Induction of anatomically based defense responses in stems of diverse conifers by methyl jasmonate: a phylogenetic perspective

Conifers have evolved constitutive and inducible defense mechanisms to help in both wound healing and defense against attack by bark beetles and other organisms. These defenses include oleoresin, phenolics, and static structures in secondary phloem, such as lignified cells and calcium oxalate crystals, that create physical barriers. We used a phylogenetic approach to investigate the defense anatomy of conifer stems of 13 species from five families following treatment with methyl jasmonate (MJ), a compound that induces defense responses in stems of several Pinaceae species. Methyl jasmonate induced a response similar to wounding except that the response was not accompanied by lesion formation, necrosis or a hypersensitive response. In the Pinaceae species studied, MJ induced polyphenolic parenchyma (PP) cell activation and xylem traumatic resin duct (TD) formation. Members of the Taxodiaceae, which are not known to produce large quantities of resin, showed massive xylem TD formation and surface resinosis following MJ treatment. Treatment with MJ caused members of the Araucariaceae and Cupressaceae to form axial phloem resin ducts but not xylem ducts, whereas Podocarpaceae species showed no induction of resin-producing structures. All species treated with MJ showed phenolic deposition in PP cells, and early lignification of phloem fibers was observed in most of the non-Pinaceae species. We conclude that, although evolution of resin-producing structures occurred independently in conifer lineages, MJ seems to induce resin production regardless of tissue location, as well as inducing deposition of phenolic compounds. Co-evolution of conifer defensive strategies and bark beetle pests is discussed.     

Methyl jasmonate and oxalic acid treatment of Norway spruce: anatomically based defense responses and increased resistance against fungal infection

To study the effect of chemical pretreatment on conifer resistance, 13-year-old Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) trees were treated with methyl jasmonate (MJ) or oxalic acid (OxA) on the outer bark and inoculated with the pathogenic blue-stain fungus Ceratocystis polonica (Siem.) C. Moreau 4 weeks later. Both chemicals significantly reduced symptoms of fungal infection, but MJ was more effective than OxA (51 versus 18% reduction in length of necrotic lesions in the phloem relative to untreated control trees). Anatomical examination of treated stem tissues showed that MJ induced extensive formation of traumatic resin ducts in the xylem and extra polyphenolic parenchyma (PP) cells in the secondary phloem between the cambium and the regular annual PP cell layer. No traumatic resin ducts were formed after treatment with OxA, and the coverage of extra PP cells in OxA-treated tissues was not significantly higher than in the controls. The anatomically based defense reactions induced by MJ were similar to the reactions observed after pathogen infection, mechanical wounding and bark beetle attack. Neither MJ nor OxA had apparent phytotoxic effects on Norway spruce at the concentrations used, with needle and stem tissues of all trees appearing normal without visible symptoms of toxicity. However, trees treated with MJ had 30% less radial sapwood growth than control trees. In conclusion, MJ treatment of Norway spruce appears to have practical potential as a tool for increasing plant resistance to fungal infection, but with a modest reduction in sapwood growth.     

荧光显带在松科植物细胞学研究中的应用

主要介绍了荧光显带技术及其在松科植物细胞遗传学研究中的应用,以及荧光显带技术近期发展状况。同时还对其在林木育种理论研究领域的应用前景进行了讨论。     

Fossil history and modern distribution of the genus Abies (Pinaceae)

