Assessing genetic identity of sporophytic offspring of the brown alga Undaria pinnatifida derived from mono-crossing of gametophyte clones by use of amplified fragment length polymorphism and microsatellite markers

The haploid stage of gametophytes of the subtidal brown alga Undaria pinnatifida can be vegetatively propagated under favorable conditions. This unique characteristic makes it possible to establish independent gametophyte cell lines that are zoospore-derived. Sporophytic offspring can be generated through hybridizing the male and female gametophytes, which are derived from different cell lines. Accumulated experiences in this and other species in Laminariales demonstrated the applicability of this novel way to breed desired strains for open-sea cultivation. Sporophytic offspring originated from mono-crossing of male and female gametophyte clones were shown to have similar morphological characteristics under identical ambient conditions. However, there has been no report to relate this similarity on molecular levels. In this report, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and microsatellite markers were used to analyze the genetic identity of sporophytic offspring of U. pinnatifida originated from two mono-crossing lines (M1 and M2), two self-breeding lines (S1 and S2) and one wild population (W). Totally 318 AFLP loci were revealed by use of 11 primer sets, of which 4.7%, 0.3%, 17.9%, 16.4% and 36.5% were polymorphic in M1, M2, S1, S2 and W, respectively. The pairwise genetic identity among the individuals of the same line was assessed. It was shown that offspring from mono-crossing lines had a higher degree of identity (95.6-100%) than self-breeding lines (87.7-98.4%) and the wild population (81.5-92.1%). Analysis by use of six microsatellite loci also revealed a higher genetic identity among individuals of the mono-crossing line, further confirming the results of AFLP analysis. Results from this investigation support, on molecular levels, the novel way to produce and maintain strains in U. pinnatifida by use of different gametophyte cell lines.

Effect of light period on egg-discharge of gametophyte clones of Undaria pinnatifida (Phaeophyta)

A sporeling culture method using gametophyte clones developed in the early 1990s led to egg discharge occurring in the dark 5 min after the start of the dark period under growth under a 11:13 L-D photoperiod. The course of egg discharge could be disturbed by light, with irradiance as low as 5-6 mu mol photon m(-2) s(-1) causing 75-80% of the discharged eggs to detach from the oogonia and consequently to die within several hours. In order to enhance outgrowth rate of young sporophytes, a study was conducted to test the effect of controlling darkness in the period 2-3 h after dusk. When the slides were transferred from the standard 11:13 L-D regime to continuous light, eggs were discharged 5 min after the end of the light phase and peaked 5-l5 min later on first day after transfer, indicating that the female gametes "remember" the light-dark regime. This suggests the existence of an endogenous circadian rhythm. During the second and third days, very few eggs were discharged throughout the 11 h of the normal light phase of the L-D regime, indicating the inhibitory effect of continuous light and that the rhtyhm is easily damped by light.

Mass culture of Undaria gametophyte clones and their use in sporeling culture

Undaria pinnatifida (Harv.) Sur. is one of the three main seaweed species under commercial cultivation in China. In the mid-1990s the annual production was about 20000 tons dry. The supply of healthy sporelings is key to the success of commercial cultivation of Undaria. Previous studies demonstrated that instead of the zoospore collection method, sporelings can be cultured through the use of gametophyte clones. This paper reports the experimental results on mass culture of clones and sporeling raising in commercial scale. Light had an obvious effect on growth of gametophyte clones. Under an irradiance of 80 mumol m(-2) s(-1) and favorable temperature of 22-25degreesC, mean daily growth rate may reach as high as 37%. Several celled gametophyte fragments were sprayed onto the palm rope frame. Gametogenesis occurred after 4-6 days. Juvenile sporeling growth experiments showed that nitrate and phosphate concentrations of 2.9 10(-4) mol 1(-1) and 1.7 10(-5) mol 1(-1) were sufficient to enable the sporelings to maintain a high daily growth rate. Sporelings can reach a length of 1 cm in a month. Since 1997, extension of the clone technique has been carried out in Shandong Province. Large-scale production of sporelings for commercial cultivation of 14 and 31 hectares in 1997 and 1998 had been conducted successfully.

