Pathogenicity of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica on potato

Host–parasite relationships and pathogenicity of Meloidogyne javanica on potatoes (newly recorded from Malta) were studied under glasshouse and natural conditions. Potato cvs Cara and Spunta showed a typical susceptible reaction to M. javanica under natural and artificial infections, respectively. In potato tubers, M. javanica induced feeding sites that consisted of three to four hypertrophied giant cells per adult female. Infection of feeder roots by the nematode resulted in mature large galls which usually contained at least one mature female and egg mass. In both tubers and roots, feeding sites were characterized by giant cells containing granular cytoplasm and many hypertrophied nuclei. Cytoplasm in giant cells was aggregated alongside the thickened cell walls. Stelar tissues within galls appeared disorganized. The relationship between initial nematode population density ( P ) [0–64 eggs + second-stage juveniles (J2s) per cm³ soil] and growth of cv. Spunta potato seedlings was tested under glasshouse conditions. A Seinhorst model [ y = m  + (1 −  m ) z ^{( P − T )}] was fitted to fresh shoot weight and shoot height data of nematode-inoculated and control plants. Tolerance limits ( T ) for fresh shoot weight and shoot height of cv. Spunta plants infected with M. javanica were 0·50 and 0·64 eggs + J2s per cm³ soil, respectively. The m parameter in that model (i.e. the minimum possible y -values) for fresh shoot weight and shoot height were 0·60 and 0·20, respectively, at P  = 64 eggs + J2s per cm³ soil. Root galling was proportional to the initial nematode population density. Maximum nematode reproduction rate was 51·2 at a moderate initial population density ( P  = 4 eggs + J2s per cm³ soil).     

Evaluation and analysis of reduction of late blight disease in a diploid potato progeny

The rate of late blight disease was analysed for individuals of a diploid Solanum phureja – Solanum tuberosum dihaploid hybrid population (PD), using three different assessment techniques, in the laboratory, screenhouse, and field. These hybrids expressed low disease rates in the field, comparable to resistance based on intact R genes. However, none of the parents of PD expressed any R genes and the pattern of segregation within the PD population was not indicative of R-gene inheritance. The foliage (or leaflet) area diseased had the largest broad-sense heritability of all criteria analysed, in all tests performed. In the field evaluations, the PD population showed intermediate levels of broad-sense heritability for foliage area diseased, relative to the much larger heritability detected for the group of controls possessing R genes. Resistance in the field of the PD hybrids had very little genotype-environment (G × E) interaction, indicating stability of its expression. All genotypes without R genes exhibited heritable, reduced rates of late blight disease in the field, but they were susceptible with low heritability in screenhouse and laboratory tests. This differential expression of disease indicates that the plants' indirect response to unknown environmental stress in the field may have been measured. The value of the PD hybrids for breeding of late blight resistant potato and the use of the disease rate data for detection of the underlying quantitative trait loci are discussed.     

The influence of cyst nematodes and drought on potato growth. 3. Effects on carbon isotope fractionation

A good agreement was found between drought induced water-use efficiencies and carbon isotope fractionation of potato plants of the same age. Discrimination of¹³Carbon isotope increased with plant age and with the rank order of the distinguished plant organs. In young plants, nematode infection (contrary to drought) reduced¹³C discrimination but also reduced the water-use efficiency, leading to the conclusion that nematode infection, by slowing down the plant metabolism may have reduced the extrusion of¹³C. Towards senescence both nematode infection and drought reduced¹³C discrimination and increased water-use efficiencies indicating that then nematode caused water stress in the plants.     

