Altered target sites as a mechanism of herbicide resistance

Over 200 distinct herbicide resistant weed biotypes have evolved worldwide. In most of these, resistance is conferred by an altered target site, i.e. a modified target protein with reduced affinity for the herbicide(s) in question. This has been documented for herbicides that target most major known sites of action, including those that inhibit photosynthetic electron transfer at photosystem II, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, acetolactate synthase, and tubulin polymerization. Patterns of cross-resistance to structurally similar herbicides and those from other chemical classes that target the same site vary, depending on the mutation and its effect on protein steric and electronic properties. Mechanisms of target site-based herbicide resistance are reviewed, with emphasis on the biochemical and molecular basis for resistance.     

Physiological and Yield Responses of Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) to Drought Stress in Managed and Open Field Environments

Water scarcity is threatening the sustainability of global food grain production systems. Devising management strategies and identification of crop species and genotypes are direly required to meet the global food demands with limited supply. This study, consisted of two independent experiments, was conducted to compare faba bean (Vicia faba L.) genotypes Giza Blanka, Goff‐1, Hassawi‐1, Hassawi‐2 and Gazira‐2 in terms of physiological attributes and yield under water‐limited environments. In first experiment, conducted in a growth chamber, osmotic stress of ?0.78, ?0.96, ?1.19 and ?1.65 MPa was induced using polyethylene glycol for 4 weeks. In second experiment, conducted in open field for two consecutive growing seasons, water deficit treatments were applied 3 weeks after sowing. In this experiment, irrigation was applied when an amount of evaporated water from the ‘class A pan’ evaporation reached 50 mm (well watered), 100 mm (moderate drought) and 150 mm (severe drought). Water deficit, applied in terms of osmotic stress or drought, reduced the root and shoot length, related leaf water contents, total chlorophyll contents and efficiency of photosystem‐II, plant height, grain yield and related attributes in faba bean; increased the leaf free proline, leaf soluble proteins and malondialdehyde contents, and triggered the maturity in tested faba bean genotypes. However, substantial genetic variation was observed in the tested genotypes in this regard. For instance, root length of genotypes Giza Blanka and Hassawi‐2 decreased gradually, whereas it was increased in genotypes Goff‐1, Hassawi‐1 and Gazira‐2 with increase in the level of osmotic stress. Genotypes Gazira‐2 and Hassawi‐2 had better relative leaf water contents, leaf free proline and soluble proteins under water deficit conditions; however, these were minimum in genotype Giza Blanka. Better accumulation of leaf free proline, soluble proteins, and maintenance of chlorophyll contents, tissue water, efficiency of photosystem‐II and grain weight in water‐limited conditions helped some genotypes like Hassawi‐2 to yield better. Future breeding programs for developing new faba bean genotypes for water‐limited environments may consider these traits.     

Association of different groups of phytoplasma in flower malformation,phyllody, foliar yellowing,and little leaf disease of rose (Rosa sp.)

An extensive survey on rose cultivars in New Delhi showed phytoplasma-suspected symptoms such as leaf chlorosis, phyllody, virescence, and little leaf in 35 rose cultivars. Vegetative propagation through stem and tissue culture was performed. The cuttings/budded plants raised from infected plants showed the symptoms of phytoplasma disease. Phytoplasma was detected in 13 symptomatic plants using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with phytoplasma-specific primer pairs P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2. Nested PCR amplicons from the 13 most severely infected rose cultivars (Arunima, Sindoor, Taboo, Sunsation, Raktgandha, Jawahar, Surkhab, Pusa arun, Marco Polo, Perfume de French Comete, Green Rose, Snowfire, and Gladiator) were cloned and sequenced. BLASTn analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, virtual RFLP and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the phytoplasma sequences amplified from rose belonged to ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ subgroup 16SrI-B and ‘Ca. P. australasia’ subgroup 16Sr II-D. Our results suggest the inclusion of phytosanitary measures in planting materials for management of these phytoplasma diseases.     

Histopathological findings,phenotyping of inflammatory cells,and expression of markers of nitritative injury in joint tissue samples from calves after vaccination and intraarticular challenge with Mycoplasma bovis strain 1067

Background

The pathogenesis of caseonecrotic lesions developing in lungs and joints of calves infected with Mycoplasma bovis is not clear and attempts to prevent M. bovis-induced disease by vaccines have been largely unsuccessful. In this investigation, joint samples from 4 calves, i.e. 2 vaccinated and 2 non-vaccinated, of a vaccination experiment with intraarticular challenge were examined. The aim was to characterize the histopathological findings, the phenotypes of inflammatory cells, the expression of class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC class II) molecules, and the expression of markers for nitritative stress, i.e. inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitrotyrosine (NT), in synovial membrane samples from these calves. Furthermore, the samples were examined for M. bovis antigens including variable surface protein (Vsp) antigens and M. bovis organisms by cultivation techniques.

