Studi epidemiologici su Pseudomonas syringae pv.actinidiae agente causale del cancro batterico in actinidia

Il cancro batterico dell’actinidia causato da Pseudomonas syringae pv.actinidiae (Psa) suscita grande interesse a livello globale a partire dal 2008. La malattia è comparsa in Giappone e in due anni ha avuto una diffusione epidemica in tutte le aree di coltivazione mondiale di actinidia. Gravi perdite economiche hanno attirato l’attenzione internazionale su questa problematica e grandi sforzi sono stati rivolti allo studio di questo patosistema ancora poco conosciuto. E’ emerso infatti che il patogeno può rimanere in fase latente per lunghi periodi senza causare sintomi caratteristici nelle piante infette, e che dalla comparsa dei sintomi la pianta muore nell’arco di un paio d’anni. Il monitoraggio ed il controllo della situazione è perciò di fondamentale importanza ed è ancora più importante prevenire la comparsa di nuovi focolai di infezione. A questo proposito sarebbe opportuno l’impiego di materiale vegetale di propagazione non infetto, ma in molti casi questo diventa difficile, dal momento che il materiale impiegato è generalmente quello asintomatico, non analizzato precedentemente per la presenza del patogeno. Negli ultimi anni sono state perciò messe a punto molte tecniche molecolari per l’identificazione di Psa direttamente da materiale vegetale. L’obiettivo di questo lavoro è stato quello di studiare l’epidemiologia di Psa in piante adulte infette e di verificare l’efficacia di metodi di diagnosi precoce per prevenire la malattia. A tale scopo il lavoro sperimentale è stato suddiviso in diverse fasi: i) studio della localizzazione, traslocazione e sopravvivenza di Psa nelle piante, a seguito di inoculazione in piante adulte di actinidia di ceppi marcati Psa::gfp; ii) studio della capacità di Psa di essere mantenuto in germogli di actinidia attraverso sette generazioni di micropropagazione dopo l’inoculazione delle piante madri con lo stesso ceppo marcato Psa::gfp; iii) studio ed applicazioni di un nuovo metodo di diagnosi precoce di Psa basato sull’analisi molecolare del “pianto”.

Fertilización del kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa (A. Chev.) C. F. Liang & A. R. Ferguson, cv. Hayward) durante la etapa de implantación en el sudeste bonaerense (Argentina)

En una plantación de kiwi situada en Balcarce (provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina), se evaluó el efecto de la fertilización nitrogenada y potásica sobre el crecimiento de la planta durante la etapa de implantación, en la temporada 2008 - 2009. Los tratamientos fueron T: control sin fertilizar, N: fertilizado con nitrógeno (48 kg/ha N), K: fertilizado con potasio (60 kg/ha K) y NK: fertilizado con nitrógeno y potasio (48 kg/ha N - 60 kg/ha K). Se realizaron muestreos periódicos de: longitud de tallo, longitud del último entrenudo y área foliar. Se determinó el diámetro del tallo a fin de temporada y la distribución de raíces en el perfil de suelo en plena dormición. Se efectuaron análisis foliares de macronutrientes, así como N mineral, N anaeróbico (NAN) y carbono orgánico (CO) en el suelo. El suelo correspondió a un Argiudol, con niveles de NAN entre 85 - 100 mg/kg y de CO de 45 - 50 g/kg en los primeros 30 cm. Los resultados obtenidos, en cuanto al crecimiento de la parte aérea de la planta, no constituyen evidencia suficiente para justificar la fertilización con N y K bajo las condiciones experimentales del estudio. Aun en el T, los niveles foliares de N y K se mantuvieron dentro de los estándares normales. El sistema radical, observado durante el reposo, se habría visto beneficiado por la fertilización nitrogenada. En el estrato de suelo comprendido entre 10 y 20 cm se determinó un promedio de 61 raíces/100 cm2, en el tratamiento N, 40 en el tratamiento combinado NK, 28 en el tratamiento K, y 19 en el testigo.

