Effects of nutrient solution zinc activity on net uptake,translocation, and root export of cadmium and zinc by separated sections of intact durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var durum) seedling roots

Cd accumulation in durum wheat presents a potential health risk to consumers. In an effort to understand the physiological mechanisms involved with Cd accumulation, this study examined the effects of Zn on Cd root uptake and phloem translocation in a split– root system. Durum wheat seedlings were grown in chelate-buffered nutrient solution with intact root systems divided into two sections. Each root section grew in a separate 1 l pot, one of which contained 0.2 μM CdSO₄. In addition, each two-pot system contained ZnSO₄ in the following combinations (in μm) (for -cd root system: +cd root system): 1:1, 1:10, 10:1,10:10, 1:19, and 19:1. Harvested plant material was analyzed for Cd and Zn. In addition, rates of Cd and Zn net uptake, translocation to the shoot, and root export (translocation from one root segment to the other) between days 8 and 22 were calculated. Results show that Zn was not translocated from one root section to its connected root section. Uptake rates of Cd increased as solution Zn concentrations increased. Cd translocation from one root section to the other decreased significantly when the Zn concentration in either pot was greater than 1 μM. These results show the potential of Zn to inhibit movement of Cd via the phloem, and suggests that providing adequate Zn levels may limit phloem loading of Cd into wheat grain. Increasing the rhizosphere activity of Zn²⁺ in Cd-containing soils may therefore result in reduced Cd accumulation in grain even while net Cd uptake is slightly enhanced. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

覆膜对土壤-莴苣体系氮素分布和植物吸收的影响

覆膜种植作为全球广泛采用的农作物栽培方式,能改变土壤的水热生态效应,并影响元素的赋存状态。本文采用野外栽培实验,研究了覆膜对土壤—莴苣体系中氮素分布和植物吸收的规律。相比于不覆膜方式,覆膜对土壤含水率、pH值及脲酶活性的影响不明显,但减少了6.0%的土壤有机质、10.4%的硝态氮和1.3%的全氮含量,增加了6.5%的土壤铵态氮。单因素方差分析表明,土壤有机质及全氮含量的组间差异达到了显著性水平。覆膜方式下,氮素生理群落微生物中反硝化细菌占生理群落总数的77.8%—96.2%,氨化细菌、亚硝化细菌及硝化细菌各占1.8%—16.5%、0.6%—5.1%和0.4%—2.8%。与不覆膜相比,覆膜使氨化细菌平均值减少了28.2%,亚硝化、硝化及反硝化细菌平均值分别增加了119.8%、26.7%和48.7%。莴苣植株中的全氮含量变化规律为叶片>茎部>根部。覆膜使根部全氮含量降低了2.8% ,茎部与叶部则分别增加了10.5%和6.8%。覆膜使莴苣根部全氮的富集系数平均值降低了1.5%,迁移系数TF1（莴苣茎部和根部全氮的比值）和TF2（莴苣叶部和根部全氮的比值）平均值分别提高了12.5%和9.5%,影响较小。相关性分析表明,有机质与土壤全氮呈显著正相关（P < 0.05）,而脲酶、铵态氮及无机氮三者与亚硝化细菌均呈显著负相关（P < 0.05）。     

福建畲族的红细胞血型分布The

本文报道了父母双方上溯三代均为畲族的123名健康人的9个红细胞血型系统的分布。其表型分布如下：ABO血型系统：A型34人,B型26人,O型57人,AB型6人。MNSs血型系统：MNSs型5人,MMSs型5人,NNSs型1人, MMss型32人,MNss型62人,NNss型18人。未发现SS型。Rh血型系统：CCDee型44人,CcDee型9人,CCDEe型5人, CcDEe型55人,ccDEe型2人,ccDEE型8人,未发现ccDee、CCDEE型及CcDEE型。Duffy血型系统：Fy(a+b-)型115人,Fy(a+b+)型8人,未发现Fy(a-b+)及Fy(a-b-)型。 Kidd血型系统：Jk(a+b-)型49人,Jk(a+b+)型43人,Jk(a+b+)型43人,Jk(a-b+)型31人,未发现Jk (a-b-)型。Lutheran血型系统: Lu(a-b+) 型123人,未发现Lu(a+b-)及Lu(a+b+)型。Diego血型系统：Di(a+)型13人,Di(a-)型110人。P血型系统：P1(+)型38人,P1(-)型85人。Lewis血型系统：Le(a+b-)型16人,Le(a+b+)型9人,Le(a-b+)型91人,Le(a-b-)型7人。     

