Preliminary results with sex pheromones to trap potato tuber worm moths in Saudi Arabia

Summary A mixture of sex pheromone PTM₁ (trans-4,cis-7-tridecadien-1-ol acetate) and PTM₂ (trans-4,cis-7,cis-10-tridecatrien-1-ol acetate) on rubber cap dispensers was used to attract adult male tuber moths to water pan traps. Correlation analysis of daily catches made over a 61-day period showed that temperature and relative humidity accounted for 20.5% and 1.4% respectively of catch variability. Further studies are needed to reveal any major components of the 78% residual variability.     

Biological Activity of trans-2-Hexenal Against Bradysia odoriphaga (Diptera: Sciaridae) at Different Developmental Stages

trans-2-Hexenal, one of the C6 green leaf volatiles, is potentially useful for the control of Bradysia odoriphaga Yang et Zhang. In this study, the biological activity of trans-2-hexenal on B. odoriphaga was assessed in the laboratory. trans-2-Hexenal was observed to kill B. odoriphaga in different developmental stages at a relatively low concentration under fumigation. The respiration rate in the male treatment group decreased from 131.44 to 4.07 nmol/g·min with a prolonged fumigation time, while the respiration rate in females decreased from 128.82 to 24.20 nmol/g·min. Male adults exhibited a more sensitive electroantennogram response at 0.05–500 μl/ml at the dose of 10.0 μl than female adults. Moreover, trans-2-hexenal had a repellent effect on adults based on the results with a Y-tube olfactometer at 10.0 μl, as shown by the deterrent rate of male and female adults with 96.67% and 98.33%, respectively. The results showed that trans-2-hexenal had good biological activity in different developmental stages of B. odoriphaga, which could reduce the need for, and risks associated with, the use of traditional insecticides and enable nonharmful management.     

Effects of Lissoclibadins and Lissoclinotoxins,Isolated from a Tropical Ascidian Lissoclinum cf. badium,on IL-8 production in a PMA-stimulated Promyelocytic Leukemia Cell Line

The effects of seven compounds 1–7, isolated from a tropical ascidian Lissoclinum cf. badium, on IL-8 production in PMA-stimulated HL-60 cells were examined. Lissoclibadins 2 (2) and 3 (3) and lissoclinotoxin F (5) increased the IL-8 production in a dose-dependent manner. Compounds 2 and 5 are structural isomers possessing dimeric structures of trans and cis-orientations, respectively, and showed a very similar activity on the induction of IL-8 levels. Compound 3 and lissoclinotoxin E (4) are also structural isomers having dimeric trans and cis-structures, respectively, but 4 did not induce the IL-8 production. Lissoclibadin 1 (1, trimeric compound) and two monomeric compounds (6 and 7) did not increase the IL-8 level. Therefore, the differences in their structures remarkably affected the IL-8 production activity, the inhibition of cell proliferation, and the survival of HL-60 cells. Lissoclibadin 2 was the most interesting compound of the seven metabolites tested in this study.     

Effect of growth stage on the content and composition of the essential oil and phenolic fraction of sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana L.)

The variation in the content and composition of Origanum majorana L. essential oil has been studied. Plant material has been harvested at four phenological stages (early vegetative, late vegetative, budding and full-flowering). Essential oil yield varied from 0.04 to 0.09% reached during the full-flowering stage. Analysis of the essential oils by GC and GC/MS revealed the presence of 38 components represented mainly by oxygenated monoterpenes (64.01–71.4%), monoterpene hydrocarbons (21.73–29.92%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (1.47–4.05%). The main components were terpinen-4-ol (29.13–32.57%), cis-sabinene hydrate (19.9–29.27%), trans-sabinene hydrate (3.5–11.61%), γ-terpinene (2.11–8.20%), bornyl acetate (1.52–2.94%) and linalool (1.05–1.39%). On the other hand, phenolic contents varied from 2.706 to 6.834 mg/g of dry weight obtained during the later vegetative stage. RP-HPLC analysis of the methanolic extract of O. majorana L. dried aerial parts showed the predominance of phenolic acids during the early vegetative stage whereas flavonoids predominate during the other stages of growth. The main phenolic acids identified were trans-2-hydroxycinnamic, rosmarinic, vanillic, chlorogenic, gallic and cinnamic whereas the main flavonoids were amentoflavone, apigenin, quercetin, luteolin, coumarin and rutin. Results obtained showed that later vegetative stage is characterized by the highest contents of bioactive compounds and therefore it could be considered as the best stage for harvesting marjoram plants.     

Carotenoid Composition of Jackfruit (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Artocarpus heterophyllus</Emphasis>), Determined by HPLC-PDA-MS/MS

Carotenoids are pigments responsible for the yellow-reddish color of many foods and are related to important functions and physiological actions, preventing several chronic-degenerative diseases. The objective of this study was to confirm the carotenoid composition of jackfruit by high-performance liquid chromatography connected to photodiode array and mass spectrometry detectors (HPLC-PDA-MS/MS). The main carotenoids were all-trans-lutein (24–44%), all-trans-β-carotene (24–30%), all-trans-neoxanthin (4–19%), 9-cis-neoxanthin (4–9%) and 9-cis-violaxanthin (4–10%). Either qualitative or quantitative differences, mainly related to the lutein proportion, were found among three batches of jackfruit. Since the fruits from batch A showed significantly lower contents for almost all carotenoids, it also had the lowest total carotenoid content (34.1 μg/100 g) and provitamin A value, whereas the total carotenoid ranged from 129.0 to 150.3 μg/100 g in the other batches. The provitamin A values from batches B and C were 3.3 and 4.3 μg RAE/100 g, respectively. The carotenoid composition of jackfruit was successfully determined, where 14 of the 18 identified carotenoids were reported for first time. Differences among batches may be due to genetic and/or agricultural factors.     

Influence of chemical and biological treatments on volatile oil composition of Artemisia annua Linn.

The relative abundance of isoprenoids and other volatile components in the aerial parts of Artemisia annua Linn. (Asteraceae) after different nutritional treatments was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Hydro-distillation of untreated (control) plants yielded 0.28 ± 0.04% essential oil on fresh weight basis. Monoterpenes were predominant in the essential oil of which cis-limonene-1,2-epoxide (22.1%), artemisia ketone (11.5%), iso-pinocamphone (11.4%), thujyl alcohol (9.9%) and camphor (8.4%) were the major components. The essential oil distilled from A. annua treated with Azospirillum (2 ml/plant) amounted to 0.30 ± 0.03% of fresh weight and consisted mainly of neral (31.1%), β-caryophyllene (25.1%), artemisia ketone (10.0%), thujyl alcohol (9.4%), trans-bergamotene (8.5%) and spathulenol (4.8%). The essential oil from plants treated with basal N, P, K and S application (in the form of urea P₂O₅, K₂O and gypsum at a rate of 120, 50, 100 and 50 kg/ha, respectively) amounted to 0.32 ± 0.03% of fresh weight and consisted mainly of thujyl alcohol (33.3%), β-caryophyllene (15.5%), cis-undec-5-ene (14.4%), artemisia ketone (6.0%), trans-nerolidol (5.8%) and undec-4-ene (4.6%). The hydrodistillation of A. annua treated with Glomus (Mycorrhizal soil 50 g/plant) yielded 0.50 ± 0.02% essential oil on fresh weight basis. The sesquiterpenes were predominant in this essential oil and consisted of β-caryophyllene (51.2%), trans-bergamotene (15.4%), α-gurjunene (14.3%), germacrene D (5.1%) and ledol (4.5%) as major components. The only monoterpenes in the essential oil were neral, nerol and pulegone (each less than 1%). These findings suggest that A. annua treated with Glomus lacks glandular trichomes—the primary sites of synthesis of monoterpenes.     

