野生大豆转录因子GsWRKY57基因的克隆与抗旱性功能分析

WRKY转录因子是近年来在植物中发现的一类重要转录因子,在植物抗逆相关过程中发挥重要作用。本研究通过对野生大豆转录组数据进行分析,从野生大豆中克隆得到GsWRKY57基因的CDS序列。该基因开放阅读框为903bp,编码300个氨基酸残基,分子量为34.23kD,等电点为5.88。氨基酸序列分析显示该蛋白含有一个WRKY保守结构域,属于III类WRKY转录因子。系统发育树分析表明该蛋白与栽培大豆同源性最高、其次是赤豆、木豆。启动子作用元件分析预测显示该基因可能存在多种非生物胁迫作用元件。组织特异性表达分析表明该基因在大豆叶片中高丰度表达,然后依次是茎、花、荚、根。GsWRKY57基因表达受茉莉酸、水杨酸、脱落酸、干旱等植物逆境诱导。过表达GsWRKY57基因的转基因拟南芥植株相对于野生型耐旱能力增强。     

野生大豆转录因子GsWRKY57 的克隆与抗旱性功能分析

WRKY转录因子是近年来在植物中发现的一类重要转录因子，在植物抗逆相关过程中发挥重要作用。本研究通过对野生大豆转录组数据进行分析，从野生大豆中克隆得到GsWRKY57 基因的CDS序列。该基因开放阅 读框为903bp，编码300个氨基酸残基，分子量为34.23kD，等电点为5.88。氨基酸序列分析显示该蛋白含有一个 WRKY保守结构域，属于III类WRKY转录因子。系统发育树分析表明该蛋白与栽培大豆同源性最高、其次是赤豆、木豆。启动子作用元件分析预测显示该基因可能存在多种非生物胁迫作用元件。组织特异性表达分析表明该基因在大豆叶片中高丰度表达，然后依次是茎、花、荚、根。GsWRKY57 基因表达受茉莉酸、水杨酸、脱落酸、干旱等 植物逆境诱导。过表达GsWRKY57 基因的转基因拟南芥植株相对于野生型耐旱能力增强。     

苜蓿MsDREB1基因的诱导表达增强大豆的耐盐性

基因转录调节是植物对非生物胁迫适应机制的一个重要方面,转录调节因子在胁迫信号转导途径中调节下游基因的表达,在建立植物对胁迫适应性过程中起到重要作用。DREB是功能多样的转录调节因子蛋白家族,家族成员在植物响应非生物胁迫方面扮演着重要角色。本研究以苜蓿MsDREB1基因为目的基因,分别把MsDREB1克隆到35S启动子与rd29A启动子之后,并把两种载体用农杆菌介导转入大豆基因组中,通过Southern检测转基因植株。15 d龄的幼苗在200 mmol·L~(-1)NaCl胁迫条件下,用RT-PCR分析基因不同时间的表达差异;并测定叶绿素、丙二醛、H_2O_2、SOD、相对根长及相对地上部分长度。结果表明:转MsDREB1基因在两种启动子驱动下均有一定耐盐能力,但存在差异。在非胁迫下35S启动子调控的MsDREB1为超量表达,而rd29A启动子调控MsDREB1表达量较低;在盐胁迫下,rd29A:MsDREB1表达量高于35S:MsDREB1的表达量;MsDREB1超量表达抑制植株正常生长。MsDREB1诱导表达耐盐性效果更明显,其植株脯氨酸含量、SOD活性均显著高于MsDREB1超量表达,而H_2O_2和MDA含量则显著低于MsDREB1超量表达。结果说明MsDREB1作为转录调节因子参与了植物的渗透调节,对植物的耐盐性具有贡献。该试验研究两种启动子调控的转MsDREB1基因大豆耐盐效果,为MsDREB1基因在大豆耐盐基因工程中的应用提供参考。     

