白桦TLP基因家族生物信息学及组织表达特异性分析

为全面了解白桦类甜蛋白(thaumatin-like protein, TLP)基因家族成员的结构、功能和表达特性,本研究采用同源序列比对法,从白桦基因组数据库中筛选并鉴定到41个类甜蛋白基因家族成员,分别命名为BpTLP1～BpTLP41,对其进行生物信息学分析,并通过半定量对白桦TLP家族成员的组织表达特异性进行了分析。结果表明,41个白桦类甜蛋白家族成员分别定位在11条染色体上,其中8号染色体分布最多,包括14个家族成员。该家族成员的氨基酸数量在336～975 aa之间,分子量在28 054.11～81 966.03 kD之间,理论等电点在5.01～5.21之间,偏酸性。基因半定量结果表明,41个白桦TLP家族成员在根、茎、叶中均有不同程度的表达,其中,BpTLP35、BpTLP39在叶片中表达量较高,Bp TLP14、BpTLP35、BpTLP36在茎中表达量较高,BpTLP41、BpTLP3在根中表达量较高。     

水稻类甜蛋白基因家族鉴定及表达的初步分析

本研究鉴定水稻基因组中类甜蛋白(TLP)家族基因,并对部分基因的组织表达特异性进行研究,为开展水稻类甜蛋白基因功能及分子进化机制研究提供基础。基于水稻基因组数据库,通过生物信息学方法对候选的47个水稻类甜蛋白基因家族成员进行鉴定、聚类及结构功能分析,通过q RT-PCR技术,检测14个Os TLP基因在LTH及其近等系水稻幼苗的叶片、根、叶鞘和花穗中的时空表达水平。基因和蛋白结构分析表明,Os TLP基因有5种结构类型,蛋白保守氨基酸基序高度一致。聚类分析显示,水稻类甜蛋白基因归属10个进化组,分布于12条染色体上,其中成员最多的进化组Ⅴ中的基因主要来自3号和12号染色体。q RT-PCR结果显示,14个Os TLP在6个品种水稻根、叶鞘、叶片和花穗中相对表达水平不同,多个基因在根中有较高的基础表达。本研究为进一步研究TLP家族在水稻生长发育和对抗胁迫中的作用提供了理论基础。     

甘蔗类甜蛋白基因ScTLP2和ScTLP3的生物信息学分析及表达

类甜蛋白(thaumatin-like proteins,TLPs)是一类与作物抵抗真菌病害紧密相关的病程相关蛋白。本研究从课题组前期构建的甘蔗(Saccharum spp.)转录组数据库中筛选获得两个甘蔗类甜蛋白基因(ScTLP2和ScTLP3),利用生物学软件对ScTLP2和ScTLP3基因进行序列特征、结构功能及聚类分析,采用qRT-PCR技术,检测ScTLP2和ScTLP3基因在不同甘蔗组织和黑穗病菌(Sporisorium scitamineum)胁迫下的表达情况。生物信息学分析显示,ScTLP2基因全长1835 bp,包含1个969 bp的完整开放读码框,编码322个氨基酸;ScTLP3基因全长1259 bp,包含1个765 bp的完整开放读码框,编码254个氨基酸。ScTLP2和ScTLP3编码蛋白均含有THN家族的保守结构域和糖苷水解酶家族的64结构域(GH64-TLP-SF),两者分别隶属于TLPs家族中的Ⅵ类和Ⅰ类。q RT-PCR结果表明,ScTLP2和ScTLP3基因在甘蔗中均为组成型表达,其中ScTLP2基因在蔗叶中的表达量最高,是蔗皮的11.2倍,而ScTLP3基因在蔗芽中的表达量最高,是蔗皮的45.3倍。受黑穗病菌侵染后,ScTLP2基因在甘蔗抗黑穗病品种‘崖城05-179’中上调表达,而在感黑穗病品种‘ROC22’中无明显变化;相反的,Sc TLP3基因表达量在‘崖城05-179’中无明显变化,在‘ROC22’中上调表达。以上结果为深入研究甘蔗ScTLP家族基因的结构和功能积累了基础资料。     

