In search of the phytohormone functions in Fungi:Cytokinins

Cytokinins are phytohormones that participate in regulation of all aspects of plant growth and development, including response to biotic agents. Fungi of different taxonomic and trophic groups synthesize cytokinins, employing them for interaction with plants, both friendly and hostile. They also appear to be able to manipulate the host plant genes of cytokinin biosynthesis and metabolism to their own benefit. In this review, we analyzed the data about changes in the level and composition of cytokinin pool under fungi influence, the effect of exogenous hormones on the growth of fungi in culture and in situ, changes in the physiology and metabolism of fungi due to genetic transformations related to cytokinins. The possible role of cytokinins in the regulation of macromycete development is discussed as well. The pattern of cytokinin dynamics allow us to consider the hormones of this class as potential regulators of fungi growth. Further explore of fungal cytokinins is essential to improve biotechnology using fungi as raw materials for medicine and agricultural production.     

MICROBIAL COLONIZATION ON NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL MACROPHYTES IN A PHOSPHORUS-LIMITED,HARDWATER LAKE1

Epiphyte communities in a phosphorus-limited hard-water lake were compared over a 14-week period from Potamogeton illinoensis and structurally similar artificial plants of different leaf ages. Artificial plants were serially incubated in the lake to simulate the age of natural leaves. The physiognomy of loosely attached epiphytes appeared similar on the two substrata. Algal cell number and biovolume were 15-fold and 17-fold higher, respectively, on artificial leaves early in the growing season, but total algal density gradually became similar on natural and artificial plants. In contrast, the taxonomic composition of loosely attached algae became increasingly distinct, and mean cell biovolume on natural leaves was twice that on artificial leaves. Adnate epiphytes on both substrata developed from sparse populations of bacteria on new leaves to a community of diatoms, blue-green algae and numerous bacteria on mature and senescent leaves. Adnate community succession on natural leaves in late senescence/death differed from that on artificial leaves colonized for comparable periods in having (1) a marked increase in filamentous blue-green algae, (2) a subsequent decrease in all algae, and (3) a final fungi-dominated stage. The trends in colonization indicate that macrophytes in this oligotrophic lake provided a distinct habitat from that of artificial substrata for epiphytes throughout the growing season.     

The relationships between brain, serum, and whole blood ChE activity in the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) and the common shrew (Sorex araneus) after acute sublethal exposure to dimethoate

Inhibition of cholinesterase (ChE) activity produced by a single acute intraperitoneal administration of dimethoate was studied in the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, and the common shrew, Sorex araneus, under laboratory conditions. ChE values from serum and whole blood were compared with those obtained from brain in order to obtain a non-destructive tool for predicting the severity of brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition. In addition, serum and brain inhibition following oral exposure to dimethoate was also measured in the wood mouse. Normal ChE activity was higher in the brain and whole blood of the shrews than in wood mice. There was no difference between species in serum ChE activity. Exposure to dimethoate caused a dose-dependent reduction in ChE activity and there was a significant recovery in activity with increasing time after administration. In both species, serum and whole blood were more sensitive than brain for revealing organophosphate-induced ChE inhibition and serum was more sensitive than whole blood. Statistically significant relationships were defined between whole blood and brain ChE activity and between serum and brain ChE activity. Compared with serum, whole blood ChE activity was the more accurate predictor of brain AChE levels. The relationships between brain and serum ChE activity did not appear to be affected by the route of administration of the pesticide.     

Gaertnera and Pagamea: Genera Within the Psychotrieae or Constituting the Tribe Gaertnereae? A Wood Anatomical and Palynological Approach

The possible alliance between Gaertnera and Pagamea (Rubiaceae-Rubioideae), two genera from the Old and New World, respectively, is investigated on the basis of wood anatomy and pollen morphology. Nowadays, the main point of discussion about the taxonomic position of these genera is whether they belong to the Psychotrieae or constitute a tribe Gaertnereae characterised by their secondarily superior ovary and sheathing stipules. Both the wood and pollen of the genus pair are found to show specific features absent in other genera of the Psychotrieae, e.g. parenchyma bands in the xylem and endexine thickenings on the polar sites of the pollen apertures. Nevertheless Gaertnera and Pagamea share many other characters with the Psychotrieae. Wood and pollen convincingly demonstrate the very close affinity of the two genera. The sister pair differs in so many features from other Psychotrieae, that Gaertnera and Pagamea should constitute at least a subtribe Gaertnerinae, formally recognized here. The general lack of profound studies on the affinities within the very large tribe Psychotrieae makes further comments on the taxonomic relationships of the Gaertnerinae difficult.     

Detection and identification of ferricrocin produced by ectendomycorrhizal fungi in the genusWilcoxina

The ectendomycorrhizal fungiWilcoxina mikolae isolates CSY-14 and RMD-947 andW. rehmii isolate CSY-85 were grown in pure culture under iron-limiting conditions. All three isolates tested positive for siderophore formation using both the ferric perchlorate assay and a sensitive HPLC iron-binding assay. A peptide siderophore was isolated from the culture medium by HPLC and shown to contain the amino acids serine, glycine and ornithine in a 1:2:3 ratio. This siderophore was identified as ferricrocin on the basis of electrospray mass spectroscopy and its co-chromatography in two different HPLC systems with ferricrocin isolated fromAspergillus fumigatus. Ferricrocin was the only siderophore isolated from theseWilcoxina cultures. This is the first report of siderophore formation by ectendomycorrhizal fungi.     

平菇丰收一号高产特性的研究

通过野生种分离选用的平菇丰收一号,染色体数为９（ｎ＝９）,菌丝生长速度比一般品种快２—３４ｃｍ／ｈ,平均投料０．５ｋｇ（块）产鲜菇０．６～２．５ｋｇ,个别单株重１０～２０ｋｇ左右,生物效率１００～１５０％,高者达２００％以上,是一种高产优质、适应性强的新菌种。     

银缕梅木材解剖特征及其系统学意义

报道了银缕梅（ShaniodendronsubaequaleM.B.Deng,H.T.Wei＆X,Q,Wang）木材的解剖学特征,通过比较研究支持将银缕梅（“小叶金缕梅”HamamelissubaeqalisH.T.Chang）从金缕梅属（族）中分出的处理,其合适的系统位置应归入弗特吉族。     

Biology and life cycle ofAtelocauda koae,an unusual demicyclic rust

Atelocauda koae, a rust of the native HawaiianAcacia koa, is considered as a demicyclic species, having spermogonial, aecial, and telial states, but is unusual in production of aeciospores simultaneously with teliospores rather than consecutively. Host inoculation with spores of each state separately confirmed that the life cycle was perpetuated by the telial state, but the aeciospores, while capable of germination and stomal penetration, did not produce detectable infection. This rust therefore behaves as a microcyclic species, and appears to be in evolutionary transition toward this reduced state. Teliospores produced vestigial, permanently attached basidiosopores which germinated to produce infective hyphae. The hyphae entered the host either through stomata or penetrated the epidermis directly, with the latter method being more common. Unusual nuclear associated with teliospore germination, in which meiosis occurs in more than one diploid nucleus was observed, in confirmation of an earlier study.     

New and interesting species ofEmericella from Chinese soil

Emericella miyajii, a new species isolated from Chinese soil, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by pale orange to brownish orange colonies on malt extract agar, subglobose to broadly elliptical ascospores with defective four equatorial crests and smooth convex walls, and with anAspergillus anamorph.Emericella undulata is also described as an uncommon species from Chinese soil.