Characterization of Elicitor-inducible Tobacco Genes Isolated by Differential Hybridization

Inducible responses in plants against pathogen attack play a major role in resistance to disease. The defense responses are mostly associated with the expression of various kinds of inducible genes. We employed differential hybridization to isolate elicitor-inducible genes (EIGs) of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Samsun NN) using the tobacco-fungal elicitor system. A cDNA library was constructed from tobacco leaves treated for 12 hr with hyphal wall components (HWC) prepared from Phytophthora infestans, and six EIGs were identified. Expression of all EIGs was induced after inoculation with the soybean pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea (nonpathogenic on tobacco) or treatment with salicylic acid, and a variety of expression patterns of EIG mRNAs was observed. Sequence analysis of EIG cDNAs revealed similarities to genes for SAR8.2 (EIG-B39 and EIG-D14), glycine-rich protein (EIG-G7), extensin (EIG-I30), acyltransferase (EIG-I24) and unknown protein (EIG-J7). Possible roles of EIG products in disease resistance are discussed. Received 30 August 2000/ Accepted in revised form 30 November 2000     

Cropping systems for the management of phytonematodes

Damage caused by nematodes is one of the limiting factors in crop production. Traditional nematode management is based on the use of crop rotations, resistant cultivars, nematicides, or combinations of these methods. For a crop like peanut (Arachis hypogaea), cultivars resistant to root-knot nematodes are not available. There are soybean (Glycine max) cultivars resistant to some of the species of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.); however, most fields have nematode infestations composed of mixtures of species. Research at Auburn has shown that tropical crops can be used effectively in rotation to manage nematode problems. Rotations with American jointvetch (Aeschynomene americana), castor (Ricinus communis), hairy indigo (Indigofera hirsuta), partridge pea (Cassia fasciculata), sesame (Sesamum indicum), and velvetbean (Mucuna deeringiana) have resulted in good nematode control and increased yields of peanut and soybean. Some crops (castor, sesame) are considered ‘active’ in that they produce compounds that are nematicidal, whereas others (e.g. corn, sorghum) are simply non-host, that is, ‘passive’.     

微孔草叶细胞冻害研究

针对微孔草常因低温环境而受到冻害,造成产量下降的问题,用电导法测其渗出液的电导率,计算渗出电解质百分率即细胞伤害率并配以Ｌｏｇｉｓｔｉｃ方程求其拐点温度及半致死温度的定量范围,以确定其抗寒能力。结果表明,微孔草叶组织在０．５ｈ低温处理的半致死温度是－１０．７９℃,１．０ｈ处理是－７．０１℃,１．５ｈ处理是－１．６８℃,由此认为,微孔草是中等抗寒植物,测量渗出液的电导率是一种定量估计冻害的好方法。     

Allelopathy in crop/weed interactions--an update

Since varietal differences in allelopathy of crops against weeds were discovered in the 1970s, much research has documented the potential that allelopathic crops offer for integrated weed management with substantially reduced herbicide rates. Research groups worldwide have identified several crop species possessing potent allelopathic interference mediated by root exudation of allelochemicals. Rice, wheat, barley and sorghum have attracted most attention. Past research focused on germplasm screening for elite allelopathic cultivars and the identification of the allelochemicals involved. Based on this, traditional breeding efforts were initiated in rice and wheat to breed agronomically acceptable, weed-suppressive cultivars with improved allelopathic interference. Promising suppressive crosses are under investigation. Molecular approaches have elucidated the genetics of allelopathy by QTL mapping which associated the trait in rice and wheat with several chromosomes and suggested the involvement of several allelochemicals. Potentially important compounds that are constitutively secreted from roots have been identified in all crop species under investigation. Biosynthesis and exudation of these metabolites follow a distinct temporal pattern and can be induced by biotic and abiotic factors. The current state of knowledge suggests that allelopathy involves fluctuating mixtures of allelochemicals and their metabolites as regulated by genotype and developmental stage of the producing plant, environment, cultivation and signalling effects, as well as the chemical or microbial turnover of compounds in the rhizosphere. Functional genomics is being applied to identify genes involved in biosynthesis of several identified allelochemicals, providing the potential to improve allelopathy by molecular breeding. The dynamics of crop allelopathy, inducible processes and plant signalling is gaining growing attention; however, future research should also consider allelochemical release mechanisms, persistence, selectivity and modes of action, as well as consequences of improved crop allelopathy on plant physiology, the environment and management strategies. Creation of weed-suppressive cultivars with improved allelopathic interference is still a challenge, but traditional breeding or biotechnology should pave the way.     

