特色桑资源ITS, TrnL-F, rps16序列与亲缘关系分析

为了更好地开发利用特色桑树品种,分析了龙桑、龙须桑等12个特色桑资源ITS、TrnL-F、rps16碱基序列的长度、G+C含量、亲缘关系、遗传距离及信息变异位点。结果表明,ITS间隔区(包括5.8S)全长为576~590 bp,G+C含量59.38%~60.17%;TrnL-F间隔区(包括TrnL内含子)全长为920~923 bp,G+C含量为34.02%~34.24%;rps16内含子全长为929~947 bp,G+C含量为32.51%~33.26%。亲缘关系分析显示,分支图首先将外类群—构树分出,紧接着分出的是新疆黑桑。再依次为咸丰长穗桑、钦州长果桑、神农华桑、广东大10、雅安白桑、斯里兰卡1号、湖北蒙桑4号、龙桑、和田白桑,龙须桑、剑持、小冠桑在分支树的最顶层。根据外类群确定法,新疆黑桑为原始类型,龙须桑、剑持、小冠桑为最进化类型。遗传距离分析显示,新疆黑桑、剑持、咸丰长穗桑、钦州长果桑、小冠桑与其他桑属材料的遗传距离分别为1.0~1.3、0.2~0.3、0.1~0.4、0.1~0.2、0~0.3,龙桑、斯里兰卡1号、雅安白桑、和田白桑、广东大10、龙须桑、湖北蒙桑4号与其他桑属材料间遗传距离差异不大。信息变异位点分析显示共有14个信息位点,占总位点数的0.5564%。变异主要发生在外类群—构树和新疆黑桑,且变异大多集中在ITS区域。ITS、TrnL-F和rps16三片段分析桑属的亲缘关系,信息位点不足,有待深入研究。     

Accounting for molecular stochasticity in systematic revisions: Species limits and phylogeny of Paroaria

Different frameworks have been proposed for using molecular data in systematic revisions, but there is ongoing debate on their applicability, merits and shortcomings. In this paper we examine the fit between morphological and molecular data in the systematic revision of Paroaria, a group of conspicuous songbirds endemic to South America. We delimited species based on examination of >600 specimens, and developed distance-gap, and distance- and character-based coalescent simulations to test species limits with molecular data. The morphological and molecular data collected were then analyzed using parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian phylogenetics. The simulations were better at evaluating the new species limits than using genetic distances. Species diversity within Paroaria had been underestimated by 60%, and the revised genus comprises eight species. Phylogenetic analyses consistently recovered a congruent topology for the most recently derived species in the genus, but the most basal divergences were not resolved with these data. The systematic and phylogenetic hypotheses developed here are relevant to both setting conservation priorities and understanding the biogeography of South America.     

Inkjet‐Printed Micrometer‐Thick Perovskite Solar Cells with Large Columnar Grains

Transferring the high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of spin‐coated perovskite solar cells (PSCs) on the laboratory scale to large‐area photovoltaic modules requires a significant advance in scalable fabrication methods. Digital inkjet printing promises scalable, material, and cost‐efficient deposition of perovskite thin films on a wide range of substrates and in arbitrary shapes. In this work, high‐quality inkjet‐printed triple‐cation (methylammonium, formamidinium, and cesium) perovskite layers with exceptional thicknesses of >1 µm are demonstrated, enabling unprecedentedly high PCEs > 21% and stabilized power output efficiencies > 18% for inkjet‐printed PSCs. In‐depth characterization shows that the thick inkjet‐printed perovskite thin films deposited using the process developed herein exhibit a columnar crystal structure, free of horizontal grain boundaries, which extend over the entire thickness. A thin film thickness of around 1.5 µm is determined as optimal for PSC for this process. Up to this layer thickness X‐ray photoemission spectroscopy analysis confirms the expected stoichiometric perovskite composition at the surface and shows strong deviations and inhomogeneities for thicker thin films. The micrometer‐thick perovskite thin films exhibit remarkably long charge carrier lifetimes, highlighting their excellent optoelectronic characteristics. They are particularly promising for next‐generation inkjet‐printed perovskite solar cells, photodetectors, and X‐ray detectors.     

