Screening for resistance to Diaporthe toxica in lupins by estimation of phomopsins and glucoseamine in individual plants

Immunological and biochemical assays were developed for screening for resistance to Diaporthe toxica in individual plants of narrow-leafed lupins ( Lupinus angustifolius ). The former was an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring phomopsin mycotoxins and the latter gave an estimation of glucoseamine in infected stem pieces. Stems of L. angustifolius seedlings were inoculated with conidia from D. toxica cultures and, as expected with this latent disease, remained symptomless for 21 days after inoculation. At this time, phomopsins were measured in excised stems that had been incubated for 6 or 8 days to allow mycelial growth from latent infection structures, thereby increasing the phomopsins to detectable levels in individual plants. The estimation of glucoseamine was carried out on the same stems that had been assayed for phomopsins. The method was based on the alkaline deacetylation of chitin to chitosan, the glucoseamine residues of which are de-aminated with nitrous acid, yielding an aldehyde which is determined colorimetrically. At six days after excision, both tests clearly distinguished the very resistant, resistant, intermediate and susceptible lines and they may be useful in large-scale resistance screening in lupin breeding programmes. The ELISA of phomopsins is easier to use and would be particularly useful in the elimination of susceptible plants and those plants expressing intermediate levels of resistance during early generations of the breeding programme.     

Lime-induced growth depression in Lupinus species: Are soil pH and bicarbonate involved?

In a series of experiments, the effect of elevated pH on root growth of different lupin genotypes and lime-tolerant Pisum sativum was assessed. Seedlings were cultivated in pH-controlled but unbuffered nutrient or test solutions with pH 5—8 under constant light or constant darkness. Moderately increased solution pH did not affect root elongation. At high pH, root elongation rates were reduced by less than 35%, L. luteus being most sensitive. In a further experiment, effects of 10 mM bicarbonate (HCO₃^-) and organic buffers (MES, TES) were examined. Bicarbonate severely affected root elongation of lupins, sensitivity increasing in the order Lupinus albus < L. angustifolius < L. luteus. Since the reduced root elongation was not accompanied by a decreased root weight, specific root weight was increased. Shoot growth was not affected by HCO₃^-. Addition of organic buffers to alkaline nutrient solution, similarly to HCO₃^-, reduced elongation of main roots, but not that of laterals. Both treatments increased citrate concentrations in roots of sensitive L. luteus, but not of tolerant L. albus. Other carboxylates were not related to growth inhibition. Xylem exudate pH was always below 5.8, indicating that HCO₃^- was probably not translocated to the shoot. It is concluded that HCO₃^- is a key factor for lime-induced growth inhibition of calcifuge lupins, with the roots, not the shoots, being primarily affected.     

Lipid metabolism in juveniles of Yellowtail,Seriola dorsalis,fed different levels of dietary methionine containing a low level of cholesterol: Implication in feed formulation

The involvement of dietary methionine in the lipid metabolism of Seriola dorsalis, at different levels of dietary methionine (Met), and low content of cholesterol was investigated. Four diets containing different Met levels and a low amount of cholesterol (0.23 g/kg diet) were prepared. One hundred and eighty juveniles (16.2 ± 1.5 g) were randomly distributed into each 12 500‐L ponds. After 60 days, the growth in weight (%) significantly increased following the Met supplementation, whereas SGR of all the experimental treatments was higher than the Basal Diet. The expression of the insulin‐like growth factor (IGF‐1) increased significantly (0.2‐fold) and was complemented by significant changes in Mat, BHMT and HMG‐CoA, for fish that were in the low and higher Met levels. The cholesterol content in the whole body and liver increased following methionine supplementation, similarly to that observed for crude lipids, in particular in the whole body and liver tissues. However, the relative amount of most fatty acids remained unchanged. Only the oleic acid increased at a higher amount of Met. Therefore, once the dietary requirement of methionine is met, the methionine is used to synthesize cholesterol. It is recommended to supply a higher amount of methionine to spare energy for growth.     

干旱区土壤螨类群落多样性及其与环境因子的相关性分析

【目的】研究干旱区土壤环境因子对土壤螨类群落多样性的影响,对鄯善县7种不同生境进行土壤螨类群落调查与环境因子测定。【方法】采用改良的Tullgren法分离收集土壤螨类,并用Pearson相关分析和典范对应分析方法对土壤螨类群落多样性特征及其与环境因子之间进行相关分析。【结果】共捕获土壤螨类成体标本26 637只,隶属于4目69科98属。7种不同生境之间土壤螨类群落多样性指标均有极显著差异(P<0.001),其中Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H)依次为防护林＞葡萄园＞杏园＞苜蓿地＞草地＞耕地＞菜地。CCA分析结果表明,第一主轴和第二主轴分别解释了土壤螨类主要群落总变量的29.7%和17.1%,与环境因子的相关性系数分别为0.926和0.929,前两轴共解释了土壤螨类物种类与环境因素关系的92.9%。蒙特卡罗置换检验显示,10个土壤主要理化性质与第一排序轴(F=4.31,P=0.002)和全部排序轴(F=2.68,P=0.002)均存在极显著的相关性。【结论】鄯善县7种不同生境土壤螨类群落多样性与土壤含水量、有机质、容重及全氮含量呈显著相关(P<0.05),其中土壤含水量、全氮和有机质含量对螨类群落结构和多样性的影响显著。     

Influence of organic and inorganic passivators on Cd and Pb stabilization and microbial biomass in a contaminated paddy soil

Purpose

Soil contamination with heavy metals, such as Cd and Pb, has caused severe health and environmental risks all over the world. Possible eco-friendly solutions for Cd and Pb immobilization were required to reduce its mobility through various cost-effective amendments.