丛枝菌根真菌侵染指标与植物促生效应相关性分析

为探讨不同丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)生长特性与功能(植物生长和养分吸收)的相关性。采用分室根箱装置,以玉米(Zea mays L.)和紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa L.)为宿主植物,选取7种AMF:摩西斗管囊霉Funneliformis mosseae、变形球囊霉Glomus versiforme、根内根孢囊霉Rhizophagus intraradices、幼套近明球囊霉Claroideoglomus etunicatum、近明球囊霉C.claroideum、细凹无梗囊霉Acaulospora scrobiculata、黏屑多样孢囊霉Diversispora spurca,以不接种为对照进行温室盆栽试验,测定菌根侵染率、根外菌丝密度、植物地上部生物量、磷/锌吸收量、植物根系AMF gDNA丰度以及玉米根系ZmPht1;6的相对表达量。结果表明:接种F.mosseae、R.intraradices、G.versiforme、C.etunicatum的玉米和紫花苜蓿根系侵染率及根外菌丝密度较高,对植株生长和磷、锌吸收均表现为正效应;C.claroideum、A.scrobiculata、D.spurca根系侵染率和根外菌丝密度较低,C.claroideum对紫花苜蓿生长和磷吸收表现为促进效应,而对玉米表现出抑制效应,后两者对植株生长和磷、锌吸收无显著效应或抑制作用;AMF的生长指标(菌根侵染率和根外菌丝密度)与菌根生长效应以及磷、锌吸收效应之间均具有较高的正相关性,根系AMF总侵染率对玉米菌根生长效应、磷/锌吸收效应变异的解释量分别为79.0%,77.6%和74.1%;菌丝侵染率对紫花苜蓿菌根生长效应、磷/锌吸收效应变异的解释量分别为76.5%,72.6%和74.0%;此外,仅紫花苜蓿根系AMF gDNA丰度与根系总侵染率显著正相关,玉米根系ZmPht1;6基因的相对表达量与菌根磷吸收效应显著正相关。综上,AMF的侵染指标显著影响植物生长和养分吸收效应,AMF gDNA丰度可作为表示AMF生长的指标,但因植物而异,玉米根系ZmPht1;6的相对表达量在一定程度上可反映AMF吸磷能力。     

人参根系分泌物对其根源愈伤组织生长及保护酶活性的影响

以人参根源愈伤组织为受体,分析了无土栽培条件下收集的人参原生根系分泌物的自毒作用。结果表明:人参根系分泌物可抑制愈伤组织的生长,且随处理浓度增加,抑制活性增强,质量浓度为200 mg/L时,生物量降低56.1%,与对照差异显著;可影响受体抗逆酶活性强弱及变化趋势,短时间或低浓度处理下,酶活性增加,其中超氧化物歧化酶活性增加幅度最大,其次为过氧化物酶和过氧化氢酶,而长时间或中高浓度处理后,酶活性均显著降低,同时3种酶原有的协调作用关系及平衡被破坏。人参原生根系分泌物具有化感自毒活性,对受体抗逆酶系统的显著影响是人参根系分泌物化感活性的重要表现。     

根分泌物及其在植物营养中的作用 Ⅱ.锌营养状况对禾本科植物根分泌物的影响

研究了在控制条件下,锌营养状况对禾本科植物根系分泌低分子量有机物质及其分泌物对活化难溶性锌和铁的能力的影响。缺锌虽然导致玉米、小麦和大麦根系分泌氨基酸、糖类化合物和酚类化合物增多,但这一变化与它们对难溶性锌和铁的活化作用无关。禾本科植物氨基酸、糖类化合物和酚类化合物的分泌率随着苗龄和缺锌程度的增加而减少,同时也随生长介质中锌浓度的增加而降低。但是,禾本科植物根分泌物对难溶性锌和铁的活化能力不同于双子叶植物。缺锌小麦的根分泌物不仅可以活化石灰性土壤中的难溶性锌,而且可以活化新沉淀的难溶性铁。与对照植物相比较,其活化能力增加了13～14倍。缺锌导致根系分泌锌和铁的活化物质在植物营养方面有重要意义。     

国槐、剌槐幼苗根系固氮酶活性的研究

研究了刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia)、国槐(Sophora japonica)一年生幼苗根系固氮酶活性的季节性变化,并且通过植物离体根尖接种根瘤菌试验和分析植物根系分泌物反映了国槐、刺槐根系固氮的某些特性。     

培养液化学成分变化及其对水培茶树生长的影响

水培过程中营养液中的ＮＨ＿４－Ｎ浓度下降伴随ＮＯ＿３－Ｎ浓度提高，培养过程中溶液活性Ａｌ含量下降，ｐＨ值降低并非活性Ａｌ浓度提高所致，培养液加Ａｌ对ｐＨ下降有缓冲作用。茶树根系分泌物中有咖啡因和儿茶素类物质，利用培养过茶树的营养液再次培养茶苗，即使通过添加速效Ｎ、Ｐ、Ｋ保持其营养水平，茶树生长仍然受到抑制。据此推断，茶树根系分泌物中的咖啡因和儿茶素类物质具有异株克生作用。     

玉蜀黍赤霉的营养亲和性及其对多菌灵的抗性在菌丝融合过程中的遗传

利用硝酸盐营养缺陷突变体(nit)标记，对采自浙江、江苏、上海等地的33个玉蜀黍赤霉菌株的营养亲和性进行研究。结果发现，这些菌株分别属于30个不同的营养亲和群(VCG8)，表明中国玉蜀黍赤霉自然群体的遗传变异较大。用药剂驯化法获得了6株ZF43菌株的多菌灵(MBC)室内抗药突变体，并研究了其中2株抗药突变体的营养亲和性能。结果表明，玉蜀黍赤霉对多菌灵产生抗药性后不会改变其营养亲和性能。但发现在营养亲和的两菌株之间发生菌丝融合以后，不能或很少能进行细胞核遗传物质的交换和重组，因此，菌丝融合在该菌对多菌灵的抗药群体发展中的作用较小。