Results

The inoculated joints of all 4 calves had caseonecrotic and inflammatory lesions. Necrotic foci were demarcated by phagocytic cells, i.e. macrophages and neutrophilic granulocytes, and by T and B lymphocytes. The presence of M. bovis antigens in necrotic tissue lesions was associated with expression of iNOS and NT by macrophages. Only single macrophages demarcating the necrotic foci were positive for MHC class II. Microbiological results revealed that M. bovis had spread to approximately 27% of the non-inoculated joints. Differences in extent or severity between the lesions in samples from vaccinated and non-vaccinated animals were not seen.

Conclusions

The results suggest that nitritative injury, as in pneumonic lung tissue of M. bovis-infected calves, is involved in the development of caseonecrotic joint lesions. Only single macrophages were positive for MHC class II indicating down-regulation of antigen-presenting mechanisms possibly caused by local production of iNOS and NO by infiltrating macrophages.     

Ⅱ优559高产栽培技术初探

Ⅱ优559系江苏沿海地区农业科学研究所用Ⅱ-32A与盐恢559配组育成的杂交中籼稻新组合,2002年1月通过江苏省品种审定.本试验以栽插密度为主区, 施氮比例为副区,进行裂区试验,结果表明:栽插密度和施氮比例是实现高产栽培的重要技术措施,揭示了二者对Ⅱ优559产量形成的作用及其最佳组合模式,提出了Ⅱ优559高产栽培的策略.     

超级稻Ⅱ优航1号作再生稻高产栽培技术

根据Ⅱ优航1号组合特点,结合沙县夏茂镇当地气候条件和耕作水平,示范推广再生稻的高产栽培技术.     

超级稻新组合Ⅱ优航2号产量结构及增产途径分析

利用DPS数据统计软件,对II优航2号的6个产量构成因素进行多元逐步回归分析、相关分析、通径分析以及Eberhard and Russell模式分析。结果表明,穗数对II优航2号产量的作用最大,结实率和穗实粒数对产量也有较大影响。高产栽培策略是在确保足够有效穗的前提下,适度促大穗,提高结实率。笔者还对该组合的丰产稳产性进行分析,结果表明,II优航2号丰产性、稳产性及适应性都优于对照,是一个较为理想的迟熟杂交稻新组合。     

马唐生防菌画眉草弯孢霉毒素α,β-dehydrocurvularin对马唐叶片PSⅡ功能的影响

 马唐[Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop]生防菌画眉草弯孢霉（Curvularia eragrostidis J.A. Meyer）菌株QZ2000产生一种具有除草剂活性毒素α,β-dehydrocurvularin。毒素对马唐叶片类囊体膜光系统Ⅱ（PSⅡ）的电子传递有较强的抑制作用，当毒素浓度达到0.688 mmol·L-1时，电子传递速率比对照降低了19.37%。毒素对PSⅠ的电子传递影响较小。叶绿素荧光动力学参数测定显示，用0.516 mmol·L-1浓度的毒素处理马唐离体叶片24 h后，叶片的Fv/Fo、Fv/Fm、ΦPSⅡ、qP、qN、Fm都显著降低，而Fo呈上升趋势。试验结果显示，该毒素对PSⅡ光化学活性的抑制作用与均三氮苯类除草剂阿特拉津(Atrazine)、西玛津(Simazine)和取代脲类除草剂敌草隆（Diuron）有相似之处，叶绿素荧光动力学参数的变化表明，该毒素损坏PSⅡ中心和抑制QA的再氧化。表明该毒素可能是通过损坏PSⅡ中心及抑制QA的再氧化，使PSⅡ反应中心向QA、QB电子传递受阻，从而影响马唐的光合磷酸化与碳同化，引起马唐叶片坏死。qN的显著降低，表明毒素对PSⅡ中心的损坏也可能是由于毒素导致还原型电子受体积累增加了自由基的产生所致。     

Effects of phthalic and salicylic acids on Cu(II) adsorption by variable charge soils

In the present study, the effect of two substituted benzoic acids on Cu(II) adsorption onto two variable charge soils was investigated, with the emphasis on the adsorption and desorption equilibrium of Cu(II). Results showed that the presence of organic acids induced an increase in Cu(II) adsorption onto the two soils. The extent of the effect was related to the initial concentrations of Cu(II) and organic acid, the system pH, and the nature of the soils. The effect of organic acids was greater for Oxisol than for Ultisol. Phthalic acid affected Cu(II) adsorption to a greater extent than salicylic acid did. The effect of organic acids varied with pH. The adsorption of Cu(II) induced by organic acids increased with increasing pH and reached a maximum value at approximately pH 4.5, and then decreased. It can be assumed that the main reason for the enhanced adsorption of Cu(II) is an increase in the negative surface charge caused by the specific adsorption of organic anions on soils because the desorption of Cu(II) adsorbed in organic acid systems was greater than that for the control. The desorption of Cu(II) absorbed in both control and organic acid systems also increased with increasing pH; it reached a maximum value at pH ∼5.25 for control and salicylic acid systems and at pH ∼5.1 for a phthalic acid system, then decreased. This interesting phenomenon was caused by the characteristics of the surface charge of variable charge soils.