The influence of physiological processes on tuber yield of potato clones (Solanum tuberosum L.): Stomatal diffusive resistance,stomatal conductance,gross photosynthetic rate,leaf canopy,tissue nutrient levels,and tuber enzyme activities

Summary Field measurements of stomatal diffusive resistance (DR), stomatal conductance (SC), gross photosynthesis (P_G), visual leaf index (VLI), petiole nutrient levels (%P, %K, NO₃−N), and tuber enzyme activities (ADPG pyrophosphorylase) were recorded during 1978 and 79 using 17 and 19 potato clones, respectively (Solanum tuberosum L.). Many clones differed significantly in DR, SC, and P_G. One clone (A6948-4) had significantly greater SC and P_G rates than all other clones. The measurements of DR, SC, P_G, and %K would appear to have limited value for rapid and extensive selection within potato breeding programs. Correlations are highly variable one season to the next, and several such physiological measurements would have to be combined to provide useful data for selection purposes. However, since measurements of DR, SC, and P_G varied significantly and were apparent determinants of tuber yield for some clones, such measurements have potential value for selecting clones to be used as parents in genetic crosses.

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Zusammenfassung Feldmessungen von stomatalem Diffusionswiderstand (DR), stomataler Leitf?higkeit (SC), Bruttophotosynthese (P_G), visuellem Blattindex (VLI), Stengelern?hrungsgraden (%P, %K, NO₃−N) und Knollenenzymaktivit?ten (ADPG Pyrophosphorylase) wurden in den Jahren 1978 und 79 17 bzw. 19 Kartoffelklonen (Solanum tuberosum L.) vorgenommen (Tabellen 1 und 2). Viele Klone wichen in DR, SC und P_G signifikant voneinander ab. Ein Klon (A6948-4) hatte signifikant gr?ssere SC-und P_G-Raten als alle übrigen Klone. Die meisten, aber nicht alle Klone wiesen w?hrend des Nachmittags im Vergleich zum Vormittag reduzierte SC- und P_G-Raten auf (Tabelle 1). Die SC- und P_G-Werte waren in beiden Jahren positiv korreliert (r=0,89 und 0,91, P<0,01). SC und DR waren negativ korreliert (r=−0,63, P<0,01). Im Jahre 1978 zeigten SC und P_G bei Verwendung von herk?mmlichen S. tuberosum-Klonen geringe Korrelationen und VLI eine hohe Korrelation (r=0,81, P<0,01) mit dem Knollenertrag. Im Versuch 1979, der verschiedene gp.andigena-Klone (Tabelle 2) einschloss, zeigten Sc und P_G positive Korrelationen (r=0,58 und 0,55, P<0,02) und VLI keine Korrelation zum Knollenertrag. DR war mit dem Knollenertrag negativ korreliert (r=−0,47, P=0,05). Die Aktivit?ten der ADPG Pyrophosphorylase in den Knollengeweben waren unter den Klonen stark variabel, aber sie korrelierten nicht mit dem Knollenertrag. In Uebereinstimmung mit Holm und Nylund (1978a, b): die Neigung des %K war mit dem Knollenertrag negativ korreliert (r=−0,52, P=0,01). Die Messungen von DR, SC, P_G und %K scheinen einen beschr?nkten Wert für eine rasche und umfassende Auslese innerhalb des Kartoffelzüchtungsprogramms zu haben. Die Korrelationen schwanken stark von einer saison zur andern, und einige solcher physiologischer Messungen müssten kombiniert werden, um nützliche Daten für Selektionszwecke zu erhalten. Da jedoch die Messungen von DR, SC und P_G signifikant variierten und offenbar Determinanten des Knollenertrages für einige Klone waren, haben solche Messungen potentiellen Wert für die Auswahl von Klonen, die als Eltern in genetischen Kreuzungen verwendet werden k?nnen.

