不同生态区同一基因型烤烟叶绿体差异蛋白质组分析

为了揭示同一烤烟品种在不同生态烟区香型风格的形成机制,以烤烟(Nicotiana tabacum)品种K326为材料,分别提取典型清香型烟区玉溪和典型浓香型烟区桂阳烟叶的叶绿体,TCA-丙酮法提取烟叶叶绿体蛋白质,利用双向电泳技术联合质谱技术对清香型和浓香型烟叶叶绿体的差异蛋白质组进行分析。结果表明,在分子量为14.3~97.2 kD之间,桂阳可检测到的蛋白质点数为1 270个,其中上升表达的蛋白质点为41个,特异表达的蛋白质点为10个;玉溪可检测到的蛋白质点数为892个,其中上升表达的蛋白质点为48个,特异表达的蛋白质点为4个,两者共同表达的蛋白质点为716个。对其中特异表达的14个蛋白质点进行MALDI-TOF-TOF质谱分析和生物信息学的综合比对,桂阳得到6个同源匹配蛋白质,特异表达的蛋白为ATP合酶的β亚基、核酮糖-l,5-二磷酸羧化酶/加氧酶和NADPH脱氢酶;玉溪得到1个同源匹配蛋白质,特异表达的蛋白为1,6-二磷酸果糖醛缩酶。其中与光合作用密切相关的蛋白质在湖南桂阳特异性表达;与糖代谢密切相关的蛋白质在云南玉溪特异性表达。本研究首次从叶绿体蛋白质组水平对烟叶香型风格形成的机理进行了探讨,为烤烟的育种和生产提供一定的理论依据。     

桂花15-顺式-ζ-胡萝卜素异构酶基因(Z-ISO)的克隆及表达分析

15-顺式-ζ-胡萝卜素异构酶(15-cis-ζ-carotene isomerase,Z-ISO)可以催化9,15,9'-三顺式-ζ-胡萝卜素异构化生成9,9'-二顺式-ζ-胡萝卜素,Z-ISO基因是植物类胡萝卜素代谢途径中最后一个被鉴定的基因.为克隆桂花(Osmanthus fragrans) Z-ISO基因的ORF序列并研究其表达特征,本研究利用已构建的桂花花瓣转录组数据库中Unigene序列信息,结合PCR技术克隆得到桂花Of Z-ISO1(GenBank登录号:KX120175)和Of Z-ISO2(GenBank登录号:KX120176)基因ORF序列.生物信息学分析表明,Of Z-ISO1和OfZ-ISO2基因均含有长为1 107 bp的ORF,编码368个氨基酸残基.Of Z-ISO1和Of Z-ISO2蛋白均含有6个跨膜螺旋区和3个保守的异构酶功能作用所必需的活性位点(H152、H268和D296).Of Z-ISO1和Of-ISO2与玉米(Zea mays)和拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana) Z-ISO1氨基酸序列有较高的相似性,系统进化树分析发现,Of Z-ISO1和Of Z-ISO2与芝麻(Sesamum indicum)Z-ISO亲缘关系最近,聚为同一小支.qRT-PCR结果显示,堰虹桂花序发育过程中,OfZ-ISO1基因在花蕾期花序中表达量较低,铃梗期其表达量急剧增加,初开期表达量保持不变,而盛开期表达量显著下降;Of Z-ISO2基因在花蕾期和铃梗期花序中表达量较低,随后表达量逐渐增加,于盛开期表达量达到最高.在桂花不同花色品种中,丹桂品种堰虹桂花色最深、花瓣类胡萝卜、素总量最高,金桂品种金球桂次之,银桂品种玉玲珑花色最浅、花瓣类胡萝卜素总量最低;总体上铃梗期和初开期时玉玲珑Of Z-ISO1和Of Z-ISO2基因的表达量较高,盛开期3个不同花色品种花瓣中OfZ-ISO1和Ofz-ISO2基因的表达量大致相同.本研究结果表明,桂花花序开放过程中Of Z-ISO1和Of Z-ISO2基因的表达水平对其类胡萝卜素的积累十分重要,不同花色品种类胡萝卜素含量与其Of-ISO1和OfZ-ISO2基因表达量并非正相关.研究结果将为全面揭示桂花呈色机制提供理论基础.     

过表达TwHMGR和TwDXR基因对雷公藤萜类次生代谢产物的影响

3-羟基-3-甲基戊二酰辅酶A还原酶(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase,HMGR)和1-脱氧-D-木酮糖-5-磷酸还原异构酶(1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase,DXR)分别被认为是植物萜类合成途径:甲羟戊酸(mevalonate,MVA)和2-甲基赤藓醇4-磷酸(2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate,MEP)途径的关键酶,这两个酶的基因表达水平将会直接影响到植物萜类物质的合成。本研究通过构建TwHMGR(KU246037.1)和TwDXR(KJ174341.1)基因的过表达载体,借助发根农杆菌(Agrobacterium rhizogenes)整合到雷公藤(Tripterygium wilfordii)基因组中,分别筛选得到三株转基因发状根系。qRT-PCR分析结果表明,转基因发状根系中目的基因TwHMGR和TwDXR的表达量均明显高于对照,最高可分别达到对照的4.73倍和5.81倍。高效液相色谱(high-performance liquid chromatography,HPLC)法测定结果显示,转TwHMGR基因和TwDXR基因的发状根雷公藤内酯醇、雷公藤吉碱和雷公藤次碱的含量均明显高于对照,结果表明,提高雷公藤TwHMGR基因和TwDXR基因的表达量,可以提高雷公藤萜类次生代谢产物的产量。研究结果为进一步利用代谢工程手段调控雷公藤活性物质的生物合成以及为研究雷公藤萜类物质的生物合成途径奠定基础。     

