Testing variability in pathogenicity of Phytophthora cinnamomi

Forty eight isolates of Phytophthora cinnamomi from various host plants in France (35 isolates) and in other countries were tested for pathogenicity. Seedlings of chestnut, northern red oak, pine and eucalyptus were infected by soil contamination. Taproots, stems and bark strips of plants of chestnut and different oak species were inoculated with mycelium agar disks. Results of the different experiments were in good agreement. All isolates appeared pathogenic to all the different test species but with variable levels of virulence. Isolates with consistent low or high level of virulence, which could be used as standards in further studies, were identified. Interaction between P. cinnamomi isolates and host plant species was significant in terms of lesion lengths. These interactions could not be related to host from which P. cinnamomi was isolated. Consistent with this, in Quercus rubra, the isolate-provenance interaction was not significant. This feature is encouraging for provenance screening for resistance to P. cinnamomi in this species. The variation in virulence was not related to other isolate characteristics (mating type, electrophoretic type, age).     

Decomposition of (1–3,1–4)-β-Glucan and Expression of the (1–3,1–4) -β-Glucanase Gene in Rice Stems during Ripening

Abstract

To elucidate the possible participation of hemicellulose decomposition in lodging resistance, we studied the change of hemicellulose and cellulose content in the stems of rice during the ripening stage by methylation analysis and the expression of related genes by Northern blotting. In the rice stem in ripening stage, content of (1-3,1-4)-β-glucan, a component of hemicellulose, decreased markedly although the content of arabinoxylan, a major component of hemicellulose, and cellulose showed little change during the same growth period. On the other hand, expression of the Gns 1 gene, which may encode (1-3,1-4) -β-glucanase that catalyzes the degradation of (1-3,14) -β-glucan, increased sharply in the stem. The mechanism of decomposition of (1-3,1-4) -β-glucan in rice stem and the possible association with lodging resistance is discussed.     

Characterizing Submergence Survival Strategy in Rice Via Chlorophyll Fluorescence

Rice plants cope with flash floods using either an ‘escape strategy’ involving rapid shoot elongation or a ‘quiescence strategy’ involving survival underwater with minimal activity. To clarify the differences in the response of leaf photosynthesis properties to conditions during and after submergence, two rice cultivars were compared: a non‐shoot‐elongating cultivar IR 67520‐B‐14‐1‐3‐2‐2 (IR67520) and a shoot‐elongating cultivar IR72442‐6B‐3‐2‐1‐1 (IR72442). Twenty‐three‐day‐old seedlings were submerged in 80‐cm‐deep water for 14 days. During submergence, the chlorophyll contents of the upper fully expanded leaf (5th leaf) and newly developed leaf later (6th leaf) and the maximal quantum yield of photosystem II (F_v/F_m) of the fifth leaf decreased earlier in IR72442 than in IR67520. In the submerged sixth leaf, F_v/F_m was higher in IR72442 than in IR67520 at early measurement. Although F_v/F_m of the sixth leaf in submerged IR67520 increased substantially from 2 days post‐submergence, IR72442 decreased because of leaf chlorosis. Therefore, a non‐shoot‐elongating cultivar coped with submergence by inhibiting photodamage and maintaining high chlorophyll content in the leaves. The shoot‐elongating cultivar was able to maintain the photosynthetic capacity of the newly developed leaf during submergence by prompt reduction of chlorophyll and chlorophyll fluorescence in the leaf that developed before submergence.     

3种生长调节物质对生菜不定芽直接再生的影响

应用“３１１－Ｂ”回归最优设计研究ＡｇＮＯ３，ＡＢＡ，ＡＳＡ对生菜离体培养不定芽直接再生的影响。结果表明，ＡｇＮＯ３是良好的乙烯抑制剂，与ＡＢＡ配合使用可明显抑制愈伤产生，大大促进不定芽的直接再生；而ＡＳＡ未曾抑制愈伤产生，不是乙烯抑制剂。     

Bulked Segregant Analysis to Detect QTL Related to Heat Tolerance in Rice （Oryza sativa L.） Using SSR Markers

The study was undertaken to assess the genetic effect of quantitative trait loci （QTLs） conferring heat tolerance at flowering stage in rice. A population consisting of 279 F2 individuals from the cross between 996, a heat tolerant cultivar and 4628, a heat-sensitive cultivar, was analyzed for their segregation pattern of the difference of seed set rate under optimal temperature condition and high temperature condition. The difference of seed set rate under optimal temperature condition and high temperature condition showed normal distribution, indicating the polygenic control over the trait. To identify main effect of QTL for heat tolerance, the parents were surveyed with 200 primer pairs of simple sequence repeats （SSR）. The parental survey revealed 30% polymorphism between parents. In order to detect the main QTL association with heat tolerance, a strategy of combining the DNA pooling from selected segregants and genotyping was adopted. The association of putative markers identified based on DNA pooling from selected segregants was established by single marker analysis （SMA）. The results of SMA revealed that SSR markers, RM3735 on chromosome 4 and RM3586 on chromosome 3 showed significant association with heat tolerance respectively, accounted for 17 and 3% of the total variation respectively. The heat tolerance during flowering stage in rice was controlled by multiple gene. The SSR markers, RM3735 on chromosome 4 and RM3586 on chromosome 3 showed significant association with heat tolerance respectively, accounted for 17 and 3% of the total variation respectively. The two genetic loci, especially for RM3735 on chromosome 4, can be used in marker-assistant-selected method in heat tolerance breeding in rice.     

