New records of Stixis Lour. (Capparaceae) from China

1CHEN Wen-Hong,1SHUI Yu-Min,2YANG Zhi-Guo,1CHENG Xiao 1(Kunming Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China) 2 (Hekou Forestry Bureau, Forestry Department of Yunnan Province, Hekou 661300, China) 2003,41（1）.—89～90 Abstract：Two taxa of Stixis　Lour., S.ovata(Korth.) Hall.　f. ssp. fasciculata(King) Jacobs and S. scandens　Lour., are reported as new records from China .     

树鼩神经肽Y的分子克隆及其灵长类类似物的同源性比较

树鼩由于与灵长类动物有较密切的亲缘关系和其个体小,以及繁殖周期短等特性而倍受关注,尤其是作为医用实验动物的研究,近年来已受到越来越多的重视,但树鼩的分类地位还一直有所争论。该研究从树鼩脑cDNA文库中克隆得到编码树鼩神经肽Y(neuropeptide Y,NPY)前体序列,序列比对发现该序列与灵长类NPY序列同源性高达96.9%。将该序列与GenBank数据库中其他物种的NPY序列构建系统进化树,发现树鼩与灵长类处于同一分支。该研究结果揭示了树鼩与灵长类较近的亲缘关系。     

内蒙古羊草草原植物种能量含量及其在群落中的作用

根据11a的野外实验对内蒙古羊草草原群落42种植物的能量含量（含灰分）及其在群落中的相对生物量进行了研究。不同植物种地上部分的能量含量在（13156±1141）J／g和（18141±527）J／g之间变动,所有物种的平均能量含量为（16899±840）J／g,种间变异系数4．9％。小叶锦鸡儿具有最高的能量含量。禾草的平均能量含量高于杂草。根据生活型和生长型,草本物种被进一步分组,能量含量从高到低的排列顺序为：高禾草（17717±92）J／g〉豆科植物（17228±433）J／g〉矮禾草（17250±218）J／g〉其余杂草（16784±529）J／g〉半灌木（16719±69）J／g〉1、2年生植物（15911±1759）J／g。42种植物的能量含量和它们在群落中的相对生物量存在显著正相关关系。根据它们在群落中的构成比例进行分组,以物种在群落中的相对生物量为权重,各组能量含量依次为：优势种（17740J／g）〉伴生种（17244J／g。）〉偶见种（16653J／g）。高能量含量的植物更具竞争力,在群落中通常占据优势地位,而低能量含量的植物竞争力通常较弱,构成草原群落的伴生种或偶见种。     

Sixteen new simple sequence repeat markers from Brassica juncea expressed sequences and their cross‐species amplification

The availability of expressed sequence data derived from gene discovery programs enables mining for simple sequence repeats (SSR), providing useful genetic markers for crop improvement. These markers are inexpensive, require minimal labour to produce and can frequently be associated with functionally annotated genes. This study presents the development and characterization of 16 expressed sequence tags (EST)‐SSR markers from Brassica juncea and their cross‐amplification across Brassica species. Sixteen primer pairs were assessed for polymorphism in all genomes of the diploid and amphidiploid Brassica species. The markers show reliable amplification, considerable polymorphism and high transferability across species, demonstrating the utility of EST‐SSRs for genetic analysis of brassicas.     

光强梯度对羊草无性系分化与生长的影响

在温室内用透光率分别为 60 %、45%、30 %的遮阴网盖在花盆上遮阴 ,研究不同光照强度对羊草无性系分化与生长的影响 .结果表明 ,低光强影响羊草基株的生物量积累 ,抑制羊草无性系的分化和生长 .减少羊草地下根茎的数目 ( A=61 4个 ,D=2 31个 )和无性系分株数 ( A=70 4个 ,D=1 52个 ) .羊草根茎长度和节数、无性系分株干重等性状在不同的光强梯度之间存在显著差异 ( P<0 .0 1 ) ,这种差别在春季尤其显著 .     

猕猴桃属种间体细胞杂种

利用PEG融合方法,分别进行了中华猕猴桃(Actinidia chinensis var.chinensis)(2n=2x=58)子叶愈伤组织来源的原生质体与美味猕猴桃(A.deliciosa var.deiciosa)(2n=6x=174)子叶愈伤组织原生质体、以及狗枣猕猴桃(A.kolomikta)(2n=2x=58)叶肉原生质体种间原生质体融合。结果表明:中华猕猴桃与美味猕猴桃融合的1个克隆和中华猕猴桃与狗枣猕猴桃融合的4个克隆的RAPD谱带分别具有双亲特异的DNA谱带;经流式细胞仪分析,前者细胞核倍性推测为8倍体,后者细胞核为3倍体、4倍体和5倍体。初步鉴定这5个克隆是猕猴桃属种间体细胞杂种。     