玉米抗粗缩病主效QTL (qMrdd1)的基因多效性分析

前期研究中将主效抗病QTL(qMrdd1)定位在第8染色体分子标记M103.4-M105.3之间,该抗病QTL表现为隐性基因遗传,可降低24.2%~39.3%的发病率。通过分子标记检测,在抗病系NT411(供体亲本)和感病系NT409(轮回亲本)回交多代的群体中,选择7个含有抗性QTL(qMrdd1)的杂合单株自交得到分离群体B1、B2、B3、B4、B5、B6、B7和来源于同一回交后代的两对抗感病近等基因系(B8-R、B8-S和B9-R、B9-S),利用这两对近等基因系与自交系A7110、Q319、CT03、昌7-2、43684、43683、43946组配13对杂交种,在植株整个生育期内无粗缩病病毒接种的条件下,在北京、海南和山东种植不同的材料并对7个分离群体和13对杂交种进行农艺性状调查,结果表明,7个分离群体中各基因型植株以及13对杂交种在株高、穗长、穗行数等农艺性状上差异不显著,qMrdd1基因对玉米产量性状不存在多效性现象,可以应用于抗粗缩病育种。     

Hydrothermal Processing of Barley (cv. Blenheim): Optimisation of Phytate Degradation and Increase of FreeMyo-inositol

Optimal conditions were developed for hydrothermal processing of whole barley kernels (cv. Blenheim) to degrade phytate (myo-inositol hexaphosphate) and to increase the content of freemyo-inositol. The hydrothermal treatment comprised of two wet steeps, where lactic acid solution of different concentrations was used, and two dry steeps followed by successive drying. Experiments were performed as a central composite design and evaluated by multiple linear regression. The variables in the experiments were temperature in the first wet and dry steep (T₁), temperature in the second wet and dry steep (T₂) and lactic acid solution concentration in both wet steeps (C) and mathematical models were developed in these variables. Optimal conditions for maximal phytate degradation and for maximal increase of freemyo-inositol wereT₁=48 °C,T₂=48–50 °C andC=0·8%, at these conditions the amount of phytate was reduced by 95–96% and the freemyo-inositol concentration was increased from 0·56 to 2·45 μmol/g d.m. We conclude that this hydrothermal process can be used to produce a barley product (cv. Blenheim) with a low phytate content and a high level of freemyo-inositol.     

Variability in essential oil and bioactive chiral monoterpenoid compositions of Indian oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) populations from northwestern Himalaya and their chemotaxonomy

The chemical composition of essential oils isolated from aerial parts of native populations of Origanum vulgare L. from northwestern Himalaya was investigated by enantioselective gas chromatography (enantio-GC), capillary-gas chromatography (capillary-GC) and GC–MS. Seventy compounds, which accounted for 84.9–97% of the oil composition, have been identified. The oils were allotted to two main groups; the first group had a high percentage of components belonging to the thymol/carvacrol biosynthetic pathway and the second was characterized by a different sesquiterpene composition and a high linalool and bornyl acetate percentage. Essential oils of O. vulgare populations from Rilkot and Dhanachuli areas in northwestern Himalaya were characterized by high monoterpenoids proportions as compared to Nainital and Bhowali populations, which were dominated by sesquiterpenoids. High proportions of thymol (29.2–82%) were found only in two populations. Composition of the samples collected from Dhanachuli area differed from Nainital and Bhowali collections by a unique presence of carvacrol. Notably, there were significant differences in the concentration of rest of the terpenes in all the collections. On enantio-GC, enantiomeric excess for (3R) (−)- and (3S) (+)-linalool, (S) (+)- and (R) (−)-terpinen-4-ol, (S) (−)- and (R) (+)-α-terpineol, (1S) (−)-bornyl acetate and (1S) (−)-borneol were established in populations from Bhowali and Dhanachuli area. Moreover, linalool type oregano may be useful in promoting wider commercial utilization of the biodiversity of this species.     

