The taro monoculture of central New Guinea

An ancient, sustainable, and low risk Colocasiataro monoculture has persisted until modern times among the Mountain Ok peoples of central New Guinea. There is a monoculture-polyculture axis in the region with taro monocultures predominant in the rain forests of the mid-altitude fringe. We argue that when examined from the standpoint of ecosystem simplification, biological variability, and subsistence vulnerability, the taro monocultures exhibit many ecological and systemic properties commonly attributed to polycultures. Monoculture is not an exclusive category; specific cases must be placed in a broader context of the larger ecosystem and the options people have at their disposal. Reduction of the taro monoculture is occurring in response to modernization pressures.     

PCR-based approach for mining of resistant gene analogues in taro (Colocasia esculenta)

Primers based on the conserved motifs were used to isolate nucleotide-binding sites (NBS) type sequences in taro (Colocasia esculenta). Cloning and sequencing identified three taro NBS-type sequences called resistance gene analogues (RGAs) that depicted similarity to other cloned RGA sequences. The deduced amino acid sequences of the RGAs detected the presence of conserved domains, viz. P-loop, categorising them with the NBS–leucine-rich repeat class gene family. Phylogenetic characterisation of the taro RGAs along with RGAs of other plant species grouped them with the non-toll interleukin receptor subclasses of the NBS sequences. The isolation and characterisation of taro RGAs have been reported for the first time in this study. This will provide a starting point towards characterisation of candidate resistance genes in taro and can act as a reference guide for future studies.     

红芽芋驯化苗对盐胁迫的光合及生理响应

为探讨江西铅山红芽芋的耐盐机制,以其组培移栽驯化苗为材料,研究了盐胁迫对其生物量积累、光合特性、荧光特性等抗逆生理特性的影响。结果表明:（1）红芽芋幼苗生物量和根冠比在低盐胁迫下（50 mmol·L^-1）得到显著促进,而在高盐胁迫下（100～250 mmol·L^-1）受到显著抑制。（2）低盐胁迫幼苗的净光合速率（P_n）、气孔导度（G_s）、气孔限制值（L_s）、水分利用效率（WUE）和瞬时羧化效率（CUE）比对照（0 mmol·L^-1）显著增加,细胞间CO₂浓度（C_i）比对照显著下降,蒸腾速率（T_r）与对照无显著差异;高盐胁迫幼苗的P_n、L_s、WUE、CUE和G_s较对照显著下降,C_i比对照显著增加。（3）低盐胁迫幼苗的最大荧光（F_m）、PSⅡ潜在光化学效率（F_v/F₀）和光化学猝灭系数（q_P）比对照显著增加,初始荧光（F₀）较对照显著下降,PSⅡ最大光化学效率（F_v/F_m）、PSⅡ实际光化学效率（Φ_PSⅡ）、开放的PSⅡ反应中心捕获激发能效率（F_v′/F_m′）和非光化学猝灭系数（NPQ）与对照无显著差异;而高盐胁迫幼苗的F₀、F_m、F_v/F_m、F_v/F₀、Φ_PSⅡ、F_v′/F_m′和q_P均较对照显著下降,NPQ比对照显著增加。（4）各盐胁迫幼苗叶片的可溶性蛋白含量以及过氧化物酶、超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶活性与对照相比先升后降,并以低盐下最高;可溶性总糖和脯氨酸含量均比对照显著增加;丙二醛含量和质膜透性相对值在低盐胁迫下无显著变化,而在高盐下显著增加;叶绿素含量和根系活力在低盐胁迫下无显著变化,而在高盐胁迫后开始显著下降。研究发现,江西铅山红芽芋移栽驯化苗的耐盐阈值为 50 mmol·L^-1,其能够诱导提高叶片可溶性蛋白含量和主要保护酶活性,稳定质膜透性、叶绿素含量和根系活力,增加PSⅡ潜在光化学效率,提高PSⅡ的电子传递活性,维持PSⅡ实际光化学效率,有效启动非辐射热能量耗散机制来保护了光合机构,最终提高净光合速率,增加生物量。     

