Name: a new application of the electrical penetration graph (epg) for acquiring and measuring electrical signals in phloem sieve elements
Uploaded: 2015-07-02T09:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A New Application of the Electrical Penetration Graph EPG for Acquiring and Measuring Electrical Signals in Phloem Sieve Elements at JoVE.com

VSR was supported by an IIF Marie Curie Grant (WOUND IN EARTH, acronym for: Wound induced electrical signals in Arabidopsis thaliana).

1. Aphid Rearing
Note: The choice of plant and aphid species for EPG recordings depends on the research aim. For studies on Arabidopsis thaliana, the aphid Brevicoryne brassicae is appropriate.
<ol>
	<li>Rear B. brassicae aphids in a greenhouse on Brassica oleracea. Keep the plants used for aphid rearing in cages, in order to avoid contaminating other plants. Keep aphid-rearing plants and experimental plants (in our case B. oleracea and A. tha...

<ol>
	<li>Salvador-Recatal&#224;, V., Tjallingii, W. F., Farmer, E. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Real-time,+in+vivo.+intracellular+recordings+of+caterpillar-induced+depolarization+waves+in+sieve+elements+using+aphid+electrodes.">Real-time, in vivo. intracellular recordings of caterpillar-induced depolarization waves in sieve elements using aphid electrodes.</a> New Phytologist. 203 (2), 674-684 (2014).</li><li>Van Bel, A. J., Knoblauch, M., Furch, A. C., Hafke, J. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=(Questions)n+on+phloem+biology.+1.+Electropotential+waves,+Ca2++fluxes+and+cellular+cascades+along+the+propagation+pathway.">(Questions)n on phloem biology. 1. Electropotential waves, Ca2+ fluxes and cellular cascades along the propagation pathway.</a> Plant Science. 181 (3), 210-218 (2011).</li><li>Rhodes, J. D., Thain, J. F., Wildon, D. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+pathway+for+electrical+signal+conduction+in+the+wounded+tomato+plant.">The pathway for electrical signal conduction in the wounded tomato plant.</a> Planta. 200, 50-57 (1996).</li><li>Fromm, J., Eschrich, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Correlation+of+ionic+movements+with+phloem+unloading+and+loading+in+barley+leaves.">Correlation of ionic movements with phloem unloading and loading in barley leaves.</a> Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 27, 577-585 (1989).</li><li>Brette, R., Destexhe, A., Brette, R., Destexhe, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intracellular+Recordings.">Intracellular Recordings.</a> Handbook of Neural Activity Measurement. , 44-91 (2012).</li><li>Umrath, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Untersuchungen+&#252;ber+Plasma+und+Plasamstromung+an+Characeen.+IV.+Potentialmessungen+an+Nitella+mucronata.+mit+besonderer+Ber&#252;cksichtingung+der+Erregungserscheinungen.">Untersuchungen &#252;ber Plasma und Plasamstromung an Characeen. IV. Potentialmessungen an Nitella mucronata. mit besonderer Ber&#252;cksichtingung der Erregungserscheinungen.</a> Protoplasma. 9, 576-597 (1930).</li><li>Umrath, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Der+Erregungsvorgang+bei+Nitella+mucronata.">Der Erregungsvorgang bei Nitella mucronata.</a> Protoplasma. 17, 258-300 (1932).</li><li>Carden, D. E., Walker, D. J., Flowers, T. J., Miller, A. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Single-cell+measurements+of+the+contribution+of+cytosolic+Na++and+K++to+salt+tolerance.">Single-cell measurements of the contribution of cytosolic Na+ and K+ to salt tolerance.</a> Plant Physiology. 131 (2), 676-683 (2003).</li><li>Miles, P. W., McLean, D. L., Kinsey, M. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evidence+that+two+species+of+aphid+ingest+food+through+an+open+stylet+sheath.">Evidence that two species of aphid ingest food through an open stylet sheath.</a> Experientia. 20 (10), 582 (1964).</li><li>McLean, D. L., Kinsey, M. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+technique+for+electronically+recording+aphid+feeding+and+salivation.">A technique for electronically recording aphid feeding and salivation.</a> Nature. 202, 1358-1359 (1965).</li><li>Tjallingii, W. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electronic+recording+of+penetration+behaviour+by+aphids.">Electronic recording of penetration behaviour by aphids.</a> Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 24, 721-730 (1978).</li><li>Tjallingii, W. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Membrane+potentials+as+an+indication+for+plant+cell+penetration+by+aphid+stylets.">Membrane potentials as an indication for plant cell penetration by aphid stylets.</a> Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 38, 187-193 (1985).</li><li>Alvarez, E. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparative+analysis+of+Solanum+stoloniferum.+responses+to+probing+by+the+green+peach+aphid+Myzus+persicae.+and+the+potato+aphid+Macrosiphum+euphorbiae.">Comparative analysis of Solanum stoloniferum. responses to probing by the green peach aphid Myzus persicae. and the potato aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae.</a> Insect Science. 20 (2), 207-227 (2013).</li><li>Carmo-Sousa, M., Moreno, A., Garzo, E., Fereres, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+non-persistently+transmitted+virus+induces+a+pull-push+strategy+in+its+aphid+vector+to+optimize+transmission+and+spread.">A non-persistently transmitted virus induces a pull-push strategy in its aphid vector to optimize transmission and spread.</a> Virus Research. 186, 38-46 (2014).</li><li>Jacobson, A. L., Kennedy, G. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrical+Penetration+Graph+studies+to+investigate+the+effects+of+cyantraniliprole+on+feeding+behavior+of+Myzus+persicae.+(Hemiptera:+Aphididae)+on+Capsicum+annuum.">Electrical Penetration Graph studies to investigate the effects of cyantraniliprole on feeding behavior of Myzus persicae. (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Capsicum annuum.</a> Pest Management Science. 70 (5), 836-840 (2014).</li><li>Morris, G., Foster, W. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Duelling+aphids:+electrical+penetration+graphs+reveal+the+value+of+fighting+for+a+feeding+site.">Duelling aphids: electrical penetration graphs reveal the value of fighting for a feeding site.</a> Journal of Experimental Biology. 211 (9), 1490-1494 (2008).</li></ol>

