Interrelationships between Ethylene Production,Gall Formation,and Root-knot Nematode Development in Tomato Plants Infected with Meloidogyne javanica

Ethylene production was determined in excised tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) root cultures of Meloidogyne javanica susceptible and resistant cultivars infected with M. javanica. Uninfected cultivars produced very low amounts of ethylene. Relatively high amounts of ethylene were produced by the infected susceptible cultivars. Peak production of 1.6 n moles * g root⁻¹ * h¹⁻ occurred between 9 and 16 days after inoculation (DAI). The period of high ethylene production coincided with that of rapid increase in gall weight. Low amounts of ethylene were also released by the infected resistant cultivar between 9 and 12 DAI, which follows the hypersensitivity reaction. Ethylene production in infected intact plants during the period of rapid gall growth was twice as much as in uninfected plants during the same time. Exposing excised root cultures to 0.5 or l0 ppm ethylene accelerated the rate of increase in gall weight of M. javanica infected roots. In contrast, overall root growth was inhibited by these treatments, compared to infected roots which were not exposed to ethylene.     

露水草的光合特性及其生态学意义

用盆栽和遮阴试验研究了露水草（Ｃｙａｎｏｔｉｓ ａｒａｃｈｎｏｉｄｅａ Ｃｌａｒｋｅ） 的光合作用特征,比较了不同遮光水平对光合速率、光合器官特性及光合产量的影响。结果如下：１．露水草是一种耐阴偏阳的Ｃ３ 类草木植物,其光合作用的光饱和点约为６５０ μｍ ｏｌ·ｍ － ２·ｓ－ １,光补偿点约为１７ μｍ ｏｌ·ｍ － ２·ｓ－ １,且具有高达１３０×１０－ ６的ＣＯ２ 补偿点。２．露水草的最大净光合速率为１２．４５ μｍ ｏｌ·ｍ － ２·ｓ－ １。叶片净光合速率的日变化规律呈双峰曲线,主峰在１１～１２ 时,次峰在１５时左右。３．遮光２０％ ～５０％ 有利于露水草的生长。与对照相比,叶片中叶绿素ｂ 的含量增加了４７％ ～８３％ ,并且由于净光合速率（相对光合速率）的提高,使光合生产量增加了１２％ ～１８％ 。     

马桑菌株的生物学特性

对从湖北、四川、云南等地采集的尼泊尔马桑(Coriaria nepalensis Wall.)根瘤中分离的20株内生菌纯培养物所进行的研究表明,其形态均具有弗兰克氏菌属的特征。在粗细不一的分枝菌丝体上有泡囊和孢囊,有的还有串珠状结构的菌丝体。不同菌株在液体培养基上生长速度很不一致;菌丝体多呈絮状或颗粒状沉淀,个别还呈薄膜状沉淀;绝大多数菌株的菌丝体具有不同色调的色素;在S培养基中大多数都能产生可溶性色素。上述这些培养特征常因培养基成分和培养方式的不同而有差异。大多数菌株的胞壁组分属Ⅱ型,少数菌株为Ⅲ型;全细胞糖型变化很大,20个菌株可划分为6个糖型,而且绝大多数糖型与已知弗兰克氏菌有所不同。此外,有65％的菌株还具有明显的抗菌活性。     

Analysis of the multi-stem clump structure ofLitsea japonica Juss. growing in a coastal dwarf forest

The multi-stem clump structure of a coastal dwarf forest dominated byLitsea japonica Juss. was investigated in order to clarify the sprouting characteristics and self-maintenance of clumps by stem alternation. The size and age distribution of multi-stem clumps were analyzed using cumulative relative frequency curves.L. japonica had a large number of stems and an even height distribution or young age-biased distribution of stems within a clump. These results indicated the sequential flushing of sprouts at high frequency. Height distribution within a clump ofL. japonica was relatively even compared to other species. This clump structure suggested the stable self-maintenance of individuals in all ranges of size and age without disturbances. It originated specific sprouting characteristics as a response to the severe stress of salty wind.Ardisia sieboldii Miq. had few stems within a clump. Although the stem height distribution of large individuals tended to be even, most clumps had a large size-biased distribution of stem height which indicated simultaneous sprouting. From this structure, sprouts of this species were thought to be of less significance in the stable self-maintenance of individuals thanL. Japonica.     

