Genetic Variation of Zoysia as Revealed by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Isozyme Pattern.

[[abstract]]One hundred and thirty one clones of Zoysia spp. collected from 59 sites on the coasts of Taiwan and its neighboring islets were analyzed using both random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and isozymes to reveal their genetic variation. In the RAPD analysis with 12 primers, a total of 92 polymorphic bands which could distinguish 131 genotypes were found. There were 19 polymorphic bands and 81 zymogram patterns for esterase, and 9 bands and 10 patterns for acid phosphatase, respectively. Cluster analysis by the unweighted pairgroup method with arithmetic means (UPGMA) of RAPD data indicated that clones collected from the same geographic region were clustered together. However, isozyme data showed discordant patterns. Interestingly, both RAPD data and isozyme fingerprinting revealed less correlation with the intuitive taxonomic classification of tested clones, but more related to the specific adaptation to the geographic or geologic aspects of their habitats

Detection of Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein Using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Current methods for diagnosing early stage osteoarthritis (OA) based on the magnetic resonance imaging and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods are specific, but require specialized laboratory facilities and highly trained personal to obtain a definitive result. In this work, a user friendly and non-invasive quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) immunosensor method has been developed to detect Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP) for early stage OA diagnosis. This QCM immunosensor was fabricated to immobilize COMP antibodies utilizing the self-assembled monolayer technique. The surface properties of the immunosensor were characterized by its FTIR and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). The feasibility study was based on urine samples obtained from 41 volunteers. Experiments were carried out in a flow system and the reproducibility of the electrodes was evaluated by the impedance measured by EIS. Its potential dynamically monitored the immunoreaction processes and could increase the efficiency and sensitivity of COMP detection in laboratory-cultured preparations and clinical samples. The frequency responses of the QCM immunosensor changed from 6 kHz when testing 50 ng/mL COMP concentration. The linear regression equation of frequency shift and COMP concentration was determined as: y = 0.0872 x + 1.2138 (R2 = 0.9957). The COMP in urine was also determined by both QCM and EIS for comparison. A highly sensitive, user friendly and cost effective analytical method for the early stage OA diagnosis has thus been successfully developed

Genetic Variation of zoysia in Taiwan as Analyzed by Isozyme Patterns and Salinity Tolerance

One hundred and eighty-two zoysia spp. individuals (z. matrella and z sinica) collected from the coast around Taiwan and Island Penghu were used as materials. They were transplanted to Taichung, and three to four months after transplanting, the zymograms of esterase and acid phosphatase were determined. There were 26 bands and 108 patterns in the esterase zymogram, and 9 bands and 12 patterns in the acid phosphatase zymogram. In the dendrogram based on the Euclidean distance analysis, the clones collected from the northern part of the east coast (EN, mainly consisting of limestone) had a longer distance to those from the other five regions. The distances between the clones from these five regions were shorter, in spite of the fact that the geographical distribution of Z- matrella and Z- sinica is different in these regions, probably due to the high ability of zoysia spp. to hybridize interspecifically. Moreover, the clones from the EN region showed a lower diversity in both isozyme patterns and showed a lower adaptation to salinity due to the protection by calcium. It is concluded that the genetic variation of Zoysia m Taiwan as examined by isozyme analysis is more related to the specific adaptation to environmental factors in the habitats than to the taxonomic status

The Role of Active and Passive Water Uptake in Maintaining Leaf Water Status and Photosynthesis in Tomato under Water Deficit

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Know-You 301) shoots were grafted onto the rootstock of the same species or Solanum mammosum and grown in nutrient solution. After the grafted tomato plants developed 4–5 leaves, the uppermost fully expanded leaves were used to determine net photosynthetic rate (PN) , transpiration rate and leaf water potential (ΨL) under control (unstressed) and —0.5 MPa water deficit (mannitol was added to nutrient solution). Both PN and leaf conductance (GL) were reduced under water deficit. However, tomato plants grafted onto S. mammosum rootstock had higher ΨL, PN and GL than those grafted onto tomato rootstock under water deficit. This result demonstrates that S. mammosum roots had a greater ability in water uptake under water deficit. Under +0.2 MPa pressure, the root of S. mammosum showed a higher exudation rate than that of tomato. However, the former showed a lower exudation rate than the latter under –0.5 MPa water deficit. It was concluded that the greater ability of water uptake in S. mammosum rootstock under water deficit is related to a lower hydraulic conductivity, which promotes passive, rather than active water uptake

Genetic Variation of Zoysia as Revealed by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Isozyme Pattern