This article provides a detailed protocol for making Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG) recordings. The EPG technique is well established, with 100-200 active users worldwide, and it has been implemented for many studies on different topics, for example: a) host plant resistance to aphids and other stylet-bearing insects13; b) plant virus and pathogen transmission mechanisms14; c) insecticide mode of action, (toxicity and behavior changes)15; d) EPGs have even been useful to demonstrate t...

The ability to produce long-distance electrical signals is an advantageous trait of multi-cellular organisms that allows for efficient responses to external stimuli. This trait has evolved independently in plants and animals, and thus represents a case of convergent evolution. Given that electrical signals are coupled with important functions in animals such as neural transmission and muscle contraction, the molecular basis, mechanism of transmission, and function of stimulus-induced electrical signals in animals are subjects of intensive research. In contrast, stimulus-induced electrical signaling in plants has received little research attention. Although plants have no nerves or muscles, there seems to be enough evidence to assume that stimulus-induced electrical signals in plants play a key role in their responses to environmental factors.
The phloem, the living component of the plant vasculature, has been postulated as a major substrate for the transmission of stimulus-induced electrical signals, from stimulated/damaged to non-stimulated/undamaged areas2. The main cells in the phloem are the sieve elements (SEs), relatively simple, elongated cells. The ends of SEs are connected to other SEs, forming a continuous, low-resistance, sieve tube system that is spread throughout the plant. There are, however, very few studies on the electrical properties of these highly specialized cells. In these previous studies, researchers accessed SEs with either glass micro-electrodes3 or with glass electrodes that were coupled to plant-inserted stylets of aphids, after stylectomy (cutting)4. Glass microelectrodes are made from glass capillaries that are pulled at one end with heat into a fine tip of less than 1 &#181;m in diameter, and then filled with a KCl solution. A Ag/AgCl or platinum wire, inserted into the KCl-filled glass electrode is then connected to the amplifier input, and a referent electrode is inserted into the bath surrounding the cell of interest, completing the circuit. This setup records the difference in potential between the extracellular referent electrode and the intracellular measuring electrode, i.e., the membrane potential of the cell5. With this method, Umrath made the first intracellular recording from a plant cell, using the algae Nitella6,7. Nitella is a relatively simple organism with large cells, and therefore amenable to intracellular electrophysiology experiments. In contrast, the insertion of intracellular glass electrodes into the small cells of multi-cellular, three-dimensional terrestrial plants is technically demanding, requires a highly skilled researcher, as well as sophisticated visualization, micromanipulation, and anti-vibration equipment. Although glass electrodes are suitable to record from superficial cells in plants, such as root epidermal cells8, intracellular recordings from cells deeply embedded in the plant&#39;s tissue, such as SEs, very likely cause damage-induced responses, confusing the results. In 1989, Fromm and Eschrich reported the use of an alternative method, called the &#39;aphid method&#39;, in which glass electrodes are coupled to aphid stylets after stylectomy4. The aphid method is minimally invasive, because flexible stylets do not cause tissue or cell damage as glass electrodes do. Aphid stylets are nature&#39;s great invention for plant penetration, and aphids are considerably more skilled than humans in finding SEs. Unfortunately, this aphid method is also highly demanding in terms of technical expertise and equipment. In addition, the success of each experiment that implements this technique depends entirely on the aphid being in feeding mode &#8212; with the stylet stably inserted into a SE, at the time of stylectomy. Thinking in retrospective, one can see that the odds of success of this technique could have been improved by adding to the experimental setup an instrument that allows identifying whether or not the aphid stylet is in the SE when applying stylectomy.