Seedborne fungi detected on stored solanaceous berry seeds and their biological activities

We isolated 629 fungi from 1296 berry seeds of solanaceous plants, including tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), eggplant (Solanum melongena), bell pepper (Capsicum annuum), and red pepper (Capsicum annuum var. annuum) preserved for long and short terms. The isolates were classified into 22 genera excluding unidentified fungi, and the fungal floras were divided into two types: the tomato–eggplant and pepper groups. The results of cluster analysis with unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average also supported these groups. Most tomato seeds infested with Geotrichum candidum germinated and grew the same as uninfested seeds. Cladosporium sphaerospermum and Arthrinium sp. isolated from eggplant seeds strongly suppressed germination, and Penicillium variabile suppressed seminal root elongation on eggplant. Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, and Myrothecium verrucaria detected from red pepper or bell pepper seeds were pathogenic to the fruits and the seedlings after artificial inoculation.     

马铃薯花色苷研究进展

综述了马铃薯花色苷的分布、种类、结构、提取纯化方法、生理功能和应用等方面的研究进展,并介绍了块茎在发育和储藏期间花色苷的变化及光、温等外界因素对马铃薯块茎颜色的影响.     

番茄SlβCA3在防御丁香假单胞菌番茄致病变种中的功能

【背景】在全球气候变化的背景下,大气CO₂浓度的升高会影响植物病害的发生,进而影响农业生产。β型碳酸酐酶（β- carbonic anhydrase,βCA）是植物CO₂感应和浓缩系统中的重要组成元件,参与拟南芥和烟草的植物免疫过程,但在番茄（Solanum lycopersicum）等园艺作物中的研究较少。【目的】通过探究番茄SlβCA3在抵御植物病害中的作用及机制,为番茄生产中的抗性调控提供科学依据。【方法】以拟南芥AtβCA氨基酸系列为参考序列,在番茄Sol genomics network 数据库中鉴定到4个SlβCA。进一步以野生型（wild-type,WT）番茄‘Ailsa Craig’（AC）为材料接种丁香假单胞菌番茄致病变种（Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000,Pst DC3000）,利用qRT-PCR技术测定叶片中SlβCA的表达量,筛选出受Pst DC3000诱导表达的基因SlβCA3。在此基础上,以AC为背景,利用农杆菌介导法进行番茄遗传转化,构建SlβCA3稳定过表达植株（OE-SlβCA3）。通过观察OE-SlβCA3植株接种Pst DC3000后的抗性表型,明确SlβCA3在番茄抵御Pst DC3000过程中的作用。为了研究SlβCA3调控植物抗病性的内在机制,比较WT和OE-SlβCA3植株接种Pst DC3000与对照条件下转录组的变化,并利用KEGG数据库对差异基因进行功能分析,推测糖代谢与SlβCA3介导的免疫反应有关。最后,通过测定WT和OE-SlβCA3植株糖代谢及其信号途径相关基因表达量以及葡萄糖、果糖和蔗糖含量,对转录组结果进行验证及分析。【结果】OE-SlβCA3植株对Pst DC3000的抗性增强,接种Pst DC3000后,叶片中的细菌生长量、病斑数以及死细胞积累量明显减少。转录组测序结果显示,正常条件下,OE-SlβCA3植株转录谱没有发生明显变化;接种Pst DC3000后,在WT和OE-SlβCA3植株中检测到2 100个Pst DC3000诱导基因,其中有63.3%的基因在OE-SlβCA3植株中表达量更高。KEGG分析结果显示,依赖于SlβCA3过表达的Pst DC3000诱导基因富集在糖代谢相关路径中,包括淀粉和蔗糖代谢,内质网中的蛋白质加工（糖基化）,氨基糖和核苷酸糖代谢,真核生物中的核糖体生物合成以及光合作用等路径。糖代谢与糖信号密不可分,qRT-PCR及糖含量测定结果显示,接种Pst DC3000后,OE-SlβCA3植株叶片中糖代谢及其信号传导途径相关基因表达量与葡萄糖、果糖和蔗糖的含量较WT更高。【结论】番茄SlβCA3的过表达增强了植株对Pst DC3000的抗性,该过程可能与糖代谢及其信号通路在植物免疫中的作用有关。     

