Moth sex-pheromone biosynthesis is inhibited by the herbicide diclofop

Pheromones of nocturnal moths are derived from fatty acids produced as a result of the activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. This timely production is initiated in nocturnal moths by a tropic peptide, pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide released into the hemolymph. In monocotyledonous plants, specific plastid acetyl-CoA carboxylase is inhibited by herbicides that target the eukaryotic form of the enzyme. We report evidence that these herbicides can also target pheromone biosynthesis by a moth, thereby implicating the acetyl-CoA carboxylase as a key regulatory enzyme in the pheromone biosynthetic pathway. These findings, whilst indicating the possible action of such herbicides on non-target organisms, also suggest a novel alternative method of insect pest management, which precludes sex-pheromone production and mating success, thereby reducing insect population growth.     

Senescence of Top Three Leaves in Field‐Grown Rice Plants

Abstract

The top three leaves play important roles in biomass production and grain yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) crop since the three leaves not only assimilate majority of carbon for grain filling during ripening phase, but also provide large proportion of remobilized‐nitrogen (N) for grain development during their senescence. The objectives of this study were to (a) compare senescence of the top three leaves and (b) compare the changes in N, chlorophyll, and ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) contents of the top three leaves after their full expansion in field‐grown rice plants. When the basis of comparison among the top three leaves was plant age in terms of days after transplanting (DAT), senescence generally started earliest in ?3rd leaf, intermediate in ?2nd leaf, and latest in flag leaf. If the basis of comparison among the top three leaves was leaf age in terms of days after full leaf expansion (DAFE), it was not clear which leaf senesced earlier. Senescence rate was generally greatest in flag leaf, intermediate in ?2nd leaf, and smallest in ?3rd leaf. Ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase content declined earlier, and at a faster rate than N and chlorophyll contents during the senescence of all top three leaves. Correlation analysis indicated a close relationship between N and chlorophyll contents. Ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase content correlated with N content better than with chlorophyll content. The suitability of N, chlorophyll, and Rubisco contents for quantifying the leaf senescence of field‐grown rice plants is discussed.     

小麦导入磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶（PEPCase）基因的初步研究

[目的]将磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶（PEPCase）基因导入普通小麦临优145。[方法]利用根癌农杆菌遗传转化系统,以普通小麦临优145为材料,将磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶（PEPCase）基因,导入小麦胚性愈伤组织中,用含潮霉素（hyg）的筛选培养基连续筛选,并从分子水平上检测该基因。[结果]获得了hyg抗性植株,经GUS组织化学染色检测表明,抗性苗叶片被染成了深蓝色;PCR检测出目标条带。[结论]初步证明磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶（PEPCase）基因已经导入受体材料中。     

胡麻异质型ACCase亚基基因的克隆与表达分析

为研究胡麻异质型乙酰辅酶A羧化酶BCCP、BC、α-CT和β-CT四个亚基基因的生物学功能,采用基因克隆、生物信息学和RT-PCR技术分别对胡麻accA、accB、accC和accD 4个基因进行分析。结果发现陇亚10号accA基因编码α-CT亚基,CDS序列全长为2364 bp,编码787个氨基酸;accB基因编码BCCP亚基,CDS序列全长为1173 bp,编码275个氨基酸;accC基因编码BC亚基,CDS序列全长为1574 bp,编码527个氨基酸;accD基因编码β-CT亚基,CDS序列全长为1137 bp,编码378个氨基酸,且4个基因编码的蛋白都是脂肪酸系数较高的亲水性蛋白。RT-PCR结果表明,胡麻accA、accB、accC和accD 4个基因在3个胡麻品种(高含油量的张亚2号、中含油量的陇亚10号和低含油量的R2-17)的不同时期不同组织的表达模式不同,accA、accB、accC和accD四个基因在R2-17、陇亚10号和张亚2号3个胡麻品种所有时期的不同组织中均有表达,但在种子中的表达量均明显高于其他组织,尤其在种子发育10~25 d油脂快速积累时期,4个基因的表达量都迅速增加并达到最高峰。研究表明异质型乙酰辅酶A羧化酶基因可能调控胡麻种子发育前期油脂的合成积累。     

