麦类作物小孢子培养研究进展

植物小孢子培养研究对遗传学、分子生物学等具有重要意义。本文综述了麦类作物小孢子培养的基本步骤,包括供体植株的生长和收获、小孢子的预处理方法、小孢子的分离和纯化、影响胚胎发生的因素和胚状体的再生等,同时介绍了有关小孢子胚胎发生的细胞、分子生化机理的研究进展。为了促进小孢子由配子体发育向孢子体发育途径的转变,常采用物理、生理、化学等处理诱导雄核发育。离体小孢子培养以及有关细胞学和分子生化方面的研究将为明确雄核发育机理提供十分有用的信息。小孢子胚胎发生的细胞学研究已取得了显著进展,并分离鉴定出一些在小麦小孢子胚胎发生时表达的胚胎专一基因,但小孢子胚胎发生的机理尚未完全明确。     

植物游离小孢子培养

植物游离小孢子培养具有快速纯合基因型、促进植物胚胎发生和提高植株再生率的功能，同时在突变育种、分子标记辅助育种和基因工程研究中有着重要的意义。植物游离小孢子培养受外植体预处理、小孢子预处理、供体基因型、小孢子培养密度、培养基pH值和培养基成分等因素的影响。林木游离小孢子培养研究开展较少，其技术体系滞后，如在林木中大量开展游离小孢子培养工作有望改良当前林木育种落后的局面。     

甘蓝型油菜小孢子培养技术及其单倍体应用研究进展

油菜小孢子培养已经成为油菜育种和生物技术的一项重要内容。由于影响小孢子成胚和成苗的因素较多,低诱导频率及成苗率严重限制了该技术在育种中的应用。为了全面了解小孢子胚状体发生能力及影响再生体系的各项因素,掌握该技术的研究动态和发展方向,总结了近20年来国内外影响小孢子培养的主要因素：供体植株基因型、供体植株生长条件及生理状态、小孢子发育时期、培养基组成、培养条件,及其在双单倍体育种、诱变育种、转基因育种等领域中的应用。     

γ射线和X射线对甘蓝型油菜小孢子胚状体再生的影响

采用60Co-γ射线辐照甘蓝型油菜初花期植株和X射线辐射甘蓝型油菜小孢子发育到单核晚期至二核早期的花蕾后,分离小孢子进行培养诱导胚状体和植株,探讨了适宜油菜小孢子诱变的剂量和诱变方法.结果表明,γ射线对油菜离体小孢子胚状体的发生和发育均有很大的抑制作用,15Gy和40Gy处理平均每花蕾小孢子的产胚量分别是0.574和0.268个,40Gy可作为小孢子诱变的参照剂量.X射线对4个基因型离体小孢子胚状体再生也有影响,40Gy处理平均每蕾小孢子产胚4.086个,80Gy处理为0.834个,120～200Gy处理下降到0.021～0.019个,120Gy以上的处理剂量严重阻碍了小孢子胚的发生.采用X射线80～120Gy较适宜油菜小孢子诱变.     

白芦笋游离小孢子培养初报

以白芦笋的4个基因型为试材,对游离小孢子培养及植株再生进行了初步探讨。试验结果表明,供体基因型对成功诱导愈伤组织发生起关键作用;花蕾长度为2.1～3.1mm时,大部分的小孢子处于单核晚期或双核期,最易培养出愈伤组织;游离小孢子培养于含有NAA2.0 mg/L、6-BA 1.0 mg/L液体培养基中,产生愈伤组织效果最好;游离小孢子来源的愈伤组织通过转瓶培养和植株再生诱导,能分化出无根绿芽。     

美丽崖豆藤小孢子发育时期与花器形态的相关性

对美丽崖豆藤小孢子发育时期细胞学特征、小孢子不同发育时期花器官形态和花药颜色进行了观察;同时,对美丽崖豆藤小孢子不同发育时期的细胞学特征与花器官形态之间的相关性,以及花药外部形态指标与小孢子发育时期两者间的内在联系进行了研究.结果表明,美丽崖豆藤小孢子发育的四分体时期、单核期和双核期的特征差异明显.美丽崖豆藤小孢子发育时期与花蕾的外部形态特征、花药颜色密切相关,尤其与花蕾的大小关系密切.根据花器形态特征可以判断小孢子的发育时期,从而为美丽崖豆藤花药离体培养接种外植体的选择提供科学依据.     

