Effect of mannose-binding lectin from peanut and pea on the stem borer Chilo partellus

A mannose-binding lectin found in vegetative tissues of peanut, Arachis hypogaea, was compared with mannose-binding lectin from pea, Pisum sativum, for toxic effects on larvae of the stem borer Chilo partellus (Swinhoe). After 10 days, the mortality of larvae fed on artificial diet containing 0.5% (m/m) peanut lectin was 46.2%. The mortality of larvae fed on 1.0% peanut lectin was similar (48.1%) but insects were significantly smaller than those of the 0.5% treatment. Larvae of both lectin treatments stopped feeding within three days. Larval size and mortality was not significantly reduced by 0.1% peanut lectin and 1% heat-treated lectin did not show toxic effects. The mannose-binding lectin from pea was not toxic to C. partellus at concentrations up to 1%. Peanut lectin bound to the apical membranes of columnar epithelial cells in the mid-gut of C. partellus. This suggests that peanut lectin has an antinutritive action and that it may protect vegetative tissues of peanut against insect pests.     

A new species ofAphidius [Hymenoptera] attacking the pea aphid,Acyrthosiphon pisum

Aphidius staryi Chen & Luhman n. sp. is described. The species was collected and introduced into California from Israel and Turkey byD. González. The new species is morphologically most similar toAphidius smithi, and keys toEady's urticae group.     

Indole-3-acetaldehyde oxidase of pea seedlings

Indole-3-acetaldehyde oxidase was partially purified from the epicotyl of Pisum satiyum seedlings by column chromatography using CM-Sephadex and Sephadex G-150. The enzyme was only active in the presence of molecular oxygen. The activity was maximal at pH 8.0, and the Km value for indole-3-acetaldehyde was 1.4 × 10⁻³ M . The enzyme was inhibited strongly by p -hydroxymercuribenzoate, cyanide and hydroxylamine, suggesting that it contains sulfhydryl group(s) and a metal component such as iron.     

Modification of native grasses for biofuel production may increase virus susceptibility

Bioenergy production is driving modifications to native plant species for use as novel biofuel crops. Key aims are to increase crop growth rates and to enhance conversion efficiency by reducing biomass recalcitrance to digestion. However, selection for these biofuel‐valuable traits has potential to compromise plant defenses and alter interactions with pests and pathogens. Insect‐vectored plant viruses are of particular concern because perennial crops have potential to serve as virus reservoirs that influence regional disease dynamics. In this study, we examined relationships between growth rates and biomass recalcitrance in five switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) populations, ranging from near‐wildtype to highly selected cultivars, in a common garden trial. We measured biomass accumulation rates and assayed foliage for acid detergent lignin, neutral detergent fiber, in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility and in vitro true dry matter digestibility. We then evaluated relationships between these traits and susceptibility to a widely distributed group of aphid‐transmitted Poaceae viruses (Luteoviridae: Barley and cereal yellow dwarf viruses, B/CYDVs). Virus infection rates and prevalence were assayed with RT‐PCR in the common garden, in greenhouse inoculation trials, and in previously established switchgrass stands across a 300‐km transect in Michigan, USA. Aphid host preferences were quantified in a series of arena host choice tests with field‐grown foliage. Contrary to expectations, biomass accumulation rates and foliar digestibility were not strongly linked in switchgrass populations we examined, and largely represented two different trait axes. Natural B/CYDV prevalence in established switchgrass stands ranged from 0% to 28%. In experiments, susceptibility varied notably among switchgrass populations and was more strongly predicted by potential biomass accumulation rates than by foliar digestibility; highly selected, productive cultivars were most virus‐susceptible and most preferred by aphids. Evaluation and mitigation of virus susceptibility of new biofuel crops is recommended to avert possible unintended consequences of biofuel production on regional pathogen dynamics.     

浙江武义2009年南方水稻黑条矮缩病的毒源地分析

2009年, 浙江省境内首次出现南方水稻黑条矮缩病毒(Southern rice black streaked dwarf virus, SRBSDV), 且仅武义县有发病现象。因为该病毒病是一种虫媒病毒, 且白背飞虱Sogatella furcifera (Horváth)是主要传毒介体, 所以本文通过白背飞虱灯下诱虫情况调查、 迁飞轨迹模拟、 天气学背景分析以及毒源地分析, 阐释了2009年浙江省武义县发现的南方水稻黑条矮缩病的供毒源地分布情况, 以及白背飞虱携毒的传递路径, 并讨论了轨迹模拟中各生物学参数的设定方法, 从而为剖析该病毒的宏观流行规律奠定科学基础。结果显示：(1) 通过对白背飞虱迁入武义的主要虫源地与经鉴定的南方水稻黑条矮缩病发病区域的叠加分析, 明确了浙江武义的可能毒源地分布于两广、 闽南、 赣南四省区境内; (2) 西南低空急流及偏南气流是白背飞虱将我国南方的病毒远距离传送到武义县境内的动力源; (3) 白背飞虱随下沉气流和降雨在武义境内的集中降落是南方水稻黑条矮缩病在当地暴发的触发条件。     

Iron Deficiency Induced Changes on Electron Transport Rate in Pisum Sativum Chloroplasts

Iron deficiency induced decrease in the rate of whole electron transport chain in chloroplasts of pea (Pisum sativum L.). Such reduction was mainly due to the loss of photosystem (PS) 2 activity. The same result was obtained when the ratio of variable to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence (F_v/F_m) was evaluated. The loss in PS 2 activity was primarily due to a loss of 33, 23 and 17 kDa polypeptides. In contrast, iron deficiency induced the synthesis of 28 and 29 kDa polypeptides.     