大豆MYB转录因子GmMYB010与其拟南芥同源基因的功能差异

MYB-related转录因子在植物生长发育和响应逆境胁迫过程中具有重要作用。本研究旨在分析大豆MYB转录因子GmMYB010与其在拟南芥中的同源基因AtMYB010的功能差异。序列分析表明,大豆的GmMYB010与拟南芥中AtMYB010都属于MYB-related转录因子家族中R-R-type类型;亚细胞定位结果表明两种蛋白均定位在核上;qRT-PCR检测结果表明,GmMYB010在大豆叶片中表达量最高,而AtMYB010在花中表达量最高;酵母检测发现,GmMYB010具有转录自激活活性,而AtMYB010不具有转录自激活活性。将GmMYB010与其拟南芥同源基因AtMYB010分别在野生型拟南芥中过量表达,表型观察发现GmMYB010过表达植株表型与野生型拟南芥一样,而AtMYB010过表达植株出现了矮小、多分枝等生长表型。对MAXs作用途径基因的检测发现,AtMYB010过量表达影响了独脚金内酯代谢途径,从而出现多分枝的表型。以上结果表明,GmMYB010和AtMYB010虽然是直系同源基因,但功能却发生了明显的分化。大豆GmMYB010在大豆中可能具有独特的功能,有待进一步研究。     

大豆炸荚基因GmAGL8的转基因鉴定与功能初探

炸荚是大豆的一种自然特征属性,是影响大豆产量的重要因素之一。本研究以前期获得的转大豆炸荚相关基因GmAGL8的T_1代植株为材料,继续繁育获得T_2和T_3代;采用PCR和RT-q PCR检测方法对转基因植株进行基因遗传稳定性和表达情况分析;并以野生型中黄10号为对照,对大豆炸荚性状进行了鉴定分析。结果表明:转基因植株阳性率T_1代为87.5%,T_2和T_3代均达到100%,说明GmAGL8基因已基本能够在转基因后代中稳定遗传。RT-q PCR检测结果显示,转基因植株中GmAGL8基因的相对表达量都明显高于非转基因植株,且各转基因植株之间表达量具有差异性。对T_1、T_2和T_3代植株炸荚率进行了统计,不同世代转基因大豆的平均炸荚率为9.09%,而非转基因大豆炸荚率为83.3%,转基因与非转基因大豆之间炸荚率存在显著差异。综上所述,GmAGL8基因已基本实现在大豆转基因后代中稳定遗传并正常表达,表型鉴定结果初步证明了GmAGL8基因与大豆炸荚性状相关。     

农杆菌介导microRNA398靶基因转化大豆

拟南芥miR398对低磷胁迫有响应。通过生物信息学方法预测找到大豆miR398a的靶基因铜/锌超氧化物歧化酶GmSODC（Copper/zinc superoxide dismutase),通过RT-PCR扩增得到GmSODC全长cDNA,采用LIC（Ligation-Independent cloning）法将GmSODC连接到双元植物表达载体pJG045上,构建成植物表达载体pSDC6。通过农杆菌介导的子叶节法将GmSODC基因导入大豆品种东农50中,获得了转化GmSODC的T1代植株。采用Real-time PCR的方法,对转基因植株进行GmSODC基因转录水平的相对定量分析,其中1株较非转基因植株表达量明显提高。     

大豆GmFDL06基因抗干旱及耐盐性研究

bZIP转录因子在植物防卫反应和逆境胁迫应答过程中起着十分重要的作用,大豆GmFDL06是bZIP转录因子家族A组成员,其表达水平受PEG和高盐胁迫影响。本研究分析了GmFDL06转基因大豆苗期的抗干旱和耐盐性。PEG和盐处理后GmFDL06转基因植株的相对植株高度(RPH)和相对植株干重(RSDW)显著高于非转基因大豆东农50。在盐胁迫下,GmFDL06转基因植株比东农50伤害程度低,并且GmFDL06过表达减少了Na~+离子积累,降低了盐胁迫带来的伤害,且过表达GmFDL06促进了下游逆境胁迫基因的表达。这些研究结果表明GmFDL06参与大豆非生物胁迫反应,并有潜力改善大豆的干旱和盐胁迫耐受性,为大豆抗逆基因的研究及抗逆大豆材料的筛选提供了依据。     

