Activity of the photosynthetic apparatus and antioxidant enzymes in leaves of transgenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum lycopersicum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nicotiana tabacum</Emphasis> plants,with <Emphasis Type="Italic">FeSOD1</Emphasis> gene

Introduction of the FeSOD gene enhanced the stability of the photosynthetic apparatus of plants to the action of oxidative stress caused by UV irradiation. The expression of Arabidopsis thaliana FeSOD gene, targeting the enzyme in chloroplasts due to a signal sequence, leaded to significant changes in ultrastructure of cell subcompartments of tobacco and tomato leaves. The activity of superoxide dismutase in leaves of transgenic tomato plants exceeded the value of activity of this enzyme of control plants. Transgenic tobacco plants showed increasing in SOD activity compared with control non-transgenic tobacco. The activity of AP in the leaves of transgenic tobacco and tomato plants was similar with that of control non-transgenic plants, but activity of one accession of transgenic tomato, which is also characterized by high values of SOD activity, exceeded the value of control plant. Differences in ultrastructural organization of chloroplasts in the cells of transgenic and control tobacco and tomato plants have been manifested in a strong enlargement in the size of plastoglobuli. These distinctions were evident especially in the cells of the leaf parenchyma of transgenic tomato as well as transgenic tobacco. Also, a quantity of starch grains in the plastids of guard cells was increased. Chloroplasts in the cells of leaf parenchyma in transgenic plants contained less a starch grains than in wild-type plants.     

蔬菜根际细菌R2–2的鉴定及其抑菌活性

从云南昆明市郊蔬菜根际分离细菌,经平板对峙培养筛选出1株抑菌能力较强的菌株R2-2,通过对其进行形态观察、Biolog微生物自动鉴定系鉴定和16S rDNA序列测定及其系统发育学分析,鉴定为甲基营养型芽孢杆菌(Bacillus methylotrophicus)。对R2-2与植物病原细菌(甘蓝黑腐病菌、魔芋细菌性软腐病菌、海棠斑点病菌、水稻白叶枯病菌、水稻细菌性条斑病菌)和病原真菌(疫霉菌、尖镰孢菌、茄镰孢菌、立枯丝核菌)进行对峙试验,结果显示,R2-2对水稻白叶枯病菌和水稻条斑病菌有较强的抑菌效果,抑菌圈直径分别达6.83 cm和7.03 cm。该菌株的16S rDNA序列已在GenBank中注册,登录号为JN648098。     

Formation of the hypersensitivity response due to the expression of <Emphasis Type="Italic">FeSOD1</Emphasis> gene in tomato when it is inoculated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora infestans</Emphasis>

The activity of antioxidant enzymes and ultrastructural changes in tissues inoculated with P. infestans isolate have been studied in the previously developed independent transgenic lines of tomato with FeSOD1 gene and control plants. It is shown that the activity of superoxide dismutase is significantly higher in transgenic plants than that in control plants (nontransgenic plants). Chlorosis and obvious changes in tissue turgor were observed when the control tomato plants were inoculated, which indicates irreversible damages and unimpeded progression of infection. At the same time, the transgenic lines were characterized by the formation of clearly limited zones of damaged cells that rapidly arrested the infection. In addition, the damages differed from those in nontransgenic plants: the cells along the edges of the infection site were smaller and had heavy invaginations of the cell wall. The contacts between the cells were disrupted in this zone, but they were preserved in undisturbed zones of the tissue. Thus, the expression of the FeSOD1 transgene promotes the emergence of the resistance to P. infestans in tomato transgenic plants.     

Allelopathic effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thymus kotschyanus</Emphasis> on seed germination and initial growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bromus tomentellus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trifolium repens</Emphasis>

The allelopathic influence of aqueous extracts of Thymus kotschyanus on Bromus tomentellus and Trifolium repens germination (%), germination speed, and seedling growth (length, fresh and dry weight) was examined. It was noted that aqueous extracts had a considerable inhibitory effect on target plant germination, and the effect at 50%, 75%, and 100% concentration was found to be significantly higher than that at lower concentrations (5% and 25%) and control treatment (distilled water). Seedling length in addition to fresh and dry weights was also reduced significantly over control. The inhibitory effect was increased as the extract concentration was increased. B. tomentellus showed a higher sensitivity against T. kotschyanus in allelopathic effects compared to T. repens, which indicates that B. tomentellus planted in rangelands with leaf litter of T. kotschyanus will be adversely affected in terms of its germination, growth, and ultimately low forage production.     

