Diversity of the calabash tree (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Crescentia cujete</Emphasis> L.) in Colombia

Germplasm of the calabash tree (Crescentia cujete L.) was collected in five major regions of Colombia, i.e. the Andes, Caribbean, Amazon, Orinoco, and Pacific regions. Collecting this multipurpose tree was guided by the indigenous knowledge of farmers and artisans in each region. Large variation in fruit shapes and sizes was found, of which some forms were typical for certain regions. Overall 56 accessions were collected and roughly classified into 22 types by eight fruit shapes and eight sizes. Molecular markers (Amplified fragment length polymorphisms) were applied to leaf tip tissue originating from vegetatively propagated plants in order to assess the diversity available in the germplasm collected as well as to detect patterns of geographical or morphological similarity. One accession each of C. alata H.B.&K. and C. amazonica Ducke were used as outgroups. Overall, genetic diversity was high (mean Nei and Li’s coefficient of 0.43). No relations could be established between either geographical provenance or fruit morphology and patterns of genetic diversity. Concerning the outgroups, the C. amazonica accession appeared to be a distinct species. The C. alata accession, however, did not seem to be sufficiently distinct from C. cujete to merit species status. The latter material may in fact be a hybrid or serve to challenge the validity of interspecific organization of the genus Crescentia.

Plant biotechnology: A case study ofBacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and its application to the future of genetic engineered trees

Agricultural productivity may be raised in a sustainable way by many different technologies such as biological fertilizers, soil and water conservation, biodiversity conservation, improved pest control, and changes in land ownership and distribution. Of these measures, biotechnology applications probably hold the most promise in augmenting conventional agricultural productivity, because biotechnology applications give not only the need to increase production, but also protect the environment and conserving natural resources for future generations. Biotechnology applications will have the possibilities to increase productivity and food availability through better agronomic performance of new varieties, including resistance to pests; rapid multiplication of disease-free plants; ability to obtain natural plant products using tissue culture; diagnosis of diseases of plants and livestock; manipulation of reproduction methods increasing the efficiency of breeding; and the provision of incentives for greater participation by the private sector through investments. Insect resistance through the transfer of a gene for resistance fromBacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is one of the most advanced biotechnology applications already being commercialized in many parts of the world. This paper reviews the development and the status ofBt technology and application ofBt transgenic plants in current agriculture, and discusses specific issues related to the transfer of the technology to the future of genetic engineered trees with emphasis on conifers. Biography: Tang Wei (1964-), male, Ph. Doctor, Research associate, Department of Biology, Howell Science Complex, East Carelina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353, USA. Responsible editor: Chal Ruihai     

Genetic diversity of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) populations in northeastern and northwestern China as revealed by ISSR markers

As a N₂-fixing tree species, sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is well adapted to arid regions and is utilized for multiple purposes in China. Current knowledge of genetic variability of H. rhamnoides is limited in terms of rangewide distributions. Eleven natural populations of sea buckthorn in northeastern and northwestern China were analyzed to detect genetic variation among and within populations, by use of ISSR (inter-simple sequence repeats) markers. Using eight primers, 207 polymorphic loci were observed, ranging in size from 250 to 2500 bp. The coefficient of gene differentiation (Gst = 0.0679) showed that the total molecular variance of 11 populations was mainly existed within populations. The genetic variation within and among the 11 populations was 93.21 and 6.79%, respectively. No significant correlation between genetic and geographic distances of the populations was found using ISSR markers. Our study provides a population-level genetic profile for further investigation and conservation of genetic diversity of sea buckthorn.     

林木遗传工程及木质素的生物合成调节(英文)

林木遗传工程有利于保存林木遗传资源，改善全球气候，减轻自然林的过度采伐和满足人类日益增长的林木产品需求。控制林木真菌、病毒病、虫害和杂草的遗传工程方法正被广泛地研究和应用。尽管转基因林木的历史不长，种类不多，但它有广泛的应用前景。目前，抗除草剂基因、抗虫基因以及和木材质量相关的基因已被分离并应用于林木遗传工程。植物分子生物学和基因组学中的新技术使得高效林木遗传改良成为可能并将促进这些技术的商业化应用。木质素的应用已有一百年的历史，但木质素生物合成的全过程并不完全清楚。有关松树自然突变体和转基因林木的最新研究结果表明，木质素的生物合成是一个可以调节的过程。这些发现对完善木质素的生物合成途径、加深对木质素前体生物合成途径的理解和通过遗传工程改善木材质量有促进作用。本文综述了林木遗传工程在这些领域中取得的一些进展。     

Comparing genetic diversity in agroforestry systems with natural forest: a case study of the important timber tree Vitex fischeri in central Kenya

It is possible that current tree domestication practices undertaken by farmers reduce the genetic base of tree resources on farms, raising concerns regarding the productivity, sustainability and conservation value of agroforestry ecosystems. Here, we assessed possible changes in genetic variation during domestication in the important and heavily utilised timber species, Vitex fischeri Gürke (syn. Vitex keniensis), by comparing geographically proximate forest and farm material in central Kenya. Employing RAPD analysis, a total of 104 polymorphic markers revealed by five arbitrary primers were scored in a total of 65 individuals, 32 from forest and 33 from farmland. Despite concerns of possible genetic erosion, forest and farm stands did not differ significantly in levels of genetic variation, with H values of 0.278 and 0.269, respectively. However, Mantel tests did reveal greater geographically related associative genetic structure among individuals in farm rather than forest material, with r _M values of 0.217 and 0.114, respectively. A more detailed analysis of structure suggested this could be due to local variation in origin of some on-farm trees. Implications of data for the genetic management of V. fischeri stands during farmer-led tree domestication activities are discussed. At present, there appears little reason to reject on-farm V. fischeri as a source of germplasm for future on-farm planting or for conservation purposes, although this situation may change and will require monitoring.     

福建柏优树子代苗期性状遗传变异和生长节律研究

福建柏 (Fokieniahodginsii)是柏科 (Cupressaceae)福建柏属的唯一种 ,为我国特有的第一批珍稀濒危二级保护植物。因其生长较快、材质较好、栽培管理较容易、病虫害较少 ,因此是值得推广的优良用材树种 (杨宗武等 ,1 998;中国树木志编辑委员会 ,1 983;高兆蔚 ,1 994)。近年来 ,福建柏作为珍贵建筑材树种和抗逆性强的造林树种已越来越被重视 ,在南方各省区已成为杉木二代更新不可多得的好树种 ,推广前景广阔 (盛炜彤等 ,1 992 )。因此 ,开展福建柏的遗传改良研究 ,选育优良的遗传材料供生产推广应用 ,具有重要的意义。鉴于此 ,笔者从 1 998年开始进行福建柏优树选择、子代测定等工作。目前有关这方面的研究仅有少量有关种源试验苗期阶段的报道 (曾志光等 ,1 998;侯伯鑫等 ,2 0 0 0 ;郑仁华等 ,2 0 0 1 ;杨宗武等 ,2 0 0 1 ) ,而对优树子代测定的研究未见报道。本文主要报道子代苗期性状遗传变异和生长节律 ,以期为进一步研究奠定基础。1　材料与方法1 999年 1 0月中旬至 1 1月上旬 ,对 1 998— 1 999年在福建省和湖南省选...     

人工-天然杉阔混交林种群生态位及竞争研究

对人工 -天然杉阔混交林中 4个主要种群进行生态位研究 ,定量测定混交林中主要种群生态位宽度、生态位相似比例、生态位重叠 ,并分析了各种群生态位的生态学意义 ;同时采用Lotka_Volterra竞争方程研究混交林中主要种群。结果表明 :通过定量的生态位分析 ,结果与自然规律相符合。平衡时 ,杉木和米槠相对优势度分别为87 4 5 %和 12 5 5 % ,即人工 -天然杉阔混交林仍将由杉木、米槠两种种群共优组成 ,杉木种群支配整个群落。     

天然红松种群遗传多样性和遗传分化的研究

ISSR是一种特异性较强、稳定性较高的分子标记方法。本研究采用ISSR-PCR技术,检测了红松(PinuskoraiensisSieb.etZucc)在伊春市汤旺河高峰林场、长白山二道白河、黑河胜山林场和俄罗斯海参崴市郊的四个种群的遗传多样性和遗传分化。15个引物的扩增结果表明:红松群体的多态位点比率是60.70%,平均每个引物3.6个多态位点,多样性水平在松科植物中是较高的;红松分布中心区的遗传多样性要高于边界区;和大多数木本植物一致,红松群体的基因多样性主要来自种群内部,占总基因多样性的73%;红松四个种群的遗传距离和地理距离之间无正相关性。根据研究结果推测,天然红松分布区逐渐缩小的原因不是由于遗传多样性水平过低引起的,而是由于人类的破坏作用,再加上火灾和风倒等因素造成的。     

Variation in Heterobasidion annosum detected by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNAs

The production of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs) by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used to detect variation in the isolates of Heterobasidion annosum with various geographical origins. Specific RAPD products were detected for each of the intersterility groups: the European S, F, P and the North American S group. There was considerably more polymorphism found among European S than P isolates. The analysis of RAPDs was shown to be a simple and a fast way to generate DNA markers specific to the previously established intersterility groups and thus useful for diagnostic purposes.