Expression of the lacZ reporter gene in sporophytes of the seaweed Laminaria japonica (Phaeophyceae) by gametophyte-targeted transformation

The seaweed Laminaria japonica (Phaeophyceae) has a two-generation life cycle consisting of haploid gametophytes and diploid sporophytes. Female and/or male gametophytes were transformed using particle bombardment and the histological LacZ assay was performed on sporophytes generated by either parthenogenesis or inbreeding. Female gametophyte-targeted transformation resulted in similar lower efficiencies in both parthenogenetic and zygotic sporophytes, and only a chimeric expression pattern was observed. Male gametophyte-targeted transformation led to a higher efficiency, with 3.5% of the zygotic sporophytes stained completely blue (all-blue), implying the integration of lacZ at the one-cell stage. Polymerase chain reaction analysis using primers specific for a lacZ-vector juncture fragment and subsequent blotting indicated the presence of the introduced gene in the sporophytes. The method reported here has a potential for seaweed transformation using spore-based bombardment followed by the developmental process.

Effects of cell density, light intensity and mixing on Undaria pinnatifida gametophyte activity in a photobioreactor

An on-line controlled 7 1 sterilizable photobioreactor was used for the optimisation of a culture of gametophytes of Undaria pinnatifida. The gametophytes, which had been stored for three years in a culture cabinet at 16 degreesC, could rapidly grow in the photobioreactor under controlled conditions. The rate of increase of dissolved oxygen and pH were used to monitor the photosynthetic activity. Optimal gametophytes density changed varying the light intensity. The optimal cell densities were 3.24 and 3.45 g FW l(-1) when the cultures were exposed to 61.7 and 82.3 muE m(-2) s(-1), respectively. The optimal cell density was higher under a high photon flux density (PFD) than under low PFD. On the other hand, the optimal light intensities were different for different cell density cultures. The light saturation point was higher at high cell density cultures than at low cell density cultures. The optimal rotational speed was 150 rpm for high cell density culture in the photobioreactor. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A new method of Laminaria japonica strain selection and sporeling raising by the use of gametophyte clones

One-celled female and male gametophytes of three Laminaria japonica strains were isolated, cultured and gametophyte clones were formed. A technique combining strain selection with sporeling raising by the use of these female and male gametophyte clones was studied. Experiments on 9 different crossing combinations was conducted in November of 1997 in Qingdao, P. R. China. The main economic characteristics, frond length and fresh weight, of sporophytes of different crossing combinations were measured. F-1 sporophytes of No. 2 showed a higher fresh weight and longer length, therefore, No. 2 (Wh860 + x Lid) was selected as a good combination. Its parental female and male gametophyte clones are being mass cultured for sporeling production. By this method, the time needed for strain selection was shortened from 5-6 to 2 years. As compared with the routine method of sporeling raising by the collection of zoospores, the time of sporeling raising of this method decrease by 50%, and the production cost is also reduced by 50%. It is believed that this method will be labour and time saving and a more economic way for strain selection and sporeling raising in L. japonica cultivation industry.

Rapid optimization of process conditions for cultivation of transgenic Laminaria japonica gametophyte cells in a stirred-tank bioreactor

Batch cultivation for transgenic kelp gametophyte cells was investigated in an online controlled 5 L stirred-tank photo-bioreactor to rapidly optimize the process conditions by monitoring the rate of increase of pH. The transgenic kelp gametophytes with heterologous gene encoding hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) could rapidly grow in the bioreactor. Optimal temperature and agitation rate for bioreactor cultivation of gametophytes were 15 degrees C and 200 rpm. Optimal incident light intensities depended on the initial cell densities. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All fights reserved.