Detection of indigenous endophytic bacteria in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus urophylla in vitro</Emphasis> conditions

The presence of indigenous endophytic bacteria in aseptically grown seedlings of Eucalyptus urophylla germinated from surface sterilized seeds was investigated using dilution plating, microscopy, and PCR detection. No culturable endophytic bacteria could be detected in suspensions of ground plant tissue incubated on solid or in liquid cultivation media. However, a large number of endophytic bacterial cells, mostly rod-shaped and measured 2–3 μm×0.5–0.8 μm, were observed in in vitro cultured seedlings of E. urophylla using both light and electron microscopy. Using the universal bacterial 16S rDNA primers, a predicted 190-bp fragment was amplified from total DNA isolated from the seedlings of E. urophylla. We concluded that the endophytic bacteria originated from the seed were present in seedlings of E. urophylla. However, the bacterial cells observed appeared to be nonculturable.     

Presence of indigenous endophytic bacteria in jujube seedlings germinated from seeds <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>

The presence of indigenous endophytic bacteria in tissue-cultured seedlings germinated from seeds of Zizyphus jujuba var. Fupingdazao was investigated using cultivation, light microscopy and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). In addition, bacteria specific 16S rDNA PCR followed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used. No cultivable bacteria could be detected on plates or in liquid cultures. However, large quantities of endophytic bacteria in jujube seedlings were observed under the light microscope. The bacterial cells were round (measuring 1.5 μm–1.8 μm), short rods (2.2 μm − 2.9 μm × 1.1 μm − 1.9 μm) and rod shaped (3.7 μm − 4.4 μm × 1.6 μm − 1.9 μm). Rod-shaped bacterial cells (measuring 3.5 m−4.0 m × 1.5m−2.0 m) were observed by SEM as well. A 16S rDNA fragment of 1.5 kb could be amplified from the total DNA of seedlings of jujube using the bacterial primer pair 27F/1525R. The V3 fragment of 16S rDNA was separated by DGGE, and the 16S rDNA-PCR-DGGE showed that there were at least six dominant bands within the seedlings of Z. jujuba var. Fupingdazao. It can be concluded that endophytic bacteria that cannot be detected by cultivation are present with high densities in jujube seeds.     

Expression analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">RUS1</Emphasis> and construction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">RUS1</Emphasis> plant expressing vector

RUS1 was one of the disease resistance gene analogs obtained from Setaria italica Beauv. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis result showed that RUS1 gene could be induced by Uromyces setariae-italicae and had relation to the resistance response of Setaria italica Beauv. against Uromyces setariae-italicae infection. Promoter sequence of RUS1 was obtained by the method of Genome Walking, and its length was 675 bp. RUS1 promoter and pCAMBIA1300 vector were fused to construct RUS1::GUS vector. GUS histochemical staining result showed that promoter could activate gene expression. RUS1 gene (including the promoter sequence) was obtained through PCR amplification and then fused with pCAMBIA1300 vector to construct pCAMBIA1300:RUS1 plant expressing vector. The research laid a foundation for gene functional identification of RUS1.     

Studies on isolated microspore embryoid induction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. annuum</Emphasis> L.

A system to improve isolated microspore embryoid induction rate of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) was studied in this paper. The results showed that low-temperature pretreatment, growth regulators combinations, activated carbon concentrations, and preculture temperatures were critical factors affecting embryoid formation of isolated pepper microspores in vitro. One day after pretreatment of the buds at 4°C, the anthers that differentiated and developed into embryos were cultured in double-layer medium system for one week at 7°C and then went on culturing at 28°C in darkness. All the seven genotypes of the tested pepper responded to this protocol. The embryoid induction rate of the best genotype increased from 81.11% to 147.22%. This protocol can be used as a potential tool for producing doubled haploid plants for pepper breeding.     

Introduction of grain cowpea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna unguiculata</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">cylindrical</Emphasis> (L.) Verdc.) in the Lower Volga

Introduction of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata subsp. cylindrical (L.) Verdc.) in the Lower Volga region is the possibility of using this culture for agricultural production, fodder production, and expanded range of food products. Selection for earliness in the model population of cowpea should be accompanied by the identification of genotypes with high intensity of biomass accumulation in the shoots-flowering interphase period.     