灯盏乙素生物合成关键酶基因的克隆与表达分析

灯盏乙素是灯盏花的主要药用成分,研究灯盏乙素合成的相关基因对培育高品质的灯盏花品种有重要意义。本研究通过转录组测序和RT-PCR获得灯盏花黄酮6-羟化酶(flavone 6-hydroxylase,F6H)和7-O-葡糖醛酸转移酶(flavonoid 7-O glucuronosyltransferases,F7GAT)基因c DNA全长,分别命名为EbF6H1、EbF6H2和EbF7GAT。生物信息学软件分析表明灯盏花F6H1 c DNA全长1 478 bp,编码492个氨基酸残基;F6H2 c DNA全长1 524 bp,编码507个氨基酸残基;F7GAT c DNA全长1 311 bp,编码436个氨基酸残基。荧光定量PCR表明F6H1主要在根中表达;F6H2在叶片中表达量最高,其次是根和茎;F7GAT在叶中的表达量显著高于其它器官。HPLC分析表明,叶片中灯盏乙素含量最高,其次是茎和花,在根中未检测到。根中总绿原酸的含量最高,其次是叶,显著高于茎和花。本研究有助于进一步探明基因功能和活性成分积累的关系。     

棉属野生种旱地棉苏氨酸醛缩酶基因GarTHA的克隆及功能验证

盐胁迫是影响作物生长和发育的重要因素之一。一些棉属野生种具有较好的耐盐性, 是开展棉花耐盐性机制研究以及改良陆地棉耐盐性的重要资源。本研究基于cDNA-AFLP技术分离获得的旱地棉(Gossypium aridum)盐胁迫下差异表达片段序列信息, 经电子克隆技术和RT-PCR方法克隆了旱地棉苏氨酸醛缩酶基因cDNA全长, 命名为GarTHA (GenBank登录号为KC167360)。该cDNA全长为1 018 bp, 包含一个822 bp的完整ORF, 编码273个氨基酸残基, 蛋白质分子量为82.57 kD, 等电点为4.89。GarTHA基因与杨树PtTHA基因同源性最高, 为84.6%。为进一步验证其功能, 利用拟南芥逆境胁迫启动子rd29A构建植物表达载体, 将GarTHA基因的完整ORF转入拟南芥中, 获得转基因植株并进行了耐盐性鉴定。结果表明, 在盐胁迫下转基因拟南芥种子的发芽率明显高于野生型, 且转基因植株的根长显著高于野生型。说明GarTHA基因可能参与植物的盐胁迫反应, 从而提高植物抗逆性。     

两个烟草多聚半乳糖醛酸酶抑制蛋白基因的克隆和表达分析

为了研究多聚半乳糖醛酸酶抑制蛋白(PGIP)在烟草中的生物学功能,运用生物信息学方法,结合RT-PCR和SMART RACE技术,从烟草中克隆到2个多聚半乳糖醛酸酶抑制蛋白(PGIP)基因c DNA和DNA全长序列,分别命名为Nt PGIP1(Gen Bank登录号:KF317203)和Nt PGIP2(Gen Bank登录号:KF317204)。Nt PGIP1基因全长为1 413 bp,编码338个氨基酸;Nt PGIP2基因全长为1 185 bp,编码329个氨基酸;两基因均没有内含子序列,核苷酸序列有50%的一致性,编码的氨基酸序列有54%的一致性。两基因编码蛋白均含有植物PGIP蛋白特有的重复保守序列LXXLXXLXXLXLXXNXLXGXIPXX。对PGIP基因在烟草不同组织表达量分析发现,两基因在根、茎、叶和芽中均有表达,其中均在茎中表达量最高,其次是根,叶中表达量很低。     

白菜型冬油菜类甜蛋白的筛选、克隆及其在低温胁迫下的表达

类甜蛋白是一种能在低温胁迫下诱导表达,增强植物抗逆性的关键蛋白质。本研究运用双向电泳结合质谱技术,筛选低温胁迫下陇油7号叶片差异蛋白点,从中分离出与抗寒密切相关的类甜蛋白。根据已发表植物类甜蛋白基因TLP的保守序列设计引物,采用RT-PCR扩增陇油7号的DNA,获得TLP基因开放阅读框,长度为732 bp,编码243个氨基酸的蛋白质。生物信息学分析显示,与甘蓝型油菜(Brassica napus)的蛋白质氨基酸序列同源性高达99.18%,该基因在进化上高度保守,其保守序列属于植物的GH69-TLP-SF超家族,TLP相对分子质量和理论等电点分别为26.02 k D和9.15。TLP含有一个信号肽,为亲水性蛋白,亚细胞定位预测其是在内质网中合成的蛋白。二级结构预测表明陇油7号的TLP是由不规则卷曲和延伸链组成的不稳定蛋白。实时荧光定量和半定量分析显示,在适当阈值的低温胁迫下TLP基因表达量上调,表明该基因在白菜型冬油菜陇油7号适应低温胁迫过程中发挥重要作用。     

茶树TLP基因家族的全基因组鉴定及表达分析

植物类甜蛋白(thaumatin-like protein, TLP)不止能参与宿主的多种发育进程还参与了胁迫反应。目前TLP已经在多种物种中被发现,但是对茶树中TLP家族基因的研究较少。本研究基于茶树基因组数据库筛选鉴定出43个茶树类甜蛋白基因,分别命名为CsTLP1～CsTLP43,对其基因结构、进化关系、染色体分布等进行分析,并基于其转录组数据进行了不同组织、PEG诱导的干旱胁迫和盐胁迫下的表达模式分析。结果表明：43个茶树TLP基因分别定位在11条染色体,其中14号染色体分布最多,包括8条基因家族成员,各染色体上基因分布不均;CsTLP的氨基酸数量为208～429 aa,分子量是22.33～46.41 kD,理论等电点(pl)为3.66～9.08,亲水性(GRAVY)介于-0.328～0.241,不稳定指数(Instability index)为19.65～59.93;基于TPIA中的转录组数据进行表达模式分析,分析结果显示,CsTLP基因在茎和嫩芽组织中表达水平较高;茶树在干旱胁迫、盐胁迫处理下不同的CsTLP基因存在差异表达,部分基因表达量上升明显,该结果说明在茶树生长发育...     

高粱中SbDREB2基因的克隆与表达分析

干旱应答元件结合蛋白(DREB)在植物非生物逆境胁迫中调节下游一系列抗逆基因的表达。本研究利用电子克隆和RT-PCR方法从高粱中克隆到1个DREB类基因SbDREB2,该基因ORF 789 bp,推测编码蛋白含262个氨基酸残基,相对分子质量28.6 kD,理论等电点为5.52,在DNA序列内包含1个740 bp的内含子,符合GT-AG剪接规则。氨基酸序列分析表明,该蛋白在82~145区含有DREB类转录因子家族特有的AP2保守结构域,与玉米DREB2A及水稻DREB1蛋白相似度分别为84%和69%。成功构建了原核表达载体pET28a-SbDREB2,经IPTG诱导获得32.5 kD左右蛋白,与理论值一致。Real-time PCR表达特性分析显示,该基因为组成型表达,在根、茎、叶中均表达,根中表达量约是茎中的2.5倍;受干旱、高盐和外源ABA的强烈诱导,但对低温几乎没有响应。     

大豆GmHKT6;2基因的克隆与表达特性分析

为探明大豆中HKT蛋白基因的耐盐作用机理,从耐盐大豆材料中克隆到GmHKT6;2基因完整的cDNA序列,GmHKT6;2基因的开放阅读框(ORF)全长1 644 bp,编码547个氨基酸。序列比对与进化树分析表明:GmHKT6;2是大豆中的一个新HKT蛋白基因;GmHKT6;2基因在大豆的根、茎及叶中均能表达,150 mmol/L NaCl处理后,该基因在大豆根、茎及叶中的表达被强烈诱导并高效表达。结构域分析结果表明:大豆GmHKT6;2基因拥有10个可能的跨膜结构域(TMD)和阳离子转运蛋白保守结构域,推测其是通过调节相关阳离子的转运来调控大豆的耐盐性。     

Ethanol vapor and saprophytic yeast treatments reduce decay and maintain quality of intact and fresh-cut sweet cherries

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of an ethanol vapor release pad and a saprophytic yeast Cryptococcus infirmo-miniatum (CIM) to reduce decay and maintain postharvest quality of intact or fresh-cut sweet cherries (Prunus avium) cv. Lapins and Bing. Intact or fresh-cut fruit were packed in perforated clamshells (capacity 454 g) and stored at 1, 10 or 20 °C for up to 21, 14 and 8 d, respectively. For ethanol treatment, a pad made with silica gel powder containing 10 g ethanol and covered with perforated film, which allows ethanol vapor to diffuse gradually, was attached to the upper lid of the clamshells. Ethanol treatment caused accumulation of ethanol in the packaging headspace, about 10 μL L⁻¹ with little change within 14 d at 1 °C, 23 μL L⁻¹ at d 1 and decreased to 15 μL L⁻¹ at d 10 at 10 °C, and 26 μL L⁻¹ at d 1 and decreased to 13 μL L⁻¹ at d 3 at 20 °C. Ethanol content in fruit was less than 9 mg kg⁻¹ in all the control fruit, and increased to 16, 34 and 43 mg kg⁻¹ in ethanol-treated fruit at 1, 10 and 20 °C, respectively. Nonetheless, a sensory taste panel did not perceive any flavor difference from the ethanol treatment. The ethanol treatment retarded softening, darkening, and acid decrease in fruit as well as discoloration of the stems, and extended shelf-life of intact cherries. Ethanol reduced brown rot (Monilinia fructicola) in fresh-cut cherries stored at 20 °C, but not at 1 and 10 °C. A pre-packaging dip in CIM completely controlled brown rot in inoculated fresh-cut cherries stored at 1 °C, and in naturally infected cherries at 20 °C.     

