Identification of phloem sieve elements as the site of resistance to silverleaf whitefly in resistant alfalfa genotypes

Experiments were conducted to locate the plant tissue where resistance is expressed against silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), in alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. (Fabaceae), genotypes previously shown to have high levels of resistance against this pest. Previous work demonstrated that resistance in the resistant alfalfa genotypes was expressed primarily as high first‐instar mortality; consequently this study focused on first‐instar nymphs. Examination of stylets in cleared leaf tissue indicated that first‐instar nymphs located vascular bundles with equal success on resistant and susceptible alfalfa genotypes. Furthermore, direct current electrical penetration graphs (DC‐EPG) indicated that sieve elements were penetrated and phloem ingestion behavior was initiated with equal success on resistant and susceptible genotypes. Thus, the mechanism of resistance does not reside in tissues encountered by the stylets prior to penetrating a phloem sieve element. Honeydew production (as a proxy for ingestion) was greatly reduced on two resistant genotypes compared to the two susceptible genotypes. The frequency distribution of honeydew production was bimodal, indicating that most individuals on the resistant genotypes produced little or no honeydew while some produced as much honeydew as whiteflies on the susceptible genotypes. This indicates that expression of resistance is an all‐or‐nothing phenomenon; an individual nymph either encounters resistance and cannot sustain ingestion or it does not encounter resistance and ingests just as well as on a susceptible plant. Intermediates are rare. DC‐EPGs indicate that phloem ingestion behavior is significantly reduced on two of the resistant genotypes compared to the susceptible genotypes. The primary reason for this appears to be more frequent termination of phloem ingestion behavior on at least one of the resistant genotypes. On one of the resistant genotypes, the productivity of EPG‐measured phloem ingestion behavior (honeydew produced per min of phloem ingestion behavior) was reduced compared to a susceptible control.     

Sex‐specific graphs: Relating group‐specific topology to demographic and landscape data

Sex‐specific genetic structure is a commonly observed pattern among vertebrate species. Facing differential selective pressures, individuals may adopt sex‐specific life history traits that ultimately shape genetic variation among populations. Although differential dispersal dynamics are commonly detected in the literature, few studies have used genetic structure to investigate sex‐specific functional connectivity. The recent use of graph theoretic approaches in landscape genetics has demonstrated network capacities to describe complex system behaviours where network topology represents genetic interaction among subunits. Here, we partition the overall genetic structure into sex‐specific graphs, revealing different male and female dispersal dynamics of a fisher (Pekania [Martes] pennanti) metapopulation in southern Ontario. Our analyses based on network topologies supported the hypothesis of male‐biased dispersal. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the effect of the landscape, identified at the population level, could be partitioned among sex‐specific strata. We found that female connectivity was negatively correlated with snow depth, whereas connectivity among males was not. Our findings underscore the potential of conducting sex‐specific analysis by identifying landscape elements or configuration that differentially promotes or impedes functional connectivity between sexes, revealing processes that may otherwise remain cryptic. We propose that the sex‐specific graph approach would be applicable to other vagile species where differential sex‐specific processes are expected to occur.     

DeepCKI:一个基于变分图自编码器预测细胞-细胞因子相互作用的生物信息学模型

细胞因子(cytokine)是一类由免疫细胞和某些非免疫细胞合成和分泌的信号分子,在免疫系统中通过结合相应受体调节细胞生长、分化和调控免疫应答。目前研究多侧重于通过实验方法检测细胞因子和受体的相互作用来研究细胞间的通讯网络,但存在实验周期长、设备要求高和成本高等不足。因此,有必要通过计算方法来加快对细胞-细胞因子相互作用(cell-cytokine interactions, CKI)的系统研究。本文提出一种基于变分图自编码器(variational graph auto-encoder, VGAE)预测细胞-细胞因子相互作用的深度学习模型——DeepCKI。该模型可有效融合蛋白质相互作用网络和不同类型的蛋白质特征,充分挖掘网络拓扑结构和节点属性中的有效信息,实现对细胞-细胞因子相互作用的高效预测。与变分自编码和深度神经网络方法相比,采用图结构设计的DeepCKI表现出了最优的预测性能。DeepCKI模型对4种不同类型细胞-细胞因子相互作用的ROC曲线下面积均高于0.8,模型具有一定的鲁棒性和有效性。预测打分排名前100的细胞-细胞因子相互作用中,有36对已被最新发表文献验证,表明该模...     

