水牛卵母细胞成熟时间对核移植效果的影响

主要探讨水牛卵母细胞的成熟时间对其体细胞核移植效果的影响,结果表明,在体外成熟(IVM16～24h)期间,不同的去核时间对水牛卵母细胞核移植后的融合率、分裂率和囊胚发育率都没有显著影响(P>0.05),但卵母细胞去核后的注核存活率,IVM16～18h组与IVM22～24h组有极显著差别(P<0.01)。经6-二甲氨基嘌呤(6-DMAP)抑制成熟培养的卵母细胞,再成熟培养16～18h后,与直接在体外成熟培养16～18h的卵母细胞的融合率、分裂率和囊胚发育率相比,均无显著影响(P>0.05)。水牛卵母细胞的成熟时间对其核移植效果无明显影响,6-DMAP可用于调整水牛卵母细胞的去核操作时间。     

6－二甲氨基嘌呤对牛卵母细胞孤雌发育的影响

本研究系统探讨了 6-二甲氨基嘌呤 ( DMAP)对牛卵母细胞孤雌发育的影响。牛卵母细胞体外成熟 2 4 ,2 6,2 8或 30 h后 ,先用含 7%乙醇的培养液激活处理 5min,然后在含 2 mmol/L DMAP的培养液中培养 3h,或直接在培养液中进行培养。结果发现 ,经 2 mmol/L DMAP培养处理 3h的卵母细胞的激活分裂率和囊胚发育率均明显高于未处理的卵母细胞 ,特别是对于体外成熟 2 4 h和 2 6h的卵母细胞差异更为显著。如若在 DMAP处理的基础上同时加入 5μg/m L的细胞松驰素 ( CB) ,卵母细胞激活后的囊胚发育率则得到进一步提高 ( 48.7%比 37.5% )。研究结果表明 ,DMAP和 CB对卵母细胞激活后的孤雌发育有促进作用 ,并能降低卵龄所引起的激活效果差异     

黄牛体细胞核移植初步研究

对牛体细胞核移植的有关影响因素进行了系统研究,结果表明,电场强度为100v／mm,电脉冲2次,脉冲时间为10μs的融合率显著高于30μs的融合率,囊胚发育率差异不显著;在耳部成纤维细胞的注核微滴中添加7％乙醇可提高重组胚的卵裂率,供体细胞的预激活可提高核移植效果;TⅠ期(第二次减数分裂末期)去核卵母细胞核移植总囊胚率低于MⅠ期(第二次减数分裂中期)去核卵母细胞的,TⅠ期去核卵母细胞的核移植效果不如MⅠ期去核卵母细胞的;成纤维细胞直接注射后3h用离子霉素(5μmol／L,5min)和6-二甲氨基嘌呤(6-DMAP,2mmol／L,3h)激活处理的重组胚发育率显著高于注核后0h和6h激活的重组胚,供体细胞核与受体卵母细胞激活前的胞质因子互作一段时间,有利于核移植胚胎的早期发育。     

卵丘细胞在牛卵母细胞体外受精生产胚胎中的作用

牛体外胚胎生产是解决胚胎移植产业化胚胎来源的有效技术方法,其包括卵母细胞体成熟、体外受精和受精卵体外胚胎.而体外受精胚胎的质量是影响胚胎移植妊娠率与犊牛成活率的重要因素.体外受精过程中卵丘细胞分泌的一些重要物质(类固醇激素、细胞生长因子等),对牛卵母细胞体外成熟、体外受精以及受精卵体外发育都具有重要的促进作用.本文综合了近年来该领域的研究进展,着重分析了卵丘细胞对卵母细胞体外成熟,以及体外受精过程中卵丘细胞的分泌功能、质量和共培养体系对卵母细胞体外受精效率的影响.     

