甘蔗属热带种与滇蔗茅远缘杂交F_1代花粉母细胞减数分裂及花粉败育研究

采用染色体压片法研究甘蔗属热带种与滇蔗茅远缘杂交F1代花粉母细胞减数分裂过程及染色体行为,显微观察结果显示:在终变期观察到单价体、二价体和四价体;分裂中期Ⅰ、后期Ⅰ、中期Ⅱ和后期Ⅱ均出现落后染色体;中期Ⅱ形成"八"字形纺锤丝、后期Ⅱ二分体2个子细胞染色体不同步分离;四分体时期观察到三分体、微核、大小不等的四分体以及多面体等异常细胞;同一小花的3个花药中几个不同时期的分裂相同时存在。进一步应用DAPI荧光染料进行染色观察,结果表明,大多数小孢子在单核时期就发生皱缩变形。该结果说明减数分裂过程异常染色体行为和异常细胞分裂是导致杂交F1代花粉完全败育的主要原因。花粉败育时期为小孢子母细胞时期、四分体时期和单核小孢子时期。     

同源四倍体水稻花粉的发育特征

利用激光扫描共聚焦显微技术观察了同源四倍体水稻紫粳 4x花粉的发育过程及其败育时期和方式。在成熟花粉中正常花粉只占45.5％,还有54.5％的花粉在发育过程中发生败育。在小孢子母细胞减数分裂过程中出现了一些异常现象,如染色体不能正常配对、形成异常二分体及二分体分裂不同步等现象。绝大部分花粉败育发生在单核小孢子期和二胞花粉晚期。在败育花粉中典败花粉粒占21.4％,圆败花粉粒占5.0％,染败花粉粒占28.1％。导致紫粳 4x花粉败育的原因可能是由于其染色体数目加倍,在减数分裂过程中有些染色体不能正常配对,从而进行异常分裂造成的。     

温敏雄性不育小麦BNS366花粉败育的细胞学观察

为了明确温敏雄性不育小麦BNS366雄性败育的细胞学机理,采用醋酸洋红染色法观察减数分裂和小孢子发育过程,用1%I2-KI溶液染色进行花粉育性统计;以温敏不育系BNS和常规品种扬麦13作为对照。结果表明,BNS366的减数分裂和小孢子发育过程与BNS完全一致,即:在减数分裂过程中,中期Ⅰ染色体出现滞后现象,在形成二分体和四分体时细胞质分裂不均匀,出现三孢现象;小孢子发育过程中,只观察到单核靠边期,最后核物质解体出现空孢现象。而扬麦13在减数分裂过程中染色体表现正常,小孢子发育过程中,观察到单核期→双核期→三核期。开花期,BNS366和BNS花粉均表现典败和圆败,扬麦13可育。减数分裂表现出的异常行为是导致BNS366花粉败育的原因之一,单核靠边期是其败育的关键时期。     

茉莉花胚胎学研究 I．小孢子发生与雄配子体发育

系统研究了茉莉花双瓣品的小孢子发生与雄配子体发育过程。观察结果表明：茉莉花双瓣品种药壁发育为基本型，中层在小孢子减数分裂时期逐渐解体，绒毡层是异常细胞绒毡层，解体迟，不利于小孢子发育，药室内壁纤维层加厚不明显。小孢子从减数分裂中期1开始走向败育，胞质分裂为同时型，正常四分体为正四面体形。雄配子体发育大多为不正常，其发育早期有花粉管萌发的异常现象。空瘪、异形花粉多，正常与不正常比例为100：324。成熟花粉粒为2－细胞型，具三个萌发孔。     

一种甘蓝型油菜双隐性细胞核雄性不育的细胞学观察

本研究利用涂片和切片两种方法,对甘蓝型油菜双隐性细胞核雄性不育两用系的不育株与可育株小孢子母细胞的减数分裂和小孢子发育的细胞学进行了观察。结果表明, 不育系从减数分裂时期就开始发生异常，出现了染色体桥，花粉母细胞分裂不同步等现象，随后形成大小不等的四分体或多分体，小孢子释放以后没有开始花粉壁的形成,并且细胞质逐渐降解,最后只剩下降解后的残渣，药室也随之萎缩变形。     