A sustainable process for adsorptive removal of methylene blue onto a food grade mucilage: kinetics,thermodynamics, and equilibrium evaluation

Abstract

Adsorption of dyes onto natural materials like polysaccharides is considered a green chemistry approach for remediation of wastewater. In this work, the polysaccharide isolated from the corm of Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott or taro tuber (CEM) was utilized for removing methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution by batch adsorption method. The CEM adsorbent was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The solution pH and adsorbent dose have been found to have a significant positive correlation with the adsorptive removal efficiency of CEM for MB dye. The removal efficiency of CEM was found to be 72.35% under the optimum conditions; 20?mg/L initial concentration of dye, 120?mg of adsorbent dose, solution pH 8.5, 311.2?K temperature and 80?min contact time. The adsorption of MB onto CEM followed best the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics. The adsorption was thermodynamically favorable and was endothermic in nature. The desorption/adsorption data justifiably indicated the reuse capability of CEM adsorbent for MB adsorption. Hence, CEM may be regarded as an eco-friendly and cost-effective natural adsorbent for MB dye removal from aqueous solution.     

江西铅山红芽芋胚性愈伤组织的包埋干燥法超低温保存

对江西铅山红芽芋（Colocasia esculenta var．cormosus cv．Hongyayu）胚性愈伤组织包埋干燥法超低温保存进行了初步的研究。结果表明：江西铅山红芽芋胚性愈伤组织包埋干燥法超低温保存较佳的条件为：0．75mol·L-1蔗糖预培养3d;脱水方式为空气干燥7h或硅胶干燥11h;化冻温度为37℃（2min）;冻后培养条件为暗培养7d再转到光周期中培养。此方法超低温保存后的平均成活率约为45％。超低温保存时间以及是否去除包裹的褐藻酸钙对其成活率无显著性影响。形态学和细胞学检测表明红芽芋胚性愈伤组织冻后再生苗与母本材料相比没有发生变异。     

江西铅山红芽芋胚性愈伤组织的包埋玻璃化超低温保存

为长期安全保存江西铅山红芽芋种质资源,本文以江西铅山红芽芋的胚性愈伤组织为对象,研究了包埋玻璃化冻存过程中各因素对细胞活力和愈伤组织成活率的影响,优化建立了江西铅山红芽芋胚性愈伤组织包埋玻璃化超低温保存体系。将约0.2 g胚性愈伤组织块包埋成海藻酸钙凝胶珠后,在25℃下转入MS+2 mg/L TDZ+1 mg/L NAA+0.75 mol/L蔗糖的培养基中于14 h/d光周期下预培养1 d;预培养后的胚性愈伤组织块用2 mol/L甘油和0.4 mol/L蔗糖的混合物在25℃下装载40 min;采用PVS2在25℃下脱水30 min,更换PVS2后直接投入液氮保存1 d;再将胚性愈伤组织块置于37℃恒温水浴中化冻3 min,然后用MS+2 mg/L TDZ+1 mg/L NAA+1.2 mol/L蔗糖的液体培养基洗涤3次,每次10 min;洗涤后的胚性愈伤组块转入MS+2 mg/L TDZ+1mg/L NAA固体培养基上先暗培养7 d再转到14 h/d光周期中培养。7 d后胚性愈伤组织块开始恢复生长,并且在30 d内分化出胚状体;将胚状体再次转入MS+2 mg/L TDZ+1 mg/L NAA固体培养基上,60 d后形成完整的植株。红芽芋胚性愈伤组织包埋玻璃化超低温保存后的平均成活率约为60%,并且红芽芋胚性愈伤组织冻后再生苗没有发生形态性状和染色体数目的变异,此结果为长期安全保存江西铅山红芽芋种质资源奠定了良好的基础。     

