印度梨形孢真菌诱导提高花生抗旱性研究初报

将印度梨形孢真菌(Piriformospora indica)接种于受不同干旱胁迫花生幼苗根部,研究接种该真菌对花生抗旱性的影响.试验设置3个处理,分别是:接菌+干旱胁迫处理、未接菌+干旱胁迫处理、未接菌+未干旱胁迫处理(CK).试验结果表明:接菌+干旱处理后的花生主根长、根鲜重、根干重、茎鲜重、茎干重、叶鲜重、叶干重、叶绿素含量(SPAD值)等农艺性状表现分别为14.96 cm、0.64g、0.08 g、1.48 g、0.20 g、1.61 g、0.29 g、42.63.与未接菌+干旱处理相比均显著增加,增幅分别为26.8％、25.50％、60％、15.63％、17.65％、15.59％、26.09％、7.43％.与对照相比,在主根长、根鲜重、根干重、茎干重、叶干重、叶绿素含量(SPAD值)等性状方面均没有显著性变化.以上结果说明:在干旱胁迫条件下,接种印度梨形孢真菌能够维持花生正常生长,使得花生从植株外部形态上表现出较强的抗旱性.     

Ligands of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor as insecticides

Insect nicotinic acetyl receptors (nAChR) are targets of growing importance and, since the early 1990s, the number of such highly effective insecticides as imidacloprid and spinosyn has grown. Several natural compounds, eg dihydro-β-erythroidine, methyl caconitine and paraherquamide, showing high affinity to the same receptor, were considerably less active as insecticides, most likely because of their antagonistic action. Our observations on aphids after ingestion of the antagonistic compound dihydro-β-erythroidine revealed anti-feedant-like properties. As a consequence, the symptomology of poisoning was totally different between agonists and antagonists of the nAChR. Electrophysiological (whole-cell voltage clamp) measurements in isolated housefly neurones revealed that agonism seems to be a prerequisite for insecticidal activity. Furthermore, we were able to demonstrate the existence of two different subtypes of the nAChR in isolated locust neurones with different pharmacology and ion-channel properties.     

Identification of pathogenic fungi and preliminary screening for resistance in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Jatropha curcas</Emphasis> L. germplasm

Sexual reproduction in fungi is controlled by mating type genes, which are located at the MAT locus. In this study, we investigated the structure of this locus in the phytopathogenic fungus Phyllosticta citricarpa, the causal agent of citrus black spot disease. Despite intensive study, its sexual state has never been observed in single-spore culture. Through analysis of the genome sequences of two individual P. citricarpa isolates, the sequence of the DNA lyase gene was identified and, as previously reported in the literature, the mating type genes were located in the 3′ flanking region of this gene. The results suggested that P. citricarpa is heterothallic, owing to the exclusive presence of the MAT1–1 or MAT1–2 gene in individual strains. In order to characterize the MAT locus, we designed primers to amplify this region. P. citricarpa was found to have complete and apparently functional copies of MAT genes, containing α-1 and HMG domains, present in different isolates. In addition to MAT1–2-1 and MAT1–1-1 genes, the MAT1–1-4 gene was located in the 5′ flanking region of the MAT1–1-1 gene and the MAT1–2-5 gene was located in 5′ flanking region of the MAT1–2-1 gene. A multiplex PCR protocol was also developed to differentiate P. citricarpa idiomorphs, which can be used in distribution and incidence studies of mating type strains, in order to determine the occurrence of sexual reproduction and to facility crossing studies. Furthermore, in Brazil, the two idiomorphs occur in a 1:1 ratio, which is expected in sexually reproducing populations.     

Effects of the aglycone of ascaulitoxin on amino acid metabolism in Lemna paucicostata

Ascaulitoxin and its aglycone (2,4,7-triamino-5-hydroxyoctanoic acid, CAS 212268-55-8) are potent phytotoxins produced by Ascochyta caulina, a plant pathogen being developed for biocontrol of weeds. The mode of action of this non-protein amino acid was studied on Lemna paucicostata. Ascaulitoxin is a potent growth inhibitor, with an I₅₀ for growth of less than 1 μM, almost completely inhibiting growth at about 3 μM. Its action is slow, starting with growth inhibition, followed by darker green fronds, and then chlorosis and death. Most amino acids, including non-toxic non-protein amino acids, reversed the effect of the toxin when supplemented in the same medium. Supplemental sucrose slightly increased the activity. d-Amino acids were equally good inhibitors of ascaulitoxin activity, indicating the amino acid effects may not be due to inhibition of amino acid synthesis. Oxaloacetate, the immediate precursor of aspartate, also reversed the activity. LC-MS did not detect interaction of the compound with lysine, an amino acid that strongly reversed the effect of the phytotoxin. Metabolite profiling revealed that the toxin caused distinct changes in amino acids. Reduction in alanine, paralleled by enhanced levels of the branched chain amino acids valine, leucine and isoleucine and nearly unchanged levels of pyruvate, might indicate that the conversion of pyruvate to alanine is affected by ascaulitoxin aglycone. In addition, reduced levels of glutamate/glutamine and aspartate/asparagine might suggest that synthesis and interconversion reactions of these amino group donors are affected. However, neither alanine aminotransferase nor alanine: glyoxylate aminotransferase were inhibited by the toxin in vitro. Our observations might be explained by three hypotheses: (1) the toxin inhibits one or more aminotransferases not examined, (2) ascaulitoxin aglycone affects amino acid transporters, (3) ascaulitoxin aglycone is a protoxin that is converted in vivo to an aminotransferase inhibitor.     

Common vole (Microtus arvalis) ecology and management: implications for risk assessment of plant protection products

Common voles (Microtus arvalis) are common small mammals in some European landscapes. They can be a major rodent pest in European agriculture and they are also a representative generic focal small herbivorous mammal species used in risk assessment for plant protection products. In this paper, common vole population dynamics, habitat and food preferences, pest potential and use of the common vole as a model small wild mammal species in the risk assessment process are reviewed. Common voles are a component of agroecosystems in many parts of Europe, inhabiting agricultural areas (secondary habitats) when the carrying capacity of primary grassland habitats is exceeded. Colonisation of secondary habitats occurs during multiannual outbreaks, when population sizes can exceed 1000 individuals ha^?1. In such cases, in‐crop common vole population control management has been practised to avoid significant crop damage. The species' status as a crop pest, high fecundity, resilience to disturbance and intermittent colonisation of crop habitats are important characteristics that should be reflected in risk assessment. Based on the information provided in the scientific literature, it seems justified to modify elements of the current risk assessment scheme for plant protection products, including the use of realistic food intake rates, reduced assessment factors or the use of alternativee focal rodent species in particular European regions. Some of these adjustments are already being applied in some EU member states. Therefore, it seems reasonable consistently to apply such pragmatic and realistic approaches in risk assessments for plant protection products across the EU. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry