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     

不同立地条件香椿人工林木材材质的比较

通过对不同立地条件下香椿人工林木材物理力学性质的测定和比较分析表明:香椿人工林木材密度和干缩性随着立地级的提高而减小;木材顺纹抗压强度、抗弯强度和硬度:Ⅰ级地<Ⅱ级地<Ⅲ级地,抗弯弹性模量、抗劈力、冲击韧性:Ⅱ级地>Ⅰ级地>Ⅲ级地,顺纹抗剪强度:Ⅱ级地>Ⅲ级地>Ⅰ级地。差异显著性t检验表明:香椿人工林木材密度Ⅰ级地、Ⅱ级地、Ⅲ级地间差异不显著。香椿人工林木材干缩性和力学性质指标Ⅰ级、Ⅱ级、Ⅲ级地3者间有的指标差异极显著,有的指标差异显著,大部分指标差异不显著。     

多胺在果蔬冷藏中生理效应和作用机制

本文在总结前人研究的基础上，对多胺的代谢特点和冷藏中的生理效应进行了分析，提出多胺抑制冷害发生可能的作用机制，为多胺在果蔬贮藏中的应用和研究提供理论探讨。     

浙西地区冷季型草坪高羊茅的建植与养护技术

通过对高羊茅建植养护的多项比较试验。摸索出冷季型草坪高羊茅在浙西地区建植养护的技术要点。     

菌根剂对桃、李、柰果实重量及病虫抗性的影响

为探索果树采用何种施肥方法 ,具较好经济效益 ,在桃、李、柰等果树上 ,选择Pt菌根剂、超大生物菌肥、肥力高和常规施用复合肥进行比较实验 ,发现Pt菌根剂具有较好经济效益。     

在低温锻炼中毛白杨幼苗可溶性总蛋白、RNA、DNA、RNase及抗冻性的变化

低温锻炼不仅提高了毛白杨幼苗存活率和抗冻性以及RNA和可溶性总蛋白的含量 ,降低了RNase活性 ,而且能减轻低温胁迫引起的RNA和可溶性总蛋白含量的下降程度和RNase活性的提高 ,有利于幼苗在恢复过程中RNA和可溶性总蛋白水平的迅速回升以及RNase活性的降低 .进一步研究发现 ,DNA含量无论在低温锻炼中还是在低温胁迫下或是在随后的恢复生长期均保持相对稳定 ;低温锻炼所引起的RNA含量的增加 ,与RNase活性的降低呈明显的负相关 ,与可溶性总蛋白含量的增加以及幼苗抗冻性的提高成正相关 .这表明低温锻炼可能抑制RNase活性 ,有效地促进RNA含量的增加 ,而RNA可能参与了可溶性总蛋白的合成及抗冻性的诱导     

以酶解渣为碳源制备木聚糖酶的研究

以里氏木霉（Tichoderma reesei)Rut C-30为产酶菌，低聚木糖制备过程中酶解渣为碳源可透导产生含低纤维素酶活（0.106IU/mL)的木聚糖酶（154.67IU/mL)，两种酶活的比值达1459，与粗木聚糖为碳源产木聚糖酶相比，木聚糖酶活提高了1.67倍，而纤维素酶活没有增加。此酶在50℃条件下酶解粗木聚糖和酶解渣时，pH值5时酶解效率最高，酶解产物通过HPLC分析，主要是木糖。该酶系的组成主要是外切-β-木糖苷酶。     

The process of decline of an endangered tree species,Pinus armandii Franch. var.amamiana (Koidz.) Hatusima, on the southern slope of Mt. Hasa-dake in Yaku-shima Island

The process of decline of an endangered tree species,Pinus armandii var.amamiana, was monitored on the southern slope of Mt. Hasa-dake in Yaku-shima Island from 1994 to 1998. There are 163 trees ofP. armandii var.amamiana over 1.3 m in height. They are distributed on steep ridges and rocks with a thin soil layer mostly consisting of friable granite. During the monitoring period, 21 trees ofP. armandii var.amamiana died and the mortality rate was 12.9%. Dead trees were categorized into three types: standing, uprooted and landslide. The uprooted- and landslide-typed dead trees were found only after a severe typhoon struck Yaku-shima Island. This suggests that the combination of fragile site conditions and severe typhoons play an important role in the process of decline ofP. armandii var.amamiana. The standing-typed dead trees were presumed to have been killed by pine wilt disease, accounting for 71.4% of the dead trees. However,Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the cause of pine wilt disease, was not detected from any of the wood chips or branch samples from the standing-typed dead trees ofP. armandii var.amamiana. This might indicate that some factor(s) other than pine wilt disease could be responsible for the standing-typed death ofP. armandii var.amamiana in natural habitats. A part of this paper was presented at the 109th Meeting of the Japanese Forestry Society.     

Thermal properties of interior decorating material and the sensation of cold/warm by contact II: the relations among heat flux, temperature change of material, and sensation of cold/warm by contact

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in heat flux and temperature after the subject's palm was in contact with interior decorating materials. The relations among heat flux, temperature, and sensation of cold/warm during contact were studied. Ten men and ten women were selected and introduced to 21 materials for the contact test. They were in contact with the specimens for 30min without seeing them in a climate-controlled room at 25°±1°C and 65% RH. Changes in the heat flux and temperature of the specimens were determined by a heat flux meter. A sensory evaluation test was applied to evaluate the cold-warm contact. Results indicated that the heat flux and temperature increased with increasing time after the subject's palm was in contact with the specimens. The heat flux (Q ₃₀) and temperature (T ₃₀) 30min after the subject's palm contacted the specimens were greater for male subjects than for female subjects. A positive linear regression equation existed between the values for Q₃₀ andT ₃₀, whereas a negative linear regression formula existed the sensation of cold-warm by contact (5) and the values of ln(Q ₁·). Therefore, the sensation of cold/warm by contact could be estimated simply by using the thermal physical properties of the interior decorating materials.Part of this report was presented at the International Conference on Effective Utilization of Plantation Timber, Chi-Tou, Taiwan, ROC, May 1999     

Micropropagation and callus culture of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saussurea laniceps</Emphasis>, an alpine medicinal plant

Cottonhead windhairdaisy (Saussurea laniceps Hand.-Mazz.) is one of the most famous and important medicinal herbs in China. Illegal collection from wild populations is increasingly threatening the present environment of S. laniceps. Establishment of an efficient method for micropropagation is the best way to change its endangered situation. When mature seeds of S. laniceps were cultured on hormone-free MS medium, plantlets were formed from germinated seeds in 7–10 d. Then 0.5 cm × 0.5 cm leaf explants were transplanted to MS medium supplemented with 1-naphthalene-acetic acid (NAA)/2,4-D and benzyladenine (BA)/KT and callus was achieved 10 d after transfer. Shoot bud regeneration occurred from callus cultured on MS medium supplemented with different growth regulators 20 d after culturing. The regeneration percentages varied with the different components of plant growth regulators. The percent regeneration from callus pretreated at low temperature of 5°C increased significantly compared with those incubated at 23/20°C directly. Optimal regeneration was observed with explants on media supplemented with 1.5 mg&#8226;L^–1 BA plus 0.2 mg&#8226;L^-1 NAA. In the presence of 0.2 mg&#8226;L^–1 NAA in half-strength MS, 78% of the shoots formed roots. Plantlets from explants showed 63% survival after acclimatization.