小麦株高QTL的定位及对重要农艺性状的多效性分析

株高作为小麦育种的重要指标,对产量具有较大的影响。为进一步挖掘小麦株高的数量性状位点（quantitative trait loci,QTL）,本研究以扬麦12和偃展1号杂交得到的包含205个家系的重组自交系（recombinant inbred lines,RIL）群体为材料,利用小麦55K SNP芯片构建高密度遗传图谱,结合 3年共6个环境的表型数据对株高性状进行QTL定位分析。结果表明,在染色体2B（1）、4B（1）、4D（1）、5A（1）、5B（1）和7D（2）上共检测到7个与株高相关的QTL。QPh.yaas-4B、QPh.yaas-5A和QPh.yaas-7D.1的矮秆效应来源于扬麦12,其余4个QTL的矮秆效应来源于偃展1号。在6个环境下都能检测到的位点是QPh.yaas-4B和QPh.yaas-4D,对株高的贡献率分别14.50%~24.09%和19.01%~29.80%,经过比对发现,这2个QTL分别是Rht1和Rht2。QPh.yaas-5A在5个环境下被检测到,对株高的贡献率为3.29%~5.36%;QPh.yaas-2D和QPh.yaas-7D.2在4个环境中均被检测到,对株高的贡献率分别为3.45%~6.14%和3.16%~4.10%;QPh.yaas-5B和QPh.yaas-7D.1分别在2个和3个环境中被检测到,对株高的贡献率分别是2.27%~5.09%和2.72%~4.82%。QTL比较分析后发现,QPh.yaas-7D.1和QPh.yaas-7D.2可能是新的株高位点。研究Rht-B1和Rht-D1对千粒重、穗长和穗粒数的效应,发现Rht-B1位点对这些农艺性状无显著效应,Rht-D1位点仅对千粒重有显著效应,其株高增效等位变异可显著增加千粒重。在自然群体中验证Rht-B1和Rht-D1的效应结果与RIL群体结果一致。     

Pyrethroid synergism by esterase inhibition in Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) larvae

The susceptibility of cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) larvae to poisoning by trans-permethrin and cis-cypermethrin was increased when these pyrethroids were applied topically after the larvae had ingested profenofos, monocrotophos or azinphos-methyl for 24 h. An ingested dose of 4 nmol profenofos per larva gave a synergism factor of about threefold for both trans-permethrin and cis-cypermethrin. These pyrethroids were not synergized by oxidase inhibitors such as piperonyl butoxide, SV-1 and MPP ingested at 80 nmol/larva. Esterase preparations of larval gut hydrolysed trans-permethrin two to three times more rapidly than cis-permethrin, deltamethrin, trans- or cis-cypermethrin. Integument esterase(s) are less active but show a similar preference for trans-permethrin. The gut esterase(s) hydrolysing trans-permethrin are more sensitive in vitro and in vivo to inhibition by profenofos than by azinphos-methyl or monocrotophos. The susceptibility of S. littoralis larvae to pyrethroids appears to be limited by pyrethroid esterases in the gut. Organophosphorous compounds inhibiting these detoxifying enzymes serve as synergists.     

Efficacy of Plectranthus glandulosus (Lamiaceae) and Callistemon rigidus (Myrtaceae) Leaf Extract Fractions to Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

As part of on-going efforts to use eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides, methanol crude extracts of Plectranthus glandulosus and Callistemon rigidus leaves were sequentially fractionated in hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol to establish the most active fraction(s) against Callosobruchus maculatus in cowpea. Cowpea seeds (25 g) were treated with 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 g/kg of extract to evaluate the contact toxicity and F₁ progeny production of the beetles in the laboratory. Mortality was recorded 1, 3, and 7 d postexposure. P. glandulosus hexane fraction was more toxic than the other fractions recording 100% mortality at 4 g/kg, within 7 d with LC₅₀ of 0.39 g/kg. Hexane fraction of C. rigidus showed superior toxicity, causing 100% mortality at 4 g/kg within only 1 d of exposure with LC₅₀ of 1.02 g/kg. All the fractions greatly reduced progeny emergence, with C. rigidus hexane fraction being the best progeny inhibitor. Fractions of P. glandulosus and C. rigidus leaves had sufficient efficacy to be a component of storage pest management package for C. maculatus.     

