长春花感染柑橘黄龙病菌微波热处理防控效果

为探索黄龙病防治途径,开展微波热处理对黄龙病的防控效果研究。该研究搭建了微波热处理平台,对长春花微波热处理参数（转盘转速、单个磁控管的微波功率、磁控管数量）进行优化,并用优化后的参数组合对感病长春花进行热处理,处理后90 d内跟踪检测长春花叶片中黄龙病菌的浓度、淀粉和类黄酮的含量。结果表明,长春花微波热处理的最优参数组合为单个磁控管的微波功率150 W、3个磁控管、转速15 r/min;热处理90 d后,感病长春花叶片中的黄龙病菌Ct值（阈值循环数,该值低于32时为阳性）由阳性(17.01±0.97)转至近阴性（31.91±2.35）,病菌浓度下降了99.98%,淀粉含量和类黄酮含量恢复至正常水平,植株的活性恢复较好。研究表明,微波热处理有效抑制植物体内的黄龙病菌,可为黄龙病的规模化防治提供新思路。     

注射传播泡桐丛枝病类菌原体的初步研究

以泡桐丛枝病类菌原体的敏感指示植物长春花苗为材料,用叶柄注射法注入感病泡桐叶汁液进行接种试验,结果表明,有1/4供试植株感病,其症状与泡桐丛枝病相一致,将感病植株叶脉切片镜检,发现有类菌原体,其形态、大小及结构,均与泡桐丛枝病类菌原体相同。为该病病原的传播及回接提供了一条简便的途径。     

泡桐丛枝病类菌原体(MLO)病原传染长春花研究初报

菟丝子(Cuscuta spp.)是一种寄生植物,利用菟丝子为介体可以将植物病毒或类菌原体(mycoplasma like organism)从一株植物传染到另一株植物上。杨一朗陈景耀分别用大豆菟丝子和南方菟丝子为媒介成功地将甘薯丛枝病从甘薯传到长春花上,产生花器叶化、侧枝丛生病状。     

长春花感染泡桐丛枝病原(MLO)后过氧化物同功酶的变化*

用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分析表明，长春花植株感染泡桐丛枝病原（MLO）后茎叶中过氧化物同功酶总谱带数呈减少的趋势，健株最多产生11条酶带，通常具有6条典型的、稳定的谱带即Ⅰb,Ⅰc,Ⅰd,Ⅱ,Ⅲd和Ⅲe；而表现典型的Ⅲ级症状的病株缺少低Rf值区的Ⅲd和Ⅲe带。d和Ⅲe酶带的有无、浓度及活性与病株外部症状的严重度成负相关。七叶期前的健株幼苗茎叶中也无Ⅲd和Ⅲe谱带；随着植株生理年龄的增长，其活性和浓度逐渐增大，土霉素处理病株可以提高Ⅲd和Ⅲe酶带的活性和浓度。     

Methodological considerations in reserve system selection: A case study of Malagasy lemurs

Although data quality and weighting decisions impact the outputs of reserve selection algorithms, these factors have not been closely studied. We examine these methodological issues in the use of reserve selection algorithms by comparing: (1) quality of input data and (2) use of different weighting methods for prioritizing among species. In 2003, the government of Madagascar, a global biodiversity hotspot, committed to tripling the size of its protected area network to protect 10% of the country’s total land area. We apply the Zonation reserve selection algorithm to distribution data for 52 lemur species to identify priority areas for the expansion of Madagascar’s reserve network. We assess the similarity of the areas selected, as well as the proportions of lemur ranges protected in the resulting areas when different forms of input data were used: extent of occurrence versus refined extent of occurrence. Low overlap between the areas selected suggests that refined extent of occurrence data are highly desirable, and to best protect lemur species, we recommend refining extent of occurrence ranges using habitat and altitude limitations. Reserve areas were also selected for protection based on three different species weighting schemes, resulting in marked variation in proportional representation of species among the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species extinction risk categories. This result demonstrates that assignment of species weights influences whether a reserve network prioritizes maximizing overall species protection or maximizing protection of the most threatened species.     

Genetic diversity and alkaloid production in Catharanthus roseus,C. trichophyllus and their hybrids

Summary Inter and intraspecific variation was analyzed in two Catharanthus species with regard to isozyme polymorphism and indole alkaloid content in roots and leaves. No significant differences in alkaloid production were observed in three groups of C. roseus plants individualized for their flower color. Conversely, comparisons between C. trichophyllus and C. roseus, showed large differences of alkaloid profiles in both roots and leaves. Specific isozyme markers on four presumed loci were found allowing us to establish that natural hybridizations could occur between the two species when grown together. Experimental hybridizations confirmed that introgressions were feasiblebut suggested that a reproductive barrier was acting and involved interspecific incompatibility. The identification and assay of the main alkaloid compounds in natural interspecific hybrids displayed such a high hybrid vigor that interspecific hybridization may present a new and successful way of improving alkaloid production in Catharanthus species.     

