Evaluation of a new culture method for mass-propagation of a photoperiod-temperature sensitive genic male sterile rice strain N19S

A newly established culture method was evaluated for application in mass-propagation of a photoperiod-temperature sensitive genic male sterile rice strain. It was found that the new culture method was very efficient for the regeneration of plants from callus of this strain, and a high concentration of 6-benzyladenine necessary for highly efficient plant regeneration culture did not seem to have negative effects on some agronomic traits investigated of the regenerated plants and their progenies. By the new culture method, a large number of plants could be regenerated in a relatively short time (approximately 8×10¹² plants within 300 days) from one naked seed-explant. Because of this, prominent drift of the PTGMS rice strain, which accumulates gradually during the course of propagation of the seeds through generations, in the response to photoperiod-temperature conditions could be avoided when this in vitro culture protocol is employed instead of seed propagation. Differences in rates of pollen fertility and seed setting were found between regenerated plants and seed-grown plants, and between their respective first and second progenies. These differences are also of important application value in two-line rice production: Higher pollen fertility of the regenerated plants can be applied with higher efficiency for the propagation of the strain seeds because they have much higher seed setting by self-fertilization; lower pollen fertility of the regenerated plant progenies will result in much lower seed setting by self-fertilization and is, therefore, conducive to the production of hybrid seeds of higher purity by natural crossing with the other line in the two-line system.     

Habitat and Fish Fauna Structure in a Subtropical Mountain Stream in Taiwan before and after a Catastrophic Typhoon

Habitats and fish populations of a subtropical mountain stream in Taiwan were surveyed before and after the hit of super-typhoon Herb in July 1996. There was a significant decrease in total pool area and an increase in total riffle area. Upper stream habitat was more susceptible to the disturbance. Relative abundance of the species was significantly correlated before and after the typhoon (rs=0.89, p<0.001). Morisita's index of similarity for the fish communities in June 1996 and October 1997 ranged between 0.82 and 1.02 for seven out of nine stations. Most common cyprinids decreased in densities after Herb, but recovered seventeen months after the typhoon. There were only minor changes in fish community fourteen months after the typhoon. Cyprinids that are smaller in size, such as Candidia barbata and Abottina brevirostris alticorpus were affected the most. Gobiid Rhinogobius nantaiensis that is well adapted to riffle habitat was unaffected throughout the surveys. The results of this study suggested that in subtropical mountain stream, severe typhoon may significantly alter the habitats, but the impact on fish populations could be relatively small due to features of these mountain species.     

江苏下扬子区寒武系-三叠系牙形刺色变指标(CAI)图及其意义

本文对多年来积累的江苏下扬子区寒武系－三叠系牙形刺CAI材料进行了系统收集和整理,并采用Anita Harris建立的统一标准,编制了本区寒武系－三叠系的5幅牙形刺CAI图;进而结合牙形刺CAI与镜质组反射率（Ro)的对应关系,对上述各系的有机质成熟度进行了评价,对本区海相中、古生界油气勘探具有十分重要的意义。     

Survival of extrapair and within-pair young in tree swallows

In monogamous species, it is generally accepted that males seekextrapair matings to increase their reproductive success withoutadditional parental investment; however, the benefits of extrapairmatings to females are much less clear. One possibility isthat females obtain genes for enhanced offspring viabilityfrom the extrapair sires. If this is the case, then the increasedviability of extrapair young may be evident throughout the periodof embryonic development as well as later in life. Tree swallows(Tachycineta bicolor) have one of the highest known levelsof extrapair mating in birds, and females have substantialcontrol over the paternity of their offspring. We used moleculartechniques to determine the parentage of nestlings and unhatchedembryos to examine the possibility that female tree swallowsgain viability benefits for their extrapair offspring. Althoughboth extrapair paternity and mortality of embryos and nestlingswere high (89% and 54% of broods respectively), we found nodifference in the viability of within-pair and extrapair youngprior to fledging. In addition, extrapair young were not morelikely to be male. There was no bias in the sex of young atfledging, but unhatched embryos were more likely to be male.Our results do not support the idea that female tree swallowsengage in extrapair mating to increase offspring viability,at least early in life.     

The effect of phosphite on the sexual reproduction of some annual species of the jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest of southwest Western Australia

Phosphite is a cost-effective fungicide used to control the pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi which is damaging the diverse flora of the southwest of Western Australia. Three annual species of the southwest jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest of Western Australia (Pterocheata paniculata, Podotheca gnaphalioides and Hyalosperma cotula), were studied to determine the effect of the fungicide phosphite on the species’ reproduction. Phosphite at concentrations of 2.5, 5 and 10 g L^–1 reduced pollen fertility of Pt. paniculata when plants were sprayed at the vegetative stage. Pollen fertility of all three species was reduced when plants were sprayed at anthesis with 10 g L^–1 phosphite. Seed germination was reduced by phosphite in Pt. paniculata and H. cotula when plants were sprayed in the vegetative stage. Phosphite when sprayed at anthesis at a concentration of 5 g L^–1 reduced seed germination of H. cotula. Phosphite at concentrations of 5 and 10 g L^–1 killed a proportion of plants from all three species and up to 90% of Po. gnaphalioides plants. The frequent application of phosphite, therefore, may reduce the abundance of annual plants in this ecosystem. Received: 14 December 2000 / Revision accepted: 10 March 2001     

