Organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis in callus cultures ofRosa hybrida andRosa chinensis minima

Pre-incubation of somatic tissues of the cut rose Carefree Beauty and miniature roses Red Sunblaze and Baby Katie in 10, 100, or 200 M 2,4-D induced the development of highly rhizogenic callus. Upon transfer of rhizogenic callus to a regeneration medium containing 23 M TDZ and 3 M GA₃, a low frequency of shoot organogenesis (3.3%) and somatic embryogenesis (6.6%) was observed. Incubation of leaf and stem internodes in 11, 27, 54, 81, or 108 M NAA followed by transfer of explants to the regeneration medium resulted in up to a 25% increase in shoot organogenesis from callus-derived internodal explants of Red Sunblaze, but no somatic embryogenesis was observed. The influence of glucose versus sucrose in the regeneration medium on leaf explants of Carefree Beauty and Baby Katie pre-incubated in 100 M 2,4-D revealed a difference in genotypic response to shoot organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis. For Carefree Beauty, a concentration of 111 mM glucose induced higher frequencies of both organogenic (33%) and embryogenic calluses (25%) than either 59 mM or 117 mM sucrose. For Baby Katie, no significant difference was found for number of organogenic calluses induced on 59 mM sucrose and 111 mM glucose.Abbreviations ABA Abscisic acid - BA Benzyladenine - 2,4-D 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - GA₃ Gibberellic acid - IAA Indoleacetic acid - MS Murashige & Skoog (1962) - NAA -Naphthaleneacetic acid - TDZ Thidiazuron     

Biological consequences of stream routing through a final-cut Strip mine pit: Benthic macroinvertebrates

Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected from the Plachek Pit, a final-cut coal strip mine pit at the Big Horn Mine near Sheridan, Wyoming, USA. Goose Creek was routed through the pit to allow mining under the original creek bed. The benthic community in the pit was dominated by the worm Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri and various midge genera, including Chironomus sp., Procladius sp. and Tanypus stellatus. Insects other than chironomids were minor components of the benthic fauna, and were collected only in the upstream portions of the pit; they were concluded to have originated from drift deposition. The pit functions as a sink for drifting macroinvertebrates. Based on community composition and supplemental water quality information it was concluded that the Plachek Pit best exemplified an organically-enriched, lake-like ecosystem. Overall, rerouting of Goose Creek through the Plachek Pit was not viewed as deleterious to Goose Creek, but rather benefited the creek by serving as a sink for inputs from upstream municipal and agricultural effluents.     

Testing meat-eating in early hominids: an analysis of butchery marks on defleshed carcases

The diet of early hominids responsible for the bone accumulations at Plio-Pleistocene sites is still a controversial issue. Meateating and bone marrow consumption are often presented either as complementary or as opposing strategies of carcass exploitation. The occurrence of cut marks on fossil bones at early sites is a potential source of information that has not been consistently used as evidence of what products hominids obtained from carcasses. Some authors interpret them as the result of manipulating meat-bearing bones, whereas others believe that they can also be the result of extracting marginal scraps of flesh that have survived carnivores’ initial consumption of carcasses. In this study, a referential framework concerning the latter process is presented and it is concluded, according to the data drawn from the FLK “Zinj” site and the results obtained in the experiment, that hominids processed meat-bearing bones (in which flesh was abundant) and not defleshed carcasses from felid kills. This work constitutes a reference that can also be used for later Pleistocene sites and adds a further dimension to the hunting-versus-scavenging debate.     

Micropropagation of Alpinia purpurata from inflorescence buds

Alpinia purpurata K Schum inflorescence buds inoculated on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) containing 10 M 6-benzyladenine with 5 M naphthaleneacetic acid gave rise to multiple shoot formation with a mean increase of 15 to 20 new shoots each 4 weeks. Plants could be stored for more than 6 months in flasks containing deionized water with 5 g 1^-1 sucrose with minimal vegetative growth.Abbreviations IAA indole-3-acetic acid - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - BA 6-benzyladenine - AS Adenine sulphate - MS Murashige and Skoog medium     

Invertase and sucrose synthase in flowers

Sucrose and reducing sugar concentrations in petals of cut carnation flowers, whose life was prolonged up to 7 days by bathing stalks in sucrose solutions, were respectively 3-fold and 2-fold higher than those bathed in water. Reducing sugar concentrations were about 7-fold higher than sucrose concentrations. A study of invertase and sucrose synthase activities in flower petals of carnation and four other species of flowers revealed that both enzymes may be involved in hydrolysis of translocated sucrose. Invertase activity, while being up to 20-fold higher than sucrose synthase activity in some species was approximately comparable in others. More detailed studies on invertase from petals of 3 flower species demonstrated the presence of only the acid form of the enzyme with a K_m value for sucrose of about 2.5 mM.     

Methane dynamics of a restored cut‐away peatland

We measured a cut‐away peatland's CH₄ dynamics using the static chamber technique one year before and two years after restoration (rewetting). The CH₄ emissions were related to variation in vegetation and abiotic factors using multiple linear regression. A statistical model for CH₄ flux with cottongrass cover (Eriophorum vaginatum L.), soil temperature, water level, and effective temperature sum index as driving variables explained most (r² = 0.81) of the temporal and spatial variability in the fluxes. In addition to the direct increasing effect of raised water level on CH₄ emissions, rewetting also promoted an increase of cottongrass cover which consequently increased carbon flux (substrate availability) into the system. The seasonal CH₄ dynamics in tussocks followed seasonal CO₂ dynamics till mid August but in late autumn CH₄ emissions increased while CO₂ influxes decreased. The reconstructed seasonal CH₄ exchange was clearly higher following the rewetting, although it was still lower than emissions from pristine mires in the same area. However, our simulation for closed cottongrass vegetation showed that CH₄ emissions from restored peatlands may remain at a lower level for a longer period of time even after sites have become fully vegetated and colonized by mire plants.     

表油菜素内对月季切花中几种与膜脂过氧化相关生理指标的影响

2%蔗糖 200mg·L-1硼酸 0.5mg·L-1表油菜素内酯(epiBR)可减缓月季切花体内的超氧物歧化酶(SOD)活性和抗坏血酸含量的下降,削弱丙二醛(MDA)含量和细胞膜相对透性的上升幅度,从而延长切花的瓶插寿命。     

New horizons in culture and valorization of red microalgae

Research on marine microalgae has been abundantly published and patented these last years leading to the production and/or the characterization of some biomolecules such as pigments, proteins, enzymes, biofuels, polyunsaturated fatty acids, enzymes and hydrocolloids. This literature focusing on metabolic pathways, structural characterization of biomolecules, taxonomy, optimization of culture conditions, biorefinery and downstream process is often optimistic considering the valorization of these biocompounds. However, the accumulation of knowledge associated with the development of processes and technologies for biomass production and its treatment has sometimes led to success in the commercial arena. In the history of the microalgae market, red marine microalgae are well positioned particularly for applications in the field of high value pigment and hydrocolloid productions. This review aims to establish the state of the art of the diversity of red marine microalgae, the advances in characterization of their metabolites and the developments of bioprocesses to produce this biomass.     

标准切花菊杂交F1代群体侧枝侧蕾性状的杂种优势和遗传分析

以标准切花菊〔Dendranthema morifolium(Ramat.)Tzvel.〕品种'优香'('Yuuka')为母本、品种'神马'('Jinba')为父本进行杂交,对杂交F1代群体的单株侧枝平均长度、单株侧枝数、单株侧枝数与单株叶节数的比值(R1)、主蕾直径与侧蕾直径的比值(R2)、单株侧蕾数以及主蕾与侧蕾间距离6个性状进行杂种优势和相关性分析,并利用主基因+多基因混合遗传模型检测这些性状的主基因效应.结果显示:杂交F1代群体6个侧枝侧蕾性状的变异系数为2378%~5065%,且侧枝性状的变异系数总体上高于侧蕾性状;各性状的频次均呈现连续性的正态分布趋势,说明这些性状可能属于多基因控制的数量性状.杂交F1代群体的6个侧枝侧蕾性状均在001水平上表现出显著的中亲优势,表明各性状均存在显著的杂种优势.6个性状中,单株侧枝平均长度的中亲值最大(6230 mm),R1的中亲值最小(026);单株侧枝平均长度、R2和主蕾与侧蕾间距离的中亲优势均为正值,单株侧枝数、单株侧蕾数和R1的中亲优势均为负值.6个性状的中亲优势率为-5374%~3128%,其中,单株侧枝数的中亲优势率最小,而主蕾与侧蕾间距离的中亲优势率最大.相关性分析结果显示:单株侧枝平均长度和单株侧枝数均与R1呈极显著正相关,并与R2和单株侧蕾数呈极显著负相关;R2与侧蕾数也呈极显著正相关,且二者均与主蕾与侧蕾间距离呈极显著正相关.混合遗传分析结果显示:单株侧枝平均长度、R1、R2和单株侧蕾数均受2对主基因控制,符合B-1模型,主基因表现为"加性-显性-上位性",这4个性状的遗传率分别为7707%、9672%、6438%和5307%;单株侧枝数也受2对主基因控制,符合B-2模型,主基因表现为"加性-显性",该性状的遗传率为7438%,表明这5个性状的遗传存在主基因控制效应.而主蕾与侧蕾间距离符合A-0遗传模型,说明该性状无主基因控制,易受环境影响.