茉莉花胚胎学研究Ⅰ.小孢子发生与雄配子体发育

系统研究了茉莉花双瓣品种的小孢子发生与雄配子体发育过程。观察结果表明 :茉莉花双瓣品种药壁发育为基本型 ,中层在小孢子减数分裂时期逐渐解体 ,绒毡层是异型细胞绒毡层 ,解体迟 ,不利于小孢子发育 ,药室内壁纤维层加厚不明显。小孢子从减数分裂中期 开始走向败育 ,胞质分裂为同时型 ,正常四分体为正四面体形。雄配子体发育大多不正常 ,其发育早期有花粉管萌发的异常现象。空瘪、异形花粉多 ,正常与不正常比例为 10 0∶ 32 4。成熟花粉粒为 2 -细胞型 ,具三个萌发孔。     

甘蓝型油菜双显性细胞核雄性不育系Shaan-GMS雄配子发育观察

采用常规压片与冰冻切片两种方法,观察甘蓝型油菜不育系Shaan-GMS的不育株与可育株小孢子母细胞减数分裂和小孢子发育过程,以阐明小孢子败育时期和细胞学特征。植株表型上,花期可育株与不育株花器官差异较大:不育株花丝较短,花药小且干瘪,微粉或无粉,淡黄色;细胞学观察结果显示不育株的花粉母细胞能够进行正常的减数分裂,形成四分体,但在单核期开始发生异常。主要表现为小孢子从四分体中释放后无法形成正常的小孢子外壁,随后小孢子外壁、内容物和绒毡层均提早降解,只剩下空壳与残渣,药室也随之萎缩变形,最终导致花粉败育。上述结果说明Shaan-GMS为单核败育类型,可能是一个细胞核雄性不育新材料。     

F型小麦雄性不育系小孢子发育的细胞学观察

为明确F型小麦雄性不育系雄性败育的细胞学机理,以西农979为对照,采用醋酸洋红染色制片等方法观察花粉母细胞减数分裂、小孢子发育过程及成熟花粉粒育性表现,并套袋自交,于成熟期统计结实率。结果发现,F型小麦雄性不育系仅有2.15%的花粉母细胞减数分裂Ⅱ异常,其余绝大多数花粉母细胞减数分裂正常,但小孢子由单核期进入二核期后,生殖核和营养核先后降解,导致无核小孢子的出现,其比率为77.04%。成熟花粉粒经1% I₂-KI染色后显示异常的花粉粒比率高达94.8%,其中包括圆败、典败和染败类型,但以染败型为主。F型小麦雄性不育系套袋自交结实率为2.5%。上述三方面的研究结果彼此相符,据此认为,小孢子由单核期进入二核期后,生殖核和营养核先后降解导致无核小孢子的产生是F型小麦雄性不育系雄性败育的主要细胞学原因。     

新发现的大麦雄性不育的小孢子发育及过氧化物酶同工酶的研究

本研究结果表明，新发现的大麦雄性不育材料小孢子母细胞的减数分裂，四分体之前表现正常，此后出现四分体小孢子形成不同步，单核期的小孢子，因无淀粉等必要的营养合成与积累而发生饥饿败育。主要表现为，细胞皱缩，胞壁逐渐解体，I－KI不染色等。自小孢子母细胞减数分裂四分体开始，经单核小孢了列双核小孢子期，雄性不育株的雌、雄蕊及其单核小孢子期的旗叶、旗下叶和倒3号，过氧化物酶同酶谱与其等基因可育株的相比，或酶带数增多或颜色加深，酶活性显著增强。可能是造成内源IAA氧化分解，导致小孢子发生饥饿败育的重要原因。在不育和可有株雄蕊中，分别发现染色很深的过氧化酶同工酶带POD－1、POD－9和POD－14、POD－15及POD－16等，可能是该雄性不育的特征带。     

高粱A2类型CMS A2V4败育过程的细胞学研究

以A2V4/B2V4为材料,对A2类型雄性不育系的减数分裂过程中染色体行为和花药发育过程中绒毡层的变化进行了细胞学观察研究。结果表明:高粱A2V4 CMS的染色体行为,在前期Ⅰ至中期Ⅰ无任何异常现象,从后期Ⅰ开始,染色体行为出现各种异常现象,同源染色体在走向两极时出现滞后或部分不分离、或在后期Ⅱ姐妹染色体不分离造成细胞内染色体多倍化,以致形成两极染色体数目不等、在一个细胞内有几个染色体团或核、三分体和“T”型、直线型排列的四分体;花药发育过程中也有大量异常现象,药室的绒毡层细胞不形成或提前解体,药室内的花粉母细胞不发育或小孢子液泡化,绒毡层细胞发育异常,出现巨型化而挤满整个药室或绒毡层细胞虽发育正常,但花粉母细胞发育异常,在造孢细胞时期即开始出现变形现象,随后发生粘连退化,绝大部分花粉母细胞不能完成正常的减数分裂过程而形成四分体,所有这些异常现象最终导致小孢子退化。     

