Establishment of an in vitro method for evaluating whitefly resistance in tomato

An accurate and simple evaluation method is crucial for identifying whitefly resistance in tomato breeding. We developed an in vitro method for evaluating resistance of tomato leaves and tested this on wild and cultivated tomato varieties. We found that young leaves observed for whitefly oviposition after 8 hours provided appropriate comparative conditions. This method effectively distinguished resistance among tomato cultivars and wild species and also demonstrated significant difference in oviposition rates among leaf positions on susceptible cultivars. The in vitro test was as precise as in vivo test using intact plants and had advantages over in vivo test, and can be used for evaluating resistance in large populations.     

环境·生物因子对番茄生长发育影响的研究进展

除了作为人类的营养来源外,番茄作为生物反应器等方面的研究日益深入,应用价值越来越受到人们的关注。因此,该研究综述了温度、水分、光照、空气、化学物质以及生物因子对番茄生长发育影响的最新研究进展,为番茄的人工栽培、种质改造及病虫害防治等工作提供参考。     

Rhodotorulic acid enhances root colonization of tomato plants by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi due to its stimulatory effect on the pre-symbiotic stages of the AM fungi

Exudates of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, a yeast commonly found in the rhizosphere, increased hyphal length of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Gigaspora rosea and Gigaspora margarita. Rhodotorulic acid (RA), a siderophore compound obtained from R. mucilaginosa exudates, increased hyphal length and branching. Thus, the increase in the number of entry points and the higher AM root colonization of tomato plants in the presence of RA can at least partially be explained by the positive effect of RA on the pre-symbiotic stages of the AM fungi.     

Genetic diversity of the African hexaploid species Solanum scabrum Mill. and Solanum nigrum L. (Solanaceae)

Two hexaploid species of Solanum sect. Solanum are present in Africa: Solanum scabrum and S. nigrum. Solanum scabrum is a widely cultivated species and is used as a leafy vegetable, as a source of medicine and as a source of ink dye. In previous studies a wide range of morphological diversity has been reported in this species and in some studies subspecies have been proposed. Subspecies are also recognized in S. nigrum. However, it has not been established whether or not the morphological differences are reflected at the genomic level. The present study applies AFLPs to study the genetic diversity in S. scabrum and its relationship to geographical provenance, morphological differences and the possible existence of subspecies within S. scabrum and S. nigrum. The data obtained were analyzed with cluster analysis (using UPGMA and NJ). The results indicate that the genetic variation within S. scabrum was higher within accessions than between accessions. Accessions did not cluster according to their geographical provenance, indicating that accessions from different geographical areas were not significantly different genetically. The clustering reflected neither morphological differences nor domestication status (cultivated or wild). The morphological differences exhibited by S. scabrum could be due to selection by farmers for different plant types. The AFLP derived clustering pattern did not segregate the subspecies recognized in S. scabrum and S. nigrum into separate subclusters.     

番茄S-腺苷蛋氨酸脱羧酶基因SlSAMDC1的克隆与序列分析

 以蔓陀罗S-腺苷蛋氨酸脱羧酶全长cDNA序列为信息探针, 筛选NCBI番茄EST数据库, 依据同源EST信息,经人工拼接、RT-PCR及RACE技术验证,获得了1个新的SAMDC基因家族成员,命名为SlSAMDC1(GenBank登录号：EF550528),并利用染色体步移技术克隆了879 bp的上游调控区域。SlSAMDC1 cDNA序列全长1 847 bp, 5′-UTR和3′-UTR分别长523 bp、241 bp;存在3个ORF(微型uORF、小型uORF和主ORF),主ORF编码360个氨基酸的SAMDC酶原;SlSAMDC1基因组序列全长3 648 bp,有3个内含子,均位于5′-UTR,所有内含子的剪切位点均符合真核生物“GT-AG”规则。SlSAMDC1基因与其它植物来源SAMDC基因同源性较高,与人、大肠杆菌以及酵母的同源性较低。表达谱分析发现,SlSAMDC1基因在番茄根、茎、叶、花蕾、果实等器官中均表达,果实中的表达量相对较高。生物信息学分析表明,SlSMDC1基因的上游调控序列存在多个顺式作用元件,如W-box、TATA-box、CAAT-box等。     

