DNA methylation changes in photoperiod-thermo-sensitive male sterile rice PA64S under two different conditions

Epigenetic modification can occur at a high frequency in crop plants and might generate phenotypic variation without changes in DNA sequences. DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification that may contribute to environmentally-induced phenotypic variations by regulating gene expression. Rice Photoperiod-Thermo-Sensitive Genic Male Sterile (PTGMS) lines can transform from sterility to fertility under lower temperatures and short-day (SD) conditions during anther development. So far, little is known about the DNA methylation variation of PTGMS throughout the genome in rice. In this study, we investigated DNA cytosine methylation alterations in the young panicles of PTGMS line PA64S under two different conditions using methylation sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) method. Compared with the DNA methylation level of PA64S under lower temperatures and SD conditions (fertility), higher methylation was observed in PA64S (sterility). The sequences of 25 differentially amplified fragments were successfully obtained and annotated. Three methylated fragments, which are homologous to D2, NAD7 and psaA, were confirmed by bisulfite sequencing and their expression levels were also evaluated by qPCR. Real time quantitative PCR analysis revealed that five of the six selected methylated genes were downregulated in PA64S (sterility). These results suggested that DNA methylation may be involved in the sterility–fertility transition of PA64S under two different environmental conditions.     

A New Species of Thraulodes (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) from Mexico

A new species of Thraulodes from Mexico is described from male and female imagines. The male imagines of this species have very characteristic genitalia that allow its easy separation from the other known species of the genus.     

荷叶铁线蕨自然居群的遗传多样性研究

荷叶铁线蕨(Adiantumreniformevar. sinense)为我国特有植物,具有重要的经济价值,目前仅分布于重庆的少数地区。近几十年来,由于过度开发,该种的分布范围日益缩小,已处于灭绝的边缘。本研究利用等位酶标记检测了荷叶铁线蕨 6个自然居群共 136个个体的遗传多样性,共检测到了 5个酶系统的 14个位点,获得了 7个多态位点。结果表明:与其他蕨类植物相比,荷叶铁线蕨居群内的遗传多样性水平比较低。平均每位点的有效等位基因数(Ae)为 1. 778,多态位点百分率(P)为 0. 441,期望杂合度(He)为 0. 199,观察杂合度 (Ho)为 0. 235。其居群间的遗传分化也很低,居群间的遗传变异仅占总变异的 1. 49%,而 98. 51%的变异存在于居群内部。采用Hardy Wein berg平衡和固定指数F对荷叶铁线蕨的居群遗传结构进行了分析,结果表明其种群可能是以配子体间异交为主的混合交配体系。导致荷叶铁线蕨濒危的主要原因是生境的破坏以及过度开采所导致的生境片断化使其居群变小、近交率加大、遗传变异趋低,降低了其生存以及进化的潜力。     

High frequency of polyandry in a lek mating system

The adaptive significance of polyandry by female birds in theabsence of direct benefits remains unclear. We determined thefrequencies of polyandrous mating and multiple paternity inthe ruff, a lekking shorebird with a genetic dimorphism inmale mating behavior. More than half of female ruffs mate with, and have clutches fertilized by, more than one male. Individualfemales mate with males of both behavioral morphs more oftenthan expected. Polyandrous mating was more likely followingcopulation interference, but interference was uncommon. Themultiple paternity rate of ruffs is the highest known for avian lekking species and for shorebirds. The general hypothesis thatpair-bond constraints are the major selective factor favoringmultiple mating in birds does not predict our findings. Activegenetic diversification, which has been widely dismissed asa functional explanation for polyandrous mating in birds, mayapply with respect to the behavioral polymorphism in ruffs becauseof a Mendelian genetic basis for male behavioral morph determinationand aspects of male—male cooperation and female choice.However, rates of multiple paternity in other species of lekkingbirds are higher than generally realized, and the potentialbenefits of diversification in general deserve further consideration.     

The scaling of reproductive variability in trees

Seed output in perennial plant populations is temporally variable and often synchronous over large regions. The similarly complex spatiotemporal dynamics of animal populations have been characterized by the power‐law scaling of the variance in population numbers with mean abundance. Here we show that a large compilation of published reproductive time series exhibits largely invariant mean–variance scaling properties across both angiosperm and conifer tree species. A simple model of seed production in tree stands shows that observed values of the scaling exponent reflect very general aspects of plant ecology and life history as well as the temporal dynamics of seed production. Together, these results suggest that the continuum of reproductive variability and synchrony observed in trees may reflect the influence of a common set of ecological processes.     