不同施氮水平对红花大金元烟叶香味物质和感官评吸质量的影响

【目的】 氮素施用水平主导着烟叶的氮素代谢,影响烟叶中有机酸、酚类、石油醚提取物、木质素等香味物质的含量,进而影响烟叶的感官评吸质量。探索不同氮素施用量对红花大金元 (简称红大) 烟叶香味物质和感官评吸质量的影响,以期为烤烟栽培中氮素的科学施用提供理论依据。 【方法】 2013 年在云南玉溪和大理烟区以烤烟红大为供试材料进行田间试验。设置施氮水平 0、45、90 和 135 kg/hm2 (分别以 N₀、N₁、N₂ 和 N₃ 表示),分析了烤烟香味物质和感官评吸质量指标。 【结果】 烟叶中挥发酸含量随施氮量的增加而显著提高,大理试验以 N₃ 处理含量最高,达到 0.13%;烟叶中高级脂肪酸总量和多元有机酸均以 N₂ 处理最高,玉溪分别为 19.71 和 82.65 mg/g,大理分别为 20.67 和 94.12 mg/g。烟叶中多酚含量在N₂ 水平最高,至 N₃ 时出现下降。烟叶石油醚提取物含量随施氮水平的提高而显著增加,玉溪和大理试验点 N₃ 处理含量分别为 6.25% 和 6.05%。烟叶木质素含量以 N₂ 处理最低,玉溪和大理试验点含量分别为 5.19% 和 5.42%。红大烟叶感官评吸总分均以N₂ 处理最高,玉溪和大理试验点的评分分别为 77.4 和 78.1。 【结论】 氮素施用水平中等时 (90 kg/hm2),烟叶挥发酸和石油醚提取物含量适中,高级脂肪酸和多元有机酸含量较高,酚类物质积累较多,木质素含量较低,烟叶各香味物质含量协调性较好,感官评吸时烟叶香气质、香气量、余味、杂气、劲头和评吸总分较高,烟叶品质优良。      

温度和水分对典型香型烟区植烟土壤氮素矿化的影响

为探究典型香型烟区植烟土壤氮素矿化特征及其与温度和水分的关系,采用室内培养试验研究了土壤温度(15、28、37℃)和土壤相对含水量(50%、65%、80%田间持水量)对云南大理、贵州毕节、河南许昌3个典型香型产区植烟土壤氮素矿化的影响。结果表明:不同地区植烟土壤矿质氮和矿化速率变化规律与温度和水分密切相关。3个产区植烟土壤的矿质氮含量和矿化速率均随着温度的升高而升高,在同一温度条件下,以土壤有机质含量较高的云南大理土壤矿化量较大,有机质含量较低的河南许昌土壤矿化量较小。不同地区植烟土壤含水量与氮素矿化的关系不尽相同,土壤相对黏重的贵州毕节土壤以50%田间持水量处理土壤氮素矿化量和矿化速率最大,以80%田间持水量处理最不利于氮素矿化;而质地相对较轻的河南许昌土壤和云南大理土壤均为在65%田间持水量条件下最有利于氮素矿化,以50%田间持水量处理氮素矿化量较小。基于一级动力学方程的模拟,3个植烟土壤的潜在矿化氮库(N0)都随温度的增加而提高,总体以28～37℃的培养温度较为适宜,低于15℃不利于土壤有机氮的矿化,3个植烟土壤的N0以云南大理最高,河南许昌最低;土壤矿化速率常数(K)以云南大理最大。土壤相对含水量也对N0有一定影响,且土壤温度和含水量对不同土壤氮素矿化量和矿化速率均存在显著的互作影响,合理调控土壤温度和土壤相对含水量,可以有效调节不同生态烟区土壤氮素矿化动态变化。     

