芒果CHS基因的克隆及其表达分析

为了研究芒果CHS基因的功能及其在果实着色中的分子机理,以芒果果实的c DNA和DNA为模板,采用同源克隆的方法克隆得到了一个CHS基因,该基因的开放阅读框1 194 bp,编码397个氨基酸,等电点为6.03,分子重量为43.29 k Da。基因组扩增得到了1 315 bp的片段,通过序列比对发现该基因含有1个内含子,对其在幼嫩叶片和成熟叶片中的表达进行分析,发现该基因在不同时期的叶片中都有表达,在红色幼嫩的叶片中表达量较高,成熟叶片中表达较低,初步推断该基因可能的叶片中黄酮类物质合成有密切的关系。通过聚类分析发现该基因编码的蛋白与兜兰、白芨等的CHS蛋白序列亲缘关系较近,可以与白芨、问荆草、甘蓝等聚为一类。     

芒果4CL基因的克隆及其表达分析

4-香豆酸:辅酶A连接酶(4CL)是植物类黄酮类化合物和木质素等生物合成途径的一种关键酶,为了研究其在芒果果实中的作用机理,采用RACE方法,从芒果果实克隆得到了一个类黄酮合成相关的4CL基因。该基因全长c DNA序列为1 740 bp,开放阅读框为1 653 bp,编码550个氨基酸,分子量为60.47 k Da,等电点为9.51。对基因组扩增得到了2 318 bp长度的片段分析发现,该基因含有5个内含子,分别在1 013~1 139 bp,1 330~1 415 bp,1 564~1 653 bp,1 722~1 802 bp,1 905~2 000 bp。通过在线软件对其二级结构和三级结构进行了预测,系统发育分析发现该基因编码的蛋白与水曲柳、菘蓝等植物具有较近的亲缘关系。对3种不同着色的芒果品种中的4CL基因的RTPCR进行分析发现:红色的贵妃品种中表达量较高,而绿色的桂七品种中表达量较低。研究表明4CL基因表达芒果果实着色具有密切的相关性。     

百合花青素苷合成酶基因片段的克隆及表达分析

为了克隆百合花青素苷合成酶基因(anthocyanidin synthase, ANS),通过已报道的其他物种的ANS基因保守序列设计简并引物,采用同源克隆的方法成功克隆得到了百合ANS基因片段,该片段长701 bp,编码233个氨基酸残基。根据蛋白比对结果,百合ANS基因编码的氨基酸序列与郁金香、荷兰鸢尾、甜樱桃的一致性分别为86%、81%、77%。采用半定量RT-PCR法分析表明,该基因在百合花瓣中的表达水平最高,叶和茎次之,鳞茎中不表达。本研究从百合中分离得到了ANS基因片段,为后续获得基因全长打下了基础。     

芒果 CCR 基因的克隆及其序列分析

为了研究芒果CCR基因在芒果对芒果树抗性的功能。采用传统的RT-PCR和RACE方法从芒果的枝梢中克隆得到了1个参与木质素生物合成的肉桂酰辅酶-A还原酶基因（ CCR）的全长cDNA序列,进而对得到的序列采用TMHMM、DNAMAN等软件进行生物信息学分析,发现芒果CCR基因包含编码区、3′和5′非翻译区的长度为1292 bp的cDNA序列,编码305个氨基酸;对跨膜结构域进行了预测,发现该基因无跨膜结构域;蛋白二级结构元件以无规则卷曲和β-螺旋为主;聚类分析发现,该基因与美洲山杨木、油茶等植物的亲缘关系较近,而与百合、橡胶树等亲缘关系较远。从芒果中克隆得到了一个CCR基因,并对其生物信息学进行了分析,为后续转基因工作打下了基础。     

桑树花青素合酶基因的克隆与信息学分析

花青素合酶ANS是花青素合成过程中的一个关键限速酶。本文利用同源克隆、RT-PCR从桑椹中克隆出花青素合酶(MaANS)基因, 并进行生物信息学分析和组织特异性表达分析。通过染色体步移法获得的MaANS基因的5′端和3′端, 获得基因全长1 535 bp, 由2个外显子和1个内含子组成,包含完整CDS区域为1 077 bp, 编码358个氨基酸, 与来源于草莓、甘薯、苹果、沙梨的ANS基因同源性均达到80%以上。MaANS编码的蛋白质属于2-酮戊二酸双加氧酶家族。MaANS在进化树中的位置与草莓最近,与苹果、沙梨次之。组织表达分析表明, MaANS基因在幼叶和成熟果实中高水平表达,表明该基因的表达具有组织特异性,为研究桑树果色的形成原因和表达调控奠定了基础。     

