Amphidiploids between Alstroemeria ligtu L. hybrid and A. pelegrina L. var. rosea induced through colchicine treatment and their reproductive characteristics

Interspecific hybrids of Alstroemeria ligtu L. hybrid (LH) (2n = 16) and A. pelegrina L. var. rosea (PR) (2n = 16) synthesized by cross-breeding, exhibited a low pollen fertility and failed to produce normal seeds by self-pollination. To produce amphidiploids of LH × PR the ovules of LH × PR were treated with 0.05% aqueous colchicine for 2, 4 or 8 days or the rhizomes of the mature LH × PR were treated with 0.5% aqueous colchicine for 1, 2, 4 or 7 days. A total of 6 mature plants were obtained from the ovules of LH × PR treated with colchicine. Among them 2 plants derived from the ovules treated with colchicine for 4 days were found to be amphidiploids (2n = 32). A total of 17 rhizomes treated with colchicine, sprouted. Among them, 1 and 3 plants developed from the rhizomes treated with colchicine, for 1 and 4 days, respectively, were fertile. The plants developed from seeds obtained by self-pollination were amphidiploids with a chromosome number of 2n = 32. Although each of the amphidiploids induced by colchicine and LH × PR exhibited the characteristics of the parents, the colchicine-induced amphidiploids showed larger flowers than LH × PR and grew more vigorously. Even though the amphidiploids failed to produce normal seeds by self-pollination, pollen fertility was relatively high and their progenies were produced from self-pollinated ovules by ovule culture. The amphidiploids were crossed with LH, PR, A. aurea Graham, A. paupercula Philippi and A. psittacina Lehm., resulting in the production of triploids with a chromosome number of 2n = 24.     

Effect of Phaeomoniella chlamydospora and Phaeoacremonium sp. on in vitro grapevine plants

Artificial inoculation with fungal species involved in the Petri disease was performed on in vitro grapevine shoots. After 2 months, plantlets were observed and the presence of any leaf chlorosis or necrosis, considered as symptoms of the disease, were recorded. The fungal inoculation caused an increase in the number of symptomatic in vitro plants and in the incidence of external symptoms. Recovery of the fungal species was obtained after incubation of excised tissue fragments from the inoculated in vitro plants while some fertile fragments were collected also from plants without external symptoms. Higher levels of symptoms were observed in the rootstock varieties inoculated with Phaeomoniella chlamydospora while the lowest incidence was observed in the Aglianico cultivar. The possibility to correlate the visual assessment of in vitro plants with the data obtained by the analysis of digital images was confirmed.     

Molecular cloning of three malic acid related genes MdPEPC, MdVHA-A, MdcyME and their expression analysis in apple fruits

Malic acid (MA) in apple fruit is the predominant organic acid associated with taste, flavour and juice quality. In this study, three full-length cDNAs of MdPEPC, MdVHA-A and MdcyME were cloned from apple fruit. They encoded cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (MdPEPC, EC 4.1.1.31), subunit A of vacuolar H⁺-ATPase (MdVHA, EC 3.6.1.3) and cytosolic NADP-dependent malic enzyme (MdcyME, EC 1.1.1.40), respectively, for MA synthesis, transportation and degradation. Real-time quantitative PCR discovered that the expression levels of three genes varied with development stages, and that their expression patterns differed between low acid (LA) and high acid (HA) genotypes. In addition, enzyme activity assay showed that PEPC and VHA contributed positively to MA accumulation during fruit development both in LA and HA, while cyME did negatively.     

Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated genetic transformation and regeneration of Morus alba L.

An efficient method was established for genetic transformation of Morus alba clone M5 using Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated gene transfer. Cotyledon explants from in vitro grown seedlings were co-cultivated with disarmed strain LBA 4404 harbouring the binary vector p^BI121 carrying chimeric β-glucuronidase (GUS) and neomycin phosphotransferase (npt II) genes. Maximum transformation frequency of 18.60% was recorded with 48 h of pre-conditioning followed by co-cultivation for the same duration. Expression and presence of transgene was confirmed by histochemical test and polymerase chain reaction. The transgenic plants were micropropagated and successfully acclimatised.     

Effects of CO2, temperature and their interaction on the growth, development and yield of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. botrytis)

Stands of summer cauliflower were grown within polyethylene-covered tunnels along which a temperature gradient was imposed. Two tunnels were maintained at either normal or elevated CO₂ concentrations. At the last harvest (88 days from transplanting) no interaction between CO₂ and temperature on total biomass was detected. The total dry weight of plants grown at 531 μmol mol⁻¹ CO₂ was 34% greater than those grown at 328 μmol mol⁻¹ CO₂, whereas a 1 °C rise reduced dry weight by 6%. From serial harvests the radiation conversion coefficient was 2.01 g MJ⁻¹ and 1.42 g MJ⁻¹ at 531 μmol mol⁻¹ CO₂and 328 μmol mol⁻¹ CO₂, respectively, but was not greatly affected by differences in temperature. No effect of either CO₂ or temperature on the canopy light extinction coefficient was detected. The rate of progress towards curd initiation increased to a maximum at 15.5 °C, and declined thereafter. Provided the effect of temperature was accounted for, CO₂ enrichment did not affect the time of curd initiation. From serial harvests after curd initiation, the logarithm of curd weight or diameter were negative linear functions of mean temperature from initiation. Increases in curd weight and diameter at 531 compared with 328 μmol mol⁻¹ CO₂ were greater at warmer temperatures (27% at 13 °C compared with 47% at 15 °C, 57 days after initiation). Effects of CO₂ on curd diameter were less than those on curd dry weight because the curd dry matter content was greater at 531 compared with 328 μmol mol⁻¹ CO₂. Thus, the effects of elevated CO₂ concentrations on fresh weight based yield parameters of cauliflower were less than the increase in total dry matter production.     