Genetics of novel corolla colours in periwinkle

Inheritance of a novel corolla colour in periwinkle [Catharanthus roseus (L) G. Don], viz. magenta, was studied by crossing an accession MJ, possessing this corolla colour, with cultivar Nirmal, possessing white corolla. The accession MJ was also crossed with another accession OR, possessing another novel corolla colour, viz. orange-red, to determine the relationship between genes governing magenta corolla and orange-red corolla. The F₁ plants of the cross MJ× Nirmal had pink corolla and red eye. In the F₂ generation, five kinds of corolla colours were observed: (i) pink corolla and red eye, (ii) rose corolla and red eye, (iii) magenta corolla and red eye, (iv) white corolla and red eye and (v) white corolla. The observed frequencies of the five kinds of plants fitted a ratio of 144:27:9:12:64. The progeny of the backcross, F₁ × MJ, segregated into three kinds of plants, (i) pink corolla and red eye, (ii) rose corolla and red eye and (iii) magenta corolla and red eye, in the ratio of 2:1:1, while the backcross, F₁ × Nirmal, segregated into two kinds of plants, (i) pink corolla and red eye and (ii) white corolla, in the ratio of 1:1. Two new genes (proposed symbols O^m and J) appeared to be involved in the determination of magenta and rose corolla colours. Interaction between four independent genes R, W, O^m and J, appeared to explain the observed segregation in the cross MJ × Nirmal. The F₁ plants of the cross MJ × OR had scarlet-red corolla and red eye. The segregation data of F₂ and backcross generations suggested that genes governing orange-red corolla and magenta corolla were allelic to each other. Two new and non-parental corolla colours viz., rose corolla and scarlet-red corolla, were observed in the progeny of the crosses of the present study.     

Performance of Diploids and Induced Autotetraploids of Catharanthus roseus under Different Levels of Nitrogen and Plant Spacings

Two bulk experimental strains of induced autotetraploids,‘Purple tetraploid bulk’ (PTB) and ‘White tetraploid bulk’ of Catharanthus roseus were evaluated along with the diploid ‘Purple’ variety (PDB) and a diploid pure line selection PS-3 in four environments consisting of combinations of two levels each of plant spacing and nitrogen at Bangalore and Hyderabad during 1983—84 and in two additional environments at Bangalore during 1984—85. PTB, in general, performed better than PDB at closer plant spacings, especially in the absence of nitrogen application. The highest increase in economic yield (leaf + root yield) over PDB was recorded by PTB with 45 × 30 cm plant spacing and no nitrogen fertilization. The highest economic yield of PTB (obtained with 30 × 30 cm spacing and 100 kg N per ha) was 26 % higher than the highest economic yield of PDB. There were no significant differences between PTB and PDB for content of total alkaloids in leaves within all the environments during both years. Strain × environment interactions were significant for content of total alkaloids in roots during 1983—84. During 1984—85, PTB and PDB did not significantly differ from each other for content of total alkaloids in roots.     

Distribution, status, and conservation of radiated tortoises (Geochelone radiata) in Madagascar

The radiated tortoise, Geochelone radiata, one of Madagascar’s four endemic tortoises, occupies a narrow band of xeric spiny forest along the island’s southwest coast. Traditionally avoided by indigenous tribes, these tortoises are now routinely harvested for food. An accurate assessment of human exploitation remains problematic, however, hindered by limited, dated statistics available on tortoise populations. To update the radiated tortoise’s status and distribution, we established a series of line transects at seven localities across its range and implemented a mark-recapture study at one of these localities (Cap Sainte Marie). Tortoises currently range from south of Tulear to east of Cap Sainte Marie, at density estimates spanning 27-5744 tortoises/km². The mark-recapture estimate for Cap Sainte Marie (1905-2105 tortoises/km²) was substantially higher than its transect estimate (654 tortoises/km²) though comparable to actual tortoise captures (1438) there. Thus, our transect density values probably err as underestimates, and from these data, we calculate a conservative total population size of 12 million radiated tortoises. We also examined mitochondrial DNA sequences (ND4 gene) for two individuals/locality in a preliminary assessment of genetic variation across the species’ range. Only two ND4 haplotypes were recovered, the more common haplotype representing 13 of the 14 individuals. We offer several conservation recommendations in light of our survey results.     

Dynamics of mangrove forests in the Mangoky River delta,Madagascar, under the influence of natural and human factors

Mangroves in Madagascar cover 327 000 ha to 340 300 ha. Several authors have studied these mangroves, but we do not yet have a complete knowledge of these ecosystems. The present study is an attempt to respond to this concern by analyzing dynamics and changes in the extent of the mangrove forest in the Mangoky delta (SW Madagascar) between 1951 and 2000. The comparison between base maps and Landsat TM images shows that the mangrove area remained relatively stable, even increasing slightly (+189 ha) between 1951 and 1979. From 1979 to 1994, its area decreased from 21 426 ha to 11 706 ha (−9720 ha). It then increased again (+84 ha) between 1994 and 2000. The balance was a decrease of 41.74% between 1951 and 2000. These figures may be compared with national (−15% in 56 years) and world (−35% for the last 20 years) statistics. Three main reasons are given to explain these changes: (1) the hydrological and sedimentological behavior of the Mangoky River; (2) the mechanism of plant succession, which depends on tides and on the characteristics of the substratum and (3) human activities and logging, which have increased since the 1980s in the Mangoky delta.