芒果二氢黄酮醇4-还原酶(DFR)基因的克隆及其表达分析

二氢黄酮醇4-还原酶(dihydroflavonol 4-reductase,DFR)是花青素代谢后期重要的酶,是决定花青素从无色到有色的关键调控点。本研究以‘贵妃’芒果的果实为材料,采用同源克隆的方法克隆得到了一个二氢黄酮醇4-还原酶DFR基因。该基因c DNA全长为1 260 bp,开放阅读框为987 bp,编码328个氨基酸。进一步扩增得到其基因组DNA,全长为3 022 bp,分析发现其含有五个内含子,在已报道植物中表现保守。系统发育分析发现芒果DFR蛋白与火鹤花、小麦和大麦等植物具有较近的亲缘关系。对不同着色的果皮中的DFR基因表达进行分析发现,绿色果皮中表达量较高,而黄色果皮中表达量较低,暗示DFR调控花色苷合成的功能待深入研究。     

芒果八氢番茄红素脱氢酶(PDS)基因的克隆与表达分析

八氢番茄红素脱氢酶(phytoene desaturase, PDS)影响类胡萝卜素的合成,是合成途径中关键基因。为了研究芒果果实中PDS基因的功能,本试验采用RACE方法从‘贵妃’芒果果实中克隆得到了一个八氢番茄红素脱氢酶(PDS),该基因全长c DNA序列为1 820 bp,开放阅读框为1 650 bp,编码549个氨基酸,分子重量为61.34 kD,等电点为6.78。聚类分析发现芒果PDS蛋白与柚子、香瓜和番木瓜等植物的亲缘关系较近。其氨基酸组成主要是丙氨酸(ALa),白氨酸(Leu),缬氨酸(Val)等。利用定量PCR技术对不同品种中的PDS基因表达量分析,发现红色‘贵妃’品种表达量最高,而绿色‘桂七’品种表达量最低,对其蛋白的结构域、三级结构及互作蛋白进行了预测,发现其含有Phytoene-desat、PLNO2487 superfamily等结构域。利用STRING数据库对其互作蛋白进行分析发现其与PSY、ZDS、CRTISO等蛋白可能有相互作用。本研究为进一步研究芒果果实类胡萝卜素生物合成的分子调控机理提供理论依据。     

芒果(Mangifera indica)黄烷酮3-羟化酶基因的克隆及其表达分析

色素苷的合成是红色芒果果实着色的主要代谢途径,黄烷酮3-羟化酶(F3H)基因是花色素代谢途径上的关键酶,属于依赖型2-酮戊二酸的双加氧酶(2-ODD)家族,反应需要2-酮戊二酸、分子氧、铁和抗坏血酸,作用是催化柚皮素C3位羟基化,生成二氢山奈素(dhiydorkaempeforl,DHK)。本研究根据已经报道的F3H基因的序列设计兼并引物,采用RACE方法从芒果的果实中,克隆得到了一个F3H基因,其全长cDNA序列为1 182 bp,开放阅读框为1 092 bp,编码363个氨基酸,分子重量为40.82 k D,等电点为4.88。通过在线软件对其二级结构和三级结构进行了预测。对不同着色芒果品种中的F3H基因的表达进行分析发现:红色的贵妃品种中表达量较高,而绿色的桂七品种中表达量较低。通过系统进化树分析发现芒果中黄烷酮3-羟化酶(F3H)基因编码的蛋白与荔枝、可可、柚子等植物的亲缘关系比较近。     