水稻同源异型域转录因子OsHox9的反向遗传学分析

同源异型域(Homeobox,HB)转录因子对于植物的生长发育具有重要的调控作用,主要涉及细胞分化、形态建成、内外环境信号应答等多个方面。为了研究该转录因子家族成员在水稻中的功能,构建了该家族成员OsHox9基因的RNAi表达载体,利用反向遗传方法分析该基因的功能。与野生型对照植株相比,RNAi转基因植株株高变矮,分蘖数减少。实时PCR表达分析表明OsHox9基因在有表型转基因植株中的表达下调,但在没有表型转基因植株中OsHox9表达量与野生型植株差异不显著,说明RNAi载体起到了干涉作用,转基因植株的表型是由RNAi造成的。组织特异性表达分析表明OsHox9在水稻的根、茎、叶、茎顶端分生组织及不同时期的幼穗中均有表达,但在茎顶端分生组织及幼穗中表达量较高。为了查明OsHox9的亚细胞定位,构建了OsHox9与绿色荧光蛋白GFP的融合载体并导入烟草叶片中进行瞬时表达,结果表明OsHox9定位于细胞膜上,在细胞膜上起作用。     

大豆TOE基因的进化分析及开花调控功能解析

为了进一步解析大豆中重要植物开花和花器官发育调控转录因子AP2的编码基因TOE的进化规律及其对开花功能的调控作用,为大豆TOE基因的功能解析和大豆纬度适应性研究提供基础,本研究利用生物信息学手段对大豆TOE基因进行聚类分析、序列特征分析、染色体区段共线性分析和组织特异性表达分析,预测关键开花基因启动子区段AP2结合位点,并验证不同单倍型大豆开花时间.结果 显示:从PlantTFDB数据库检索到12个大豆TOE基因,GmTOE6b(Glyma.02G087400)为新发现的大豆TOE基因.GmTOE6a和GmTOE6b均只有1个AP2结构域,其余大豆TOE基因均有两个AP2结构域.6个大豆TOE基因与拟南芥TOE1基因聚为一类;2个与拟南芥TOE2基因聚为一类;4个与拟南芥TOE3、AP2聚为一类.12个大豆TOE基因都有且仅有1个miR172靶位点,且该靶位点序列与拟南芥TOE的miR172靶位点序列高度一致.染色体区段共线性分析显示,大豆12个TOE基因按起源方式可以分为3类,6个随大豆基因组复制而产生;4个起源于大豆物种形成之前且与拟南芥TOE基因有共同祖先;2个起源于大豆物种形成之前且与拟南芥TOE基因无共同祖先.大豆开花关键基因GmFT2a和GmFT5a启动子序列中均含有多个AP2结合位点,GmTOE4b和GmTOE5b两个基因均可影响大豆的开花时间.研究结果说明大豆中12个TOE基因极有可能均是miR172的靶基因,虽然其编码蛋白的氨基酸组成非常相似,但它们的进化规律和组织特异性表达规律存在不同,它们在进化过程中可能存在功能分化.GmTOE4b和GmTOE5b可能通过结合GmFT2a和GmFT5a启动子上的顺式元件来调控其基因转录,从而调控开花.     

广谱抗病基因chi和hrpZpsta双价表达载体的构建及其在大豆中的遗传转化

大豆的真菌性病害已经成为了限制大豆产量增长及品质提高的主要原因,利用基因工程技术培育出具有广谱性抗病能力的大豆新品种,已成为目前提高大豆抗性的有效途径之一。本研究构建了含2种广谱抗病基因chi和hrp Zpsta的双价植物表达载体,利用农杆菌介导技术导入大豆中,获得了能够在转录水平上表达2种外源抗病性基因的转基因大豆。对经抗性筛选得到的阳性苗及后代植株进行PCR检测、Southern杂交、荧光定量PCR检测,共得到T0代阳性植株7株,T1代阳性植株27株。转化植株的基因组在整合外源基因时出现不同情况,chi-hrp Zpsta双价载体分别以单价和双价两种形式随机整合到受体大豆基因组中并且能稳定遗传,同时在转录水平上亦有不同。     

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.     