Evolución del tamaño y del peso del fruto de kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa (A. Chev.) Liang et Fergurson) cultivar "Hayward" durante la etapa final de crecimiento

Se realizó un ensayo durante tres años consecutivos con el fin de monitorear la evolución del tamaño y del peso de los frutos de una plantación comercial de kiwi variedad Hayward ubicada en la provincia de Córdoba. El objetivo fue determinar la evolución del peso y del tamaño del fruto durante la etapa final de crecimiento. Se seleccionaron doce plantas representativas y se realizaron cosechas durante cuatro semanas en tres años sucesivos desde el 4/3 al 24/3, a partir de que los frutos alcanzaron 5° Brix. Las variables evaluadas fueron: peso del fruto, longitud del fruto, diámetro mayor y menor al momento de la cosecha y luego de seis días a temperatura ambiente. El peso del fruto se incrementó desde un valor mínimo de 83,71 g a 121,1 g. La pérdida de peso luego de seis días fue desde un mínimo de 3,11 g a un máximo de 6,01 g. La longitud pasó de 54,73 mm a 64,20 mm. El diámetro mayor pasó de 52,12 mm a 59,7 mm, presentando una disminución después de seis días de un mínimo de 0,27 mm a un máximo 7,12 mm. El diámetro menor pasó de 42 mm a 54,41 mm entre la primera y la cuarta cosecha. Todas las variables presentaron un incremento en la medida en que atrasaba la cosecha, lo que justifica una cosecha más tardía, en función del tamaño de los frutos.

Evaluation of the effect of complementary pollination on Actinidia deliciosa 'Hayward' in northwest Portugal

The objective of this research was to study the effect of complementary pollination on kiwifruit production and quality. For 3 years, complementary application of wet or dry pollen have been done at different stages of flower opening on vines in the Portuguese regions of Entre-Douro e Minho and Beira Litoral. Commercial production data were collected and fruit quality attributes were measured at harvest. Complementary pollination did not affect fruit soluble solids content or firmness in any year, and was beneficial for fruit size and commercial production in the third year only, showing that it is important in some conditions, when natural pollination is inadequate.

Evaluation of the effect of complementary pollination on Actinidia deliciosa 'Hayward' in northwest Portugal

The objective of this research was to study the effect of complementary pollination on kiwifruit production and quality. For 3 years, complementary application of wet or dry pollen have been done at different stages of flower opening on vines in the Portuguese regions of Entre-Douro e Minho and Beira Litoral. Commercial production data were collected and fruit quality attributes were measured at harvest. Complementary pollination did not affect fruit soluble solids content or firmness in any year, and was beneficial for fruit size and commercial production in the third year only, showing that it is important in some conditions, when natural pollination is inadequate.

Homologs of FT, CEN and FD respond to developmental and environmental signals affecting growth and flowering in the perennial vine kiwifruit

FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and CENTRORADIALIS (CEN) homologs have been implicated in regulation of growth, determinacy and flowering. The roles of kiwifruit FT and CEN were explored using a combination of expression analysis, protein interactions, response to temperature in high-chill and low-chill kiwifruit cultivars and ectopic expression in Arabidopsis and Actinidia. The expression and activity of FT was opposite from that of CEN and incorporated an interaction with a FLOWERING LOCUS D (FD)-like bZIP transcription factor. Accumulation of FT transcript was associated with plant maturity and particular stages of leaf, flower and fruit development, but could be detected irrespective of the flowering process and failed to induce precocious flowering in transgenic kiwifruit. Instead, transgenic plants demonstrated reduced growth and survival rate. Accumulation of FT transcript was detected in dormant buds and stem in response to winter chilling. In contrast, FD in buds was reduced by exposure to cold. CEN transcript accumulated in developing latent buds, but declined before the onset of dormancy and delayed flowering when ectopically expressed in kiwifruit. Our results suggest roles for FT, CEN and FD in integration of developmental and environmental cues that affect dormancy, budbreak and flowering in kiwifruit.

Identification and characterization of flowering genes in kiwifruit : sequence conservation and role in kiwifruit flower development

Background Flower development in kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) is initiated in the first growing season, when undifferentiated primordia are established in latent shoot buds. These primordia can differentiate into flowers in the second growing season, after the winter dormancy period and upon accumulation of adequate winter chilling. Kiwifruit is an important horticultural crop, yet little is known about the molecular regulation of flower development. Results To study kiwifruit flower development, nine MADS-box genes were identified and functionally characterized. Protein sequence alignment, phenotypes obtained upon overexpression in Arabidopsis and expression patterns suggest that the identified genes are required for floral meristem and floral organ specification. Their role during budbreak and flower development was studied. A spontaneous kiwifruit mutant was utilized to correlate the extended expression domains of these flowering genes with abnormal floral development. Conclusions This study provides a description of flower development in kiwifruit at the molecular level. It has identified markers for flower development, and candidates for manipulation of kiwifruit growth, phase change and time of flowering. The expression in normal and aberrant flowers provided a model for kiwifruit flower development.

