Detection of the Defoliating Pathotype of Verticillium dahliae in Infected Olive Plants by Nested PCR

Spread of Verticillium wilt into newly established olive orchards in Andalucía, southern Spain, has caused concern in the olive industry in the region. This spread may result from use of Verticillium dahliae-infected planting material, which can extend distribution of the highly virulent, defoliating (D) pathotype of V. dahliae to new areas. In this study, a molecular diagnostic method for the early in planta detection of D V. dahliae was developed, aimed especially at nursery-produced olive plants. For this purpose, new primers for nested PCR were designed by sequencing a 992-bp RAPD marker of the D pathotype. The use of the specific primers and different nested-PCR protocols allowed the detection of V. dahliae pathotype D DNA in infected root and stem tissues of young olive plants. Detection of the pathogen was effective from the very earliest moments following inoculation of olive plants with a V. dahliae pathotype D conidia suspension as well as in inoculated, though symptomless, plants.     

ITS—RFLP分析进行昆虫病原线虫斯氏属和异小杆属的分类鉴定

本研究通过PCR扩增和六种限制性内切酶（AluⅠ，HinfⅠ，MboⅠ，RsaⅠ，HaeⅢ和PvuⅡ）酶切，对国内害虫防治上常用的几种昆虫病原线虫，包括斯氏属S.car-pocapsae,S.feltiae和S.glaseri以及异小杆属H.bacteriophora,H.zealandica,H.indicus和H.megidis等8个品系rDNA-ITS进行分析。建立起可以区分各线虫种的标准RFLP图谱。该方法快速简便，稳定可靠，需要的样品量少。可以用于新鲜的，或冻存的样品，甚至分析单条的线虫，不仅可进行昆虫病原线虫的快速分类鉴定。而且进一步可以应用于线虫田间释放的辅助监测。实际田间感染率的测定和线虫毒力的比较。     

Orobanche species and population discrimination using intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR)

Summary Orobanche species are commonly identified using morphological characteristics. In many cases, the distinction of closely related species is difficult, and a molecular tool is more suitable to differentiate them. In this study, genomic polymorphism between morphologically distinct species was investigated through amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) regions. Five primers were used to study genetic variation in the morphologically distinct species O. hederae and O. amethystea, as well as the closely related species O. cernua and O. cumana. For the first two species, all the primers detected genetic polymorphism. Anchored primers allowed the identification of more specific molecular markers than non‐anchored tri‐ and tetranucleotide primers. Genetic polymorphism was investigated among three O. hederae populations using the two types of primer. One non‐anchored and two anchored primers detected intraspecific variation, which was not correlated with the geographical location of those populations. The primer (GATA)₄ detected polymorphism between five specimens each of O. cernua and O. cumana species collected from different countries, permitting these two closely related species to be clearly differentiated. This study demonstrated that ISSR markers can be highly reliable for precise identification of Orobanche species.     

Variation in the response of melon genotypes to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis race 1 determined by inoculation tests and molecular markers

Screening of genotypes of melon ( Cucumis melo ) for resistance to wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis is often characterized by wide variability in their responses to inoculation, even under carefully controlled conditions. The variability at the seedling stage of 17 genotypes susceptible to race 1 was examined in growth-chamber experiments. Disease incidence varied from 0 to 100% in a genotype-dependent manner. Using four combinations of light (60 and 90  µ E m⁻² s⁻¹) and temperatures of (27 and 31°C), only light intensity showed a statistically significant effect. Marker-assisted selection for fusarium resistance breeding using cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) and sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers were compared using a single set of genotypes that included 24 melon accessions and breeding lines whose genotype regarding the Fom-2 gene was well characterized. The practical value of the markers for discriminating a range of genotypes and clarifying the scoring of phenotypes was also tested using a segregating breeding population which showed codominant SCAR markers to be useful in marker-assisted selection.     

