Comparison of QTL controlling seedling vigour under different temperature conditions using recombinant inbred lines in rice (Oryza sativa)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Seedling vigour is one of the major determinants for stable stand establishment in rice (Oryza sativa), especially in a direct seeding cropping system. The objectives of this study were to identify superior alleles with consistent effects on seedling vigour across different temperature conditions and to investigate genotype x environmental temperature interactions for seedling vigour QTL. METHODS: A set of 282 F13 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a rice cross were assessed for four seedling vigour traits at three temperatures (25 degrees C, 20 degrees C and 15 degrees C). Using a linkage map with 198 marker loci, the main-effect QTL for the traits were mapped by composite interval mapping. KEY RESULTS: A total of 34 QTL for the four seedling vigour traits were identified. Of these QTL, the majority (82%) were clustered within five genomic regions, designated as QTL qSV-3-1, qSV-3-2, qSV-5, qSV-8-1 and qSV-8-2. All of these five QTL had small individual effects on the traits, explaining 3.1-15.8 % of the phenotypic variation with a mean of 7.3 %. QTL qSV-3-1, qSV-3-2 and qSV-8-1 showed almost consistent effects on the traits across all three temperatures while qSV-5 and qSV-8-2 had effects mainly at the 'normal' temperatures of 20 degrees C and 25 degrees C. Among the five QTL identified, all and four showed additive effects on shoot length and germination rate, respectively. The contributions of these five QTL to shoot length and germination rate were also much larger than those to the other two traits. CONCLUSIONS: A few of genomic regions (or QTL) were identified as showing effects on seedling vigour. For these QTL, significant genotype x environmental temperature interactions were found and these interactions appeared to be QTL-specific. Among the four seedling vigour traits measured, shoot length and germination rate could be used as relatively good indicators to evaluate the level of seedling vigour in rice.     

Mechanism-based inactivators of plant copper/quinone containing amine oxidases

Copper/quinone amine oxidases contain Cu(II) and the quinone of 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylalanine (topaquinone; TPQ) as cofactors. TPQ is derived by post-translational modification of a conserved tyrosine residue in the protein chain. Major advances have been made during the last decade toward understanding the structure/function relationships of the active site in Cu/TPQ amine oxidases using specific inhibitors. Mechanism-based inactivators are substrate analogues that bind to the active site of an enzyme being accepted and processed by the normal catalytic mechanism of the enzyme. During the reaction a covalent modification of the enzyme occurs leading to irreversible inactivation. In this review mechanism-based inactivators of plant Cu/TPQ amine oxidases from the pulses lentil (Lens esculenta), pea (Pisum sativum), grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) and sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia,) are described. Substrates forming, in aerobiotic and in anaerobiotic conditions, killer products that covalently bound to the quinone cofactor or to a specific amino acid residue of the target enzyme are all reviewed.     

Is <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus radiata</Emphasis> invading the native vegetation in central Chile? Demographic responses in a fragmented forest

Forest fragmentation facilitates the invasion of exotic species. This threat may be especially severe if forest fragments are surrounded by plantations of exotic species like Pinus radiata, an aggressive colonizer and shade-intolerant tree that has invaded successfully several native ecosystems of the southern hemisphere. In this study, we experimentally tested if the conditions of a successful seedling establishment P. radiata are fulfilled at the Coastal Maulino forest, an endemic fragmented forest of central Chile. Results demonstrated that seeds are dispersed into the native forests, however seedling establishment occurs only at the edges. We conclude that this exotic species is not invading native forests up to date. However, we suggest to conduct evaluations of seed rain and seedling establishment in the long term, in order to monitor the fate of this exotic species in fragmented native forest of Central Chile.     