A gene from the Sec2 (Gli-R2) locus of a wheat 2RS.2BL chromosomal translocation line

A genomic DNA clone coding for a rye secalin gene (gSec2A) was isolated from a wheat translocation line carrying the 2RS.2BL chromosome, using a previously identified partial secalin (Sec2) cDNA clone as a probe. The predicted N-terminal amino-acid sequence of the gSec2A gene was identical to the N-terminal sequence obtained for Sec2 polypeptide bands isolated from SDS-PAGE gels. Bacterially expressed gSec2A protein was identical in size to that of the smallest Sec2 polypeptide band observed on SDS PAGE gels and is recognized by a monoclonal antibody specific for Mr 75000 2RS γ-secalins. Overall, the predicted protein sequence of gSec2A was most similar (50%) to the family of γ-gliadins and consists of a short N-terminal region containing one cysteine residue followed by a glutamine/proline-rich repetitive domain and a long C-terminal domain containing eight cysteine residues. The repetitive domain can be divided into two regions. One region coded for 15 units, each consisting of eight amino acids similar in sequence to that found in the ω-secalins and C-hordeins. The second region coded for 17 units each consisting of a sequence of 7–10 amino acids similar to that observed in γ-gliadins. Received: 31 February 2000 / Accepted: 21 May 2000     

Microbial translocation into amniotic fluid of vervet monkeys is common and unrelated to adverse infant outcomes

Amniotic fluid was collected from pregnant female African green monkeys (n = 20). Analyses indicate microbial translocation into amniotic fluid during pregnancy is typical, and microbial load reduces across gestation. Microbial translocation does not relate to infant outcome or maternal factors. Lastly, we demonstrate that sample contamination is easily introduced and detectable.     

Evolution of the tetraploid Anemone multifida (2n = 32) and hexaploid A. baldensis (2n = 48) (Ranunculaceae) was accompanied by rDNA loci loss and intergenomic translocation: evidence for their common genome origin

Background and Aims

In the genus Anemone two small groups of taxa occur with the highest ploidy levels 2n = 6x = 48, belonging to the closely related clades: the montane/alpine Baldensis clade and the more temperate Multifida clade. To understand the formation of polyploids within these groups, the evolution of allohexaploid A. baldensis (AABBDD, 2n = 6x = 48) from Europe and allotetraploid Anemone multifida (BBDD, 2n = 4x = 32) from America was analysed.

Methods

Internal transcribed spacer and non-transcribed spacer sequences were used as molecular markers for phylogenetic analyses. Cytogenetic studies, including genomic in situ hybridization with genomic DNA of potential parental species as probe, fluorescence in situ hybridization with 5S and 18S rDNA as probes and 18S rDNA restriction analyses, were used to identify the parental origin of chromosomes and to study genomic changes following polyploidization.

Key Results

This study shows that A. multifida (BBDD, 2n= 4x = 32) and A. baldensis (AABBDD, 2n = 6x = 48) are allopolyploids originating from the crosses of diploid members of the Multifida (donor of the A and B subgenomes) and Baldensis groups (donor of the D subgenome). The A and B subgenomes are closely related to the genomes of A. sylvestris, A. virginiana and A. cylindrica, indicating that these species or their progeny might be the ancestral donors of the B subgenome of A. multifida and A and B subgenomes of A. baldensis. Both polyploids have undergone genomic changes such as interchromosomal translocation affecting B and D subgenomes and changes at rDNA sites. Anemone multifida has lost the 35S rDNA loci characteristic of the maternal donor (B subgenome) and maintained only the rDNA loci of the paternal donor (D subgenome).

