骨木茎叶杀鼠活性的测定表明,饵料中接骨木含量为20％时,对小白鼠的毒杀率为80％;在含量为15％时,毒杀率为30％,在含量为10％时,毒杀率为10％;以家鸡进行二次中毒试验,试验过程中无死亡现象发生．     

叉丝壳属一新变种*

寄生在东北木蓼Atraphaxismanshurica上的叉丝壳属一新变种:多丝木蓼叉丝壳Microsphaeraatraphaxidisvar.pluriappendicis,新变种有中文和拉丁文描述。模式标本保存在中国科学院微生物研究所菌物标本馆(HMAS74212)。     

Staining for viability testing,germination and maturation of Sambucus nigra L. pollen in vitro

Freshly released pollen of black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) was incubated under various culture conditions until germination was achieved. Optimal conditions for germination were determined and used for maturation of unicellular microspores in vitro. Staining with 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, propidium iodide and iodine potassium iodide was used to assess pollen viability, nuclear phase and maturation, respectively. The germination rate was highest when fresh pollen was agitated at 40 rpm in Petri dishes containing a liquid medium consisting of Brewbaker and Kwack salts, 15% (w/v) sucrose, 500 mg/l MES sodium salt, at pH 5.0; germination reached nearly 70% after only 1 h in culture. Under these conditions, and with addition of 200 mg/l glutamine, 260 mg/l cytidine and 500 mg/l uridine, uninucleate microspores developed into mature pollen at a 12% germination rate. Our report is the first demonstration of maturation of S. nigra microspores in vitro.