Characteristics of interspecific hybrids between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus ostreatus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. eryngii</Emphasis>

In this study, three species of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus osturatus, P. eryngii and P. cornucopia) were crossed together in order to aggregate benefit special attributes to the genotype (s). The monokaryon of each of these species was prepared. Then, the monokaryons of two species were placed at 5 mm distance from each other to produce dikaryon. The results showed that, from among 700 crosses, only the crosses of eryngii and osturatus monokaryons were grown toward each other and produced clamps (dikaryons). Four produced hybrids were noted H₁, H₃₂, H₁₁ and H₄₀. The spans of produced hybrids were prepared; then, they were grown into sterile media and attributions of hybrids were studied. The results indicated that H₁₁ hybrid was an appropriate hybrid in terms of the number of days until growing, number of days until the observation of the first pin and the days from planting to harvest. However, H₄₀ was the best hybrid based on cap diameter, dry and fresh weight of fruit body, yield and biomass. It is expected that these interspecific hybrids employ for future oyster mushroom breeding programs.     

Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">GH</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">DGAT1</Emphasis> gene polymorphism on feeding qualities of bull calves

The aim of this paper is to study effects of GH and DGAT1 gene polymorphisms on feeding qualities of Hereford and Limousin bull calves bred in conditions of the Cis-Ural steppe zone. SNPs of genes GH and DGAT1 are investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The studied population of animals was assessed by defining the allele frequency and animal genotype occurrence for the studied gene SNPs, indicators of the actual and expected heterozygosity, and Pearson’s test. A study of polymorphism C214G of gene GH revealed that genotype LL prevails in Hereford and Limousin animals, 47.37 and 57.7%, respectively, while frequency of allele L is higher in Limousin bull calves (0.731). A study of polymorphism K232A of gene DGAT1 gene in both the populations showed absence of genotypes AA, which can be related to the low number of the studied animals. Expected heterozygosity indicators of gene GH are higher than the observed ones, and the observed heterozygosity is higher for DGAT1. The number of efficient alleles for the studied genes is higher for Hereford bull calves. In general, according to Pearson’s test, both the studied populations are in equilibrium. There is a significant effect of GH gene polymorphism on live weight gain rates at the end of sagination and total and average daily weight gains during animal raising.     

Photoperiod sensitivity and molecular marking of genes <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ppd</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vrn</Emphasis> in connection with breeding alternative-habit wheat varieties

The response of wheat varieties and breeding lines to vernalization and photoperiod in pot experiments is studied and tested by means of allele-specific markers for genes Ppd and Vrn. These markers effectively predict the degree of photoperiod sensitivity of plants to vernalization, which attests to the expediency of using them in breeding practice.     

MPN-PCR enumeration of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Campylobacter</Emphasis> spp. in raw chicken meats and by-products

The goal of this study is to enumerate Campylobacter in chicken meats and by-products. In the current investigation, results showed that raw chicken meats and chicken by-products were contaminated with Campylobacter ranging from <3 to 4600 MPN·g⁻¹. Campylobacter jejuni showed a higher number compared to Campylobacter coli in the chicken samples. The current study showed that the percentage of chicken livers and gizzards harbored a higher number of Campylobacter (10³–10⁴ MPN·g⁻¹) than other chicken parts at 33.3% and 9.2%, respectively. The different concentrations of Campylobacter between chicken meats and chicken byproducts reflect the differences in the contamination level. The data on Campylobacter concentration in chicken meats and by-products will be useful in risk analysis.     

Antibiogram and heavy metal resistance of pathogenic bacteria isolated from moribund cage cultured silver catfish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pangasius sutchi</Emphasis>) and red hybrid tilapia (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tilapia</Emphasis> sp.)

