Volume 65, Issue 5

Plant antioxidation system is composed of a series of complex mechanisms, in which many antioxidants including some special proteins are involved. Dehydrins are a family of late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins which usually accumulate in plants during late embryogenesis or in response to environmental stresses. They were suggested to be associated with specific protective functions in plant cells, such as preventing coagulation of macromolecules and maintaining integrity of crucial cell structures. In recent years, many studies implied that dehydrins also play an antioxidative role to alleviate oxidative damage in stressed plants. They were proposed to scavenge radicals directly and sequester metals which are sources for radical generation to avoid the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this paper, we will discuss the novel putative role of dehydrins in plant antioxidation mechanisms and how dehydrins perform their antioxidative activity.

Based on similarity searches, two putative pathways were previously described as being encoded by the pAO1 megaplasmid of Arthrobacter nicotinovorans: an almost fully established nicotine-degrading pathway and a yet unknown putative sugar-catabolic pathway. The general organization of the open reading frames (ORFs) of the latter indicated possible gene products as targets for docking experiments, aimed at identifying possible sugar substrates of this pathway. Homology modelling and docking results with the deduced proteins of three ORFs of the putative sugar catabolic pathway indicated D-tagatose-1,6-bisphosphate as a common ligand and thus as substrate of the pathway.

O135 serotype Vibrio cholerae isolated from Slovak river was used as a source of surface polysaccharide antigens. Following detoxification procedure, fractions of polysaccharides were separated by size exclusion chromatography. Two resultant fractions were the capsular polysaccharide (M w ∼ 197,000 Da) and the lipopolysaccharide fragment (M w ∼ 13,300 Da). These materials were used for preparation of four novel glycoconjugates. Two of them containing detoxified lipopolysaccharide as antigen were prepared by original chemical method using the new biocompatible polymer as carrier of antigen. Additionally, other two conjugates were prepared by direct linking of capsular and detoxified lipopolysaccharide antigens to the protein carrier using adipic acid dihydrazide spacer. The immunogenicities (induced IgM, IgG, IgA antibodies) of all conjugates were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Polymer containing conjugates elicited higher levels of specific anti-lipopolysaccharide IgM and IgG antibodies in comparison with other conjugates without polymer carrier. Enhanced IgM vibriocidal activity of mice antisera was also evident here.

This study was carried out to investigate changes in lichen photosynthetic pigments induced by different combinations of light irradiance and water availability during a Mediterranean summer. To this purpose, thalli of three epiphytic lichens with a markedly different ecology concerning photo-hygrophytism, namely Evernia prunastri (hygro-mesophytic), Flavoparmelia caperata (mesophytic) and Xanthoria parietina (xero-mesophytic), were transplanted for 30 days to N- and S-facing cardinal exposures in central Italy. To investigate the effect of thallus hydration, at each cardinal exposure 50% of thalli were hydrated daily with deionised water. The results showed that changes in the concentrations of photosynthetic pigments are species-specific and consist in a general depression of photosynthetic pigments only in the hygro-mesophytic species E. prunastri. The pattern of photosynthetic pigments was also investigated in spontaneous samples along contrasting aspects. In this case, X. parietina from S-facing slopes, adapted to direct solar influx, showed higher pigment content than N-facing thalli; F. caperata and E. prunastri avoid direct extreme solar radiation and assimilation pigments were influenced more by the shadowing of tree canopies than by the cardinal exposure. The influence of drought on lichen photosynthetic pigments in the Mediterranean area is discussed.

Discrepancies and errors in the taxonomic and nomenclatural treatment of Primula auricula complex by Zhang (2002) and Zhang & Kadereit (2004, 2005) are discussed. Investigation of a few hundred P. auricula specimens stored in BP yielded contradictory morphological results compared with those of the above authors. In contrast with the key proposed by them specimens (BP) from Mt Domogledu (Romania) have short, while those from the north Carpathians (Slovakia) have relatively long glandular hairs on the leafmargins. Lectotypes of P. auricula var. serratifolia Rochel ex Borbás and P. auricula var. hungarica Borbás are designated. Nomenclatural errors made by Zhang and Kadereit are corrected, and it is emphasized that the name P. lutea ssp. tatriaca applied for Slovak populations by them is superfluous. Further researches are needed to clarify the taxonomic position of Slovak and Romanian P. auricula populations. Morphological characters considered as distinctive and relevant by Zhang and Kadereit seem to be dependent on the phenological state of plants.