小鼠卵丘细胞对牛卵母细胞体外成熟和孤雌发育的影响

本实验通过牛生发泡(GV)期无卵丘细胞卵母细胞-裸卵(denuded oocytes,DOs)与小鼠卵丘细胞(mouse cumulus cells,mCCs)共培养,研究异种mCCs对牛DOs体外成熟和孤雌激活后发育的影响,进而探讨卵丘细胞对卵母细胞的作用机制,为牛卵母细胞体外成熟效率提高提供实验依据.牛卵母细胞分为COCs(cumulus-oocytes complexes)组、DOs+bCCs(bovine cumulus cells,bCCs)组、DOs+mCCs组和DOs组4个组合,体外成熟22～24h后,检测各组卵母细胞第一极体排出率、MⅡ期卯母细胞中谷胱甘肽(glutathione,GSH)含量利孤雌激活后的发育能力,以及卵母细胞内骨形态发生蛋白15( BMP15和生长分化因子9(GDF9)mRNA相对表达水平.结果表明:(1) DOs+mCCs组和DOs+bCCs组卵母细胞核成熟率[(68.48±5.71)％,(71.00±4.27)％]显著低于COCs组(84.70±3.41)％(P＜0.05),但均显著高丁DOs组(54.26±5.03)％(P＜0.05); (2) DOs+mCCs组MⅡ卵母细胞GSH含量和孤雌激活囊胚率[(2.48±0.24) pmol/oocyte,(44.19±4.03)％]与DOs+bCCs组[(2.49±0.18)pmol/oocyte,(48.57±5.20)％]和DOs组[(2.40±0.17)pmol/oocyte,(43.47±7.34)％]之间没有差异,但分别显著低于COCs组[(9.67 ±0.18)pmol/oocyte,(59.93±6.13)％](P＜0.05),各组孤雌激活卵裂率之间没有显著差异[(98.85±4.32)％,(92.11±2.00)％,(95.40±4.11)％,(93.18±3.19)％](P＞0.05);(3)DOs+mCCs组、DOs+bCCs组和COCs组卵母细胞中BMP15和GDF9 mRNA相对表达水平均显著性高于DOs组(P＜0.05),其中,DOs+mCCs组和COCs组GDF9 mRNA相对表达水平显著高于DOs+bCCs组(P＜0.05).实验结果表明,mCCs能提高牛DOs的核成熟率及BMP15和GDF9 mRNA相对表达水平,但对牛DOs的细胞质成熟和MⅡ卵母细胞孤雌激活胚胎囊胚发育没有促进作用,说明卵丘细胞通过一些旁分泌因子促进卵母细胞核成熟,且这些因子的作用可能没有种属特异性.     

无卵丘的水牛卵母细胞体外成熟方法的研究

卵母细胞生长发育和成熟调控机理的研究,是生殖生物学领域研究的热点和难点。研究发现,卵丘细胞的存在与否严重影响卵母细胞的体外成熟质量,且小鼠无卵丘的卵母细胞经体外成熟并常规体外受精后未能得到“试管后代”,表明常规体外培养方法明显降低无卵丘的卵母细胞发育潜能。可能的原因是:(1)卵母细胞与颗粒细胞间的间隙连接丢失,这种连接对卵母细胞的胞质成熟是至关重要的。(2)皮层颗粒的减少或继续生成路径的障碍。(3)卵母细胞易于贴底,造成变形,从而可能引起卵母细胞内细胞器机械性移位,造成损伤,且贴底后可能影响卵母细胞与培养基的物质交换。因此,探明卵丘细胞在卵母细胞体外成熟的作用及机制,探索培养无卵丘的水牛卵母细胞的新方法,对于今后进一步提高卵母细胞成熟质量具有重大的指导意义。本研究针对去卵丘细胞的卵母细胞体外培养存在的问题,以卵巢组织、卵丘细胞为介质来模拟卵母细胞在体内的状态,试验分为5组:M1,直接培养法(对照组);M2,与单层卵丘细胞共培养法;M3,未扩展卵丘细胞包围法;M4,扩展卵丘细胞团支撑法;M5,卵巢组织薄片包围法。培养24 h后计算第一极体(PB1)排出率,随后对这些卵母细胞进行孤雌激活。结果发现:成熟24 h时,M4组的第一极体排出率明显高于M1组和M5组,其他各组间没有显著差异(P>0.05);孤雌激活结果显示M5组的卵裂率显著低于M1组(P<0.05),而M2组与M1组间没有差异(P>0.05);但M3和M4两组的囊胚发育率显著高于M1组和M5组(P<0.05)。结论:(1)扩展卵丘细胞团支撑法支持无卵丘的水牛卵母细胞的体外核质成熟,而未扩展卵丘细胞包围法促进卵母细胞胞质的成熟,这可能是通过重新构建卵丘-卵母细胞间的间隙连接实现的;(2)与单层卵丘细胞共培养法并不能促进无卵丘的水牛卵母细胞的核成熟及其发育潜力;(3)用卵巢组织包围不能模拟体内卵巢的环境,且卵巢组织可能分泌抑制卵母细胞胞质成熟的因子。目前对无卵丘卵母细胞的培养方法的研究甚少,而我们建立的卵丘细胞团包围/支撑法及卵巢组织包围培养法未见类似的报道。本研究初步建立了水牛无卵丘卵母细胞的有效培养方法,将为研究卵母细胞生长发育和成熟调控机理提供新的模型,为利用无卵丘的水牛卵母细胞提供理论和技术支持。     

