A field study was conducted with the aim to elucidate photosynthetic responses of five emmer hulled wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccum) accessions to 30 (N-limited) and 100 kg(N) ha-1
(N-sufficient) conditions at control and drought stress (irrigation after 30-40% and 60-70% depletion of available soil water, respectively). Chlorophyll (Chl) a and Chl b concentrations of the emmer wheats remained unchanged but net photosynthetic rate and dry mass increased and decreased, respectively, when received a sufficient amount of N. Smaller drought-induced decreases in Chl concentration, membrane stability index, and dry mass were concomitant to a greater decrease in intercellular CO2 concentration of emmer compared to the durum (Triticum turgidum) and bread wheats (Triticum aestivum). The lack of negative effect of insufficient N on Chl concentration and dry mass of emmer wheat suggests that this type of wheat possesses an obvious potential for organic farming., M. Vaghar, P. Ehsanzadeh., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The endothelium of different organs displays a remarkable heterogeneity, although it presents many common functional and morphological features. However, despite our knowledge of heterogeneity among endothelial cells from different sites, the differences between brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC) and coronary microvascular endothelial cells (CMEC) are poorly defined. The aim of this study was to investigate whether BMEC are distinct from CMEC at the protein level. Using the proteomic approach, we comparatively analyzed the proteome of cultured BMEC and CMEC. We reproducibly separated over 2000 polypeptides by using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) at pH range of 3-10. Using PDQuest software to process the 2-DE gel images, forty-seven protein spots were differentially expressed in the two-endothelial cells. Of these, thirty-five proteins are highly expressed in BMEC, whereas twelve proteins are highly expressed in CMEC. Fifteen proteins in BMEC and seven proteins in CMEC were identified with high confidence by matrix-associated laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF-MS). Our data suggested that BMEC and CMEC were different in several aspects including cytokine and growth-related molecules, stress-related proteins, metabolic enzymes, signal transduction proteins and others. The identification of a set of proteins preferentially expressed in BMEC and CMEC provided new data on the heterogeneity of the endothelium., L. Lu, P.-Y. Yang, Y.-Ch. Rui, H. Kang, J. Zhang, J.-P. Zhang, W.-H. Feng., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The aim of study was to gain a deeper knowledge about local and systemic changes in photosynthetic processes and sugar production of pepper infected by Obuda pepper virus (ObPV) and Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV). PSII efficiency, reflectance, and gas exchange were measured 48 and/or 72 h after inoculation (hpi). Sugar accumulation was checked 72 hpi and 20 d after inoculation (as a systemic response). Inoculation of leaves with ObPV led to appearance of hypersensitive necrotic lesions (incompatible interaction), while PMMoV caused no visible symptoms (compatible interaction). ObPV (but not PMMoV) lowered Fv/Fm (from 0.827 to 0.148 at 72 hpi). Net photosynthesis decreased in ObPV-infected leaves. In ObPV-inoculated leaves, the accumulation of glucose, fructose, and glucose-6-phosphate was accompanied with lowered sucrose, maltoheptose, nystose, and trehalose contents. PMMoV inoculation increased the contents of glucose, maltose, and raffinose in the inoculated leaves, while glucose-6-phosphate accummulated in upper leaves., A. Janeczko, M. Dziurka, G. Gullner, M. Kocurek, M. Rys, D. Saja,
A. Skoczowski, I. Tóbiás, A. Kornas, B. Barna., and Obsahuje bibliografii
A histochemical study using lectin methods was performed on myxosporean parasites from vastly different fish hosts from marine and fresh waters. Six biotinylated lectins were used (WGA, SBA, BS-I, Con-А, UEA-I and SNA). The binding paltem of Con-A and WGA revealed the presence of mannose and/or glucose, and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine respectively, in polar capsules and valves of most of the myxosporea assayed. Thus, chitin may be present in polar capsules and/or valves of myxosporean spores. The BS-I binding pattern showed the presence of a-!)-galactose and/or N-acetyl-D-galactosamine residues in polar capsules of Kudoa sp., Zschokkeìla mugilis Sitjà-Bobadilla et Alvarez-Pellitero, 1993 and Leplotheca sp., and in the valves of the latter. Scarce amounts of N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and/or α-D-galactose were demonstrated by SBA binding in Sphaerospora dicentrarchi Sitjà-Bobadilla et Alvarez-Pellitero 1992, Leplotheca sp. and Kudoa sp. valves, and in Leptotheca sp. polar capsules. The UEA-I staining indicated the absence ofa-L-fucose in all the myxosporea assayed except in Leptotheca sp. N-acety!neuraminic acid was detected with SNA in the polar capsules and sporoplasms of Polysporoptasma sparis Sitjà-Bobadilla et-Alvarez-Pellitero, 1995 and in the polar capsules and valves of Kudoa sp. These results indicate that, although Myxosporea may have conserved carbohydrate structures, some of them can show significantly different binding patterns, which may be useful in diagnostic and functional studies.
