Publications

[Effect of liver lesions on Shay's ulcers in rats].

Genistein isoflavone glycoconjugates in sour cherry cultivars : Prunus cerasus L.

What is the crucial difference between the metabolic consequences of cadmium and zinc treatment of the plants

Heavy metal stress induced alterations in the activities of several representatives of the enzymatic antioxidant defense system such as guaiacol peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were comparatively studied in barley seedlings and alfalfa al- dose reductase overexpressing transgenic tobacco treated by Zn and/or Cd. Although roots were the main sites of metal accumulation, metals induced oxidative damage mainly in the leaves. Our experiments clearly show that the investigated heavy metals have quite different effects on plant metabolism and induce the protective enzymatic system in different ways. Transgenic tobacco plants showed increased tolerance against cadmium induced stress.

S-LOCUS GENOTYPING ON STONE FRUITS

THE SELF-INCOMPATIBILITY LOCUS OF APRICOT HELPS TO CLARIFY SEVERAL EVOLUTIONARY ASPECTS

Self-incompatibility of apricot (Prunus armeniaca) is governed by the multi-allelic S-locus, in which the pistil S-ribonuclease (S-RNase) and the pollen expressed S-haplotype specific F-box (SFB) genes reside. In apricot, self-compatibility (SC) is due to a loss-of-function mutation within the pollen gene of the S C -haplotype. Apricot S 8 -, S 9 - and S C -haplotypes were analysed using fruit set evaluation, genomic PCRs, RT-PCRs and DNA sequencing of the S-RNase and SFB alleles. Controlled pollinations revealed that the cross 'Cegledi orias' (S 8 S 9 ) × 'Cegledi arany' (S C S 9 ) set well, but the reciprocal cross did not. Sequence analysis revealed that SFB 8 is the first known progenitor allele of a naturally occurring SC allele in Prunus. A phylogenetic analysis suggests that S C -haplotype could have evolved in a cultivar with S 8 S i genotype, where S i is an unidentified incompatibility allele. The S C S 8 Magyarkajszi cultivars might have developed from such a mating. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified in the S C -RNase and could be used for monitoring apricot dissemination routes between Eastern and Western Europe. The apricot S C -RNase was subjected to an intron phase analysis revealing some protein evolutionary aspects. Our results have notable implications for the elucidation of the evolutionary history of present day apricot cultivars and, in general, for the understanding of the transition from self-incompatibility (SI) to self-compatibility.

Comparative study of three rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) clones during the growing season

The growth rate of three rosemary clones, `Harmat', 'Salem' and `Horvát', their essential oil content and its components as well as the total phenol content and total antioxidant capacity in their aqueous and ethanolic extracts were compaired. Total phenol content (determined by Folin-Ciocalteau reagent) and antioxidant power (FRAP-value) of aqueous and ethanolic rosemary extracts were measured by spectrophotometric method. The essential oil content was determined from drug by water-steam distillation. `Harmat' showed the most intensive growth through the vegetation period. The total antioxidant power of the ethanolic extracts from all the three clones was similar: a decrease was observed at the end of the season. In most cases more antioxidant compounds were dissolved in the aqueous extracts. The total quantity of phenolic compounds shows a good correlation with the potential extent of stress effects. The difference among the phenol contents of the various clones can be derived from the difference in their tolerance, because phenols have antioxidant effects contributing to protection against harmful impacts. Difference between the two extraction methods (aqueous and ethanolic) is due to the distinct solubility of compounds. Some other components, like essential oil compounds also possess antioxidant effect and in this way they may influence the antioxidant power of extracts.