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Résumé Des mesures au champ de résistance des stomates à la diffusion (DR), de conductance des stomates (SC), de photosynthèse brute (P_G), d’indice foliaire visuel (VLI), de niveaux de nutrition des pétioles (%P, %K, NO₃−N), et des activités enzymatiques des tubercules (ADPG pyrophosphorylase) ont été enregistrées en 1978 et 1979 respectivement sur 17 et 19 clones (Solanum tuberosum L.) (tableaux 1 & 2). De nombreux clones se sont révélés significativement différents quant à DR, SC, et P_G. Un clone (A6948-4) avait des niveaux significativement plus élevés pour SC et P_G que tous les autres. La plupart, mais pas tous les clones, avaient des niveaux plus bas pour SC et P_G pendant l’après-midi, comparés à ceux du matin (tableau 1). Les valeurs de SC et P_G étaient corrélées positivement les 2 années (r=0.89 et 0.91, P<0.01). SC et DR étaient corrélés négativement (r=−0.63, P<0.01). En 1978, en utilisant des clones deS. tuberosum conventionnels, SC et P_G étaient faiblement corrélés au rendement en tubercules et VLI fortement (r=0.81, P<0.01). Dans l’étude de 1979, qui comprenait plusieurs clones gp.andigena (tableau 2), SC et P_G étaient corrélés positivement (r=0.58 et 0.55, P<0.02) au rendement mais VLI n’était pas corrélé. DR était corrélé négativement au rendement (r=−0.47, P=0.05). Les activités des ADPG pyrophosphorylases dans les tissues des tubercules étaient très variables en fonction des clones, mais sans aucune corrélation avec le rendement en tubercule. En accord avec les résultats de Holm & Nylund (1978a, b), la diminution au %K était corrélée négativement au rendement (r=−0.52, P=0.01). Les mesures de DR, SC, P_G, et %K sembleraient donc avoir un intérêt limité pour la sélection rapide et extensive dans le cadre des programmes d’amélioration des pommes de terre. Les corrélations sont très variables d’une saison à l’autre, et il faudrait combiner plusieurs mesures physiologiques de ce genre pour fournir des données utilisables à des fins de sélection. Cependant, comme certaines mesures de DR, SC, et P_G variaient significativement et étaient apparemment déterminantes dans le rendement de certains clones, de telles mesures ont une valeur potentielle pour la sélection de clones qui seraient utilisés comme parents dans les croisements génétiques.

     

Cassava starch biosynthesis: new avenues for modifying starch quantity and quality

The genes coding for the main enzymes involved in cassava starch biosynthesis have been cloned and characterised. Molecular analysis of these genes revealed high amino acid sequence homology with other cloned genes from starch forming plant species. Use of these genes to modify the pathway of starch biosynthesis in cassava has become possible with the advent of a reproducible transformation and regeneration protocol for cassava. This would enable the development of new cassava cultivars able to produce starches with different physico-chemical properties and uses. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Isolation and characterisation of cDNAs encoding the large and small subunits of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

Screening of a tuber specific cassava cDNA library resulted in the isolation of full length cDNA clones with homology to the genes encoding the small and large subunits of ADP glucose pyrophosphoryalse. Sequence analysis revealed that AGPase B the clone with homology to the small subunit shared 54% homology at amino acid level with the AGPase S clone that is more closely related to the large subunit. Segregation analysis of a cross between the cassava cultivars TMS 30572 and CM 2177-2 revealed that AGPase S is a single copy gene that is localised on the female derived linkage group E of the cassava genetic map. AGPase B is a low copy gene of which one member is localised on the female derived linkage group P. The two genes are expressed in all cassava tissues but AGPase B exhibits a higher steady state mRNA level than AGPase S and is highly expressed in leaf and tuber tissue. The AGPase enzyme activity was much higher in young cassava leaves as compared to older leaves and tubers. Cassava AGPase was activated by 3-PGA and inhibited by up to 90% in the presence of inorganic phosphate (Pi). The tuber enzyme was relatively unaffected by 3PGA but was highly inhibited by Pi. Transformation of potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants with an antisense AGPase B construct resulted in 10 out of 134 antisense AGPase B plants having on average 3.5 times more tubers than the control non transgenic plants. Analysis of these transgenic plants revealed they had greatly reduced levels of AGPase B mRNA, 1.5 to 3 times less starch, and five times higher levels of soluble sugars, sucrose, glucose and fructose, to those found in control plants. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

灵芝细胞中异源表达透明颤菌血红蛋白基因提高胞外多糖的产量

在灵芝(Ganoderma lingzhi)中异源表达透明颤菌血红蛋白(Vitreoscilla hemoglobin,VHb)基因,采用一氧化碳差异波谱分析的方法检测转基因菌株的生物活性,并对野生型菌株和工程菌株进行发酵,通过荧光定量PCR对灵芝多糖生物合成途径上的葡萄糖磷酸变位酶(α-phosphoglucomutase,PGM)、尿苷二磷酸葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶(uridinediphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase,UGP)和β-1,3-葡聚糖合酶(β-1,3-glucan synthase,GLS)3个基因的转录水平进行分析。研究表明:透明颤菌血红蛋白基因(Vitreoscilla hemoglobin gene,vgb)在灵芝中能够成功表达,并且具有生物活性;工程菌株中胞外多糖的最高产量达0.83g/L,比野生型菌株提高了88.6%;与野生型菌株相比,工程菌株中多糖生物合成途径上PGM、UGP和GLS基因的相对表达量分别是1.52、1.55和3.85。异源表达透明颤菌血红蛋白基因是提高灵芝胞外多糖产量的一种有效方法。     