Selected representatives of Cucujoidea, Cleroidea, Tenebrionoidea, Chrysomelidae, and Lymexylidae were examined. External and internal head structures of larvae of Sphindus americanus and Ericmodes spp. are described in detail. The data were analyzed cladistically. A sister group relationship between Sphindidae and Protocucujidae is suggested by the vertical position of the labrum. The monophyly of Cucujiformia is supported by the reduced dorsal and anterior tentorial arms, fusion of galea and lacinia, and the presence of tube-like salivary glands. Absence of M. tentoriopraementalis inferior and presence of a short prepharyngeal tube are potential synapomorphies of Cleroidea, Cucujoidea and Tenebrionoidea. The monophyly of Cleroidea and Cucujoidea is suggested by the unusual attachment of the M. tentoriostipitalis to the ventral side of the posterior hypopharynx. Cucujoidea are paraphyletic. The families Endomychidae, Coccinellidae and Nitidulidae are more closely related to the monophyletic Cleroidea, than to other cucujoid groups. Separation of the posterior tentorial arms from the tentorial bridge and presence of a maxillolabial complex are synapomorphic features of Cleroidea and these cucujoid families. For a reliable reconstruction of cucujoid interrelationships, further characters and taxa need to be studied.
The mechanisms which permit Leishmania to survive inside macrophages are not totally understood although it is known that prolonged culture in vitro results in loss of virulence. One of the cell surface molecules often implicated in virulence mechanisms is the glycoprotein of 63 kDa (gp63). In this work we studied changes in infectivity of L. infantum promastigotes maintained in vitro by subcultures, correlated with the proteolytic activity of gp63. It was observed that L. infantum MON-1 promastigotes became unable to establish an infection after 6 subcultures in vitro independently of the size of inoculum. This corresponded to a diminution of proteolytic activity of gp63. L infantum MON-1 promastigotes inoculated in hamsters viscera-lize in the mononuclear phagocytic system accompanied by an antibody response. A correlation between antibody response, inoculum size and promasti gote origin was verified. L donovani MON-18 and L. infantum MON-24 promastigotes produced a specific humoral response but failed to establish an infection in hamsters regardless of all the passages tested.
External and internal head structures and external structures of the thorax and abdomen of larval representatives of Melandryidae (Orchesia), Ulodidae (Meryx), Oedemeridae (Pseudolycus) and Pythidae (Pytho) are described. The obtained data were compared to characters of other tenebrionoid larvae and to larval characters of other representatives of Cucujiformia. Characters potentially relevant for phylogenetic reconstruction are listed and were analysed cladistically. The data set is characterised by a high degree of homoplasy and the resolution of the strict consensus trees of 2650 or 815 (second analysis) minimal length trees is low. The monophyly of Tenebrionoidea is supported by several larval autapomorphies, e.g. posteriorly diverging gula, anteriorly shifted posterior tentorial arms, asymmetric mandibles and the origin of several bundles of M. tentoriopharyngalis from the well-developed gular ridges. Several features of the larval head are plesiomorphic compared to the cleroid-cucujoid lineage. The interrelationships of most tenebrionoid families not belonging to the pythid-salpingid and anthicid-scraptiid groups were not resolved. Synchroidae were placed as sister group of a clade comprising these two lineages and Prostomidae. A sistergroup relationship between Trictenotomidae and Pythidae seems to be well supported and the monophyly of the anthicid-scraptiid lineage was also confirmed. Another potential clade comprises Prostomidae, Mycteridae and Boridae, and possibly Pyrochroidae (s.str.) and Inopeplinae. The monophyly of Salpingidae (incl. Othniinae and Inopelinae) and Pyrochroidae (incl. Pedilinae) was not supported. Many features such as the shape of the head and body, sutures and ridges of the head capsule, the endocarina, the mandibles, the maxillary apex, and also characters of the terminal abdominal apex are highly variable, even within families. Especially the families Tetratomidae, Melandryidae, Colydiidae and Zopheridae show a high degree of variation in the larval stages. Several taxa appear isolated in terms of larval morphology within the families they are assigned to, e.g. Orchesia within Melandryidae, Sphindocis (Sphindocinae) within Ciidae, Calopus (Calopinae) within Oedemeridae and Penthe (Penthinae) within Tetratomidae. A broader spectrum of characters and a stepwise approach will be needed for a reliable clarification of the relationships within a very complex group like Tenebrionoidea.
