Low Levels of Genetic Diversity within Populations of Hosta clausa (Liliaceae)

Abstract Genetic diversity of Korean populations in Hosta clausa was investigated using starch gel electrophoresis. Hosta clausa is widespread, grows only along streamsides, and has both sexual and asexual reproduction. Populations of the species are small and isolated. Thirty-two percent of the loci examined were polymorphic, and mean genetic diversity within populations (He_p=0.082) was lower than mean estimates for species with very similar life history characteristics (0.131), particularly for its congener H. yingeri (0.250). The mean number of multilocus genotypes per population was 8.7, and genotypic diversity index (D_G) was 0.84. Significant differences in allele frequencies among populations were found in all seven polymorphic loci (P < 0.001). About one-fifth of the total allozyme variation was among populations (G_ST=0.192). Indirect estimate of the number of migrants per generation (Nm=0.48, calculated from mean G_ST) and nine private alleles found indicate that gene movement among populations was low. The low levels of genetic diversity within populations and the relatively high levels of genetic diversity among populations suggest that strong moist habitat preferences, clonal reproduction, low level of gene flow among populations, genetic drift, and historical events may have played roles in the genetic structuring of the species.     

Cassava leaf harvesting as vegetables; a cause of vulnerability of cassava plant to cassava mosaic disease and eventual yield reduction: Ernte von cassavablättern als gemüse; eine ursache für die anfälligkeit der cassavapflanze für die cassava-mosaikkrankheit und für spätere ertragseinbußen

The consequence of harvesting young leaves of cassava as vegetable on the vulnerability of the crop to cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and on storage root yield was investigated using 30 cassava genotypes planted in IITA fields located in the humid forest (Port Harcourt?:?Onne), forest-savannah transition (Ibadan), southern guinea savannah (Mokwa) and northern guinea savannah (Zaria) agroecologies in Nigeria. Tender apical leaves and shoots of the cassava genotypes were removed from forty plants per cassava genotype with the same number of plants considered as control. Whitefly infestation, disease incidence (DI) and symptom severity (ISS) of the disease were assessed at monthly interval for six months and also at the ninth month after planting (MAP). Yield reduction due to this treatment was calculated as percentage harvest index (HI). Whitefly population fluctuated throughout the period of observation at all locations with higher population obtained generally for treated plants compared to control plants. Sprouting leaves of some treated genotypes were observed with severe mosaic symptoms, while corresponding control showed no mosaic symptoms. Contrarily, no remarkable difference was observed in Zaria between the mean ISS of treated and control cassava genotypes. There was a highly significant difference (P?<?0.01) in DI and ISS among cassava genotypes across all locations. Also, there was a highly significant interaction (P?<?0.01) in symptom severity between location (loc) and genotype, genotype and treatment (trt), loc and trt. Interaction between loc, genotypes and trt with regard to DI was highly significant at 2, 3 and 4 MAP, while with ISS, the interaction was highly significant all through the counting period. There was a positive relationship between DI and ISS on plants of genotypes 96/1039 and ISU. The percentage HI (27.4) of treated plants of genotype 95/0166 in Ibadan was remarkably lower than the value obtained for corresponding control (41.9) plants. Also, sharp distinction in% HI of treated (39.5) and control (43.8) ISU was observed in Onne with their respective ISS values as 3.7 and 3.2. Therefore, harvesting tender apical leaves and shoots of cassava as vegetables should be discouraged as it increases the severity of CMD infection in the regenerating shoots of cassava with attendant storage root yield reduction.     