Meiotic behavior, pollen morphology, interphasic nucleus pattern and karyotype description for Senna occidentalis (Caesalpinioideae — Fabaceae) are presented. The species had non-reticulate interphasic nucleus and homogeneous chromosome condensing with minute distal late-condensing portions in prometaphase. In mitotic metaphase, chromosome number was 2n = 28 (9 m + 5 sm), with secondary constriction in one chromosome pair. Detection of four nucleoli indicated existence of two chromosome pairs bearing Nucleolar Organizer Region (NOR). Meiotic behavior was regular, with high meiotic index (95%). Pollen grains, classified as polar/spheroidal, presented 90% viability.

Eryngium L. species growing in Syria were characterized using morphological, geographical and molecular analyses (IRAP and RAPD). Eight Eryngium L. species have been determined to exist in Syria. E. glomeratum, E. campestre and E. falcatum were found to grow in the mountain regions. E. creticum and E. desertorum were found to grow in variant environments: mountains, semidesert and saline environments, which indicate their wide range of adaptation and tolerance to abiotic stresses. E. maritimum was the only species found to grow on the coastal sandy beaches suggesting that it is adapted to sandy, saline and humid environments. The two PCR-based techniques showed that E. pussilum and E. billardieri were the most distal to all other species. E. pussilum is found to grow in Leftaya region, which is a swamps area similar to the typical habitat for American Eryngiums. The most related species were E. glomeratum and E. campestre, which were mainly found in mountainous regions, followed by E. desertorum, E. falcatum, and E. creticum.

The chloroplast DNA of 43 species including 16 sections from the genus Hypericum was studied by PCR-RFLP analysis. The PCR-amplified products of four cpDNA regions, trnC-trnD, psbC-trnS, trnL-trnF and rbcL were digested with four restriction endonucleases. A high level of interspecific variation was detected while intraspecific diversity was not observed. The resulting parsimony analysis indicated the monophyletic assemblage of the sections Androsaemum, Olympia, Drosocarpium and Trigynobrathys. Monophyly of Hypericum is weakly supported, but close relationships of H. perforatum and H. maculatum are indicated. The members of Ascyreia are weakly resolved, but clustering of H. kouytchense and H. oblongifolium is well supported, however, H. reptans is nested with Olympia. CpDNA profiles and the positions on the parsimony tree indicate that the chloroplast donor among the putative parents of the hybrid species H. ×inodorum is H. androsaemum.

The karyotype of Luzuriaga radicans R. & P. was quantitatively studied, assessing characters such as chromosome morphology and size, satellite location, asymmetry level and bimodality. L. radicans has an asymmetric and bimodal karyotype 2n = 20 with three metacentric pairs, followed by six submetacentric and one subtelocentric chromosome pair. One satellite was observed in the short arm of chromosome pair 6. The total haploid set length was 48.7 μm and the mean chromosome size was 4.87 ± 2.35 μm. Comparing L. radicans with other two species of the genus a high resemblance among their karyotypes was found.

The genetic variation in fourteen Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz. populations distributed over the eastern and south-eastern part of its range was studied using seven nuclear microsatellite loci. The differentiation level was relatively high (F ST = 0.228), as expected for a species with a fragmented range. The distance-based approach to the analysis of differentiation patterns (neighbour-joining tree based on pairwise coefficients of differentiation) did not reveal a clear geographical structure. On the other hand, model-based Bayesian methods (BAPS and STRUCTURE) gave geographically continuous clusters of populations. The occurrence of populations deviating strongly from the general pattern is attributed to founder effect. In spite of a generally high differentiation, a significant isolation-by-distance pattern was found, which might be a consequence of postglacial migration and gene flow among descendants of different refugia.