Fruit antioxidant capacity and self-incompatibility genotype of Ukrainian sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars highlight their breeding prospects

Molecular characterization of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E isoform,eIF(iso)4E, in traditional cultivars of Prunus domestica

A plum pox virus (PPV) susceptible traditional cultivar (Besztercei Bt.2) and a clone of a PPV resistant autochthonous landrace, Nemtudom (Nábrád) of the hexaploid European plum (Prunus domestica) were used to identify and characterize an isoform of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor, eIF(iso)4E, a host susceptibility factor required for PPV infection in plum. The cDNA and intron sequences of the eIF(iso)4E gene and the modeled 3D structure of the encoded proteins revealed sequence alterations that are not expected to critically influence the structure and function of the protein. The introns shared the canonical GT–AG splice sites, although they showed base substitutions and indels among alleles, and were different in intron phases. However, none of the sequence variations seem to challenge the splicing efficiency of the introns. The expression rates of the gene were similar in the leaves of the PPV susceptible Besztercei Bt.2 and the tolerant Nábrád cultivars, suggesting the eIF(iso)E4 gene is not responsible for differences in the reaction of those cultivars to PPV. Our results indicate natural differences in the PPV-tolerance of Besztercei Bt.2 and Nábrád were not induced by the eIF(iso)4E gene and hence the PPV tolerant Nábrád and other Nemtudom accessions might be valuable donors of PPV resistance in breeding programs. By providing the first information on the allelic variations, exon–intron structure, and expression of the eIF(iso)4E gene in P. domestica, our results will help in both conventional and molecular breeding of the studied and other European plum cultivars.

Recent findings of the tree fruit self-incompatibility studies

This review endeavours to collect all recent and substantial contributions to the quickly deepening fields of tree fruit self-incompatibility studies and hence updating previously published reviews. Studies carried out to discover the molecular basis of gametophytic self-incompatibility are summarized and a newly described model for the solanaceous plants is also outlined. We describe recent findings in all economically important fruit tree crops involving apple, European pear, sweet and sour cherries, almond, Japanese plum, sloe, Japanese apricot, European apricot and peach. Additional DNA sequences are now available for both the pistil and pollen component genes in several species and their molecular, evolutionary or economic implications are discussed in the light of the fruit setting behaviour.

Comparative studies of H2O2 detoxifying enzymes in green and greening barley seedlings under cadmium stress

The S-genotyping of wild-grown apricots reveals only self-incompatible accessions in the Erzincan region of Turkey

The S-genotypes of 63 wild-growing Turkish apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) were determined by PCR amplification of the S-RNase intron regions and SFB gene in order to characterise their sexual (in)compatibility phenotype. We determined the complete S-genotype of 63 wild-grown apricot accessions that originated in the Erzincan region. Ten previously described and 2 new S-alleles (provisionally labelled S_X and S_Y) were identified in the genotypes. S_2 was the most frequent S-allele in the tested germplasm (occurred in 19 accessions), followed by S_8 (17), S_{19} (16), S_3 (13), S_{12} (11), S_6 (10), and S_7 (10); while S_{9}-, S_{11}-, and S_{13}-alleles were found in 8 accessions. A total of 36 different S-genotypes were assigned to the tested accessions. The S_{C}-allele responsible for self-compatibility in apricot was not present, indicating that all accessions are self-incompatible. The analysis of S-allele frequencies allowed us to conclude the close relationship of wild-grown and cultivated apricots in Turkey and helped to raise hypotheses to explain high occurrences of S_2- and S_8-alleles.

Szavak - nevek - szótárak. Írások Kiss Lajos 75. születésnapjára. Szerk. Kiss Gábor és Zaicz Gábor. MTA Nyelvtudományi Intézete. Bp., 1997. 502 1.

The Self-incompatibility Locus and Chloroplast DNA Regions of Prunus domestica Reflect the Origin and Genetic Diversity of Traditional Cultivars

