Spatial and temporal structures of pheromone plumes in fields and forests

Wind‐borne odour stimuli from a small point‐source of pheromone are intermittent owing to the effects of atmospheric turbulence on the odour plume. The work reported here measures the characteristics of the intermittent stimulus in open fields and forests during typical daytime atmospheric conditions. To model the pheromone plume, negatively charged atmospheric ions were used as a tracer. They were released from an ion generator, and ion detectors measured the fluctuating flux of ions at positions up to 20 m downwind in the open field case and 10 m in the forest. In both the open field and in the forest, ion signals were highly intermittent, with a signal present only 20% of the time. Ion signals recorded in the forest consisted of bursts with gaps between them of at least three‐fold greater duration than those from the open field. In both environments, bursts generally each comprised a series of ‘spikes’, on average three in the field and seven in the forest. To validate the use of ionized air plumes as models of pheromone plumes, the antennae of male Lymantria dispar (gypsy moth) were used as detectors to quantify the plume of synthetic (+)‐disparlure emanating from a 2000 ng point source placed ≈ 10 cm from the ion source. A comparison of ion signals and EAGs (electronantennograms) suggests that the antennae respond to the main spikes within a burst, but no consistent relationship between the strength of the spikes and the magnitude of the EAG response was found. The average strengths of bursts in the ion detector signal decreased systematically as the distance from the ion generator to the ion detector increased. A similar trend, however, was not detected in the EAG response.     

北京郊区苹果小卷蛾成虫发生规律研究

苹果小卷蛾AdoxophyesoranaFischervonR slerstamm为北京郊区大桃生产中的主要害虫 ,试验采用黑光灯诱杀、糖醋盆诱集 2种方法在不同生态环境果园对其成虫发生期进行了观测。结果显示苹果小卷蛾在北京地区 1年发生 3代 ;越冬代成虫羽化高峰为 5月底至 6月初 ,第 1代幼虫防治适期为 6月1 0～ 1 5日 ;第 1代成虫羽化高峰为 7月中旬 ,第 2代幼虫防治适期为 7月下旬。     

甘薯遗传作图策略研究与展望

甘薯分子遗传图谱的建立对甘薯分子育种技术体系的拓展和应用具有重要意义。当前,对甘薯分子遗传图谱的研究虽然取得一定的进展,但存在着很多技术瓶颈,如作图策略应用和优化等。总结了甘薯经典和分子遗传研究进展,剖析了甘薯分子遗传图谱作图的3种方法与策略;探讨和提出了提高甘薯作图效率和质量的途径主要是:优化作图群体质量、克服偏分离、整合多群体间遗传连锁图谱和选择合适的分子标记类型;并指出染色体关联在遗传作图中的重要性,提出甘薯分子育种领域亟待加强的方面,以期为今后甘薯精密分子图谱的建立及基于分子图谱的甘薯分子育种提供新的思路。     

Monitoring changes in anthocyanin and steroid alkaloid glycoside content in lines of transgenic potato plants using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

Transgenic potato plants overexpressing and repressing enzymes of flavonoids biosynthesis were created and analyzed. The selected plants clearly showed the expected changes in anthocyanins synthesis level. Overexpression of a DNA encoding dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) in sense orientation resulted in an increase in tuber anthocyanins, a 4-fold increase in petunidin and pelargonidin derivatives. A significant decrease in anthocyanin level was observed when the plant was transformed with a corresponding antisense construct. The transformation of potato plants was also accompanied by significant changes in steroid alkaloid glycosides (SAG) level in transgenic potato tuber. The changes in SAGs content was not dependent on flavonoid composition in transgenic potato. However, in an extreme situation where the highest (DFR11) or the lowest (DFRa3) anthocyanin level was detected the positive correlation with steroid alkaloid content was clearly visible. It is suggested that the changes in SAGs content resulted from chromatin stressed upon transformation. A liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) system with electrospray ionization was applied for profiling qualitative and quantitative changes of steroid alkaloid glycosides in tubers of twelve lines of transgenic potato plants. Except alpha-chaconine and alpha-solanine, in the extracts from dried tuber skin alpha-solamargine and alpha-solasonine, triglycosides of solasonine, were identified in minor amounts, triglycosides of solanidine dehydrodimers were also recognized.     

Bats and moths: what is there left to learn?

Abstract.  Over 14 families of moths have ears that are adapted to detect the ultrasonic echolocation calls of bats. On hearing a bat, these moths respond with an escape response that reduces their chances of being caught. As an evolutionary response, bats may then have evolved behavioural strategies or changes in call design to overcome the moth's hearing. The nature of this interaction is reviewed. In particular, the role of the echolocation calls of bats in the shaping of the structure, neurophysiology and behavioural responses of moths is discussed. Unresolved issues, such as the structural complexity of the moth's auditory system, the nature of temporal integration and the role of the non-auditory B cell, are described. Issues in which the interactions between bats and moths may be of more general interest to biologists, such as noise filtering within the central nervous system, protean behaviours and coevolution between predator and prey, are also discussed. The interaction between bats and moths has much to interest general biologists, and may provide a useful model in understanding the neurophysiological basis of behaviour, including protean escape behaviours. The validity of the term coevolution as applied to this system is discussed, as there is no doubt that the auditory system of moths is a response to the echolocation calls of bats, although the evolutionary response of bats to moths is more ambiguous.     

Heterologous expression, purification, and properties of a potato protein inhibitor of serine proteinases

The gene PKPI-B10 [AF536175] encoding in potato (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Istrinskii) a Kunitz-type protein inhibitor of proteinases (PKPI) has been cloned into the pET23a vector and then expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein PKPI-B10 obtained as inclusion bodies was denatured, separated from admixtures by ion-exchange fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) on MonoQ under denaturing conditions, and renatured. The native protein was additionally purified by ion-exchange FPLC on DEAE-Toyopearl. The PKPI-B10 protein effectively inhibits the activity of trypsin, significantly weaker suppresses the activity of chymotrypsin, and has no effect on other serine proteinases: human leukocyte elastase, subtilisin Carlsberg, and proteinase K, and also the plant cysteine proteinase papain.     

草地螟寄生蝇与寄主间的关系及控害作用

草地螟寄生蝇是草地螟Loxotego stictialisL.的重要天敌,但其发生种类、控害作用尚不明确。通过室内饲养,结合历年田间调查对康保县草地螟寄生蝇种类、田间分布、寄生率及消长规律进行研究,结果表明康保县草地螟寄生蝇发生种类有5种。田间呈聚集分布,种群数量大,寄生率高,控害作用显著。对开展草地螟预测预报,保护利用天敌资源和综合治理提供了科学依据。