适度水分胁迫提高黄瓜幼苗光合作用弱光适应性

以黄瓜（Cucumis sativus L.）‘戴多星’品种为试材,在人工气候室内研究弱光（75 ~ 85 μmol · m-2 · s-1）下水分胁迫（40%基质最大持水量）对幼苗叶片光合、荧光特性及Rubisco含量的影响。结果表明,弱光逆境下,经20 d水分胁迫后的幼苗较正常水分条件下叶片光合色素（以单位面积计）含量提高,叶绿素a/b（Chl.a/b）下降,植株光饱和光合速率Asat、表观量子效率（AQY）、羧化效率（CE）、RuBP最大再生速率及光饱和点（LSP）均显著增加,CO2补偿点（CCP）显著下降,并且光系统Ⅱ（PSⅡ）最大光化学效率（Fv/Fm）、潜在光化学效率（Fv/Fo）、PSⅡ光化学量子效率（ΦPSⅡ）、光化学反应速率（Prate）、非环式电子传递速率（J）以及PSⅡ吸收光能向光化学反应分配比例P等叶绿素荧光参数呈增加趋势,PSⅠ和PSⅡ间激发能分配不平衡性（β / α–1）减小,叶片可溶性蛋白质含量和Rubisco大、小亚基含量上升,表明适度的水分胁迫有利于提高弱光下黄瓜幼苗的光合适应性;而正常光照下（500 ~ 600 μmol · m-2 · s-1）经水分胁迫后的黄瓜幼苗上述主要光合特性指标如Asat、RuBP最大再生速率、CE、ΦPSⅡ、Prate、J和P等有所下降,光系统间激发能分配不平衡性（β / α–1）增加,光合作用受到一定抑制。     

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase—a Graminicide Target Site

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase catalyses the first committed step in fatty acid (and acyl lipid) formation. The enzyme has been shown to exert a high degree of flux control for lipid biosynthesis in leaves and, therefore, it is not surprising that chemicals which can inhibit it effectively are successful herbicides. These chemicals belong mainly to the cyclohexanedione and aryloxyphenoxypropionate classes and are graminicides. The reason for the selectivity of these herbicides towards grasses lies in the nature of the target site, acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Recent advances in our knowledge of acetyl-CoA carboxylases from sensitive and resistant plants has revealed some important facts. Dicotyledons, which are resistant, have a multi-enzyme complex type of carboxylase in their chloroplasts while grasses have a multifunctional protein. Both divisions of plants have two isoforms of the enzyme, the second being in the cytosol. Detailed study of multifunctional forms of acetyl-CoA carboxylases, which have different sensitivities to herbicides, suggests that herbicide resistance is correlated with cooperativity of herbicide binding to the native dimeric form of the carboxylase. © 1997 SCI.     

芳氧苯氧基丙酸酯类除草剂的应用进展

芳氧苯氧基丙酸酯（简称APP）类除草剂是近二十年发展起来的活性很好的新型除草剂,用于防除一年或多年生禾本科杂草。本文主要综述了APP的发展历史、作用机理、主要品种以及应用研究进展。     

Status of black grass (Alopecurus myosuroides) resistance to acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase inhibitors in France

We assessed the contributions of target site‐ and non‐target site‐based resistance to herbicides inhibiting acetyl‐coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) in Alopecurus myosuroides (black grass). A total of 243 A. myosuroides populations collected across France were analysed using herbicide sensitivity bioassay (24 300 seedlings analysed) and ACC genotyping (13 188 seedlings analysed). Seedlings resistant to at least one ACC‐inhibiting herbicide were detected in 99.2% of the populations. Mutant, resistant ACC allele(s) were detected in 56.8% of the populations. Among the five resistant ACC alleles known in A. myosuroides, alleles containing an isoleucine‐to‐leucine substitution at codon 1781 were predominant (59.5% of the plants containing resistant ACC alleles). Comparison of the results from herbicide sensitivity bioassays with genotyping indicated that more than 75% of the plants resistant to ACC‐inhibiting herbicides in France would be resistant via increased herbicide metabolism. Analysis of herbicide application records suggested that in 15.9% of the populations studied, metabolism‐based resistance to ACC‐inhibiting herbicides was mostly selected for by herbicides with other modes of action. Our study revealed the importance of non‐target site‐based resistance in A. myosuroides. Using herbicides with alternative modes of action to control populations resistant to ACC‐inhibiting herbicides, the recommended management approach, may thus be jeopardised by the widespread occurrence of metabolism‐based resistance mechanisms conferring broad‐spectrum cross‐resistance.