Resprouting Ability of Dry Forest Tree Species after Disturbance Does Not Relate to Propagation Possibility by Stem and Root Cuttings

Tropical dry forest tree species are recognized for their high resprouting ability after disturbance. We tested whether species that commonly produce root and stem suckers can be propagated by large stem and root cuttings, a useful method for landscape restoration programs. We performed four experiments: (1) In a greenhouse, we tested the propagation of six species using large stem cuttings collected from early successional sites. We used the following treatments: (i) dry season collection and planting; (ii) dry season collection, storage in humid soil, and wet season planting; (iii) wet season collection and planting; and (iv) wet season collection and planting after treatment with commercial NAA auxin. (2) Stem cuttings of Myracrodruon urundeuva were planted in a pasture during the rainy season after either NAA, IBA, or no auxin treatment. (3) As a control experiment, we also planted cuttings of Spondias mombin, a species known for successfully regenerating from cuttings. (4) Root cuttings of six species were collected in recently plowed pastures and planted in the greenhouse with and without treatment with NAA auxin. No root cuttings rooted. Only M. urundeuva and Astronium fraxinifolium stem cuttings rooted. Maximum success was obtained for stem cuttings collected and planted in the dry season (23%). Only 13% of M. urundeuva had sprouted by the 15th month of the field experiment. As a result, large cuttings are not recommended for propagation of the studied species. Future studies should include development of suitable methods of root harvesting and prospection of traditional knowledge for species selection.     

Mechanical Stimulation-induced Calcium Wave Propagation in Cell Monolayers: The Example of Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells

Intercellular communication is essential for the coordination of physiological processes between cells in a variety of organs and tissues, including the brain, liver, retina, cochlea and vasculature. In experimental settings, intercellular Ca²⁺-waves can be elicited by applying a mechanical stimulus to a single cell. This leads to the release of the intracellular signaling molecules IP₃ and Ca²⁺ that initiate the propagation of the Ca²⁺-wave concentrically from the mechanically stimulated cell to the neighboring cells. The main molecular pathways that control intercellular Ca²⁺-wave propagation are provided by gap junction channels through the direct transfer of IP₃ and by hemichannels through the release of ATP. Identification and characterization of the properties and regulation of different connexin and pannexin isoforms as gap junction channels and hemichannels are allowed by the quantification of the spread of the intercellular Ca²⁺-wave, siRNA, and the use of inhibitors of gap junction channels and hemichannels. Here, we describe a method to measure intercellular Ca²⁺-wave in monolayers of primary corneal endothelial cells loaded with Fluo4-AM in response to a controlled and localized mechanical stimulus provoked by an acute, short-lasting deformation of the cell as a result of touching the cell membrane with a micromanipulator-controlled glass micropipette with a tip diameter of less than 1 μm. We also describe the isolation of primary bovine corneal endothelial cells and its use as model system to assess Cx43-hemichannel activity as the driven force for intercellular Ca²⁺-waves through the release of ATP. Finally, we discuss the use, advantages, limitations and alternatives of this method in the context of gap junction channel and hemichannel research.     

The risk of unintentional propagation of poliovirus can be minimized by using human cell lines lacking the functional CD155 gene

After eradication and containment of wild poliovirus (PV) and cessation of oral polio vaccinations, it is critical to minimize the risk of reintroducing PV into PV-free communities via facilities that handle the virus. The potential risk of unintentional PV propagation through unidentified contaminated materials is a serious issue. This study reports the generation of HeLa and RD-A cells deficient in functional CD155 gene (∆PVR cells); these cells are not susceptible to PV but remain susceptible to other picornaviruses. These ∆PVR cells will minimize the risk of unintentional transmission of PV and support performing the experiments more safely.     

中国淡水鱼类人工增殖放流现状

随着鱼类资源的持续衰退以及保护水产学的兴起,鱼类人工增殖放流已由传统渔业增殖发展成为特有珍稀鱼类种群恢复的主要技术手段。近年来,我国淡水鱼类人工增殖放流涉及水系多、规模大且种类丰富,取得了显著效果并积累了大量基础资料和经验。为深入开展人工增殖放流基础研究,规范技术并提升生态效益,该文收集整理了国内、外相关文献资料,分别从基础理论、塘养种群管理及效果评价等方面阐述人工增殖放流的理论背景,并结合我国"四大家鱼"、中华鲟、胭脂鱼、滇池金线鲃及其他珍稀濒危鱼类人工增殖放流现状,讨论了野外监测和效果评价的作用和意义,提出放流种群遗传局限性、数量和规格权衡以及经济效益与生态效益权衡等问题,旨在为相关研究和人工放流实践提供系统资料。     