Antibiogram and heavy metal resistance patterns of pathogenic bacteria isolated from moribund cage cultured silver catfish (Pangasius sutchi) and red hybrid tilapia (Tilapia sp.) from Sungai Manir, Terengganu, Malaysia were studied and characterized. Sungai Manir is one of the famous rivers in Terengganu for its wide variety of cage cultured freshwater fish. However, to date, the baseline information of antibiogram and heavy metal resistance patterns of the pathogenic bacteria attacking the freshwater fish cultured in Sungai Manir is still lacking. Therefore, this study was carried out, which may be useful for fish farmers as a guideline for fish prophylactic and treatment purposes. Furthermore, present studies also provide information on the safety level of consuming freshwater fish produced from Sungai Manir. In the present study, bacteria were isolated from 100 fish of each moribund silver catfish and red hybrid tilapia using seven media including tryptic soy agar (TSA), Mac Conkey, thiosulphate citrate bile salt (TCBS), eosin methylene blue (EMB), glutamate starch pseudomonas (GSP), xylose lysine deoxycholate (XLD) and Baird Parker media. Identification of bacteria was carried out using conventional biochemical tests and confirmed by commercial bacterial identification kit. Antibiogram of the bacterial isolates against 18 antibiotics; oxolinic acid (2 μg), ampicillin (10 μg), erythromycin (15 μg), furazolidone (15 μg), lincomycin (15 μg), oleandomycin (15 μg), amoxicillin (25 μg), colistin sulphate (25 μg), sulphamethoxazole (25 μg), chloramphenicol (30 μg), doxycycline (30 μg), florfenicol (30 μg), flumequine (30 μg), kanamycin (30 μg), nalidixic acid (30 μg), tetracycline (30 μg), nitrofurantoin (50 μg) and spiramycin (100 μg) was carried out using disk diffusion method, whereas heavy metal resistance patterns (Hg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cr^{6 +} and Cu²⁺) of the bacterial isolates was determined through twofold agar dilution method. The results showed that the percentage of sensitivity case of the 120 bacterial isolates to the tested antibiotics was 62.7%. This was followed by resistance (26.9%) and intermediary sensitive (10.4%) cases. In terms of the heavy metal resistance patterns, all bacterial isolates were resistant to Hg²⁺ and Cr^{6 +}. However, only 27.8% and 16.7% of the bacterial isolates were sensitive to Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺, respectively. The multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) indices indicated that the cage cultured silver catfish and red hybrid tilapia were under high exposure to the tested antibiotic. Overall, the results of the present studies showed that Sungai Manir may be polluted with heavy metal and antibiotic residues.     

Increase of resistance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis> plants to phytopathogenic fungi expressing hevein-like peptides from weed plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stellaria media</Emphasis>

It is shown that constitutive hyperexpression of new hevein-like peptides from the weed plant chickweed (Stellaria media)in mouse-ear cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants leads to a substantial increase of their resistance to phytopathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea and Bipolaris sorokiniana. Thus, common chickweed peptides can play a definite role in protecting this weed plant and be useful as a new genetic tool for producing plants resistant to fungal diseases.     

Identification of disease resistances in wheat-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leymus multicaulis</Emphasis> derivatives and characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">L. multicaulis</Emphasis> chromatin using microsatellite DNA markers

To identify resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB), cereal yellow dwarf virus (CYDV), stem rust (Sr), and powdery mildew (Pm) in 24 common wheat (Triticum aestivum)-Leymus multicaulis addition/translocation lines that were developed cytogenetically and to verify the authenticity of these lines using microsatellite (SSR) DNA markers. Resistance to FHB was identified in the wheat-L. multicaulis addition lines, Line 9 and Line 26, which both contained L. multicaulis-specific fragments as shown by SSR markers. The translocation line, Trans 1, and the addition lines, Line 5 and Line 29, have resistance to stem rust (IT 0). Resistance to CYDV was evaluated based on virus titers measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The addition line, Line 23, showed low virus titer (0.15), indicating resistance to CYDV. The segregation distribution of CYDV resistance in 98 F₂ plants of Line 23/CS showed a significant deviation from 3:1. Inoculation with a set of 14 differential Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) isolates did not detect powdery mildew resistance in translocation line Trans 1, addition line Line 9 and the amphiploid of wheat-L. multicaulis. However, Line 26 exhibited the resistance response pattern of Kavkaz, which carries Pm8, indicating that Line 26 most likely has the powdery mildew resistance gene Pm8 inherited from its parent lines Feng Kang 7 or Feng Kang 10. Twelve SSR markers, distributed on different homeologous chromosome groups of wheat, which distinguished L. multicaulis addition/translocation chromosomes, were used to verify the presence of L. multicaulis chromatin in the putative wheat-L. multicaulis addition/translocation lines. Of the 24 addition/translocation lines investigated using the 12 polymorphic SSR markers, 18 wheat-L. multicaulis derivatives showed the expected L. multicaulis-specific fragments, indicating that all of these 18 addition/translocation lines would most likely have the introgressed L. multicaulis chromosome(s). Chromosomal rearrangements also were detected in some of the wheat-L. multicaulis introgression lines.     

Kinetics of microbial immobilization of phosphorus in a weathered subtropical soil following treatment with organic amendments and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas</Emphasis> sp.

