Growth, photosynthesis and root reserpine concentrations of two Rauvolfia species in response to a light gradient

Growth and secondary metabolites responses to light environment can be useful measurements to determine favourable habitat conditions for the cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants. We analyzed the growth, photosynthesis and root reserpine concentrations in seedlings of Rauvolfia vomitoria Afzel and Rauvolfia verticillatae (Lour.) Baill, two important medicinal plants yielding anti-hypertension alkaloids, at four different light levels (20%, 52%, 75% and 100% of full sunlight) in a shade house. Across all light intensities, seedlings of R. vomitoria grew faster with higher relative growth rate (RGR) than R. verticillatae, attributed to its higher photosynthetic capacities (light-saturated photosynthetic rate, A_max) and leaf area ratio (LAR). Typical shade-sun morphological responses to increasing light levels included decreased specific leaf area and LAR, whereas RGR and A_max was highest at median light levels for both species. R. vomitoria allocated higher leaf mass fraction and fine-root mass fraction, similar coarse root mass fraction, but lower stem biomass fraction than R. verticillatae. For fine roots, R. vomitoria had greater specific root length and small diameter than R. verticillatae, indicating its higher resource (water and nutrition) capture abilities. Both species had higher nitrogen concentration and lower reserpine concentration in fine roots than those of coarse roots. Neither reserpine concentration nor nitrogen was affected by light intensities. The reserpine concentration in coarse roots of R. vomitoria increased, whereas that of R. verticillatae decreased with increasing irradiance. Although not significantly, reserpine concentrations in coarse roots were positively correlated with A_max and RGR for both species across all light intensities. Shade or photosynthesis inhibition apparently did not increase alkaloid synthesis, which contrasted with the carbon/nutrient balance theory of plant defense. These results suggested that R. vomitoria and R. verticillatae could attain high biomass and yield of reserpine in high-light habitats (with max. in 75% sunlight), and intermediate-light habitats (with max. in 25–52% sunlight), respectively.     

新麦草种子产量与繁殖性状的关联性分析

为了解新麦草的种子产量及繁殖性状间的关系,对27份新麦草种质资源的单株种子产量与7个产量性状的关联性进行了分析。结果表明,新麦草的单株生殖枝数、穗轴节数、单穗小花数和千粒重与单株种子产量关联最密切,其相关性表现为单株生殖枝数＞千粒重＞穗轴节数＞单穗小花数。经通径分析,单株生殖枝数（X₁）对单株种子产量（Y）直接效应最大,其余依次是单穗小花数（X₄）、单穗小穗数（X₃）、千粒重（X₇）、穗轴节数（X₂）和单穗结实种子数（X₅）,其中单穗结实种子数和结实率对种子产量均表现为负效应,且未达到显著水平。经逐步回归分析得到回归方程Y= -9.880 2+0.27X₁+0.012X₄+2.011 1X₇（R=0.805 8,P<0.001）,说明提高单株生殖枝数、千粒重、单穗小花数对新麦草增产的贡献最大,增加结实率也可间接提高新麦草的单株种子产量。     

Water deficit effects on caraway (Carum carvi L.) growth, essential oil and fatty acid composition

The Mediterranean region suffers of drought which affects plant behaviour regarding biochemical responses. Accordingly, the effects of water deficit on growth, essential oil and fatty acid composition of caraway (Carum carvi L.) seeds were investigated. Plants were treated with different levels of water deficit: control, moderate water deficit and severe water deficit. Plant growth (height, fresh and dry matter weight) was significantly reduced by severe water deficit. This last caused also important reductions of the seed yield and yield components. Drought decreased significantly seed total fatty acid contents and particularly the petroselinic ones whose proportions decreased significantly by 12.17 and 18.47%, in comparison with the control, under moderate water deficit and severe water deficit, respectively. Besides, moderate water deficit increased the essential oil yield (expressed as g/100 g on the basis of dry matter weight). The main essential oil constituents were carvone and limonene which showed an increasing of their contents under water deficit levels. Thus, water deficit induced a significant reduction in growth parameters and fatty acid content, and an increase in the essential oil compounds. These bioactive compounds have been required in many industrial products.     

