Alkaline phosphatase of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Physarum polycephalum</Emphasis> is insoluble

The plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum grow as multinucleated cells in the presence of sufficient humidity and nutriment. Under non-illuminating conditions, stresses such as low temperature or high concentrations of salts transform the plasmodia into spherules whereas dehydration induces sclerotization. Some phosphatases including protein phosphatase and acid phosphatase have been purified from the plasmodia, but alkaline phosphatase remains to be elucidated. Phosphatase of the plasmodia, spherules and sclerotia was visualized by electrophoresis gel-staining assay using 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate. Insoluble fractions of the sclerotia were abundant in phosphatase activity. The phosphatase which was extracted by nonionic detergent was subjected to column chromatography and preparative electrophoresis. Purified phosphatase showed the highest activity at pH 8.8, indicating that this enzyme belongs to alkaline phosphatase. The apparent molecular mass from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under non-reducing condition was estimated to be 100 kDa whereas that under reducing was 105 kDa. An amount of 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate or 0.5 M NaCl had no effects on the activity although the phosphatase showed heat instability, Mg²⁺-dependency and sensitivity to 2-glycerophosphate or NaF. The extracting conditions and enzymatic properties suggest that this alkaline phosphatase which is in a membrane-bound form plays important roles in phosphate metabolism.     

Interactions of Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 with the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices: Implications for Meloidogyne incognita control on tomato

The interactions of Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices and their significance for the control of Meloidogyne incognita on tomato were investigated in greenhouse experiments. Application of P. lilacinus had no effect on the frequency and intensity of tomato root colonization by G. intraradices. Likewise, the decline of the nematophagous fungus densities after single application in soil was not affected by the presence of the mycorrhizal fungus. Single application of P. lilacinus, as pre-planting soil treatment, resulted in significant reduction of nematode damage. In contrast, mycorrhizal inoculation did not provide sufficient biocontrol. Combined application of the two agents did not enhance root protection compared to single treatments. Double treatment of mycorrhized seedlings with P. lilacinus, as seedling drench and pre-planting soil treatment, 4 and 1 week before transplanting, respectively, resulted in the highest reduction of the nematode damage. These results indicate the potential of the commercial P. lilacinus strain 251 and mycorrhiza for integration in nematode control strategies.     

Activities of de-N-glycosylation are ubiquitously found in tomato plant

Activities of two de-N-glycosylation enzymes, PNGase (peptide N ⁴(N-acetyl-glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase) and ENGase (endo N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase), involved in the release of N-glycans from N-glycoproteins, were monitored in several organs of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum, Mill., cv. Dombito) with a fluorescence-HPLC procedure using a resofurin-labelled N-glycopeptide substrate. PNGase and ENGase activities were detected in every organ assayed but with quantitative differences. The highest activities were found in the youngest parts of the plant, i.e. apical buds, flowers and leaf blades. PNGase activities were consistently higher than ENGase activities (three-fold in average). Both de-N-glycosylation activities were associated with high levels of proteins and protease activities. During fruit growth and ripening, these three parameters decreased notably. The ubiquitous detection of these enzyme activities in the different organs is probably associated with the previously characterized unconjugated N-glycans in tomato. The possible role of PNGase and ENGase degradation products (i.e. unconjugated N-glycans) are discussed in relation with their biological functions in plant development.     

水分对有机基质栽培番茄生理特性、品质及产量的影响

以"齐粉"番茄品种为试材,研究了不同相对含水量对有机基质栽培番茄生长、生理特性、产量、品质和水分利用率的影响.结果表明:随着有机基质相对含水量的升高,番茄株高、茎粗、节间长和单株叶面积极显著增加,叶片色素含量、水势、渗透势及根系活力和果实产量显著增加,而番茄果实品质和水分利用率显著降低.从果实产量、品质和水分利用率方面综合考虑,80%基质相对含水量处理的果实产量达26 kg.m-2以上,可作为番茄有机基质栽培水分管理的量化指标;如果仅考虑果实品质,则50%基质相对含水量可以作为水分管理指标.     

番茄成熟度与其电学参数关系的研究

以5个成熟度的金棚一号番茄果实为材料,在126 Hz~5 MHz频率范围内,利用平行板电极系统研究了8个电参数与番茄成熟度的关系,从而筛选反映果实成熟度的评价电指标.结果表明:500 kHz~5 MHz是测定番茄果实电指标的最佳频率段;在最佳频率范围内,随着番茄成熟度的增加,果实的复阻抗值逐渐减小,而其相对介电常数值持续增加;在番茄的转色期,其损耗系数具有最大值,而复阻抗相角具有最小值.研究发现,在合适频率下复阻抗和相对介电常数可以作为辨别番茄果实成熟度的合适电参数,而损耗系数和复阻抗相角可以作为辨别其转色期的指标.     

Social environment and genetics underlie body site‐specific microbiomes of Yellowstone National Park gray wolves (Canis lupus)

The host‐associated microbiome is an important player in the ecology and evolution of species. Despite growing interest in the medical, veterinary, and conservation communities, there remain numerous questions about the primary factors underlying microbiota, particularly in wildlife. We bridged this knowledge gap by leveraging microbial, genetic, and observational data collected in a wild, pedigreed population of gray wolves (Canis lupus) inhabiting Yellowstone National Park. We characterized body site‐specific microbes across six haired and mucosal body sites (and two fecal samples) using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. At the phylum level, we found that the microbiome of gray wolves primarily consists of Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, and Proteobacteria, consistent with previous studies within Mammalia and Canidae. At the genus level, we documented body site‐specific microbiota with functions relevant to microenvironment and local physiological processes. We additionally employed observational and RAD sequencing data to examine genetic, demographic, and environmental correlates of skin and gut microbiota. We surveyed individuals across several levels of pedigree relationships, generations, and social groups, and found that social environment (i.e., pack) and genetic relatedness were two primary factors associated with microbial community composition to differing degrees between body sites. We additionally reported body condition and coat color as secondary factors underlying gut and skin microbiomes, respectively. We concluded that gray wolf microbiota resemble similar host species, differ between body sites, and are shaped by numerous endogenous and exogenous factors. These results provide baseline information for this long‐term study population and yield important insights into the evolutionary history, ecology, and conservation of wild wolves and their associated microbes.     

西花蓟马诱导的番茄植株防御反应对B型烟粉虱行为的影响

【目的】明确外来入侵害虫西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)取食诱导的番茄植株防御反应对B型烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) B-biotype行为的影响, 探讨西花蓟马与B型烟粉虱的种间竞争机制。【方法】利用“Y”型嗅觉仪行为分析法、 选择性试验法, 研究了不同处理组合（健康植株CK vs烟粉虱为害植株B、 健康植株CK vs西花蓟马为害植株F、 烟粉虱为害植株B vs烟粉虱和西花蓟马共同为害植株B+F）下, 烟粉虱对不同处理植株的取食行为反应及寄主偏好的差异性, 并利用GC-MS分析了不同处理植株挥发性物质的差异性。【结果】“Y”型嗅觉仪行为分析结果表明, 在CK vs B和CK vs F两个组合中, 烟粉虱雌成虫对健康植株和昆虫为害植株的偏好性差异不显著; 而在B vs B+F组合中, 烟粉虱为害株对烟粉虱雌成虫具有极显著的引诱作用（P<0.01）。选择性试验结果表明, 在CK vs B和CK vs F这两个组合中, 烟粉虱成虫均偏好健康株并喜好在其上产卵（P<0.01）, 在B vs B+F组合中, 烟粉虱成虫偏好烟粉虱单独为害株并喜好在其上产卵（P<0.01）。GC-MS分析结果显示, 本实验收集到9种挥发性物质, 其中有5种烯萜类物质, 其相对含量高达90%以上。与烟粉虱单独为害株相比, 烟粉虱和西花蓟马共同为害株所释放的挥发性物质中, 对烟粉虱具有排斥作用的β-水芹烯显著升高, 而对其具有吸引作用的β-月桂烯却显著减少。【结论】综合分析认为, 西花蓟马诱导的番茄植株防御反应可以显著影响B型烟粉虱的寄主选择行为及产卵选择性。     

Integrated management of fusarial wilt of tomato with implementation of soil solarisation

Fusarial wilt of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is a very common and severe disease occurring in most of the vegetable fields in West Bengal, India. Potenciation and formulation of different fungicidal chemicals and phytoextracts were evaluated against the growth of the pathogen wherein carbendazim (bavistin) and leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica (neem) were recorded to be most effective. Combined treatment with 4 ml neem leaf extract and 1 ml captan (0.01%) or with 4 ml garlic bulb extract and 1 ml captan (0.01%) exhibited 100% growth inhibition of the pathogen. Integrated control of the pathogen with phytoextracts, fungicide and biocontrol agents was carried out. Among the treatments, a combination with extracts of neem, captan (0.01%) and metabolites of Trichoderma harzianum was proved to be superior over the other. Field experiment with three fungicides at 0.5% concentration was carried out in randomised block design where application of bavistin showed up to 62.27% reduction of wilt infection in tomato plants. Soil solarisation of tomato field showed 62.50 and 66.69% reduction of infection during the trial years. However, integration of soil solarisation with the applications of T. harzianum, captan (0.01%) and neem resulted in 100% reduction of infection and thus it was recorded as the most effective treatment in reducing the incidence of the disease.