蕨类植物配子体发育及化感作用的研究

我国的蕨类植物资源十分丰富，约有2600多种，占全世界12000种的1/5强，其中许多种具有很高的观赏价值。在欧美的一些国家，蕨类植物已经成为花卉行业的一个重要组成部分，早已进入家庭居室、宾馆、商场、办公楼和其它公共场所，绿化和美化人们的生活环境。到目前为止，全世界共已栽培成功观赏蕨类植物700多种（品种），而我国仅有十多种投入花卉市场作为盆景和切花配叶，尚未形成一定的规模。繁殖技术不过关是造成蕨类植物在我国花卉市场难以迅速发展的障碍之一。目前国内对蕨类植物的需求主要靠野外采挖得以满足，对野生蕨类植物资源造成严重的破坏，再加上自然生态环境的恶化，致使许多物种濒临灭绝。因此，加强相关的基础研究、繁殖技术和外界环境对蕨类植物影响的研究，对蕨类植物资源的利用和保护具有重要的研究价值和现实意义。 作者在近五年的研究过程中，建立了蕨类植物孢子无菌培养技术，观察记录了蕨类植物配子体的形态发育，为建立蕨类植物快速有效的繁殖技术体系打下了良好的基础。在此研究基础上，探讨了对蕨类植物生长发育构成威胁的外界环境之一—外来入侵植物紫茎泽兰对蕨类植物的生长发育的化感作用。紫茎泽兰为目前国际上研究的热点入侵植物之一，对我国农业、林业等已造成很大破坏，并对蕨类植物资源构成一定威胁。蕨类植物配子体发育过程是蕨类植物生活史中相对脆弱的环节，最容易受化感作用的影响。但迄今为止，国际上尚未开展任何紫茎泽兰对蕨类植物（包括孢子体阶段和配子体阶段）的化感作用的研究。为保护蕨类植物自然资源，填补这一研究领域的空白，开展了紫茎泽兰对蕨类植物配子体发育过程的化感作用的研究。实验结果如下： （1）建立了金毛狗（已被列入《濒危野生动植物种国际贸易公约》（CITES）附录II 名单）、凤尾蕨属植物如傅氏凤尾蕨、剑叶凤尾蕨、蜈蚣草、银脉凤尾蕨、溪边凤尾蕨、疏裂凤尾蕨、西南凤尾蕨等多种蕨类植物的孢子无菌培养技术体系。 （2）采用无机培养基培养、土壤培养和滤纸培养三种培养方法，显微镜下观察傅氏凤尾蕨、剑叶凤尾蕨、蜈蚣草、银脉凤尾蕨、溪边凤尾蕨、疏裂凤尾蕨、西南凤尾蕨、三角鳞毛蕨、乌毛蕨、普通针毛蕨、金毛狗的孢子萌发及配子体形态发育的整个过程，研究了上述蕨类植物孢子萌发的类型、配子体各发育阶段的形态特征以及到达每个发育阶段所需的时间，为蕨类植物的繁殖技术提供了科学的依据，同时为蕨类植物系统进化和形态分类学研究提供了重要的基础资料。 （3）以金毛狗、普通针毛蕨、疏裂凤尾蕨为受体植物，研究了紫茎泽兰对这三种蕨类植物的配子体发育的化感作用。选择蕨类植物孢子萌发、假根生长、配子体形态、配子体发育各阶段及所占比例为测定指标，结果表明：紫茎泽兰根、茎、叶提取液可以对这三种蕨类植物的配子体发育产生不同程度的化感作用。表现为：延迟这三种蕨类植物的孢子萌发，降低其孢子萌发率，抑制假根的伸长，并且上述抑制作用随紫茎泽兰提取液浓度的升高而增强。随着紫茎泽兰叶水提液浓度的升高，金毛狗配子体发育阶段会滞后。在紫茎泽兰根提取液处理下，普通针毛蕨配子体上的假根发生畸变。随着时间的推移，这种现象削弱或基本消失。随着根和叶提取液的浓度升高，普通针毛蕨配子体发育阶段将会滞后。高浓度的紫茎泽兰根提取液能改变疏裂凤尾蕨的配子体的形态，并使疏裂凤尾蕨的配子体发育阶段滞后，浓度越高效果越显著。这三种蕨类植物在受到紫茎泽兰化感作用的影响后表现不同，推测与它们对紫茎泽兰所含有的化感物质的不同敏感度有关。