油菜素内酯对毛豆幼苗生长及其抗渍性的影响

试验采用不同浓度油菜素内酯对毛豆幼苗进行叶面喷施处理,测定其在渍水胁迫下对毛豆营养生长和生理特性的影响。结果表明:采用一定浓度的油菜素内酯处理可以促进苗生长、提高根系活力、叶绿素含量、脯氨酸含量和抑制丙二醛增生、降低细胞膜透性,增强了毛豆幼苗对渍水环境的抵抗能力。从叶面喷施后对毛豆的营养指标和生理指标进行综合判断可知:在试验的范围内,以1mL/L油菜素内酯的处理效果为最佳。     

一氧化氮参与调节盐胁迫诱导的玉米幼苗脱落酸积累

以三叶一心期的玉米幼苗为实验材料,研究了盐胁迫下玉米幼苗根尖和叶片中一氧化氮（NO）和脱落酸（ABA）积累之间的关系。结果表明,盐胁迫下玉米幼苗NO和ABA的含量均增加,用NO供体硝普钠（Sodium nitroprusside,SNP）处理时,ABA含量亦增加,且累积的时间较盐胁迫下早。用NO合成的抑制剂L-NAME （Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride）和NaN,处理时,可减弱盐胁迫诱导的ABA含量的增加,用NO清除剂cPTIO处理时,这种盐胁迫诱导的ABA增加减少。推测盐胁迫下产生的NO参与调节ABA的积累及逆境下植物的防御反应。     

(NH4)2SO4对瓜尔豆幼苗在不同光照下耐冷性的影响

通过温室穴盘育苗试验,研究叶面喷施(NH4)2SO4对低温胁迫12 h后不同光通量密度(PFD)条件下,瓜尔豆幼苗在常温培养过程中幼苗生存及叶片SOD活性、POD活性和MDA含量的影响。结果表明:低温处理一夜后,在温室自然光照(强光)下进行常温恢复时,瓜尔豆叶片中SOD和POD活性始终显著低于对照,MDA含量显著高于对照,幼苗死亡率显著高于对照;在90μmol.m-2.s-1弱光下恢复2~4 d后,叶片中保护酶活性显著高于对照,MDA含量保持较低水平,幼苗均正常生长。叶面喷施(NH4)2SO4能显著提高低温处理后的植株叶片抗氧化酶类活性,减少叶片中MDA的产生,降低幼苗死亡率,0.2%(NH4)2SO4处理效果最好,其次为0.4%(NH4)2SO4。短期低温后,使植物处在弱光环境下能减少活性氧的发生,为植物抗氧化系统达到新的平衡提供有利条件,从而减轻甚至消除低温伤害。     

水分胁迫下不同基因型小麦苗期的形态生理差异

以36个不同育成年代和生态区域的小麦品种为材料,研究了水分胁迫对小麦苗期生长的影响,并基于灰色关联分析评价了小麦品种苗期抗旱性的基因型差异.结果表明:小麦品种抗旱性差异显著,加权抗旱指数在0.2434～0.6580之间;17个形态生理性状中与抗旱性关联程度最大的是地上部干物质量(0.9473),最小的是叶绿素含量(0.5356).采用聚类分析将36个小麦品种分为3类,其中抗旱型8个、中间型23个、敏感型5个.3类基因型的地上部干物质量、根干物质量、植株干物质量、株高、根系氮积累量、叶面积和单株分蘖数差异显著,可作为小麦品种苗期抗旱性鉴定的直接指标.     

盐胁迫下镧对水稻幼苗生长的保护效应

通过液培实验,研究水稻幼苗在盐胁迫下,镧对水稻幼苗的保护作用。结果表明：水稻幼苗植株在≤1．5％的盐浓度的盐胁迫下,10mg·L^-1镧能提高幼苗植株超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和过氧化氢酶（CAT）的活性;降低幼苗植株脂质过氧化产物丙二醛（MDA）的含量和脯氨酸（Pro）的含量;减小质膜透性;提高叶片叶绿素含量和叶绿素a／b的比值;增强根系的活力,进而促进水稻幼苗的生长。10mg·L^-1镧对盐胁迫的缓解作用与盐浓度有关,随着盐浓度增大,镧的缓解作用将逐渐消失。分析表明,在≤1．0％和≥0．5％的盐浓度胁迫下,镧对水稻幼苗的生长存在更有效的防御机制,能够促进水稻幼苗的生长代谢。