Ethylene production by loblolly pine seedlings associated with water stress

Effects of water stress on production of ethylene and its precursor, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), by loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.) seedlings from a Texas drought-hardy and a Virginia Coastal Plain source were investigated. Ethylene production rates in needles from the Virgnia source increased slightly with initial stress (-1.3 MPa), declined until water potential reached -1.6 MPa and then increased sharply at -2.5 MPa. The ethylene production rates in needles from the Texas also increased slightly with initial stress, then decreased with decreasing water potential. Ethylene production by root tissue was two to three times higher than needle tissue and decreased with decreasing water potential. ACC concentrations in needles of both seed sources decreased as water potential began decreasing. Below -1.4 MPa, ACC levels started increasing (Texas source) or remained constant until -2.8 MPa (Virginia source) at which time its level increased three-fold. Mean ACC levels in root tissue [122 nmol (g dry weight)⁻¹] were slightly higher than the mean levels in the needle tissue [92 nmol (g dry weight) ⁻¹]; roots apparently were more efficient in converting it to ethylene since ethylene production was two to three times higher than needle tissue. The modulation of ethylene synthesis by ACC synthase and ethyleneforming enzyme appeared to be influenced by stress level, organ and seed source.     

赛黑桦不同半同胞家系种子活力比较

种子活力能够预测幼苗的生长势和适应性,可作为评价采种母树的重要指标。赛黑桦作为东北林区木质坚硬的树种之一,关于其种子活力研究尚未见报道。比较不同家系赛黑桦种子活力,对赛黑桦采种母树进行初步评价,可为赛黑桦优良家系的选择提供参考。本研究以赛黑桦蛟河、集安和珲春3个采种地共30个半同胞家系为试材,对采种地及家系间种子千粒重、发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数、出苗率和幼苗健壮率等7个性状进行了方差分析、遗传力估算、多重比较、相关性分析,并利用主成分分析法对参试家系进行了综合评价。结果表明,赛黑桦种子活力指数和幼苗健壮率在不同采种地间的差异达到了显著或极显著水平;7个性状在不同家系间的差异均达到显著或极显著水平;除出苗率和幼苗健壮率外,各性状的家系遗传力均高于0.68;7个性状间均呈现显著或极显著的正相关;采用主成分分析法选择JH6、JA1、JA7、JH10、JH3、HC1和HC10等7个家系为优良家系,这些家系的种子千粒重、发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数、出苗率和幼苗健壮率的平均值分别比总平均值高3.87%、30.29%、30.22%、31.99%、58.22%、11.88%和30.60%。初步认为这些优良家系的母树是赛黑桦采种的首选母树。     

红松半同胞家系遗传变异分析及果材兼用优良家系选择

以临江林业局闹枝林场内48个红松半同胞家系为材料,连续3年对其生长性状进行测定分析。方差分析结果表明不同家系间各性状差异均达极显著水平（P<0.01）;家系间各指标表型变异系数变化范围为2.74%~51.39%;半同胞家系间各性状遗传力均超过0.97;48个半同胞家系树高、胸径和单株球果数量的一般配合力变化范围为（-1.82~1.70）、（-7.91~9.99）和（-14.85~15.15）;不同树龄树高间、胸径间的相关系数达极显著水平（0.993 < r < 0.999,0.995 < r < 0.998）;分别利用生长性状和结实性状对家系进行综合评价,以10%的入选率,初步选出5个生长性状优良的家系,入选家系树高和胸径平均值分别为8.02 m和21.95 cm,遗传增益分别为7.63%和46.29%。初步选出5个结实性状优良的家系,球果数量和千粒重平均值分别为30.26个和736.20 g,遗传增益分别为86.49%和1.46%。本研究中评价选出的优良家系可为红松良种登记提供材料,选择方法为其它果材兼用树种良种选育提供理论基础。     

Identification,purification, and characterization of pathogenesis-related proteins from virus-infected Samsun NN tobacco leaves