芒果多胺氧化酶2(MiPAO2)基因克隆表达分析与沉默和过量表达载体的构建

本研究以芒果果皮为材料探究多胺(PAs)和多胺氧化酶2(PAO2)对芒果果实抗逆性的作用机理。多胺(PAs)如腐胺(Put)、亚精胺(Spd)、精胺(Spm)是无处不在的聚阳离子,在不同的细胞代谢过程具有广泛的功能。多胺氧化酶2(polyamine oxidase 2,PAO2)是真核生物多胺分解代谢途径中的关键酶。本研究根据转录组测序得到芒果PAO2部分片段信息设计兼并引物,采取3'和5'cDNA末端快速克隆(RACE)的技术方法,分别在三个不同着色芒果品种(红色‘贵妃’品种,黄色‘金煌’品种,绿色‘桂七’品种)中进行PAO2基因全长cDNA序列的扩增,克隆得到了芒果果皮PAO2基因的全长cDNA序列命名为MiPAO2。结果发现三个着色品种cDNA序列只有几个碱基的差异,以红色‘贵妃’品种为例分析可得全长cDNA序列为1 542 bp,开放阅读框为1 209 bp,编码402个氨基酸,分子重量为43.93 kD,等电点为5.60,定位于过氧化物酶体。通过生物软件预测得到了三种三级蛋白结构图。对NCBI上刊载的30种不同植物构建系统发育树发现该基因编码的蛋白与枳的亲缘关系比其他植物物种的亲缘关系近。为深入探究MiPAO2基因在多胺分解代谢过程中的作用,本研究成功构建出MiPAO2-pTRV2基因沉默载体和MiPAO2-pGreen II 62-SK基因过量表达载体,为后续研究MiPAO2基因在芒果果实的抗盐、抗寒以及抗虫过程中的作用机理提供理论依据。     

粉蕉ACC氧化酶cDNA的克隆及其序列分析

本研究根据GeneBank公布的ACC氧化酶(ACO)基因的保守序列设计一对引物,通过RT-PCR方法从成熟粉蕉果实(ABBgroup)中克隆到一条新的香蕉ACO基因全序列。该氧化酶cDNA全长1172bp,基因编码区共957bp,推测其编码318个氨基酸。分析发现,该基因除了与登录号为X95599的香蕉ACO基因核苷酸序列一致性为84%外,与其它基因库上公布的香蕉ACO基因核苷酸序列一致性为94%￣98%,而且,这些香蕉ACO基因核苷酸推导出的氨基酸序列总体一致性为95.81%。聚类分析结果表明,相同基因型的果实克隆出的香蕉ACO氨基酸具有更多的同源性。另外,将该香蕉ACO氨基酸与其它12种重要的果实的ACO氨基酸相比较,其序列一致性也很高。其与芒果一致性高达98%,与菠萝、番木瓜、葡萄、苹果,桃、梨、柑、橙等一致性也在68%￣76%之间。同时发现这13种ACO氨基酸有9个较长的保守结构域。系统树分析结果表明,具有相似的生长环境和相似的生理特性的果实ACO基因具有更多的同源性。     

A note on the origin of Kalanchoë x vadensis Boom & Zeilinga (Crassulaceae)

Summary K x vadensis is a hybrid of K. blossfeldiana and K. marmorata obtained after doubling the number of chromosomes.     

Mechanisms and diversity of resistance to sorghum shoot fly,Atherigona soccata

Sorghum shoot fly, Atherigona soccata, is one of the important pests of postrainy season sorghums. Of the 90 sorghum genotypes evaluated for resistance to this pest, RHRB 12, ICSV 713, 25026, 93046 and 25027, IS 33844‐5, Giddi Maldandi and RVRT 3 exhibited resistance in postrainy season, while ICSB 463, Phule Anuradha, RHRB 19, Parbhani Moti, ICSV 705, PS 35805, IS 5480, 5622, 17726, 18368 and 34722, RVRT 1, ICSR 93031 and Dagidi Solapur showed resistance in rainy season, suggesting season‐specific expression of resistance to A. soccata. ICSB 461, ICSB 463, Phule Yasodha, M 35‐1, ICSV 700, 711, 25010, 25019 and 93089, IS 18662, Phule Vasudha, IS 18551 and 33844‐5 and Barsizoot had fewer deadhearts than plants with eggs across seasons, suggesting antibiosis as one of the resistance mechanism. Five genotypes exhibited resistance with high grain yield across seasons. Correlation, path and stepwise regression analyses indicated that leaf glossiness, seedling vigour, trichome density, oviposition and leaf sheath pigmentation were associated with the expression of resistance/susceptibility to shoot fly, and these can be used as marker traits to select and develop shoot fly‐resistant sorghums.     