A phytosociological classification of silver fir (Abies alba) forests in the Czech Republic was carried out using the Braun-Blanquet approach. It is based on the formalized and supervised Cocktail classification method. The definitions of associations were created by combinations of sociological species groups using logical operators. Dominance of single species was included in the definitions of associations. All relevés with at least 50% cover of silver fir in tree layer available from the Czech Republic were used for analysis. Three associations within two classes were distinguished. Vaccinio vitis-idaeae-Abietetum albae (Vaccinio-Piceetea, Piceion excelsae) is an oligotrophic, species-poor spruce-pine-fir forest dominated by Vaccinium myrtillus in the herb layer occurring mostly on podzols. Luzulo-Abietetum albae (Querco-Fagetea, Luzulo-Fagion) is an oligo-mesotrophic spruce-fir forest characterized by the dominance of graminoids (Luzula luzuloides, Calamagrostis arundinacea) in the herb layer. It occurs especially on cambisols. Nutrient-demanding species are typical of the stands of herb-rich mesotrophic Galio rotundifolii-Abietetum albae (Querco-Fagetea, Fagion sylvaticae, Galio rotundifolii-Abietenion) that occurs also mostly on cambisols. Soil nutrients and soil reaction (represented by Ellenberg indicator values) were determined as the most important ecological gradients affecting the variation of the vegetation in these communities.

The paper includes assignation of nomenclatural types to Slovak syntaxa dominated naturally by Picea abies, i.e. to 1 order (Athyrio filicis-feminae-Piceetalia Hadač ex Hadač et al. 1969) and 14 associations and 5 subassociations of the alliances Piceion excelsae Pawłowski ex Pawłowski et al. 1928, Athyrio alpestris-Piceion Sýkora 1971, Oxalido-Piceion Hadač et al. 1969 and Chrysanthemo rotundifolii-Piceion (Krajina 1933) Hadač et al. 1969. The association name Avenello-Piceetum excelsae Hadač et al. 1969 is validated. Essential syntaxonomical notes to syntaxa Athyrio alpestris-Piceion, Calamagrostio villosae-Piceetum are included as well as nomenclatural comments to Vaccinio-Piceetea and Athyrio-Piceetalia.

The response of the wild type (WT) and a strain C6/2 of German chamomile to 7-d soil drought and subsequent 7-day rehydration was studied. Shoot and leaf growth, vegetative development, water and protein contents, ascorbate peroxidase activity and gas exchange were compared. At the stress stage, water content of WT plants was slightly influenced and the effect was ceased after rehydration. Also the decrease in gas exchange was temporary. New leaves were formed, although their area was diminished. On the contrary, leaves of C6/2 plants were more desiccated and the durable decrease in water content was accompanied by the impairment in gas exchange also at the recovery stage (20–40% loss when compared to the control). At both stages of the experiment the growth of the long shoots of this genotype was drastically decreased, as well as leaf formation. Ascorbate peroxidase activity was increased by drought in leaves of both genotypes, but the pattern of changes in WT plants reflected the enhancement of metabolism resulting from proper water content and gas exchange at the recovery stage. Different pattern of changes in the protein content during drought was also noticed: a slight increase in WT, while the decrease by ¼ in C6/2 leaves. The response of WT plants to desiccation and rewatering was found to be more elastic than that of C6/2.

This study was carried out in forestland of Camili Biosphere Reserve (CBR) area in NE Turkey. It was designed to evaluate the consequences of disturbances on changes in secondary forest succession from 1985 to 2005 for monitoring forest plant biodiversity changes and developing conservation strategies. The successional stages were mapped using Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), aerial photos and high resolution satellite images (IKONOS). The results showed that stable stage decreased about 77.96% over the last 20-year time period. Although 701.6 ha conifer forests existed in competition and reaction stages in 1985, none existed in 2005. In overall, about 33.23% of the area decreased, 42.36% did not change and 24.41% increased in different seral stages. Consequently, 8.83% of the area decreased as a whole to indicate that the forest has been developing from stable to nudation stage, that is to say, retrogressive succession is going on in the area. Forest structure and its relationship with plant biodiversity along with its changes over time were determined using FRAGSTATS. We also investigated spatio-temporal configuration of six secondary forest successional stages and generated structural diversity measures. These measures revealed that the landscape has been fragmented, posing a danger to lose the important components of plant biodiversity. Sustainable management of such degraded forests is of crucial importance for plant biodiversity conservation. In conclusion, the study contributes to the development of a framework for effective conservation of plant biodiversity through plant biodiversity integrated Multiple Use Forest Management (MUFM) plans by using the successional stages and plant biodiversity changes.