Comparative Assessment of the Efficacy of Various Nitrogen Fertilizers

Summary

The efficiency of N fertilizers is usually poor; often less than 50% of the applied N is taken up by the crop. This review focuses on various N fertilizers with respect to the significance of different N loss pathways, namely (i) ammonia volatilization, (ii) dinitrogen and nitrogen oxide emissions, and (iii) nitrate leaching. Further, the significance of biological N immobilization, ammonium fixation and, finally, the impact of nitrate vs. ammonium uptake on crop yield are also discussed. The reviewed literature shows that N fertilizers may differ markedly in their susceptibility to losses. There is, however, considerable scope to improve N efficiency of each N source by proper N management practices.     

Studies on natural repellents against potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella Zeller) in country stores

Summary The effects of the leaves of five plant species, one from each of the generaAmbrosia, Anemone, Eupatorium, Eucalyptus andLantana, on potato tuber moth were investigated under indigenous storage conditions at the Central Potato Research Station, Shillong (1800 m above sea level). Their action was compared with that of a biological insecticide (spores ofBacillus thuringiensis), a chemical insecticide (carbaryl), and an untreated control. The data collected after six months storage on tuber damage, sprout damage and the rotting indicated that the leaves ofLantana aculeata provided most protection to the tubers, reducing damage from over 70% in the check to below 5%, and sprout damage from over 45% to below 3%. Next best wasEucalyptus globulus followed byB. thuringiensis. They may be used on tubers stored for table use or for seed as they had no adverse effect on germination or on the yield of a subsequent crop.     

Mineral composition of some traditional Mexican teas

Teas of plant origin traditionally consumed by the Mountain Pima of Chihuahua, Mexico, were analyzed for mineral nutritional content. Fe, Cu, Zn, Ca, and Mg composition was determined for native teas made from shoots ofTagetes lucida, T. filifolia, Elytraria imbricata, andHolodiscus dumosus, and from root xylem ofCeanothus depressus andPhaseolus ritensis. Native uses of these teas are also described.     

Novel food and non-food uses for sorghum and millets

Sorghum and millets have considerable potential in foods and beverages. As they are gluten-free they are suitable for coeliacs. Sorghum is also a potentially important source of nutraceuticals such antioxidant phenolics and cholesterol-lowering waxes. Cakes, cookies, pasta, a parboiled rice-like product and snack foods have been successfully produced from sorghum and, in some cases, millets. Wheat-free sorghum or millet bread remains the main challenge. Additives such as native and pre-gelatinised starches, hydrocolloids, fat, egg and rye pentosans improve bread quality. However, specific volumes are lower than those for wheat bread or gluten-free breads based on pure starches, and in many cases, breads tend to stale faster. Lager and stout beers with sorghum are brewed commercially. Sorghum's high-starch gelatinisation temperature and low beta-amylase activity remain problems with regard to complete substitution of barley malt with sorghum malt . The role of the sorghum endosperm matrix protein and cell wall components in limiting extract is a research focus. Brewing with millets is still at an experimental stage. Sorghum could be important for bioethanol and other bio-industrial products. Bioethanol research has focused on improving the economics of the process through cultivar selection, method development for low-quality grain and pre-processing to recover valuable by-products. Potential by-products such as the kafirin prolamin proteins and the pericarp wax have potential as bioplastic films and coatings for foods, primarily due to their hydrophobicity.     

In vitro antimicrobial activity of different accessions ofSolanum commersonii Dun. from Uruguay

Summary The in vitro antimicrobial activity of extracts from accessions ofSolanum commersonii Dun. collected in the south of Uruguay was investigated against five microorganisms including the pathogenRalstonia solanacearum. A total of 30 extracts corresponding to organic and aqueous extracts were studied. Interestingly, most of the positive results for growth inhibition were againstR. solanacearum. The extracts were also analyzed for the presence of glycoalkaloids and lectins. Six of the ten aqueous extracts showed lectin presence and a wide variation in the type and amounts of glycoalkaloids, was found. Results indicate that there is no clear relationship between the antimicrobial activity against the five microorganisms screened and the presence or amounts of lectins and glycoalkaloids, traditionally regarded as possible antimicrobial metabolites in theSolanum genus, which indicates the presence of as yet unidentified antimicrobial compounds.     