Kiwifruit floral gene APETALA2 is alternatively spliced and accumulates in aberrant indeterminate flowers in the absence of miR172

In Arabidopsis, the identity of perianth and reproductive organs are specified by antagonistic action of two floral homeotic genes, APETALA2 (AP2) and AGAMOUS (AG). AP2 is also negatively regulated by an evolutionary conserved interaction with a microRNA, miR172, and has additional roles in general plant development. A kiwifruit gene with high levels of homology to AP2 and AP2-like genes from other plant species was identified. The transcript was abundant in the kiwifruit flower, particularly petal, suggesting a role in floral organ identity. Splice variants were identified, all containing both AP2 domains, including a variant that potentially produces a shorter transcript without the miRNA172 targeting site. Increased AP2 transcript accumulation was detected in the aberrant flowers of the mutant 'Pukekohe dwarf' with multiple perianth whorls and extended petaloid features. In contrast to normal kiwifruit flowers, the aberrant flowers failed to accumulate miR172 in the developing whorls, although accumulation was detected at the base of the flower. An additional role during dormancy in kiwifruit was proposed based on AP2 transcript accumulation in axillary buds before and after budbreak.

Conservation and divergence of four kiwifruit SVP-like MADS-box genes suggest distinct roles in kiwifruit bud dormancy and flowering

MADS-box genes similar to Arabidopsis SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) have been implicated in the regulation of flowering in annual species and bud dormancy in perennial species. Kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) are woody perennial vines where bud dormancy and out-growth affect flower development. To determine the role of SVP-like genes in dormancy and flowering of kiwifruit, four MADS-box genes with homology to Arabidopsis SVP, designated SVP1, SVP2, SVP3, and SVP4, have been identified and analysed in kiwifruit and functionally characterized in Arabidopsis. Phylogenetic analysis indicate that these genes fall into different sub-clades within the SVP-like gene group, suggesting distinct functions. Expression was generally confined to vegetative tissues, and increased transcript accumulation in shoot buds over the winter period suggests a role for these genes in bud dormancy. Down-regulation before flower differentiation indicate possible roles as floral repressors. Over-expression and complementation studies in Arabidopsis resulted in a range of floral reversion phenotypes arising from interactions with Arabidopsis MADS-box proteins, but only SVP1 and SVP3 were able to complement the svp mutant. These results suggest that the kiwifruit SVP-like genes may have distinct roles during bud dormancy and flowering.

The kiwifruit lycopene beta-cyclase plays a significant role in carotenoid accumulation in fruit

The composition of carotenoids, along with anthocyanins and chlorophyll, accounts for the distinctive range of colour found in the Actinidia (kiwifruit) species. Lutein and beta-carotene are the most abundant carotenoids found during fruit development, with beta-carotene concentration increasing rapidly during fruit maturation and ripening. In addition, the accumulation of beta-carotene and lutein is influenced by the temperature at which harvested fruit are stored. Expression analysis of carotenoid biosynthetic genes among different genotypes and fruit developmental stages identified Actinidia lycopene beta-cyclase (LCY-β) as the gene whose expression pattern appeared to be associated with both total carotenoid and beta-carotene accumulation. Phytoene desaturase (PDS) expression was the least variable among the different genotypes, while zeta carotene desaturase (ZDS), beta-carotene hydroxylase (CRH-β), and epsilon carotene hydroxylase (CRH-ε) showed some variation in gene expression. The LCY-β gene was functionally tested in bacteria and shown to convert lycopene and delta-carotene to beta-carotene and alpha-carotene respectively. This indicates that the accumulation of beta-carotene, the major carotenoid in these kiwifruit species, appears to be controlled by the level of expression of LCY-β gene.

Overexpression of the kiwifruit SVP3 gene affects reproductive development and suppresses anthocyanin biosynthesis in petals, but has no effect on vegetative growth, dormancy, or flowering time

SVP-like MADS domain transcription factors have been shown to regulate flowering time and both inflorescence and flower development in annual plants, while having effects on growth cessation and terminal bud formation in perennial species. Previously, four SVP genes were described in woody perennial vine kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.), with possible distinct roles in bud dormancy and flowering. Kiwifruit SVP3 transcript was confined to vegetative tissues and acted as a repressor of flowering as it was able to rescue the Arabidopsis svp41 mutant. To characterize kiwifruit SVP3 further, ectopic expression in kiwifruit species was performed. Ectopic expression of SVP3 in A. deliciosa did not affect general plant growth or the duration of endodormancy. Ectopic expression of SVP3 in A. eriantha also resulted in plants with normal vegetative growth, bud break, and flowering time. However, significantly prolonged and abnormal flower, fruit, and seed development were observed, arising from SVP3 interactions with kiwifruit floral homeotic MADS-domain proteins. Petal pigmentation was reduced as a result of SVP3-mediated interference with transcription of the kiwifruit flower tissue-specific R2R3 MYB regulator, MYB110a, and the gene encoding the key anthocyanin biosynthetic step, F3GT1. Constitutive expression of SVP3 had a similar impact on reproductive development in transgenic tobacco. The flowering time was not affected in day-neutral and photoperiod-responsive Nicotiana tabacum cultivars, but anthesis and seed germination were significantly delayed. The accumulation of anthocyanin in petals was reduced and the same underlying mechanism of R2R3 MYB NtAN2 transcript reduction was demonstrated.