Novel food and non-food uses for sorghum and millets

Sorghum and millets have considerable potential in foods and beverages. As they are gluten-free they are suitable for coeliacs. Sorghum is also a potentially important source of nutraceuticals such antioxidant phenolics and cholesterol-lowering waxes. Cakes, cookies, pasta, a parboiled rice-like product and snack foods have been successfully produced from sorghum and, in some cases, millets. Wheat-free sorghum or millet bread remains the main challenge. Additives such as native and pre-gelatinised starches, hydrocolloids, fat, egg and rye pentosans improve bread quality. However, specific volumes are lower than those for wheat bread or gluten-free breads based on pure starches, and in many cases, breads tend to stale faster. Lager and stout beers with sorghum are brewed commercially. Sorghum's high-starch gelatinisation temperature and low beta-amylase activity remain problems with regard to complete substitution of barley malt with sorghum malt . The role of the sorghum endosperm matrix protein and cell wall components in limiting extract is a research focus. Brewing with millets is still at an experimental stage. Sorghum could be important for bioethanol and other bio-industrial products. Bioethanol research has focused on improving the economics of the process through cultivar selection, method development for low-quality grain and pre-processing to recover valuable by-products. Potential by-products such as the kafirin prolamin proteins and the pericarp wax have potential as bioplastic films and coatings for foods, primarily due to their hydrophobicity.     

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.     

La pourriture fongique des tubercules de pomme de terre en atmosphère contrôlée

Résumé Fusarium culmorum et, dans une moindre mesure,F. avenaceum, F. sambucinum, Colletotrichum coccodes etCylindrocarpon sp. ont été isolés de tubercules entreposés en atmosphère contr?lée (AC) et atteints de pourriture grave. Des expériences d'inoculation de tubercules avec 10 espèces ou variétés fongiques et conservation en AC à 8 et 10°C ont montré que: 1) les champignons non pathogènes en atmosphère normale (ex.:Cylindrocarpon sp.) le devenaient en AC, 2) ceux qui étaient faiblement pathogènes en atmosphère normale étaient nettement plus virulents en AC (ex.:F. culmorum), 3) les espèces ou variétés virulentes en conditions d'air normales (Fusarium sulphureum etPhoma exigua var.foveata) ne provoquaient pas de pourriture plus grave en AC et leur activité pouvait même être légérement freinée.

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Summary The extensive rotting of tubers which occurred during storage trials in controlled atmospheres has led to a mycological and pathological study of the rots. The most frequently isolated species wasFusarium culmorum althoughF. avenaceum, F. Sambucinum, Coletotrichum coccodes and aCylindrocarpon sp. were also present. Tubers of cvs Bintje and Ulla were inoculated with 19 isolates of 10 fungal species or varieties associated with rotting of stored tubers (Table 1). The tubers were incubated at 8 or 10°C in normal or controlled (2% O₂:1% CO₂, 2% O₂:6% CO₂, 2% O₂:12% CO₂, 6% O₂:6% CO₂) atmospheres and the extent of rotting was determined a month later (Tables 2 and 3 and Fig. 2). Species which were weakly virulent in a normal atmosphere (variousFusarium spp. andPhoma exigua var.exigua) were clearly more aggressive in the controlled atmosphere and this was especially evident in the case ofF. culmorum. Species ot pathogenic in a normal atmosphere under experimental conditions (Colletotrichum coccodes, Cylindrocarpon sp.,Phoma eupyrena) caused rotting in the controlled atmosphere. The two species which were virulent in a normal atmosphere (F. sulphureum andP. exigua var.foveata) were also virulent in the controlled atmosphere and in some cases the extent of rotting was even less. As a general rule, rotting caused by weakly virulent fungi was greater in both cultivars in the controlled than in a normal atmosphere.

