Trifluralin herbicide-induced resistance of melon to fusarium wilt involves expression of stress- and defence-related genes

To identify genes involved in trifluralin herbicide-induced resistance of melon to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis , suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) and cDNA-amplified fragment-length polymorphism (cDNA-AFLP) were used. A total of 123 clones—60 of which have never been isolated from melon—were isolated, sequenced and annotated. A significant proportion (35%) of the total 123 clones exhibited similarity to genes that have been formerly described as stress- or defence-related. Thirty-two selected clones were subjected to a detailed expression analysis, one-third of which were found to be up-regulated in response to trifluralin treatment and/or fusarium inoculation. The putative roles of seven of these clones in stress are discussed. Furthermore, the expression of four stress-related and up-regulated genes was enhanced when the plants were subjected to salinity stress, suggesting that trifluralin induces a general stress response which protects the plant against fusarium wilt.     

Stock-Scion Interactions of Normal and Fruit Ripening Mutants rin and nor in Tomato

Scions of the non-ripening rin and nor tomato strains (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) were grafted on normal understock plants (cv. Rutgers) in an effort to study the influence of roots and vegetative tissue on the ripening behavior of the tomato fruit. Receiprocal grafts of ‘Rutgers’ scions on rin and nor understocks as well as grafted and ungrafted controls were also established. No alteration in the ethylene, and CO₂ evolution and color development of either mutant fruits on normal understock or of normal fruits on mutant understock occurred. We suggest that the inability of rin and nor mutant fruits to ripen normally stems either from the presence in mutant fruit of a non-translocatable ripening inhibitor, or from the absence of a non-translocatable ripening factor.     

High nocturnal CO2 emanation guides the sand fly Phlebotomus papatasi to sugar‐rich plants

Abstract In arid areas, Phlebotomus papatasi obtains essential carbohydrates by feeding on green tissues of plants. There is a great variation in sugar content, metabolic rates and dark respiration between conspecific plants, and also between branches and leaves of the same plant. It is hypothesized that high nocturnal release of CO₂ may guide the sand flies to rich sugar sources. Comparisons of Ph. papatasi feeding on branches of different plant species demonstrate a significant positive correlation between the level of sugar in leaves, the rate of sand fly feeding on them and the size of ingested sugar meals. Mean nocturnal CO₂ emanation of low‐sugar Ricinus communis branches is 26.5 ppm and that of sugar rich branches is 86.3 ppm above room level. Low‐sugar Capparis spinosa branches release 45.0 ppm and the emission from sugar rich branches is 76.0 ppm above room level. Branches with similar emissions, placed behind net partitions, are used in no‐choice orientation experiments: R. communis branches releasing high CO₂ levels are approached by 53.7% of the flies compared with 3.0% of flies that orientate to low CO₂ branches. Capparis spinosa with high CO₂ emission are approached by 9.8% of the flies compared with 0.95% of flies that orientate to low CO₂ branches.     

Leishmaniasis in the Jordan Valley. V. Dispersal characteristics of the sandfly Phlebotomus papatasi

Several characteristics of dispersing and non-dispersing Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) were quantified and compared. The majority of dispersing sandflies, trapped crossing fallow fields, were females (68.5% v. 51.1%); of the dispersing females, 55.4% were parous, 48.1% were inseminated and 11.6% were gravid. In the population of sandflies sampled exiting from burrows of the sand rat Psammomys obesus Cretschmar, these categories, respectively, represented 39%, 90% and 26% of the females examined. Leishmania promastigotes were found in 9% of females exiting from P. obesus burrows, and in 2.7% of the dispersing females. The anthrone test established that the reason for activity of gravid females is sugar feeding. These females do not disperse and are suitable targets for future control measures.     