膜下滴灌条件下高产甜菜灌溉的生理指标

甜菜是我国重要的糖料作物,其生物产量高,需水量大,合理灌溉是节约用水、提高产量的有效措施之一。本试验连续两年研究了内蒙古半干旱地区膜下滴灌条件下,不同灌水量甜菜块根产量与叶面积指数、净光合速率、蒸腾速率、叶水势、土壤含水量和耗水量之间的关系,以及不同灌水量对甜菜产量和水分利用效率的影响。结果表明,高产甜菜的叶面积指数在叶丛快速生长期大于7.37,在块根糖分增长期和糖分积累期分别为6.08~6.51和4.19~5.57,在叶丛快速生长期、块根糖分增长期和糖分积累期叶水势分别为–0.09~–0.22、–0.18~–0.39和–0.26~–0.48 MPa,净光合速率分别为21.28~28.23、21.90~28.75和22.06~26.58μmol m–2 s–1,蒸腾速率在叶丛快速生长期和块根糖分增长期分别为9.36~10.21 mmol m–2 s–1和6.37~7.73 mmol m–2 s–1,在糖分积累期大于4.69 mmol m–2 s–1,耗水量分别为140.15~312.78、44.93~200.45和56.32~113.06 mm。甜菜产量、产糖量、水分利用效率均高的合理灌溉量,在丰雨年份(生育期降雨量500 mm)为1350 m3 hm–2,在少雨年份(生育期降雨量300 mm)为1800 m3 hm–2,为甜菜节水灌溉提供了理论依据和生理指标。     

Structural and physiological changes associated with the skin spot disorder in apple

Skin spot is an important physiological disorder of ‘Elstar’ apples (Malus × domestica Borkh.) that occurs after fruit have been removed from controlled atmosphere storage. Skin spots are irregular patches of small, round, brown blemishes. Cross-sections reveal a browning of protoplasts (coagulated) and of cell walls that extends into the hypodermis. Skin spots are always associated with linear, gaping and non-gaping microcracks in the cuticle. Staining of apple skin with calcofluor white usually results in white fluorescence of cell walls but, within a skin spot, the white fluorescence is weak or absent. Cell walls within, and in the immediate vicinity of skin spots stain with phloroglucin/HCl indicating the presence of lignin. The area of skin affected by skin spots was positively and linearly correlated with the area of the non-blush fruit surface infiltrated by acridine orange. In general, skin spots were limited to the non-blush fruit surface and occurred more frequently near the stem-end than the calyx region of the fruit. Skin spot areas were correlated with a 2.5-fold increase in water vapour permeability compared with unaffected areas (23.8 ± 4.0 m s⁻¹ with skin spots, 9.6 ± 2.1 × 10⁻⁵ m s⁻¹ without skin spots). Strips of the fruit skin from regions with skin spots had an increased maximum force and modulus of elasticity. Dipping fruit in ascorbic acid (0.1 or 0.3 mM for 10 min) before storage decreased the area affected by skin spots. There was no effect of dipping in ethanol/water (70%, v/v, 15 min) or in solutions of captan (1.5 g L⁻¹, 10 min) or trifloxystrobin (0.1 g L⁻¹, 10 min). In contrast, prestorage treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene (630 nL L⁻¹ for 24 h) or poststorage incubation in H₂O₂ (10% for 2, 6, 10 and 16 h) increased skin spots. Our data are consistent with a typical cell response to an oxidative burst that seems to be focussed on particular regions of the ‘Elstar’ fruit surface by concentrations of cuticular microcracks, and that is possibly caused by reoxygenation injury upon removal from CA storage.     