粘型小麦雄性不育系减数分裂特征及育性恢复研究

调查了粘型1B／1R和非1B／1R小麦雄性不育系,保持系及其F2的花粉母细胞减数分裂中期Ⅰ染色体联会情况、后期Ⅰ出现落后染色体的细胞频率以及末期Ⅱ含有微核的四分体的频率,结果表明：（1）粘果山羊细胞质对1B／1R型不育系减数分裂染色体配对水平具有特异性降低作用;（2）粘型1B／1R不育系减数分裂中期Ⅰ出现单价体细胞频率与后期Ⅰ出现落后染色体细胞的频率呈正相关,也与含微核的四分体频率呈正相关,而对应保持系则没有相关性;（3）粘果山羊草细胞质对非1B／1R不育系减数分裂过程影响不大,5个1B／1R不育系减数分裂过程中,3个时期染色体行为变异率的差异是特定的1B／1R核型与粘果山羊草细胞质互作的结果;（4）粘型1B／1R不育系杂交R2单株减数分裂3个时期染色体行为变异率与其恢复度成反比,这类不育系减数分裂中染色体行为不同步是其恢复不高且变异较大的一重要原因。     

水稻ＣＭＳ—ＷＡ育性恢复基因的定位

在由227个组合组成的珍汕97A×（珍汕97B×密阳46）F     

Functional Diversity and Evolution of the Drosophila Sperm Proteome

Spermatozoa are central to fertilization and the evolutionary fitness of sexually reproducing organisms. As such, a deeper understanding of sperm proteomes (and associated reproductive tissues) has proven critical to the advancement of the fields of sexual selection and reproductive biology. Due to their extraordinary complexity, proteome depth-of-coverage is dependent on advancements in technology and related bioinformatics, both of which have made significant advancements in the decade since the last Drosophila sperm proteome was published. Here, we provide an updated version of the Drosophila melanogaster sperm proteome (DmSP3) using improved separation and detection methods and an updated genome annotation. Combined with previous versions of the sperm proteome, the DmSP3 contains a total of 3176 proteins, and we provide the first label-free quantitation of the sperm proteome for 2125 proteins. The top 20 most abundant proteins included the structural elements α- and β-tubulins and sperm leucyl-aminopeptidases. Both gene content and protein abundance were significantly reduced on the X chromosome, consistent with prior genomic studies of X chromosome evolution. We identified 9 of the 16 Y-linked proteins, including known testis-specific male fertility factors. We also identified almost one-half of known Drosophila ribosomal proteins in the DmSP3. The role of this subset of ribosomal proteins in sperm is unknown. Surprisingly, our expanded sperm proteome also identified 122 seminal fluid proteins (Sfps), proteins originally identified in the accessory glands. We show that a significant fraction of ‘sperm-associated Sfps’ are recalcitrant to concentrated salt and detergent treatments, suggesting this subclass of Sfps are expressed in testes and may have additional functions in sperm, per se. Overall, our results add to a growing landscape of both sperm and seminal fluid protein biology and in particular provides quantitative evidence at the protein level for prior findings supporting the meiotic sex-chromosome inactivation model for male-specific gene and X chromosome evolution.     

Sociosexual development,pair bond formation,and mechanisms of fertility suppression in female cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus oedipus)

The effect of various social environments on sociosexual behavior was examined in six young female cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus oedipus) and in three established breeding females. Behavioral observations and hormonal samples were collected on young females while they were living with their families, when they were isolated from conspecifics, and after they were paired with an unrelated male. While living with the family, all females showed a suppression of fertility and low frequencies of sociosexual behavior. Following removal from the family, isolated females displayed an increase in rate of scent marking and an increase in hormonal levels. When young females were paired with males, they were exposed to scent secretions from their natal families, from an unfamilar family, and from a control for a total of 24 weeks. After pairing, hormonal levels increased dramatically, and ovarian cyclicity began. An increase in sociosexual behavior and elevated levels of scent marking accompanied this physiological change. Newly paired females had higher rates of affiliative behavior and scent marking than did established breeding females. However, both newly paired and established breeding males were more likely to initiate contact, grooming bouts, and social sniffing than were females. Time to first ovulation was later in females who were exposed to scent secretions from their natal families than it was in those females given a control for the first 8 weeks following pairing. No female conceived during exposure to scent secretions. However, once normal ovarian cycling had begun or a pregnancy was established, exposure to scent secretions had no effect. Thus, the social environment influences the fertility, sociosexual behavior, and pair bond formation of cotton-top tamarins. In addition, chemical stimuli found in the scent secretions produced by the natal family are most likely involved in reproductive suppression.