Reaction of tritordeum to Fusarium culmorum and Septoria nodorum

Summary Hordeum chilense is a wild barley extensively used in wide crosses in the Triticeae. It could be a valuable source of resistance to Fusarium culmorum and Septoria nodorum. Some H. chilense x Triticum spp. amphiploids, named tritordeums, were more resistant than the parental wheat line to these diseases, others were not. Average contents of ergosterol and deoxynivalenol (DON) suggested that resistance to colonization by Fusarium was the highest for Hordeum chilense, followed by tritordeum and wheat in decreasing order. In particular, the H. chilense genotypes H7 and H17 enhanced the wheat resistance to F. culmorum in its tritordeum offsprings. Resistance to S. nodorum in tritordeum was not associated with tall plant height. There is sufficient genetic variation for resistance to F. culmorum and S. nodorum among tritordeum to allow the breeding of lines combining short straw and resistance to both diseases.     

Disease resistance in protected crops and mushrooms

Summary Cultivars of tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers have been bred for resistance to one or more pathogens. Some tomato and cucumber cultivars have resistance to a wide range of diseases. Resistance has been transient in many cases and a succession of cultivars with new genes or new combinations of resistance genes has been necessary to maintain control. There has been a number of notable exceptions and these have included durable resistance to such pathogens asFulvia fulva and tomato mosaic virus. With lettuce the resistance situation is complicated by the occurrence of fungicide resistant pathotypes. There are no strains ofAgaricus bisporus purposely bred for disease resistance.In protected flower crops only resistance to Fusarium wilt in carnations has been purposely bred but differences in disease resistance are apparent in cultivars of many ornamental crops. This is particularly so in chrysanthemums where there are cultivars with resistance to many of the major pathogens. Similar situations occur with other flower crops and pot plants. Cultivars of some species have not been systematically investigated for resistance.The need for genetic resistance will increase with the further reduction, in the limits on pesticide use and an increasing public awareness and importance of pesticide pollution.ADAS is an executive agency of the Ministry of Agiculture, Fisheries and Food and the Welsh Office.     

Genetic constitution and diversity in four narrow endemic redwoods from the family Cupressaceae

The genetic constitution and diversity of four relictual redwoods are discussed in this review. These include monotypic genera of the family Cupressaceae: coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), and alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides). All four species are narrow endemics, share a number of common phenotypic traits, including red wood, and are threatened species. Fossil history suggests that the ancestors of redwoods probably originated during the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods and flourished thereafter for millions of years. Towards the end of the Tertiary period began their decline and struggle for existence that continued during the subsequent geologic upheavals and climate changes, until the survival of the present-day redwoods in the current restricted locations in the world (USA, China, and South America). Although two species, Sequoiadendron and Metasequoia, are diploids (2n = 22), and the other two are polyploids: Fitzroya a tetraploid (2n = 4x = 44), and Sequoia a hexaploid (2n = 6x = 66); they all share the same basic chromosome number x = 11. The genome size in the hexaploid Sequoia is one of the largest (31,500 MB) in the conifers, while the genome sizes of diploid Metasequoia and Sequoiadendron are about one-third (~10,000 MB) of Sequoia. Genetic diversity in the redwoods is lower than most other gymnosperms, except in Sequoia, which seems to rank near the upper quarter of the coniferous forest trees. Genomic research is sparse in the redwoods, and should be pursued for a better understanding of their genome structure, function, and adaptive genetic diversity.     

The induction in vitro of adventitious shoots in Rosa

Summary Adventitious shoots were formed on excised leaves, roots and callus of Rosa persica x xanthina and on excised leaves of R. laevigata and R. wichuraiana on culture media that included BAP and NAA as growth regulators. Shoots formed freely on freshly cultured callus of R. persica x xanthina but their production declined in successive cultures and ceased after twelve weeks. Transplantation to soil was improved by rooting plantlets in cellulose plugs in vitro and transferring plantlets to soil while still in the plugs.     