BnaC.Tic40, a plastid inner membrane translocon originating from Brassica oleracea, is essential for tapetal function and microspore development in Brassica napus

Here, we describe the characteristics of a Brassica napus male sterile mutant 7365A with loss of the BnMs3 gene, which exhibits abnormal enlargement of the tapetal cells during meiosis. Later in development, the absence of the BnMs3 gene in the mutant results in a loss of the secretory function of the tapetum, as suggested by abortive callose dissolution and retarded tapetal degradation. The BnaC.Tic40 gene (equivalent to BnMs3) was isolated by a map-based cloning approach and was confirmed by genetic complementation. Sequence analyses suggested that BnaC.Tic40 originated from BolC.Tic40 on the Brassica oleracea linkage group C9, whereas its allele Bnms3 was derived from BraA.Tic40 on the Brassica rapa linkage group A10. The BnaC.Tic40 gene is highly expressed in the tapetum and encodes a putative plastid inner envelope membrane translocon, Tic40, which is localized into the chloroplast. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and lipid staining analyses suggested that BnaC.Tic40 is a key factor in controlling lipid accumulation in the tapetal plastids. These data indicate that BnaC.Tic40 participates in specific protein translocation across the inner envelope membrane in the tapetal plastid, which is required for tapetal development and function.     

Size and shape interspecific divergence patterns partly reflect phylogeny in an Onthophagus species‐complex (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Polyphenism has been suggested as an accelerator for morphological evolution and speciation. In the dung beetles of the genus Onthophagus, horn expression is polyphenic: large males develop horns whereas smaller males express greatly reduced or no horns. Horn static allometries seem to diverge rapidly amongst extant taxa, a process which might trigger changes in the male genital morphology, thus possibly promoting speciation as a by‐product. It can therefore be hypothesized that interspecific distances in allometries and, possibly, in other morphological traits mirror phylogenetic distances. In this study we first assessed the phylogenetic relationships amongst three closely related taxa belonging to the so‐called ‘Onthophagus fracticornis‐similis‐opacicollis’ species‐complex by sequencing the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1). Biomolecular results indicated three independent lineages, the closest relationships being found between Onthophagus similis and Onthophagus opacicollis. Then we assessed the extent to which divergence pattern of horn static allometries and size and shape divergence patterns of one genital (paramere) and two nongenital (head and epipharynx) structures mirrored the phylogenetic relationships. Interspecific divergence patterns of horn static allometries, paramere, and head shape were found to be congruent with the evolutionary relationships inferred from biomolecular data. Nevertheless, paramere size and epipharynx shape showed patterns not consistent with the phylogeny. Furthermore, the relative size of nongenital structures showed little interspecific divergence compared to their shapes. Our results suggest that size and shape interspecific divergence mirror phylogeny only in part; they also indicate that distinct morphological traits may differ in their tendency to evolve in concert, and that size and shape of the same trait can evolve independently across species. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 162 , 482–498.     

Do intraspecific life history patterns follow interspecific predictions? A test using latitudinal variation in ringed seals

Mammals adapted to unpredictable and low-energy environments often evolve a “bet-hedging” life history strategy characterized by less costly reproductive outputs over a longer and slower-growing life. In contrast, species adapted to more predictable (i.e., low variation) and higher energy environments may evolve greater fecundity over a shorter and faster-growing life. We tested whether this known interspecific pattern also occurs within a species. We compared life history traits of the ringed seal (Pusa hispida) in the Canadian High Arctic to those closer to the southern limit of the species' circumpolar distribution. We found that northern seals grew slower than southern seals (Brody growth coefficient), achieved a greater asymptotic body weight (82 and 69 kg vs. 74 and 54 kg female and male, respectively), reached sexual maturity later (6.1 years vs. 4.5 years), had lower fecundity (1.8 years vs. 1.3 years interbirth interval), longer average lifespan (5 years vs. 3 years median age), and greater movements (1,269 vs. 681 km). Mating systems also likely differed with northern seals showing morphological evidence of a promiscuous mating system with potential sperm competition as indicated by greater relative testes size. The northern region was also characterized by more unpredictable environmental timing of seasonal events, such as spring sea ice breakup. Life history variation between the intraspecific groups of seals appears to agree with interspecific patterns and provides a better understanding of how species' life history parameters shift in concert with environmental conditions.     

Are there costs in the repeated mating activities of female Southern stink bugs Nezara viridula?

Mating is an energy demanding process, imposing risks to physical injuries, pathogen infection and predation. Nevertheless, repeated and multiple mating are widespread even in insect species where nuptial gifts are not involved. The effects of repeated mating, by the same male, are examined on the reproductive performance of female Southern green stink bug Nezara viridula (L.). Fecundity is reduced in females mated three or four times, although there is increased longevity. Females mated once or twice produce more egg clusters and concentrate egg‐laying activity in the early part of adult life, whereas those mating more often lay eggs throughout the life span, with fewer egg clusters. Although fecundity is negatively affected by the number of matings, egg fertility remains unaffected.