Plant surface lipid biosynthetic pathways and their utility for metabolic engineering of waxes and hydrocarbon biofuels

Due to their unique physical properties, waxes are high-value materials that are used in a variety of industrial applications. They are generated by chemical synthesis, extracted from fossil sources, or harvested from a small number of plant and animal species. As a result, the diversity of chemical structures in commercial waxes is low and so are their yields. These limitations can be overcome by engineering of wax biosynthetic pathways in the seeds of high-yielding oil crops to produce designer waxes for specific industrial end uses. In this review, we first summarize the current knowledge regarding the genes and enzymes generating the chemical diversity of cuticular waxes that accumulate at the surfaces of primary plant organs. We then consider the potential of cuticle biosynthetic genes for biotechnological wax production, focusing on selected examples of wax ester chain lengths and isomers. Finally, we discuss the genes/enzymes of cuticular alkane biosynthesis and their potential in future metabolic engineering of plants for the production of renewable hydrocarbon fuels.     

不同沙地生境下黄柳(Salix gordejevii)的根系分布和冠层结构特征

对分布于3种不同沙地生境（半固定沙丘、固定沙丘、丘间低地）黄柳灌丛的根系分布（根的数目与深度分布）和冠层结构特征（叶面积指数、平均叶倾角以及当年枝长度分布）进行了研究。半固定沙丘上的黄柳根系最发达（根系分布深,数量大）,固定沙丘的黄柳明显不及前者,而丘间低地的黄柳根系最不发达。粗根（Φ≥5mm）的分布与土壤水分和土壤容重呈显著相关性,细根（Φ<5mm）的分布与土壤容重和紧实度呈极显著相关。不同程度的根系发育导致地上部分的繁茂程度不同分布于半固定沙丘上的黄柳灌丛叶面积指数较大,当年枝平均长度较大,枝长频度分布趋于正态分布;丘间低地的黄柳灌丛叶面积指数较小,当年枝平均长度较小,枝长频度分布趋于对数正态分布;固定沙丘上灌丛的上述特征大致介于二者之间,而其当年枝长度频度符合Weibull分布。     

The predators of insects

Abstract. 1. Insect–insectivore trophic relations were reviewed using presence–absence data from sixty-one invertebrate-dominated food webs and fifteen food webs from Briand's (1983) original forty web collection. From counts of prey links in higher taxa (orders, classes, phyla), six phyla and thirteen classes of non-insect insectivores and fourteen orders of insect predators and prey were found. 2. Detritus-based habitats (phytotelmata, felled logs, carcasses, dungpads) harboured fewer orders of insects, that interact with other insects, than webs from grazer-based (host plants, some galls) and mixed-based systems (aquatic webs). Consumer–resource networks of higher insect taxa in these webs shared several features found in some species-level biological networks: the trend was towards few pairs of strong asymmetrical links, several weak links and many null interactions. 3. From counts of insect predator–insect prey links, hymenopterans as terrestrial predators and parasitoids interacted with the most number of higher insect taxa. Hymenopterans were also linked as prey more often than other terrestrial insects. In freshwater habitats, plecopterans were linked as predators more often than other aquatic taxa, whereas dipterans were listed as prey more often than other insects. 4. Dipterans were linked in the diets of non-insect insectivores from seven of eight common taxonomic classes. Arachnids were identified as insect predators by food web researchers in the largest number of webs, followed by passerine birds and cyprinodont fishes. From analysis of prey links at the ordinal level, predaceous insects were less polyphagous than other predators (other ectotherms and endotherms). 5. Analysis of chain lengths, as expected, showed that insect prey occupied mostly lowermost trophic levels, non-insect insectivores were found mostly at uppermost trophic levels, and predaceous insects were found mostly at intermediate trophic levels across most habitats. 6. This analysis offers evidence that insects are not just occupying intermediate trophic levels in some communities. Indeed, some taxa feed at the upper ends of long food chains, for example eupelmids in galls, staphylinids in carcasses, and perlid plecopterans in streams.     

