A novel plant-associated thermotolerant alkaliphilic methylotroph of the genusParacoccus

Strain GB isolated from the maize rhizosphere is a gram-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, nonpigmented, nonmotile, chemolithotrophic, facultatively methylotrophic bacterium. Cells are cocci or short rods. The strain does not require vitamins. Optimum growth in a medium with methanol occurs at 38–42°C at pH 8.0–9.2. The doubling time is 12 h. In addition to methanol, the bacterium can grow on methylamine, dimethylformamide, acetone, thiosulfate + NaHCO₃, and in an atmosphere of H₂ + CO₂ + O₂. Methanol and methylamine are oxidized by the respective dehydrogenases to CO₂ via formaldehyde and formate, respectively. The CO₂ produced is assimilated via the ribulose bisphosphate pathway. Fatty acids are dominated by cyclopropanoic (58–61%), palmitic (24–26%), and octadecanoic (8–9%) acids. The main phospholipids are phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylcholine. The major ubiquinone is Q₁₀. The bacterial genome contains genes controlling the synthesis and secretion of cytokinins. The culture liquid exhibits cytokinin activity. The G+C content of DNA is 62.5 mol %, as determined from the DNA thermal denaturation temperature T_m). Strain GB shows a moderate degree of DNA-DNA homology (<40%) with the type representatives of the genusParacoccus. Based on the data obtained, the bacterium was classified as a new species of this genus, namedP. kondratievae.     

Mapping multiple disease resistance genes using a barley mapping population evaluated in Peru, Mexico, and the USA

We used a well-characterized barley mapping population (BCD 47 × Baronesse) to determine if barley stripe rust (BSR) resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapped in Mexico and the USA were effective against a reported new race in Peru. Essentially the same resistance QTL were detected using data from each of the three environments, indicating that these resistance alleles are effective against the spectrum of naturally occurring races at these sites. In addition to the mapping population, we evaluated a germplasm array consisting of lines with different numbers of mapped BSR resistance alleles. A higher BSR disease severity on CI10587, which has a single qualitative resistance gene, in Peru versus Mexico suggests there are differences in pathogen virulence between the two locations. Confirmation of a new race in Peru will require characterization using a standard set of differentials, an experiment that is underway. The highest levels of resistance in Peru were observed when the qualitative resistance gene was pyramided with quantitative resistance alleles. We also used the mapping population to locate QTL conferring resistance to barley leaf rust and barley powdery mildew. For mildew, we identified resistance QTL under field conditions in Peru that are distinct from the Mla resistance that we mapped using specific isolates under controlled conditions. These results demonstrate the long-term utility of a reference mapping population and a well-characterized germplasm array for locating and validating genes conferring quantitative and qualitative resistance to multiple pathogens.     

Effects of plant leachates from four boreal understorey species on soil N mineralization, and white spruce (Picea glauca) germination and seedling growth

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Natural regeneration of white spruce (Picea glauca) after disturbance has been reported to be very poor. Here a study was made to determine whether C compounds released from understorey species growing together with white spruce could be involved in this regeneration failure, either by (1) changing soil nutrient dynamics, (2) inhibiting germination, and/or (3) delaying seedling growth. METHODS: Foliage leachates were obtained from two shrubs (Ledum palustre and Empetrum hermaphroditum) and one bryophyte (Sphagnum sp.) with high phenolic compound concentrations that have been reported to depress growth of conifers in boreal forests, and, as a comparison, one bryophyte (Hylocomium splendens) with negligible phenolic compounds. Mineral soil from a white spruce forest was amended with plant leachates to examine the effect of each species on net N mineralization. Additionally, white spruce seeds and seedlings were watered with plant leachates to determine their effects on germination and growth. KEY RESULTS: Leachates from the shrubs L. palustre and E. hermaphroditum contained high phenolic compound concentrations and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), while no detectable levels of C compounds were released from the bryophytes Sphagnum sp. or H. splendens. A decrease in net N mineralization was determined in soils amended with L. palustre or E. hermaphroditum leachates, and this effect was inversely proportional to the phenolic concentrations, DOC and leachate C/N ratio. The total percentage of white spruce germination and the growth of white spruce seedlings were similar among treatments. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the shrubs L. palustre and E. hermaphroditum could negatively affect the performance of white spruce due to a decrease in soil N availability, but not by direct effects on plant physiology.     

Sarsicopia polaris gen. et sp.n., the first platycopioida (Copepoda: Crustacea) from the Arctic Ocean,and its phylogenetic significance

A new genus of Platycopioida is described from a boxcore sample taken at a depth of 534 m in the ArcticBarents Sea. This is the deepest record ofPlatycopioida so far. Sarsicopia gen. n. is thesistergroup of a taxon comprising Platycopia and Nanocopia; the sistergroup ofthese is Antrisocopia. Sarsicopia gen. n.is the only platycopioid to retain 2 inner setae onthe second endopod segment P2–P4, and 8 setae in thethird endopod segment of P2. The male antennnule isremarkable in having a geniculation located betweenancestral segments XX and XXI. It is suggested thatthis flexure zone was already present in thegroundpattern of Copepoda. Platycopia and Nanocopia have secondarily lost thisgeniculation.     