水牛和黄牛种间体外受精的研究

将从屠宰母牛卵巢上采集的水牛和黄牛的卵母细胞经 2 0～ 2 4 h体外成熟培养后 ,分别用么拉水牛或奶牛精液进行种间和种内体外受精。受精卵在体外条件下继续培养到囊胚和孵化囊胚阶段。结果表明 ,用黄牛精子受精水牛卵母细胞 (黄×水 )或用水牛精子受精黄牛卵母细胞 (水×黄 )的种间体外受精均有较高的卵裂率 (分别为 4 6.5%和 68.4 % )。但其体外囊胚发育率分别只有 3.5%和 8.7% ,显著低于种内受精组(水×水组为 1 9.9% ,黄×黄组为 2 8.0 % ,P<0 .0 5)。在受精后 2 0 h对受精卵进行固定、染色 ,发现种间受精的黄×水和水×黄组 ,分别有 36.8%和 75.0 %的受精卵形成有 1个以上原核 ,且这些受精激活卵中大部分含 2个原核以上 (分别为 80 .9%和 80 .0 % ) ,说明种间受精的精子已进入到卵母细胞内受精并形成了雄性原核。     

卵泡直径和卵丘细胞对牛卵母细胞体外受精后发育潜力的影响

本实验以屠宰场牛卵巢为材料,研究了卵泡大小和卵丘细胞对卵母细胞体外受精后发育潜力的影响,结果表明卵泡在小和卵丘细胞直接卵母受精后的发育。直径为２～８ｍｍ卵泡中的卵母细胞经体外成熟和体外受精后,卵裂率（６０．９％ＶＳ３７．０％,Ｐ〈０．０５）和受精卵的囊胚发育率（５６．０％ＶＳ３８．０％,Ｐ〈０．０５）明显高于直径小于２ｍｍ卵泡中的卵母细胞。而直径在８ｍｍ以上的卵母细胞卵裂率显著低于２～８ｍｍ卵泡、     

猪卵母细胞体外成熟的发育潜力及核移植重构胚构建方法的研究

为了提高猪体细胞核移植重构胚发育潜力,本研究对体外成熟28h、32h、36h、40h、44h、48h、52h和56h的猪卵母细胞分别进行去核构建重构胚。研究结果表明,成熟44h的卵母细胞核移植后有较高的融合率（58.99%）、卵裂率（67.52%）和囊胚率（22.78%）,而成熟48h的卵母细胞则分别为56.51%、65.73%和15.96%;且卵龄为44h的卵母细胞核移植后分裂率与囊胚率显著高于卵龄为40h、36h、32h、28h的卵母细胞的分裂率与囊胚率（P〈0.05）。卵龄为48h的卵母细胞融合率高于卵龄为52h卵母细胞的融合率（P〈0.05）。同时我们还探讨了不同去核方法（盲吸法、Hochest33342染色法和Spindle-view system）对猪体细胞核移植重构胚发育能力的影响。研究结果发现,盲吸法、Hoechest33342染色法和Spindle-view system法的去核率分别达到76.33%,100.00%和98.40%。Hoechest染色法去核率显著高于盲吸法的去核率（P〉0.05）,而与Spindle-view法去核率没有差异（P〉0.05）。三种方法在融合率和囊胚率方面差异不显著（P〉0.05）,但Hoechest染色法的分裂率较低,差异显著（P〈0.05）。进一步的研究表明,细胞质内注射进行核移植构建重构胚的分裂率和囊胚率分别为68.13%和6.44%;透明带下注射法则为60.37%和8.08%,两者差异不显著（P〈0.05）;两者均可运用于猪体细胞的核移植,这为建立有效的猪体细胞核移植体系提供了参考。     

