[Advance in the study of PPR gene family].

PPR (pentatricopeptide repeats) gene family, one of the largest gene families discovered in plants, is characterized by tandem arrays of pentatricopeptide repeats, which play essential roles in mitochondria or chloroplasts, probably via binding to organellar transcripts. In this review, we summarized the current status in the study of PPR family, including the structure character of PPR gene, the distribution in the chromosome arms and other genomes, as well as the biological function of PPR gene.

[Studies of inheritance and application in rice breeding of the large grain mutant induced in space environment].

The inheritance and utilization of a stable large-grain mutant,selected from the induced generation derived from japonica Nongkeng 58 after space treatment carried by recoverable satellite, were analyzed. The results indicated that the grain volume of the large-grain mutant was quantitative trait controlled by multiple genes. The large-grain mutant had characteristics of slender grain,favorable scent, high apparent grain quality and good compatibility with japonica,and can be used as a valuable resource for improving grain quality.

Genetic organization of genes encoding phenol hydroxylase, benzoate 1,2-dioxygenase alpha subunit and its regulatory proteins in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus PHEA-2.

Acinetobacter calcoaceticus PHEA-2 is a phenol-degrading bacterium isolated from the wastewater from an oil refinery. A 10-kb XhoI fragment consisting of nine complete Open Reading Frames (ORFs) and one partial ORF was screened from a lambda library of PHEA-2 by Southern hybridization. The sequence analyses revealed that ORF2-ORF7, designated mphKLMNOP, are homologous to dmpKLMNOP of Pseudomonas sp.

[The construction of Alcaligenes faecalis ntrC-lacZ fusion gene and its expression during association with rice roots].

A broad host range vector pLA2917 containing ntrC gene or ntrC-lacZ fusion were constructed, namely pLAC1 and pLAC2. The plasmids pLAC1 and pLAC2 were introduced into A. faecalis wild type strain A1501 by conjugation, subsequently to abtain A15C1 and A15C2.

[The detection of phenol degrading strain in environment with specific primer of phenol hydroxylase gene].

A 684 bp oligonucleotide fragment was produced by PCR amplification from phenol-degrading strain Acinetobacter calcoaceticus PHEA-2 with the specific primers of gene encoding phenol hydroxylase. The nucleotide sequence of this fragment and its deduced amino acid sequence share 84% and 98% homology with the phenol hydroxylase gene and its deduced amino acid sequences of phenol-degrading strain Acinetobacter calcoaceticus NCIB8250. Sets of different aromatic compounds degrading strains were used to test this specific prime.

[Tn5 mutagenesis and the characteristics of indole-3-acetic acid biosynthesis in Alcaligenes faecalis A1501].

The IAA production of Alcaligenes faecalis wild type strain A1501 depended on addition of L-tryptopham(trp). A1501 could grow well in minimal medium without Trp, but could not produce IAA. The results indicated that there was Trp-dependent IAA biosynthesis pathway in A.

[QTL dissection of panicle number per plant and spikelet number per panicle in rice (Oryza sativa L.)].

The genetic mechanism underlying panicle number per plant (PN), spikelet number per panicle (SNP) and its related traits in rice was analysed using 292 F13 RILs from the cross of Lemont/Teqing and a complete linkage map with 272 molecular markers. The RILs showed tremendous transgressive segregation for all traits studied. The weak negative correlation between PN and SNP was observed.

[Biological effect of space flight on edible fungi onboard recoverable scientific satellite].

In order to breed good variety of edible fungi and provide data of cultivation of edible fungi in Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) in the future, 2 species of the edible fungi (Pleurotus ostreatus and Flammulina velutipes )were carried into space by a recoverable scientific satellite. A series of biological tests and cultivation experiments were done with the mycelia and sporocarp of these edible fungi. It was demonstrated that the edible fungi recovered from the satellite have superior characters such as: earlier sporocarp production, higher yield, higher transformation rate of raw fiber and organic matter and higher content of polysaccharide and endogenous hormones than the control.

[The construction of genomic library of Alcaligenes faecalis and cloning of nifH gene sequence homologous to Klebsiella pneumoniae].

A genomic library of Alcaligenes faecalis A-15Hl which possesses rather high nitrogenase activity has been constructed. The total DNA of A. faecalis A-15 Hl was partially digested with Sau3AI.