A traditional cultivar, Besztercei Bt.2, and a clone of an autochthonous landrace (Nemtudom P3) of the hexaploid European plum ( Prunus domestica ) were studied to highlight their breeding perspectives. Five self-incompatibility ribonuclease ( S-RNase ) alleles were detected in both cultivars, with one allele shared. DNA sequence analysis confirmed it as a new, previously unidentified allele in P. domestica , which we labeled as S 18 . This allele was found to share ∼99% identity with the Prunus spinosa S B - RNase allele. Because Prunus species are readily hybridizing, sequence variations in 10 chloroplast DNA regions and nuclear internal transcribed spacers were studied to check if ‘Nemtudom P3’ and ‘Besztercei Bt.2’ are indeed P. domestica . The majority-rule consensus tree of maximum likelihood and Bayesian inferences confirmed it, and also indicated genetic differentiation with ‘Nemtudom P3’ and ‘Besztercei Bt.2’ forming a statistically supported subclade within the P. domestica germplasm. Our results pointed to some regions of the P. domestica chloroplast genome ( trnS - trnG - trnG , trnC-ycf6 , and trnD - trnT ) that can be used to detect intraspecific variations. The proportion of parsimony informative characters compared with the total length of amplified regions was the highest in the case of nrITS with 12.1%. The S -genotyping of 68 wild-growing Nemtudom trees showed the genetic consequences of long-term vegetative propagation and occasional crossing between Besztercei and Nemtudom accessions. Controlled pollinations confirmed the self-compatibility of ‘Nemtudom P3’. By clarifying their phylogenetic position, and characterizing the S -locus, our results will help breeding P. domestica cultivars and pave the way to understanding how the S -locus works in a hexaploid Prunus species.

HUNGARIAN SOUR CHERRIES ARE FRUITS BEYOND THE BERRIES: IDENTIFICATION OF GENOTYPES WITH OUTSTANDING ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES

Self-compatibility in Prunus: accidents in transposon traffic?

Insertions of transposable elements in the S-haplotype-specific F-box gene were shown many times to confer self-compatibility in Prunus species. In apricot, we identified a miniature inverted repeat transposable element (MITE) with structural features (its 349-bp size, 82-bp terminal inverted repeats and 9-bp target site duplications) that are consistent with this MITE being a putative member of the Mutator-like transposase superfamily. This non-autonomous element was labelled as FaSt (Falling Stones). FaSt showed a preferential accumulation in short AT-rich segments within euchromatin regions of the peach genome. A bioinformatics based survey of the known Rosaceae and other genomes and a newly designed PCR-assay verified the Prunoideae-specific occurrence of FaSt elements. In addition, FaSt copies in diploid apricot and hexaploid plum showed considerable sequence variations. Several copies were found in promoter regions and introns of certain genes. This is the first study to report on a presumably active MITE in the Prunus genus that might have exhibited direct and indirect genome shaping forces. FaSts and other transposable elements are compared in their contribution to the breakdown of self-incompatibility in Prunus species.

Accelerated CD4(+) T cell turnover in HIV infection preferentially drives proliferation of CCR5(+) cells regardless of HIV viral co-receptor tropism

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Comparison of traditional and new generation DNA markers declares high genetic diversity and differentiated population structure of wild almond species

Wild almond species as sources of genetic variation may have crucial importance in breeding. A total of 389 accessions of 18 species have been analysed using inter-retrotransposon amplified polymorphism (IRAP), retrotransposon-microsatellite amplified polymorphism (REMAP), sequence-specific amplification polymorphism (S-SAP), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and simple sequence repeats (SSR). Retrotransposon markers indicated the presence and movement of some Ty3-gypsy and Ty1-copia-elements in almond genome. Since transposable elements are associated with large-scale genome alterations, REMAP produced more reliable phylogenetic inferences than AFLP where homoplasy may affect clustering. In addition, high resolution melting (HRM) analysis was developed to detect SNPs. HRM analysis revealed 1:189 bp frequency of SNPs in exon positions, and the transition-to-transversion proportion was 1.84:1. The low transition bias suggests low methylation levels in almond genome. The polymorphic information content (PIC) was the highest for SSR markers, while SNPs had an average PIC of 0.59, which is close to the values of the rest of the markers. Huge genetic diversity, fragmented population structure and footprints of human selection was confirmed by merging information from all marker strategies. Considering time, cost and performance HRM can be a marker of choice in future studies of Prunus diversity.