Phenological growth stages of nashi tree (Pyrus pyrifolia): codification and description according to the BBCH scale

The phenological growth stages of nashi tree were firstly described here using the BBCH scale. Based on this general scale, nashi phenology showed 8 of the 10 principal stages (0–9): bud, leaf and shoot development, inflorescence emergence, flowering, fruit development, fruit maturity and senescence. A schematic representation of the chronological progression of principal growth stages of nashi is also shown. The codification of the different growth stages is important for correct timing of general orchard management, particularly for disease and pest management. Besides, it will help farmers to efficiently schedule and manage nashi cultivation, as well as to improve knowledge dissemination among scientists around the World.     

基于EPG的三种刺吸式害虫在苹果苗上的取食行为比较

【目的】苹果绵蚜Eriosoma lanigerum、绣线菊蚜Aphis citricola和梨网蝽Stephanitis nashi是苹果园的一类重要害虫,它们以刺吸式口器对苹果树造成不同程度的危害。本研究旨在明确这3种刺吸式昆虫在苹果树上取食行为差异。【方法】利用刺吸电位(electrical penetration graph, EPG)技术对苹果绵蚜和绣线菊蚜成虫在苹果苗韧皮部和非韧皮部上的EPG指标,以及苹果绵蚜、绣线菊蚜和梨网蝽成虫苹果苗上的取食行为进行了比较分析,分析了这3种害虫的成虫在苹果苗上取食8 h各种波形平均持续时间的占比。【结果】结果表明,苹果绵蚜和绣线菊蚜成蚜在苹果苗上均产生6种取食波形,即非刺探波(np)、路径波(C)、意外穿刺细胞非主动取食细胞波(pd)、木质部取食波(G)、韧皮部唾液分泌波(E1)和韧皮部取食波(E2);而梨网蝽成虫取食过程中只产生非刺探波(np)、表皮刺穿波(A)、叶肉细胞取食波(Gc)和木质部取食波(E)4种波形。从蚜虫在苹果苗非韧皮部上取食的EPG指标看,苹果绵蚜成蚜pd波平均时间显著高于绣线菊蚜的,而刺探次数、np波总时间和pd波次数均显著低于绣线菊蚜的。从蚜虫在苹果苗韧皮部上取食的EPG指标来看,除第1次出现E2波的时间外,各指标没有显著差异。从3种害虫在苹果苗上取食8 h各波形的占比来看,梨网蝽成虫的np波总时间所占比例最高(53%),其次是绣线菊蚜成虫的(24%),苹果绵蚜成虫的最低(为1%)。同时,苹果绵蚜和绣线菊蚜成虫取食波为E2波,所占总时间比例分别为35%和25%,而梨网蝽的取食波为Gc波(占总时间比例为36%)和E波(占总时间比例为11%)。【结论】本研究阐释了苹果园刺吸式口器害虫的生态位分离和取食行为学机制,为果园刺吸式口器害虫的综合治理提供了理论依据。     

Mago Nashi, Tsunagi/Y14, and Ranshi form a complex that influences oocyte differentiation in Drosophila melanogaster

During Drosophila melanogaster oogenesis, a germline stem cell divides forming a cyst of 16 interconnected cells. One cell enters the oogenic pathway, and the remaining 15 differentiate as nurse cells. Although directed transport and localization of oocyte differentiation factors within the single cell are indispensible for selection, maintenance, and differentiation of the oocyte, the mechanisms regulating these events are poorly understood. Mago Nashi and Tsunagi/Y14, core components of the exon junction complex (a multiprotein complex assembled on spliced RNAs), are essential for restricting oocyte fate to a single cell and for localization of oskar mRNA. Here we provide evidence that Mago Nashi and Tsunagi/Y14 form an oogenic complex with Ranshi, a protein with a zinc finger-associated domain and zinc finger domains. Genetic analyses of ranshi reveal that (1) 16-cell cysts are formed, (2) two cells retain synaptonemal complexes, (3) all cells have endoreplicated DNA (as observed in nurse cells), and (4) oocyte-specific cytoplasmic markers accumulate and persist within a single cell but are not localized within the posterior pole of the presumptive oocyte. Our results indicate that Ranshi interacts with the exon junction complex to localize components essential for oocyte differentiation within the posterior pole of the presumptive oocyte.     

Schistosoma japonicum: inhibition of Mago nashi gene expression by shRNA-mediated RNA interference

RNA interference (RNAi) mediated by short interfering RNA (siRNA) is a powerful reverse genetics tool and holds enormous therapeutic potential for various diseases, including parasite infections. siRNAs bind their complementary mRNA and lead to degradation of their specific mRNA targets. RNAi has been widely used for functional analysis of specific genes in various cells and organisms. In this paper, we tested the potential of silencing the expression of the Mago nashi gene in Schistosoma japonicum by siRNAs derived from shRNA expressed by mammalian Pol III promoter H1. Schistosomula, transformed from cercariae by mechanical shearing of the tails, were electroporated with Mago nashi shRNA expression vector. Aliquots of parasites were harvested at days 1, 3, and 5 after electroporation, respectively. Levels of Mago nashi mRNA and protein were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis. The results showed that shRNA expressed from mammalian Pol III promoter H1 specifically reduced the levels of Mago nashi mRNA and proteins in S. japonicum. Changes in testicular lobes were apparent when parasites were introduced into mammalian hosts. Thus, vector-mediated gene silencing is applicable to S. japonicum, which provides a means for the functional analysis of genes in this organism.     

The regulation of mRNA stability in mammalian cells: 2.0

Messenger RNA decay is an essential step in gene expression to set mRNA abundance in the cytoplasm. The binding of proteins and/or noncoding RNAs to specific recognition sequences or secondary structures within mRNAs dictates mRNA decay rates by recruiting specific enzyme complexes that perform the destruction processes. Often, the cell coordinates the degradation or stabilization of functional subsets of mRNAs encoding proteins collectively required for a biological process. As well, extrinsic or intrinsic stimuli activate signal transduction pathways that modify the mRNA decay machinery with consequent effects on decay rates and mRNA abundance. This review is an update to our 2001 Gene review on mRNA stability in mammalian cells, and we survey the enormous progress made over the past decade.     

拟除虫菊酯的杀虫活性和温度的关系

除了戊酸醚酯对苜蓿蚜呈弱的正温度系数外,杀灭菊酯、二氯苯醚菊酯、氯氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯、氟氰菊酯及百树菊酯,都呈负温度系数。杀灭菊酯、戊酸醚酯、二氯苯醚菊酯、氯氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯和氟氰菊酯,对梨网蝽全部呈正温度系数。氯氰菊酯对粘虫呈负温度系数,杀灭菊酯、戊酸醚酯、二氯苯醚菊酯和溴氰菊酯都呈正温度系数。杀灭菊酯和溴氰菊酯对粘虫卵也呈正温度系数。杀灭菊酯对小菜蛾的杀虫活性,受温度的影响不明显,而戊酸醚酯则呈负温度系数。杀灭菊酯和戊酸醚酯对蚊幼呈正温度系数,而二氯苯醚菊酯则呈负温度系数。