Establishment of Rapid Propagation Technique for Cotyledon of Solanum torvum

[Objective] To research the mass propagation system for cotyledon of Solanum torvum. [Methods] With cotyledon of S. torvum as the research object, ef- fects of hormone combination on callus induction and adventitious buds differentia- tion of S. torvum were researched. [Results] With cotyledon of S. torvum as the ex- plants, the optimal culture medium for callus induction and adventitious buds differ- entiation was MS＋2.0 mg/L 6-BA＋0.3 mg/L NAA. The induction rates of callus and adventitious bud reached 100% and 85%, respectively. The number of average buds was 6. The optimal culture medium for the induction of adventitious roots was MS＋ 0.3 mg/L IAA. The rooting rate reached 100% and the number of average roots was 9. [Conclusions] One-step induction of callus and adventitious buds simplified the mass propagation system, and enhanced the test test efficiency.s

Cloning and Characterization of a PGIP-Encoding Gene from Solanum torvum

Verticillium wilt is a severe disease in eggplant caused by Verticillium dahliae.Polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins （PGIPs） have been shown to be involved in preventing the invasion of fungus including V.dahliae.Cloning genes encoding PGIPs is quite valuable for plant resistance breeding to Verticillium wilt.In this study,a cDNA encoding the polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein was isolated from Solanum torvum by RT-PCR and RACE,designated StPGIP （accession no.FJ943498）.The cDNA sequence of StPGIP was 1 097 bp long and contained an open reading frame of 990 bp.The predicted amino acid sequence of the gene consisted of 329 amino acids and had conserved LRRs.The StPGIP protein had a high identity with PGIPs from other species.Analysis of StPGIP expression at the mRNA level by RT-PCR showed that the gene was expressed in all organs and could be induced to increase expression by V.erticillium dahliae infection.

Effects of Solanum torvum fruit water extract on hyperlipidemia and sex hormones in high-fat fed male rats

Objective:To study the effect of water extract of Solanum torvum(S.torvum) on blood lipid and sex hormone levels in high-fat diet(HFD) fed male rats.Methods:Male Wistar rats were maintained on a standard diet or HFD for 10 weeks.During the last 4 weeks,the standard diet groups received distilled water or S.torvum(400 mg/kg) and the HFD groups received distilled water or S.torvum(100,200 and400 mg/kg).Body weight,lipid profiles,sex hormone,internal organs weight and liver histopathology were all measured.Moreover,kidney function was evaluated using blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels,and liver function by the levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase.Results:The result showed that rats in the HFD control group had increased body weight and hyperlipidemia,but had decreased levels of both testosterone and estradiol.When receiving the S.torvum extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg,treated rats had significantly increased sex hormone levels of both types,and decreased total cholesterol levels,and at a dose of 200 mg/kg,treated rats had significantly decreased levels of triglyceride.Long term administration of the S.torvum did not produce any toxic signs in livers and kidneys.Pathological examinations of livers showed lipid accumulation in the HFD group,but the treatment of S.torvum slightly reduced lipid deposition in liver tissue.Conclusions:S.torvum extract can reverse the level of sex hormones to their normal level and reduce serum cholesterol in HFD-induced obese male rats.Furthermore,the long term oral administration of S.torvum extract is harmless.

Resistance of Grafted Tomato with Guozhen 1 as Stock against Root Knot Nematodes in Field

[Objective] This study aimed to study the resistance of grafted tomato with Guozhen 1 as stock against root knot nematodes. [Method] Tomato seedlings were grafted with Guozhenl （T1） and Solanum torvum （T2） as the rootstock, respectively. Self-rooted tomato seedlings were treated as the control （CK）. The resistance of tomato against root knot nematodes was compared among the three treatments. [Result] Compared with those in the T2 and CK groups, the yield of tomato in the T1 group was increased by 17 436.75 and 31 753.65 kg/hm2 respectively, the plant height was increased by 10.55 and 14.54 cm respectively （P〈0.05）, and the stem diameter was increased by 0.56 and 1.13 cm respectively （P〈0.05）. The disease indexes of root knot nematodiasis in the three treatments were 0.55, 10.42 and 45.31, respectively, and there were significant differences among them （P〈0.05）. [Conclusion] This study will provide a theoretical basis for the control of root knot nematodes in tomato by grafting.