Rice 14-3-3 protein (GF14e) negatively affects cell death and disease resistance

Plant 14-3-3 proteins regulate important cellular processes, including plant immune responses, through protein-protein interactions with a wide range of target proteins. In rice (Oryza sativa), the GF14e gene, which encodes a 14-3-3 protein, is induced during effector-triggered immunity (ETI) associated with pathogens such as Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). To determine whether the GF14e gene plays a direct role in resistance to disease in rice, we suppressed its expression by RNAi silencing. GF14e suppression was correlated with the appearance of a lesion-mimic (LM) phenotype in the transgenic plants at 3 weeks after sowing. This indicates inappropriate regulation of cell death, a phenotype that is frequently associated with enhanced resistance to pathogens. GF14e-silenced rice plants showed high levels of resistance to a virulent strain of Xoo compared with plants that were not silenced. Enhanced resistance was correlated with GF14e silencing prior to and after development of the LM phenotype, higher basal expression of a defense response peroxidase gene (POX22.3), and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, GF14e-silenced plants also exhibit enhanced resistance to the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani. Together, our findings suggest that GF14e negatively affects the induction of plant defense response genes, cell death and broad-spectrum resistance in rice.     

Why replication is important in landscape genetics: American black bear in the Rocky Mountains

We investigated how landscape features influence gene flow of black bears by testing the relative support for 36 alternative landscape resistance hypotheses, including isolation by distance (IBD) in each of 12 study areas in the north central U.S. Rocky Mountains. The study areas all contained the same basic elements, but differed in extent of forest fragmentation, altitude, variation in elevation and road coverage. In all but one of the study areas, isolation by landscape resistance was more supported than IBD suggesting gene flow is likely influenced by elevation, forest cover, and roads. However, the landscape features influencing gene flow varied among study areas. Using subsets of loci usually gave models with the very similar landscape features influencing gene flow as with all loci, suggesting the landscape features influencing gene flow were correctly identified. To test if the cause of the variability of supported landscape features in study areas resulted from landscape differences among study areas, we conducted a limiting factor analysis. We found that features were supported in landscape models only when the features were highly variable. This is perhaps not surprising but suggests an important cautionary note - that if landscape features are not found to influence gene flow, researchers should not automatically conclude that the features are unimportant to the species' movement and gene flow. Failure to investigate multiple study areas that have a range of variability in landscape features could cause misleading inferences about which landscape features generally limit gene flow. This could lead to potentially erroneous identification of corridors and barriers if models are transferred between areas with different landscape characteristics.     

Global patterns of fragmentation and connectivity of mammalian carnivore habitat

Although mammalian carnivores are vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and require landscape connectivity, their global patterns of fragmentation and connectivity have not been examined. We use recently developed high-resolution habitat suitability models to conduct comparative analyses and to identify global hotspots of fragmentation and connectivity for the world's terrestrial carnivores. Species with less fragmentation (i.e. more interior high-quality habitat) had larger geographical ranges, a greater proportion of habitat within their range, greater habitat connectivity and a lower risk of extinction. Species with higher connectivity (i.e. less habitat isolation) also had a greater proportion of high-quality habitat, but had smaller, not larger, ranges, probably reflecting shorter distances between habitat patches for species with restricted distributions; such species were also more threatened, as would be expected given the negative relationship between range size and extinction risk. Fragmentation and connectivity did not differ among Carnivora families, and body mass was associated with connectivity but not fragmentation. On average, only 54.3 per cent of a species' geographical range comprised high-quality habitat, and more troubling, only 5.2 per cent of the range comprised such habitat within protected areas. Identification of global hotspots of fragmentation and connectivity will help guide strategic priorities for carnivore conservation.     

Future hotspots of terrestrial mammal loss

Current levels of endangerment and historical trends of species and habitats are the main criteria used to direct conservation efforts globally. Estimates of future declines, which might indicate different priorities than past declines, have been limited by the lack of appropriate data and models. Given that much of conservation is about anticipating and responding to future threats, our inability to look forward at a global scale has been a major constraint on effective action. Here, we assess the geography and extent of projected future changes in suitable habitat for terrestrial mammals within their present ranges. We used a global earth-system model, IMAGE, coupled with fine-scale habitat suitability models and parametrized according to four global scenarios of human development. We identified the most affected countries by 2050 for each scenario, assuming that no additional conservation actions other than those described in the scenarios take place. We found that, with some exceptions, most of the countries with the largest predicted losses of suitable habitat for mammals are in Africa and the Americas. African and North American countries were also predicted to host the most species with large proportional global declines. Most of the countries we identified as future hotspots of terrestrial mammal loss have little or no overlap with the present global conservation priorities, thus confirming the need for forward-looking analyses in conservation priority setting. The expected growth in human populations and consumption in hotspots of future mammal loss mean that local conservation actions such as protected areas might not be sufficient to mitigate losses. Other policies, directed towards the root causes of biodiversity loss, are required, both in Africa and other parts of the world.     