External and internal head structures of the larva of Neohermes are described in detail. The results are compared to conditions found in other representatives of Corydalidae, in Sialidae, and in Raphidioptera and Neuroptera. Corydalidae and Sialidae are mainly characterised by plesiomorphic features such as distinct frontal and coronal sutures, six stemmata, a movable labrum with a full set of muscles, a thin tentoriomandibular muscle, a distinct maxillary groove, 4-segmented maxillary palps, an oblique arrangement of the extrinsic maxillary muscles, a labium with all components except for the glossae and paraglossae, 3-segmented labial palps, and a largely complete muscle system. The partly reduced maxillary groove, the strongly elongated stipes, the apical membranous stipital collar, the close connection of the palp and galea, the subdivision of the galea, the strongly shortened palp, the bipartite tentoriocardinal and tentoriostipital muscles, the anterolateral submental notch, the lateral tentoriopharyngeal muscle, and the postgular plate are autapomorphies of Corydalidae. An additional antennomere is present in large corydalid species. The monophyly of the subfamilies Corydalinae and Chauliodinae is not supported by features of the larval head. The reduced condition of the anterior and dorsal tentorial arms and the antennal muscles, the transverse labial muscle, the loss of muscles of the salivary duct, and possibly the lateral origin of M. frontopharyngalis posterior are autapomorphies of Sialidae. The monophyly of Megaloptera is suggested by the insertion of a peg-like or spine-shaped sensillum on the antepenultimate antennomere, the vestigial salivary duct, and a verticopharyngeal muscle composed of several bundles. The distinct neck region, the parietal ridge, and the anterior position of the posterior tentorial grooves are features shared by Corydalidae and Raphidioptera. Arguments in favour of a clade comprising Megaloptera and Raphidioptera are the presence of a circular ridge anterad of the neck region, an increased number of Semper cells and retinula cells in the stemmata, the presence of a gula in adults, a similar cleaning behaviour, and molecular data. Potential autapomorphies of Neuropterida are the prognathism of the larvae and the absence of a mandibular mola. However, the polarity of these characters is unclear. A derived condition found in most groups of Endopterygota, but not in Hymenoptera, is the presence of one or two sensorial appendages on one of the intermediate antennomeres, usually the penultimate. Larval autapomorphies of Endopterygota suggested in earlier studies are confirmed for Corydalidae.
Long-term water uptake of Douglas-fir and Norway spruce trees, growing in condition of Moravian upland, was studied with aim of comparing sap flow in small roots with flow in stems. Sap flow was measured by the heat field deformation method using multi-point sensors for stems and single-point sensors for roots. Differences between species were found in relationships between sap flow in tree stems and water uptake by roots, suggesting that Douglas-fir is able to take water from deeper soil more efficiently than spruce. This allows Douglas-fir to transpire more water especially during drought and grow faster than spruce. These biological features should be taken into account for future forest species compositions because they may have impact on both, forestry and hydrology.
Fifteen different mitochondrial haplotypes of the mtDNA gene COI encoding cytochrome C oxidase subunit I were identified in the 127 individuals of Adalia bipunctata studied. Two mitochondrial haplotypes, H9 and H10, differed greatly from the others. The mitochondrial polymorphism in A. bipunctata is ancient, though its age remains to be evaluated. It is shown that mitochondrial haplotypes H9 and H10 and others coexisted in the original population of A. bipunctata before it spread throughout Eurasia from Western Europe to the Baikal Area, and before the differentiation of the subspecies A. bipunctata fasciatopunctata, which differs from the European form in its elytral pattern. In order to evaluate the possible origin of the ancient mitochondrial haplotypes in the gene pool of A. bipunctata sequences of the mtDNA gene COI and of the rRNA second internal transcribed spacer of the four species of Adalia: A. bipunctata, A. decempunctata, A. frigida and A. tetraspilota, were compared. It is suggested that infection with Rickettsia had an important role in the preservation of the mitochondrial haplotypes H9 and H10 during the evolution of Adalia., Ilya Zakharov, Elena Shaikevich., and Obsahuje seznam literatury