Photo-temperature response of ramie (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud.) male sterile lines

Six male sterile lines (MSLs) of ramie (Boeh-meria nivea (L.) Gaud.) were grown in dark rooms under the photoperiods of 9.5h, 11h or 12.5h d-1 in spring and summer seasons (dif-ferent environmental temperatures) to test their developmental response to photoperiod and temperature. The MSLs showed little difference in vegetative growth duration, but different de-velopment rates in the reproductive growth stage under the tested conditions. Higher tem-perature (grown in summer) mainly accelerated vegetative growth, while the short photoperiod treatment accelerated the reproductive growth of the MSLs. Moreover, the short photoperiod treatment combined with higher temperature obviously accelerated both the vegetative and reproductive growth of the MSLs. But the effect of higher temperature decreased, or even dis-appeared along with the photoperiod elongation. The MSLs were divided into 5 photo-temperature response types, based on the flower budding acceleration of short pho-toperiod and the approximate temperature re-sponse index.

Acute Pancreatitis Associated with Valproate Treatment

To the Editor： Drug-induced pancreatitis （DIP） is a rare cause. According to a German retrospective study, the incidence of pancreatitis caused by drugs was 1.4%.[1] A nationwide survey conducted by Japan showed that 1.2% of all cases of acute pancreatitis were caused by drugs.[2] The DIP is caused due to the drug itself or its metabolites, or organism-specific reactions caused by the introduction of hypersensitivity during pancreatic injury. Despite appropriate treatment, it demonstrated severe complications and high mortality.[3] Valproate （sodium valproate and divalproex sodium forms） is a commonly used medication that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of epilepsy, migraine, and bipolar disorders. Adverse effects associated with valproate are typically benign, but there are more serious effects that are less frequently observed. These effects include hepatotoxicity, teratogenicity, possible polycystic ovaries with a potential sterile effect, and acute pancreatitis.[4] Even though acute pancreatitis is an adverse effect of very low frequency, it is very important to be noted due to a high mortality rate of patients with acute pancreatitis as a consequence of the use of valproate.

Expression of the Grifola frondosa Trehalose Synthase Gene and Improvement of Drought-Tolerance in Sugarcane （Saccharum officinarum L.）

Trehalose Is a nonreduclng dlsaccharlde of glucose that functions as a protectant In the stabilization of blologlcal structures and enhances stress tolerance to abiotic stresses in organisms. We report here the expression of a Grlfola frondosa trehalose synthase （TSase） gene for Improving drought tolerance In sugarcane （Saccharum offlclnarum L.）. The expression of the transgene was under the control of two tandem copies of the CaMV35S promoter and transferred Into sugarcane by Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA105. The transgenlc plants accumulated high levels of trehalose, up to 8.805-12.863 mg/g fresh weight, whereas It was present at undetectable level in nontransgenlc plants. It has been reported that transgenlc plants transformed with Escherlchla coil TPS （trehalose-6-phosphatesynthase） and/or TPP （trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase） are severely stunted and have root morphologlc alterations. Interestingly, our transgenlc sugarcane plants had no obvious morphological changes and no growth Inhibition in the field. Trehalose accumulation in 35S-35S：TSase plants resulted In In- creased drought tolerance, as shown by the drought and the drought physiological Indexes, such as the rate of bound water/free water, plasma membrane permeability, malondlaldehyde content, chlorophyll a and b contents, and activity of SOD and POD of the excised leaves. These results suggest that transgenlc plants transformed with the TSase gene can accumulate high levels of trehalose and have enhanced tolerance to drought.