Spatial dependence and the relationship of soil organic carbon and soil moisture in the Luquillo Experimental Forest,Puerto Rico

We used geo-spatial statistical techniques to examine the spatial variation and relationship of soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil moisture (SM) in the Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF), Puerto Rico, in order to test the hypothesis that mountainous terrain introduces spatial autocorrelation and crosscorrelation in ecosystem and soil properties. Soil samples (n = 100) were collected from the LEF in the summer of 1998 and analyzed for SOC, SM, and bulk density (BD). A global positioning system was used to georeference the location of each sampling site. At each site, elevation, slope and aspect were recorded. We calculated the isotropic and anisotropic semivariograms of soil and topographic properties, as well as the cross-variograms between SOC and SM, and between SOC and elevation. Then we used four models (random, linear, spherical and wave/hole) to test the semi-variances of SOC, SM, BD, elevation, slope and aspect for spatial dependence. Our results indicate that all the studied properties except slope angle exhibit spatial dependence within the scale of sampling (200 – 1000 m sampling interval). The spatially structured variance (the variance due to the location of sampling sites) accounted for a large proportion of the sample variance for elevation (99%), BD (90%), SOC (68%), aspect (56%) and SM (44%). The ranges of spatial dependence (the distances within which parameters are spatially dependent) for aspect, SOC, elevation, SM, and BD were 9810 m, 3070 m, 1120 m, 930 m and 430 m, respectively. Cross correlograms indicate that SOC varies closely with elevation and SM depending on the distances between samples. The correlation can shift from positive to negative as the separation distance increases. Larger ranges of spatial dependence of SOC, aspect and elevation indicate that the distribution of SOC in the LEF is determined by a combination of biotic (e.g., litterfall) and abiotic factors (e.g., microclimate and topographic features) related to elevation and aspect. This demonstrates the importance of both elevation and topographic gradients in controlling climate, vegetation distribution and soil properties as well as the associated biogeochemical processes in the LEF.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Role of polymerase β in DNA metabolism and genomic instability

The major role of DNA polymerase β was thought to be limited in its involvement in short patch base excision repair by removing 5’-deoxyribose phosphate and base insertion. However, the recent researches indicate that polymerase β might take part in a wide spectrum of DNA metabolism reactions, including long patch base excision repair, DNA replication, recombination, meiosis and transleisional DNA synthesis. Because of its wide and important cellular function, an inappropriate intracellular polymerase β level might be associated with genomic instability. Down-regulation or mutation of polymerase β is mutagenic due to deficient in DNA repair, while overexpression of this error-prone β polymerase might perturb the normal function of other accurate polymerases and cause genomic instability as well.     

Seasonal distribution of phytoplasmas in Australian grapevines

The distribution and persistence of phytoplasmas were determined in Australian grapevines. Phytoplasmas could be detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from shoots, cordons, trunks and roots throughout the year, and phytoplasmas appear to persistently infect Australian grapevines from year to year. Phytoplasmas were not always detected in samples from the same sampling area from one sampling period to the next. Phytoplasma detection by PCR was improved by sampling from shoots, cordons and trunks, especially during October (early spring). The diseases expressed by the 20 grapevines used in the distribution and persistence studies were monitored. Australian grapevine yellows disease (AGY) was expressed by 17/20 grapevines at some time during the study, whilst only 4/20 and 15/20 grapevines expressed restricted growth disease (RG) and late season leaf curl disease (LSLC), respectively. All grapevines with RG and LSLC also had AGY. The three diseases were persistently expressed in some grapevines and remission of disease was observed in others. The results of PCR detection in the same grapevines indicated that phytoplasmas were more frequently detected in AGY-affected grapevines that also expressed RG and LSLC compared with grapevines expressing AGY alone. Phytoplasmas were detected in symptomless plant material but less frequently compared with AGY-affected material.     

Approach of allelopathy study with Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Hevnh. and Neurospora crassa

Allelopathy in Arabidopsis seeds was investigated in the present study because there are few available reports of allelopathy studies regarding the early development stage of the plant life cycle, and because Arabidopsis is widely used as a model plant for molecular biology. When cockscomb ( Celosia cristata ) was incubated together with Arabidopsis seeds, the growth of cockscomb was promoted by Arabidopsis seeds. Exudate of Arabidopsis seeds showed a promotive activity on the growth of cockscomb and Arabidopsis itself. A new method for studying allelopathic mechanisms involving the interaction of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Hevnh. and the fungus Neurospora crassa was suggested. Arabidopsis seed exudate and the water-soluble fraction of the exudate promoted Arabidopsis growth and reduced fungal germination, indicating that the seed exudate has a species-selective activity. Conversely, the ethylacetate-soluble fraction inhibited growth of all tested materials in the current study. These results demonstrate that the water-soluble substance(s) released from Arabidopsis seeds have species-selective activity on growth of both plants and microorganisms.     