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) was successfully induced from mature zygotic embryos of seven families of Picea likiangensis (Franch.) Pritz after 20 weeks culture on initiation medium. Three basal media (one-half strength LM medium, one-half strength LP medium and improved LP medium) with different concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 6-benzyladenine (6-BA) were tested but only one-half strength LM medium supplemented with 2,4-D and 6-BA was successful for the embryogenic cultures (EC) initiation. The initiation frequencies of EC varied greatly from different families when culturing on the same initiation medium. The highest frequency (41.3%) was induced from one of the families on one-half strength LM medium supplemented with 3 mg L−1 2,4-D and 1.5 mg L−1 6-BA and 16.83% on average for seven families. EC were subcultured and proliferated on the same medium as the initiation one every 10 days. 3 lines of EC induced from the same family were applied in maturation experiment. Cotyledonary somatic embryos were observed after EC were transferred to maturation media of one-half strength LM medium containing 20-80 mg L−1 abscisic acid and 7.5% polyethylene glycol (PEG-4000). However, one-half strength LM medium supplemented with 40 mg L−1 or 60 mg L−1 ABA and 7.5% PEG gave the best maturation and the 3 lines showed different ability in maturation. Over 80% cotyledonary somatic embryos germinated normally on DCR medium containing 0.2% activated carbon. The success on SE induction of the species has provided an effective clonal propagation method for this important tree’s genetic improvement.

Parasitism of plants by other plants provides an exceptional opportunity for investigating correlative nutritional relationships. Because of lacking a usual plant-root sytem capable of active uptake, the best correlation for predicting the concentrations of elements in parasitic plants is often those in the host plants. This study, therefore, mainly focuses on determination of i) mineral nutrient partitioning between hemi-parasitic white berry mistletoe (Viscum album L. subsp. album) and four of its deciduous hosts growing in different habitats namely wetland and semi-arid and ii) effects of these habitat types on nutrient absorption. During the research, leaf samples of both hemi-parasites and their host plants were chemically analysed, mistletoes on each host plants were counted and the results were considered statistically. Concentrations of some elements (N, P, K, Na, S, Cu, Zn) were higher in mistletoe whereas some others (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn and B) were higher in the hosts (p< 0.05). Habitat type was also determined to be effective in host-parasite systems. Revealing information about nutritional interactions between multi-host hemi-parasites and their host plants is a useful tool to understand their functions in ecosystems, population-community dynamics and their co-evolution process.

Treatment with 300 mM NaCl increased the capacity of the alternative respiratory pathway and induced the expression of AOX1a of the leaves of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings. A significant increase in the content of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was observed in rice leaves treated with 300 mM NaCl. However, NaCl at 150 mM did not significantly affect the capacity of the alternative respiratory pathway, the content of H2O2, and the transcript level of AOX1a. Exogenous application of H2O2 enhanced the levels of the capacity of the alternative respiratory pathway and AOX1a expression. The accumulation of H2O2 in rice leaves in response to 300 mM NaCl was inhibited by the pretreatment with dimethylthiourea (DMTU, scavenger of H2O2). This treatment also suppressed the induction of AOX1a expression and the increase in the capacity of the alternative respiratory pathway under 300 mM NaCl stress. Moreover, the salt-stressed (300 mM NaCl) seedlings pretreated with 1 mM salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM, a special inhibitor of alternative oxidase) had higher level of H2O2 production than the seedlings either subjected to 300 mM NaCl stress or SHAM treatment alone did. These observations suggest that the expression of AOX1a in response to higher salt stress is mediated through an accumulation of H2O2 and alternative oxidase could play a role in antioxidant protection under the condition of higher salt stress.