Fecal steroid hormone analysis as an indicator of reproductive function in the cheetah

Techniques were developed and validated to measure fecal estrogen and progesterone concentrations of the female cheetah. Fecal samples were collected from seven mature females. Cheetahs were monitored before mating and continued until parturition. Four females had normal pregnancies, one conceived but the pregnancy resulted in spontaneous abortion, one was mated but apparently did not conceive and one was treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to induce follicular growth and ovulation. Vaginal superficial cells increased with increasing estrogen concentrations. Peak estrogen occurred one day postcopulation. Increases in fecal progesterone concentrations, indicative of ovulation, occurred after copulation and hormonally induced ovulation. For the first time reproductive function can be monitored in the cheetah using noninvasive sample collection. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Improved mating efficiency inAcetabularia acetabulum: recovery of 48–100% of the expected zygotes

Summary We have improved zygote recovery 11–1,000 fold by optimizing the physiology of gamete release and mating inAcetabularia acetabulum. Gamete release was affected by agar purity, concentration, and volume/gametangial pair. Cold pre-treatment of gametangia (14–30 d at 10°C in the dark) synchronized subsequent gamete release at 21°C in the light. Cold pre-treatment was nearly twice as effective in synchronizing subsequent gamete release when intact, gametangia-bearing caps rather than isolated gametangia were pretreated. Synchronizing gamete release doubled mating efficiency. In a wild-type laboratory strain ofA. acetabulum, there were 1,561±207 gametes/gametangium which had half-lives of 14.5 d in 0.1% seawater-agar. We recovered 48–93% of the expected numbers of zygotes from a mass mating of 8 to 1,226 gametangia and 11–128% of the expected numbers of zygotes from mating single gametangial pairs: the large range in the calculated mating efficiency may be attributable to the variation in the numbers of gametes made per gametangium. Zygote recovery from single gametangial pairs was highly dependent on the volume of mating matrix. In addition, most zygotes recovered were unattached to any other zygotes in the subsequent generation (> 95% single cells from matings of 1–500 gametangial pairs). Our improvements in mating conditions and zygote recovery (1) have facilitated cell manipulation and culture ofA. acetabulum in the laboratory; and (2) have made controlled crosses for selection and genetic analysis of mutants feasible. These advances have removed a major barrier to genetic analysis of development inAcetabularia.Abbreviations LB Luria-Bertani bacteriological broth - SE standard error of the mean - T_g agar gelling temperatures - DAPI 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole     

Jirovecia branchilis n. sp. (Microsporidia) from glands of Branchiura sowerbyi (Oligochaeta: Tubificidae) in China

Jirovecia species primarily infect oligochaetes and are typically characterized by large rod-shaped spores with a tail-like posterior prolongation. Presently, seven Jirovecia spp. are reported worldwide with only one described in China. Here, a new species, Jirovecia branchilis n. sp. was discovered in glands of oligochaetes Branchiura sowerybi Beddard, 1892 in China. Jirovecia branchilis n. sp. elicited the formation of numerous opaque xenomas of 0.12 to 0.20 mm (n = 30) in diameter. Electron microscopic observations demonstrated that the earliest developmental stages observed were uninucleate meronts residing directly with the host cytoplasm. Mature spores were rod-shaped with blunt ends and possessed a collar-like anchoring disk, a manubrium-type polar filament, a bipartite polarplast, and a three-layered spore wall. A tail-like prolongation was distinctly observed in the posterior of spores and measured 13.2–28.6 μm long (n = 30). Jirovecia branchilis n. sp. showed 98.54% sequence similarity with Janacekia tainunus isolated from the fat body of chironomidae larvae Kiefferulus tainanus based on obtained partial SSU rDNA gene sequence, but was significantly different in morphology, host, and infection sites. SSU rDNA-based phylogenetic analysis indicated Jirovecia branchilis n. sp. clustered with Janacekia tainanus within the Jirovecia-Bacillidium-Janacekia clade. In conclusion, a new species within Jirovecia, Jirovecia branchilis n. sp. is erected herein based mainly on its morphological, ecological, and to a lesser degree on its molecular characteristics. The whole relationship between Jirovecia spp., Janacekia spp., and Bacillidium spp. is in need of revision and could potentially be elucidated by using additional makers and sequencing a broader diversity of the already described species.     