Rapid detection of Phytophthora cinnamomi using PCR with primers derived from the Lpv putative storage protein genes

Phytophthora cinnamomi is an ecologically and economically important pathogen. In this study, PCR assays were developed with primer pair LPV2 or LPV3 for rapid detection and identification of this organism. Both primer pairs were selected from putative storage protein genes. The specificity of these primer pairs was evaluated against 49 isolates of P. cinnamomi , 102 isolates from 30 other Phytophthora spp., 17 isolates from nine Pythium spp. and 43 isolates of other water moulds, bacteria and true fungi. PCR with both primer pairs amplified the DNA from all isolates of P. cinnamomi regardless of origin. The LPV3 primers showed adequate specificity among all other species tested. The LPV2 primers cross-reacted with some species of Pythium and true fungi, but not with any other Phytophthora species. PCR with the LPV3 primers detected the pathogen at levels of a single chlamydospore or 10 zoospores in repeated tests. The PCR assay was at least 10 times more sensitive than the plating method for detection of the pathogen from artificially infested soilless medium, and, to a lesser extent, from naturally infected plants. PCR with LPV3 primers can be a useful tool for detecting P. cinnamomi from soilless media and plant tissues at ornamental nurseries, whereas the LPV2 primers can be an effective alternative for identification of this species from pure culture. Applications of these assays for detection of P. cinnamomi in other environments were also discussed.     

棉铃虫核型多角体病毒分子生物学和基因工程研究进展

棉铃虫核型多角体病毒(HaSNPV)是棉铃虫专一性病原物,隶属于杆状病毒科核型多角体病毒属.对其分子生物学和基因工程的研究主要包括以下几个方面:测定了HaSNPV G4株和C1株基因组核苷酸全序列,并与其它病毒进行了同源性比较;研究了HaSNPV部分基因的结构、转录、表达及其功能.构建了HaSNPV Bac to Bac杆状病毒表达系统;重组病毒杀虫剂的研究为HaSNPV大面积防治棉铃虫展示了广阔的前景.随着棉铃虫核型多角体病毒分子生物学和基因工程研究的不断深入,重组病毒杀虫剂将在棉铃虫综合防治中发挥更为重要的作用.     

Mariner转座子与小菜蛾抗性关系的研究

以抗溴氰菊酯、杀虫双、杀螟丹小菜蛾种群及其敏感品系为研究对象,借助聚合酶链式反应(PCR)、载体筛选、琼脂糖凝胶电泳等实验技术,检测了小菜蛾4个品系的Mariner转座子的存在及其与抗性的关系。结果表明,在抗溴氰菊酯、杀虫双、杀螟丹以及敏感品系的小菜蛾中都存在两种大约500 bp的Mariner转座子片断,初次证明在小菜蛾4个品系中均含有两种Mariner转座子,并发现一种新的转座子基因片断,但是没有发现Mariner转座子与抗性之间存在直接的联系。研究结果将为利用Mariner转座子标签法在小菜蛾中分离定位基因、转化外源基因、转基因昆虫防治害虫等研究提供理论基础。     

The complete mitochondrial genome and molecular phylogeny of Lueyang black-bone chicken

ABSTRACT

1. The objectives of the current study were to investigate the mitochondrial genome and molecular phylogeny of Lueyang black-bone chicken, and provide molecule base to preserve and explore the specific chicken strain.

2. Based on sequencing and clustering, the complete mitochondrial DNA map and sequences of Lueyang black-bone chicken were revealed, and two phylogenetic trees of Lueyang black-bone chickens based on D-loop sequences and the mitochondrial genome were constructed.

3. The results showed that the complete mitochondrial genome of Lueyang black-bone chickens is 16,784bp in size, consisting of 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, and one non-coding control region. The base composition of the complete mtDNA sequence is 30.28% for A, 23.78% for T, 32.42% for C, 13.52% for G. Additionally, 10 haplotypes of D-loop sequences in 32 Lueyang black-bone chickens were detected, which were distributed into 4 clades (A, B, C and E).

4. It was concluded that genetic diversity is wide in Lueyang black-bone chickens, and this strain has multiple maternal origins from different regions in China and neighbouring regions.