生境对香稻籽粒可溶性蛋白质含量的影响研究

试验分别于湖南、广西两地选取4个不同生境(长沙、湘西、永州及桂林),每个生境同时种植3个不同香稻品种(‘Basmati’、‘湘晚籼13号’、‘中香1号’),测定其可溶性蛋白质含量,并结合4个种植区的生境进行比较分析。结果表明:(1)同一生境下不同香稻品种籽粒可溶性蛋白质含量的差异极显著,品种间籽粒可溶性蛋白质含量大小依次为:‘中香1号’>‘湘晚籼13号’>‘Basmati’。(2)不同生境下相同香稻品种籽粒可溶性蛋白质含量的差异极显著,生境间籽粒可溶性蛋白质含量大小依次为:长沙>桂林>永州>湘西;对其籽粒可溶性蛋白质含量影响显著的生态因子是灌浆期的日平均温度与相对湿度。(3)生境与品种对香稻籽粒可溶性蛋白质含量具有交互效应。其中桂林种植的‘中香1号’籽粒可溶性蛋白质含量最高,桂林种植的‘Basmati’和湘西种植的‘湘晚籼13号’与湘西种植的‘Basmati’籽粒所含可溶性蛋白质最低,并具有极显著差异。研究结果证实生境对香稻籽粒可溶性蛋白质含量的变化具有一定的影响。     

扎龙湿地不同生境的昆虫多样性

为了探讨湿地不同生境对昆虫物种多样性的影响,对扎龙湿地8种生境的昆虫进行了系统调查.共捕获昆虫5822只,分属11目58科143种,其中直翅目、双翅目、蜻蜒目为扎龙湿地的优势类群.不同生境中,草原草甸昆虫多样性最高,湖边生境多样性指数和均匀度指数均较高,杂草甸均最低.聚类分析和主分量分析结果表明,不同生境的昆虫群落相似性与水资源状况和植被类型有关,捕食性类群种类数和个体数量对昆虫群落稳定性具有重要的调控作用.湖边生境昆虫群落稳定性最强,湿草甸稳定性最弱.湿地水资源状况能影响昆虫生存生境,进而影响昆虫群落的组成和分布格局.     

转Bt基因稻谷对小鼠生理与生殖的影响

目的:通过对小鼠饲以Bt转基因稻谷,观察Bt转基因稻谷对小鼠的生理与生殖能力的影响,为评价Bt转基因稻谷的安全性提供科学依据.方法:将雌、雄昆明小鼠48只分开饲养,各按体重随机分为转基因稻谷组和非转基因稻谷组,饲以对应的稻谷进行90天喂养试验,检测相关生理与生殖指标.结果:与非转基因稻谷组相比,饲以Bt转基因稻谷组小鼠...     

分子标记辅助改良杂交稻协优57及其父母本的蒸煮食味品质

协优57是一个产量高和适应性强的杂交中籼组合,但由于其父母本直链淀粉含量（AC）高,导致杂交稻米的AC较高、蒸煮食味品质较差。先前利用PCR-AccⅠ分子标记辅助选择对协优57的亲本057[恢复系,记作057（GG）]和协青早A[不育系,记作协A（GG）]的W x基因进行改良。利用改良前、后的各亲本分别配组,分析不同组合的AC、食味品质和颗粒性淀粉结合酶（GBSS）活性。结果表明,改良单亲的GT型组合协A（GG）×057（TT）、协A（TT）×057（GG）杂交稻米的AC由原组合协A（GG）×057（GG）的28%分别降到19.9%和19.3%,但均一性较差。改良双亲的TT纯合型组合协A（TT）×057（TT）的杂交稻米,不仅AC降到中等偏低水平（13.1%）,而且AC的均一性也有了很大的提高,蒸煮食味品质明显改善。GBSS活性分析表明：三种W x基因型的GBSS活性总体表现为GG〉GT〉TT。     

Consequences of genetic erosion on fitness and phenotypic plasticity in European tree frog populations (Hyla arborea)

The detrimental effects of genetic erosion on small isolated populations are widely recognized contrary to their interactions with environmental changes. The ability of genotypes to plastically respond to variability is probably essential for the persistence of these populations. Genetic erosion impact may be exacerbated if inbreeding affects plastic responses or if their maintenance were at higher phenotypic costs. To understand the interplay 'genetic erosion-fitness-phenotypic plasticity', we experimentally compared, in different environments, the larval performances and plastic responses to predation of European tree frogs (Hyla arborea) from isolated and connected populations. Tadpoles from isolated populations were less performant, but the traits affected were environmental dependant. Heterosis observed in crosses between isolated populations allowed attributing their low fitness to inbreeding. Phenotypic plasticity can be maintained in the face of genetic erosion as inducible defences in response to predator were identical in all populations. However, the higher survival and developmental costs for isolated populations in harsh conditions may lead to an additional fitness loss for isolated populations.