In the Solanaceae, a hierarchy of bHLHs confer distinct target specificity to the anthocyanin regulatory complex

The anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway is regulated by a transcription factor complex consisting of an R2R3 MYB, a bHLH, and a WD40. Although R2R3 MYBs belonging to the anthocyanin-activating class have been identified in many plants, and their role well elucidated, the subgroups of bHLH implicated in anthocyanin regulation seem to be more complex. It is not clear whether these potential bHLH partners are biologically interchangeable with redundant functions, or even if heterodimers are involved. In this study, AcMYB110, an R2R3 MYB isolated from kiwifruit (Actinidia sp.) showing a strong activation of the anthocyanin pathway in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) was used to examine the function of interacting endogenous bHLH partners. Constitutive expression of AcMYB110 in tobacco leaves revealed different roles for two bHLHs, NtAN1 and NtJAF13. A hierarchical mechanism is shown to control the regulation of transcription factors and consequently of the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway. Here, a model is proposed for the regulation of the anthocyanin pathway in Solanaceous plants in which AN1 is directly involved in the activation of the biosynthetic genes, whereas JAF13 is involved in the regulation of AN1 transcription.

美味猕猴桃和软枣猕猴桃种间杂交花粉管行为和早期胚胎发生的观察

美味猕猴桃(Actinidia deliciosa(A．Chev．)C．F．Liang and A．R．Ferguson)和软枣猕猴桃（Actinidia arguta）种间传粉后，花粉管在花柱内行为的荧光观察，以及早期胚胎发生的显微观察，结果如下： 1．花粉粒在柱头的乳头细胞表面萌发，在开放型的V形花柱道内生长。 2．花粉管生长速率比对照缓慢，到达胚珠珠孔的时间平均延迟50到60小时。 3．花粉管在花柱中下部出现形态变化：部分花粉管呈波纹状弯曲;花粉管顶端膨大，尖细或破裂;花粉管直径变化;花粉管解体。 4．花粉管胼胝质沉积的变化：胼胝质沿花粉管壁不规则沉积;有的膨大的花粉管顶端出现胼胝质;有的不出现胼胝质塞，而整个花粉管壁有胼胝质分布，荧光强烈。 5．基于显微结构和种子分析，种间杂交大约有30%的胚珠能够受精，并发育成为种子，种子的胚的大小和胚乳的量与对照有差别，有约70%或更多的表现不育或败育。胚发育为茄型，受精后台子保持休眠十几天后开始横分裂。传粉后七周形成子叶胚。胚发育较对照迟缓。胚乳细胞型。 6．种间杂交能够结实，正常种子占20% -30％，败育干瘪种子占10%左右，未受精胚珠占60%- 70％。种内传粉正常种子占95%，空瘪败育种子占0.7％，未受精胚珠占3.8％。 7．种间杂交果实大小、重量，种子大小及数目，胚的大小都比对照小。