刺梨及其近缘种PCR实验体系的建立与优化

以刺梨及其近缘种月季为试材,进行了RAPD-PCR实验参数的确立和优化试验。结果表明,刺梨及月季25μL反应体系的最优组成为2.5μL10×反应缓冲液,2mmol/LMg2+,0.2mmol/LdNTP,1.6mg/L模板DNA,0.4μmol/L随机引物和1.2UTaqDNA多聚酶。经PCR扩增验证,此反应体系亦适宜于刺梨的部分近缘种,可有效用于RAPD分析;通过将退火温度提高至50℃或采用“Touchdown”扩增程序,并在50μL反应体系中适当增加特异引物对浓度(1.0μmol/L),模板DNA(4.0mg/L)和TaqDNA多聚酶(3.0U/管)的使用量,建立起适合于刺梨特异DNA片段检测及回收的特异PCR扩增实验体系,为刺梨的分子克隆奠定了技术基础。     

外源绿原酸对苹果抗病相关酶的影响

采用离体培养方法对富士、红星和八棱海棠进行绿原酸处理,研究苹果在外源绿原酸处理下POD、PPO、PAL活性的动态变化以及绿原酸含量的变化。结果表明,富士以0.0001%绿原酸、红星以0.0008%绿原酸、八棱海棠以0.0004%绿原酸处理后,其PAL活性均显著提高,苹果体内也因此而提高了绿原酸水平。     

引起糖甜菜细菌性叶斑病的萎蔫短小杆菌新致病变种

 1995年在内蒙古临河市新发现了糖甜菜细菌性叶斑病,从病斑所分离的10个细菌菌株经柯赫氏法则验证,均确系该病的病原菌。采用形态观察、表型特征和生理生化特性测定、数值分析、血清学反应、细胞化学成分分析、DNA G+C mol%和DNA-DNA同源性测定进行了鉴定,并与植物病原棒形细菌15个标准菌株进行了比较。该病原菌为革兰氏阳性细菌,不规则短杆状,有一根鞭毛、亚极生或侧生,结合其生理生化特性、细胞化学成分和DNA G+C mol%和DNA-DNA同源性测定结果,认为应属于短小杆菌属(Curtobacterium)的萎蔫短小杆菌(Cur. flaccumfaciens),数值分析也支持这一结论。此外,据血清学反应结果及其对短小杆菌属的其它植物寄主的致病情况,认为该病原菌应是萎蔫短小杆菌种下的一个新的致病变种,定名为Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. beticola pv. nov. Chen et al.,2000(萎蔫短小杆菌糖甜菜致病变种)。     

从海南省杂草胜红蓟和假马鞭上检测到粉虱传双生病毒

 利用三抗体夹心ELISA(TAS-ELISA)及PCR检测的方法对采自海南的胜红蓟(Ageratum conyzoides)和假马鞭(Stachytarphetajamaicensis)的5个病样进行了检测,表明均为粉虱传双生病毒。PCR扩增产物克隆后进行序列测定,结果表明存在2类双生病毒,其中样品Hn2存在2类病毒的复合侵染。这是在海南首次报道存在有粉虱传双生病毒。     

袋鼠花的组织培养

 对袋鼠花( Anigozanthos) 组织培养研究表明: 外植体消毒以0. 1 %升汞溶液浸泡, 7～8 min 为宜; 不同浓度激素对其愈伤组织形成、分化以及根的形成有不同的影响, 随着62BA 浓度的增加, 愈伤组织的诱导率有增加的趋势; 生长素与分裂素的比例决定着愈伤组织的分化; 小苗在1/ 2 MS 培养基上生根最好, 6-BA 对其生根有抑制作用。各培养阶段最适培养基: (1) 愈伤, MS + 6-BA 1 mg/L + NAA 0. 1 mg/L +3 %活性炭; (2) 芽诱导, MS + 6-BA 0. 5 mg/L + NAA 0. 5 mg/L ; (3) 生根, 1/ 2 MS + IBA 0. 2 mg/L。     

利用PCR技术同时鉴定番茄抗根结线虫和抗斑萎病毒基因

 利用同一PCR反应体系，对分别与番茄抗根结线虫的 基因和抗斑萎病毒(1w V)的Sw一5基因紧密连锁的SCAR标记进行了同时扩增筛选，扩增的特异性片段与单引物扩增片段完全吻合，其中与基因紧密连锁的SCAR1标记为共显性标记，抗感试材均产生750 bp的特异片段，纯合和杂合抗病基因型试材存在 I酶切位点，酶切后分别产生了570 bp、160 bp和750 bp、570 bp、160 bp的不同特异性片段，而感病基因型试材无 I酶切位点；与Sw一5基因紧密连锁的SCAR2标记为显性标记，只有抗病试材扩增出400 bD的特异性片段。经反复验证，结果稳定准确可靠，可用于在同一PCR反应体系中对两个抗病基因进行同时筛选鉴定。