双孢蘑菇上的丝枝霉新种

1980—1981年先后自北京、昆明、福州等地双孢蘑菇[Agaricus bisporus (Lange)Sing.]上分离到一种真菌,在PDA上的培养性状与蘑菇轮枝菌(Vertieillium psalliotae Tresch．)和蛛网丝枝霉中国变种[Aphanocladium aranearum(Petch) Gams var sincase J．D．Chen]近 似。镜检可见其兼具上述两种菌的形态。经反复多次纯化,并挑取单孢子培养,肯定了这种真菌是纯菌。在培养基上已保存4年,形态稳定。它具典型蘑菇轮枝菌形态,而其丝枝霉型瓶梗的形成和瘪缩时间、长度、原瓶梗数量、末端瓶梗数及排列密度等,都与蛛网丝枝霉中国变种有一定差异,与丝枝霉属其它种亦不同,故定为两型丝枝霉新种(Aphanocladium dimorphum sp-nov.)。本文详细描述了该新种的形态,井对文甲所提的五种真菌及其与Engyodontium属间的关系进行了讨论。     

Mechanisms governing avian phylosymbiosis: Genetic dissimilarity based on neutral and MHC regions exhibits little relationship with gut microbiome distributions of Galápagos mockingbirds

The gut microbiome of animals, which serves important functions but can also contain potential pathogens, is to varying degrees under host genetic control. This can generate signals of phylosymbiosis, whereby gut microbiome composition matches host phylogenetic structure. However, the genetic mechanisms that generate phylosymbiosis and the scale at which they act remain unclear. Two non‐mutually exclusive hypotheses are that phylosymbiosis is driven by immunogenetic regions such as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) controlling microbial composition, or by spatial structuring of neutral host genetic diversity via founder effects, genetic drift, or isolation by distance. Alternatively, associations between microbes and host phylogeny may be generated by their spatial autocorrelation across landscapes, rather than the direct effects of host genetics. In this study, we collected MHC, microsatellite, and gut microbiome data from separate individuals belonging to the Galápagos mockingbird species complex, which consists of four allopatrically distributed species. We applied multiple regression with distance matrices and Bayesian inference to test for correlations between average genetic and microbiome similarity across nine islands for which all three levels of data were available. Clustering of individuals by species was strongest when measured with microsatellite markers and weakest for gut microbiome distributions, with intermediate clustering of MHC allele frequencies. We found that while correlations between island‐averaged gut microbiome composition and both microsatellite and MHC dissimilarity existed across species, these relationships were greatly weakened when accounting for geographic distance. Overall, our study finds little support for large‐scale control of gut microbiome composition by neutral or adaptive genetic regions across closely related bird phylogenies, although this does not preclude the possibility that host genetics shapes gut microbiome at the individual level.     

Cloning,Expression, and Identification of Genes Involved in the Conversion of DL-2-Amino-Δ2-thiazoline-4-carboxylic Acid to L-Cysteine via S-Carbamyl-L-cysteine Pathway in Pseudomonas sp. TS1138

Two novel genes (tsB, tsC) involved in the conversion of DL-2-amino-Δ²-thiazoline-4-carboxylic acid (DL-ATC) to L-cysteine through S-carbamyl-L-cysteine (L-SCC) pathway were cloned from the genomic DNA library of Pseudomonas sp. TS1138. The recombinant proteins of these two genes were expressed in Escherichia coli BL21, and their enzymatic activity assays were performed in vitro. It was found that the tsB gene encoded an L-ATC hydrolase, which catalyzed the conversion of L-ATC to L-SCC, while the tsC gene encoded an L-SCC amidohydrolase, which showed the catalytic ability to convert L-SCC to L-cysteine. These results suggest that tsB and tsC play important roles in the L-SCC pathway and L-cysteine biosynthesis in Pseudomonas sp. TS1138, and that they have potential applications in the industrial production of L-cysteine.     

Three New Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid Derivatives and A New Alkaloid from Endophytic Fungus Mortierella sp. in Epimedium acuminatum Franch. and Their Antibacterial Activity

Three new hydroxyphenylacetic acid derivatives, stachylines E-G ( 1 – 3 ), and a new alkaloid, mortieridinone ( 4 ), along with six known compounds ( 5 – 10 ), were isolated from endophytic fungus Mortierella sp. in Epimedium acuminatum Franch. Their structures were determined by their spectroscopic analyses and by comparison with the literature data. Compounds 7 and 10 showed selective antibacterial activity against tested multidrug-resistant bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 25 to 3.13 μg/mL.