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.     

Comparison of an in vitro and a damping-off assay to test soils for suppressiveness to Pythium aphanidermatum

Testing of soil samples in greenhouse assays for suppressiveness to soilborne plant pathogens requires a considerable investment in time and effort as well as large numbers of soil samples. To make it possible to process large numbers of samples efficiently, we compared an in vitro growth assay with a damping-off assay using Pythium aphanidermatum as the test organism on tomato seedlings. The in vitro test compares the radial growth or relative growth of the fungus in soil to that in autoclaved soil and reflects suppressiveness of soils to the pathogen. We used soils from a field experiment that had been farmed either organically or conventionally and into which a cover crop (oats and vetch in mixture) had been incorporated 0, 10, 21, and 35 days previously. We obtained a significant, positive correlation between damping-off severities of tomato seedlings in damping-off assays and both relative and radial growth in vitro. In addition, radial and relative growth of P. aphanidermatum in the in vitro assay were positively correlated with several carbon and nitrogen variables measured for soil and incorporated debris. We did not find differences between the two farming systems for either growth measures of P. aphanidermatum or disease severities on tomato at different stages of cover crop decomposition. The in vitro assay shows potential for use with any fungus that exhibits rapid saprophytic growth, and is most suitable for routine application in suppressiveness testing.     

兜兰花粉活力及柱头可授性探究

本研究以‘绿肉饼’兜兰为试验材料,用扫描电子显微镜对其花粉块进行研究分析。结果显示,花粉块可分为两半,表面光滑呈现紧密网状结构。为获得‘绿肉饼’人工授粉最佳时间,采用TTC (氯化三苯基四氮唑)染色和联苯胺-过氧化氢法进行花粉活力及柱头可授性的研究。TTC染色法结果表明,‘绿肉饼’的花粉活力呈现从弱到强再到弱的趋势,其中开花15~20 d的花粉活力最大,授粉率较高;联苯胺-过氧化氢法结果表明,‘绿肉饼’的柱头可授性随开花时间先弱后强再变弱,其中开花10~20 d的柱头可授性最高。     

膜荚黄芪繁殖系统的研究

观察膜荚黄芪的花部特征,用亚甲基兰法测定花粉活力变化,用联苯胺-过氧化氢法测定了其柱头的可授性,并用杂交指数（OCI）、花粉-胚珠比（P／O）方法测定了其有性繁育系统类型。结果表明,从开花当日开始,花粉活力不断下降,在开花后五天,花粉活力几乎为零。在花后1天柱头有较高的可授性,花后4天失去可授性。膜荚黄芪的杂交指数（OCI）=3,繁育系统为自交亲和,有时需要传粉者;花粉-胚珠比（P／O）=3850-4300,为专性异交。     

Relationships between endometrial cytology and interval to first ovulation, and pregnancy in postpartum dairy cows in a single herd

The objectives were to investigate the relationships between endometrial cytology (EC) and interval from calving to first ovulation, and pregnancy in dairy cows, and that between uterine fluid and EC. On day 25 postpartum, 39 dairy cows were grouped based on EC, as having low (?8%) or high (>8%) polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), and the quantity of uterine fluid was assessed by ultrasound. The interval from calving to first ovulation was shorter in low, than in high PMN cows (32 vs. 45 d). A greater proportion of cows with uterine fluid had high PMN (64% vs. 21%), and the PMN increased from 14% to 34% as the quantity of uterine fluid increased. The mean interval from calving to ovulation was longer in primiparous cows with high PMN (49 d) compared to that of primiparous and multiparous cows with low PMN (28 and 29 d, respectively). Although the conception rate to first service at 92 d postpartum was not different between PMN groups, the cumulative pregnancy at 270 d tended to be higher in low than in high PMN (80% vs. 58%) multiparous cows. Also, cows that had uterine fluid on day 25 postpartum had a shorter interval from calving to pregnancy than those with no uterine fluid (161 vs. 208 d). In conclusion, combining transrectal ultrasonography with endometrial cytology on day 25 postpartum has diagnostic value in the assessment of uterine inflammation.     

紫花苜蓿花粉活力和柱头可授性的研究

紫花苜蓿Medicago sativa是世界农牧业发展中极为重要的一种豆科牧草。以昆明地区引进3个苜蓿品种和德钦野生苜蓿为研究材料,对其不同部位的花粉活力、花粉数量和柱头可授性进行了研究。结果表明：不同品种和同品种不同部位的花粉活力差异较大,但基本表现为Acrora高于其他苜蓿品种,同品种苜蓿基本表现为中部和下部显著高于上部（P＜0.05）;花粉数量变化差异也较大,基本表现为CW1351苜蓿高于其他苜蓿品种;柱头可授性变化差异也较大,基本表现为德钦苜蓿显著高于其他苜蓿品种（P＜0.05）。     

当归开花授粉特性和繁育系统的研究

通过对当归（Angelica sinensis （Oliv.） Diels）定点定株观察,运用花粉-胚珠比﹑杂交指数、联苯胺-过氧化氢法、人工授粉和套袋试验等方法,对当归的开花状态及繁育系统进行了研究。结果显示：当归花各部形态和数量存在普遍的变异现象,雌雄蕊出现异熟现象,为雄蕊先熟。单花花期为4～5 d,依其形态和雌雄性功能表达可分为6个时期：蕾期、开花前期、雄性期、两性期、雌性期和谢花期。当归在开花第3天的花粉活力最强,相差1天后的柱头可授性达到了最强。授粉实验结果显示其不存在无融合生殖现象,同时按照杂交指数,P∕O比,当归的繁育系统最终可归结为以异交为主,部分自交,异交需要传粉者。     

桂花花粉活力测定与''''晚籽银''''桂柱头可授性分析

采用TTC、无机酸和离体萌发等方法测定了不同桂花品种的花粉活力,用联苯胺一过氧化氢法测定柱头可授性,用扫描电镜观察了'晚籽银'桂柱头的分泌物.结果表明TTC、无机酸法不适合用于桂花花粉活力的测定,而用一定浓度的蔗糖、硼酸制成的固体培养基则能较好地测定花粉活力.桂花的不同品种和不同的开花期其花粉活力均具有显著差异.'晚籽银'桂的柱头为湿型柱头,在整个花期中均具有较强的可授性.'晚籽银'桂属雌蕊先熟型,其花粉活力与柱头可授性有4-5 d的相遇期.     

贵州小桐子农家品种的花粉活力和柱头可授性

为更好地开发和利用贵州小桐子种质资源,以充分发挥其生物能源的作用,对贵州省罗甸县、望谟县、册亨县和贞丰县4个地方的小桐子花粉活力和柱头可授性进行了比较。结果表明,2007—2011年5年中,册亨县巧马采育林场种植的小桐子农家品种的花粉活力和柱头可授性均高于其他3个地方的品种。