The ZmRXO1 gene is a nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat (NBS–LRR) type of R gene in maize (Zea mays). To understand the regulatory mechanism of ZmRXO1 gene expression, we isolated and characterized the ZmRXO1 promoter (PZmRXO1)—the 5′ flanking region of ZmRXO1. A series of PZmRXO1 deletion derivatives, R1–R4, from the translation start code (−1,576, −934, −829, and −582) were fused to the GUS reporter gene, and each deletion construct was analyzed by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation into tobacco. Sequence analysis showed that several cis-acting elements (MBS, Box-I, TGA-element and CCAAT-box) were located within the promoter. Deletion analysis of the promoter suggested that the 1,576-bp fragment upstream of ZmRXO1 gene showed a high level of GUS expression in tobacco. The promoter sequence (−582 to −1) was sufficient to improve transcription of GUS gene under hormones (MeJA, GA, ABA), drought and low temperature. Moreover, there might be repressor elements in the region (−1,576 to −934 bp) to repress ZmRXO1 gene expression under treatment with salicylic acid.

An aquaporin protein AcPIP2 fromAtriplex canescenswas involved in plant growth rate, abiotic stress tolerance in Arabidopsis. Under limited water condition, AcPIP2 leaded to the sensitivity to drought stress.An aquaporin protein (AcPIP2) was obtained from the saltbush Atriplex canescens, which was in PIP2 subgroup belonging to the PIP subfamily, MIP superfamily. The subcellular localization of AcPIP2 showed the fusion protein AcPIP2-eGFP located at the plasma membrane in Nicotiana benthamiana. Overexpression of AcPIP2 in Arabidopsis fully proved that AcPIP2 was involved in plant growth rate, transpiration rate and abiotic stress tolerance (NaCl, drought and NaHCO3) in Arabidopsis, which is mostly in correspondence to gene expression pattern characterized by qRT-PCR performed in A. canescens. And under limited water condition, AcPIP2 overexpression leaded to the sensitivity to drought stress. In the view of the resistant effect in transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing AcPIP2, the AcPIP2 may throw some light into understanding how the A. canescens plants cope with abiotic stress, and could be used in the genetic engineering to improve plant growth or selective tolerance to the abiotic stress.

The fungal endophyte Chaetomium globosum No.04 was isolated from the medicinal plant Ginkgo biloba. The crude extract of the fungus fermentation were active in the agar-diffusion tests against the phytopathogenic fungi Rhizopus stolonifer and Coniothyrium diplodiella. Further bioassay-guided chemical investigation led to the isolation and purification of six alkaloids and three non-targeted compounds from 50 L fermentation of this endophytic fungus and their structures were elucidated as chaetoglobosin A, C, D, E, G, R (1-6), ergosterol, allantoin and uracil, by means of spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1-6 showed significant growth inhibitory activity against R. stolonifer and C. diplodiella at a concentration of 20 μg/disc. We present here, for the first time, the potent antifungal activity of chaetoglobosins from endophytic fungi against two important phytopathogenic fungi R. stolonifer and C. diplodiella.