Extreme resistance to infection by potato virus X in genotypes of wild tuber-bearingSolanum species

Summary Clones derived from thirty-one different accessions (nineteen of Argentine origin) belonging to eightSolanum species were screened for resistance to infection by potato virus X strain cp (PVX cp) by mechanical inoculation of plantlets that had been micropropagated in vitro. Estimates of PVX multiplication obtained by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and slot blot nucleic acid hybridization allowed the identification of resistant clones derived from five accessions belonging toS. commersonii S. oplocense, S. sparsipilum andS. tuberosum andigena. Resistant genotypes supported PVX concentrations 5 to 15 times smaller than did the susceptible control cultivar Spunta. Graft inoculation test confirmed the presence of extreme resistance similar to that conferred by the ‘immunity’ gene X¹ (also called RX_act).     

Cyanobacteria Secondary Metabolites as Biotechnological Ingredients in Natural Anti-Aging Cosmetics: Potential to Overcome Hyperpigmentation,Loss of Skin Density and UV Radiation-Deleterious Effects

The loss of density and elasticity, the appearance of wrinkles and hyperpigmentation are among the first noticeable signs of skin aging. Beyond UV radiation and oxidative stress, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) assume a preponderant role in the process, since their deregulation results in the degradation of most extracellular matrix components. In this survey, four cyanobacteria strains were explored for their capacity to produce secondary metabolites with biotechnological potential for use in anti-aging formulations. Leptolyngbya boryana LEGE 15486 and Cephalothrix lacustris LEGE 15493 from freshwater ecosystems, and Leptolyngbya cf. ectocarpi LEGE 11479 and Nodosilinea nodulosa LEGE 06104 from marine habitats were sequentially extracted with acetone and water, and extracts were analyzed for their toxicity in cell lines with key roles in the skin context (HaCAT, 3T3L1, and hCMEC). The non-toxic extracts were chemically characterized in terms of proteins, carotenoids, phenols, and chlorophyll a, and their anti-aging potential was explored through their ability to scavenge the physiological free radical superoxide anion radical (O₂^•−), to reduce the activity of the MMPs elastase and hyaluronidase, to inhibit tyrosinase and thus avoid melanin production, and to block UV-B radiation (sun protection factor, SPF). Leptolyngbya species stood out for anti-aging purposes: L. boryana LEGE 15486 presented a remarkable SPF of 19 (at 200 µg/mL), being among the best species regarding O₂^•− scavenging, (IC₅₀ = 99.50 µg/mL) and also being able to inhibit tyrosinase (IC₂₅ = 784 µg/mL), proving to be promising against UV-induced skin-aging; L. ectocarpi LEGE 11479 was more efficient in inhibiting MMPs (hyaluronidase, IC₅₀ = 863 µg/mL; elastase, IC₅₀ = 391 µg/mL), thus being the choice to retard dermal density loss. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the data allowed the grouping of extracts into three groups, according to their chemical composition; the correlation of carotenoids and chlorophyll a with MMPs activity (p < 0.01), O₂^•− scavenging with phenolic compounds (p < 0.01), and phycocyanin and allophycocyanin with SPF, pointing to these compounds in particular as responsible for UV-B blockage. This original survey explores, for the first time, the biotechnological potential of these cyanobacteria strains in the field of skin aging, demonstrating the promising, innovative, and multifactorial nature of these microorganisms.     

Marine Pharmacology in 2009–2011: Marine Compounds with Antibacterial,Antidiabetic, Antifungal,Anti-Inflammatory,Antiprotozoal, Antituberculosis,and Antiviral Activities; Affecting the Immune and Nervous Systems,and other Miscellaneous Mechanisms of Action ?

The peer-reviewed marine pharmacology literature from 2009 to 2011 is presented in this review, following the format used in the 1998–2008 reviews of this series. The pharmacology of structurally-characterized compounds isolated from marine animals, algae, fungi and bacteria is discussed in a comprehensive manner. Antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral pharmacological activities were reported for 102 marine natural products. Additionally, 60 marine compounds were observed to affect the immune and nervous system as well as possess antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory effects. Finally, 68 marine metabolites were shown to interact with a variety of receptors and molecular targets, and thus will probably contribute to multiple pharmacological classes upon further mechanism of action studies. Marine pharmacology during 2009–2011 remained a global enterprise, with researchers from 35 countries, and the United States, contributing to the preclinical pharmacology of 262 marine compounds which are part of the preclinical pharmaceutical pipeline. Continued pharmacological research with marine natural products will contribute to enhance the marine pharmaceutical clinical pipeline, which in 2013 consisted of 17 marine natural products, analogs or derivatives targeting a limited number of disease categories.