The plants of the genus Abies are dominant and key species in the dark coniferous forest in the Northern Hemisphere. There are 52 species, one subspecies and 12 varieties in the genus Abies in the world. The history and modern distribution of Abies were discussed. The genus has three modern distribution centers: South Europe, North America and East Asia. These areas are also rich in fossil records. The vertical distribution regions of Abies are from sea level to an elevation of 4,700 m, concentrated in 1,000–2,000 m (15 species). In China, the genus distributes in 20 provinces, especially abundant in the Hengduan Mountains. Meanwhile, endemic and relic phenomena are obvious in this genus. There are seven relic species with both limited individuals and limited distributed regions. Based on the fossil records and the latest phylogenetic data, the following hypothesis was proposed: Abies originated from the middle and high altitudes of the Northern Hemisphere in the middle Cretaceous and it was dispersed southward in the Eocene due to global climate cooling down. The distribution of Abies was deeply influenced by geological events such as the uplift of Himalaya, the Alps, the Rocky Mountains, the occurrence of the Asian Monsoon as well as the Quaternary glaciers. Finally, the current distribution pattern appeared in the Quaternary. The genus Abies has a fossil history and modern distribution pattern similar to that of Cathaya and Pseudolarix. __________ Translated from Acta Botanica Yunnanica, 2006, 28(5): 439–452 [译自: 云南植物研究]     

Wood anatomical changes due to uptake of cadmium and lead from contaminated soils in Acer velutinum seedlings

We investigated wood anatomical changes due to uptake and accumulation of cadmium and lead from contaminated soils in Acer velutinum Boiss seedlings. Two-year old seedlings were exposed for 180 days to soil concentrations with varying cadmium and lead concentrations. We measured three wood anatomical traits, average vessel area(μm2), vessel number per square millimetre, and vessel lumen area percentage (%). For assessing the cadmium and lead accumulation, we measured the concentrations in the soil, leaf, stem, and root. Average vessel area and vessel lumen area percentage were similar (p>0.05) incontrol and treated seedlings. Vessel number per square millimetre showed a decreasing trend from pith to bark in control and treated seedlings, and the trend was more pronounced in treated seedlings. We conclude that vessel number per square millimetre in A. velutinum is influenced by soil contamination. A. velutinum Boiss is not a suitable species for remediation of soils contaminated by cadmium and lead but it can beused as an indicator of the soil lead contamination, because lead concentrations in seedlings increased with increasing amount of lead in the soil.     

Relation between developmental changes on anatomical structure and on protein pattern in differentiating xylem of tension wood

Tension wood was induced inEucalyptus camaldulensis L. by fixing the stem at an angle. Proteins in the differentiating tissue of tension wood were compared to those of normal wood on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. An obvious difference was found in the salt-soluble fraction of 14 days after inclination. At least five bands (19,22,37,41, and 55kDa) were specific in the differentiating tissue of tension wood. These proteins were bound to the cell wall, plasma membrane, or both by their electric charge; they were undetectable until 14 days after inclination. Mature tension wood was observed in the tissue at 14 days. Thus, all differentiating tissue at 14 days was produced after inclination. On the other hand, the differentiating zone at 7 days contained the same tissue, as in tension wood estimated by the vessel number and diameter during the early phase; and the tissue was indistinguishable from normal wood during the late phase. The proteins found here were related to the phenomenon occurring in the late stage of xylem differentiation.     

Methyl jasmonate treatment of mature Norway spruce (Picea abies) trees increases the accumulation of terpenoid resin components and protects against infection by Ceratocystis polonica, a bark beetle-associated fungus

When conifers such as Picea abies Karst. (Norway spruce) are attacked by insects or pathogens, they often respond by producing increased quantities of terpenoid oleoresin. This response can be mimicked in young P. abies seedlings by treatment with methyl jasmonate (MJ). In this study, we determined the effects of MJ on terpenoids and other chemical defenses of mature P. abies, and investigated whether this treatment protected trees against attack by the blue-stain fungus Ceratocystis polonica (Siem.) C. Moreau, the most important fungal associate of the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus L. Methyl jasmonate treatment induced the formation of traumatic resin ducts in the developing xylem, enhanced resin flow and stimulated increased accumulation of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and diterpene resin acids. However, only minor changes were detected in terpene composition in response to MJ treatment and no changes in soluble phenolic concentration were measured. There was much variability in the timing and degree of response to MJ among clones. The observed chemical and anatomical changes in response to MJ treatment were correlated with increased resistance to C. polonica, suggesting that terpenoid oleoresin may function in defense against this pathogen.     