Materials and methods

A laboratory incubation study was conducted to assess the efficiency of biochar (BC), zeolite (ZE), and rock phosphate (RP) as passivators for the stabilization of Cd and Pb in paddy soil as well as soil microbial biomass. Various extraction techniques were carried out: a sequential extraction procedure, the European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR), toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test, and single extraction with CaCl₂. The impact of passivators on soil pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and microbial biomass (carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus) was examined in the metal contaminated soil.

Results and discussion

The results showed that the exchangeable portion of Cd in soil was significantly reduced by 34.8, 21.6, and 18.8% with ZE, RP, and BC at a 3% application rate, respectively. A similar tendency of reduction in Pb soluble portion was observed by ZE (9.6%), RP (20%), and BC (21.4%) at a 3% application rate. Moreover, the TCLP leachate of Cd and Pb was apparently reduced by 17 and 30.3% with BC at a 3% application dose, respectively, when compared to the control. Soil pH, nutrients, and microbial biomass C, N, and P were significantly increased with the addition of BC, RP, and ZE passivators.

Conclusions

The results showed that the incorporation of BC, ZE, and RP significantly reduced the Cd and Pb mobility in paddy soil as well as enhanced soil nutrients and microbial biomass. Overall, among all the amendments, rice straw derived-BC performed better for Cd and Pb immobilization in paddy soil.

     

Multilocus sequence analysis supports a low genetic diversity among ‘<Emphasis Type="Italic">Candidatus</Emphasis> Phytoplasma australasia’ related strains infecting vegetable crops and periwinkle in Egypt

‘Candidatus Phytoplasma australasia’ causes important damages to the Egyptian vegetable crop production. A prerequisite for controlling the different diseases it causes to eggplant, tomato and squash, is to trace its propagation pathways. To allow the differentiation of ‘Ca. P. australasia’ strains, a multilocus sequence analysis protocol was developed. Four conserved phytoplama genes namely tuf, secY, dnaK and dppA, were selected among the CDS of a ‘Ca. P. aurantifolia’ genome draft. The corresponding genes were PCR amplified from tomato, eggplant and squash collected in 2010 from the governorates Sharkia, Elmynia and Beni sueif, as well as from Catharanthus roseus periwinkles collected in 2013 from Kafrelsheikh governorate. Sequence comparisons showed no diversity among the Egyptian isolates of ‘Ca. P. australasia’ that also constitute a distinct cluster within the 16SrII-D taxonomic subgroup. This low diversity supports a common epidemiology for the different diseases affecting vegetable crops and periwinkle in Egypt and suggests that future investigations on insect vector should focus on polyphagous leafhoppers.     

新疆喀纳斯国家级自然保护区土壤螨类群落特征

为研究喀纳斯自然保护区土壤螨类群落特征,2011年7月和9月对该保护区针叶林、混交林、阔叶林、灌木林、草甸草原、林间草地、沼泽地7种生境进行了取样调查。结果表明:1)共获得土壤螨类7268只,隶属于3亚目51科58属。其中甲螨亚目3819只,38科44属,占总数的93.34%;中气门亚目264只,9科11属,占总数的6.45%;前气门亚目7只3科3属,占总数的0.21%。整个研究区域中奥甲螨属Oppia、盖头甲螨属Tectocepheus、钉棱甲螨属Passalozetes、菌甲螨属Scheloribates为优势类群,占总数的60.05%;阿斯甲螨属、短甲螨属、大翼甲螨属等13属为常见类群,占总数的29.43%;其余的41属为稀有类群,占总数的10.52%。2)在不同生境条件下土壤螨类个体数和类群数均有显著差异(P<0.05),其中个体数依次为阔叶林>针叶林>林间草地>混交林>沼泽地>草甸草原>灌木林;而类群数依次为阔叶林>草甸草原>沼泽地>针叶林>灌木林>混交林>林间草地。3)垂直分布具有明显的表聚性特征,其中0~5cm土层最多,其次为5~10cm,而10~15cm最少。4)在该保护区不同生境土壤螨类的群落组成和结构差异与植被类型、土壤环境因素及人为干扰程度有关。     

新疆真藓属(Bryum Hedw.)新资料

通过经典分类学方法,对采自新疆各地的185号真藓属植物标本进行了整理、鉴定,报道新疆新记录2种:毛状真藓(Bryum apiculatum Schwaegr.)与近高山真藓(Bryum paradoxum Schwaegr.)。重新确定了曾有文献记载,但未见现存标本因而未加入新疆苔藓植物名录的:狭网真藓(Bryum algovicum Sendt.ex C.Müll.)与红蒴真藓(Bryum atrovirens Brid.)。并对新记录种的识别特征、生境及其地理分布作了阐述。根据识别特征绘制了狭网真藓、红蒴真藓与近高山真藓的墨线图。