Ecuador, 1991 potato germplasm collecting expedition: taxonomy and new germplasm resources

Summary We conducted a joint Ecuador/Colombia/United States wild potato (Solanum sect. Petota) germplasm collecting expedition in Ecuador from April 13–July 1, 1991. The goals of the expedition were to collect germplasm and study the species boundaries of all of the 25 Ecuadorian taxa accepted by current taxonomists. We made 126 collections of 24 of these 25 taxa, 113 as germplasm samples, 13 only as herbarium collections. We synonymize six of these 25 names (S. baezense Ochoa, S. cyanophyllum Correll, S. pichinchense Bitter & Sodiro, S. serratoris Ochoa, S. suffrutescens Correll as synonyms of S. andreanum Baker; S. correllii Ochoa as a synonym of S. regularifolium Correll). Four other names (S. chomatophilum f. angustifoliolum Correll, S. moscopanum Hawkes, S. solisii Hawkes, S. tundalomense Ochoa) could not be consistently distinguished from S. colombianum Dunal in the field. We are currently investigating them to determine their species status.     

Morphological and cytogenetic studies on the hybrid between bread wheat and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Psathyrostachys huashanica</Emphasis> Keng ex Kuo

Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng ex Kuo (2n = 2x = 14, NsNs), a source of wheat stripe rust, take-all fungus, and powdery mildew resistance with tolerance to salinity and drought, has been successfully hybridized as the pollen parent to bread wheat without using immature embryo rescuing culture for the first time. All of the CSph2b × P. huashanica hybrid seeds germinate well. Backcross derivatives were successfully obtained. F₁ hybrids were verified as intergeneric hybrids on the basis of morphological observation, cytological and molecular analyses. The results obviously showed the phenotypes of the hybrid plants were intermediate between bread wheat and P. huashanica. Chromosome pairing at MI of PMCs in the F₁ hybrid plants was low, and the meiotic configuration was 26.80 I + 0.60 II (rod). Cytological analysis of the hybrid plants revealed the ineffectiveness of the ph2b gene on chromosome association between the parents. Eight RAPD-specific markers for Ns genome were selected for RAPD analysis, and the results indicated that F₁ hybrids contained the Ns genome of P. huashanica. Furthermore, the significance of the finding for bread wheat improvement was discussed.     

Inheritance and allelic relationship among gene(s) for blast resistance in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]

Six blast‐resistant pearl millet genotypes, ICMB 93333, ICMB 97222, ICMR 06444, ICMR 06222, ICMR 11003 and IP 21187‐P1, were crossed with two susceptible genotypes, ICMB 95444 and ICMB 89111 to generate F₁s, F₂s and backcrosses, BC₁P₁ (susceptible parent × F₁) and BC₁P₂ (resistant parent × F₁) for inheritance study. The resistant genotypes were crossed among themselves in half diallel to generate F₁s and F₂s for test of allelism. The F₁, F₂ and backcross generations, and their parents were screened in a glasshouse against Magnaporthe grisea isolates Pg 45 and Pg 53. The reaction of the F₁s, segregation pattern of F₂s and BC₁P₁ derived from crosses involving two susceptible parents and six resistant parents revealed the presence of single dominant gene governing resistance in the resistant genotypes. No segregation for blast reaction was observed in the F₂s derived from the crosses of resistant × resistant parents. The resistance reaction of these F₂s indicated that single dominant gene conferring resistance in the six genotypes is allelic, that is same gene imparts blast resistance in these genotypes to M. grisea isolates.     

Cultivar differences in gaseous 1-methylcyclopropene accumulation in whole and fresh-cut apple fruit

A number of studies have shown that responses of apple fruit to 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) vary considerably among cultivars. This study was designed to determine if cultivars show differences in accumulation of gaseous 1-MCP. Apple fruit were placed in 1.76 L jars that were sealed and injected with 20 μL L⁻¹ 1-MCP. After 12 h, samples of intercellular atmosphere were removed and analyzed for 1-MCP concentration. Accumulation of internal gaseous 1-MCP varied markedly among cultivars, ranging from 0.14 ± 0.06, 0.22 ± 0.03, and 0.77 ± 0.30 in ‘Redcort’, ‘McIntosh’, and ‘Empire’, respectively, to 2.10 ± 0.28, 3.33 ± 0.13, and 6.93 ± 0.35 μL L⁻¹ in ‘Gala’, ‘Cameo’, and ‘Honeycrisp’, respectively. Accumulation of gaseous 1-MCP was reduced an average of 51% in fruit treated with Sta-Fresh 8711 fruit wax. The role of the epidermis in modulating 1-MCP ingress was determined by measuring gaseous 1-MCP accumulation in fresh-cut tissue. Fresh-cut cortical tissue rapidly depleted headspace 1-MCP (>95%) over a 1-h exposure yet accumulated negligible quantities of internal gaseous 1-MCP. By contrast, cortical tissue treated with ascorbic acid or hypotaurine, or aged for several hours prior to exposure to 1-MCP, showed reduced consumption of headspace 1-MCP and high accumulation of internal gaseous 1-MCP. Levels of internal 1-MCP in cortical tissue from the cultivars generally paralleled those for intact fruit, ranging from 0.23 ± 0.07, 0.37 ± 0.18 and 1.09 ± 0.14 μL L⁻¹ in ‘Empire’, ‘McIntosh’ and ‘Redcort’, respectively, to 2.40 ± 0.71, 4.55 ± 0.15, and 6.24 ± 0.85 in Gala’, ‘Cameo’, and ‘Honeycrisp’, respectively. Although commercial fruit wax influences gaseous 1-MCP accumulation, the comparable accumulation patterns in unwaxed whole and fresh-cut apple fruit suggest that epidermal tissue/native waxes alone do not account for cultivar differences.     

干旱荒漠区物理结皮的土壤水文效应

在干旱荒漠区,物理结皮是广泛发育的一类结皮,其存在对维持干旱荒漠区生态平衡具有重要作用。笔者总结了物理结皮种类、形成及影响因素,综述了物理结皮对土壤降雨入渗、蒸发、地表径流以及土壤发育和微生物生长等方面的国内外研究动态,探讨了物理结皮和生物结皮的相互联系,在此基础上,提出了物理结皮进一步研究的展望,认为：在河西走廊东段的民勤沙区,粘土沙障加梭梭的固沙造林模式,促使粘土沙障在雨滴的冲刷下物理结皮广泛发育,发育的结皮降低了降水入渗,增加了地表径流,使深层土壤旱化,造成人工梭梭固沙林衰退和较深层土壤水分的减少,导致沙区生态水文过程和植被格局变化,研究对退化荒漠植被恢复与干旱沙区土壤水分循环具有意义。     

Capsicum tovarii, a new member of the Capsicum baccatum complex

Interspecific hybrid performance and meiotic chromosome behavior of F₁ hybrids were studied to elucidate the genetic relationship between C. tovarii and the other Capsicum species. C. tovarii was hybridized, as a female and a male parent, to C. annuum, C. chinense, C. frutescens, C. chacoense, C. galapogense, C. baccatum, C. praetermissum, C. cardenasii, C. eximium and C. pubescens. When the hybridization of C. baccatum × C. tovarii was performed, F₁, F₂ and backcross progenies were successfully obtained. In addition, a successful hybridization of C. praetermissum × C. tovarii was also obtained. A cytological investigation of F₁ hybrids of C. baccatum × C. tovarii revealed that most meiotic chromosomes paired as bivalents. However, multivalents, chromosome bridges, and chromosome lags were observed. These results suggest that C. baccatum differs from C. tovarii by at least a chromosomal reciprocal translocation. Crosses of C. tovarii to C. chinense and C. frutescens produced plump seeds, but none of the seeds germinated. Hybridizations of C. tovarii to C. pubescens, C. eximium and C. cardenasii did not produce seed. These hybridization results indicate that C. tovarii is genetically more closely related to the C. baccatum complex than to the C. annuum complex or the C. pubescens complex. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Race specific resistance against Phytophthora infestans in potato is controlled by more genetic factors than only R-genes

Summary For RFLP mapping of R-genes, determining resistance to specific races of Phytophthora infestans in tetraploid potato, it is necessary to develop well segregating populations at the 2x level. During mapping studies, evidence was obtained that more genetic factor(s) are involved in the expression of R-genes than conventionally believed. Two experiments are described in which such an additional genetic factor was suppressing or enhancing the expression of unknown R _nand R _ifactors. R _nand R _iappeared to be present in the investigated plant material, containing R4 and R10, or in one of the susceptible crossing parents. In a third experiment, the expression and the segregation of the well known R1 gene was influenced by an additional genetic factor. In that case there were indications for a dominant suppressor. This was established by the selection of susceptible plants carrying a RFLP allele of probe GP21 closely linked to R1. In three of the four F₁ populations, resulting from crosses between such susceptible plants and susceptible tester plants, resistnat progenies were found. The resistance appeared to be R1-specific. This clearly indicates that in three of the four investigated susceptible plants, the R1 gene was still present but not expressed.