松嫩平原旱生芦苇群落土壤呼吸动态及影响因子

为研究松嫩平原旱生芦苇群落土壤呼吸作用的动态变化及其影响因子,于2011年5—10月采用LI-6400土壤呼吸监测系统对旱生芦苇群落土壤呼吸进行连续野外观测,并分析水热因子对土壤呼吸的影响。结果表明:芦苇群落土壤呼吸具有明显的日变化和季节变化特征;其日变化为明显的单峰曲线,土壤呼吸速率峰值出现在中午11:00—13:00;7和8月芦苇群落土壤呼吸作用最强,10月土壤呼吸作用最弱。影响旱生芦苇群落土壤呼吸的主导因子是温度,土壤呼吸与近地表空气温度以及土壤0～10、10～20、20～30cm温度均有显著相关性(P<0.01),而近地表空气温度和土壤表层温度对土壤呼吸的影响最大。在5—10月芦苇群落土壤呼吸温度敏感性Q10值为1.2～1.65,变异系数为15.4%。土壤含水量和近地表空气相对湿度不是影响该地区芦苇群落土壤呼吸的主要因素。     

Multiple calmodulin-like proteins in Arabidopsis are induced by insect-derived (Spodoptera littoralis) oral secretion

In plant cells, diverse environmental changes often induce transient elevation in the intracellular calcium concentrations, which are involved in signaling pathways leading to the respective cellular reactions. Therefore, these calcium elevations need to be deciphered into specific downstream responses. Calmodulin-like-proteins (CMLs) are calcium-sensing proteins present only in higher plants. They are involved in signaling processes induced by both abiotic as well as biotic stress factors. However, the role of CMLs in the interaction of plants with herbivorous insects is almost unknown. Here we show that in Arabidopsis thaliana a number of CMLs genes (CML9, 11,12,16,17 and 23) are upregulated due to treatments with oral secretion of larvae of the herbivorous insect Spodoptera littoralis. We identified that these genes belong to two groups that respond with different kinetics to the treatment with oral secretion. Our data indicate that signaling networks involving multiple CMLs very likely have important functions in plant defense against insect herbivores, in addition to their involvement in many other stress-induced processes in plants.     

Insecticidal activities of Ginkgo biloba seed coat extracts against Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The present study relates to a methanol extract of the seed coat of Ginkgo biloba, and tested particularly on the third instar larvae of Spodoptera exigua. The extract was found to have an inhibitory effect on the growth of the larvae besides bringing a change in the nutrient reserves in the body of the insect. Topical application of five different doses of the methanol extract resulted in a mortal effect to third instar larvae of S. exigua that is very much dependent on the dose as well as duration of exposure. Lower doses revealed lower mortality after 24 h of application. At doses of 1.00, 2.00, 4.00, 8.00 and 16.00 ng/larva, mortalities were 9.25, 26.07, 50.32, 56.28 and 92.44%, respectively. The dose for 50% mortality (LD₅₀) of methanol extracts by applied by a topical method with 1 µL of acetone solution was 1.92 ng/larva. Nutrient reserves like protein, glycogen and lipid are known to regulate pupation and adult emergence. These reserves have been found to be lower in treated larvae, indicating the insecticidal role of methanol extracts from G. biloba against third instar larvae of S. exigua.     

The effects of host age and superparasitism by the parasitoid, Microplitis rufiventris on the cellular and humoral immune response of Spodoptera littoralis larvae

To study the dynamics of stage-dependent immune responses in Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) larvae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), single and superparasitism experiments were carried out using the parasitoid Microplitis rufiventris Kok. (Braconidae: Hymenoptera). Compared to younger (preferred) host larvae, the older (non-preferred) host larvae displayed a vigorous humoral response that often damaged and destroyed the single wasp egg or larva. Superparasitism and host age altered both the cellular and humoral immune responses. Younger host larvae showed a stronger encapsulation response compared to older host larvae. Moreover encapsulation rates in younger hosts (e.g., second instar) decreased with increasing numbers of parasitoid eggs deposited/larvae. In older larvae, the encapsulation rate was low in fourth, less in fifth and absent in sixth instar hosts. Conversely, the order and magnitude of the cellular immune response in S. littoralis hosts were highest in second instar larvae with the first instar larvae being a little lower. The immune response steadily decreased from the third through to the fifth instar and was least obvious in the sixth instar. In contrast, the general humoral immune response was most pronounced in sixth instar larvae and diminished towards younger stages. The results suggest that both cellular and humoral responses are stage-dependent. Wasp offspring in younger superparasitized host larvae fought for host supremacy with only one wasp surviving, while supernumerary wasp larvae generally survived in older superparasitized larvae, but were unable to complete development. Older instars seem to have a method for immobilizing/killing wasp larvae that is not operating in the younger instars.     

高寒草原优势种叶片结构变化与生态因子的关系

 为了揭示青藏高原高寒草原优势物种青藏苔草（Carex moorcroftii）和紫花针茅（Stipa purpurea）对高原特殊环境的适应性,该文研究了 它们的叶片结构在自然环境梯度下的变化以及这些变化与生态因子之间的关系。结果表明：这两个物种叶片的大多数结构特征在各个样地间变 化显著,其结构特征与环境因子间存在显著的相关关系。紫花针茅叶肉细胞大小随土壤有效K含量的增高而减小,下表皮细胞厚度和韧皮部面积 随生长季云盖度的增高而增加,单一导管半径和导管平均面积随生长季月均湿度的增加而增大;青藏苔草上表皮细胞厚度随生长季月均最低温 的降低而增厚,泡状细胞厚度（径向直径）随大陆度的增强而增加,上表皮细胞大小随土壤pH值的增大而增大,导管总数和韧皮部面积随土壤 速效P含量的增高而增加。青藏苔草的保护组织、光合组织以及综合指标变异系数明显大于紫花针茅,仅维管组织指标变异系数小于紫花针茅。     

