Pesticide resistance via transposition-mediated adaptive gene truncation in Drosophila

To study adaptation, it is essential to identify multiple adaptive mutations and to characterize their molecular, phenotypic, selective, and ecological consequences. Here we describe a genomic screen for adaptive insertions of transposable elements in Drosophila. Using a pilot application of this screen, we have identified an adaptive transposable element insertion, which truncates a gene and apparently generates a functional protein in the process. The insertion of this transposable element confers increased resistance to an organophosphate pesticide and has spread in D. melanogaster recently.     

Kinetics of Zinc Uptake and Anatomy of Roots and Leaves of Coffee Trees as Affected by Zinc Nutrition

Abstract

The influence of silicon (Si) (2.5 mM), sodium chloride (NaCl) (100 mM), and Si (2.5 mM) + NaCl (97.5 mM) supply on chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence, the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), H₂O₂ level, and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD; E.C.1.15.1.1.), ascorbate peroxidase (APx; E.C.1.11.1.11.), catalase (CAT; E.C.1.11.1.6.), guaiacol peroxidase (G-POD; E.C.1.11.1.7.) enzymes, and protein content were studied in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill c.v.) leaves over 10-day and 27-day periods. The results indicated that silicon partially offset the negative impacts of NaCl stress with increased the tolerance of tomato plants to NaCl salinity by raising SOD and CAT activities, chlorophyll content, and photochemical efficiency of PSII. Salt stress decreased SOD and CAT activities and soluble protein content in the leaves. However, addition of silicon to the nutrient solution enhanced SOD and CAT activities and protein content in tomato leaves under salt stress. In contrast, salt stress slightly promoted APx activity and considerably increased H₂O₂ level and MDA concentration and Si addition slightly decreased APx activity and significantly reduced H₂O₂ level and MDA concentration in the leaves of salt-treated plants. G-POD activity was slightly decreased by addition of salt and Si. Enhanced activities of SOD and CAT by Si addition may protect the plant tissues from oxidative damage induced by salt, thus mitigating salt toxicity and improving the growth of tomato plants. These results confirm that the scavenging system forms the primary defense line in protecting oxidative damage under stress in crop plants.     

Soil nematode populations beneath faeces from reindeer treated with ivermectin

Abstract

The size and composition of the nematode assemblage in soil beneath faecal material derived from reindeer treated with ivermectin oral, or ivermectin subcutaneous formulations in early winter in northern Finland, was studied over a two-year period. This study was performed on both ungrazed and grazed areas that typify the reindeer habitat of the region and comparisons were also made with soil nematodes recovered from soils receiving untreated faecal material. Although significant differences in numbers of soil nematode fauna were observed between treatments on individual occasions, none of the differences occurred consistently with treatment, or with time. These results showed no adverse environmental impact of the faeces of reindeer given either formulation of ivermectin in early winter on soil nematode communities in subsequent years.     

红酵母RS1的高耐铝能力与增厚的细胞壁有关而不来自体外铝离子的螯合作用

Aluminum (Al) is very toxic to many living organisms, including plants, animals and microorganisms. However, despite many studies on Al tolerance in plants, little has been reported concerning these mechanisms in microorganisms. In this study, a red yeast, which could tolerate Al 3+ concentrations as high as 200 mmol L-1 , was isolated from acidic soils, identified as Rhodotorula sp. and designated as RS1. As the medium compositions can greatly affect the responses of microorganisms to Al, two culture mediums, glucose medium (GM) and lysogeny broth medium containing soil extract (S-LBM), were used. During growth of RS1, the pH of medium decreased in GM but increased in S-LBM. These changes in the pH of the media were not induced by Al addition. No or little secretion of organic acids was observed in RS1 growth media. Importantly, the thickness of the cell walls and the ratio of cell wall to biomass of RS1 significantly increased in GM with high Al 3+ concentrations. In the presence of 100 mmol Al L-1 , 78.0% of the total Al of whole cells was present in the thickened cell walls. The Al in cell walls was mostly bound to OH, amide and CO groups of polysaccharides. These results suggest that thickening of the cell wall in response to the high Al 3+ concentrations may play an important role in the high tolerance of RS1 to Al and that pH increase of the medium and chelation of Al ions are not involved in Al tolerance of this organism.     