单头亚菊的组织培养与快速繁殖

以单头亚菊茎段为外植体对其进行组织培养,MS为基本培养基,设置不同激素浓度配比。对实验结果进行观察分析,筛选出合适的配方。启动培养基为Ms＋0．5mg·L-16-BA＋0．01mg·L-1NAA。继代培养基MS＋O．75mg·L-1。6-BA＋0．01mg·L。NAA,可获得较高的增殖率。不定根最适诱导培养基为1／2MS＋O．15mg·L—IBA,生根率达87％以上,组培苗移栽成活率达98％。     

无籽罗汉果的组织培养和快速繁殖

以无籽罗汉果优良株系的幼嫩茎段为试验材料,经消毒处理后,剪成带一个腋芽的茎段,在MS＋6-BA0．5mg·L^-1＋NAA0．05mg.L^-1培养基上进行培养,获得无菌芽苗,再以无菌芽苗的单芽茎段为外植体,建立无籽罗汉果的组培快繁体系。结果表明,最佳继代增殖培养基为MS＋6-BA0．5mg·L^-1＋IBA0．2mg·^-1＋GA30．03mg·L^-1,30d的增殖系数为16．4;芽苗伸长的最适培养基为MS＋6-BA0．05mg.L^-1＋IBA0．1mg·L^-1＋GA30．1mg·L^-1;芽苗生根的最适培养基为1／2MS＋IBA0．5mg·L^-1：炼苗后,移入蛭石：珍珠岩：熟土=1：1：2（v／v／v）的基质中,成活率达98．1％。该体系的建立为无籽罗汉果规模化生产提供了技术平台。     

Premeiotic endomitosis and the costs and benefits of asexual reproduction

Different patterns of development can influence the strength and direction of selection of a trait. Here, it is shown how this may be the case for asexual reproduction in which eggs (animals) or spores (plants) inherit the maternal chromosome number through a precursor cell undergoing an endoduplication of its chromosomes prior to meiotic reduction. Asexuality involving premeiotic endoduplication (APE) has a wide but uneven distribution among animals and plants. It is argued that different patterns of egg and spore production and differences in when endoduplication occurs, together with differences in breeding structure (dioecious vs. hermaphroditic) and reproductive strategy (e.g. spawning vs. vivipary), can result in APE being associated with fecundity costs that can result in an overall cost of sex or in an overall cost of asex or in APE being selectively neutral relative to sex. There is a lack of a close correlation between the taxonomic distribution of APE and its potential costs and benefits however, possible causes of which are explored. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 109 , 487–495.     

In vitro propagation of two Iranian commercial pomegranates (Punica granatum L.) cvs. ‘Malas Saveh’ and ‘Yusef Khani’

An efficient in vitro propagation is described for Punica granatum L. using shoot tip and nodal explants. The influence of two basal medium, WPM and MS, and different plant growth regulators was investigated on micropropagation of the Iranian pomegranate cultivars, ‘Malas Saveh’ and ‘Yousef Khani’. For proliferation stage, media supplemented with different concentrations (2.3, 4.7, 9.2 and 18.4 μM) of kinetin along with 0.54 μM NAA was used. WPM proved to be more efficient medium compared to MS. The best concentrations of kinetin were 4.7 μM for ‘Malas Saveh’ and 9.2 μM for ‘Yousef Khani’, resulting in the highest number of shoots per explants, shoot length and leaf number. For both cultivars, half-strength WPM medium supplemented with 5.4 μM NAA was most effective for rooting of shoots. Rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatized and transferred into soil. The micropropagated plants were morphologically uniform and exhibited similar growth characteristics and vegetative morphology to the mother plants.     

Observer-based tracking control of abnormal oscillations in demyelination symptom

Fast axonal conduction of action potentials in mammals relies on myelin insulation. Demyelination can cause slowed, blocked, desynchronized, or paradoxically excessive spiking that underlies the symptoms observed in demyelination diseases. Feedback control via functional electrical stimulation (FES) seems to be a promising treatment modality in such diseases. However, there are challenges to implementing such method for neurons: high nonlinearity, biological tissue constrains and unobservable ion channel states. To address this problem, we propose an estimating and tracking control strategy for systems based on Kalman filter, in order to enhance the action potential propagation reliability of demyelinated neuron via FES. Unscented Kalman filter (UKF) is employed to estimate the unobservable states and parameters in the demyelination neuron model from membrane potential dynamics. Our method could promote the design of new closed-loop electrical stimulation systems for patients suffering from different nerve system dysfunctions.