Genetic diversity of the root‐knot nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii and development of a SCAR marker for this guava‐damaging species

The objectives of this work were to evaluate the genetic variability of Meloidogyne enterolobii by molecular markers, and develop species‐specific molecular markers for application in detection. Sixteen M. enterolobii isolates from different geographical regions (Brazil and other countries) and hosts were used in this study. The identification and purification of the populations were carried out based on isoenzyme phenotype. The DNA amplification of the intergenic region (IGS) of the rDNA and of the region between the cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII) and 16S rRNA genes (mtDNA) produced specific fragments of the expected size for this nematode, i.e. 780 and 705 bp, respectively. Intraspecific variability among the isolates was evaluated with three different neutral molecular markers: AFLP, ISSR and RAPD. The results showed a low level of diversity among the isolates tested, indicating that M. enterolobii is a genetically homogeneous root‐knot nematode species. The RAPD method allowed the identification of a species‐specific RAPD fragment for M. enterolobii. This fragment was cloned and sequenced, and from the sequence obtained, a set of primers was designed and tested. The amplification of a 520‐bp‐long fragment occurred only for the 16 isolates of M. enterolobii and not for the 10 other Meloidogyne species tested. In addition, positive detection was achieved in a single individual female, egg‐mass and second stage juvenile of this nematode. This SCAR species‐specific marker for M. enterolobii represents a new molecular tool to be used in the detection of this nematode from field samples and as a routine diagnostic test for quarantine devices .     

Bacterial pathogens of rice in the Kingdom of Cambodia and description of a new pathogen causing a serious sheath rot disease

A study of rice diseases in Cambodia from 2005 to 2007 showed widespread occurrence of diseases caused by Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae, Burkholderia gladioli, B. cepacia and Pantoea ananatis. This is the first report of these pathogens in Cambodia. Additionally, a pseudomonad causing a widespread disease similar to sheath brown rot (caused by Pseudomonas fuscovaginae) was isolated. The studied strains were pathogenic to rice cvs Sen Pidau and IR 66, producing similar, though slightly less severe, symptoms to those observed in the field. Based on comparative 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis, combined with cell wall fatty acid analysis and metabolic profiles, the isolated strains were allocated to the genus Pseudomonas. The novel species were differentiated from Pseudomonas fuscovaginae and P. putida by their inability to metabolize d ‐fructose, d ‐galactose, d ‐galactonic acid lactone, d ‐galacturonic acid, d ‐glucosaminic acid, d ‐glucuronic acid, p‐hydroxy phenylacetic acid, d ‐saccharic acid and urocanic acid. The major fatty acids were C_16:0, summed feature 3 (C_16:1ω7c and C_16:1ω6c) and summed feature 8 (C_18:1ω7c), representing 80% of the total. Partial 16S rRNA gene sequences (1460 bp) were identical, except for two nucleotide changes amongst the six strains. Alignment of the causal strains within type‐culture databases revealed similarities of 99·7% with Pseudomonas parafulva AJ 2129^T, 99·2% with P. fulva IAM 1592^T, 98·9% with P. plecoglossicidia FPC 951^T, and 98·1% with P. fuscovaginae MAFF 301177^T. On the basis of data from this polyphasic study, it is proposed that the unknown strains isolated from rice represent a novel species of the genus Pseudomonas.     

Selection,characterization and genetic analysis of laboratory mutants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Botryotinia fuckeliana</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Botrytis cinerea</Emphasis>) resistant to the fungicide boscalid

Resistance to the fungicide boscalid in laboratory mutants of Botryotinia fuckeliana (Botrytis cinerea) was investigated. The baseline sensitivity to boscalid was evaluated in terms of colony growth (EC₅₀ = 0.3–3 μg ml⁻¹; MIC = 10–30 μg ml⁻¹) and conidial germination (EC₅₀ = 0.03–0.1 μg ml⁻¹; MIC = 1–3 μg ml⁻¹) tests. Mutants were selected in vitro from wild-type strains of the fungus on a fungicide-amended medium containing acetate as a carbon source. Mutants showed two different levels of resistance to boscalid, distinguishable through the conidial germination tests: low (EC₅₀ ∼ 0.3 μg ml⁻¹, ranging from 0.03 to 1 μg ml⁻¹; MIC > 100 μg ml⁻¹) and high (EC₅₀ > 100 μg ml⁻¹) resistance. Analysis of meiotic progeny from crosses between resistant mutants and sensitive reference strains showed that resistant phenotypes were due to mutations in single major gene(s) inherited in a Mendelian fashion, and linked with both the Daf1 and Mbc1 genes, responsible for resistance to dicarboximide and benzimidazole fungicides, respectively. Gene sequence analysis of the four sub-units of the boscalid-target protein, the succinate dehydrogenase enzyme, revealed that single or double point mutations in the highly conserved regions of the iron-sulphur protein (Ip) gene were associated with resistance. Mutations resulted in proline to leucine or phenylalanine replacements at position 225 (P225L or P225F) in high resistant mutants, and in a histidine to tyrosine replacement at position 272 (H272Y) in low resistant mutants. Sequences of the flavoprotein and the two transmembrane sub-units of succinate dehydrogenase were never affected.     