城市生态网络功能性连接辨识方法

城市生态网络是景观生态学应用领域研究的热点和重点之一,识别、评估生境之间的连接是构建生态网络的关键环节。在总结已有连接辨识方法的基础上,提出采用最小费用模型和图论分析相结合的方法,探讨功能性连接的辨识和优先恢复途径。以新西兰基督城为案例,分别利用景观发展强度指数建立阻力面,新西兰鸡毛松(Dacrycarpus dacrydioides)种子最大传播距离作为连接阈值来模拟、评价网络连接。结果表明:在1200 m距离阈值下,共有408条连接,其重要性分为10类。其中Richmond—Petrie公园,Hansons—Auburn保护地,Centaurus公园—King George保护地是整个生态网络的关键连接;若去除,景观整体连接度将下降31.73%。此外,研究发现连接重要值与两端的源面积之和没有显著相关性,即面积大的源斑块之间的连接不一定对网络构建起关键作用,这一结论还有待进一步证明。针对缺少动物迁移资料的城市环境,改进最小费用模型和网络连接分析的部分参数;可操作性与实用性强,对中国城市区域生态恢复建设、栖息地选择具有借鉴意义。     

基于生态安全格局的南京都市区生态控制边界划定

以南京都市区为例,通过生态敏感性分析获取了研究区既有的高生态敏感空间,采用最小费用路径方法辨识了对研究区具有重要生态意义的潜在生态廊道和生态关键区,采用图谱理论中的景观连接度指数辅助确定生态廊道宽度,构建了研究区潜在的生态网络。在此基础上,整合既有和潜在生态空间,科学划定生态控制边界,实现了研究区现存和潜在的重要自然生态空间保护。研究结果表明:1)生态敏感性分析能够识别出研究区既有的高生态敏感性区域,并指出其呈现出"大而孤立,小且分散,连接性不佳"的空间特征。2)遴选出的71处生态源地、119条重要廊道和61个关键生态斑块共同组成了研究区的生态网络,显著提升了原有生态空间的景观连接性和研究区域的总体生态安全水平。3)生态网络分析可以弥补敏感性分析只考虑既有自然生态空间的局限,二者的组合使用可为不同尺度上生态控制边界的划定提供简明的分析框架。研究结果可为南京都市区生态控制线划定和生态环境保护提供重要的参考,对其他城市生态控制边界的划定也具有一定的借鉴意义。     

Study on Numerical Taxonomy of the Asexual Propagation of Scirpus planiculmis in Songliao Ecological Area

With theoretical and method ecological approach of numerical taxonomy,by selecting 8 relatively stable numerical characters in asexual propagation of Scirpus planiculmis in Songliao ecological area we have carried out the maximum synchronous branch classification for the investigation of the regularity in asexual propagation. A dendrogram of asexual propagation potency was established with maximum synchronous branch coefficients as numerical parameters and a developing level graph of asexual propagation characters in the matural propagation generations was drawn up on the basis of the total value of evolutionary steps. Thus the relativity between the ontogenesis of natural reproduction and the community competitive potency was unveiled. Based on the numerical parameters of leaped values in the asexual propagation of S. planiculmis,the key period of weed eradication was determined.     

图论方法研究蛋白质结构预测问题

图论方法在蛋白质结构预测中占有重要地位。该文简要介绍图的连通子图、图的最大团、图的完美匹配及图谱法在蛋白质结构预测中的应用。对国内外近年来应用这些方法在蛋白质3D结构预测及折叠的研究工作进行了回顾,并分析、比较了这几种方法的效果和特点。     

蚜虫化学生态学研究进展及展望

昆虫化学生态学主要以化学手段研究昆虫种内、种间以及与其它生物之间的化学信息联系,昆虫对化学因素的适应等,是昆虫的神经生理和感觉生理、生物化学及生态学的交叉学科,也是当前国际昆虫学界最活跃的研究领域之一。蚜虫属于同翅目（Ｈｏｍｏｐｔｅｒａ）蚜总科（Ａｐ...     

转换寄主前后扶桑绵粉蚧取食行为的EPG分析

【目的】分析扶桑绵粉蚧Phenacoccus solenopsis在发生寄主转移前后的取食行为,以据此评价其寄主适应性。【方法】利用刺吸电位（EPG）技术,量化扶桑绵粉蚧转换寄主植物前后的取食行为并进行对比分析。【结果】寄主转换后,扶桑绵粉蚧的取食行为受到显著的影响,需要耗费更多的时间到达韧皮部,总取食时间显著变短,取食效率降低。但寄主转换后,下一代成虫的取食效率提高,总刺探数、取食刺探数、总刺探时间以及到达韧皮部的效率与时间均与寄主转换前的扶桑绵粉蚧个体不存在显著差异。【结论】扶桑绵粉蚧的取食行为存在高度可塑性,这种特性利于扩大其寄主植物范围,有可能是促其成为重要农业入侵生物的原因之一。