In vitro propagation of taro,with spermine,arginine, and ornithine

In vitro growth and multiplication of taro [Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum cv. Keladi Birah] was improved considerably, when primary shoot apices were cultured on two modifications of Linsmaier and Skoog [1965] medium, containing 5.5 mg 1^–1 naphthaleneacetic acid and 0.2 mg 1^–1 kinetin or 1.85 mg 1^–1 naphthaleneacetic acid and 2 mg 1^–1 kinetin and supplemented with 10^–4 or 10^–3 mol·1^–1 of polyamine spermine or either of the precursors of polyamine putrescine—arginine and ornithine. Plantlets were regenerated directly from primary shoot apices, axillary buds and protocorm-like bodies [PLB]. Frequency of plantlet regeneration, rate of development and growth in height of main plantlets were enhanced by the addition of arginine and ornithine to the media. Secondary plantlet formation from axillary buds and PLB were promoted by spermine and arginine respectively.     

药用植物磨芋的考证

磨芋是具有悠久栽培历史的食用、药用植物,有多个名称。经考证,首载于《名医别录》的由跋,是现今广泛载种的磨芋(A.Konjac),后来的许多本草著作把磨芋的一、二年生苗称为由跋;首载于《开宝衣草》的蒟蒻或蒻头,是指磨芋和疏毛磨芋(A Sinensis),但一般说来,蒟蒻就是磨芋(A.Konjac).“磨芋”这个词最早见于《植物名实图考》,吴其濬置之于“天南星”条下,后人以“魔芋”取代了“磨芋”;磨芋的学名是AmorphophalltlS konjac C.Koch,而Amorphophallus rivieri Durieu是它的同物异名。     

Comparative serology techniques for the diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a rural population from the state of Querétaro, Mexico

Immunological diagnostic methods for Trypanosoma cruzi depend specifically on the presence of antibodies and parasitological methods lack sensitivity during the chronic and “indeterminate” stages of the disease. This study performed a serological survey of 1,033 subjects from 52 rural communities in 12 of the 18 municipalities in the state of Querétaro, Mexico. We detected anti-T. cruzi antibodies using the following tests: indirect haemagglutination assay (IHA), indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), ELISA and recombinant ELISA (rELISA). We also performed Western blot (WB) analysis using iron superoxide dismutase (FeSOD), a detoxifying enzyme excreted by the parasite, as the antigen. Positive test results were distributed as follows: ELISA 8%, rELISA 6.2%, IFA and IHA 5.4% in both cases and FeSOD 8%. A comparative study of the five tests was undertaken. Sensitivity levels, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, concordance percentage and kappa index were considered. Living with animals, trips to other communities, gender, age, type of housing and symptomatology at the time of the survey were statistically analysed using SPSS software v.11.5. Detection of the FeSOD enzyme that was secreted by the parasite and used as an antigenic fraction in WBs showed a 100% correlation with traditional ELISA tests.     

Biochemical Changes in Leaf Tissues of Taro [Colocasia esculenta L. (Schott)] Infected with Phytophthora colocasiae

The changes in some biochemical parameters due to Phytophthora leaf blight infection were assessed in leaf tissues of one resistant (DP‐25), two moderately resistant (Duradim and Jhankri) and one susceptible (N‐118) genotypes of taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott]. Phytophthora spore suspension (15 000 spore/ml water) was sprayed onto the in vitro raised taro plantlets at 30 days after establishment in pots to induce disease. In comparison with the uninoculated leaves, blight infected leaves showed reduction in protein content and activity of nitrate reductase and increase in total soluble sugar, reducing sugar content and activities of acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase among the studied genotypes. Changes in biochemical parameters under induced blight stress as compared with uninoculated control were less in resistant genotypes than that in susceptible genotype. The deviations in biochemical contents were highest in susceptible genotype N‐118. Based on the variations of above parameters under stress and non‐stress control among the four tested genotypes, the overall pattern of changes was N‐118 > Duradim > Jhankri > DP‐25, which is in accordance with the pattern of increasing resistance. The resistant genotypes could be used for commercial cultivation and genetic improvement programme to develop resistant varieties to Phytophthora leaf blight disease.