Characterization of the microbial communities in the modern and buried under kurgans soils of solonetzic complexes in the dry steppes of the Lower Volga region

The microbial communities were studied in the modern and buried under kurgans (1st century AD) soils of solonetzic complexes on the dry steppes of the northern part of the Yergeni Upland. It was found that the changes in the numbers of microorganisms from different trophic groups and in the biomass of the fungal mycelium along the profiles of the modern and buried solonetzic chestnut soils and solonetzes do not differ significantly. The quantitative estimate of the impact of the solonetzic process on the spatial variability of the microbiological parameters of the soils was given on the basis of the ANOVA. As a rule, the values of the microbiological parameters in all the horizons of the modern and buried chestnut soils were 1.2–2.8 times higher than those in the modern and buried solonetzes. The influence of the degree of solonetzicity of the buried paleosols on the microbiological parameters manifested itself in the entire profile, though in each particular horizon it was only seen in the numbers of some particular trophic groups of microorganisms. The comparison between the mean weighted values of the microbiological parameters in the entire soil profiles (the A1 + B1 + B2 horizons) demonstrated an inverse relationship between the population density of the microorganisms utilizing easily available organic matter and the degree of solonetzicity of the buried paleosols. The maximum biomass of the fungal mycelium was found in the solonetzic chestnut paleosol; it exceeded the biomass of the fungal mycelium in the other paleosols (which did not differ significantly in that parameter from one another) by 1.5–1.6 times.     

Enzyme activities and microbial community structure in semiarid agricultural soils

This study investigated the effect of management on -glucosidase, -glucosaminidase, alkaline phosphatase, and arylsulfatase activities and the microbial community structure in semiarid soils from West Texas, USA. Surface samples (0–5 cm) were taken from a fine sandy loam, sandy clay loam, and loam that were under continuous cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) or in cotton rotated with peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.), sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L.), rye ( Secale cereale) or wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), and had different water management (irrigated or dryland), and tillage (conservation or conventional). The enzyme activities were higher in the loam and sandy clay loam than in the fine sandy loam. Soil pH was not affected by management, but the soil organic C and total N contents were generally affected by the different crop rotations and tillage practices studied. The trends of the enzyme activities as affected by management depended on the soil, but in general crop rotations and conservation tillage increased the enzyme activities in comparison to continuous cotton and conventional tillage. The soil enzyme activities were significantly correlated with the soil organic C ( r -values up to 0.90, P< 0.001), and were correlated among each other ( r -values up to 0.90, P <0.001). There were differences in the fatty acid methyl ester profiles between the fine sandy loam and the sandy clay loam and loam, and they reflected the differences in the enzyme activities found among the soils. For example, a 15:0 ranged from 1.61±0.25% in cotton-peanut/irrigated/no-till in the fine sandy loam to 3.86±0.48% in cotton-sorghum/dryland/conservation tillage in the sandy clay loam. There were no differences due to management within the same soil.Trade names and company names are included for the benefit of the reader and do not infer any endorsement or preferential treatment of the product by USDA-ARS     

The environments of loess uplands to the north and east of the Carpathians during the penultimate interglacial (MOIS 7) in palaeopedological and palaeobotanical records

