Changes in photosynthesis,growth, and sugar content of commercial sugarcane cultivars and Erianthus under flood conditions

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is an economical crop in the tropical and subtropical countries. However, because of global climate change, flooding has become problematic, particularly during the rainy season, in Thailand. We investigated the effects of floods on three commercial sugarcane cultivars, namely NiF8, U-thong 6 (UT6), and U-thong 9 (UT9), as well as Erianthus spp. Growth was assessed using a pot experiment in a glasshouse with two treatments: (1) control and (2) 60 d of flooding followed by 30 d of normal conditions. In comparison with control, during prolonged flooding, Erianthus showed greatly decreased CO₂ assimilation, whereas NiF8, UT6, and UT9 showed slightly declined CO₂ assimilation. Growth in plants subjected to 60 d of flooding was less influenced by floods while sucrose content was not affected except in UT6. During flooding, some roots died, resulting in plants compensating adventitious roots to offset the negative effects of root death and to assist them in maintaining their growth, which appeared from the submerged nodes, with different characteristics for each cultivar. However, 30 d after draining, roots remained damaged, while adventitious roots died, resulting in lesser growth as compared with the control, but it did not significantly affect sucrose content and sugar yield. This study suggests that sugarcane plants need to produce the adventitious roots to compensate their roots’ death during flooding and require time to recover their root system after flooding for obtaining the optimum yield and quality at harvest.     

乙酰羟酸合酶抑制剂类除草剂的植物抗性机制

乙酰羟酸合酶(AHAS)抑制剂类除草剂已被广泛用于农业生产,然而使用过程中可能对部分敏感农作物产生药害,因此创制对不同类别除草剂具有抗性的一系列作物新品种至关重要。本文将从AHAS抑制剂类除草剂的类别与特点、AHAS靶酶的特性及其在支链氨基酸合成中的作用、除草剂的靶标抗性与非靶标抗性机制等方面分析国内外研究现状与未来发展动态,以期为农作物除草剂抗性性状的遗传改良和开发应用提供参考。     

一氧化氮合酶与寄生虫感染

一氧化氮(NO)在体内由L-精氨酸在一氧化氮合成酶(NOS)的催化下生成。它是一种重要的信使分子,参与血管、气道平滑肌的调节,神经递质的传递,细胞杀伤,肿瘤细胞的溶解及内分泌激素的释放过程,与许多疾病的发生、发展密切相关;既在机体多个系统多种细胞中具有广泛的生理功能,又可能参与多种疾病的发生过程。寄生虫感染时,动物机体内由其诱发产生各种细胞因子。细胞因子激发一氧化氮合酶基因,其转录产生iNOS(induciblenitricoxidesynthase)mRNA,由iNOSmRNA指导一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)生成。iNOS以精氨酸为底物合成NO。本文就NOS的结构、生成和NO对寄生虫的作用以及影响NO抗寄生虫感染的因素作了综述。     

Protective effect of onychin on the human umbilical vein endothelial cells injured by menadione

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of onychin on the endothelial cells injured by oxidative stress. METHODS: The injured model was established by endothelial cells treated with menadione. The growth inhibitory rate of endothelial cell was determined by MTT assay; NO₂^-／NO₃^- concentration in the medium was determined by nitrate reductase assay; eNOS and caveolin-1 protein levels were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Onychin significantly decreased the growth inhibitory rate of endothelial cells injured by menadione, increased NO₂^-／NO₃^- concentration in the medium and eNOS activity and up-regulated caveolin-1 expression. CONCLUSION: Onychin possesses a protective effect against endothelial cell injury induced by menadione via caveolin-1/eNOS pathway.     

‘新红星’苹果果实蔗糖合酶的活性及亚细胞定位

 在‘新红星’苹果果实发育过程中, 伴随果糖、葡萄糖和蔗糖的积累, 蔗糖合酶的分解活性逐渐下降, 而合成活性逐渐升高。苹果果实的蔗糖合酶由分子量为90 kD 的亚基组成, 其免疫信号强度随发育进程而增加。蔗糖合酶主要定位于果肉细胞的细胞质中, 发育中后期该酶的分布密度有一定增加。综合结果认为, 蔗糖合酶调控发育早期蔗糖的降解和发育后期蔗糖的积累。     

Natural tolerance of Cuscuta campestris to herbicides inhibiting amino acid biosynthesis

The response of Cuscuta campestris Yuncker, a non‐specific above‐ground holoparasite, to amino acid biosynthesis inhibitor (AABI) herbicides, was compared with other resistant and sensitive plants in dose–response assays carried out in Petri dishes. Cuscuta campestris was found to be much more resistant to all AABI herbicides tested. The I₅₀ value of C. campestris growth inhibition by glyphosate was eightfold higher than that of transgenic, glyphosate‐resistant cotton (RR‐cotton). The I₅₀ value for C. campestris shoot growth inhibition by sulfometuron was above 500 μM, whereas that of sorghum roots was only 0.004 μM. Cuscuta campestris exposed to glyphosate gradually accumulated shikimate, confirming herbicide penetration into the parasite and interaction with an active form of the target enzyme of the herbicide, 5‐enolpyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase. More than half of the C. campestris plants associated with transgenic, glyphosate‐resistant sugarbeet (RR‐sugarbeet) treated with glyphosate or with transgenic, sulfometuron‐resistant tomato (SuR‐tomato) treated with sulfometuron recovered and resumed regular growth 20–30 days after treatment. New healthy stems developed, followed by normal flowering and seed setting. The results of the current study demonstrate the unique capacity of C. campestris to tolerate high rates of AABI. The mechanism of this phenomenon is yet to be elucidated.     

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in IL-1β-stimulated mesangial cells is medicated by NF-κB/IκB signal pathway

AIM: To investigate the role of NF-κB/IκB signal pathway in the regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in human mesangial cells (HMC). METHODS: The PGE₂ concentration in supernatants of HMC was measured by radioimmunoassay. COX-2 mRNA and protein expression were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and Western blot were used to detect the activity of NF-κB and degradation of IκB. RESULTS: IL-1β significantly upregulated COX-2 expression and PGE₂ production in HMC. Significant up-regulation of NF-κB activation, nuclear translocation of p65 subunit, and degradation of IκB α and IκB β were observed in IL-1β-induced HMC. CONCLUSION: Expression of COX-2 in IL-1β-induced HMC is mediated by NF-κB/IκB signal pathway.     

A mutation confers Monochoria vaginalis resistance to sulfonylureas that target acetolactate synthase

Acetolactate synthase (ALS) is the target enzyme for four distinct families of compounds: sulfonylureas (SUs), imidazolinones, triazolopyrimidine sulfonanilides, and pyrimidinyl oxybenzoates. We cloned and sequenced the fragments encoding ALS genes from biotypes of Monochoria vaginalis susceptible (S) and resistant (R) to SU-herbicides. The nucleotide sequences of the 39 bp Domain A region for R M. vaginalis biotype differed from that of the S biotype by a single nucleotide substitution at variable Pro codon of Domain A (CCT to TCT), predicting a Pro in the S but a Ser in the R biotype. No nucleotide differences between S and R M. vaginalis were observed in Domain D. We suggest that the amino acid substitution at Domain A region is responsible for resistance to SU-herbicides in M. vaginalis collected from Ushiku City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.