裸燕麦小花形态表型鉴定方法与落粒的形态学机制研究

落粒性是影响裸燕麦产量与品质的关键性状。本研究对228份具有代表性的裸燕麦材料的落粒性及小花的形态等15个性状进行田间多点鉴定,并建立了裸燕麦小花形态表型的鉴定方法。结果表明,15个性状在3个试验地点之间均表现出了不同程度的差异;裸燕麦的落粒性同内稃宽度(相关系数r=-0.36)、内稃面积(r=-0.30)、外稃宽度(r=-0.26)等9个性状呈显著或极显著负相关,与种子同内稃宽度的比值(r=0.37)及种子同外稃宽度的比值(r=0.20)呈极显著正相关,说明内外稃的宽度影响小花中种子的包裹程度,外稃厚度影响小花抵抗外力的能力,从而影响裸燕麦的落粒性。K-means聚类分析将参试材料分为两大类,Ⅰ类占整个群体的48%(110个),内稃和外稃整体上更加窄小,落粒性较高;Ⅱ类占群体的52%(118个),内稃和外稃整体上更加宽大,落粒性较低。对3个地点参试材料落粒性的密度分布进行了分析,提出了裸燕麦落粒性评价的等级划分标准：0～0.03为低落粒性,0.03～0.08为中落粒性,0.08～0.16为较高落粒性,0.16～0.23为高落粒性,大于0.23为极高落粒性。     

Evaluation of corn plant as potential banker plant for supporting predatory gall midge, Feltiella acarisuga (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) against Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) in greenhouse vegetable production

The twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), is one of the most important and highly polyphagous pests of vegetables and other crops worldwide. Experiments were conducted in the laboratory and greenhouse to evaluate corn (Zea mays L.) as a banker plant for the predatory gall midge, Feltiella acarisuga (Vallot) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) to potentially control T. urticae. Choice and no-choice experiments were carried out to determine the host plant preference of an alternative prey, Oligonychus pratensis (Banks)(Acari: Tetranychidae) to corn and green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Results showed that O. pratensis adults strongly preferred corn as a host plant and posed no risk to green bean. F. acarisuga was found to fly at least 7.0 m to search for new preys on green bean plants, and over 176 F. acarisuga larvae per leaf were recorded at 14 d after dispersal. F. acarisuga proved to be an excellent predator of both T. urticae and O. pratensis. The predation by F. acarisuga to T. urticae and O. pratensis ranged from 43.7 to 67.9% and 59.2 to 90.3%, respectively, under laboratory conditions. In a non-cage study, 81.2% of T. urticae population was suppressed by F. acarisuga in reference to the control (cage treatment). The results showed that this banker plant system has potential for controlling T. urticae in greenhouse vegetable production.     

Cloning, expression and characterization of novel avenin-like genes in wheat and related species

B-Type avenin-like genes and proteins were characterized in 23 species of Triticeae. Southern blot analysis showed that the avenin-like genes belong to a multigene family. RT-PCR showed expression only in developing endosperms of wheat and related species, between 3 and 22 DPA (days post anthesis) with a peak between 11 and 15 DPA in wheat. The encoded proteins are cysteine-rich, containing 18–19 cysteine residues. An avenin-like protein from wheat was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified and used to raise polyclonal antibodies. These antibodies were used to detect b-type avenin-like proteins in endosperms of wheat and related species by western blotting.     

Essential oil composition of Hypericum perfoliatum L. and Hypericum tomentosum L. growing wild in Tunisia

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Tunisian native Hypericum perfoliatum L. (sect. Drosocarpium Spach.) and Hypericum tomentosum (sect. Adenosepalum Spach.) were analyzed by GC and GC–MS. Thirty-two compounds were identified in the essential oils of H. perfoliatum with α-pinene (13.1%), allo-aromadendrene (11.4%), germacrene-D (10.6%), n-octane (7.3%), α-selinene (6.5%) and β-selinene (5.5%) as main constituents. Sixty-seven components were identified in the oil of H. tomentosum with menthone (17.0%), n-octane (9.9%), β-caryophyllene (5.3%), α-pinene (5.2%), lauric acid (4.1%) and β-pinene (3.7%) as the most abundant components. Both oils were characterized by the presence of many components which could have numerous applications in food, pharmaceutical and perfume industries.     