国家重点保护野生植物名录中松科植物濒危状态评估

按照《IUCN红色名录等级和标准》及其使用指南,对《国家重点保护野生植物名录(第一批)》中的松科植物进行了濒危状态评估。结果表明,名录中的25种松科植物有24种评为濒危,其中CR、EN、VU分别是20种、3种和1种。栖息地退化是松科野生植物种群濒危的最主要原因。     

3个松类树种在富源县石漠化地区造林成效探析

对富源县三道箐林场石漠化地区栽植的4~5年生湿地松、云南松、华山松林分生长状况进行调查,对树高、地径年均生长量进行方差分析及LSD检验,以对比3个松类树种在石漠化地区造林成效。结果表明,树高年均生长量湿地松最大,华山松最小;地径年均生长量也是湿地松最大,华山松最小。湿地松可作为富源县石漠化地区松类造林树种进行推广。     

山西境内松科4种针叶形态特征的比较

详细地对山西省境内松科(Pinaceae)2个属的4种植物,即油松(Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.)、华山松(P.armandi Franch.)、白皮松(P.bungeana Zucc.)和雪松[Cedrus deadara(Roxb.)Loud]的针叶的形态和解剖学特征进行了观察.结果表明:上述4种针叶的长度、硬度、叶鞘的长度及每束针叶的数目存在很大差异,易于鉴别;其横切面形状、树脂道的位置及数目亦可作为显微鉴别的依据;叶的外形和解剖结构都具有植物旱生叶的特点.     

Overexpression of a fungal laccase gene induces nondehiscent anthers and morphological changes in flowers of transgenic tobacco

Laccases play important roles in the development of fruiting bodies and in lignin degradation by basidiomycetes. In this study, we present novel phenotypes of transgenic tobacco plants with a chimeric gene for fungal laccase under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. At the flowering stage, the transgenic plants that produced recombinant laccase had brownish anthers instead of the greenish anthers of wild-type plants. The brownish anthers exhibited male sterility with a nondehiscent phenotype at varying frequencies. The frequency of nondehiscence depended on the temperature at which plants were cultivated and it was higher at 24°C than at 29°C. The cell wall structures of transgenic anther tissues were almost the same as in the wild type, but the stomium was severely deformed, and abnormal components were apparent in cells of the endothecium and epidermis. Furthermore, the pattern of deposition of flavonoids in the transgenic anther epidermis differed from the wild-type pattern. The expression of laccase also induced other phenotypic changes in the flowers of transgenic plants, namely, increased petal number, fused and petaloid stamens, and doubling of floral organs. These results indicate that the ectopic expression of laccase influences various aspects of flower development.     

树脂生物合成的分子遗传新进展和增强针叶树防御的遗传工程策略

Since the first terpenoid synthase cDNA was obtained by the reverse genetic approach from grand fir, great pro-gress in the molecular genetics of terpenoid formation has been made with angiosperms and genes encoding a monoterpene synthase, a sesquiterpene synthase, and a diterpene synthase. Tree killing bark beetles and their vectored fungal pathogens are the most destructive agents of conifer forests worldwide. Conifers defend against attack by the constitutive and inducible production of oleoresin that accumulates at the wound site to kill invaders and both flush and seal the injury. Although toxic to the bark beetle and fungal pathogen, oleoresin also plays a central role in the chemical ecology of these boring insects. Re-cent advances in the molecular genetics of terpenoid biosynthesis provide evidence for the evolutionary origins of oleoresin and permit consideration of genetic engineering strategies to improve conifer defenses as a component of modern forest bio-technology. This review described enzymes of resin biosynthesis, structural feathers of genes genomic intron and exon or-ganization, pathway organization and evolution, resin production and accumulation, interactions between conifer and bark beetle, and engineering strategies to improve conifer defenses.     

