Direct measurement of paraquat in leaf protoplasts indicates vacuolar paraquat sequestration as a resistance mechanism in Lolium rigidum

Sequestration of paraquat away from its target site in the chloroplast has been proposed as a mechanism of paraquat resistance. However, no consensus has been reached as to where paraquat is sequestered. This study quantifies paraquat in leaf protoplasts of paraquat resistant (R) and susceptible (S) Lolium rigidum. Intact protoplasts were prepared from plants treated with commercial dose of paraquat for 2 h. Paraquat absorbed by the leaf protoplasts was determined by light absorption of reduced paraquat following concentration and purification using a cation-exchange resin. Leaf protoplasts from treated paraquat resistant plants contained 2- to 3-fold more paraquat than leaf protoplasts isolated from susceptible plants. Since paraquat is not metabolised in L. rigidum and paraquat readily enters chloroplasts of both R and S plants, this greater amount of paraquat in leaf protoplasts of R plant must be kept away from the target site (chloroplast). This result indicates that paraquat resistance in L. rigidum is associated with a cytoplasmic mechanism, most likely a greater rate of vacuolar sequestration.     

Reduced paraquat translocation in paraquat resistant Arctotheca calendula (L.) Levyns is a consequence of the primary resistance mechanism, not the cause

Resistance to paraquat has been studied in detail in many weed species for more than a decade, with the precise mechanism of resistance still unclear. Several studies have indicated that reduced movement of the herbicide to the site of action in the chloroplast is at least partly responsible for endowing resistance. Although paraquat translocation studies have been performed in the past it has been rare for these studies to have been conducted on whole plants in the light, despite early observations which clearly showed that paraquat translocation is minimal unless treated plants are exposed to light. This study has addressed this issue in Arctotheca calendula by tracing the movement of ¹⁴C-paraquat in resistant and susceptible plants in both the dark and light. Differences in paraquat translocation between the resistant and susceptible biotypes of A. calendula were only observed when treated plants were exposed to light. It was observed that paraquat translocation was significantly reduced in the resistant compared to the susceptible biotype when plants were exposed to light but not in the dark. It is postulated that paraquat translocation is dependent on light mediated damage. As paraquat-induced damage is less severe in paraquat resistant plants, overall paraquat translocation is reduced in the resistant biotype.     

Molecular basis for resistance to tribenuron in shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik.)

Capsella bursa-pastoris, a winter annual weed in the mustard family, can not be controlled by tribenuron after the herbicide has been continuously used for several years. The resistant biotype Lz-R was the generation of a population collected from Liangzhu, a place where tribenuron had been used for more than 15 consecutive years. To confirm and characterize the resistance of C. bursa-pastoris to tribenuron, whole-plant bioassays were conducted in the greenhouse. The results of whole-plant bioassays revealed that Lz-R was highly resistant to tribenuron with the resistance index (GR₅₀ Lz-R)/(GR₅₀ Lz-S) up to 236.6. To investigate the molecular basis of resistance in C. bursa-pastoris, the acetolactate synthase (ALS) genes were sequenced and compared between susceptible and resistant biotypes. Analysis of the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences between the biotypes indicated that one substitution had occurred in Domain A, cytosine by thymine (CCT to TCT) at position 197, that led to a change of the amino acid proline in the susceptible to serine in the Lz-R.     

一株小飞蓬内生毒死蜱降解菌的分离鉴定及其降解特性初探

为分离筛选具有毒死蜱降解特性的植物内生菌,从农药厂废液池旁采集小飞蓬植物样本,经表面消毒后研磨提取植物汁液,通过以毒死蜱作为单一碳源的无机盐培养基(MSM)进行连续5代培养筛选,获得一株植物内生细菌XFP-gy,经生理生化试验及16Sr DNA同源性比对分析,初步鉴定该菌属阪崎克罗诺杆菌属(Cronobacter sp.)。将菌株XFP-gy在以毒死蜱(初始质量浓度为20 mg/L)为单一碳源的MSM中培养,至第6天时达生长高峰,第9天时毒死蜱的降解率为77.28%。在M SM培养基中补充牛肉膏和蛋白胨(加富培养基)可以促进菌株XFP-gy的生长,并将其对毒死蜱第5天的降解率由69.59%提高到98.0%。菌株XFP-gy降解毒死蜱的最佳培养条件为30℃和p H 7.0,在此条件下,增加培养液中原始接菌量,降低底物毒死蜱的初始质量浓度,可明显提高XFP-gy对毒死蜱的降解效率,当毒死蜱初始质量浓度为10 mg/L,原始接菌量为2%时,至第9天时在培养液中未检出毒死蜱残留。     