Changes in essential oil and fatty acid composition in coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) leaves under saline conditions

The influence of salinity on essential oil and fatty acid composition of Tunisian coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) leaves grown in hydroponic culture was investigated. Volatile constituents and fatty acid of leaves were analyzed. The essential oil yield increased significantly up to 18 and 43% with 25 and 50 mM NaCl, respectively and decreased significantly under high salinity. The major volatile compound in leaves was (E)-2-decenal with 52% of total essential oil constituents, followed by decanal, dodecanal, (E)-2-tridecenal and (E)-2-dodecenal. Further, the content of these compounds was affected differently by the treatment level.Salinity decreased significantly the total fatty acid content of the upper and basal leaves. α-Linolenic (C18:3n3) was the main compound of both organs, followed by linoleic (C18:2n6), heptadecenoïc (C17:1n7) and palmitic (C16:0) acids. Raising NaCl concentrations lead to an important decrease in the unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio stimulating the formation of more rigid membrane.     

Biomass, organic carbon and mineral matter contents of abaca (Musa textilis Nee) at different stages of growth

This study was conducted to measure the biomass, organic carbon and mineral matter contents of abaca at different stages of growth as baseline information for material cycling of the plant. These were attained through destructive sampling of the identified sample plants. Different parameters such as moisture content, dry matter, organic carbon and mineral matter contents were determined. Regression and correlation analyses were also conducted to find out possible relationship between growth parameters and plant biomass.Biomass contents ranged from 11 to 21% regardless of the growth stages of abaca. Based on the weight of partitioned components, biomass, organic carbon and mineral matter contents (g/plant) of all tissues increased as the growth of abaca plant progressed. Pseudostem tissue showed the highest percent moisture content but it also showed the highest biomass (dry weight per plant) during the vegetative and flagleaf stages of growth. The pseudostem biomass accounted nearly two-thirds of the above-ground biomass at harvesting stage in the production system. Cumulative effect could be disadvantageous and would most likely result to nutrient imbalance in the system due to crop removal and nutrient mining. A strong relationship was found between biomass and pseudostem length (r = 0.997).     

HARDY基因的克隆、原核表达及其植物表达载体的构建

为了给转HARDY(HRD)基因小麦研究奠定基础,利用PCR技术从拟南芥中克隆HRD基因,进行生物信息学分析,预测其编码的蛋白质结构与功能,构建原核表达载体pET28a(+)-HRD,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),IPTG诱导蛋白的表达,同时构建pBin-HRD植物表达载体。测序分析结果表明,克隆的HRD与NCBI发布的拟南芥核苷酸序列的同源性为99%,其开放阅读框长555bp,可编码184个氨基酸,具有许多重要功能位点;成功构建了原核表达载体pET28a(+)-HRD和植物表达载体pBin-HRD,诱导表达出大小约为23.3kD的蛋白,与理论值相近。     

Forage soybean production for seed in mediterranean environments

Despite several experiments on row spacings and seeding rates of grain soybeans, limited information is available on the most suitable row spacing and seeding rate for tall and robust forage type soybeans grown for seed. The objectives of this study were to investigate seed yield, oil and protein content, and several morphological traits as affected by row spacing (20, 40, 60 and 80 cm) and seeding rate (330,000, 660,000, 990,000 and 1,320,000 seeds ha⁻¹) in tall and robust forage type soybeans in three irrigated Mediterranean environments in Turkey in a randomized split plot design with three replications in 2004 and 2005. Row spacings had no significant effect on plant height but tall and profusely branched plants developed in wide row spacing and light seeding conditions. Seed yield responded positively and linearly to row spacing up to 60 cm and then decreased slightly in all locations. Seed yield was the highest at 990,000 seeds ha⁻¹ seeding rate in all three locations (3072.5 kg ha⁻¹ in Bursa LSD = 214.7 kg ha⁻¹, 3295.1 kg ha⁻¹ in Mustafakemalpasa LSD = 298.6 kg ha⁻¹ and 3311.3 kg ha⁻¹ in Samsun LSD = 321.1 kg ha⁻¹). Averaged across years, locations, row spacings, and seeding rates the mean seed yield was an impressive 3013.4 kg ha⁻¹ compare with 3500.0 kg ha⁻¹ average seed yield of grain types. Crude protein and oil content of forage type soybean were not significantly affected by row spacings and seeding rates. It was concluded that forage type soybeans can be grown for multiple purposes at the 990,000 seeds ha⁻¹ seeding rate and 60 cm row spacings in Mediterranean environments.     