丛枝霸王（Zygophyllum dumosum）根际AM真菌生态学研究

AM真菌是一类广泛分布的土壤真菌,与宿主植物形成共生结构后,对于植物生长和植被恢复有多种有益的生理学和生态学作用。1999年11月至2000年10月,通过每月分别从0－10cm和10－20cm土层采集根际土样,对以色列荒漠地区丛枝霸王（Zygophyllum dumosum Boiss）根际AM真菌进行了系统的生态学研究。AM真菌的分布和定殖与季节变化和采样浓度密切相关。菌根真菌的最高定殖率并不伴随有最大的孢子密度,最高的定殖率发生在1999年11月,而最大的孢子密度则出现在2000年9月。10－20cm土层中的菌根真菌定殖率和孢子密度明显高于0－10cm土层。土壤温度与所有菌根结构的定殖率呈正相关,土壤有机质含量与泡囊和丛枝定殖率呈正相关,而土壤总可溶性氮对泡囊和丛枝定殖有显著正效应,对孢子密度有显著负效应。结果建议,孢子密度、泡囊和丛枝定殖程度可作为检测荒漠土壤状况的生态指标。研究应用于我国特别是西部荒漠地区的植被建立和恢复,可望发挥重任作用：（1）AM真菌能与绝大多数高奶系形成共生联合体,促进根系对土壤矿质营养和水分的吸收,提高植物对干旱、高温、盐碱、根部病害等的抗性,提高逆境条件下植物的成活率,深入研究荒漠生态系统中AM真菌动态分布,以及筛选优势AM菌种和人工接种,进行菌根化育苗,为植被建立和恢复提供优质苗木;（2）菌根的丛枝定殖时间短,主要发生在幼根,泡囊定殖时间长,主要发生在老根,而AM真菌的生长发育和繁殖所需的碳水化合物来自植物根系的分泌活动,所以,通过检测不同时期菌根各种结构的定殖程度和孢子的丰富度,可以获得宿主植物根系的生长状况,进而对土壤环境作出科学的评估。     

荒漠植物根际AM真菌的空间分布和定殖

 通过分析以色列荒漠地区Zygophyllum dumosum, Hammada scoparia, Artemisia herba-alba 和 Atriplex halimus 等4种灌木根际AM真菌的空间分布和定殖程度,研究了AM真菌分布和定殖与植物种类和土壤因子间的相关性。样品分别从0～10 cm,10～20 cm,20～30 cm,30～40 cm和40～50 cm等5个土层中采取,土样过2 mm筛。收集的根样切成1 cm根段,经染色后,根据感染长度确定AM真菌不同结构的定殖率;用湿筛倾析法和蔗     

Postemergence Growth in the Fly <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sarcophaga falculata</Emphasis> initiated by Neurosecretion from the Ocellar Nerve

THE formation of the endocuticle and growth of skeletal muscles which takes place in the fly after eclosion is termed the postemergence growth. An increase in volume of skeletal muscles was observed in Glossina¹ and the deposition of cuticular growth layers described for some orders of both Exopterygota² and Endopterygota³. The postemergence growth which was shown to be induced by some blood-borne factor from the head⁴, hitherto considered to be the tanning hormone bursicon⁵, is initiated by neurosecretion from the ocellar nerve of the pharate adult. Experiments have been performed which indicate that neurosecretion induces the growth of the endocuticle. The process of postemergence growth was assessed by measuring the size of the longitudinal skeletal apodemes. This begins after eclosion and is correlated with the growth in thickness of the cuticle. The enlargement of the surface of the apodemes also indicates the growth of the skeletal muscles, which spread over the newly deposited cuticle. This phenomenon is a constant feature of this species since more than 2,000 specimens were examined at different periods of the year and none were found in which postemergence growth had not occurred.     

Physiological Responses of Apple Trees to Supraoptimal Root Temperature

Ungrafted apple rootstocks were grown in sand cultures at constant root temperatures between 20°C to 40°C. Temperatures of 30°C and above reduced root and shoot growth. Serious damage to the leaves occurred at 35°C and above. The O₂ consumption, CO₂ evolution and respiratory quotient (RQ) of the roots showed maximum values at 35°C. Different rootstock cultivars varied greatly in their susceptibility to damage by supraoptimal root temperatures apparently due to anaerobic respiration. The more susceptible ones differed from resistant types in the larger amount of ethanol they accumulated in their roots at supraoptimal root temperature, and the more severe reduction in the malic acid content of the roots at such temperature. Acetaldehyde was also found in roots and leaves at supraoptimal root temperatures, whereas the organic acid content of the leaves tended to decrease. Supraoptimal root temperature also caused a reduction of cytokinins in both roots and leaves accompanied by a reduction in the leaf chlorophyll content. This could be prevented by the application of kinetin or benzyladenine to the leaves. In a short experiment a rise in root temperature up to 40°C caused an increase in transpiration and a decrease in the resistance of the leaves to the passage of water vapor, whereas in prolonged experiments transpiration reached a maximum and leaf resistance a minimum at 30°C. The leaf water potential increased also with increasing root temperature. Leaf temperature increased with increasing root temperature, irrespective of increasing or decreasing transpiration rates.     

Aspects of the Effect of ABA on the Water Status of Barley and Wheat Seedlings

The effect of abscisic acid on plant growth and survival during water deprivation was studied in barley and wheat seedlings. Under conditions of both limited and ample water supply, treatment with abscisic acid greatly reduced transpiration and, in addition, suppressed root growth. In water-deprived seedlings, abscisic acid increased the total dry matter, reflecting improved efficiency in water-use. In addition, the growth period and survival of water-deprived seedlings were markedly prolonged. In field trials, however, abscisic acid had no significant effect on waterdeprived seedlings. Possible reasons for this lack of response are discussed.