Identification and evaluation of chloroplast uni- and trinucleotide sequence repeats in citrus

A cpDNA fragment of 34 genotypes belonging to Citrus and four related genera was amplified and sequenced. Chloroplast microsatellites were revealed with the length of repeats ranging from 25 to 44 bases. Other than the normal uninucleotide poly(A) repeats, a trinucleotide poly(TAA) motif was also found, the first report of such repeats in a plant chloroplast genome. According to SSR structure variations, 18 Chloroplast SSR Types (CST) were identified. The CST sequences were informative for better understanding the genetic relationships of chloroplast genomes among the analyzed genotypes and confirmed some previous hypotheses about the female parent of several hybrid accessions.     

The decline of Austrocedrus chilensis forests in Patagonia, Argentina: soil features as predisposing factors

The forests of Austrocedrus chilensis in southern Argentina suffer mortality from “mal del ciprés”, whose causes remain unknown. The purpose of this work was to establish the relation of soil features with the occurrence of the disease. In Río Grande Valley, Chubut Province, Argentina, 14 areas with “mal del ciprés” were selected for study. The spatial pattern of the decline varied among the different areas and was classified as aggregated and disaggregated. In each area, symptomatic and asymptomatic plots were established and characterized by 11 edaphic and topographic variables. Three forest areas where the disease was totally absent were also included. Site features were related to the occurrence of the decline using principal component analysis and cluster analysis. Results indicated that soil properties related to poor internal drainage, such as the proximity to water streams, non-allophanized soils of fine textures, and redoximorphic features, act as predisposing factors to the development of “mal del ciprés”. Poor soil drainage was strongly associated not only with the occurrence of the disease, but also with its spatial pattern. Symptomatic and asymptomatic plots presented similar edaphic features in areas with a disaggregated distribution of the decline and were grouped together in the multivariate analysis. This result suggests that large areas with such a pattern are prone to develop the decline.     

Micropropagation of Elaeagnus angustifolia from mature trees

Multiple shoots were obtained from nodal segments of mature trees of Elaeagnus angustifolia L. cultured on MS medium (Murashige and Skoog 1962) supplemented with 0, 0.88 or 2.22 micro M N(6)-benzyladenine. When nodal segments taken from the in vitro proliferated shoots were cultured under the same conditions, additional multiple shoots were obtained. Rooting of the in vitro propagated shoots was achieved on full strength MS medium or on MS supplemented with 2.46 micro M indole-3-butyric acid. Regenerated plantlets were acclimatized and successfully transplanted to soil.     

Photoinhibition of photosynthesis in needles of two cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) clones

Photoinhibition of photosynthesis and photosynthetic recovery were studied in detached needles of cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) Clones 52 and 30 under controlled conditions of high irradiation (about 1900 micromol m(-2) s(-1) for 60 min; HL treatment), followed by 60 min in darkness. The degree of photoinhibition was determined based on the ratio of variable to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm), which is a measure of the potential efficiency of photosystem II (PSII), and on electron transport measurements. The Fv/Fm ratio declined in needles of both clones in response to the HL treatment. Minimal fluorescence (Fo) increased in HL-treated needles of both clones. The HL treatment decreased rates of whole-chain and PSII activity of isolated thylakoids more in Clone 52 than in Clone 30. In needles of both clones, PSI activity was less sensitive to photoinhibition than PSII activity. In the subsequent 60-min dark incubation, fast recovery was observed in needles of both clones, with PSII efficiencies reaching similar values to those in non-photoinhibited needles. The artificial exogenous electron donors diphenyl carbazide (DPC), hydroxylamine (NH2OH) and manganese chloride (MnCl2) failed to restore the HL-induced loss of PSII activity in needles of Clone 30, whereas DPC and NH2OH significantly restored PSII activity in photoinhibited needles of Clone 52. Quantification of the PSII reaction center protein D1 and the 33-kDa protein of the water-splitting complex following HL treatment of needles revealed pronounced differences between Clone 52 and Clone 30. The large decrease in PSII activity in HL-treated needles was caused by the marked loss of D1 protein and 33-kDa protein in Clone 30 and Clone 52, respectively.     

桉木与杨木阻燃胶合板的性能对比分析

采用磷氮硼复合阻燃剂浸渍处理桉木和杨木单板,分别制备5层阻燃胶合板,检测其物理力学性能和阻燃性能.结果表明:阻燃胶合板的胶合强度,均满足GB/T 9846-2004《胶合板》中Ⅱ类要求,抗弯性能满足LY/T 1738-2008《实木复合地板用胶合板》要求;两树种胶合板相比,杨木阻燃胶合板的胶合强度较好,桉木阻燃胶合板的抗弯性能及阻燃性能更优.     

