Effect of eight herbicides from five different chemical groups on nitrogen fixation and grain yield in Lupinus albus L. grown in semi-arid zones

Summary. The effects of five different chemical groups of herbicides: dinitroanilines, 1, 3, 5-triazines, 1, 2, 4-triazinones, α-chloroacetamides and carbamates on N₂-fixation & yield in Lupinus were compared. Cyanazine, simazine and trifluralin caused a significant increase in acetylene reduction activity (ARA), whereas the rest had no effect on ARA. Cyanazine and simazine significantly increased the grain yield and the weight of lupin seeds. The percentage of nitrogen in the seeds was significantly increased by cyanazine. An inventory of the weeds resistant to the herbicides in the treated subplots was also carried out. The dinitroaniline group mainly controlled Galium tricorne, Lolium multiflorum, Papaver rhoeas , and Avena sterilis whereas the 1, 3, 5-triazine and dinitroaniline herbicides. Carbamates and α-chloroacetamides were less effective Papaver rhoeas, Scandix pecten-veneris and Avena sterilis. Avena sterilis was controlled by both triazine and dinitro-aniline herbicides. Carbamates and α-chloroacetamides were less effective on the weeds growing with the lupinus plants.     

Biology of a new virus isolated from Lupinus nootkatensis plants in Alaska

A new virus named Nootka lupine vein-clearing virus (NLVCV) was isolated from Lupinus nootkatensis plants that were confined to a relatively small area in the Talkeetna mountains of south-central Alaska. Annual surveys (2000–03) consistently found leaf symptoms of pronounced vein clearing and mosaic on 3- to 4-week-old plants in late June. Spherical particles ≈30 nm in diameter were isolated from these leaves. Virions contained a single-stranded RNA of ≈4·0–4·2 kb and one species of capsid protein estimated to be ≈40 kDa. The double-stranded RNA profile from naturally infected leaves consisted of three major bands ≈4·2, 1·9 and 1·5 kbp. Protein extractions from either sap or virions of diseased plants reacted to polyclonal antiserum made against the virions in Western blot assays. A predicted PCR product ≈500 bp was synthesized from virion RNA using primers specific to the carmovirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDRP) gene. The nucleotide sequence of the amplified DNA did not match any known virus, but contained short regions of identity to several carmoviruses. Only species belonging to the Fabaceae were susceptible to NLVCV by mechanical inoculation. Based on dsRNA profile, size of virion RNA genome and capsid protein, and similarity of the RDRP gene to that of other carmoviruses, it is suggested that NLVCV is a member of the family Tombusviridae , and tentatively of the genus Carmovirus . As the host range, RDRP gene and dsRNA profile of NLVCV are different from those of known viruses, this is a newly described plant virus.     

Induction of defence related enzymes and phenolic compounds in lupin (Lupinus albus L.) and their effects on host resistance against Fusarium wilt

Two different biotic inducers [Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas putida] and three different abiotic inducers [copper sulphate, indole butyric acid and potassium chloride] were tested for their efficacy in inducing resistance in lupin plants against Fusarium wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lupini. Application of the biotic and abiotic inducers as seed treatments significantly reduced wilt disease incidence under greenhouse and field conditions. Potassium chloride and Pseudomonas fluorescens were superior. A time course of defence-related enzymes showed substantial increases in enzyme activities in induced infected seedlings compared with untreated healthy plants or infected controls. However, the magnitude of the increase varied among treatments. The maximum increases in chitinase and ??- glucanase activities were recorded at 12 and 8?days after inoculation with the pathogen, respectively. Also, the activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase increased dramatically 8?days after inoculation. Greater accumulation of phenolic compounds and specific flavonoids upon infection with the pathogen was found in induced and/ or infected seedlings compared with healthy plants. In addition to inducing disease resistance, the treatments were accompanied by significant increases in crop parameters and seed yield compared with untreated controls.     

Functional characterization of a new pathogen induced xylanase inhibitor (RIXI) from rice

Rice xylanase inhibitor RIXI is a XIP-type inhibitor that belongs to the glycoside hydrolase family 18 (GH18), which includes plant class III chitinases (EC 3.2.1.14) known as PR-8 proteins. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether RIXI had any effect on rice endoxylanase and its role(s) in plant defence. RIXI encoding sequence was cloned from rice (Oryza sativa cv. Nipponbare), and was expressed in Escherichia coli. The activity of recombinant RIXI was investigated – among the tested xylanases, the GH11 xylanase from Aspergillus niger was the most inhibited, while rice endogenous xylanase OSX was least inhibited. Semi-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantitative real-time PCR showed that the xylanase inhibitor gene RIXI was up-regulated in rice seedlings infected by Magnaporthe grisea. The increased RIXI expression was also accompanied by significantly elevated expression of pathogenesis-related protein gene (PR-1) and class III chitinase gene (Cht-3). This suggested that RIXI might be involved in environmental responses such as defense against phytopathogens.     