水松生殖生物学的研究

本文运用组织化学技术、透射电镜技术，就水松雌雄配子体发育，精卵细胞形成和结构，受精作用以及细胞质遗传等问题进行了较为详细的研究。主要结果如下： 1 绒毡层发育与雄配子体发育，尤其与花粉外壁的形成关系密切。绒毡层组织在小孢子母细胞和减数分裂时期达到发育高峰。四分体阶段和游离小孢子发育前期，绒毡层细胞中内质网、脂体、线粒体非常活跃，参与孢粉素和乌氏体的形成和转移。乌氏体有球形、星芒状两种类型，它们主要参与花粉外壁内层和外壁外层的建成。小孢子发育后期绒毡层细胞开始明显解体。 2 减数分裂阶段，质体、线粒俺等细胞器和造粉体随细胞核和染色体的变化，出现有规律的迁移现象。减数分裂前期，细胞核移到细胞的一侧;各种细胞器和造粉体迁移到细胞的另一侧，并随染色体移向细胞中部而转移到细胞质周缘。减数分裂中期l和后期，各种细胞器和造粉体汇聚在赤道板丙侧分布。说明细胞质中微管系统在起调节作用。 3 花粉壁形成开始于四分体时期。片层状结构的外壁内层随纤维状原外壁的出现雨形成。外壁外层和花粉内壁在小孢子发育中期几乎同时形成。小孢子细胞和绒毡层组织共同参与了外壁内层和外壁外层孢粉素物质的合成、转运。水松成熟花粉由孢粉素组成的外壁外层、片层状结构的外壁内层及有分层状结构的内壁构成。 4 传粉到受精间隔要四个月左右的时间。六月上旬，花粉管和精原细胞抵达颈卵器上部。精原细胞富含淀粉粒、质体、线粒体和异形泡并分区分布。受精前，精原细胞分裂形成两个大小和形状相同豹精细胞。精细胞含有质体、线粒体和异型泡等细胞器。 5 雌配子体游离核持续时间长，从颈卵器原始细胞形成到卵细胞发育成熟所需时间较短。复合颈卵器结构，颈细胞和套层细胞形态结构特殊。中央细胞不经分裂，直接行使卵细胞的功能。 6 成熟卵细胞中除弋量各种形式的内含物外，细胞质被庞大的内质网包围、分割，形成网膜系统。质体、淀粉等细胞器被包含成大内含物。在卵核周围细胞质中没有发现质体和发育完好的线粒体存在。 7 受精作用发生在六月十日左右。雌雄核融合时，朝向精核一面的卵核形成凹陷，精核陷入其中与卵核进一步融合。精卵融合可发生在颈卵器的上部、中部、下部甚至底部。有旋转受精、两个精核同时与一个卵核受精及多卵细胞现象等。 8 新细胞质主要为雄性细胞质成分。合子转移到颈卵器基部分裂，形成原胚游离核。合子、新细胞质和游离核周围淀粉鞘显著。八游离核时期形成细胞壁，新细胞质和淀粉粒转移到原胚细胞中。 9 水松的质体和线粒体为父系遗传。

Morphological Adaptations to Drought and Reproductive Strategy of the Moss Syntrichia caninervis in the Gurbantunggut Desert, China

The biological soil crusts (BSCs) in the Gurbantunggut Desert, the largest fixed and semi-fixed desert in China, feature moss-dominated BSCs, which play an indispensable role in sand fixation. Syntrichia caninervis Mitt. (S. caninervis) serves as one of the most common species in BSCs in the desert. In this study we examined the morphological structure of S. caninervis from leafy gametophyte to protonema using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We also examined the relationships between the morphological structure of S. caninervis and environmental factors. We found that: (1) this moss species is commonly tufted on the sand surface, and its leaves are folded upwards and twisted around the stem under dry conditions; (2) the cells on both upper and lower leaf surfaces have C-shaped dark papillae, which may reflect sunlight to reduce the damage from high temperature; (3) the leaf costa is excurrent, forming an awn with forked teeth; and (4) the protonema cells are small and thickset with thick cell walls and the cytoplasm is highly concentrated with a small vacuole. In addition, we also found that the protonema cells always form pouches on the tip of the mother cells during the process of cell polarization. Our results suggest that S. caninervis has, through its life cycle, several morphological and structural characteristics to adapt to dry environmental conditions. These morphological features of S. caninervis may also be found in other deserts in the world due to the world-wide distribution of the species.

Purification of R-phycoerythrin from Porphyra haitanensis (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) using expanded-bed absorption

R-phycoerythrin (R-PE) was purified from leafy gametophyte of Porphyra haitanensis T. J. Chang et B. F. Zheng (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) by a simple, scaleable procedure. Initially, phycobiliproteins were extracted by repeated freeze-thaw cycles, resulting in release from the algal cells by osmotic shock. Next, R-PE was recovered by applying the crude extract with a high concentration of (NH4)(2)SO4 salt directly to the expanded-bed columns loaded with phenyl-sepharose. An expanded-bed volume twice the settled-bed volume was maintained; then low (NH4)(2)SO4 concentration was used to develop the column. After two rounds of hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC), R-PE was purified by anion-exchange column. The method was also successful with free-living conchocelis of P. haitanensis. The purified R-PE was identified with electrophoresis, and absorption and fluorescence emission spectroscopy. The results were in agreement with those previously reported. The yield with a spectroscopic purity (OD565/OD280) higher than 3.2 (the ratio of A(565)/A(620) <= 0.02) was 1.4 mg . g(-1) of leafy gametophyte of P. haitanensis. For the free-living conchocelis of P. haitanensis extract, R-PE could be purified successfully with only one round of HIC. The yield with a spectroscopic purity (OD565/OD280) higher than 3.2 (the ratio of A(565)/A(620) <= 0.02) was 5.0 mg . g(-1) of free-living conchocelis of P. haitanensis. The method described here is a scaleable technology that allows a large quantity of R-PE to be recovered from the unclarified P. haitanensis crude extract. It is also a high protein recovery technology, reducing both processing costs and times, which enhances the value of this endemic Porphyra of China.