Suppression of starch accumulation in ‘sugar leaves’ of rice affects plant productivity under field conditions

While many plants accumulate the majority of their photoassmilates as starch during the daytime, some plants accumulate sucrose. Although the existence of these high-sucrose leaves, called ‘sugar leaves’, has long been known, the physiological characteristics of sugar leaves compared to ‘starch leaves’ remain unclear. In this study, the physiological roles of starch accumulation in rice, which has typical sugar leaves, were investigated using a mutant with suppressed leaf-starch biosynthesis. When grown under controlled conditions with light intensity of 400 μmol m^?2 s^?1, the initial growth of the mutant was similar to that of the wild-type plant, even with a 6-h-light/18-h-dark photoperiod in which carbon resources for growth are required during the night. This finding indicates that rice does not rely on leaf starch as a carbon resource during the night. By contrast, under field conditions, the grain yields of the mutant were significantly lower than those of the wild type only when the plants were exposed to full sunlight during the ripening period. These results may indicate that starch accumulation in sugar leaves plays an important role in maintaining a high source capacity under sufficient light conditions rather than as a carbon resource for the plant’s growth at night.     

灌浆结实期弱光对水稻籽粒淀粉积累及相关酶活性的影响

 选用IR72（籼稻）和日本晴（粳稻）为材料，在开花后进行遮光处理，对弱光条件下籽粒淀粉和直链淀粉含量的动态变化及相关酶的活性进行了研究。在弱光条件下，两品种籽粒的淀粉含量减少，直链淀粉含量下降，蔗糖含量降低，ADPG焦磷酸化酶活性的变化较小，可溶性淀粉合成酶和颗粒结合型淀粉合成酶活性减弱，可溶性淀粉分支酶Q酶和颗粒结合型淀粉分支酶活性增强，淀粉去分支酶活性因品种而异，IR72表现为减弱，日本晴则为增强。相关分析表明，遮光下蔗糖输入量的减少量和淀粉合成量的下降量呈显著正相关；ADPG焦磷酸化酶和淀粉分支酶活性与淀粉积累速率呈显著正相关。分析指出，遮光下淀粉合成酶活性的降低与淀粉合成量的下降有关，淀粉分支酶活性的升高是直链淀粉占淀粉总量的比率减少的重要原因。     

Over-Expression of Tomato GDP-Mannose Pyrophosphorylase （GMPase） in Potato Increases Ascorbate Content and Delays Plant Senescence

GDP-D-mannose pyrophosphorylase (GMPase) catalyses the synthesis of GDP-D-mannose and represents the first committed step in the synthesis of ascorbate. In the present study, the GMPase gene of tomato was introduced into potato by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Two transgenic lines with higher GMPase expression were selected using qPCR and protein blot analyses. The results showed that the content of L-ascorbic acid (AsA) and the ratio of AsA/DHA (dehydroascorbate) significantly increased in both leaves and tubers of transgenic potato plants. Both pigment content and photosynthetic rate were much higher in transgenic plants than in wild-type plants. Transgenic plants showed a distinguishable change in phenotype from the wild-type plants. Furthermore, transgenic plants showed delayed senescence.     

CO2浓度增高对水稻籽粒淀粉代谢相关酶活性的影响

以高产优质粳稻松粳9号和稻花香2号为材料,利用开放式空气CO₂浓度富集系统（FACE）实验平台,研究CO₂浓度增高对水稻籽粒淀粉代谢相关酶活性的影响。试验设正常大气CO₂浓度（400±40μmol·mol-1）和高CO₂浓度（600±60μmol·mol-1）,测定开花后两个水稻品种籽粒中ADPG焦磷酸化酶、淀粉合成酶和淀粉分支酶活性的变化。结果表明,CO₂浓度增高对不同灌浆进程中酶活性的影响程度有显著差异,对乳熟期之后ADPG焦磷酸化酶、可溶性和颗粒型淀粉合成酶活性的表达均有较明显的促进作用,仅阻碍了乳熟期籽粒中淀粉分支酶活性的表达;淀粉代谢相关酶活性对CO₂浓度增高的响应因品种而异,松粳9号籽粒中ADPG焦磷酸化酶活性受CO₂浓度增高的影响较大,而稻花香2号淀粉合成酶活性受其影响更大。说明随着灌浆进程的推进,CO₂浓度增高对淀粉生物合成途径中关键酶活性表达的影响程度存在明显的时段特征,且不同品种的响应程度有显著差异,总体来看,CO2浓度增高可在一定程度上促进淀粉代谢相关酶活性的表达。