绿色木霉几丁质酶基因Tvchi cDNA的克隆、原核表达与活性分析

 利用RT PCR方法从绿木霉ZBS 6中扩增了几丁质酶基因Tvchi,序列分析表明Tvchi 开放阅读框为1 293 bp,编码430个氨基酸残基,Blast 分析表明,与多种木霉18家族内切几丁质酶具有较高的同源性。将该基因克隆到原核表达载体pET 28a上,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),经IPTG诱导,SDS PAGE和Western印迹分析表明成功的获得了47 kD 的融合蛋白。该融合蛋白经Ni NTA柱亲和纯化,获得了纯度较高的融合蛋白Tvchi。Tvchi最适酶活温度为37℃,最适酶活pH值为6.8。表达产物对小麦全蚀病、赤霉病、纹枯病病原菌显示出较好的抑菌活性。本研究结果将为进一步研究木霉几丁质酶的应用提供了基础。     

Purification and characterization of a lipolytic enzyme active at low temperature from Norwegian Typhula ishikariensis group III strain

An extracellular lipolytic enzyme active at low temperature was purified from the culture filtrate of the snow mold fungus, Typhula ishikariensis group III, strain 6-1-1. The molecular mass of enzyme was approximately 83 kDa (SDS-PAGE). The lipolytic enzyme was most active for p-nitrophenyl palmitate at 30 –C (pH 9.0). The lipolytic activity was 23.4% of the maximum at 4 –C, the temperature of culture. Thus, the isolated T. ishikariensis lipolytic enzyme is thought to represent a new member of a group of enzymes active at low temperature.     

拟南芥诱导型启动子rd29A的克隆及其功能鉴定

以改善作物抗旱性为目的,采用PCR方法从拟南芥中克隆了诱导型启动子rd29A,序列分析发现克隆的rd29A启动子与已发表的rd29A启动子序列(D13044)的同源性为99.47%。利用DNA重组技术成功构建了rd29A启动子驱动GUS基因的植物表达载体p BI121-rd29-GUS,并通过农杆菌介导法转化烟草,转基因烟草叶片中GUS酶活性的组织化学检测结果表明,rd29A启动子能驱动目的基因的有效表达。因此,可以在后续的马铃薯抗旱转基因研究中直接应用。     

Molecular characterization, ecology, and epidemiology of a novel Tymovirus in Asclepias viridis from Oklahoma

Native virus-plant interactions require more understanding and their study will provide a basis from which to identify potential sources of emerging destructive viruses in crops. A novel tymovirus sequence was detected in Asclepias viridis (green milkweed), a perennial growing in a natural setting in the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve (TGPP) of Oklahoma. It was abundant within and frequent among A. viridis plants and, to varying extents, within other dicotyledonous and one grass (Panicum virgatum) species obtained from the TGPP. Extracts from A. viridis containing the sequence were infectious to a limited number of species. The virus genome was cloned and determined to be closely related to Kennedya yellow mosaic virus. The persistence of the virus within the Oklahoma A. viridis population was monitored for five successive years. Virus was present in a high percentage of plants within representative areas of the TGPP in all years and was spreading to additional plants. Virus was present in regions adjacent to the TGPP but not in plants sampled from central and south-central Oklahoma. Virus was present in the underground caudex of the plant during the winter, suggesting overwintering in this tissue. The RNA sequence encoding the virus coat protein varied considerably between individual plants (≈3%), likely due to drift rather than selection. An infectious clone was constructed and the virus was named Asclepias asymptomatic virus (AsAV) due to the absence of obvious symptoms on A. viridis.     

稻瘟病菌CAAX蛋白酶MoRce1的功能研究

 蛋白质的翻译后异戊烯化修饰(CAAX修饰)能够介导真核生物中许多重要蛋白质的亚细胞定位以及蛋白与蛋白间的相互作用。稻瘟病菌(Magnaporthe oryzae)引致的稻瘟病是水稻最重要病害之一,造成全球水稻严重减产。为深入了解稻瘟病菌致病机理,更好地防控稻瘟病,我们研究了异戊烯修饰是否影响稻瘟病菌的生长发育和致病性。首先从稻瘟病菌基因组数据库中鉴定到一个稻瘟病菌的异戊烯蛋白酶MoRce1,同源比对发现MoRce1保守结构域在各物种之间变化较大,猜测在不同物种中该蛋白可能出现了功能分化。经同源重组方法敲除MoRCE1基因,发现MoRCE1缺失突变体在胁迫培养条件下细胞壁完整性明显缺陷,但是对营养生长、产孢、萌发以及致病性没有明显影响,说明MoRce1蛋白可能通过参与稻瘟病菌细胞壁合成相关蛋白的异戊烯化修饰进而影响该菌细胞壁的完整性,其具体机制还有待深入研究。     

百合无症病毒对百合光合生理、酶活性及叶绿体超微结构的影响

 以东方百合“西伯利亚”为试验材料,研究百合无症病毒(LSV)侵染百合对其叶片生理生化以及叶绿体超微结构的影响。检测结果表明:叶片中叶绿素a、b以及总叶绿素含量与健康对照相比分别下降了28.6%、33.3%和23.5%,净光合速率、气孔导度及胞间CO₂浓度分别下降33.3%、25%和13.8%;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、多酚氧化酶(PPO)和苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)与健康对照相比,分别增加了16.6%、29.4%、16.7%和22.2%。电镜观察发现:感病植株叶绿体膨胀变形,基质片层散乱,叶绿体内淀粉粒肿大且数目增多,从而证明LSV侵染破坏叶绿体结构,影响植株的光合作用。     

β-1,3-Glucanase, chitinase, and peroxidase activities in tobacco tissues resistant and susceptible to blue mould as related to flowering, age and sucker development

Tobacco becomes naturally resistant to blue mould caused by Peronospora tabacina as it ages. This age-related resistance is correlated to the time of normal floral development and the senescence of lower leaves: however, it is dependent on neither. β-1,3-Glucanase, chitinase and peroxidase activities increase in tobacco with age. These increases correlate with the development of age-related resistance to blue mould and were independent of floral development. Additionally. β-1,3-glucanase, chitinase, and peroxidase activities were higher in leaf tissue from the main stalk resistant to blue mould) as compared to leaf tissue from suckering stems (susceptible to blue mould) on the same plant. Isozyme patterns of β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase in all resistant tissues are typical of those of tissues systemically protected by either stem injection with Peronospora tabacina or foliar inoculation with TMV.     

Phytopathogenic, morphological, genetic and molecular characterization of a Verticillium dahliae population from Crete, Greece

A population of 84?V. dahliae isolates mainly originating from Crete, Greece, was characterized in terms of pathogenicity and virulence on different hosts, in parallel with morphological/physiological characterization, vegetative compatibility grouping and mating type determination. Tomato race 2 was found to have supplanted race 1 and was more virulent on a tomato-susceptible cultivar than race 1. Using a differential host classification system which tests pathogenicity to tomato, eggplant, sweet pepper and turnip, 59 isolates were assigned to tomato, 19 to eggplant, one to sweet pepper and five to tomato-sweet pepper pathogenicity groups. All isolates from Crete fell into VCG subgroups 2A, 2B and 4B, while a remarkably high incidence of bridging isolates (compatible with two or more VCGs) was recorded. The tomato-sweet pepper pathogenicity group was morphologically quite distinct from the others, while conidial length and pigment intensity were discriminatory parameters among VCGs 2A, 2B and 4B. PCR-based molecular marker Tr1/Tr2 was reliable in race prediction among tomato-pathogenic isolates, except for members of VCG 4B, while the application of markers Tm5/Tm7 and 35-1/35-2 was highly successful for tomato-pathogenic isolates. E10 marker was related to VCG 2B, rather than to pathogenicity groups. A single nucleotide polymorphism in the ITS2 region, and two novel molecular markers, M1 and M2, proved useful for the fast and accurate determination of major VCGs 2A, 2B and 4B, and can be used for high-throughput population analyses in future studies. The mating type was unrelated to VCG classification and probably does not control heterokaryon incompatibility in V. dahliae.     

黄蓝状菌几丁质酶基因tfchi1的克隆、表达及抗菌活性

 为研究黄蓝状菌（Talaromyces flavus）几丁质酶性质和作用,通过RT PCR、3′ RACE及5′ TAIL PCR技术克隆了一个黄蓝状菌几丁质酶基因tfchi1,该基因全长为2 561 bp,含有6个内含子,包含一个1 194 bp的ORF,编码397个氨基酸,分子量为43.47 kDa,属于糖苷水解酶第18家族。利用基因重组的方法构建酵母分泌型表达载体pPIC9K/tfchi1,并转化毕赤酵母,筛选得到一株高效表达几丁质酶的工程菌GS TFCHI1 9,甲醇诱导第7 d酶活性最高,达32.29 U·mL-1。SDS PAGE检测纯化重组蛋白的分子量约44 kDa。重组几丁质酶Tfchi1最适反应温度为35℃,最适反应pH值为5.5,在pH 6～8之间稳定。Zn2+、Cu2+对 Tfchi1活性有明显的抑制作用。抑菌活性测定结果显示,Tfchi1可明显抑制敏感植物病原真菌的菌丝生长和分生孢子萌发。该酶在几丁质资源的开发利用和生物防治等领域具有较广的应用前景。     