豚草和三裂叶豚草拮抗植物的筛选

【目的】 研究豚草(Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.)和三裂叶豚草(Ambrosia trifida L.)浸提液对常用替代牧草高羊茅、早熟禾、黑麦草、披碱草,以及对苜蓿、葵花、玉米、小麦、甜菜种子萌发的影响;筛选对豚草和三裂叶豚草具有防控效果的替代植物以及最佳混种方式。【方法】 采用培养皿滤纸法,研究豚草和三裂叶豚草浸提液对供试种子萌发的影响。采用盆栽竞争试验,运用DeWit取代试验研究法,设置牧草和入侵杂草5种混种方式,混种比例分别为1∶1、1∶2、1∶3、2∶1、3∶1,研究黑麦草、披碱草和高羊茅与豚草和三裂叶豚草的竞争效应,分析3种牧草对豚草和三裂叶豚草的替代控制潜力。【结果】 随着豚草和三裂叶豚草的浸提液浓度的增加,4种常用替代牧草种子和新源县5种主要作物种子发芽率,发芽指数和化感效应指数均下降。5种混种密度下,黑麦草、高羊茅与三裂叶豚草混种比例为3∶1时,三裂叶豚草的竞争平衡指数分别为(-0.505 1±0.301 5)、(-0.757 6±0.265 88)均显著小于0(P<0.05);黑麦草、高羊茅与豚草混种比例为1:3时豚草竞争平衡指数分别为(-0.955 8±0.518 08)、(-2.049 7±0.178 55)均显著小于0(P<0.05)。【结论】 豚草和三裂叶豚草浸提液对供试种子萌发具有化感抑制作用;且浸提液浓度越大抑制作用越强,同时叶部化感抑制作用大于根部。三裂叶豚草对四种牧草种子萌发的化感抑制作用大于豚草。黑麦草和高羊茅可以作为豚草和三裂叶豚草的替代植物。黑麦草和高羊茅防治三裂叶豚草时建议播种比例为3∶1;防治豚草时建议播种比例为1∶3。豚草和三裂叶豚草发生密度较大时其化感抑制作用越强,影响牧草萌发生长,应适当加大替代牧草播种量。     

Strangulation of the small intestine by an anomalous congenital band in a yearling

Strangulating obstruction of the small intestine by anomalous mesenteric bands is an uncommon cause of colic in horses. The most commonly reported bands are mesodiverticular bands that are embryological remnants of the vitelline arteries. Despite the congenital nature of the anomaly, a wide age range of horses can be affected. This report describes a case of small intestinal strangulating obstruction caused by an unusual, anomalous congenital band attached to the ileocaecal fold in a yearling colt. Information including case background, history, clinical, laboratory, surgical and pathological findings is described.     

Benthic microbial indicators of fish farm impact in a coastal area of the Tyrrhenian Sea

We studied the impact of organic loads due to the biodeposition of a fish farm in a non-impacted coastal area of the Tyrrhenian Sea (Western Mediterranean). Sediment chemistry and benthic microbial community were investigated from July 1997 to February 1998 on monthly basis at two stations: one was located under the fish farm, while the second was about 1 km away, and served as a reference site. The presence of the cage induced rapid changes in the benthic conditions: the sediments were rapidly (after 6 weeks) reduced. A significant accumulation of biopolymeric carbon was observed beneath the cage both 2 weeks after the initial cage deployment, on non-impacted sediments, and 5–7 months after, and appeared to be related to the fish farm production cycle. The density of microbial communities beneath the fish farm increased only during the first month of farming activity (July) and partially 7 months after cage disposal (i.e. in January), when there was a significant sediment organic enrichment. Additional evidence of rapid impact of the fish farm on the benthic bacterial communities is provided by the increase in the numbers of autofluorescent microbial cells. The photosynthetic eukaryotic cells displayed a highly reduced contribution to total autofluorescent microbial density, indicating that their decrease is related with biopolymeric carbon accumulation, and probably was due also to “shadow effect” induced by suspended material, coming from the fish farm, on the environment below. We propose here, to apply the ratio of culturable heterotrophic bacteria to microbial direct counts (CFU/MDC) to detect fish farm impact. In cage sediments, organic enrichment and the consequent modification of the characteristics of the benthic environment, determined an increase in aerobic heterotrophic bacteria and vibrio density indicating that they are efficient colonizers of organic-rich sediments. Densities of Escherichia coli and Enterococci were not significantly higher than in the reference site, and are likely of terrestrial origin. Thus they cannot be used as specific indicators of fish farm impact.