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ABSTRACT: This work investigated the link between genetic and developmental controls of fruit size and composition. On two isogenic lines (CF12-C and CF14-L), differing by fruit weight and sugar content quantitative trait loci (QTLs) identified previously, basal and tip fruits were characterized at anthesis and at maturity through their growth, dry matter and sugar content, number and size of cells and nuclei DNA content. The influence of competition was assessed by removing either basal or tip ovaries at anthesis. On an intact inflorescence, CF12-C fruits grew less than CF14-L fruits, with 1.67 fewer cell layers and similar cell size, suggesting that genes controlling cell division may be responsible for this fruit size variation. Truss thinning masked the QTL effect on fruit size, mainly by reducing the difference in cell number between the two lines and by promoting cell expansion in tip fruits, so that fruit growth was similar at both positions and for both lines. Thus, in these lines, cell number exerts a control on final fruit size only when there is competition among fruits. Different responses of basal and tip fruits after flower removal suggested that this treatment induced changes in hormonal relationships within the truss. No fixed relationship between DNA endoreduplication and cell size was found, as while cell size and dry matter and sugar contents differed with tomato lines, fruit position and truss size, endoreduplication patterns were the same. CF12-C fruits had a higher dry matter (+0.3% of fresh weight) and carbohydrates (+8% of dry matter) content than CF14-L fruits. The percentage dry matter was independent of truss size but decreased slightly from basal to tip fruits.
Annals of Botany 10/2003; 92(3):415-24. · 4.03 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The taxonomic position of Photorhabdus strains was examined through the results of DNA relatedness (S1 nuclease method) studies associated with the determination of delta Tm, 16S rRNA phylogenetic inferences and phenotypic characterization, including morphological, auxanographic, biochemical and physiological properties. Three genomic species were delineated on a consensus assessment. One of these species corresponded to Photorhabdus luminescens, since strains were at least 50% related to the type strain of this species with delta Tm less than 7 degrees C. The two other species were novel genomic species II and III, which were less than 40% related to each other with delta Tm higher than 9 degrees C. A comparison of the complete 16S rDNA sequences of several representatives of genomic species II and genomic species III revealed that each of them formed a stable lineage independent of the cluster generated by P. luminescens strains. The genomic species differed in their maximum temperatures for growth. A correlation with the ecological origin of the bacterial samples was noticed. The heat-tolerant group I (maximum growth temperature 35-39 degrees C) corresponded to the symbionts of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora groups Brecon and HP88 and Heterorhabditis indica, nematodes living in warm and tropical countries, respectively. Group II (maximum growth temperature 33-35 degrees C) encompassed symbionts from Heterorhabditis megidis, Heterorhabditis zealandica and group NC1 of H. bacteriophora, nematodes isolated in temperate climates. Group III were bacteria isolated from human specimens. Two new species, Photorhabdus temperata sp. nov. (type strain CIP 105563T) and Photorhabdus asymbiotica sp. nov. (type strain ATCC 43950T), are proposed for genomic species II and III, respectively. Species I and II can be separated into sub-groups on the basis of high DNA-DNA relatedness (more than 80% DNA binding with delta Tm < 1.5 degrees C), 16S rDNA branching and phenotypic characters. Therefore, we propose that the two species P. luminescens and P. temperata should be subdivided into subspecies as follows: P. luminescens subsp. luminescens subsp. nov. (type strain ATCC 29999T), P. luminescens subsp. akhurstii subsp. nov. (type strain CIP 105564T), P. luminescens subsp. laumondii subsp. nov. (type strain CIP 105565T) and P. temperata subsp. temperata subsp. nov.
International journal of systematic bacteriology 10/1999; 49 Pt 4:1645-56.