Biological, serological and molecular characterization of a cucumber mosaic virus isolate from India

A. virus causing mosaic and leaf deformation of Physalis minima has been identified as an isolate of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) on the basis of its transmission by aphids in a non-persistent manner, polyhedral particles of 29 nm diameter, molecular weight of coat protein subunits us 24-5 kDa. serological relationship with a CMV isolate and a tripartite single-stranded RNA genome with a subgenomic RNA4- Furthermore. cDNA representing coat protein gene was synthesized and cloned. Complete nucleotide sequences (890 nt) were obtained which showed a coat protein gene open reading frame of 657 residues. THE nucleotide sequences provided the 218 amino ACID sequences of the coat protein. Nucleotide as well as amino acid sequences revealed more than 90% identity with the CMV subgroup I strains.     

水稻白叶枯病菌双组分调控系统应答调节子基因gacAxoo的功能鉴定

为了阐明水稻白叶枯病菌(Xanthomonas oryzaepv.oryzae,Xoo)双组分系统(TCS)的调控作用,本研究通过基因克隆、序列分析、缺失突变和互补、表型测定,对TCS应答调节子基因gacAxoo的功能进行了鉴定。克隆的gacAxoo基因编码蛋白GacAxoo与其它病原黄单胞菌的同源序列高度保守。GacAxoo是LuxR蛋白家族成员之一,具有磷酸受体结构域(REC)和DNA结合保守结构域(HTH)。用基因标记交换法,构建了△gacAxoo基因缺失突变体。与PXO99A相比,△gac-Axoo的致病性、致敏性、胞外降解酶类活性和嗜铁素产生能力无显著变化,但运动性明显减弱,基因互补可以使之恢复。因此,gacAxoo基因可能参与了Xoo运动性的调控。     

Synthesis and characterization of synthetic analogs of cinnacidin, a novel phytotoxin from Nectria sp

BACKGROUND: The novel natural product cinnacidin was isolated from a fungal fermentation extract of Nectria sp. DA060097. The compound was found to contain a cyclopentalenone ring system with an isoleucine subunit linked through an amide bond. Initial biological characterization of cinnacidin suggested promising herbicidal activity. RESULTS: Two synthetic analogs, (2S,3S)-2-[(3RS,3aSR,6aRS)-3-methoxy-4-oxo-3,3a,4,5,6,6a-hexahydropentalen-1-ylcarbamoyl]-3-methylvaleric acid and benzyl (2S,3S)-2-[(3RS,3aSR,6aRS)-3-methoxy-4-oxo-3,3a,4, 5,6,6a-hexahydropentalen-1-ylcarbamoyl]-3-methylvalerate, were prepared for further characterization, and their herbicidal activities were compared with that of cinnacidin. CONCLUSIONS: The synthetic compounds were highly phytotoxic on a range of weeds. Based on the symptoms in treated plants, the mode of action of these compounds is suggested to be similar to that of coronatine and jasmonic acid. Coronatine was more active against warm-season grasses, while the cinnacidin benzyl ester analog was more effective on cool-season grasses. In a seedling growth bioassay conducted on bentgrass, the cinnacidin analog was equivalent in activity to coronatine.     

Occurrence of sulfonylurea resistance in Sagittaria trifolia,a basal monocot species,based on target‐site and non‐target‐site resistance

Sagittaria trifolia L. is one of the most serious weeds in paddy fields in Japan. Since the late 1990s, severe infestations of S. trifolia have occurred following applications of sulfonylurea herbicides in Akita prefecture. In this study, two accessions of S. trifolia, R1 and R2, were collected from paddy fields with severe infestations and their resistance profiles were determined in comparison to a susceptible accession, S1. R1 and R2 were highly resistant to bensulfuron‐methyl. R1 was also highly resistant to pyrazosulfuron‐ethyl, but R2 was susceptible. Relative to S1, R1 had an amino acid substitution at the Pro₁₉₇ residue of acetolactate synthase (ALS), a well‐known mutation that confers sulfonylurea resistance, suggesting that R1 has a target‐site‐based resistance (TSR) mechanism. The sequence of the ALS gene in R2 was identical to that in S1. A Southern blot analysis indicated that there was only one copy of the ALS gene in S1 and R2. These results suggest that R2 has a non‐target‐site‐based resistance (NTSR) mechanism. R2 was moderately resistant to imazosulfuron but susceptible to thifensulfuron‐methyl. R2 and S1 were susceptible to pretilachlor, benfuresate, MCPA‐ethyl and bentazon. The results reveal the occurrence of two sulfonylurea‐resistant biotypes of S. trifolia that show different mechanisms of cross‐resistance to sulfonylureas related to TSR in R1 and NTSR in R2.