番茄 SlMAPK7基因的亚细胞定位与组织表达特性

分离番茄 SlMA PK7基因,利用实时荧光定量反转录聚合酶链反应技术分析在番茄不同组织和花发育不同时期 SlMA PK7的表达特性,发现该基因在雄蕊的表达量明显高于其他组织,在长度4.6～6.5 mm 的花蕾中表达量最高;通过构建黄色荧光蛋白融合表达载体,利用基因枪介导洋葱内表皮细胞的瞬时表达,发现SlMA PK7基因表达蛋白定位在细胞核和细胞膜中;为进一步研究 SlMA PK7的表达特性,分离克隆了SlMA PK7基因的启动子序列,利用 PLACE 和 PlantCARE 软件预测出其含有多种典型的 SlMA PK 启动子顺式作用元件;通过瞬时表达分析该启动子活性,经农杆菌介导转化拟南芥,GUS(β‐glucuronidase ,β‐葡萄糖苷酶)组织化学染色发现,在幼苗期 SlMA PK7主要集中在顶端分生组织和根尖分生组织中表达,在成年植株中则集中在花器官中表达.以上结果表明,SlMA PK7可能在细胞核和细胞膜中参与番茄多种信号的传导,并可能在花器官的发育过程中行使功能.     

重金属在超富集植物少花龙葵和李氏禾体内的分布和移动特征

通过研究超富集植物少花龙葵和李氏禾在加镉/铬和去镉/铬处理中重金属的富集情况,探讨镉/铬在这两种植物体内的分布和移动特征.结果显示,少花龙葵在100 mg/L Cd污染时生物量显著高于对照,根、茎和叶镉含量分别达到22 930、3 250、94 mg/kg,富集系数分别为229、32.5和0.9.去镉处理改变了镉在少花龙葵体内的分布模式.少花龙葵根、茎的镉浓度在去镉处理比加镉处理降低31.2％和35.9％,叶的镉浓度上升90.3％.少花龙葵在加镉处理成熟叶(第2、3片叶)的镉含量最高,在去镉处理中转移至老叶(第1片)和新叶(第5、6片)中.李氏禾在加铬处理20mg/L Cr(Ⅲ)和20mg/L Cr(Ⅵ)时叶生物显著低于对照,但在去铬处理恢复正常.在20 mg/L Cr(Ⅲ)和20 mg/LCr(Ⅵ)处理中李氏禾根、茎和叶的铬浓度相当,分别为7 114、1 021、223 mg/kg,富集系数分别为352、51和6.8.李氏禾不同叶位的叶片铬浓度相差不大,去铬处理没有改变铬在李氏禾体内的分布模式.结果表明,少花龙葵和李氏禾对镉或者铬污染具有很好的修复效果;镉在少花龙葵体内具有移动性,镉离子进入植物根、茎和叶后,受到外部环境影响可以进行再分配;李氏禾对铬的吸收是一个单方向过程,先在根系中积累,进而跨膜转运至茎中,少部分转移叶中,铬进入植物体各部位,很难进行再分配.     

马铃薯野生种CHS基因cDNA的克隆与表达分析

设计简并引物,用RT-PCR法从马铃薯野生种(Solanum pinnatisectum)克隆到了CHS(Chalcone synthase,查尔酮合酶)基因的全长cDNA,并用半定量RT-PCR法进行了表达分析.序列分析表明,CHS基因编码一个389个氨基酸残基的多肽,在氨基酸水平上与其他茄科植物的同源性达到89%～93%,多重比较和系统发育分析均表明该基因为CHS家族中的一个新成员;检测了CHS基因的空间表达模式,该基因在花和匍匐茎中表达量最高,在根和块茎中没有检测到,这与花和匍匐茎呈淡紫色有花色苷合成,而根和块茎呈白色无花色苷合成是相一致的;发现在块茎中CHS受光诱导表达,光照后的第3天表达量最高,而在光照前检测不到,光照前块茎为白色,随着光照时间的延长,其表层颜色因积累花色苷而变成紫红色.