Growth of Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) longicornis on cattle.

Increases were recorded of lengths of larvae, nymphs and females of the tick, Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) longicornis during feeding on cattle, so that categories could be established for estimating the ages of ticks in natural populations. Most larvae and nymphs engorged in 4 days and females in 5 or 6 days. Four age categories were defined for larvae and 3 for nymphs. The growth of females was variable but 4 stages of physiological development were defined based on changes in their lengths. The lengths were determined of each instar 24 h before detachment to enable estimation of the numbers maturing each day on cattle in the field.     

Characterization of an alkylresorcinol synthase that forms phenolics accumulating in the cuticular wax on various organs of rye (Secale cereale)

Alkylresorcinols are bioactive compounds produced in diverse plant species, with chemical structures combining an aliphatic hydrocarbon chain and an aromatic ring with characteristic hydroxyl substituents. Here, we aimed to isolate and characterize the enzyme that forms the alkylresorcinols accumulating in the cuticular wax on the surface of all above‐ground organs of rye. Based on sequence homology with other type‐III polyketide synthases, a candidate alkylresorcinol synthase was cloned. Yeast heterologous expression showed that the enzyme, ScARS, is highly specific for the formation of the aromatic resorcinol ring structure, through aldol condensation analogous to stilbene synthases. The enzyme accepts long‐chain and very‐long‐chain acyl‐CoA starter substrates, preferring saturated over unsaturated chains. It typically carries out three rounds of condensation with malonyl‐CoA prior to cyclization, with only very minor activity for a fourth round of malonyl‐CoA condensation and cyclization to 5‐(2′‐oxo)‐alkylresorcinols or 5‐(2′‐hydroxy)‐alkylresorcinols. Like other enzymes involved in cuticle formation, ScARS is localized to the endoplasmic reticulum. ScARS expression patterns were found correlated with alkylresorcinol accumulation during leaf development and across different rye organs. Overall, our results thus suggest that ScARS synthesizes the cuticular alkylresorcinols found on diverse rye organ surfaces.     

The Length of a Generation

After comparing a number of definitions of the length of a generation, two new ones are proposed. One is the mean age of mothers having new born children in the current population, the other is the period of decay of departures from the stable age distribution. Numerical examples are given.     

Quantification of mycelial development of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi using image analysis

Quantitative and reproducible information concerning the development of the extraradical mycelium of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is lacking due to the difficulties in extracting, identifying and estimating hyphal lengths. In this study, using a rhizobox growth system, the lengths of hyphae of AMF estimated using an image analysis system were not significantly different from data obtained by a trained observer using a modified grid-line intersect method. The assessment of lengths of hyphae on membrane filters or slides was, however, much quicker using image analysis, and allowed the complete sample to be quantified, unlike the grid-line method where a limited number of fields of view are assessed. The image analysis procedure is objective, observer-independent and less laborious than the manual method of assessment. Of the four different methods of sample preparation compared, membrane filter methods were found to be the most appropriate for quantitative sampling from three non-soil substrates. Glomus monosporum (UKC M3) produced twice as much extraradical mycelium and hyphal length per centimetre of colonised root than G. geosporum (BEG 11) on both leek and linseed in a durite sand at final harvest (63 days). Both AMF also produced more hyphal length per centimetre of colonised root on linseed than on leek. The spatial distribution of both AMF, however, was similar in durite sand and no correlation with levels of NaHCO₃-extractable phosphorus was noted. In a third experiment, with G. manihotis (UKC INDO-1) colonising a tropical forage legume, Pueraria phaseoloides, in two other growth substrates, a different pattern of development of the extra-radical mycelium was observed. Because of a higher content of particulate matter, which collected on the membrane filters, the extraction technique had to be modified to give optimal performance of the image analysis system.