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Zusammenfassung Eine starke F?ulnis von in Kontrotrollierter Atmosph?re gelagerten Kartoffelknollen veranlasste eine mykologische und pathologische Untersuchung. Der am h?ufigsten isolierte Pilz warFusarium culmorum. F. avenaceum, F. sambucinum, Colletotrichum coccodes undCylindrocarpon sp. wurden ebenfalls bestimmt. Neunzehn St?mme von 10 Pilzsorten oder-Arten welche bei Lagerf?ulnis vorkommen (Tab. 1) wurden auf Knollen der Sorten Bintje und Ulla inokuliert. Die Lagerung wurde bei 8 oder 10°C under Normalbedingungen oder kontrollierter Atmosph?re durchgeführt (2% O₂:1% CO₂, 2% O₂:6% CO₂, 2% O₂:12% CO₂, 6% O₂:6% CO₂). Der F?ulnisgrad (Abb. 1) wurde nach einem Monat bonitiert. Die Ergebnisse sind in den Tabellen 2 und 3 dargestellt und in der Abb. 2 illustriert. Unter in Normalbedingungen nur schwach virulente Arten (verschiedeneFusarien undPhoma exigua var. exigua) waren deutlich aktiver in kontrollierter Atmosph?re. Dies was besonders der Fall fürF. culmorum. Pilze, die im Versuch unter Normalbedingungen nicht pathogen waren (Colletotrichum coccodes, Cylindrocarpon sp., Phoma eupyrena), haben unter kontrollierter Atmosph?re Sch?den verursacht. Hingegen werden die beiden unter Normalbedingungen sehr pathogenen Arten (F. sulphureum undP., exigua var.foveata), durch kontrollierte Atmosph?re wenig beeinflusst. Es wurde sogar in einigen F?llen eine gewisse Verringerung des F?ulnisbefalls beobachtet. Ganz allgemein haben die getesteten kontrollierten Bedingungen die Entwicklung der Pilzf?ulnis an beiden Kartoffelsorten gef?rdert, speziell durch Pilzarten, welche unter Normal-bedingungen wenig Sch?den verursachen.

     

Citrus Flavonoids in Fruit and Traditional Chinese Medicinal Food Ingredients in China

Flavonoids-enriched tissues of citrus such as peel, immature fruit and flower are consumed as culinary seasonings, tea ingredients in China for centuries. This HPLC quantitative study on the five citrus flavonoids, naringin, hesperidin, neohesperidin, sinensetin and nobiletin on a wide range of Chinese citrus fruits and several Traditional Chinese Medicinal food ingredients in East China, revealed a great diversity in flavonoid composition. Huyou peel (C. paradisi cv. Changshanhuyou) was found to be the best naringin (3.25%) and neohesperidin (2.76%) source; C. aurantium, a major ingredient of several citrus-related TCM, is also a suitable source of naringin and neohesperidin, and a good juice source for flavanone glycosides; the peel of Wenzhoumiju (C. unshiu) is one of the richest local species in hesperidin (up to 6.25%); Zaoju (C. subcompressa) has the highest content of nobiletin (0.59%), a polymethoxylated flavone. LC-ES-MS analysis of Zanthoxylum genus for flavonoids revealed for the first time the presence of significant amounts (0.74%) of hesperidin in the root of Liangmianzhen (Z. nitidum (Roxb.) DC), a relative of Sichuan pepper, which is a spice widely used in China.     

Evolutionary aspects of the trade-off between seed size and number in crops

Whereas the concept that availability of resources drives seed production is sound in principle, it is incomplete as there are many solutions to the allocation of resources that derive from the trade-off between number and size. This paper examines evolutionary aspects of this trade-off in annual grain crops. The analysis is centred on the working hypotheses that, for a given species and environment, allocation of resources to reproduction involves (H1) high plasticity in seed number, which allows for variable resource availability, and (H2) a relatively narrow range of seed size that results from evolutionary and agronomic selection. Comparisons between crops and fish are used to highlight common evolutionary elements in taxa where parents provide little or no care to their offspring, with the consequence that both number and early survival of offspring, hence fitness of parents, are partially related to embryo size and reserves.