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ABSTRACT: The genetic diversity of symbiotic Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria associated with entomopathogenic nematodes was examined by a restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes (rDNAs). A total of 117 strains were studied, most of which were isolated from the Caribbean basin after an exhaustive soil sampling. The collection consisted of 77 isolates recovered from entomopathogenic nematodes in 14 Caribbean islands and of 40 reference strains belonging to Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus spp. collected at various localities worldwide. Thirty distinctive 16S rDNA genotypes were identified, and cluster analysis was used to distinguish the genus Xenorhabdus from the genus Photorhabdus. The genus Xenorhabdus appears more diverse than the genus Photorhabdus, and for both genera the bacterial genotype diversity is in congruence with the host-nematode taxonomy. The occurrence of symbiotic bacterial genotypes was related to the ecological distribution of host nematodes.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology 12/1998; 64(11):4246-54. · 3.83 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Symbiotic bacteria associated with the Medicago genus are separated into two closely related species named Sinorhizobium meliloti and Sinorhizobium medicae. To discriminate rapidly between these two bacterial species, two 15-base DNA probes, 16Smfs and 16Smed, were designed from the alignment of 16S rDNA sequences to differentiate S. meliloti from S. medicae. Their specificities were evaluated by dot-blot hybridization experiments on 25 reference strains representing 13 species of Rhizobium and Sinorhizobium, and by comparison with all 16S rDNA sequences available in the GenBank data base. No cross-reaction was found with 16Smed, which was thus considered species specific for S. medicae. By contrast, as expected according to the 16S rDNA sequence alignment, the labeled 16Smfs probe cross-hybridized with the DNAs of S. meliloti, Sinorhizobium fredii, and Sinorhizobium saheli but not with the DNA of S. medicae. Since S. saheli and S. fredii do not nodulate Medicago, 16Smed and 16Smfs can be routinely used to characterize the two Sinorhizobium species nodulating Medicago from pure cultures or from Medicago root nodules. Fifty strains isolated from eight annual Medicago species were then characterized by using colony hybridizations. Sinorhizobium meliloti was more frequently obtained (> 80% isolates) than was S. medicae. Both Sinorhizobium species seemed to be trapped by annual Medicago and no plant-host specificity was detected.
Canadian Journal of Microbiology 09/1997; 43(9):854-61. · 1.36 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Thirteen bacterial strains of Xenorhabdus and 14 strains of Photorhabdus originating from a wide range of geographical and nematode host sources were typed by analyzing 16S rRNA gene (rDNA) restriction patterns obtained after digestion of PCR-amplified 16S rDNAs. Eight tetrameric restriction endonucleases were examined. A total of 17 genotypes were identified, forming two heterogeneous main clusters after analysis by the unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic averages: group I included all Xenorhabdus species and strains, symbionts of Steinernema, whereas group II encompassed the Photorhabdus strains, symbionts of Heterorhabditis. To identify the four valid species of Xenorhabdus and unclassified strains and all the genotypes of Photorhabdus luminescens, three restriction enzymes are required: CfoI, AluI, and HaeIII. Our results, in substantial agreement with DNA-DNA pairing and 16S rDNA sequence data, indicate that amplified 16S rDNA restriction analysis is a simple and accurate tool for identifying entomopathogenic nematode bacterial symbionts.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology 03/1997; 63(2):574-80. · 3.83 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The taxonomic position of isolates of a new genomic species (designated genomic species 2) obtained from several annual Medicago species and originating from different geographical locations was established through the results of phenotypic tests (including the results of auxanographic and biochemical tests and symbiotic properties) and 16S rRNA phylogenetic inferences. A comparison of the complete 16S rRNA sequence of a representative of genomic species 2 (strain A 321T [T = type strain]) with the 16S rRNA sequences of other members of the Rhizobiaceae and closely related taxa showed that genomic species 2 was phylogenetically related to Sinorhizobium meliloti, Sinorhizobium fredii, Sinorhizobium saheli, and Sinorhizobium teranga. The levels of sequence similarity and observed numbers of nucleotide substitutions in Sinorhizobium strains indicated that A 321T and S. meliloti exhibited the highest level of sequence similarity (99.7%), with four nucleotide substitutions and one deletion. The results of a numerical analysis based on data from 63 auxanographic and biochemical tests clearly separated genomic species 2 isolates from S. meliloti. Genomic species 2 isolates nodulated and fixed nitrogen with Medicago polymorpha, whereas S. meliloti isolates were ineffective and formed rudimentary nodules on this host plant. On the basis of phenotypic and 16S sequence analysis data, genomic species 2 isolates cannot be assigned to a previously described species. We propose that these isolates belong to a new species, Sinorhizobium medicae.
International journal of systematic bacteriology 11/1996; 46(4):972-80.
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ABSTRACT: Seventy-three isolates of rhizobia sampled from root nodules of Medicago truncatula were analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of DNA regions amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the symbiotic plasmid (nifD-K, nodD1, and nodD2 genes) and the chromosome (16S rDNA plus intergenic spacer). Two genotypic groups were found, regardless of the DNA region targeted. These two groups were given the status of genomic species based on results of DNA/DNA hybridization.