Seasonal mortality trends in tree‐feeding insects: a field experiment

Abstract 1. The majority of general life‐history models treat the environment as being invariable through time, even though temporal variation in selective agents could dramatically change the outcomes, e.g. in terms of optimal size and time at maturity. For herbivorous insects, seasonal differences in food quality are reasonably well described, but seasonal dynamics of top‐down selective forces are poorly documented. 2. The present study attempted to quantify seasonal changes in predation risk of folivorous insect larvae in temperate forest habitats. In a series of field experiments, artificial larvae were exposed to predators, and the resulting bird‐inflicted damage was recorded. The trials were repeated regularly throughout the course of two summers. 3. A distinct peak of larval mortality was recorded in mid‐June (the nestling period for most insectivorous passerine birds), after which predation risk declined to a plateau of 20–30% below the peak value. 4. The recorded pattern is interpreted as a consequence of seasonal changes in the number and behaviour of insectivorous birds, and the abundance of alternative food resources for these predators. 5. A quantitative analysis based on field data indicated that considering temporal variation in mortality in life‐history models is crucial for obtaining realistic predictions concerning central life‐history traits, such as final body size in different generations.     

Thermostabilities of plant phenol oxidase and peroxidase, determining the technology of their use in food industry

Stabilities of phenol oxidase and peroxidase from tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.) clone Kolkhida leaves, apple (Malus domestica L.) cultivar Kekhura fruits, walnut (Juglans regia L.) green pericarp, and horseradish (Armoracia lapathifolia Gilib) roots were studied using different storage temperature modes and storage duration. It was demonstrated that both enzymes retained residual activities (approximately 10%) upon 20-min incubation at 80 degrees C. Phenol oxidases from tea, walnut, and, especially, apple, as well as tea peroxidase were stable during storage. A technology for treatment of plant oxidases was proposed, based on the use of a natural inhibitor phenol oxidase and peroxidase, isolated from tea leaves, which solving the problem of residual activities of these enzymes, arising during pasteurization and storage of beverages and juices. It was demonstrated that browning of apple juice during pasteurization and beer turbidity during storage could be efficiently prevented using the natural inhibitor of these enzymes.     

Use of Pleurotus dryinus for lignocellulolytic enzymes production in submerged fermentation of mandarin peels and tree leaves

It has been shown that the wood-rotting mushroom Pleurotus dryinus IBB 903 is able to effectively produce cellulases, xylanase, laccase, and manganese peroxidase in submerged fermentation of mandarin peels and tree leaves. Gradual increasing of lignocellulosic substrates concentration from 1 to 4–6% enhanced enzyme accumulation in culture liquid. A simple and inexpensive medium containing mandarin peels and yeast extract as sole carbon and nitrogen sources allowed simultaneous production of high levels of both hydrolases and oxidases by P. dryinus IBB 903. Supplementation of this medium by copper and manganese caused earlier and faster accumulation of laccase and manganese peroxidase increasing their yield by 1.5 and 7.5 times, respectively. In addition, by adding manganese to the medium it is possible to regulate the ratio of laccase and MnP in enzyme preparation. The presence of lignocellulosic substrate is the requisite for MnP production by P. dryinus IBB 903 since there was no production of MnP when mushroom has been cultivated in the synthetic medium with different carbon source. Among carbon source tested only utilization of glucose resulted to 21-fold increase of fungus laccase specific activity compared to control medium without carbon source. Carboxymethyl cellulase and xylanase appeared to be inducible enzymes.     

Exogenous cellulases of thermophilic micromycetes. Part I. Selection of producers

More than 600 micromycetes – representatives of different genera have been investigated for their ability to produce exogenous cellulases. Most of the investigated cultures were found to produce these enzymes, 24 cultures being thermophilic, and 18 thermotolerant. Cellulase or its derivatives proved to be the most favourable carbon source for cellulase secretion. None of the thermophilic cultures studied manifested the ability of exogenous exoglucanase biosynthesis. Using UV-rays as mutagen, a mutant strain A. terreus T-49 has been obtained being characterized by an increased endo-glucanase and cellobiase activity, as compared to the initial strains. The cellulase preparations of thermophilic micromycetes contain one cellulasic component: endo-glucanase, or two: endo-glucanase and cellobiase.     