Responses of the desert green algae,Chlorella sp. to drought stress

Desert algae are important components of the desert soil crust and play an essential role in desert soil ecosystem development. Owing to their special habitat, desert algae are often exposed to harsh environments, among which drought represents the most common stress. Green algae are considered to have drought tolerance potential; however, only a few studies have investigated this. In this study, we selected the green alga Chlorella sp., which was isolated from desert soil, and studied its physiological response to polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000-induced drought stress. The results showed that drought stress can affect the photosynthetic efficiency of Chlorella sp., reduce its water retention ability, and destroy its ultrastructure. However, Chlorella sp. can cope with drought stress through a series of physiological regulatory strategies. Protective strategies include quick recovery of photosynthetic efficiency and increased chlorophyll content. In addition, induced synthesis of soluble proteins, lipids, and extracellular polysaccharide (EPS), and accumulation of osmotic regulatory substances, such as sucrose and trehalose, also contribute to improving drought tolerance in Chlorella sp. This study provides insights into the physiological responses of Chlorella sp. to drought stress, which may be valuable for understanding the underlying drought adaptation mechanisms of desert green algae.     

Impacts of production conditions on goat milk vitamin,carotenoid contents and colour indices

The content, composition and variation of vitamin compounds in goat milk have been little studied. An experimental design was based on 28 commercial farms, selected considering the main feeding system (based on main forage and especially pasture access), goat breed (Alpine vs Saanen) and reproductive management (seasonal reproduction), in the main French goat milk production area. Each farm received two visits (spring and autumn) that included a survey on milk production conditions and bulk milk sampling. Milk vitamins (A, E, B₂, B₆, B₉, B₁₂) and carotenoid concentrations plus colour indices were evaluated. A stepwise approach determined the variables of milk production conditions that significantly altered milk indicators. The main forage in the diet was the major factor altering goat milk vitamin and carotenoid concentrations and colour indices. Bulk milk from goats eating fresh grass as forage was richer in α-tocopherol (+64%), pyridoxal (+35%) and total vitamin B₆ (+31%), and b* index (characterising milk yellowness in the CIELAB colour space) was also higher (+12%) than in milk from goats eating conserved forages. In milk from goats eating fresh grass, concentrations of pyridoxamine, lutein and total carotenoids were higher than in milk of goats fed corn silage (+24, +118 and +101%, respectively), and retinol and α-tocopherol concentrations were higher than in milk of goats fed partially dehydrated grass (+45 and +55%). Vitamin B₂ concentration was higher in milk of goats eating fresh grass than in milk of goats fed hay or corn silage as forage (+10%). However, bulk milk when goats had access to fresh grass was significantly poorer in vitamin B₁₂ than when fed corn silage (?46%) and in γ-tocopherol (?31%) than when fed conserved forage. Alpine goats produced milk with higher vitamin B₂ and folate concentrations than Saanen goats (+18 and +14%, respectively). Additionally, the milk colour index that discriminates milks based on their yellow pigment contents was 7% higher in milk from Alpine than Saanen herds, but milk from Saanen goats was richer in lutein (+46%). Goat milks were richer in vitamins B₂ and B₁₂ and folates, but poorer in vitamin B₆ in autumn than in spring (+12, +133, +15 and ?13%, respectively). This work highlights that goat milk vitamin and carotenoid concentrations and colour indices vary mainly according to the main forage of the diet and secondly according to the breed and season.     

五种高山藏医药用植物茎叶的结构特征研究

通过对青藏高原东北部３８００ｍ至５１００ｍ处生长的五种高山藏医药用植物茎叶的解剖观察发现,这些植物的叶表皮单层,气孔不下陷,但叶肉中的栅栏细胞多层,有的叶表面密被表皮毛、角质膜厚,茎叶中普遍形成发达的通气组织。这些特征是高寒地区空气稀薄、气温低、日照辐射强等外界条件长期作用的结果。