Fusarium head blight (FHB), mainly caused by Fusarium graminearum, is a destructive disease that can significantly reduce grain yield and quality. Deployment of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for FHB resistance in commercial cultivars has been the most effective approach for minimizing the disease losses. ‘Baishanyuehuang’ is a highly FHB-resistant landrace from China. Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) developed from a cross of ‘Baishanyuehuang’ and ‘Jagger’ were evaluated for FHB resistance in three greenhouse experiments in 2010 and 2011 by single-floret inoculation. Percentage of symptomatic spikelets in an inoculated spike was recorded 18 days post-inoculation. The RIL population was screened with 251 polymorphic simple sequence repeats. Four QTLs were associated with FHB resistance and mapped on three chromosomes. Two QTLs were located on the short arm of chromosome 3B (3BS) with one in distal of 3BS and another near centromere (3BSc), designated as Qfhb.hwwg-3BSc. The QTL in the distal of 3BS is flanked by Xgwm533 and Xgwm493, thus corresponds to Fhb1. This QTL explained up to 15.7 % of phenotypic variation. Qfhb.hwwg-3BSc flanked by Xwmc307 and Xgwwm566 showed a smaller effect than Fhb1 and explained up to 8.5 % of phenotypic variation. The other two QTLs were located on 3A, designated as Qfhb.hwwg-3A, and 5A, designated as Qfhb.hwwg-5A. Qfhb.hwwg-3A was flanked by Xwmc651 and Xbarc356 and explained 4.8–7.5 % phenotypic variation, and Qfhb.hwwg-5A was flanked by markers Xgwm186 and Xbarc141, detected in only one experiment, and explained 4.5 % phenotypic variation for FHB resistance. ‘Baishanyuehuang’ carried all resistance alleles of the four QTL. Qfhb.hwwg-3BSc and Qfhb.hwwg-3A were new QTLs in ‘Baishanyuehuang’. ‘Baishanyuehuang’ carries a combination of QTLs from different sources and can be a new source of parent to pyramid FHB-resistant QTLs for improving FHB resistance in wheat.

The entomopathogenic fungus Verticillium lecanii is a well-known biocontrol agent. V. lecanii produces subtilisin-like serine protease (Pr1), which is important in the biological control activity of some insect pests by degrading insect cuticles. In this study, a subtilisin-like serine protease gene VlPr1 was cloned from the fungus and the VlPr1 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli. The VlPr1 gene contains an open reading frame (ORF) interrupted by three short introns, and encodes a protein of 379 amino acids. Protein sequence analysis revealed high homology with subtilisin serine proteases. The molecular mass of the protease was 38 kDa, and the serine protease exhibited its maximal activity at 40°C and pH 9.0. Protease activity was also affected by Mg2+ and Ca2+ concentration. The protease showed inhibitory activity against several plant pathogens, especially towards Fusarium moniliforme.

Five new highly brominated metabolites, 3′,5′,6′,6-tetrabromo-2,4-dimethyldiphenyl ether (1), 1,2,5-tribromo-3-bromoamino-7-bromomethylnaphthalene (2), 2,5,8-tribromo-3-bromoamino-7-bromomethylnaphthalene (3), 2,5,6-tribromo-3-bromoamino-7-bromomethylnaphthalene (4) and 2′,5′,6′,5,6-pentabromo-3′,4′,3,4-tetramethoxybenzo-phenone (5) were isolated from the red alga Laurencia similis. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including one- and two- dimensional NMR as well as HREIMS analysis. Compounds 1 and 5 showed strong inhibitory activities against protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) with IC50 of 2.97 and 2.66 μM, respectively.

•A nucleus ErbB3-binding protein gene AcEBP1 was up-regulated under abiotic stress.•AcEBP1 was involved in root cell growth under salt and osmotic stress.•AcEBP1 transgenic plants displayed sensitivity under low temperature.•AcEBP1 transgenic plants lost less water and was more drought resistant.•AcEBP1 negatively affects cell growth and is a regulator under stress conditions.An ErbB-3-binding protein gene AcEBP1, also known as proliferation-associated 2G4 gene (PA2G4s) belonging to the M24 superfamily, was obtained from the saltbush Atriplex canescens. Subcellular localization imaging showed the fusion protein AcEBP1-eGFP was located in the nucleus of epidermal cells in Nicotiana benthamiana. The AcEBP1 gene expression levels were up-regulated under salt, osmotic stress, and hormones treatment as revealed by qRT-PCR. Overexpression of AcEBP1 in Arabidopsis demonstrated that AcEBP1 was involved in root cell growth and stress responses (NaCl, osmotic stress, ABA, low temperature, and drought). These phenotypic data were correlated with the expression patterns of stress responsive genes and PR genes. The AcEBP1 transgenic Arabidopsis plants also displayed increased sensitivity under low temperature and evaluated resistance to drought stress. Together, these results demonstrate that AcEBP1 negatively affects cell growth and is a regulator under stress conditions.