[[abstract]]One hundred and thirty one clones of Zoysia spp. collected from 59 sites on the coasts of Taiwan and its neighboring islets were analyzed using both random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and isozymes to reveal their genetic variation. In the RAPD analysis with 12 primers, a total of 92 polymorphic bands which could distinguish 131 genotypes were found. There were 19 polymorphic bands and 81 zymogram patterns for esterase, and 9 bands and 10 patterns for acid phosphatase, respectively. Cluster analysis by the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means (UPGMA) of RAPD data indicated that clones collected from the same geographic region were clustered together. However, isozyme data showed discordant patterns. Interestingly, both RAPD data and isozyme fingerprinting revealed less correlation with the intuitive taxonomic classification of tested clones, but more related to the specific adaptation to the geographic or geologic aspects of their habitats

Variation of Salinity Tolerance in zoysia Clones Collected from Different Habitats in Taiwan

One hundred and fifteen clones of zoysia spp. collected around the coast of Taiwan were examined for the variation of salinity tolerance. zoysia spp., native of Taiwan, showed a wide range of salinity tolerance among the clones collected from various regions. The clones from the regions with higher annual rainfall and limestone showed lower NaCl tolerance, and some of them showed 100% shoot mortality under 3% NaCl within 3 weeks. On the contrary, some clones from the regions with lower rainfall retained a few green leaves even at 7.5% NaCl for 3 weeks. A positive correlation was observed between the percentages of 100% shoot mortality in clones treated with 6% NaCl and the rainfall of the regions where the clones were collected. However, based on the same level of rainfall, the clones collected from the limestone region showed higher percentages of shoot mortality than those collected from the other regions. Using four clones including NaCl-tolerant and NaCl-sensitive, the effect of Ca on the salinity stress was further examined. Addition of CaCl2 to the nutrient solution could alleviate the leaf firing and electrolyte leakage from the leaf of Zoysia clones caused by NaCl. The geographical variation of salinity tolerance in zoysia might be caused by the differences in the salt and calcium concentrations in soil, which were affected by rainfall and geology of their habitats

The Effects of CO2 Enrichment, High Temperature and Ultraviolet on Growth and Yield of Crops

近年來，CO2及CH4 等會發生溫室效應及其他足以破壞臭氧層的氣體排放量增加，使得地球氣候發生變化，紫外線增加。由於CO2 是光合作用的原料，故提高CO2濃度有助於增加光合速率，一般結果指出，提高CO2對提升作物乾物質累積及產量之效果以C4型較小，C3型較大，具有固氮能力的豆科作物之效果更大。但是高COZ 濃度尚會影響代謝、氣孔開度與密度、葉面積及其他性狀，故高CO2之效果隨實驗條件而異，結果也很分歧。如缺水、缺氮或葉片互相遮蔽時，都會降低CO2增加對作物之增產效果，而且不同溫度下CO2增加之效果亦不相同。近幾年在水稻之試驗結果顯示，群落狀態下，單純CO2倍增時，水稻生物量之增加率為24~40%間，稻穀增產率則為15~40%間，增產之原因多是穗數及稔實率增加所致，唯溫度增加時，對生物量沒有大影響，但稻穀產量則會因為稔實率降低而抵消了CO2倍增之效果。至於紫外線(UV-B)，現有結果已知其可影響多種植物之生理作用，而作物之葉綠素含量、葉分化、乾鮮重及產量均會受到影響。唯紫外線對水稻影響之結果也很分歧，需要更多的研究來說明。而且現已發現不同的品種間對UV-B有不同的抗性。對二氧化碳、氣溫及紫外線升高因應之道，除了可嘗試選育品種外，或可嘗試改善栽培法及改變栽植時期。 The effects of CO2 enrichment (EC), high temperature (HT) and ultraviolet on photosynthesis, biomass production and yield of crops are reviewed. Although many characteristics, such as metabolism, leaf area index, stomatal frequency and conductance, transpiration, etc., would be influenced by EC, HT and other conditions, the results are very variable due to the varied conditions in the field and greenhouse. In recent years, some experiments combined EC and HT in rice were investigated. The results indicated that the biomass production was markedly promoted by EC, and negligibly small affected by HT. On the contrary, the grain yield was 15- 40% higher in EC with low temperature, but remarkably reduced due to the high temperature induced sterility. Numerous studies have shown that ultraviolet-B (UV-B) can damage biologically important molecules in plants and has adverse effects on plants growth and yield. Growth and yield of rice was affected by UV-B and varied among cultivars. However, the results are variable among experiments. It requires more experiments carrying out under various climatic and solar UV-B regimes