Dermatopontin is a tyrosine-rich acidic extracellular matrix protein of 22 kD with possible functions in cellmatrix interactions and matrix assembly. Database of GenBank+EMBL+DDBJ sequences from Nucleotide, Gene, and Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) Divisions was searched with a keyword “dermatopontin” or mouse dermatopontin amino acid sequence. In addition to five mammals previously described, five mammalian, two bird, one fish dermatopontin genes were detected in vertebrates. Additionally, a goat EST was also shown as goat dermatopontin missing 5′-end of the coding region. Moreover, a mRNA sequence of rhesus monkey dermatopontin was identified, but the deduced amino acid sequence was terminated abruptly due to a nonsense codon. For three 6-residue repeat regions (D-R-E/Q-W-X-F/Y) that may function as part of a glycosaminoglycan binding site, the first repeat sequence is D-R-Q-W-N-Y in all mammals while Glutamine is substituted for Leucine in birds. The second and the third repeats are conserved in all vertebrates. The N-Y-D sequence, the consensus in many amine oxidases, is conserved in mammals except rodents. Asparagine is substituted for Threonine in birds. The tetrapeptide R-G-A-T sequence possibly recognizing the integrin family is conserved in mammals and birds, but Alanine was substituted for Glutamine in zebrafish resulting in loss of activity. In conclusion, functionally significant amino acid sequences in vertebrate dermatopontins are conserved in mammals, while they are not necessarily identified in birds and fish. The original function of vertebrate dermatopontins may be glycosaminoglycan binding and functions as a ligand for integrin and an amine oxidase may be gained in the process of evolution.

The structural characteristics, unique features, various organ measurements of males and females of the Sperchon (Scutosperchon) akdagensis sp. n. water mite from Turkey are described. In addition, morphological characteristics of the new species are compared with related species.

Data on benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages of two alpine lakes in the Tatra Mts (Slovakia) collected in 1914, 1933, 1979–1982, 1993–1997, and 2000 were collated and analysed in an attempt to define their relationship to major environmental events affecting these alpine lakes over the last century. The oldest data were considered an important background before the onset of acidification in one of the lakes in the 1950s, while the most current contain possible information on biological recovery. Results show that data from the 1910s are insufficient to characterize the macroinvertebrate fauna. Deep zone assemblages of both studied lakes have remained stable since the 1930s. Changes in the density of dominant species over time were found in the acidified lake, suggesting a connection between an increase in phosphorus and chlorophyll-a concentration. The composition of the littoral assemblages in the acidified lake in the 1930s indicates that the lake was not strongly acidified at that time. A stable composition since the 1980s reflects the ongoing acid stress. Incomplete species data on the non-acidified lake did not allow us to detect possible changes in the littoral fauna related to acidification. Single findings of species indicating a recovery process need longer-term data to confirm such a trend. Results from this study suggest that historical datasets consist of valuable information that can supplement palaeolimnological analyses in the reconstruction of lake ontogeny.

The effects of land use on black fly assemblages were investigated in submontane rivers (the Ľubochnianka River, the Revúca River, upper Váh River catchment) in the Carpathians. We recorded 11 black fly species in the Ľubochnianka River and 10 species in the Revúca River. Land use differs between the catchments; the Ľubochnianka is a primarily forested catchment, and the Revúca is markedly deforested catchment. Fifteen environmental variables were analysed. Based on the results provided by CANOCO, phosphorus level and stream slope are the most important variables and have significant influences on the variability of black fly assemblages. In spring, Prosimulium rufipes occurred along the entire lengths of the streams. The black fly assemblage of the Revúca River differs from the assemblage of the Ľubochnianka River mainly by its higher abundances of Simulium variegatum and Simulium ornatum, by the presence of Simulium carthusiense, and by the absence of Prosimulium hirtipes.