Conclusions

It is proposed that A. multifida and A. baldensis probably had a common ancestor and their evolution was facilitated by vegetation changes during the Quaternary, resulting in their present disjunctive distribution.     

Nitrogen availability affects saprotrophic basidiomycetes decomposing pine needles in a long term laboratory study

Fungi, especially basidiomycetous litter decomposers, are pivotal to the turnover of soil organic matter in forest soils. Many litter decomposing fungi have a well-developed capacity to translocate resources in their mycelia, a feature that may significantly affect carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics in decomposing litter. In an eight-month long laboratory study we investigated how the external availability of N affected the decomposition of Scots pine needles, fungal biomass production, N retention and N-mineralization by two litter decomposing fungi – Marasmius androsaceus and Mycena epipterygia. Glycine additions had a general, positive effect on fungal biomass production and increased accumulated needle mass loss after 8 months, suggesting that low N availability may limit fungal growth and activity in decomposing pine litter. Changes in the needle N pool reflected the dynamics of the fungal mycelium. During late decomposition stages, redistribution of mycelium and N out from the decomposed needles was observed for M. epipterygia, suggesting autophagous self degradation.     

Phosphate transporters OsPHT1;9 and OsPHT1;10 are involved in phosphate uptake in rice

We characterized the function of two rice phosphate (Pi) transporters: OsPHT1;9 (OsPT9) and OsPHT1;10 (OsPT10). OsPT9 and OsPT10 were expressed in the root epidermis, root hairs and lateral roots, with their expression being specifically induced by Pi starvation. In leaves, expression of the two genes was observed in both mesophyll and vasculature. High‐affinity Km values for Pi transport of OsPT9 and OsPT10 were determined by yeast experiments and two‐electrode voltage clamp analysis of anion transport in Xenopus oocytes expressing OsPT9 and OsPT10. Pi uptake and Pi concentrations in transgenic plants harbouring overexpressed OsPT9 and OsPT10 were determined by Pi concentration analysis and ³³P‐labelled Pi uptake rate analysis. Significantly higher Pi uptake rates in transgenic plants compared with wild‐type plants were observed under both high‐Pi and low‐Pi solution culture conditions. Conversely, although no alterations in Pi concentration were found in OsPT9 or OsPT10 knockdown plants, a significant reduction in Pi concentration in both shoots and roots was observed in double‐knockdown plants grown under both high‐ and low‐Pi conditions. Taken together, our results suggest that OsPT9 and OsPT10 redundantly function in Pi uptake.     

Interactions of translational factor EF-G with the bacterial ribosome before and after mRNA translocation

A conserved translation factor, known as EF-G in bacteria, promotes the translocation of tRNA and mRNA in the ribosome during protein synthesis. Here, EF-G.ribosome complexes in two intermediate states, before and after mRNA translocation, have been probed with hydroxyl radicals generated from free Fe(II)-EDTA. Before mRNA translocation and GTP hydrolysis, EF-G protected a limited set of nucleotides in both subunits of the ribosome from cleavage by hydroxyl radicals. In this state, an extensive set of nucleotides, in the platform and head domains of the 30S subunit and in the L7/L12 stalk region of the 50S subunit, became more exposed to hydroxyl radical attack, suggestive of conformational changes in these domains. Following mRNA translocation, EF-G protected a larger set of nucleotides (23S rRNA helices H43, H44, H89, and H95; 16S rRNA helices h5 and h15). No nucleotide with enhanced reactivity to hydroxyl radicals was detected in this latter state. Both before and after mRNA translocation, EF-G protected identical nucleotides in h5 and h15 of the 30S subunit. These results suggest that h5 and h15 may remain associated with EF-G during the dynamic course of the translocation mechanism. Nucleotides in H43 and H44 of the 50S subunit were protected only after translocation and GTP hydrolysis, suggesting that these helices interact dynamically with EF-G. The effects in H95 suggest that EF-G interacts weakly with H95 before mRNA translocation and strongly and more extensively with this helix following mRNA translocation.