猕猴桃属两个种的原生质体培养与体细胞杂交

猕猴桃是重要的栽培果树，但目前栽培品种过于单一，不能满足生产和消费的需求。由于猕猴桃的雌雄异株特性、种间杂交亲合性差、遗传上高度杂合以及育种周期长等特点，常规杂交育种困难很大。现代生物技术，如原生质体培养和体细胞杂交等，为培育新品种提供了新途径。 毛花猕猴桃(Actinidia eriantha)和软枣猕猴桃(A.arguta)是猕猴桃属中具有重要利用价值的两个种。毛花猕猴桃果实大小在猕猴桃属中次于中华猕猴桃(A.chinensis)和美味猕猴桃(A.deliciosa)列第三位，果实维生素C含量达1014 mg/l00 g FW。软枣猕猴桃极耐寒，在-40℃下可安全越冬，其果实表面光滑无毛。这两个种是品种改良的重要种质资源。 作为生物技术基础的组织培养与植株再生系统，在毛花猕猴桃上尚未见报道。软枣猕猴桃的组织培养仅有一例报道，且芽分化率和分化系数都很低。这两个种的原生质体培养及与美味猕猴桃的原生质体融合也未见报道。针对这种情况，本试验对毛花猕猴桃和软枣猕猴桃的组织培养、原生质体培养及其与美味猕猴桃品种“Hayward”的原生质体融合进行研究，结果建立了较理想的毛花猕猴桃和软枣猕猴桃组织培养系统;首次从毛花猕猴桃原生质体得到再生植株和从软枣猕猴桃原生质体培养再生愈伤组织;通过改进融合方法，建立了毛花猕猴桃+美味猕猴桃和软枣猕猴桃+美味猕猴桃的原生质体融合体系，并将异核体培养分裂得到细胞团。这些结果有利于今后毛花猕猴桃和软枣猕猴桃资源的开发利用。主要试验结果如下： 以毛花猕猴桃试管实生苗叶片和茎段为外植体，培养在附加一定浓度Zea或CPPU的MS培养基上，产生的愈伤组织不经转代就可分化芽。试管苗茎段在附加0.0025 mg/L CPPU和0.1 mg/LIAA的MS培养基上愈伤组织产生、芽分化和苗生长都较理想;试管苗叶片则以附加0.025 mg/L CPPU和0.l mg/LIAA或0.5 mg/L Zea和0.1 mg/LIAA的MS培养基较好。当苗生长至1.0 cm时经诱导生根形成完整植株。 在软枣猕猴桃组织培养中，外植体种类、诱导培养基的激素种类和诱导分化时细胞分裂素种类都有重要影响。无菌苗茎段容易愈伤组织化，但分化困难;叶片外植体产生愈伤组织较难，但分化容易。在含Zea的MS培养基上，两种外植体产生的愈伤组织不经转代即能分化芽。分化培养基中添加Zea能有效地诱导芽分化，其中以2.0 mg/L Zea芽的分化最好，而Kin和BAP在0.5- 2.0 mg/L浓度范围内愈伤组织不分化。 以毛花猕猴桃或软枣猕猴桃试管苗叶片为分离原生质体的材料。试管苗的培养条件对原生质体分离效果及其培养反应有显著影响。弱光培养条件对两个种试管苗的原生质体分离及其培养都有好处，试管苗培养基也有重要影响。毛花猕猴桃和软枣猕猴桃试管苗合适培养基分别为MS基本培养基（大量元素减半）和MS+0.00025 mg/L CPPU+ 0.1 mg/LIAA。在此条件下培养的两个种的试管苗叶片，经酶解后原生质体产量分别为0.7-1.8×l06和3.0-3.5×l06/1 g FW，其原生质体在合适培养基上能够分裂。 毛花猕猴桃原生质体培养在MS培养基（去除NH4N03）附加l.0mg/L2，4-D液体培养基中，约10天时发生第一次分裂，分裂能持续下去并在培养3个月时形成约2mm大小愈伤组织。直接将其转入固体培养基中使其增殖和分化。在附加Zea 0.5 mg/L+ O.l mg/L IAA的MS培养基上继代2次，愈伤组织开始分化芽。芽伸长后切下诱导生根，形成完整植株。软枣猕猴桃原生质体培养基中，MS培养基附加2，4-D配合Zea或Kin对启动分裂是必须的，其中以MS＋2，4-D 0.5 mg/L+ Zea 0.5 mg/L最好，在此培养基上原生质体第一次分裂发生在4-6天时，培养12-14天时见到第三次分裂，培养三周的分裂频率为23%。培养45天后形成许多小愈伤组织块。软枣猕猴桃原生质体再生的愈伤组织从液体培养基转入固体培养基后未见进一步分裂。 对18株毛花猕猴桃原生质体再生植株的体细胞染色体数目作了观察，其中12株为整倍体，二倍体和四倍体各六株;另外六株为混倍体，其染色体数目变化在59-203之间。还发现原生质体再生植株有丝分裂间期细胞存在多核现象，有多核细胞的共10株，细胞内多核数目以双核和三核较常见，最多的有七个核。原生质体供体植株为2n=2x=58，未发现多核细胞。原生质体再生植株体细胞多核现象未见报道。 利用毛花猕猴桃或软枣猕猴桃叶片原生质体分别与愈伤组织来源的美味猕猴桃原生质体进行融合，融合方法为高Ca++高pH值PEG法。对Kao等(1975)报道的融合步骤作了修改。影响融合效率的因素主要有PEG种类、融合作用时间和融合液中DMSO浓度。最佳的融合条件为40%PEG (Sigma，MW3350)+10%DMSO，作用40 min。毛花猕猴桃+美味猕猴桃和软枣猕猴桃+美味猕猴桃的融合频率分别可达14.5%和13.6%。异核体经培养可分裂并形成细胞团。