Exogenous cellulases of thermophilic micromycetes. II. Thermostability of enzyme preparations

The ability of a large number of higher fungi to form extracellular cellulases is investigated. Some representatives of these fungi grow at 40–50°C, and form extracellular cellulases exceeding cellulases of mesophilic fungi in thermostability. It is shown that cellulases of higher thermophilic fungi differ by their thermostability. The temperature optimum of cellulase action of higher fungi occurs within 60–62°C.     

beta-Glucosidases from cellulolytic fungi Aspergillus terreus, Geotrichum candidum, and Trichoderma longibrachiatum as typical glycosidases

By ethanol precipitation (v/v) and chromatography on Sephadex SP, DEAE (or DEAE-cellulose), and G-200 beta-glucosidases (EC 3.2.1.21) from the culture filtrates of cellulolytic fungi Aspergillus terreus, Geotrichum candidum, and Trichoderma longibrachiatum grown on the medium with cellulose containing materials were isolated. The enzymes were homogenous as shown by different techniques. The substrate specificities of the obtained enzymes were studied. beta-Glucosidases had higher affinity for p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside than for cellobiose (Km 1.25, 0.34, 0.20 and 5.4, 2.0, 1.2 mM, respectively) and were able to hydrolyze both laminaribiose and gentiobiose; but they were unable to cleave cotton fiber, carboxymethylcellulose, and other glycans to reducing sugars. They showed transglycosylase activity. Ki values for arylglucosidase activity of beta-glucosidases from A. terreus, G. candidum, and T. longibrachiatum in the presence of either glucose or glucono-1,5-lactone were 12.2, 6.0, 2.1 and 0.20, 0.19, 0.07 mM, respectively. The Mr's were estimated by gel filtration and by sedimentation equilibrium centrifugation to 200,000, 200,000, 350,000, respectively. The isoelectric points of beta-glucosidases were 4.8, 5.9, and 4.2, respectively. The optimum temperatures and pH's were 60, 50, and 50 degrees C and at pH 4.5, 4.5, and 4.8-5.7, respectively. These properties appear to relate beta-glucosidases obtained in the present study to typical glycosidases.     

Regulation of phenoloxidase activity with sulfur dioxide as the base of production of high-quality instant green tea

The possibility to regulate phenoloxidase activity with sulfur dioxide was studied. It was found that this compound is a potent inhibitor of phenoloxidase of the reversible and mixed type. The inhibitory effect of sulfur dioxide on phenoloxidase provided grounds for a new biotechnological approach to the production of instant green tea. This approach allows increasing the yield of the extractive and the proportion of phenolics in the extractive, thereby improving the organoleptic quality of the product.     

Changes in sperm stores, ejaculate size, fertilization success, and sexual motivation over repeated matings in the common toad, Bufo bufo (Anura: Bufonidae)

Fertilization is of central importance in the determination of reproductive success for both males and females. In species where males have the chance to mate repeatedly within a short period of time, sperm stocks may become depleted and males may have to carefully economize on their sperm reserves. Also, intensive intrasexual competition for females and repeated matings may lead to exhaustion on the behavioural level. To determine whether the reproductive potential of males is limited and if such a limitation is due to behavioural exhaustion or sperm depletion, we experimentally investigated changes in sperm stores, sperm expenditure, fertilization success, and sexual motivation over three repeated matings in the common toad, Bufo bufo , where the breeding season is short and sequential polygyny occurs. At the end of the breeding season, the number of sperm stored in the testes of males mated repeatedly was close to 50% lower than in testes of unmated males. Ejaculate size, which was estimated by applying a novel method allowing direct quantification, decreased by 88% from first to third matings. We also observed a drop in fertilization success from the first two to third matings by 65%, which was largest in males that had started the reproductive season in bad body condition. Some of these males also showed a decreased interest in females in the third mating round. Our results suggest that sperm depletion and loss of sexual motivation may together set a limit to the reproductive potential of common toad males. The present study draws attention to a limitation in reproductive potential, which may occur more often than currently anticipated and has the potential to strongly influence several aspects of reproductive behaviour.  © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2009, 96 , 361–371.