西农萨能羊胰岛素诱导基因2(INSIG2)的克隆及组织表达分析

胰岛素诱导基因2(insulin induced gene2,INSIG2)是参与脂质形成和代谢调控的重要基因,而山羊乳腺中脂质合成和代谢与乳品质密切相关。为进一步明确它们之间的关系进而为改善山羊乳品风味提供科学支持。本实验以西农萨能羊(Capra hircus)乳腺组织为研究材料,采用RT-PCR技术克隆山羊INSIG2基因,并采用实时荧光定量(RT-qPCR)技术在山羊10个组织中对INSIG2基因进行了组织表达分析。研究获得了915bp的cDNA序列(GenBank登录号:JQ361767),其中编码区678bp,该基因编码225个氨基酸,预测蛋白质分子量为24.8730kD,等电点(pI)为8.77。通过核苷酸和氨基酸序列比对分析发现,山羊的INSIG2与GenBank中牛(Bos taurus)的相似性最高。蛋白质结构分析显示,INSIG2存在6个跨膜螺旋;疏水性分析发现,其N端和C端均具有亲水性;遗传距离分析发现,山羊与牛的亲缘关系最近,其次是猪(Susscrofa)。INSIG2基因的组织表达分析表明,INSIG2基因在10个被检测组织中均有表达,且肺组织中表达量最高,肌肉次之,乳腺组织的表达量居中,心脏组织中最低。研究结果为该基因在山羊乳腺组织中的功能研究提供依据。     

不同发育阶段厚壳贻贝幼虫对类胡萝卜素的吸收和代谢研究

为深入了解饵料微藻中类胡萝卜素在双壳贝类生长发育阶段中的吸收和代谢过程,本试验选择我国重要的滩涂养殖贝类——厚壳贻贝(mytilus coruscus)作为研究对象,采用液相色谱-质谱联用技术(HPLC-MS)分析饵料微藻喂养后的幼虫阶段——担轮幼虫、D形幼虫、壳顶期、眼点期和稚贝期中类胡萝卜素分布和代谢变化。结果表明,在9种饵料微藻中,叉鞭金藻和牟氏角毛藻的总类胡萝卜素含量最高,分别达到1 290.7和1 326.4 mg·kg^-1。外源摄入这两种饵料微藻后,幼虫阶段中共鉴定出5种类胡萝卜素,包括1种新合成类胡萝卜素(贻贝黄素)和4种微藻来源类胡萝卜素(α-胡萝卜素、β-胡萝卜素、岩藻黄酮醇、岩藻黄素),其中岩藻黄素的含量最高,与微藻中岩藻黄素含量高的现象一致。担轮幼虫中未检测到类胡萝卜素,而贻贝黄素仅从壳顶期开始检出。类胡萝卜素的变化与发育阶段呈正相关,从D形幼虫到壳顶期,岩藻黄酮醇、岩藻黄素、α-胡萝卜素和β-胡萝卜素的累积最为迅速,分别增加了20.3、20.3、8.0和1.5倍,并在稚贝期达到最高值。此外,与类胡萝卜素吸收代谢相关的基因ABCA1、SRB1和βCMOOX的表达量均显著上调。其中,参与合成代谢的βCMOOX表达最显著,从壳顶期到稚贝期,其表达量增加了38.2~43.3倍,表明该基因可能参与了壳顶期贻贝黄素的合成。本研究结果为了解贝类生物中类胡萝卜素的生物合成过程及代谢途径提供了基础数据。     

巴西橡胶树K~＋通道蛋白基因HbKCO1的克隆与表达分析

本研究采用RT-PCR结合RACE技术,成功地克隆了一个新的巴西橡胶树(Hevea brasiliensis)K+通道蛋白基因并分析了其结构和表达特征.结果表明,该基因cDNA全长1482 bp,拥有1059 bp的开放阅读框(ORE),编码353个氨基酸残基.同源性和聚类分析证实,该基因属于植物KCO家族,命名为HbKCO1(GenBank登录号为EU827609).半定量RT-PCR分析结果显示,HbKCOl在巴西橡胶树不同器官中均有表达,但叶片中表达量最高,茎次之,根、胶乳和树皮中的表达量最低;高钾、盐胁迫(NaC1)和Ca~(2+)可以促进叶片中HbKCOl的表达,钾饥饿和ABA则起到抑制作用;胶乳中HbKCOl的表达几乎不受乙烯利(ET)和茉莉酸(JA)的影响.     

基于转录组测序的文心兰花香形成分析

文心兰具有很高的观赏价值,但花香形成分子机制研究相对薄弱。本研究以香水文心、黄梦香和白梦香为材料,利用气相色谱-质谱分析其花香挥发物成分。结果表明,3个品种的花香挥发物均以萜类化合物为主,但种类差异较大。盛花期花香挥发物总量由高到低依次为黄梦香、香水文心、白梦香。从转录组数据中共获得459 756个单基因(unigenes),大约40.61%的unigenes被公共数据库注释。MEP和MVA途径中的多数基因在黄梦香中表达量最高,香水文心次之,白梦香最低,与花香挥发物释放总量相符。转录组数据中共筛选出5个显著差异表达的萜类合成酶基因(TPS)。其中,OnTPS4在3个品种中均高表达,说明OnTPS4在3个品种中对香气的形成起重要作用;OnTPS1、OnTPS2和OnTPS5在香水文心中表达偏高,是调控香水文心萜类挥发物形成的重要基因;OnTPS3在黄梦香中表达较高,是调控黄梦香萜类挥发物形成的重要基因。由上述结果可知,MEP和MVA途径的基因表达水平与花香挥发物释放总量相一致,TPS的表达与具体萜类挥发物释放密切相关。 本研究通过花香形成机理研究,为文心兰花香改良提供了依据。     

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.