猪IGF2基因外显子3的遗传多态性及遗传效应分析

采用PCR-SSCP方法检测猪胰岛素样生长因子2 (insulin-like growth factor 2,IGF2)基因外显子3多态性,分析其对初生重、断奶重、6月龄重和背膘厚的遗传效应.根据猪IGF2基因的DNA序列（AY044828）设计引物,结果在其扩增片段上检测到多态性,对纯合子进行测序,发现IGF2-ex3-A36T和IGF2-ex3-G109A两个多态性位点,并且这2个多态性位点完全连锁,检测到3种基因型（A36A/G109G,A36T/G109A 和 T36T/A109A）.统计结果表明,基因型在各品种中分布不一致,长白猪和大白猪与莱芜猪、大薄莲猪、沂蒙黑猪和里岔黑猪比较基因型分布差异极显著（Ｐ<0.01）;其它猪种间基因型分布差异均不显著（Ｐ>0.05）.固定效应模型分析结果表明,初生重和背膘厚基因型间差异显著（Ｐ<0.05）,而断奶重和6月龄重基因型间差异不显著（Ｐ>0.05）.最小二乘分析结果表明,A36A/G109G基因型个体同A36T/G109A和 T36T/A109A基因型个体比较初生重和背膘厚的差异显著（Ｐ<0.05）,3种基因型初生重的大小排列顺序为A36A/G109G < A36T/G109A < T36T/A109A,背膘厚的大小排列顺序为A36A/G109G > A36T/G109A >T36T/A109A.因此,推测IGF2基因对个体的初生重和胴体瘦肉率存在一定的影响,将IGF2基因应用于猪育种过程中的标记辅助选择,将可以改善猪肉品质,加快猪的育种进程.     

Resistance in hybrid derivatives of Lycopersicon accessions against leaf caterpillar, Spodoptera litura Fab.

Four tomato accessions, namely Ac 238, Roma, Seijima Jeisei and Varushanadu Local selected from preliminary screening of 321 accessions and their hybrid derivatives, namely HY₁F₁ (Varushanadu Local × Ac 238), HY₂F₁ (Varushanadu Local × Roma), HY₃F₁ (Ac 238 × Roma) (first generation), HY₁F₂, HY₂F₂ and HY₃F₂ (second generation) were evaluated for their resistance in comparison with a susceptible check, 1979 against the leaf caterpillar, Spodoptera litura Fab. both under field and laboratory conditions at Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu, India. In the field evaluation, accession Seijima Jeisei and hybrid HY3F1 recorded the minimum larval population. In glasshouse and laboratory studies, Seijima Jeisei was the least preferred by S. litura for both feeding and oviposition. The hybrid HY₃F₁ exerted pronounced antibiosis effect on S. litura. Among the various biophysical and biochemical bases of resistance, contents of reducing sugar and phenol were found negatively correlated with S. litura larval feeding. Among the hybrids, HY₃F₁ and HY3F2 and the parent Seijima Jeisei recorded higher fruit yield per plant in both seasons. Considerable variation in the resistance traits of the hybrids was observed when compared with the parents.     

Leaf shape variation and herbivore consumption and performance: a case study with Ipomoea hederacea and three generalists

The effect of leaf shape variation on plant-herbivore interactions has primarily been studied from the perspective of host seeking behavior. Yet for leaf shape to affect plant-herbivore coevolution, there must be reciprocal effects of leaf shape variation on herbivore consumption and performance. We investigated whether alternative leaf morphs affected the performance of three generalist insect herbivores by taking advantage of a genetic polymorphism and developmental plasticity in leaf shape in the Ivyleaf morning glory, Ipomoea hederacea. Across four experiments, we found variable support for an effect of leaf shape genotype on insects. For cabbage loopers (Trichoplusia ni) and corn earworms (Helicoverpa zea) we found opposing, non-significant trends: T. ni gained more biomass on lobed genotypes, while H. zea gained more biomass on heart-shaped genotypes. For army beetworms (Spodoptera exigua), the effects of leaf shape genotype differed depending on the age of the plants and photoperiod of growing conditions. Caterpillars feeding on tissue from older plants (95 days) grown under long day photoperiods had significantly greater consumption, dry biomass, and digestive efficiency on lobed genotypes. In contrast, there were no significant differences between heart-shaped and lobed genotypes for caterpillars feeding on tissue from younger plants (50 days) grown under short day photoperiods. For plants grown under short days, we found that S. exigua consumed significantly less leaf area when feeding on mature leaves than juvenile leaves, regardless of leaf shape genotype. Taken together, our results suggest that the effects of leaf shape variation on insect performance are likely to vary between insect species, growth conditions of the plant, and the developmental stage and age of leaves sampled. Handling editor: May Berenbaum.     

The importance of conserved amino acid residues in p94 protease sub-domain IIb and the IS2 region for constitutive autolysis

p94/calpain 3, a skeletal muscle-specific member of calpain protease family, is characterized by apparent Ca(2+)-independence during exhaustive autolysis and concomitant proteolysis of non-self substrates. The purpose of our study was to comprehensively profile the structural basis of p94 enabling activation in the cytosol without an extra Ca(2+). Ca(2+)-dependent p94 mutants were screened using "p94-trapping", which is an application of yeast genetic reporter system called "proteinase-trapping". Several amino acids were revealed as critical for apparent Ca(2+)-independent p94 activity. These results highlight the importance of conserved amino acids in domain IIb as well as in the p94-specific IS2 region.