The plasticity of seed number in relation to availability of resources is analysed against the established relationship between offspring number and parent growth rate during critical stages. The notion that seed size is under stabilising selection is analysed against three conditions: (1) mean seed size is conservative for a given species and environment, (2) seed size affects fitness, and (3) seed size is heritable. Databases from published papers were compiled to analyse the relative variability of seed size and number, and the heritability of seed size. Evidence for and against the link between seed size and parental fitness is revised using the Smith–Fretwell model as framework (Am. Nat., 108, 499–506).

The proposal of high plasticity of seed number and narrow variability of seed size resulting from stabilising natural selection is generally consistent with evolutionary and genetic considerations. Agronomic selection may have reinforced natural selection leading to relatively narrow seed size in species such as wheat and soybean, where cultivated types retained high plasticity for seed number. In contrast, selection for one or few inflorescences in crops like sunflower and maize may have morphologically reduced seed number plasticity and increased variability of seed size and its responsiveness to resource availability in relation to their wild ancestors.     

Marine Pharmacology in 2016–2017: Marine Compounds with Antibacterial,Antidiabetic, Antifungal,Anti-Inflammatory,Antiprotozoal, Antituberculosis and Antiviral Activities; Affecting the Immune and Nervous Systems,and Other Miscellaneous Mechanisms of Action

The review of the 2016–2017 marine pharmacology literature was prepared in a manner similar as the 10 prior reviews of this series. Preclinical marine pharmacology research during 2016–2017 assessed 313 marine compounds with novel pharmacology reported by a growing number of investigators from 54 countries. The peer-reviewed literature reported antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral activities for 123 marine natural products, 111 marine compounds with antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities as well as affecting the immune and nervous system, while in contrast 79 marine compounds displayed miscellaneous mechanisms of action which upon further investigation may contribute to several pharmacological classes. Therefore, in 2016–2017, the preclinical marine natural product pharmacology pipeline generated both novel pharmacology as well as potentially new lead compounds for the growing clinical marine pharmaceutical pipeline, and thus sustained with its contributions the global research for novel and effective therapeutic strategies for multiple disease categories.     

Effects of Micronutrient Deficiencies on Human Health: Its Status in South Asia

SUMMARY

Vitamin A, iodine, and iron deficiencies affect large numbers of people worldwide. A deficiency of one or more of these micronutrients adversely affects the physical and mental abilities of humans. South Asia contains a high percentage of these individuals, not just because of its large population, but also the prevalence of deficiency is higher there than in many other parts of the world. The reasons for the high rates of deficiency in South Asia are many, but they include inadequate availability of micronutrient-rich foods, sub-optimal dietary habits, and high rates of infection. Across the region, national plans vary from (a) increasing availability of appropriate foods, (b) introducing new dietary behaviors, (c) improving health status, and (d) directly addressing deficiency through intervention programs. The extent to which each of the countries is making progress toward the goals of these plans can help in understanding the priorities for future efforts to address micronutrient malnutrition. This article discusses the adverse effects of micronutrient deficiencies in humans with special reference to South Asia.     

Effect of a continuous hot water treatment of potato tubers on seed-borne fungal pathogens

Summary The viability of five pathogens was decreased by treatment with hot water when tested in vitro.Polyscytalum pustulans was most sensitive andRhizoctonia solani least sensitive. Potato tubers were exposed to 55°C for 5 min in a commercial continuous hot water treatment plant using naturally contaminated seed tubers and tubers which had been inoculated by dipping in comminuted cultures. The frequency of eyes colonised byP. pustulans, Helminthosporium solani, andR. solani was reduced to virtually zero and the effect persisted on tubers subsequently stored at 4°C and at 15°C for up to 16 wk. Results withColletotrichum coccodes were inconclusive. Treatment suppressedPenicillium spp. which, however, rapidly recolonised the eyes during storage, leading to higher contamination levels in the treated than in the untreated tubers. With tubers inoculated withPhoma foveata, good control was achieved when the incubation period before treatment was 10 d but not when the period was 42 d.