Characterization of a radish introgression carrying the Ogura fertility restorer gene Rfo in rapeseed,using the Arabidopsis genome sequence and radish genetic mapping

The radish Rfo gene restores male fertility in radish or rapeseed plants carrying Ogura cytoplasmic male-sterility. This system was first discovered in radish and was transferred to rapeseed for the production of F1 hybrid seeds. We aimed to identify the region of the Arabidopsis genome syntenic to the Rfo locus and to characterize the radish introgression in restored rapeseed. We used two methods: amplified consensus genetic markers (ACGMs) in restored rapeseed plants and construction of a precise genetic map around the Rfo gene in a segregating radish population. The use of ACGMs made it possible to detect radish orthologs of Arabidopsis genes in the restored rapeseed genome. We identified radish genes, linked to Rfo in rapeseed and whose orthologs in Arabidopsis are carried by chromosomes 1, 4 and 5. This indicates several breaks in colinearity between radish and Arabidopsis genomes in this region. We determined the positions of markers relative to each other and to the Rfo gene, using the progeny of a rapeseed plant with unstable meiotic transmission of the radish introgression. This enabled us to produce a schematic diagram of the radish introgression in rapeseed. Markers which could be mapped both on radish and restored rapeseed indicate that at least 50 cM of the radish genome is integrated in restored rapeseed. Using markers closely linked to the Rfo gene in rapeseed and radish, we identified a contig spanning six bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones on Arabidopsis chromosome 1, which is likely to carry the orthologous Rfo gene.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at Communicated by H. C. BeckerS. Giancola and S. Marhadour contributed equally to this work     

Chlorophyll reduction in the seed of Brassica napus with a glutamate 1-semialdehyde aminotransferase antisense gene*

Chlorophyll reduction in the seed of Brassica can be achieved by downregulating its synthesis. To reduce chlorophyll synthesis, we have used a cDNA clone of Brassica napus encoding glutamate 1-semialdehyde aminotransferase (GSA-AT) to make an antisense construct for gene manipulation. Antisense glutamate 1-semialdehyde aminotransferase gene (Gsa) expression, directed by a Brassica napin promoter, was targeted specifically to the embryo of the developing seed. Transformants expressing antisense Gsa showed varying degrees of inhibition resulting in a range of chlorophyll reduction in the seeds. Seed growth and development were not affected by reduction of chlorophyll. Seeds from selfed transgenic plants germinated with high efficiency and growth of seedlings was vigorous. Seedlings from T₂ transgenic lines segregated into three distinctive phenotypes: dark green, light green and yellow, indicating the dominant inheritance of Gsa antisense gene. These transgenic lines have provided useful materials for the development of a low chlorophyll seed variety of B. napus.     

Patterns of female dominance in Propithecus diadema edwardsi of Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar

Many lemur species are characterized by some form of female dominance, ranging from female feeding priority to complete female dominance, although this is a rare trait in primates and other mammals. The status of the Milne-Edwards' sifaka (Propithecus diadema edwardsi), a diurnal lemur, is ambiguous. Some short-term studies have found little or no aggression. The aim of the current, long-term study was to quantify the intersexual-dominance patterns of this sifaka. The distribution, outcome, and context of aggressive interactions were studied in four groups of wild sifakas. The majority of intersexual aggressive interactions were decided, with the loser expressing submissive behavior. Intersexual aggressive interactions occurred in all social contexts, and within all social contexts the females won the vast majority (92.7-96.0%) of aggressive interactions. While aggression rates were low (0.22/hr), this evidence suggests female dominance. We propose that female dominance exists because it provides a fitness advantage to both males and females.     

Variation in DNA-ploidy Levels of Reynoutria Taxa in the Czech Republic

The genus Reynoutria is represented by four taxa in the Czech Republic: Reynoutria japonica var. japonica, R. japonica var. compacta, R. sachalinensis and R. xbohemica. By using flow cytometry, cytological variability within the genus is described based on 257 Reynoutria samples. The varieties of R. japonica are cytologically uniform, var. japonica is exclusively octoploid (2n = 8x = 88) and var. compacta occurs only as a tetraploid (2n = 4x = 44), but R. sachalinensis and R. xbohemica exhibit some variation in chromosome numbers. Reynoutria sachalinensis is predominantly tetraploid (2n = 4 x = 44), but also occurs occasionally as hexaploid and octoploid cytotypes. The most common ploidy level in R. xbohemica is hexaploid (2n = 6x = 66), but tetraploid and octoploid clones were also found. The four taxa occurring in the Czech Republic are described briefly and the possible origins of the cytotypes discussed.