Distribution,ecology and reproductive biology of wild tomatoes and related nightshades from the Atacama Desert region of northern Chile

Over the past 20 years, several expeditions were made to northern Chile to collect populations of wild tomatoes (Solanum chilense, S. peruvianum) and allied nightshades (S. lycopersicoides, S. sitiens), and obtain information about their geographic distribution, ecology and reproductive biology. Restricted mainly to drainages of the Andean and the coastal cordillera, populations are geographically fragmented. The two nightshade species are rare and threatened by human activities. Adaptation to extreme aridity and soil salinity are evident in S. chilense and S. sitiens (the latter exhibits several xerophytic traits not seen in the tomatoes) and to low temperatures in S. lycopersicoides and S. chilense. All tested accessions are self-incompatible, with the exception of one S. peruvianum population collected at the southern limit of its distribution. Several distinguishing reproductive traits—anther color, attachment, and dehiscence, pollen size, and flower scent—suggest S. sitiens and S. lycopersicoides attract different pollinators than S. chilense and S. peruvianum. The four Solanum spp. native or endemic to Chile provide a variety of novel traits which, through hybridization and introgression with cultivated tomato, could facilitate development of improved varieties, as well as research on a variety of basic topics, including plant-pollinator interactions, abiotic stress responses, and evolution of reproductive barriers.     

The exploration of genetic resources of Portuguese cabbage and kale for resistance to several Brassica diseases

Summary Twenty three accessions of nine Portuguese cabbage and kale land races from different geographic origins were tested at the seedling stage for resistance to several important brassica diseases. Resistance to downy mildew (Peronospora parasitica), expressed as necrosis of the cotyledon mesophyll, was found in all the accessions. Type A resistance to cabbage yellows (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans race 1) was present in most of the landraces. Resistance to clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae race 6) was found in one accession of the Portuguese tree kale. High resistance to blackleg (Leptosphaeria maculans) and white rust (Albuco candida) was not detected, although several accessions showed 20 to 30% of plants with intermediate expression of resistance. All Portuguese cole accessions were susceptible to blackrot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris).     

Production and characterization of intergeneric diploid cybrids derived from symmetric fusion between Microcitrus papuana Swingle and sour orange (Citrus aurantium)

Plants were regenerated from intergeneric somatic hybridization between embryogenic protoplasts of Microcitrus papuana Swingle and leaf-derived protoplasts of sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) via electrofusion. The regenerated plants were morphologically similar to the leaf parent in growth vigor, leaf and branch structure. FCM analysis showed that they were diploids. Simple-sequence-repeat (SSR) and cleaved-amplified-polymorphic-sequence(CAPS) were employed for hybridity characterization. SSR banding patterns of the regenerated plants were identical to the leaf parent, sour orange, indicating that they possessed nuclear component derived from sour orange. DNA amplification with chloroplast and mitochondrial universal primers, followed by restriction endonuclease digestion, revealed polymorphism between the fusion parents. Therefore, this method was used to determine the cytoplasmic compositions of the regenerated plants. Banding patterns for all the polymorphic primer/enzyme combinations of the regenerated plants were similar to those of the embryogenic parent, M. papuana, suggesting that only the cytoplasmic components derived from the embryogenic parent were present in the regenerated plants. FCM, SSR and CAPS demonstrated that intergeneric diploid cybrids have been successfully obtained by symmetric fusion. Related results concerning nuclear and cytoplasmic composition of previous diploid somatic hybrids and potential mechanism for regeneration of such kind of plants are discussed herein. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Breeding barriers between the cultivated strawberry, Fragaria × ananassa, and related wild germplasm

Five-hundred interspecific and intergeneric crosses were performed among accessions of the wild strawberries Fragaria vesca(2x), Duchesnea indica (8x), Potentilla tucumanensis (2x) and 9 genotypes of the cultivated strawberry, Fragaria×ananassa (8x), following an incomplete diallele mating design. Crosses between D. indica and F.×ananassa produced many putative hybrids when D. indica was used as female but a few achenes and plants when used as male; therefore, pollen-pistil compatibility relations were analyzed by fluorescence microscopy in this direction of the cross. Of the genotypic combinations, 78.6% were incompatible at the stigma level and 17.2% at the first third of the style. Only 3.6% were pollen-pistil compatible and produced fruits with achenes (seven did not germinate or originated short-lived plants and nine produced normal plants). F.vesca×F.×ananassa crosses produced 35 hybrid achenes but only 14% germinated, yielding short-lived plants; histological analyses revealed that inviable seeds had less developed (or collapsed) endosperms and smaller embryos than control plump F. vesca seeds. P.tucumanensis was only used as male, with negative results. These species and genera are partially isolated by a complex system of pre- and post-zygotic barriers. Knowledge of their nature would allow the breeder to devise strategies to put the genetic variability available in the group into a useful form. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.