Gene Expression of Enzymes for Starch and Sucrose Metabolism and Transport in Leaf Sheaths of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) during the Heading Period in Relation to the Sink to Source Transition

Abstract

Leaf sheaths of rice plants are known to temporarily accumulate starch prior to heading, which is subsequently remobilized and transported into the panicle after heading. We investigated the time course for both carbohydrate content and steady state mRNA levels of enzymes related to starch and sucrose metabolism in the rice leaf sheath (Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare). Leaf sheaths from the second leaf below the flag leaf accumulated high levels of starch before heading but they rapidly decreased after heading. In contrast, the flag leaf sheath did not accumulate as much starch. In the second leaf sheath, the mRNA levels of enzymes involved in starch synthesis, ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase (EC 2. 7. 7. 27), soluble starch synthase (EC 2. 4. 1.21) and branching enzyme (EC 2. 4. 1. 18) were high before heading, which coincided with rapid accumulation of starch. The mRNA levels of sucrose synthesis enzymes, cytosolic FBPase (EC 3. 1. 3. 11) and sucrose phosphate synthase (EC 2. 4. 1. 14), and the sucrose transporter (OsSUTI) increased at the time of heading, which was largely coincident with a decrease in the mRNA levels of starch synthesis enzymes. In the flag leaf sheaths, changes in mRNA levels of starch synthesis enzymes were not pronounced, however mRNA levels of sucrose synthesis enzymes and the sucrose transporter showed a clear increase throughout the heading period. The different characteristics observed between the two leaf sheaths will be discussed in relation to the sink to source transition.     

Effects of Soil Temperature on Growth and Root Function in Rice

Abstract

The objective of this study was to clarify the effects of soil temperature in the stage from late tillering to panicle initiation (SI) and during the grain-filling stage (SII) on grain setting, dry matter production, photosynthesis, non-structural carbohydrate (NSC), xylem exudation and abscisic acid (ABA) levels in rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Koshihikari). Rice plants were exposed to four different soil temperatures during SI or SII: 17.5, 25, 31.5 and 36.5°C (ST18, ST25, ST32 and ST37, respectively). The yield, yield components, grain filling and quality in SI were negatively influenced by high soil temperature of 37°C. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in those characters among temperature treatments in SII. The root/shoot ratio was smallest in the ST37 plants in both SI and SII, mainly due to their lighter root weight. At 7 days after initiation of treatment (DAT) in both SI and SII, the photosynthetic and xylem exudation rate tended to increase slightly as soil temperature increased up to 32°C. At 21 DAT, however, the photosynthetic rate was lowest in ST37, with concurrent decrease of diffusion conductance and SPAD value. In addition, decrease of NSC concentration in stem and xylem exudation rate, and increase of ABA level in leaves and xylem exudate were observed in ST37 plants at 21 DAT. These results suggested that high soil temperature before heading especially influenced yield, grain quality and plant growth. Possible mechanisms of the effect of soil temperature are discussed.     

硅营养对UV-B辐射条件下水稻酚类代谢的影响

本研究在不同硅营养条件下，探讨了UV-B辐射增强对两个供试水稻品种(Lemont和Dular)硅营养特性和酚代谢物质的影响。结果表明：(1)在缺硅营养和UV-B辐射胁迫下，Lemont的硅营养吸收能力和生理利用率都比Dular强。（2）不同硅营养条件下，UV-B辐射胁迫促使Lemont叶片的PAL、PPO、 POD、CAT活性增强，总酚、类黄酮和绿原酸含量升高，而可溶性蛋白质含量降低；上述指标在Dular叶片中也表现出相同的变化趋势。但在缺硅营养和UV-B辐射共同胁迫下，Lemont表现出较强的酚类合成能力。（3）硅营养有利于水稻酚类代谢物质的积累，以减少UV-B辐射的伤害。综上所述，Lemont与Dular之间硅营养特性的不同，可能是引起两个供试水稻的酚类代谢差异，从而表现出对UV-B辐射抗性不同的原因之一。     

水稻光温敏两系不育系15S特征特性及繁殖技术

介绍了水稻光温敏两系不育系15S的形态特征和生育特性,提出了繁殖地点选择,生育期安排,培育壮秧,落地谷的处理等繁殖高产优质不育系种子的技术措施.