Developmental rates of the aphid Aphis pomi and its parasitoid Aphidius ervi were compared at four constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30°C). Aphis pomi required 159.07 degree-days (DD) above lover developmental threshold (LDT) of 0.3°C. Aphidius ervi required 229.73 DD above LDT of 5.98°C. Developmental rate of A. pomi is higher than the developmental rate of A. ervi at the same conditions

Toxicological data on silkworm Bombyx mori are quite comparable to those of other lepidopteran pest insects, therefore, it is considered as a suitable model for exploring effects of any new synthetic formulations. In this study, female V instar larvae of silk moth B. mori were chosen to evaluate the lethal and sublethal toxicity effects of RH-2485 (methoxyfenozide), a non-steroidal ecdysteroid agonist and to substantiate the ecdysteroid mimicking action of RH-2485 on ovary development, vitellogenin incorporation and egg production in isolated pupal abdomen (IPA). Probit analysis was carried out to find the median lethal dose (LD50) from 96 h cumulative mortality percent. Protein profile of haemolymph, fat body, ovary and eggs were separated in SDS-PAGE. Western blot analysis was carried out to confirm vitellogenin in the ovary. Sublethal effects on feeding, cocoon spinning, pupation, adult emergence and egg production were studied at doses of 1/5th, 1/10th and 1/20th of LD50. Significant changes were observed in all these parameters at all three sublethal doses. The morphological effects were related to underlying biochemical changes by finding the changes in haemolymph, fat body, ovary and egg protein profile. Marked changes were observed in storage proteins (80 kDa) and 30 kDa proteins in the haemolymph at all three sublethal doses. The larvae that escaped the sublethal effects at a dose of 1/20 of LD50 and emerged as adults with malformed wings produced significantly lower number of eggs. The isolated pupal abdomen (IPA) treated with RH-2485 did not metamorphose into adult but the oocyte development and vitellogenesis were normal but the egg precursor processing was incomplete leading to failure in choriogenesis.

We report on the preliminary cytological observation of fluid in the primo-nodes and vessels on the surfaces of the internal organs of mammals. With some microsurgical procedures, we observed many cells and microcells that spread out of the nodes on the organ surfaces of rats and rabbits. These cells generally showed the following morphologies: (1) round or oval cells, 10 μm in size, with predominantly little cytoplasm; (2) cells with nuclei that exhibited a collapsed shape; (3) binucleated cells, 20 μm in size; (4) spherical granules, ranging 0.5–2.0 μm in size (primo-microcells); and (5) aggregations of such granules. These findings on the existence of cells with diverse morphologies in the fluid of primo-nodes and vessels could be evidence supporting the hypothesis that the anatomical basis of acupuncture meridians (i.e., primo-vascular system) may be a migration channel for various kind of cells.

In the present study, human neonatal fibroblasts were isolated from a two-month-old human male. The purpose of the present investigation was the analysis of the morphology (light and transmission electron microscopy), karyotype and growth characteristics of the human neonatal fibroblast cell culture B-HNF-1. Moreover, STR typing and mitochondrial DNA amplification and sequencing was also performed. Analysis of chromosomes count showed that B-HNF-1 cell culture is diploid and has normal male karyotype 46, XY, which was stable during cultivation. The transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the ultra-structure of the B-HNF-1 cells; they have typical morphological features of proteosynthesis-active cells. Large number of fibroblasts bearing different shapes and surface characteristics adhered to the substrate with microvilli and filopodia. Our in vitro expanded fibroblasts have a large and irregular nucleus with prevalence of euchromatin. One to three nucleoli are present in each nucleus. The cytoplasm contains a richly developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and prominent Golgi apparatus cisterns. The result of the fragment analysis is a DNA profile defined as multiplex of STR markers and sex determining system. Sequencing analysis of hypervariable segments of control region of mitochondrial DNA showed haplotype that belongs to haplogroup W. In this study, we complexly characterized a new cell culture of human neonatal fibroblasts B-HNF-1 from different points of view. This culture should be used for further biomedical experiments.