不同消毒剂处理对托鲁巴姆种子萌发的影响

以野生茄子托鲁巴姆种子为试验材料,研究了1%CuSO_4、0.1%KMnO_4、1%CH_2O、75%C_2H_6O、10%H_2O_2、0.1%HgCl_2、10%NaClO消毒剂对茄子砧木托鲁巴姆种子萌发的影响。结果表明:经1%CuSO_4消毒的托鲁巴姆种子的发芽势和发芽指数最高,且1%CuSO_4不会降低种子的发芽率,是较为理想的表面消毒剂;相反,75%C_2H_6O消毒处理削弱了种子的发芽率、发芽势和发芽指数,在一定程度上抑制了托鲁巴姆种子的萌发。     

RFLP analysis of a PCR amplified region of chloroplast DNA in eggplant and related Solanum species

RFLP analysis of a PCR amplified 3.2-kbp region of cpDNA bounded by the conserved sequences in rbc L and ORF 106 was performed in eggplant (Solanum melongena), its related Solanum species, S. incanum, S. virginianum (= S. surattense), S. torvum, S. aethiopicum (= S. gilo), S. aethiopicum (= S. integrifolium), S. violaceum (= S. indicum), S. violaceum (= S. sanitwongsei) and S. mammosum and the reciprocal hybrids between S. aethiopicum (= S. integrifolium) and S. melongena 'Uttara'. The target region of cpDNA was amplified correctly by PCR. The amplified products were digested with each of 10 restriction enzymes (Alu I, Ase I, BamH I, Hinf I, Msp I, Rsa I, ScrF I, Sty I, Taq I and Xba I). Variations of restriction patterns among the species were recognized after digesting the amplified products with each of the seven restriction enzymes, Taq I, Alu I, Rsa I, Sty I, Ase I, Hinf I and Xba I. The restriction patterns divided the examined nine species into the following five clusters, 1) S. melongena and S. incanum, 2) S. virginianum (= S. surattense), 3) S. torvum, 4) S. aethiopicum (= S. gilo), S. aethiopicum (= S. integrifolium), S. violaceum (= S. indicum) and S. violaceum (= S. sanitwongsei) and 5) S. mammosum. The restriction pattern with Alu I in each of the reciprocal hybrids between S. melongena 'Uttara' and S. aethiopicum (= S. integrifolium) was identical with that of seed parent. The present study demonstrated the availability of the PCR-RFLP analysis of cpDNA for assessing taxonomic relationships and identifying cytoplasmic parentage of interspecific hybrids in eggplant and related Solanum species. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Correlation between fusaric acid production and virulence of isolates ofFusarium oxysporum that causes potato dry rot in South Africa

Summary Virulence of 12Fusarium oxysporum isolates was determined on three potato cultivars Late Harvest, BP1 and Kimberley Choice. The production of fusaric acid by the 12F. oxysporum isolates was also determined. The aim of the study was to determine whether a correlation exists between fusaric acid production and virulence ofF. oxysporum isolates. Late Harvest was the most tolerant and BP1 the most susceptible cultivar. Virulence ranking, order of theF. oxysporum isolates with the different cultivars corresponded with the mean of value of the ranking order for all three cultivars. A correlation was found between virulence of isolates and fusaric acid production except for Late Harvest. Fusaric acid production may play a major role in the development of dry rot in potato tubers.     

Yield response of potato genotypes to different soil water regimes in contrasting seasons of a subtropical climate

Summary Potato crops in subtropical climates are often subjected to water stress, resulting in low yields and poor tuber quality. The yield response of potato genotypes to water supply was investigated in six trials, three each in spring and autumn plantings. Trials were conducted under automated rain shelters, using an irrigation boom to impose five soil water regimes. The negative effect of water stress on tuber yield was more detrimental in spring than in autumn, because of higher atmospheric evaporative demand and higher temperatures in spring. An average yield reduction of 68% was recorded for the most severely stressed regime in spring plantings, while the mean reduction for the same treatment in autumn was only 42%. Genotypic differences in yield response to drought were clearly illustrated in spring, but not in autumn. This suggests that the choice of genotypes is only influenced by the availability of water in spring, when more drought tolerant genotypes should be used.