Oxidative stress triggered by aluminum in plant roots

Aluminum (Al) is a major growth-limiting factor for plants in acid soils. The primary site of Al accumulation and toxicity is the root meristem, and the inhibition of root elongation is the most sensitive response to Al. Al cannot catalyze redox reactions but triggers lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in roots. Furthermore, Al causes respiration inhibition and ATP depletion. Comparative studies of Al toxicity in roots with that in cultured plant cells suggest that Al causes dysfunction and ROS production in mitochondria, and that ROS production, but not lipid peroxidation, seems to be a determining factor of root-elongation inhibition by Al.     

T-DNA recombination and replication in maize cells

T-DNA recombination and replication was analyzed in 'black mexican sweet' (BMS) cells transformed with T-DNAs containing the replication system from wheat dwarf virus (WDV). Upon recombination between the T-DNA ends, a promoterless marker gene (gusA) was activated. Activation of the recombination marker gene was delayed and increased exponentially over time, suggesting that recombination and amplification of the T-DNA occurred in maize cells. Mutant versions of the viral initiator gene (rep), known to be defective in the replication function, failed to generate recoverable recombinant T-DNA molecules. Circularization of T-DNA by the FLP/FRT site-specific recombination system and/or homologous recombination was not necessary to recover circular T-DNAs. However, replicating T-DNAs appeared to be suitable substrates for site-specific and homologous recombination. Among 33 T-DNA border junctions sequenced, only one pair of identical junction sites was found implying that the population of circular T-DNAs was highly heterogenous. Since no circular T-DNA molecules were detected in treatments without rep, it suggested that T-DNA recombination was linked to replication and might have been stimulated by this process. The border junctions observed in recombinant T-DNA molecules were indicative of illegitimate recombination and were similar to left-border recombination of T-DNA into the genome after Agro-mediated plant transformation. However, recombination between T-DNA molecules differed from T-DNA/genomic DNA junction sites in that few intact right borders were observed. The replicating T-DNA molecules did not enhance genomic random integration of T-DNA in the experimental configuration used for this study.     

水稻矮秆突变体dtl1的分离鉴定及其突变基因的精细定位

文章通过对所构建的水稻突变体库进行大规模筛选,获得一个稳定遗传的矮秆突变体,与野生型日本晴相比,该突变体表现为植株矮化、叶片卷曲、分蘖减少和不育等性状,命名为dtl1(dwarf and twist leaf 1)。dtl1属于nl型矮秆,激素检测表明,矮秆性状与赤霉素和油菜素内酯无关。遗传分析显示,突变性状受单一隐性核基因控制。利用dtl1与籼稻品种Taichung Native 1杂交构建F2群体,将该突变基因DTL1定位于水稻第10染色体长臂2个SSR标记RM25923和RM6673之间约70.4 kb区域内,并与InDel标记Z10-29共分离,在该区域预测有13个候选基因,但未见调控水稻株高相关基因的报道,因此,认为DTL1基因是一个新的控制水稻株高的基因。     

保护性耕作条件下旱地农田麦-豆双序列轮作体系的水分动态及产量效应

保护性耕作(conservationtillage)能够减少水土流失、提高耕地产量,是一类具有生态保护意义的持续性农业耕作形式。2002年至2004年在定西旱地农业地区进行了保护性耕作条件下旱地农田春小麦豌豆双序列轮作土壤水分动态及产量效应的试验研究,结果表明:保护性耕作能够显著改善0～200cm土层土壤贮水量及含水量,随着降水量的增多土壤对降水的保蓄能力增强。在降水较少年份免耕秸秆覆盖的这种作用表现突出,而在降水充沛的年份免耕地膜覆盖则更具优势。耕层土壤水分因受降水等因素的影响而变化剧烈,耕层以下土壤水分变幅相对较小。播种期、五叶期及收获期土壤具有较高含水量,而开花期土壤含水量则较低。在两种轮作体系中,播种期春小麦和豌豆免耕秸秆覆盖处理0～50cm土层含水量分别较常规耕作增加28%、26%和11%、23%,降水生产效率较常规耕作提高了17.79%～26.81%。在春小麦豌豆轮作体系中免耕秸秆覆盖处理的作物产量(春小麦 豌豆)及水分利用效率分别为3420kghm2和8.11kg(hm2·mm),较常规耕作分别提高26.81%和25.39%。