NEB、绿亨1号、绿亨2号对黄瓜生长的影响

采用二因素裂区试验设计,研究了NEB、绿亨1号、绿亨2号3种生物农药及有机肥对黄瓜产量、株高、第1雌花节位、发病率的影响。试验结果表明,NEB、绿亨1号、绿亨2号结合有机肥使用,能显著促进黄瓜植株生长,降低发病率,提高产量。使用NEB的效果较绿亨1号、绿亨2号显著。     

NEB、绿亨1号、绿亨2号对黄瓜生长的影响

采用二因素裂区试验设计,研究了NEB、绿亨1号、绿亨2号3种生物农药及有机肥对黄瓜产量、株高、第1雌花节住、发病率的影响.试验结果表明,NEB、绿亨1号、绿亨2号结合有机肥使用,能显著促进黄瓜植株生长,降低发病率,提高产量.使用NEB的效果较绿亨1号、绿亨2号显著.     

Potential hazard characteristics of Tilia, Betula, and Acer trees removed in the Helsinki City Area during 2001–2003

In order to study decay, and to improve the management and protection of old urban trees, a total of 256 felled urban trees were examined during 2001–2003: 95 Tilia spp., 74 Betula spp., and 87 Acer spp. Most of the trees (73%) were located in the main parks and along the main streets in the downtown area of Helsinki City, Finland. The mean age of the trees was over 60 years, and the majority (64%) were old park trees. Poor condition and increasing risk of failure were the main reasons for felling in 82% of the cases. Thirty three percent of these trees were degenerated or dead, but the amenity value of 14% of the risk trees was still high. The latter were old, big trees which posed a potential hazard, but had a vital and balanced crown.Some characteristic profiles for potential failure were identified for each of the tree species studied: Ganoderma lipsiense in the butts and hollows in the stems of Tilia spp., weak fork formations together with Rigidoporus populinus on Acer spp., and degeneration together with decay in the stem on Betula spp.Decay fungi most commonly identified were R. populinus, G. lipsiense, Inonotus obliquus and Piptoporus betulinus. In addition, Kretzschmaria deusta was very common in three of the parks, and on every one of the tree species investigated.     

出口小香葱新品种新葱一号和新葱二号的选育

2002年开始对德国全绿香葱进行改良,经过10 a多努力成功选育出了产量、抗性方面均显著优于德国全绿的新葱品种——新葱一号、二号。这2个新品种适于热炕(AD)或冻干(FD)脱水加工,加工产品颗粒均匀、色泽鲜亮浓绿、口感好、味香,符合出口西欧、美国和日本的要求,特别是新葱二号抗寒性强,冬季地上部不枯死,春季萌发早,比德国全绿提早1个月采收。2个新品种的推广,使我国出口香葱单位面积产量至少提高20%,使农民每667 m2增收1 000元以上,提早和延长加工时间1个月以上,为企业增加效益30%。     

Soil and rootstock influence on fruit quality of plums (Prunus domestica L.)

Soil and rootstock can particularly affect the ‘Rainha Claudia Verde’ (Prunus domestica) fruit quality, mainly its firmness characteristics. To investigate the variation in fruit quality, plums were harvested at commercial maturity from trees grafted on Marianna GF8-1 (Prunus cerasifera × munsoniana) and Marianna GF10-2 (P. cerasifera × munsoniana) rootstocks on two different soils: Haplic Luvisol and Vertic Luvisol. After harvest fruits were stored at 2 °C for 3 weeks. At the harvest day a small group of fruits were analysed without cold storage. During storage fruits were tested for firmness, soluble solids content, titratable acidity and fruit mineral content. Tree vigour was evaluated from trunk cross-sectional areas values.The GF8-1 rootstock promoted the highest vegetative development, comparing to GF10-2. This rootstock promoted the largest fruits size and the higher calcium fruit level. Positive correlations were found between higher concentrations of calcium in the pulp fruits and firmness. Fruits from two different rootstocks showed the same firmness at harvest but during cold storage, fruits from GF10-2 rootstock exhibited the highest firmness pulp values. There weren’t significant differences in fruit nitrogen and potassium levels for any studied factor.At harvest solids soluble content and solids soluble content/titratable acidity ratio weren’t affected by soil type or rootstock. As expected, solids soluble content during cold storage increased and solids soluble content/titratable acidity had a slight increase.GF10-2 revealed to be a good option as a ‘Rainha Claudia Verde’ rootstock for plums growers due to its intermediate-vigour. Also GF10-2 fruits presented better quality during storage comparing with GF8-1.     

莲藕新品种鄂莲6号的选育

鄂莲6号是武汉市蔬菜科学研究所以鄂莲4号为母本,8143为父本杂交育成的莲藕品种。该品种早中熟。藕节间形状中短筒形,皮色黄白,节间均匀。主藕6～7节,单支整藕质量3.8kg,主藕质量2.6kg。藕入泥浅,一般25～30cm。枯荷藕产量37500～45000kg/hm2。