Feeding behavior of a potential insect pest, Lygus hesperus, on four new industrial crops for the arid southwestern USA

Camelina (Camelina sativa), guayule (Parthenium argentatum), lesquerella (Physaria fendleri), and vernonia (Centrapalus pauciflorus [formerly Vernonia galamensis]) are either under limited commercial production or being developed for production in the southwestern USA. Insect pests are a potential economic threat to all these new crops, with Lygus hesperus, the western tarnished plant bug, among the most prominent due to its regional abundance and propensity to feed on reproductive plant tissue. The objectives of this study were to establish baseline data on the feeding behavior and potential impact of L. hesperus on camelina, guayule, lesquerella and vernonia. Behavioral observations of adult females and males, and nymphs of this insect were made in the laboratory. Insects spent ≈35% of their time either probing (=tasting) or feeding on various reproductive and vegetative tissues of guayule, lesquerella or vernonia, but only 20% on camelina. When insects did probe and feed they preferred reproductive tissues, primarily flowers and siliques/achenes, and there were differences in these behaviors relative to crop but not generally to insect stage or sex. Insects probed and fed more on flower tissue of guayule and vernonia compared with camelina and lesquerella, and more on siliques of lesquerella compared with achenes of vernonia. When probing and feeding on vegetative tissue, there was generally a preference for stems compared with leaves in all crops except guayule. Results show that L. hesperus will readily feed on the economically important tissues of all crops, and although research has shown that this feeding did not consistently affect lesquerella yield, further work will be needed to determine if such feeding poses a risk to commercial production of camelina, guayule or vernonia.     

Efficacy of a hydroxytyrosol-rich preparation from olive mill wastewater for control of olive psyllid, Euphyllura olivina, infestations

Olive mill wastewater (OMW) is a problematic by-product in Mediterranean countries. Despite this, it is a raw material that is an unfailing source of bioactive molecules. A hydroxytyrosol-rich preparation (HRP) (49.6% weight:dry weight) was extracted from fresh OMW using a hydrolysis and post-hydrolysis purification process. The field efficacy of HRP as a spray treatment (2500 l ha⁻¹) against olive psyllid, Euphyllura olivina (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), was evaluated in 2008 and 2009 in a drip-irrigated olive orchard.The HRP showed strong insecticidal activity against E. olivina at a concentration of 2 g l⁻¹ hydroxytyrosol. Application of HRP resulted in 41.1 and 72.1% control of nymphs and adults, respectively. However, HRP application did not reduce egg hatch. Neither phytotoxicity nor toxicity to auxiliary-fauna was recorded with concentrations of 1.25 g l⁻¹ or 2 g l⁻¹ HRP. But, the 2.5 g l⁻¹ concentration was slightly phytotoxic, especially at the E and F floral phenological stages of the grapes. HRP offers a natural and effective extract for control of olive psyllid and opens a new opportunity for the reuse of OMW.     

玉米C型胞质雄性不育恢复基因Rf5的抑制基因的发现与鉴定

利用一个含有单基因Rf5的恢复系6233与6个C型不育系杂交，发现杂交组合Cms-C77×6233表现不育，(Cms-C77×6233)×6233的育性表现1∶1的分离，推测在不育系Cms-C77中存在一个显性抑制基因Rf-I，该基因只对恢复基因Rf5具有抑制作用。因此在玉米C型胞质雄性不育的三系选育过程中，为避免不育系背景中可能存在抑制基因的影响，应选择含有恢复基因Rf4的材料作为供体进行恢复系的选育工作，可以克服有些不育系的恢复系选育较难的问题。     

小麦LBD基因家族的全基因组鉴定、表达特性及调控网络分析

为深入发掘小麦LBD基因的功能,利用小麦最新基因组数据,通过生物信息学手段,对小麦LBD基因家族进行了鉴定,并对其表达特性及调控网络进行了分析。鉴定结果表明,本研究得到了75个小麦LBD基因,根据系统进化分析结果,可将它们划分为ClassⅠ和ClassⅡ两个亚家族。染色体定位结果表明,除了5D和7D外,其余染色体均含有LBD基因。共表达调控网络分析表明,15个LBD基因参与了小麦功能基因调控。利用RNA-seq数据对所有小麦LBD基因在不同组织以及不同逆境胁迫下的表达情况进行分析表明,小麦LBD基因在不同组织间和胁迫下存在着差异表达,多个组织特异和胁迫响应相关LBD基因被鉴定到,可作为后续功能研究的候选基因。     