实葶葱与小飞蓬秸秆混合腐解对两种伴生植物生长的协同与拮抗作用

以生长于新疆北部的实葶葱和入侵实葶葱种植地的小飞蓬作为供体植物,伴生植物菥蓂和马齿苋为受体材料,采用盆栽试验法研究不同分蘖株数实葶葱秸秆单一腐解以及不同分蘖株数实葶葱和小飞蓬秸秆室内混合腐解180 d后伴生植物的生长、生理变化及其对年生长结束后基质化学性质的影响。结果表明,单一腐解处理对菥蓂和马齿苋的根长、根体积和生物量积累分别表现出“低促高抑”和持续增强的抑制效果。混合腐解后,与单一腐解处理相比,同一低浓度下混合腐解处理对菥蓂的根长、根体积的促进作用分别消减了93%和61%,对地上部鲜、干质量的促进作用分别消减了30%、38%,对地下部鲜、干质量的促进作用分别消减了65%和90%,对马齿苋的根长和地下部鲜、干质量的抑制作用分别消减了60%、75%和49%,对根体积和地上部鲜、干质量则由抑制转变为促进作用。同一高浓度下混合腐解处理对菥蓂根体积的促进作用消减了77%,对地上部鲜、干质量和地下部鲜质量的抑制作用分别消减了37%、55%和31%,对马齿苋的根长、根体积、地上部干质量和地下部鲜质量的抑制作用分别消减了了21%、51%、14%和33%。实葶葱与小飞蓬混合腐解后产生的复合他感作用总体表现为拮抗效应。相关性分析显示复合腐解基质的化学性质比实葶葱单一腐解基质更利于伴生植物的生长。研究结果显示实葶葱腐解产生的他感作用能够抑制伴生植物的生长和生理活动,而小飞蓬的入侵可以缓解伴生植物受到的这种抑制作用,并影响改变实葶葱种植地的EC值和pH值,进一步影响入侵地的物种多样性和生态稳定性。     

大豆对灰斑病菌15号小种的抗病基因定位及标记检测

为明确大豆对灰斑病菌15号小种的抗性位点,以大豆抗病品种垦丰16、感病品种绥农10及其杂交F₂、F₃代群体为试验材料,在接种鉴定的基础上,运用SSR标记技术及分离群体组群分析法(BSA法)对垦丰16抗病基因进行了定位,并应用108份大豆新品系对标记进行了符合性检测。结果表明,垦丰16对15号小种的抗性受1对显性基因控制,抗病基因位于大豆染色体组的J连锁群上,将该基因定名为Rcs15。用Mapmaker/Exp 3.0 b进行连锁分析,获得了5个与抗病基因紧密连锁的SSR标记:Satt 529、Satt 431、Sat_151、Satt 547和Sat_224,标记与抗病基因间的排列顺序和遗传距离为Sat_151-10.7 cM-Satt 529-18.5 cM- Rcs15-6.7 cM-Satt 547-7.8 cM-Sat_224-10.7 cM-Satt 431。标记符合性检测结果显示,Satt 547和Sat_224的检测准确率达到85%以上,可用于分子标记辅助选择育种和抗源筛选。     

The role of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase in the different responses to fenoxaprop-P-ethyl in annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) and short awned foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis Sobol.)

Herbicide resistance or tolerance in weeds mediated by cytochrome P450 monooxygenase is a considerable problem. However, cytochrome P450 mediated resistance or tolerance in weeds was less studied. Thus, in this work, the role of the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase in the different responses of Poa annua and Alopecurus aequalis to fenoxaprop-P-ethyl was studied. We found that the effect of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl could be synergized by piperonyl butoxide (PBO) in P. annua, but not by malathion. After being treated with fenoxaprop-P-ethyl (containing mefenpyr-diethyl), the contents of cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b₅ in P. annua increased significantly compared to plants treated with mefenpyr-diethyl only or untreated plants. However, the increase was less in A. aequalis, which was susceptible to fenoxaprop-P-ethyl. The activities of ρ-nitroanisole O-demethylase (PNOD), ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), ethoxycoumarin oxidase (ECOD) and NADPH-dependent cytochrome P450 reductase mediated by cytochrome P450 monooxygenase increased in P. annua after treatment with fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, especially the activities of ECOD and cytochrome P450 reductase. Besides this, cytochrome P450 monooxygenase activity toward fenoxaprop-P-ethyl in P. annua increased significantly compared to untreated or treated with mefenpyr-diethyl plants and treated or untreated A. aequalis. Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase may play an important role in the different responses to fenoxaprop-P-ethyl in P. annua and A. aequalis.     

Identification of cytochrome P450 differentiated expression related to developmental stages in bromadiolone resistance in rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Adult, 20-week-old, rats from a Danish bromadiolone-resistant strain of rats (Rattus norvegicus) over-express the cytochrome P450 genes Cyp2e1, Cyp3a2 and Cyp3a3 upon bromadiolone exposure. Furthermore, adult female rats of this strain over-express the Cyp2c13 gene and suppress Cyp2c12, while males over-express the Cyp2a1 gene. The altered gene expression has been suggested to be involved in the bromadiolone resistance by facilitating enhanced anticoagulant metabolism. To investigate the gene expression of these cytochrome P450 genes in rats of different developmental stages we compared expression profiles from 8-, 12- and 20-week-old resistant rats of the Danish strain to profiles of anticoagulant-susceptible rats of same ages. The three age-groups were selected to represent a group of pre-pubertal, pubertal and adult rats. We found expression profiles of the pre-pubertal and pubertal resistant rats to concur with profiles of the adults suggesting that cytochrome P450 enzymes are involved in the Danish bromadiolone resistance regardless of developmental stage. We also investigated the relative importance of the six cytochrome P450s in the different development stages of the resistant rats. The P450-3a2 and -3a3 isoforms were proposed to be of higher importance in adult male resistance than in pre-pubertal resistance. In contrast, the P450-2c13 and -3a2 isoforms were proposed to be more important in sexual immature female resistance, while the P450-2e1 and -3a3 isoforms were suggested to play a more significant role in adult female resistance.     

The effects of Artemisia annua L. and Achillea millefolium L. crude leaf extracts on the toxicity, development, feeding efficiency and chemical activities of small cabbage Pieris rapae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

The biological effects of two important medicinal plants, Artemisia annua L. and Achillea millefolium (L.) (viz, mortality, growth, and feeding indices as well as enzyme and non-enzymatic activities) were studied on small white Pieris rapae L a deleterious pest of cruciferous plants under controlled conditions (16:8 h L:D at 25 ± 1 °C and 65 ± 5% RH). The LC₅₀ and LC₂₅ values were 9.387% and 3.645% for A. annua L. and 4.19% and 1.69% for A. millefolium (L.), respectively. At the lowest concentration (0.625%), the deterrency was 29.826% and 44.185% for A. annua L. and A. millefolium (L.), respectively. Feeding indices were variously affected with changes in a number of parameters and an increase in larval and pupal duration. The activity level of alkaline phosphatase increased sharply while alanin and aspartate aminotransferases showed a sharp decrease. For non-enzymatic compounds, the amount of glucose and uric acid increased, but total protein and cholesterol decreased. These results indicate that these two medicinal plants might possess potential secondary metabolites that may be useful for controlling potential insect pests.     

Insecticide resistance in the tropical bedbug Cimex hemipterus

Insecticide resistance in the bedbug Cimex hemipterus was investigated using 4211 bedbugs collected from three districts of Sri Lanka. Insecticide bioassays were carried out with discriminating dosages of deltamethrin, permethrin, DDT, malathion, and propoxur. Activity levels of insecticide metabolizing enzymes and the insecticide target site acetylcholinesterase were monitored using biochemical assays. Percentage survivals after DDT, malathion, and propoxur exposure were 41-88%, 18-64%, and 11-41%, respectively. For deltamethrin and permethrin, KT₅₀/KT₉₀ (time to knock-down 50%/90% of the population) values were 0.5-24/1.0-58 and 1.3-10/2.5-47 h, respectively. Both elevated esterase and malathion carboxylesterase mechanisms were present in bedbug populations. Monooxygenase levels were heterogeneous. Organophosphate and carbamate target site acetylcholinesterase, was insensitive in 29-44% of the populations. High DDT resistance was probably due to glutathione S-transferases. Malathion carboxylesterases are mainly responsible for high malathion resistance. High tolerance to both DDT and pyrethroids suggests the presence of ‘kdr’ type resistance mechanism in one population.     