Nutritional and pathogenic fungi associated with the pine engraver beetle trigger comparable defenses in Scots pine

Conifer bark beetles are often associated with fungal complexes whose components have different ecological roles. Some associated species are nutritionally obligate fungi, serving as nourishment to the larvae, whereas others are pathogenic blue-stain fungi known to be involved in the interaction with host defenses. In this study we characterized the local and systemic defense responses of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) against Ophiostoma brunneo-ciliatum Math. (a blue-stain pathogen) and Hyalorhinocladiella macrospora (Franke-Grosm.) Harr. (a nutritional fungus). These fungi are the principal associates of the pine engraver beetle, Ips acuminatus (Gyll.). Host responses were studied following inoculation with the fungi, singly and as a fungal complex, and by identifying and quantifying terpenoids, phenolic compounds and lignin. Although the length of the necrotic lesions differed between control (wound) and fungal treatments, only two compounds (pinosylvin monomethyl ether and (+)-α-pinene) were significantly affected by the presence of the fungi, indicating that Scots pine has a generic, rather than specific, induced response. The fact that both nutritional and blue-stain fungi triggered comparable induced defense responses suggests that even a non-pathogenic fungus may participate in exhausting host plant defenses, indirectly assisting in the beetle establishment process. Our findings contribute to the further development of current theory on the role of associated fungal complexes in bark beetle ecology.     

甲基紫罗兰酮环化合成的研究

以固载强酸TiO2／SO4^2—为催化剂，用假性异甲基紫罗兰酮合成甲基紫罗兰酮的新方法，提高了α—异甲基紫罗兰酮的收率，获得了最佳反应条件：投料比n(假性异甲基紫罗兰酮)：n(二甲苯)：n(硫酸)＝1：3．5：0．04，控制反应温度15—25℃，反应时间1．5h。该优化条件下，合成收率为92％-93％，产物中α—异甲基紫罗兰酮占77(wt)％左右。     

茉莉酸甲酯和水杨酸甲酯诱导杨树叶片内酚酸含量的变化

用茉莉酸甲酯(MeJa)及水杨酸甲酯(MeSa)熏蒸合作杨(P.Simonii×P.Pyramibalis c.v)和黑杨(P.deltoids)植株,采用高效液相色谱技术(HPLC)检测杨树叶片内没什子酸、儿茶酸、邻苯二酚、咖啡酸、香豆酸、阿魏酸和苯甲酸的含量变化,分析MeJa与MeSa诱导植物叶片内酚酸含量的差异。结果表明:在不同的处理条件下,不同酚酸含量存在显著差异。MeJA及MeSa熏蒸后的黑杨叶片内没什子酸、香豆酸、咖啡酸、阿魏酸和苯甲酸含量均增加,且没什子酸含量在MeJa处理24h后达到最大量,在MeSa处理12天后达到最大量。MeJa及MeSa熏蒸后的合作杨叶片内没什子酸、邻苯二酚和阿魏酸含量也增加,儿茶酸和苯甲酸含量略有下降,咖啡酸和香豆酸在对照叶片和熏蒸叶片内都没有检测到。说明MeJa与MeSa可作为气体信号诱导植株产生防御反应。图4参23。     

小波分析在木材解剖特征图象消噪中的应用

本文介绍了小波变换原理，讨论了小波理论在木材解剖特征图象剔除噪声污染中的应用。结果表明：利用小波变换原理进行图象滤波是十分有效的，对提高木材解剖图象特征提取是有利的。     

Regulatory effect of salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate supplementation on ergosterol production in Hericium erinaceus mycelia

We evaluated the biomass and ergosterol content of Hericium erinaceus mycelium, and extracellular enzyme activities in H. erinaceus liquid culture following salicylic acid(SA) and methyl jasmonic acid(Me JA)supplementation. The optimal SA concentration was100 lmoláL-1, where the highest ergosterol content of 2.33 mgág-1was obtained following 6-day cultivation with100 lmoláL-1SA supplementation, and which was significantly higher than the unsupplemented control(p 0.01). Following 4-day supplementation with50 lmoláL-1Me JA, the highest ergosterol content obtained was 1.988 mgág-1, which was 25.8 % higher than the unsupplemented control. Our data indicate that SA and Me JA supplementation improves ergosterol content in H.erinaceus mycelium.