To understand the role of microbial processes in phosphorus (P) immobilization in a weathered subtropical soil, the effects of application of a phosphatesolubilization microorganism strain (Pseudomonas sp. 2VCP1) on P availability in soil, dynamics in microbial biomass P (Bp), microbial biomass C (Bc) and Olsen-P were investigated during a 60-d laboratory incubation. The included treatments were P. sp. inoculums at ×10⁶ cfu·g⁻¹ soil (CKM); glucose at 5 g·kg⁻¹ soil (G); G with P. sp. inoculum (GM); rice straw at 5 or 10 g·kg⁻¹ soil (5S or 10S); 5S and 10S with P. sp. inoculum (5SM and 10SM). The results indicated that the amount of soil Bc increased about 3.2, 1.7, and 2.6 times for G, 5S and 10S compared to the control (no organic amendment and P. sp.; CK), respectively. The amount of soil Bp for G and 10S almost doubled during the first 7 d, then remained relatively steady. The amount of Olsen-P in G, 5S and 10S showed a significant decrease (0–5.4 mg P·kg⁻¹ soil) during the 60-d incubation compared to CK. However, changes in soil Bp between the treatments inoculated with P. sp. (CKM, G, 5SM, 10SM) and the uninoculated controls (CK, G, 5S, 10S) were not significant during the 60-d incubation period, whereas a small increase in Bp of the GM treatment was seen up to day 11. The amount of soil Bc in CKM, GM, 5SM and 10SM had increased but not greater than 20% compared to their corresponding uninoculated control. The amount of Olsen-P increased but not greater than 0.88 mg P·kg⁻¹ soil. The result illustrated that there were a few effects on soil P immobilization following inoculation with P. sp. in the soil, whereas organic amendments can significantly motivate the soil native microorganisms to immobilize phosphorus.     

Growth and yield response of wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.) to phosphobacterial inoculation

In this study growth and yield response of wheat crop to phosphobacterium inoculum was observed under sandy loam conditions. The investigations were carried out at field experiment. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design. The treatments were; 120-0-0 NPK kg/ha⁻¹ (T ₁), 120-50-0 kg/ha⁻¹ (T ₂), 120-100-0 NPK kg/ha⁻¹ (T ₃), T ₁ + Phosphobacterium inoculum (T ₄), T ₂ + Phosphobacterium inoculum (T ₅) and T ₃ + Phosphobacterium inoculum (T ₆).The results showed that bacterial strain (Pseudomonas spp.) was able to effect on yield and its attributes in wheat crop. The crop showed significant positive results. The inoculation significantly stimulates the germination count (m⁻²), number of tillers and spikes (m⁻²), 1000 grains weight (g) and grain yield (kg/ha⁻¹). We suggest that application of 120-100-0 kg/ha⁻¹ NPK along with coating of seed with phosphobacterium (Pseudomonas spp.) all the way through inoculation is a better practice to reduce the exploit of phosphatic fertilizers which are much costly.     

Use of molecular markers of potato golden nematode resistance genes <Emphasis Type="Italic">H1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">GRO1</Emphasis>

By means of DNA markers of potato golden nematode resistance genes H1 and Gro1, 109 Russian- and foreign-bred potato varieties are assessed. A sufficiently high level of coincidence of the presence of marker alleles with phenotypic resistance of potato varieties is revealed. However, not all resistant forms have specific amplification products. The use of DNA markers of only two genes H1 and Gro1 will not make it possible to completely replace mass laboratory testing, but it will make it possible to select potato forms resistant to this parasite by a simple and reliable method in a shorter time and thereby to considerably reduce the number of genotypes in the sample for further breeding.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Kosher</Emphasis> in New York City, <Emphasis Type="Italic">halal</Emphasis> in Aquitaine: challenging the relationship between neoliberalism and food auditing

Previous work in the agri-food tradition has framed food auditing as a novelty characteristic of a shift to neoliberal governance in agri-food systems and has tackled the analysis of food “quality” in the same light. This article argues that agri-food scholars’ recent interest in the contested qualities of food needs to be situated alongside a much longer history of contested cultural attributions of trust in food relations. It builds on an earlier discussion suggesting that, although neoliberalism has undoubtedly opened up new spaces for audit activity, older political and social dynamics operating around food audits were established long before the neoliberal historical moment. Breaking new ground (as far as is known) by looking further back than the early history of the organic social movement, it examines intersections of religious food auditing, migrant food culture, and commercial dynamics in food systems. Based on secondary sources, two contrasting case studies are presented to illustrate the flux and complexity for: New World Diaspora migrants to New York City of assuring food was kosher; and more recent Maghrebi migrants to southwest France of assuring food is halal. The article concludes by noting that the neoliberal moment stands not as the unique progenitor of a new style of food authority, but rather as the latest response to a wider rupture in the historically contingent arbitration of new forms of trust in food.