The stratigraphic rank of warming, distinguished in marine deposits as ‘marine oxygen isotope stage 7’ (MOIS 7) and recorded in terrestrial deposits as a palaeosol, has been discussed for a long time. The purpose of this paper is to describe the climate and environment of the time, determined from palaeopedological and palynological investigations of loess‐palaeosol sequences in the peri‐ and metha‐Carpathian zones, and to correlate these sequences with the Pleistocene stratigraphic units. The changes in chemical composition of the deposits were used to reconstruct the processes of chemical weathering and translocation of mobile elements during pedogenesis in three sections (Orzechowce, Galych and Velykyi Glybochok). The variability of the mean annual temperature and precipitation was estimated from the changes of elemental ratios resulting from chemical weathering and vegetation composition. From micromorphological analysis, the stages of palaeosol development and their transformation in cold periods were reconstructed. Pollen analysis carried out for the Velykyi Glyboczok, Maksymivka and Stari Kodaky sites, was used to reconstruct the vegetation cover and the temperature changes of the coldest and warmest months were calculated. The results indicate that the penultimate interglacial period, correlated with MOIS 7, comprised two warming periods separated by a profound cooling period. Warm periods were cooler than the last interglacial and more recent conditions. Vegetation was characterized by the co‐occurrence in changing proportions of patches of mixed forests and steppe vegetation. In the cold period, permafrost developed in places and cryogenic structures were formed. Regional differentiation of biotope environments, resulting from the increase in the continental nature of the climate towards the east, occurred during the whole interglacial period.     

IMPACT OF SELENIUM FERTILIZATION ON GLUCOSINOLATE CONCENTRATION IN ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA AND RAPID CYCLING BRASSICA OLERACEA

Brassica vegetables are a significant source of glucosinolates (GSs), which are sulfur (S)-containing phytonutrients exhibiting, upon hydrolysis by endogenous myrosinase, antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic activity. Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient in mammalian health exhibiting antioxidant activity by inhibiting experimental carcinogenesis in animal models and reducing cancer incidence in human clinical trials. Selenium is readily accumulated in both Brassica species and Arabidopsis thaliana, a model species with similar S-metabolism. The research objectives for this project were to: 1) compare the impact of Se fertilization on GS concentrations between Arabidopsis thaliana and rapid cycling Brassica oleracea; and 2) determine the level of Se fertilization needed to optimize plant tissue Se concentration to maximize potential human health benefits. Both S and Se concentrations increased in A. thaliana and B. oleracea tissues in response to increasing Se treatments. Concentrations of glucoiberin, glucoraphanin, aliphatic, and total GS differed significantly between A. thaliana and B. oleracea. Data demonstrates that anti-carcinogenic GSs can be modified through changes in Se treatment concentrations, yet high levels of anti-carcinogenic GSs can be maintained while increasing Se concentration to 0.8 mg Se L^-1. Thus, it is feasible to increase Se to beneficial dietary levels without compromising GS concentrations.     

Evaluation of Pine Bark or Pine Bark with Goat Manure or Sewage Sludge Cocomposts As Growing Media for Vegetable Seedlings

The suitability as growing media of composts made from pine bark or pine bark cocomposted with goat manure or sewage sludge and either inoculated or not inoculated with effective microorganisms, was evaluated under greenhouse conditions with and without fertilization using cabbage as the test crop. The treatments were replicated three times and arranged in a randomized complete block design in a fibre glass covered greenhouse. Cabbage seedlings were grown in cavity trays for five weeks, after which plants were harvested and fresh and dry weights determined. Samples were also analyzed for N, P, K and selected heavy metal concentrations. Results revealed that pine bark-goat manure cocomposts supported good seedling growth and could thus be good substitutes for pine bark alone as a growing medium where goat manure or similar manures are available. The results also showed that despite the superior nutritional value of these alternative growing media, nutrient supplementation may still be necessary where seedlings are kept in the nursery for extended periods due to nutrient exhaustion through plant uptake and leaching. Pine bark-sewage sludge compost also had positive effects on seedling growth but could only be recommended as a growing medium for nonfood plants because its composting did not reach the thermophillic temperatures necessary for adequate pathogen kill. Inoculation with effective microorganisms improved seedling growth in sewage sludge and goat manure based composts but the mechanisms involved remain to be established.