Effects of platelet-derived growth factor on DNA and collagen protein synthesis in human vascular fibroblasts

AIM: To investigate the effects of platelet-derived growth factor on DNA and collagen protein synthesis in human vascular fibroblasts. METHODS: In the present experiment, the human vascular fibroblasts were cultured and effects of platelet-derived growth factor-BB on DNA and collagen protein synthesis in human vascular fibroblasts were observed by using [³H]-TdR incorporation and [³H]-proline incorporation in vitro. RESULTS: Platelet-derived growth factor-BB significantly promoted NDA synthesis and collagen protein synthesis of quiescent human vascular fibroblasts, with a maximal response at a concentration of 30μg·L^-1at 24 h and 36 h, respectively. CONCLUSION: Platelet-derived growth factor-BB promotes DNA and collagen protein synthesis in cultured human vascular fibroblasts.     

Variation of Parthenium hysterophorus in response to soil quality: implications for invasiveness

Summary The performance of Parthenium hysterophorus , native to the tropical Americas and invasive to several countries, was evaluated for response to soil quality. Phenological (six stages) and quantitative growth variables [relative growth rates in height (R_h) and diameter (R_d)] were measured every fortnight. Based on harvest data, the variables, root:shoot (R:S) ratio, specific leaf area (SLA), relative growth rate in biomass (R_w), net assimilation rate (NAR) and dry matter allocation to plant components, were determined. High clay content in soils prolonged the rosette stage, enhanced R_h and R_d and hampered root growth, but promoted biomass allocation to shoots. The extreme degree of plant mortality was observed, with only 33.3% individuals surviving to reproduce in the soils with highest clay contents. This appears to be one of the most important findings that certainly has a major bearing on the range of adaptation of the weed. Seed mass declined whereas seed production increased in relatively coarser soils with the exception of nearly pure sand. In soils rich in clay, plants produced a smaller number of larger seeds. These data suggest that variation in fundamental functional traits would enable P. hysterophorus to adjust to a variety of habitat conditions.     

Laboratory evaluation of the insect growth regulator lufenuron againstHelicoverpa armigera on cotton

An insect growth regulator (IGR), lufenuron (Match 5EC), was tested for its toxicity toHelicoverpa armigera on cotton. Potency of the IGR against the larval stage of the pest was demonstrated with respect to larval instars; the LC₉₀ values of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th instar larvae were 5.63, 7.89, 8.03, 11.39 and 14.76 mg a.i.l ⁻¹, respectively. However, different larval instars did not differ significantly with respect to LC₅₀ and LC₁₀. IGR-treated larvae had swollen heads and were significantly smaller (1.5–2.3 mm) than the untreated control (2.9 mm). Larval weight was significantly reduced from 190 mg in the control to 50–70 mg in the lufenuron treatment. IGR treatment in the larval stage significantly affected both pupal length and pupal weight. Pupal duration of the test insect was significantly extended by IGR treatment. Pupal deformities, including an inability to shed the last larval skin and formation of larval-pupal intermediates, occurred following treatment. A significant reduction in adult emergence was recorded. In addition, abnormalities in the form of development of cavities in the forewings of adult were evident. A significant decline in fecundity was noted in the studies. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Feb. 3, 2003.     

The ecological fitness of ALS-resistant Amaranthus retroflexus and multiple-resistant Amaranthus blitoides

Summary Field studies were conducted to evaluate the ecological fitness of Amaranthus spp. biotypes that evolved resistance to either acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors ( A. retroflexus , SuR), to triazine herbicides ( A. blitoides , SuS/TR), or to both ( A. blitoides , SuR/TR), and estimate their ecological fitness under competitive conditions. The plants were grown in monoculture and in replacement series experiments. The examined mixtures were 100%S, 75%S/25%R, 50%S/50%R, 25%S/75%R and 100%R, at a constant stand of 400 plants m⁻². The SuR and SuS A. retroflexus biotypes attained similar shoot dry biomass per plant, biomass per plot and relative yield total (RYT) = 1. In monoculture, the final shoot biomass of A. blitoides biotypes SuS/TS plants was higher than that of SuR/TR and SuS/TR. A negative effect of association was observed, amensalism, when SuS/TS was grown in mixture with SuR/TR, in favour of the wild type. However, SuR/TR and SuS/TR biomass was not influenced by the presence of the competitor. These data support the hypothesis that the ALS-resistance trait in A. retroflexus and A. blitoides is not associated with growth penalty and did not incur ecological cost in the field. We suggest that the cause of the observed reduction in growth rendering the SuS/TR and SuR/TR less fit than the wild type is due to the triazine resistance, and may facilitate their dissipation.     

Restoration of tuber production by exposure to unshaded daylight in Eleocharis kuroguwai Ohwi shaded during the early tuber formation period

The loss of final tuber weight of Eleocharis kuroguwai Ohwi by shading during the early tuber formation period (TFP) is overcome by exposure to unshaded daylight thereafter (late TFP). In the present study, the growth parameters that contribute to the dry matter increase (DMI) per day of tubers in the late TFP were examined. DMI of the tuber during the late TFP was determined by that of the whole plant and the ratio of the DMI of the tuber to that of the whole plant during this period. The ratio of the DMI of the tuber to that of the whole plant during the late TFP was significantly correlated with the DMI of the whole plant during the first 14 days of the late TFP. During the late TFP after the exposure to unshaded daylight, DMI of the whole plant correlated with the surface area of the stem (SAS) and net assimilation ratio (NAR), and the SAS correlated with the stem dry weight (DW) and specific stem-surface area (SSA). SSA negatively influenced NAR, but NAR was increased by unshading. During the late TFP after shading, the effect of the decrease of the stem DW due to shading on the DMI of the whole plant was mitigated by the large SAS and high NAR. These results indicate that the growth parameters that contribute to the DMI of tuber during the late TFP after exposure to unshaded daylight are SAS and NAR just after unshading, and SSA during this period.     

土壤改良对越桔生长的影响

在盆栽条件下,对生长越桔的土壤进行改良。通过土壤pH值的变化、生长量及相关指标的分析对比,获得适合越桔生长的土壤改良类型。试验研究表明,pH值4.0～5.0的苔藓 草炭 原土 S土壤改良类型适合于越桔的生长,植株的高度、粗度、基生枝数等都明显增加。从各指标上观察,原土 2S的土壤改良类型也具有一定优势,说明在土壤有机质充足的基础上,只需调酸,越桔就能正常生长。     

荔枝环剥时期对新梢生长及碳素储备的影响

 枝梢环剥显著抑制了‘怀枝’荔枝新梢的生长，并导致射线细胞和髓部大量积累淀粉。梢芽萌发或伸长前环剥可完全抑制新梢生长，而新梢快速伸长期环剥对其抑制效应最弱。秋季环剥对新梢的抑制和对淀粉积累的促进效应明显高于春季环剥。环剥口以上的老叶面积和环剥位置并不影响环剥对新梢生长的抑制效应和促进淀粉的积累效应，但环剥口以上单位枝梢长度的叶面积与淀粉含量呈显著正相关。     

丝兰属植物提取物降低鸡舍氨气浓度的效果试验

通过在21日龄的肉用仔鸡饲料中添加丝兰属植物提取物(其有效成分为丝兰皂角苷)，研究丝兰属植物提取物对降低鸡舍中氨气浓度和提高肉仔鸡生产性能的效果。试验结果表明，试验组鸡舍内氨气平均浓度为4．75mg／L，对照组鸡舍内氨气平均浓度为13．80mgl／L，试验组比对照组鸡舍内氨气平均浓度降低了9．05mg／L，经t检验，两鸡舍内氨气平均浓度差异显著(P＜0．05)，并且试验组比对照组饲料报酬提高了8.92％。     

不同培养基对杏鲍菇菌丝生长的影响

比较了杏鲍菇一级种和二级种培养基配方 ,试验表明杏鲍菇一级种培养基以配方三最好 ,菌丝干重是配方七 (对照 )的 3 5倍 ,差异极显著 ;杏鲍菇二级种培养基以配方四最好 ,菌丝生长势最强 ,与供试各培养基配方相比较 ,差异均为极显著     

干旱胁迫下保水剂对苗木生长及生理的影响

在盆栽条件下,对不同保水剂处理的土壤吸持水特性以及云南拟单性木兰和绒叶含笑苗的水分生理、生长状况进行试验研究。结果表明,随着保水剂用量的增加,土壤保水能力和供水能力增加,苗木在有限水分条件下生存期延长3-91 d,地径、树高、新增叶片分别增加了16.7％-461.2％,22.7％-368.2％,42.9％-372.7％;随着保水剂用量增加,土壤容重下降了6.2％-35.1％,总孔隙度和毛管孔隙度明显增加了3.6％-20.3％和5.9％-22.6％;在有限水分条件下,通过不同保水剂处理能减少水分的胁迫,净光合速率增长8.9％-461.2％,蒸腾速率增长了22.2％-518.7％,气孔导度增长了4.2％-512.5％。