Ten pH-3 soluble, low-molecular-weight pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs) were found to accumulate in leaves of tobacco cv. Samsun NN reacting hypersensitively to tobacco mosaic virus. Besides the previously characterized PRs 1a, 1b, 1c and 2, these proteins were provisionally designated N, O, P, Q, R, and S in order of decreasing electrophoretic mobility in native polyacrylamide gels. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis indicated that the PRs consist of single polypeptides, except for R, which is composed of two components with slightly different molecular weights. Estimated molecular weights in SDS-containing gels were: PRs 1a and 1b 17 kD, 1c 16.5 kD, 2 31 kD, N 33 kD, O 35 kD, P 27 kD, Q 28 kD, R 13 and 15 kD, and S 25 kD. However, based on their elution from gel filtration columns and relative moblities in native gels of different acrylamide concentrations, P and Q appeared to have molecular weights similar to those of the PR 1 group. Upon chromatofocusing no additional components were resolved. The PRs were eluted between pH 7 and 4; except for R, their pIs, as judged from isoelectric focusing, appeared to lie in the range from pH 4 to 5.2. In the presence of 6 M urea PR 1a was split into two components, one of which was strongly retarded on gels, as were P and Q. None of the PRs was detected when gels were stained for glycoproteins.By combinations of gel filtration, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, and chromatofocusing, PRs 1a, 1b, 1c, 2 and N were purified, their amino acid compositions determined, and antisera raised against each of these components. By Western blotting, antisera against either PR 1a, 1b, or 1c reacted with each of the components of the PR 1 group, as well as with PR S. Similarly, the antisera against either PR 2 or N reacted with both 2 and N, as well as with O and R. On the basis of major similarities in molecular weight characteristics, amino acid compositions, and serological relationships, it is proposed to classify tobacco PRs into five groups: 1: PRs 1a, 1b, and 1c; 2: 2a (formerly 2), 2b (N), and 2c (O); 3: 3a (P), and 3b (Q); 4: 4a and 4b (the two components of R); and 5: PR 5 (S).     

杉木半同胞子代林的遗传测定和综合指数选择

本研究对四年生杉木半同胞子代林49个家系的遗传测定结果表明：树高、胸径、冠幅等性状呈高度遗传;枝粗、枝数等性状呈弱度遗传;枝数与大多性状间呈不显著遗传负相关;树高、胸径之间遗传相关显著;冠幅、年轮盘数、枝粗及枝长四者之间遗传相关极显著;该四性状与高、径之间呈极显著遗传相关．采用综合指数选择摸式得指数方程为I=1.647P1 2.993P2 1.522P3 0.086P4-0.ll7P5-1.779P6-1.995P7,据此选出遗传型最佳家系,并分析了综合指数选择法的合理性和有效性．     

Friend or foe: inter‐specific interactions and conflicts of interest within the family

1. Interactions between species can vary from mutually beneficial to evolutionarily neutral to antagonistic, even when the same two species are involved. Similarly, social interactions between members of the same species can lie on a spectrum from conflict to cooperation. 2. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether variation in the two types of social behaviour are interconnected. Is the fitness of the various classes of social partner within species (such as parent and offspring, or male and female) differently affected by interactions with a second species? Moreover, can inter‐specific interactions influence the outcome of social interactions within species? 3. The present experiments focus on the interactions between the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides Herbst and the phoretic mite Poecilochirus carabi G. Canestrini & R. Canestrini. The approach was to measure the fitness of burying beetle mothers, fathers, and offspring after reproduction, which took place either in the presence or absence of mites. 4. We found that male, female, and larval burying beetles derive contrasting fitness costs and benefits from their interactions with the mite, despite sharing a common family environment. From the mite's perspective, its relationship with the burying beetle can, therefore, be simultaneously antagonistic, neutral, and possibly even mutualistic, depending on the particular family member involved. We also found that mites can potentially change the outcome of evolutionary conflicts within the family. 5. We conclude that inter‐specific interactions can explain some of the variation in social interactions seen within species. It is further suggested that intra‐specific interactions might contribute to variation in the outcome of interactions between species.     

POSTMENOPAUSAL MOTHERHOOD: IMMORAL,ILLEGAL? A CASE STUDY

The paper explores the ethics of post-menopausal motherhood by looking at the case of Adriana Iliescu, the oldest woman ever to have given birth (so far). To this end, I will approach the three most common objections brought against the mother and/or against the team of healthcare professionals who made it happen: the age of the mother, the fact that she is single, the appropriateness of her motivation and of that of the medical team.     

Comparative genomics in hemiascomycete yeasts: evolution of sex, silencing, and subtelomeres

The recent release of sequences of several unexplored yeast species that cover an evolutionary range comparable to the entire phylum of chordates offers us a unique opportunity to investigate how genes involved in adaptation have been shaped by evolution. We have examined how three different sets of genes, all related to adaptative processes at the genomic level, have evolved in hemiascomycetes: (1) the mating-type genes that govern sexuality, (2) the silencing genes that are connected to regulation of mating-type cassettes and to telomere position effect, and (3) the gene families found repeated in subtelomeric regions.We report new combinations of mating-type genes and cassettes in hemiascomycetous species; we show that silencing proteins diverge rapidly. We have also found that in all species studied, subtelomeric gene families exist and are specific to each species.