Characterisation of sunflower root colonisation by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phoma macdonaldii</Emphasis>

Phoma macdonaldii, the causal agent of black stem disease of sunflower (Helianthus annuus), also attacks roots and collars of the plants, resulting in early death. Totally resistant lines do not exist for infection of the aerial parts, but tolerant lines have been characterised. This paper presents a study on colonisation of a partially resistant and a susceptible sunflower line by P. macdonaldii. The fungus was transformed with a constitutively expressed reporter gene encoding the jellyfish green fluorescent protein via Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and colonisation of sunflower roots by this transformed strain was studied by various microscopy techniques including confocal and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that penetration of the fungus into the root occurred through natural fissures or through the epidermis and was similar in both lines. In contrast, the colonisation rate of the stele was reduced in the partially resistant line, and the morphology of the fungal hyphae was also affected. The effect on hyphal morphology was strongest in the stele, indicating a localised production of defence compounds in this line.     

Maßnahmen zur Eindämmung des Brennnesseltyps der Schwarzholzkrankheit bei Weinreben (Vitis vinifera)

Since 2003 incidence of Bois noir disease (Stolbur Type I) in the area of Baden-Württemberg has rapidly increased. Hylasthes obsoletus, known vector cicada transmitting Bois noir disease from stinging nettle to grapevine, was found on stinging nettles located at vineyard walls or vineyard tracks. Phytoplasma of Stolbur Type I (host plant: stinging nettles) were also detected within samples of Hylasthes obsoletus. Incidence of Bois noir disease could be strongly reduced by either not mowing or destroying stinging nettles (host plant of Hyalesthes obsoletus) between June and August, the flight period of Hylasthes obsoletus, or by eradication of stinging nettles in winter. Fighting stinging nettles between November and March with Glyphosate resulted in a dramatic decrease of vector cicada. Pruning experiments of the extremely sensitive grape variety Lemberger and the variety Trollinger showed that survival of grape vines significantly improved compared to normal pruning in winter if the vines were cut off 10?cm above ground immediately after detection of the first symptoms. In contrast, cutting off vines 10?cm above ground in summer had no effect on survival rates of 40 year old grape vines of the variety Pinot noir. Furthermore, most of these old grapevines did not survive this dramatic pruning measure. Generally it is advised to cut off diseased plant material as soon as symptoms become visible.     

不同时期接种AM 真菌对大棚黄瓜产量及品质的影响

研究不同时期接种丛枝菌根真菌根内球囊菌（Glomus intraradices,GI）对大棚土壤栽培黄瓜植株生长、产量及营
养品质的影响。结果表明：黄瓜不同时期接种GI 对其生长均有促进作用,与不接菌的对照相比,播种时接菌和移栽时接菌处理使黄瓜的单株产量分别提高54%、34%;播种时接菌处理的黄瓜叶片的叶绿素含量比对照显著提高了14.7%～17.7%;播种时接菌和移栽时接菌的黄瓜硝酸盐含量较对照分别下降了9.4% 和15.0%,总糖含量分别比对照提高了8.9% 和7.1%;移栽时接菌处理的黄瓜粗蛋白含量比对照提高了4.6%;播种时接菌和移栽时接菌显著提高了黄瓜VC 含量。表明接种GI 对黄瓜生长和产量品质具有一定的改善作用。     

Discrimination of ‘San Marzano’ accessions: A comparison of minisatellite, CAPS and SSR markers in relation to morphological traits

‘San Marzano’ (SM) is one of the most widely known tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivars, and is a classic example of a local variety with a premium value. Unfortunately, the original cultivated form is underrepresented in the Protected Denomination of Origin (PDO) area because of the incidence of contaminant and phenotypically similar genotypes. Our aim was to examine the ability of three DNA marker systems (minisatellite, cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) and simple sequence repeat (SSR)) to reveal the genetic diversity of tomato accessions that were, based on a morphological analysis, very similar. The data indicate that both minisatellites and SSRs can be used to genetically distinguish the analysed materials. Furthermore, these two marker systems depict relationships consistent with the hierarchal pattern obtained by the morphological data. As locally cultivated tomato accessions are often characterised by some degree of genetic variability, our results will be valuable in facilitating the purification, management and breeding of tomato germplasms. The differences between the marker systems employed are also discussed in relation to their usefulness in the agro-food chain.     

The effect of carbon black nanoparticles on some properties of air plasma printed cotton/polyamide 6 fabrics

In this study, cotton/nylon blended fabrics were treated with atmospheric air plasma at various times (30–60 s) and were subsequently printed with pastes containing carbon black nanoparticles. Properties of plasma treated fabrics such as visible-near infrared (Vis-NIR) reflectance, water contact angle, air permeability, and color fastness were measured. It was shown that increasing plasma treatment time decreases reflection level of treated fabrics in Vis-NIR region. Plasma treatment also enhanced the hydrophobicity of cotton/nylon fabrics observed by an increase in water contact angle. Plasma treated samples for 60 s demonstrated lower air permeability than those treated for 30 s. Furthermore, printed samples possessed acceptable levels of fastness against washing, light and crocking.     

Mutations in dynein link motor neuron degeneration to defects in retrograde transport

Degenerative disorders of motor neurons include a range of progressive fatal diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Although the causative genetic alterations are known for some cases, the molecular basis of many SMA and SBMA-like syndromes and most ALS cases is unknown. Here we show that missense point mutations in the cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain result in progressive motor neuron degeneration in heterozygous mice, and in homozygotes this is accompanied by the formation of Lewy-like inclusion bodies, thus resembling key features of human pathology. These mutations exclusively perturb neuron-specific functions of dynein.     

Microtubule stabilization reduces scarring and causes axon regeneration after spinal cord injury

Hypertrophic scarring and poor intrinsic axon growth capacity constitute major obstacles for spinal cord repair. These processes are tightly regulated by microtubule dynamics. Here, moderate microtubule stabilization decreased scar formation after spinal cord injury in rodents through various cellular mechanisms, including dampening of transforming growth factor-β signaling. It prevented accumulation of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans and rendered the lesion site permissive for axon regeneration of growth-competent sensory neurons. Microtubule stabilization also promoted growth of central nervous system axons of the Raphe-spinal tract and led to functional improvement. Thus, microtubule stabilization reduces fibrotic scarring and enhances the capacity of axons to grow.     

Stress exposure during the preimplantation period affects blastocyst lineages and offspring development

We found retardation of preimplantation embryo growth after exposure to maternal restraint stress during the preimplantation period in our previous study. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of preimplantation maternal restraint stress on the distribution of inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) cells in mouse blastocysts, and its possible effect on physiological development of offspring. We exposed spontaneously ovulating female mice to restraint stress for 30 min three times a day during the preimplantation period, and this treatment caused a significant increase in blood serum corticosterone concentration. Microscopic evaluation of embryos showed that restraint stress significantly decreased cell counts per blastocyst. Comparing the effect of restraint stress on the two blastocyst cell lineages, we found that the reduction in TE cells was more substantial than the reduction in ICM cells, which resulted in an increased ICM/TE ratio in blastocysts isolated from stressed dams compared with controls. Restraint stress reduced the number of implantation sites in uteri, significantly delayed eye opening in delivered mice, and altered their behavior in terms of two parameters (scratching on the base of an open field test apparatus, time spent in central zone) as well. Moreover, prenatally stressed offspring had significantly lower body weights and in 5-week old females delivered from stressed dams, fat deposits were significantly lower. Our results indicate that exposure to stress during very early pregnancy can have a negative impact on embryonic development with consequences reaching into postnatal life.