几种代谢酶基因与柑橘全爪螨对双甲脒抗性的关系

为了明确羧酸酯酶(carboxylesterase,CarE)基因、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(glutathione S-transferases,GST)基因和过氧化氢酶(catalase,CAT)基因与柑橘全爪螨Panonychus citri对双甲脒抗性的关系,通过BLAST检索,从柑橘全爪螨转录组数据库中对这3种代谢酶抗性相关基因进行鉴定,并采用RPKM法对双甲脒抗性品系和敏感品系代谢抗性相关基因进行表达差异分析,对差异较大的基因作定量PCR检测.基因差异性分析发现,抗性品系中有9条CarE基因、12条GST基因及6条CAT基因表达量发生上调,13条CarE基因、12条GST基因和3条CAT基因表达量发生下调;Pc29773nrt、Pcl7807nlg和Unigene31477为上调倍数最高的3个基因,其log2 ratio (RS/SS)分别为12.95、10.81、10.01.定量分析显示,Pc29773 nrt、Pcl7807nlg和Unigene31477的上调倍数分别为3.72、2.03和3.09,Pc29773 nrt和Unigene31477上调显著.研究表明柑橘全爪螨Pc29773nrt和Unigene31477上调与其对双甲脒的抗性相关.     

NbRbohB基因在本氏烟与疫霉菌互作中的功能分析

活性氧(active oxygen species, AOS)在植物抗病中发挥着重要作用,主要由NADPH氧化酶(nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase)系统产生.为明确NADPH氧化酶NbRbohB基因在本氏烟与疫霉菌亲和与非亲和性互作中的功能,采用荧光定量PCR技术以及病毒诱导的基因沉默方法探究了NbRbohB基因在本氏烟中对2种疫霉菌抗性中的作用,并利用NADPH氧化酶抑制剂对辣椒疫霉的抗性进行了检测.结果发现:2种疫霉菌均能诱导本氏烟发生氧迸发,且NbRbohB基因可能参与了疫霉菌诱导本氏烟发生的氧迸发过程.该基因沉默后降低了本氏烟对亲和互作辣椒疫霉菌的抗性,但对非亲和互作疫霉菌的抗性没有肉眼可见的影响;NADPH氧化酶抑制剂处理本氏烟后也能降低其对辣椒疫霉的抗性.表明该基因通过介导AOS产生,参与植物对亲和性与非亲和性互作疫霉的抗病反应,在亲和互作中尤为重要.     

Brusatol isolated from Brucea javanica (L.) Merr. induces apoptotic death of insect cell lines

Brucea javanica (L.) Merr. is a medicine plant distributed widely throughout Asia where its bitter fruits have been used traditionally in medicine for treating various ailments and controlling some pests. In recent years, concerns over the potential impact of synthetic pesticides on human health and environment have now become more pressing to develop environmentally friendly pesticides. In this paper, brusatol, a quassinoid, was isolated from the fruit of B. javanica, and identified using X-ray crystallographic analysis. Results showed that brusatol has potent contact toxicity (LD₅₀, 2.91 μg/larva, 72 h) and anfieedant activity (AFC₅₀, 17.4 mg/L, 48 h) against the third-instar larvae of Spodoptera exigua. Brusatol demonstrated cytotoxic effects to the tested insect cell lines, IOZCAS-Spex-II and Sf21, in a time- and dose-dependent manner. After brusatol treatment, apoptotic cell death with the DNA fragmentation, activation of caspase-3 and release of cytochrome c was preliminarily observed in both IOZCAS-Spex-II and Sf21. These results indicated the existence of apoptotic death with the mitochondrial-dependent pathway induced by brusatol in Sf21 and IOZCAS-Spex-II cell lines. Our studies will provide important knowledge to understand mechanisms of action of brusatol and to develop brusatol and its derivatives as insecticides.     

Azinphos-methyl and carbaryl resistance in adults of the codling moth (Cydia pomonella (L.), Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) from Northeastern Spain

The resistance of Cydia pomonella (L.) to organophosphates is widespread throughout the pome fruit growing areas. The lethal effects of two insecticides inhibitors of the acetylcholine esterase, azinphos-methyl and carbaryl, were evaluated in adults of five and four field populations of the codling moth, respectively. The lethal concentrations (LC₅₀ and LC₉₀) of these insecticides were determined in a susceptible strain from Spain (S_Spain). Topical bioassays using the approximate LC₉₀ values (3000 mg (a.i.)/L of carbaryl and 2000 mg (a.i.)/L of azinphos-methyl) that were obtained in S_Spain were tested as diagnostic concentrations. The enzymatic activities of mixed-function oxidases (MFO), glutathione S-transferases (GST) and esterases (EST) were measured to investigate their potential role in the detoxification of these insecticides.Carbaryl and azinphos-methyl caused ?53% and ?39% corrected mortality, respectively, in field populations, although the diagnostic concentrations applied were twofold and fourfold higher than the maximum concentration registered in Spain, respectively. The activities of MFO and GST were 7.3- to 16.1-fold higher and 2.5- to 3.7-fold higher in all the field populations compared to those in S_Spain, respectively.     

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase-mediated neonicotinoid resistance in the house fly Musca domestica L

Neonicotinoids play an essential role in the control of house flies Musca domestica. The development of neonicotinoid resistance was found in two field populations. 766b was 130- and 140-fold resistant to imidacloprid and 17- and 28-fold resistant to thiamethoxam in males and females, respectively. 791a was 22- and 20-fold resistant to imidacloprid and 9- and 23-fold resistant to thiamethoxam in males and females, respectively. Imidacloprid selection of 791a increased imidacloprid resistance to 75- and 150-fold in males and females, respectively, whereas selection with thiamethoxam had minimum impact. Neonicotinoid resistance was in all cases suppressed by PBO. The cytochrome P450 genes CYP6A1, CYP6D1 and CYP6D3 were constitutively over-expressed in resistant strains and CYP6D1 and CYP6D3 differentially expressed between sexes. The highest level of CYP6A1 expression was observed in both gender of the imidacloprid-selected strain after neonicotinoid exposure. CYP6D1 expression was increased after neonicotinoid exposure in resistant males. CYP6D3 expression was induced in both sexes upon neonicotinoid exposure but significantly higher in females.     

Spontaneous ultraweak photon emission from rice (Oryza sativa L.) and paddy weeds treated with a sulfonylurea herbicide

All living organisms spontaneously generate ultraweak photon emissions, which originate from biochemical reactions in cells. Current research uses the ultraweak photon emissions from organisms as a novel tool to investigate the physiological states of plants. In this study, we found ultraweak photon emissions from leaf segments of rice and several paddy weed species treated with a sulfonylurea herbicide. There is a definite difference in photon emissions among plant species, and rice (Oryza sativa), barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) and Cyperus serotinus showed extremely strong enhancement of photon emissions. Photon emissions from these three species treated with sulfonylurea herbicide were suppressed when the leaf segments were treated with the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450) inhibitors, piperonyl butoxide and malathion. These results suggest that P450 inhibitors affect the ultraweak photon emissions from plants.     

Characterization of imidacloprid resistance in the housefly Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae)

In recent years, imidacloprid was introduced to control the housefly in China and it was documented that the housefly indeed showed signs of resistance to imidacloprid somewhere but not in China. Therefore, a housefly population collected from filed (IFS) was selected continuously with imidacloprid to establish the resistant strain (IRS) and the basic characteristics were investigated in this study. After continuous selection over 21 generations, the resistance ratio increased from 9.01 to 140, and different levels of cross-resistance were developed to beta-cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos, chlorfenapyr, acetamiprid and azamethiphos in the IRS strain. The realized heritability of resistance was 0.10. The synergistic ratios for IRS pretreated with DEF, DEM and PBO were 1.68, 1.52 and 2.53, and the corresponding ones for IFS were 3.17, 1.87 and 2.67, respectively. Synergistic and biochemical assays suggested that the cytochrome P450 may play an important role in the imidacloprid resistance comparing with GSTs- and carboxylesterases-mediated detoxification in the IRS strain, and there might be additional mechanisms (e.g. reduced target-site sensitivity) contributed to imidacloprid resistance in the IRS strain.