Molecular characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xiphinema brevicollum</Emphasis> (Nematoda: Longidoridae) from the Czech Republic

Populations of Xiphinema brevicollum occurring in the Czech Republic were described morphologically and molecularly. Published species-specific primer set BL18 and BV3 was used to amplify three populations of X. brevicollum from the Czech Republic. These primers were tested against 9 species of Xiphinema and 11 species of Longidorus. Amplification was also observed for X. inaequale, X. italiae and X. lambertii. Three additional markers, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, ribosomal D2/D3 expansion segment of the 28S gene and 18S gene, were amplified and sequenced for X. brevicollum, X. inaequale and X. lambertii belonging to X. americanum-group. Comparison of cox1 sequences of X. brevicollum from the Czech Republic with X. taylori from the Slovak Republic (accession number AM086702) suggested that these populations represent the same species.     

Effect of humic substances on nutrient uptake by herbage and on production and nutritive value of herbage from sown grass pastures

The effect of humic substances on the nutrient uptake, herbage production and nutritive value of herbage from sown grass pastures was studied in six field experiments. Commercial humic substances were applied in combination with mineral fertilizer or slurry, either as a solution (HF liquid; 8·3 kg humic substances ha⁻¹) or incorporated into the mineral fertilizer (HF incorporated; 3·6 to 6·4 kg humic substances ha⁻¹). A series of cuts, ranging from two to five cuts, was taken during the growing season. The general response in herbage production to application of humic substances was an increase in herbage mass of dry matter (DM) at the first cut although this was only significant in two experiments for the HF incorporated treatment. Total herbage production of DM over the growing season, however, was similar for treatments with or without application of humic substances. The overall effect of HF incorporated and HF liquid on the herbage mass of DM at the first cut across the experiments was calculated using a meta-analysis technique and it was shown that there was a significant proportional increase of 0·14 ( P  <   0·05) with the HF incorporated treatment and a non-significant increase of 0·08 with the HF liquid treatment compared to the control treatment. The nutritive value of the herbage at the first cut was similar across all treatments. In general nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake at the first grass cut was higher after application of humic substances but only in one experiment was this increase statistically significant.     

Isolation and characterization of Avenin-like protein type-B from durum wheat

Proteomic techniques were applied for the investigation of “avenin-like protein type-B” in tetraploid wheat. Protein was extracted from endosperm, according to a classical chromatographic procedure and its identity confirmed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. The characterization of avenin-like protein type-B was in good agreement with the gene-derived sequence, with the exception of glutamine as N-terminus. The presence in the glutenin extract and the high number of cysteine residues suggested that avenin-like protein type-B is integrated into gluten polymers via inter-chain disulphide bonds. This raises the question of whether the protein could play a role in determining the functional properties of gluten.     

转基因小麦1Dx5基因沉默的遗传表达和品质效应分析

为了明确通过RNA干扰技术（RNAi）获得的转基因小麦品系“Glu1Dx5RNAi”中1Dx5基因的遗传规律,以“Glu1Dx5RNAi”为供体亲本,以弱筋品种扬麦18和扬麦13为轮回亲本进行回交, 采用半籽粒SDSPAGE法检测亲本、F₁、F₂和BC₁F₁籽粒的高分子量谷蛋白亚基（HMWGS）组成。结果表明,1Dx5基因的沉默效应在杂交后代中表现为显性遗传,在F₂和BC₁F₁世代1Dx5亚基不表达的种子数与1Dx5亚基表达的种子数的比例分别符合13∶3和3∶1的分离比例,说明转小RNA基因导致1Dx5基因沉默是单基因显性遗传。对转基因小麦“Glu1Dx5RNAi”及其受体品种Bobwhite进行品质测试表明,Glu1Dx5RNAi蛋白质含量（13.28%）比转化受体Bobwhite（12.83%）高0.45个百分点,硬度指数、微量SDS沉降值比受体品种分别降低3.13和3.7 mL。1Dx5基因沉默对弱筋小麦育种可能会有一定的利用价值。     

干热河谷退化山地不同立地条件种植柱花草效应研究

以云南省元谋干热河谷退化山地不同立地条件下种植的柱花草（Stylosanthes guianensis）为供试植物,研究柱花草的物候期、生长速率、生物量及覆盖效应。结果表明,在本区退化山地不同立地条件下,柱花草种植在台地及坡地均能完成其生长周期,有一定的生产力及覆盖效应。总体看,台地与坡地种植样地主要物候相差不大,台地...     

Energy saving effect analysis of water system renovation in a coking plant

A coking plant extended many times, and its capacity of the cooling water system is not match with it, the consumption of new water is much more than that used by others in the same industry. The water system renovation is addressed for an extended coking plant. The installation of two 600 m3/h cooling towers and restoration the existing two cooling towers are to promote the cooling capacity so that the amount of discharge and feed could be reduced. At the same time, the pipe net for waste water reutilisation is installed, by which part of the waste water is reused as supplement water for quenching hot coke and the other was piped to ironworks for reuse. With the field test, the water consumption per ton of coke production is cut down from 9.03 m3 to 3.21 m3. And the annual water saving is more than 6×106 m3. Furthermore, the electric consumption is reduced by 2×106 kWh and about 3×106 yuan of annual running cost is saved.     

An improved morphological edge detection algorithm of medical image

Medical images usually contain much noise which affects the edge detection accuracy. Focusing on this problem, based on the edge detection operator in mathematical morphology, an improved edge detection algorithm is presented by combining the features of the multi structure elements and the multi scale edge detection algorithm. The algorithm performs opening and closing operations on the data with the alternative sequence filters and the structure elements. The weighting operation is applied with different weight coefficients for horizontal, vertical and diagonal directions, while the edge detection operator with dilation type is calculated to obtain the improved edge detection algorithm. The steps of the algorithm are described. The algorithm is used to extract the edge of MRI image as well as the image of Lena. The experimental results indicate the algorithm can considerably improve the edge resolution of the traditional morphological edge detection methods and is practical.