白菜游离小孢子培养高频胚诱导技术体系优化

为优化白菜游离小孢子培养高频胚诱导技术体系,以20个不同基因型白菜栽培品种为供试材料,对影响白菜游离小孢子胚诱导和植株再生因素进行研究。结果表明:有14个基因型产生了小孢子胚,不同基因型之间胚诱导率差异显著,表明基因型是影响小孢子胚发生的主要因素;通过对白菜游离小孢子培养高频胚诱导技术体系的优化,胚诱导率明显提高,最优组合为盛花期取蕾;花瓣长与花药长比为0.5~0.75;4℃低温预处理1 d;150 g/L蔗糖的NLN培养基33℃高温热激2 d,重新离心更换130 g/L蔗糖的NLN培养;激素最优组合为6-BA0.1 mg/L、NAA 0.5 mg/L;在培养基中添加活性炭有利于胚的形成,最佳浓度为0.5 g/L。     

不同基因型菜心游离小孢子培养和植株再生

以11个不同基因型的菜心栽培品种为试材,研究不同培养条件对菜心游离小孢子胚诱导和植株再生的影响。结果有7个基因型材料获得小孢子胚,从不同基因型诱导形成胚的频率存在显著差异,表明基因型是影响菜心小孢子胚发生的主要因素;第1天热激培养时用170 g/L高浓度蔗糖培养之后转换成含130 g/L蔗糖培养基能显著提高小孢子胚诱导率;0.05 mg/L 6-BA+0.2 mg/L NAA能促进菜心小孢子诱导成胚;添加0.4 mg/L GA3可显著提高菜心小孢子胚芽诱导率和平均每胚出芽数。7个基因型材料均诱导出再生植株,植株诱导率为100%。     

陕农138小孢子不同发育时期蛋白质差异的比较分析

为了探索小麦花药发育过程中的蛋白质代谢机理,利用SDS-PAGE电泳对陕农138花药单核早期、单核中晚期和双核期小孢子的全蛋白电泳谱带进行了分析.结果表明,双核期同时出现2条明显的条带或表达丰度大的条带,其分子量分别为50.7、48.2 kD,而这两个条带分别在单核早期和单核中晚期单独出现,认为通过电泳所获得的这些差异蛋白很可能直接或间接参与小孢子发育过程中某些关键的代谢途径;单核中晚期是小麦花药培养中出愈率最高的时期,这些差异蛋白又很可能与小麦花药培养力的表达调控和代谢机理有关.     

禾谷类作物小孢子脱分化的生理生化机制

禾谷类作物小孢子脱分化是小孢子细胞外环境变化导致内环境改变,从而诱导代谢酶活性、代谢途径以及调控基因表达的变化,最终脱离原有分化状态发生发育途径改变的过程。经各种胁迫预处理后,离体小孢子内发生了饥饿作用、内源激素变化和抗氧化胁迫等一系列生理过程,使得正常发育的结构和信息被破坏或消除,细胞质发生重组,营养核去抑制化,最终实现脱分化。这一过程牵涉到复杂的生理与遗传调控,其中起关键作用的酶和基因主要有:蛋白质水解酶、乙烯和生长素作用相关酶类、氧化还原系统或抗胁迫系统相关酶类、花粉特异蛋白和细胞分裂周期相关蛋白,以及它们的调控基因。对它们进行一定的人为调控可有效地促进禾谷类作物小孢子脱分化和胚胎诱导。     

Mineral composition of some traditional Mexican teas

Teas of plant origin traditionally consumed by the Mountain Pima of Chihuahua, Mexico, were analyzed for mineral nutritional content. Fe, Cu, Zn, Ca, and Mg composition was determined for native teas made from shoots ofTagetes lucida, T. filifolia, Elytraria imbricata, andHolodiscus dumosus, and from root xylem ofCeanothus depressus andPhaseolus ritensis. Native uses of these teas are also described.     

Studies on natural repellents against potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella Zeller) in country stores

Summary The effects of the leaves of five plant species, one from each of the generaAmbrosia, Anemone, Eupatorium, Eucalyptus andLantana, on potato tuber moth were investigated under indigenous storage conditions at the Central Potato Research Station, Shillong (1800 m above sea level). Their action was compared with that of a biological insecticide (spores ofBacillus thuringiensis), a chemical insecticide (carbaryl), and an untreated control. The data collected after six months storage on tuber damage, sprout damage and the rotting indicated that the leaves ofLantana aculeata provided most protection to the tubers, reducing damage from over 70% in the check to below 5%, and sprout damage from over 45% to below 3%. Next best wasEucalyptus globulus followed byB. thuringiensis. They may be used on tubers stored for table use or for seed as they had no adverse effect on germination or on the yield of a subsequent crop.     

Comparative Assessment of the Efficacy of Various Nitrogen Fertilizers

Summary

The efficiency of N fertilizers is usually poor; often less than 50% of the applied N is taken up by the crop. This review focuses on various N fertilizers with respect to the significance of different N loss pathways, namely (i) ammonia volatilization, (ii) dinitrogen and nitrogen oxide emissions, and (iii) nitrate leaching. Further, the significance of biological N immobilization, ammonium fixation and, finally, the impact of nitrate vs. ammonium uptake on crop yield are also discussed. The reviewed literature shows that N fertilizers may differ markedly in their susceptibility to losses. There is, however, considerable scope to improve N efficiency of each N source by proper N management practices.     

Redox Status and Neuro Inflammation Indexes in Cerebellum and Motor Cortex of Wistar Rats Supplemented with Natural Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Astaxanthin: Fish Oil,Krill Oil,and Algal Biomass

Health authorities worldwide have consistently recommended the regular consumption of marine fishes and seafood to preserve memory, sustain cognitive functions, and prevent neurodegenerative processes in humans. Shrimp, crabs, lobster, and salmon are of particular interest in the human diet due to their substantial provision of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3/PUFAs) and the antioxidant carotenoid astaxanthin (ASTA). However, the optimal ratio between these nutraceuticals in natural sources is apparently the key factor for maximum protection against most neuro-motor disorders. Therefore, we aimed here to investigate the effects of a long-term supplementation with (n-3)/PUFAs-rich fish oil, ASTA-rich algal biomass, the combination of them, or krill oil (a natural combination of both nutrients) on baseline redox balance and neuro-inflammation indexes in cerebellum and motor cortex of Wistar rats. Significant changes in redox metabolism were only observed upon ASTA supplementation, which reinforce its antioxidant properties with a putative mitochondrial-centered action in rat brain. Krill oil imposed mild astrocyte activation in motor cortex of Wistar rats, although no redox or inflammatory index was concomitantly altered. In summary, there is no experimental evidence that krill oil, fish oil, oralgal biomass (minor variation), drastically change the baseline oxidative conditions or the neuro-inflammatory scenario in neuromotor-associated rat brain regions.     