牛细胞核移植研究简报

本研究探讨了用体外受精胚胎作供体、体外成熟卵母细胞作受体进行核移植的可能性，比较了两种不同核移植方法的效果。本研究结果在我国首次获得牛核移植的成功。从屠宰场回收的黄牛卵巢中抽取未成熟的卵母细胞，采用以前报道的方法（Ｓｈｉｅｔａｌ，Ｔｈｅｎ－ｏｙｅｎｏｌｏｙ，１９９１，３５；２７１）进行体外成熟（ＩＶＭ）和体外受精（ＩＶＦ），获得ＩＶＭ如母细胞和ＩＶＦ胚胎。体外受精用精液为奶牛精液。在ＩＶＭ２３～２４ｈ＄母细胞去核后用作受体卵，体外发育到８～３２细胞期的ＩＶＦ胚胎用作核供体．去核后的卵母细胞分两组：！．在Ｗ２６ｈ（或３０ｈ）用８０Ｖ／ｍｍ４０μｓ电激活两次，然后注入供体胚胎卵裂球，ＩＶＭ３２ｈ（或３６ｈ）进行电融合；Ⅱ．注卵裂球前不激活，在ＩＶＭ３１ｈ进行电融合。两组融合条件相同（８０Ｖ／ｍｍ４０μｓ×２，间隔１ｓ），融合液为０．３Ｍ甘露醇＋０．０５ｍＭＣａＣｌ２＋０．１ｍＭＭｇＳＯ４＋１０ｍＭ组氨酸。融合印在颗粒细胞单层培养滴内共培养，体外培养２４ｈ后观察卵裂结果。经体外培养５～８ｄ后发育到桑椹和囊胚的核移植胚胎移植到同期发情的受体奶牛子直角内。２个月后直检妊娠情况。本研究结果如下：Ⅰ组操作后存活率（９０．     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.     

Electron donor and pH relationships for biologically enhanced dissolution of chlorinated solvent DNAPL in groundwater

Biologically enhanced dissolution offers a method to speed removal of chlorinated solvent dense non-aqueous-phase liquid (DNAPL) sources such as tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichoroethene (TCE) from aquifers. Bioremediation is accomplished by adding an electron donor to the source zone where fermentation to intermediates leading to acetic acid and hydrogen results. The hydrogen and possibly acetic acid are used by dehalogenating bacteria to convert PCE and TCE to ethene and hydrochloric acid. Reductive dehalogenation is thus an acid forming process, and sufficient alkalinity must be present to maintain a near neutral pH. The bicarbonate alkalinity required to maintain pH above 6.5 is a function of the electron donor: 800 mg/L of bicarbonate alkalinity is sufficient to achieve about 1.2 mM TCE dechlorination with glucose, 1.7 mM with lactate, and a much higher 3.3 mM with formate. Laboratory studies indicate that in mixed culture, formate can be used as an electron donor for complete conversion to ethene, contrary to pure cultures studies indicating it cannot. Various strategies can be used to add electron donor to an aquifer for DNAPL dehalogenation while minimizing pH problems and excessive electron donor usage, including use of injection-extraction wells, dual recirculation wells, and nested injection-extraction wells.     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

Increase in auxiliary photoprotective photosynthetic pigments in wheat seedlings induced by Azospirillum brasilense

Inoculation of wheat seedlings with the plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense Cd was immobilized in alginate microbeads and, without applying any stress, significantly increased the quantity of several photosynthetic pigments, such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and the auxiliary photoprotective pigments violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, antheroxanthin, lutein, neoxanthin, and β-carotene. This resulted in greener plants with no apparent visible stress. After monitoring the quantity of photosynthetic pigments for 4 weeks, we observed that inoculated plants had higher quantities of pigments in shoot and stem. The greatest difference in the quantity of all pigments between inoculated and noninoculated plants occurred in the first week of growth. Regardless of treatment, the quantity of pigments in stems was three to four times less than the quantity of these pigments in shoots. Application of Azospirillum, either as liquid inoculant or as alginate microbeads, did not alter the positive effect of the bacteria on pigment production or the positive response of the plants towards A. brasilense Cd inoculation.     

In-situ enrichment and analysis of atrazine-degrading microbial communities using atrazine-containing porous beads

We examined the community composition of microbes that colonized atrazine-containing beads buried in agricultural soils that differed in atrazine treatment history. Bacterial abundance was 5-40-fold greater in atrazine-fortified beads. In beads containing 20 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ buried in soil with a history of atrazine application (conditioned soil), the abundance of Actinobacteria increased approximately 80-fold whereas in control soil, Actinobacteria were enriched only 10-fold and the gamma-Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes increased by 60- and 25-fold, respectively. The gamma-Proteobacteria were enriched by 120- and 230-fold in beads containing 200 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ in conditioned and control soil, respectively. The results demonstrate that BioSep^® beads are a suitable matrix for recruiting a diverse subset of the bacterial community involved in atrazine degradation.