RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Trees of Bombax ceiba L. could produce a large number of viable seeds in the dry-hot valleys. However, the seedling regeneration of the species is difficult in these areas as mild drought often occur repeatedly which might be followed by heat stress. However, how the repeated drought affects the subsequent drought and heat tolerance of B. ceiba is not clear. In this study, chlorophyll fluorescence, soluble sugar content and lipid metabolism were measured for the drought-treated seedlings and heat-treated seedlings with or without drought hardening. RESULTS: Neither the first nor third dehydration treatments affected the photosynthetic activity and soluble sugar content of B. ceiba seedlings. However, they differentially affected the fluidity of the local membranes and the levels of diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid. Heat shock severely decreased the photosynthetic efficiency but drought priming reduced the effects of heat shock. Moreover, heat shock with or without drought priming had differential effects on the metabolism of soluble sugars and some lipids. In addition, the unsaturation level of membrane glycerolipids increased following heat shock for non-drought-hardened seedlings which, however, maintained for drought-hardened seedlings. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that two cycles of dehydration/recovery can affect the metabolism of some lipids during the third drought stress and may enhance the heat tolerance of B. ceiba by adjusting lipid composition and membrane fluidity.
Asunto(s)
Adaptación Fisiológica/fisiología , Bombax/fisiología , Deshidratación/fisiopatología , Sequías , Respuesta al Choque Térmico/fisiología , Metabolismo de los Lípidos/fisiología , ChinaRESUMEN
In longhorn beetles and many other internally feeding insects, oviposition choice by females is critical to the survival of their offspring because their larvae are incapable of moving between hosts. Here we report on the complex host selection and colonization strategies of a longhorn beetle, Glenea cantor (F.) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), which is an important pest of kapok trees [Bombax ceiba L.=Gossampinus malabaricus (DC.) Merr.] in southern Asia. It attacks weakened trees, eventually killing them. The typical oviposition behavioral sequence in the laboratory includes the following: oviposition site search and recognition using antennae and palpi, oviposition slit preparation with mandibles, turning body direction 180°, egg deposition with the ovipositor, and oviposition wound covering with a jelly-like material from the ovipositor. Bark moisture content significantly increases from the upper to lower sections in kapok trees. In accordance with this variation female adults select the upper section of trees first for oviposition. As infestation continues and the host becomes more weakened, ovipositing females move further down the tree for oviposition. Consequently, the larvae kill the hosts from the top down. We show that the jelly-like material or eggs or both have an olfactory role in attracting females to oviposit nearby. Our findings are important in terms of increasing our understanding of host selection and colonization mechanisms of internally feeding insects, particularly cerambycids, and the development of environmentally friendly pest management measures.
Asunto(s)
Bombax/fisiología , Escarabajos/efectos de los fármacos , Oviposición/efectos de los fármacos , Feromonas/farmacología , Animales , Bombax/química , China , Escarabajos/química , Escarabajos/fisiología , Femenino , Óvulo/química , Óvulo/efectos de los fármacos , Óvulo/fisiología , Feromonas/química , Corteza de la Planta/química , Corteza de la Planta/fisiología , Olfato/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
As an initial step to define the molecular mechanism of initiation and termination of diapause during the embryogenesis of silkworms, Bombyx mori, mRNA transcripts from maintained and activated diapause eggs were compared with differential expression using cDNA array. Twenty-four individual cDNA transcripts were expressed differentially in a total of 1,468 different cDNAs. Among those clones, mRNA transcript from cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), which was detected to be 2-kb transcripts, gradually increased in diapause-activated eggs during early embryogenesis. Further analysis revealed that mRNA transcripts from silkworm COI were highly expressed in testis, fat body, and midgut during the larval stage. These results may indicate that the expression of silkworm COI mRNA is regulated developmentally as well as tissue-specifically.
Asunto(s)
Bombax/embriología , Regulación del Desarrollo de la Expresión Génica/fisiología , ARN Mensajero/biosíntesis , Animales , Northern Blotting , Bombax/fisiología , ADN Complementario/genética , ADN Complementario/metabolismo , Complejo IV de Transporte de Electrones/biosíntesis , Complejo IV de Transporte de Electrones/genética , Desarrollo Embrionario/genética , Desarrollo Embrionario/fisiología , Análisis de Secuencia por Matrices de Oligonucleótidos , ARN Mensajero/genética , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa de Transcriptasa InversaRESUMEN
A mathematical model was developed to analyze the effects of water stress and light condition on crop dry matter accumulation and yield formation based on canopy carbon net assimilation rate. The function leaf water potential (psi l) indicating the water status of canopy was incorporated into this model, according to the assumption that the canopy resistance (Rc) was increased under the conditions of water stress and low light density. Psi l was estimated by a simplified regression equation, in which, the independent variables were relative soil moisture (Aw), ambient temperature (Ta), and vapor pressure deficit (VPD). The aerodynamic resistance (Ra) in the model was defined as a function of wind speed (u), and the yield was calculated by a linear increase in harvest index (hi) with time. The modeled data agreed well with the data observed from pot experiment. Sensitivity analysis and simulation results suggested that the model could be useful in identifying environment factors, especially soil water content and light density effects on crop growth and yield formation.