Potential of dry fractionation of wheat bran for the development of food ingredients,part II: Electrostatic separation of particles

Wheat bran is a composite material made of several layers, such as pericarp, testa and aleurone. It could be fractionated into purified fractions, which might either be used as food ingredients, or serve as a starting material for extraction of bioactive compounds. The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of using electrostatic separation as a way to obtain purified fractions from wheat bran. Ultrafine-ground bran obtained either by cryogenic grinding or by grinding at ambient temperature was used as starting material. The ultrafine bran was then charged by tribo-electrification and introduced in a chamber containing two high voltage electrodes, where bran particles were separated depending on their acquired charge, allowing positively and negatively charged fractions to be collected separately. The particle size distribution, microstructure and biochemical composition of the obtained fractions were studied. The charge of the particles was influenced by their biochemical composition: particles rich in highly branched and cross-linked arabinoxylans (pericarp) were separated from particles rich in β-glucan, ferulic acid and para-coumaric acid (aleurone cell walls). The testa and the intracellular compounds from aleurone were not highly charged, neither positively nor negatively. The most positively charged fraction represented 34% of the initial bran, and contained 62% of the ferulic acid present in the initial bran. The yield of the separation process was good (5.4% loss), and could be further increased.     

Pharmacokinetics of Marine-Derived Drugs

Marine organisms represent an excellent source of innovative compounds that have the potential for the development of new drugs. The pharmacokinetics of marine drugs has attracted increasing interest in recent decades due to its effective and potential contribution to the selection of rational dosage recommendations and the optimal use of the therapeutic arsenal. In general, pharmacokinetics studies how drugs change after administration via the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). This review provides a summary of the pharmacokinetics studies of marine-derived active compounds, with a particular focus on their ADME. The pharmacokinetics of compounds derived from algae, crustaceans, sea cucumber, fungus, sea urchins, sponges, mollusks, tunicate, and bryozoan is discussed, and the pharmacokinetics data in human experiments are analyzed. In-depth characterization using pharmacokinetics is useful for obtaining information for understanding the molecular basis of pharmacological activity, for correct doses and treatment schemes selection, and for more effective drug application. Thus, an increase in pharmacokinetic research on marine-derived compounds is expected in the near future.     

In vitro antimicrobial activity of different accessions ofSolanum commersonii Dun. from Uruguay

Summary The in vitro antimicrobial activity of extracts from accessions ofSolanum commersonii Dun. collected in the south of Uruguay was investigated against five microorganisms including the pathogenRalstonia solanacearum. A total of 30 extracts corresponding to organic and aqueous extracts were studied. Interestingly, most of the positive results for growth inhibition were againstR. solanacearum. The extracts were also analyzed for the presence of glycoalkaloids and lectins. Six of the ten aqueous extracts showed lectin presence and a wide variation in the type and amounts of glycoalkaloids, was found. Results indicate that there is no clear relationship between the antimicrobial activity against the five microorganisms screened and the presence or amounts of lectins and glycoalkaloids, traditionally regarded as possible antimicrobial metabolites in theSolanum genus, which indicates the presence of as yet unidentified antimicrobial compounds.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pulque</Emphasis>, An Alcoholic Drink from Rural Mexico,Contains Phytase. Its <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> Effects on Corn Tortilla

Pulque is made by fermenting the agave sap or aguamiel of Agave atrovirens with a whole array of microorganisms present in the environment including several lactic acid bacteria and yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Ascorbic acid was determined in pulque and aguamiel, respectively. Phytase activity in lees, liquid and freeze-dried pulque was assayed by measuring the appearance of phosphate from phytate by a colorimetric method likewise phosphate from phytate present in fresh corn tortilla was measured after in vitro incubation with pulque. Iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium and selenium contents were measured in pulque and corn tortilla as well as in nixtamalized corn flour (NCF), the latter is used to make instant tortilla, since corn provides most of the energy as well as most of the phytate in the Mexican rural diet. Pulque showed phytase activity but much less ascorbic acid and iron than previously reported; additionally, phytase in pulque hydrolyzed most of phytate’s corn tortilla. Lees, which is mostly made of pulque’s microbiota, significantly accumulated iron and zinc but no selenium. NCF was fortified with iron by the manufacturers but poorly blended. There were significant differences on selenium content between tortillas samples, apparently some soils in central Mexico are selenium deficient. Moderate pulque intake appears to increase the bioavailability of iron and zinc bound by phytate in corn.