宁夏小麦品种（系）脂肪氧化酶基因的检测与分布

为给宁夏优质小麦育种和推广提供依据,本研究以180份宁夏小麦品种（系）为材料,利用分子标记检测脂肪氧化酶（LOX）基因在QLpx.caas-1AL和TaLOX-B1位点的组成情况,分析其分布特点。结果表明,不同等位变异及其组合类型的分布比例不同。在QLpx.caas-1AL位点,除了原有的3种等位变异Xwmc312-227、Xwmc312-235和Xwmc312-247外,还发现了2种新的等位变异。经测序分析,两种新变异条带大小分别为199 bp和223 bp,暂命名为Xwmc312-199和Xwmc312-223。该位点5种等位变异的分布比例分别为46.11%、32.78%、18.89%、1.11%和1.11%。在TaLOX-B1位点存在2种等位变异,即TaLOX-B1a和TaLOX-B1b,分别占15.56%和84.44%。宁夏小麦LOX基因位点存在8种等位变异组合类型,其中Xwmc312-227/TaLOX-B1b组合类型比例（40.56%）最高,Xwmc312-235/TaLOX-B1b次之（27.78%）,Xwmc312-199/TaLOX-B1b和Xwmc312-223/TaLOX-B1b最低（均为1.11%）。同时,在不同地区和相同地区不同来源品种（系）间,LOX基因的分布也存在差异。总体来看,宁夏小麦低活性LOX基因等位变异类型（Xwmc312-227/TaLOX-B1b）所占的比例明显高于高活性类型（Xwmc312-235/TaLOX-Ba1）。     

New Cytotoxic and Antibacterial Compounds Isolated from the Sea Hare,Aplysia kurodai

The extract of the sea hare, Aplysia kurodai, showed cytotoxicity against HeLa cells and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Bioassay-guided purification afforded four active compounds, which were identified to be laurinterol, laurinterol acetate, debromolaurinterol, and debromolaurinterol acetate by spectroscopic analysis. Although the acetates were derived from laurinterol and debromolaurinterol before, this is the first isolation of the acetates from natural sources.     

Wild tuber-bearing species ofSolanum and incidence ofPhytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary on the Western slopes of the volcano Nevado de Toluca. 3. Physiological races ofPhytophthora infestans

Summary A survey of races ofPhytophthora infestans was made in 1985 and 1986 on the western slopes of the volcano Nevado de Toluca, Mexico. Isolates were collected from infected plants of wildSolanum species found in five long (7–10 km) and some short (300–500 m) transects. The study are of 15 000 ha was between 2900 and 3900 m altitude. Isolates were collected fromSolanum demissum (35 isolates),verrucosum (11),iopetalum (2),brachycarpum (7),stoloniferum (2), r-genotype (9) and from differential hosts (11). No isolate was identified as race 0. Ten virulence genes were identified with a set of differential hosts and the most common were numbers 2 and 4. Isolates with eight virulence genes were the most common and those with ten were found on eight occasions in the natural habitat and on three in the experimental fields.     

Cis- and trans-protopinium,a novel nematicide,for the eco-friendly management of root-knot nematodes

Plant-derived nematicides are being increasingly used while select synthetic nematicides are phased out for environmental concerns. This is the first report on the in vitro nematicidal activity of cis- and trans-protopinium isolated from roots of Fumaria parviflora and its in vivo effect on the southern root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. Cis- and trans-protopinium was isolated from the methanolic fraction FM2.1, and its structure elucidated using ¹³C and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The NMR spectra were characterized using deuterated dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at temperatures of 25 and 80 °C. In an in vitro study, over 120 h of incubation, the area under cumulative percent hatch inhibition and mortality of cis- and trans-protopinium reached 100% at a concentration of 200 μg mL⁻¹. In the greenhouse and field settings, cis- and trans-protopinium was evaluated against M. incognita on tomato at a concentration of 100, 200, and 300 μg mL⁻¹ for two consecutive seasons, that is, spring and autumn, in 2010. At a concentration of 300 μg mL⁻¹ in the greenhouse and field trials during spring and autumn, cis- and trans-protopinium significantly reduced the nematode galling index, the number of females per gram of root, and the reproduction factor, as well as increased plant height, fresh and dry shoot weights, and root length. Therefore, cis- and trans-protopinium can be used as an effective and safe nematicide against M. incognita on tomato in an organic and sustainable agricultural production system. Phytochemicals have various agricultural applications, especially to control economically important nematode pests.     