Archives of Microbiology 05/1996; 165(4):285-8. · 1.43 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Forty-three isolates of Rhizobium meliloti were trapped from soil with five annual species of Medicago (M. polymorpha, M. truncatula, M. rigidula, M. orbicularis and M. minima) and one perennial species of Medicago (M. sativa). The annual species were growing naturally near the soil sampling site, and the commonly studied perennial species was used for comparison. Each R. meliloti was characterized by PCR-RFLP methods applied to two DNA regions nested between 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA genes and between nifD and nifK genes. They fell into two highly divergent groups (groups I and II), separated at a genetic distance of 0.024 by rDNA-amplified pattern analysis (profiles R1 and R2) and at 0.029 by nif-amplified pattern analysis (profiles N1-N2 and N3). These two groups were consistent with some cross-nodulation and -fixation results: rhizobia with the R1 genetic background elicited rudimentary nodules and could not fix nitrogen on M. polymorpha, while they were able to nodulate the five other species of Medicago. In contrast, rhizobia with an R2 profile were highly effective on M. polymorpha and poorly nodulated M. rigidula species, but were able to nodulate efficiently the other species. The striking phenotypic traits on M. polymorpha were also shared by reference strains: strains genetically closed to R2 type triggered typical and efficient nodules on M. polymorpha while those close to R1 type elicited rudimentary and non-efficient ones. Our results suggest that the presence of R. meliloti with R2 genetic backgrounds could be favoured by the distribution of M. polymorpha species.
FEMS Microbiology Ecology 01/1996; 19(2):71 - 82. · 3.41 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A bacterial strain able to transform iprodione was isolated from a fast iprodione-degrading soil by enrichment procedures. Transformation was detected through 3,5-dichloroaniline production as measured by a rapid colorimetric method. The strain, MA6, was tentatively identified as an Arthrobacter sp. When it was incubated with MA6 in a minimum mineral medium (pH 6.5), iprodione (8.8 mumol/liter) was transformed into two major metabolites that were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis: 3,5-dichlorophenylcarboximide (metabolite 1) and (3,5-dichlorophenylurea) acetic acid (metabolite 2), which was produced after ring cleavage of the former product. These products were synthesized in the laboratory and compared with metabolites 1 and 2 which were formed during iprodione degradation. Small quantities of 3,5-dichloroaniline also appeared in the bacterial culture but did not substantially increase between the first and second days of incubation. In contrast, in the sterile control medium, iprodione was spontaneously transformed into hydantoic acid and an iprodione isomer. Chemical and biological transformations of iprodione seem to occur through two different pathways. One biological degradation pathway is proposed.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology 10/1995; 61(9):3216-20. · 3.83 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Albumin excretion rate in urine is a marker of early, reversible stages of diabetic nephropathy. Does abnormal blood rheology represent an additional risk factor in this multifactorial process? We investigated a possible link between red cell filterability and microalbuminuria during an exercise test (exercise is supposed to improve the detection of excessive microalbuminuria). 77 diabetics (27 females, 50 males, age: 15-60 yr) underwent a 20 min inframaximal progressively increasing workload on cycloergometer, rising heart rate up to 200 minus the age. Filterability of whole blood and washed red cells were measured on 5 microns polycarbonate sieves reused after ultrasonic cleaning. Whole blood filterability was found to be impaired in 35 subjects (group A) and normal in 41 (group B). Groups A and B were matched for age, sex, blood pressure, glycemic equilibrium, and duration of disease. Microalbuminuria was higher in A at rest (39.79 +/- 13.83 micrograms/min vs 12.9 +/- 3.21, p less than 0.01) and after exercise (91.80 +/- 20.79 vs 42.23 +/- 7.85, p less than 0.01). The slopes of regression lines between resting Microalbuminuria and blood pressure were greater in group A than in group B (p less than 0.01). No relationship between microalbuminuria and washed red cell filterability was detected. This study confirms on a larger scale a previous report of our team. Some hemorheologic disorders detectable with whole blood filterability (but not with washed red cell filtration) are associated with an increase in resting and postexercise microalbuminuria.
Journal des Maladies Vasculaires 02/1991; 16(1):38-42. · 0.54 Impact Factor