玉米ZmKNOLLE基因的克隆及增强烟草耐盐性研究

从玉米基因组中克隆出ZmKNOLLE,对其蛋白的同源性和进化树进行分析,并在烟草中对其在盐胁迫中的功能进行验证。研究表明,SNARE蛋白参与植物抗逆性,研究描述了1个玉米SNARE蛋白ZmKNOLLE,其中,包含1个SNARE特定的结构域。它的c DNA为945bp,编码1个314个氨基酸的蛋白,预测分子量为34.54kD,等电点(p I)为7.02,在ZmKNOLLE蛋白C端有一个跨膜结构域。实时定量PCR结果显示,ZmKNOLLE能被盐和H_2O_2强烈诱导。通过农杆菌介导把ZmKNOLLE基因转化到烟草(W38)中,启动子为CaMV 35S。在盐胁迫下,与野生型相比,转基因烟草植株表现出较长的主根和较高的萌发率,相对含水量、POD、SOD活性较高,MDA含量较少,表明转基因烟草比野生型烟草对盐胁迫有更强的耐受性。     

Molecular characterization of Cereal Cyst Nematode diagnostic markers Cre1 and Cre3 in some winter wheat germplasm and their potential use against Heterodera filipjevi

Two PCR based markers tightly linked to Cre1 and Cre3 resistant genes against the Cereal Cyst Nematode (CCN, causal agent Heterodera avenae) were used to characterize a number of diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid wheat germplasm consisting of obsolete, advanced lines and new cultivars from the Turkish National Breeding Program and the joint TURKEY CIMMYT ICARDA International Winter Wheat Improvement Program. In addition a number of landraces and wild relatives of wheat collected from the Turkish side of the Fertile Crescent, the centre of origin of cereals, were included. None of the genetic material tested positive for either marker except the land race Sardari which originated from neighboring Iran was found positive for Cre1 gene. Combining both of these molecular markers in one assay for fast and cost-effective screening of the germplasm was not effective, so marker genotyping with germplasm was realized using each primer alone. Most work that has been reported is on the CCN species H. avenae, however the predominant species in Turkey is the closely related H. filipjevi. In vitro resistance assaying for this species indicates that Cre1 is a moderate source of resistance against the H. filipjevi population, however Cre3 gene appears ineffective. It is suggested that a larger pool of a range of germplasm should be screened for Cre1 in Turkey. Furthermore, the landrace Sardari could be used as a parent to deploy CCN resistance in to genetic background of Turkish bread wheat cultivars with a targeted Marker Assisted Selection Backcrossing approach.     

小麦HD2基因家族的全基因组鉴定及热胁迫下的表达模式分析

组蛋白去乙酰化酶(histonedeacetylase,HDAC)负责去除组蛋白上的乙酰基团,在生物体的生长发育和非生物胁迫响应方面具有重要作用。本研究根据其他植物中HD2基因家族序列,利用生物信息学方法对小麦中的HD2基因进行鉴定,并对其基本生物学特性和调控网络等进行分析。结果表明,有12个小麦HD2基因被鉴定,并根据蛋白质序列C端是否含有锌指结构将其分为Group1和Group2两个亚家族;这些基因的编码蛋白均定位于细胞核内。利用WheatExp数据和RNA-seq数据对小麦HD2基因在不同组织和不同逆境胁迫下的表达模式进行分析,结果表明,小麦HD2基因在不同组织和不同逆境下均存在差异表达。同时,利用qRT-PCR技术对其在小麦12个生长发育时期的叶片中响应热胁迫的表达模式进行分析,结果表明,其在小麦挑旗期和抽穗期表达量明显上升。     

二穗短柄草SPL家族基因的鉴定、系统发育和表达分析

植物特异性SPL家族基因编码SBP（squamosa promoter-binding protein-like）保守结构,参与调节植物的生长和发育。为了解二穗短柄草中SPL家族基因的分布、结构及功能,对二穗短柄草全基因组中SPL家族成员进行了系统分析。结果表明,在二穗短柄草全基因组中鉴定出17个BdSPL基因,在5条染色体上呈不均匀分布,bd03号染色体上分布最多;根据系统发育树,17个BdSPL被分为6个组,同组成员有保守的结构和基序;其中6对 BdSPL基因发生基因复制事件;在BdSPL基因启动子区域发现了各种顺式元件,如ABRE、CGTAC-motif和LTR。转录组数据和qRT-PCR分析显示,BdSPL基因在二穗短柄草花中表达量较高,而在根系中表达量较低,在不同植物激素处理下表达量有差异。