Soybean inoculation: Dose, N fertilizer supplementation and rhizobia persistence in soil

The effect of rate of application of Sinorhizobium (Ensifer) fredii SMH12 or Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 inoculants on grain yields of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] cv. Osumi was studied in a field experiment laid out in Southern Spain. All inoculant doses tested (10⁴, 10⁵, 10⁶ and 10⁷ rhizobia/seed) produced higher seed yields than those obtained in un-inoculated plots. Increments in nodule dry weight, seed yield and seed N content were observed when the number of rhizobia applied to seed increased from 10⁴ up to 10⁷. The addition of N fertilizer to inoculated soybean plants (50 kg N/ha applied at R1 or R4 stage) did not increase seed yields in comparison with treatments that were only inoculated. Survival of strains SMH12 and USDA110 was monitorized for three years in two different soils of Southern Spain after soybean inoculation. Rhizobia survival was varied dependent on the soil and the rhizobia strain used.     

小麦-中间偃麦草蓝粒代换系的创制与鉴定

小麦的蓝粒性状可作为表型标记用于小麦育种和遗传学研究,来自中间偃麦草的蓝粒种质材料尚鲜见报道。本研究通过八倍体小偃麦中5 (2n=8x=56, AABBDDXX)与中国春缺-四体系列材料杂交,在中5×N4BT4A和中5×N7BT7D杂交组合后代中获得了两份蓝粒材料,编号分别为Zh5-a2-1和Zh5-c13-2。利用细胞遗传学和分子标记方法对这两份蓝粒材料进行了染色体组成分析。以中间偃麦草基因组DNA为探针的GISH分析显示,这两份蓝粒材料的染色体数均为2n=42,包括40条小麦染色体和两条中间偃麦草染色体。利用重复序列探针pSc119.2和pAs1进行的FISH分析表明,Zh5-a2-1和Zh5-c13-2均为二体代换系,被代换的一对小麦染色体分别为4B和4D。通过用St、E~e和E~b基因组DNA作探针进行GISH分析,证明这两份蓝粒代换系中的中间偃麦草染色体均为St组染色体,但与中5中的中间偃麦草染色体比较发现这对St组染色体的短臂端部发生了缺失。利用二倍体长穗偃麦草E~e基因组的SNP标记分析证明,两份蓝粒代换系中的中间偃麦草染色体与长穗偃麦草的4E~e染色体同源,即Zh5-a2-1和Zh5-c13-2分别为4St(4B)和4St(4D)代换系,命名为SubZh5-4St(4B)和SubZh5-4St(4D)。同时说明,中间偃麦草的4St染色体上带有蓝粒基因。通过对450个小麦SSR标记进行筛选,获得了4个可跟踪鉴定4St染色体的特异SSR标记。研究结果可用于蓝粒小麦品种的培育和中间偃麦草蓝粒基因的遗传学研究。     

小麦品种东农冬麦2号根中TaEXPA7部分同源基因的克隆及表达特性分析

膨胀素(expansin)是植物生长发育过程中诱导细胞壁松弛和伸展的蛋白,包括EXPA、EXPB、EXLA、EXLB四个基因家族,对植物根系的形成及快速发育具有重要作用。本试验以寒地冬小麦品种东农冬麦2号两叶一心期的根为材料,克隆了TaEXPA7基因的3个CDS全长,其氨基酸序列同源性较高,仅信号肽处有两个氨基酸不同,其核酸序列长度均为777bp,编码258个氨基酸,分别命名为TaEXPA7-A、TaEXPA7-B、TaEXPA7-D,且分别定位于2AL、2BL、2DL染色体。蛋白均含有DPBB-1和Pollen-allerg-1两个保守结构域,分子量为27 670.74Da,等电点为8.09,均为疏水性蛋白;与节节麦、二穗短柄草的相似性分别为99%和92%。采用两叶一心期的根进行qRT-PCR分析发现,TaEXPA7-A/B/D三个基因在根尖中的表达量均较高,伸长区和成熟区次之;对冬小麦根进行低温、干旱和激素处理后,这三个基因均下调表达,并且TaEXPA7-B基因的相对表达量较高,TaEXPA7-D的相对表达量较低。由此可见,多倍体小麦不同染色体上的基因在应对不同环境胁迫时,表达以及应答模式存在差异,并且在不同的环境胁迫下,发挥主导作用的染色体也存在差异;此外,该基因在根中的表达可能与低温、干旱以及外源激素的胁迫有一定的关系,可能是促进根系生长的重要基因。