Isolation and characteristics of eight novel polymorphic microsatellite loci from the genome of garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Here we characterized eight novel polymorphic SSR markers, developed from an enriched genomic library of garlic (Allium sativum L.). These SSRs produced a total of 64 alleles across 90 garlic accessions, with an average of 8 alleles per locus. Values for observed (H_O) and expected (H_E) heterozygosity ranged from 0.16 to 0.77 (mean = 0.44) and from 0.22 to 0.86 (mean = 0.65), respectively. Six loci deviated significantly (P < 0.05) from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). The averages of gene diversity and PIC values were 0.65 and 0.62, respectively. The mean genetic similarity coefficient was 0.4380, indicating that among garlic accessions existed wide genetic variation. Based on 64 alleles obtained by 8 SSRs, a phenogram was constructed to understand the relationships among the 90 accessions. These newly developed SSRs should prove very useful tools for genotypes identification, assessment of genetic diversity and population structure in garlic.     

Polymerisation of gluten proteins in developing wheat grain as affected by desiccation

The breadmaking quality of wheat is affected by the composition of gluten proteins and the polymerisation of subunits that are synthesised and accumulated in developing wheat grain. The biological mechanisms and time course of these events during grain development are documented, but not widely confirmed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to monitor the accumulation of gluten protein subunits and the size distribution of protein aggregates during grain development. The effect of desiccation on the polymerisation of gluten proteins and the functional properties of gluten were also studied. The results showed that the size of glutenin polymers remained consistently low until yellow ripeness (YR), while it increased during grain desiccation after YR. Hence, this polymerisation process was presumed to be initiated by desiccation. A similar polymerisation event was also observed when premature grains were dried artificially. The composition of gluten proteins, the ratios of glutenin to gliadin and high molecular weight-glutenin subunits to low molecular weight-glutenin subunits, in premature grain after artificial desiccation showed close association with the size of glutenin polymers in artificially dried grain. Functional properties of gluten in these samples were also associated with polymer size after artificial desiccation.     

Studies into the differential activity of the hydroxybenzonitrile herbicides: II. Uptake,movement and metabolism in two contrasting species

Uptake, movement, and metabolism of unformulated ioxynil and bromoxynil salts were investigated in Matricaria inodora and Viola arvensis. The morphology of these two species did not give rise to different spray retention and contact angles. After 7 days, uptake of [¹⁴C]ioxynil-Na reached 8.26% of applied ¹⁴C activity in M. inodora and 16.77% of that in V. arvensis compared with 1.54 and 3.83%, respectively, for [¹⁴C]bromoxynil-K. Over 98% of the ¹⁴C activity detected in the plant after 7 days remained in the treated leaves of V. arvensis following [¹⁴C]ioxynil-Na treatment. However, 8.7% of the ¹⁴C activity detected in [¹⁴C]ioxynil-Na-treated M. inodora was recovered from the apex and developing leaves reflecting a greater translocation. [¹⁴C]Bromoxynil-K was more mobile in both species and after 7 days 87.5 and 91.39% were detected in the treated leaves of M. inodora and V. arvensis, respectively. In both species the majority of translocated ¹⁴C activity was recovered from the apex and developing leaves. Up to 20% of the applied [¹⁴C]ioxynil-Na and [¹⁴C]bromoxynil-K was not detected within the treated plant. Extraction of treated plants revealed no detectable metabolic breakdown of ioxynil-Na to halogenated derivatives in either species. However, metabolic breakdown of bromoxynil-K was apparent in V. arvensis. No significant root exudation was detected when [¹⁴C]ioxynil-Na and [¹⁴C]bromoxynil-K were applied to hydroponically grown S. media and V. arvensis. Losses of ¹⁴C activity were due to herbicide volatility or degradation to volatile products on the leaf surface.     

Inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport by hydramethylnon: A new amidinohydrazone insecticide

Hydramethylnon (AC 217,300) is a new amidinohydrazone insecticide registered under the trade names Amdro for control of the red imported fire ant and Combat and Maxforce for use against cockroaches. While this compound is slow acting, no major perturbations in either sensory or motor neurons of poisoned insects have been observed. However, symptoms of intoxication were accompanied by markedly depressed rates of oxygen consumption. Inhibition of cellular respiration was also observed in Chinese hamster ovary cells with an IC₅₀ of 2 × 10⁻⁶ M after a 30-min uncubation. This inhibition was not reversible by repeated washing with fresh medium or by prolonged incubation. A systematic investigation of the effects of hydramethylnon on mitochondrial respiration showed hydramethylnon to be a potent inhibitor of electron transport. Sequential isolation of the coupling sites of the electron transport chain with different substrates showed that hydramethylnon is an inhibitor of the electron transport chain in the region of coupling site II.     

The Indonesian sponge fauna: A status report

Snellius-II sponge collecting yielded 355 species (together about 1300 specimens). An illustrated simplified key to the more common reef forms is presented using only field characters. A preliminary taxonomic review of the Indonesian sponge fauna is given based on an analysis of material collected during the Snellius-II Expedition, of older material of the Siboga Expedition (so far largely unpublished), and of data in the literature (most recent dating from before 1935).The Indonesian sponge fauna, which is provisionally estimated to comprise 830 nominal species (obvious synonyms not counted) is compared to the fauna of relatively well-studied areas elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific region and to the West Indian sponge fauna, using numbers of species of each of 188 genera occurring in more than one of the areas concerned. Based on published reports the Australian tropical sponge fauna appears to be dissimilar to that of Indonesia.     

昆虫抗真菌肽基因的分泌型表达及活性鉴定

 【目的】黑腹果蝇(Drosophila melanogaster)抗真菌肽Drosomycin (Drs)及其同系物Drosomycin-like C (Drs-lC)和斑腹刺螠蝽(Podisus maculiverntris)抗真菌肽Thanatin对丝状真菌具有广谱高效的抑杀作用。实现抗真菌肽基因在酵母中的高效分泌型表达，对探讨利用转基因酵母的发酵液直接进行果蔬、食品和农产品防腐保鲜的生物技术研发有重要意义。【方法】将Drosomycin基因（Drs）及其同系物基因Drs-lC和Thanatin基因分别与酵母分泌型表达载体pPICZαA重组，构建成重组表达质粒pPICZαA-Drs、pPICZαA-Drs-lC和pPICZαA–Thanatin。利用电转化将重组质粒转化毕赤酵母GS115，经表型筛选和PCR鉴定获得的重组毕赤酵母转化子，在甲醇诱导下进行抗真菌肽的分泌表达。【结果】3种抗真菌肽基因的酵母表达产物对6个供试真菌中的5个有明显的抑制作用，Thanatin同时对供试细菌有抗菌活性。【结论】Drs、Drs-lC和Thanatin抗真菌肽基因成功地转化毕赤酵母，并实现其分泌型表达。     

Effect of dietary components on the gut microbiota of aquatic animals. A never‐ending story?

It is well known that healthy gut microbiota is essential to promote host health and well‐being. The intestinal microbiota of endothermic animals as well as fish are classified as autochthonous or indigenous, when they are able to colonize the host's epithelial surface or are associated with the microvilli, or as allochthonous or transient (associated with digesta or are present in the lumen). Furthermore, the gut microbiota of aquatic animals is more fluidic than that of terrestrial vertebrates and is highly sensitive to dietary changes. In fish, it is demonstrated that [a] dietary form (live feeds or pelleted diets), [b] dietary lipid (lipid levels, lipid sources and polyunsaturated fatty acids), [c] protein sources (soybean meal, krill meal and other meal products), [d] functional glycomic ingredients (chitin and cellulose), [e] nutraceuticals (probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics and immunostimulants), [f] antibiotics, [g] dietary iron and [h] chromic oxide affect the gut microbiota. Furthermore, some information is available on bacterial colonization of the gut enterocyte surface as a result of dietary manipulation which indicates that changes in indigenous microbial populations may have repercussion on secondary host–microbe interactions. The effect of dietary components on the gut microbiota is important to investigate, as the gastrointestinal tract has been suggested as one of the major routes of infection in fish. Possible interactions between dietary components and the protective microbiota colonizing the digestive tract are discussed.