Assessment of the Impact of No-Till and Conventional Tillage Technologies on the Microbiome of Southern Agrochernozems

Eurasian Soil Science - Quantitative characteristics of microbial communities in southern agrochernozems of the Stavropol region managed with the use of no-till technology and moldboard plowing...     

New furostanol saponins from Smilax aspera L. and their in vitro cytotoxicity

The occurrence of the two new cis-fused A/B rings furostanol saponins (25S)-26-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-5β-furostan-1β,3β,22α,26-tetraol-1-O-β-d-glucopyranoside and (25S)-26-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-5β-furostan-1β,2β,3β,5β,22α,26-hexaol and the known compounds (25S)-26-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-5β-furostan-3β,22α,26-triol-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-β-d-glucopyranoside and (25S)-26-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-5β-furostan-3β,22α,26-triol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, trans-resveratrol, (+) catechin and (−) epicatechin in the rhizomes of Smilax aspera is reported. All saponins have been isolated as their 22-OMe derivatives, which were further subjected to extensive spectroscopic analysis. The isolated furostanol saponins were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against human normal amniotic and human lung carcinoma cell lines using neutral red and MTT assays. In vitro experiments showed significant cytotoxicity in a dose dependent manner with IC₅₀ values in the range of 32.98-94.53 µM.     

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of Ruta graveolens

The methanol, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and water-methanol extracts of Ruta graveolens were found to possess antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities.     

Doubled haploid production of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) through irradiated pollen-induced parthenogenesis

Induced parthenogenesis as a possible method of haploidization in sunflower (H. annuus L.) was tested in previous investigations (Todorova et al., 1994) and conditions for reproducible regeneration of gynogenic doubled haploids were established by the present work. Forty eight treatments were studied, involving four pollen donors and four recipient hybrids. Pollen was irradiated with doses of 300 Gy, 600 Gy and 900 Gy. In total, 2279 embryos were cultivated in vitro of which 1107 plants were obtained and 582 of them produced seeds after selfing. The ploidy level of the regenerants was evaluated at the two – three leaf stage and 296 of the plantlets obtained were haploids. Some of them underwent spontaneous diploidization, the others were treated with colchicine solution for chromosome doubling. The diploid plantlets were checked for their gynogenic origin by genetical and biochemical methods. The effectiveness of the method expressed as the number of agronomically useful DH lines to the number obtained that were fertile and resistant to downy mildew, branched and unbranched plants was 8,6% on average. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Bacterial diversity in peat bogs of karst depressions

Bacterial diversity in peat bogs of the karst origin was studied with the use of traditional inoculation methods and modern molecular techniques. Representatives of phylogenetic groups of Proteobacteria and Acidibacteria predominated among the domain of Bacteria. Aquaspirillum and Bacillus predominated in the saprotrophic bacterial complex. The amount of actinobacteria in the studied peat samples was higher than that in typical oligotrophic peat bogs.     

Genetic polymorphism of the bovine leukemia virus in the Russian federation

Nucleotide sequence of a section of the Env 105 gene of bovine leukemia provirus isolates, obtained from farm animals in different regions of Russia, was determined. Conducted phylogenetic analysis has allowed us to assess heterogeneity of the studied population of the bovine leukemia virus (BLV). Based on results of BLV genetic diversity, four virus’s genotypes—I, II, IV, and VII with dominating genotype IV—were detected.     

Spontaneous tomato fruit size,shape, and weight mutations and traits evolution

The results of study of spontaneous fruit size and shape mutants and inheritance of these traits in tomato are given and genetic processes are explained. It is concluded that the diversity of tomato fruit shape and weight in the collection is due mainly to mutations of genes—diameter of fruit width and diameter of height joined into an ovate cluster.     

Microbial cenoses of alas soils on the Lena-Amga interfluve in Central Yakutia

The specific features of the microbial population in the soils of alases (thermokarst depressions) of Central Yakutia were revealed: a high number of microorganisms of all the groups (1.1 × 10³–3.9 × 10⁸ cell/g), which is compatible with the microbial density in the steppe soils of Transbaikalia; a particular distribution of the microorganisms along their profiles without decreasing of their number with the depth; and insignificant fluctuations of their population density in some soil horizons. The enrichment of these soils with microorganisms depends on the hydrothermal conditions. The microbial number gradually increases from the elevated peripheral parts of the alases to their centers and drastically decreases towards the lower lakeside areas of the alases. At the same time, the composition of the microorganisms changes, and nitrogen-fixing bacteria appear.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance studies of manganese toxicity,tolerance, and amelioration with silicon in snapbean

Plant genotypes within species differ widely in tolerance to excess manganese (Mn) that may occur in acid soils, or in neutral or alkaline soils having poor aeration caused by imperfect drainage or compaction. However, Mn tolerance mechanisms in plants are largely unknown. Silicon (Si) is reported to detoxify Mn within plants, presumably by preventing localized accumulations of Mn associated with lesions on leaves. Because Mn is paramagnetic, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, shows promise as a tool for characterizing toxic and non‐toxic forms of Mn in tolerant and sensitive plants. The objective of our study was to use EPR to: i) determine the chemical/ physical state of Mn in Mn‐tolerant and ‐sensitive snapbean cultivars; and ii) characterize the protective effects of Si against Mn toxicity. Manganese‐sensitive Wonder Crop 2 (WC) and Mn‐tolerant Green Lord (GL) cultivars of snapbean were grown at pH 5.0, in a greenhouse, in a modified Steinberg solution containing: Mn=0.05mg.L^‐1 (optimal); Mn=1.0mgL^‐1 (toxic); Mn=1.0 mg L^‐1 plus Si=4 mg L^‐1; and Mn=0.05 mg L^‐1 plus 4 mg Si L^‐1. All trifoliate leaf samples exhibited a 6‐line EPR signal that is characteristic of hexaaquo Mn²⁺. In both cultivars, a higher EPR Mn²⁺ signal‐intensity generally correlated with lower total leaf mass, higher total Mn concentrations and more pronounced symptoms of toxicity. Tolerance to excess Mn coincided with lower Mn²⁺ signal intensity. Silicon treatments ameliorated Mn toxicity symptoms in both genotypes, decreased total leaf Mn concentrations, and decreased EPR Mn²⁺ signal intensity. Results suggest that Mn toxicity is associated with reduced electron transport and accumulation of oxidation products in leaves. Amelioration of Mn toxicity by Si is regarded as connected with a reduction in this Mn‐induced process. Results indicated that EPR spectroscopy can be useful in investigating the biochemical basis for differential Mn tolerance in plants. The EPR observations might also help plant breeders in developing Mn‐tolerant cultivars.