In 1964, McLean and Kinsey described an &#39;electronic monitoring system&#39; for the study of the feeding behavior of aphids in real time9,10. In this system, the aphid and the stylet-penetrated plant were integrated into an electrical circuit. Later, in 1978, Tjallingii devised a modified version of the system, called the &#39;Electrical Penetration Graph&#39; (EPG) system11,12. Whereas the original electronic monitoring system was sensitive to the resistance-originated potentials only, with the EPG system, the electromotive force (emf) originated potentials, i.e., generated in the plant or in the insect, could be recorded in addition to potentials arising from resistance (R) in the insect. This represents an important improvement, because both signal components, emf and R, provide biological relevant information on events during plant penetration by aphids. What makes the EPG pre-amplifier sensitive to the R-components is its relatively low input resistance of 1 G&#937;, which is close to the average of the plant/aphid resistance. A small offset voltage (Figure&#160;1, V) of approximately +100 mV is applied to the plant, which then is divided across plant and insect on one side, and the input resistance on the other. The voltages and their changes are measured at a point (Figure 1A,B) between the insect and the input resistor. Therefore, the R-components represent plant-aphid resistance modulations of the offset voltage, whereas the emf-components are a certain fraction of plant potentials at the stylet tip and potentials caused in the insect. The plant potentials &#8212; most relevant here &#8212; are mainly membrane potentials of the plant cells punctured by the aphid stylets. The insect potentials appear to be mainly streaming potentials caused by fluid movements within the two stylet canals, i.e., the food and the salivary canals; no internal nerve or muscle potentials are recorded in the EPG. In practice, the stylet tip functions as an electrode tip. All plant cells are negatively charged inside relative to the positive outside of the cell. The electrical current (i.e., the movement of charged ions in watery solution) flowing from the inside to the outside and vice versa is very limited due to the high resistance of the cell membrane. Normally the resting potential is kept constant. However, when negative ions move out or positive ions move in through the cell membrane, the membrane potential is reduced, i.e., it &#39;depolarizes&#39;. Depolarization occurs in case of cell excitation. Ions then move in or out when specific ion channels in the membrane are opened or when the membrane is damaged and ions leak in and out. All cells have ion channels and pumps in the plasma membrane that bring the membrane potential to its resting level by restoring the original concentration of various ions inside the cell. The resting potential and its changes are emf components, and therefore, the EPG technique is suitable to measure them.
<img alt="Figure 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/52826/52826fig1.jpg" /> 
Figure 1. EPG-electrodes. The EPG-electrode is a living aphid integrated into the Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG) circuit, whose stylet is inserted into a sieve element (SE) in stable feeding mode. If the stylet-impaled SE is at rest (panel A), the voltage in the circuit, recorded by EPG, is stable and at the resting potential level (Panel C, Rest). If the SE is excited, its membrane depolarizes (panel B), which is visualized in the EPG as a gradual increase in voltage (panel C, Depolarization). As the ionic balance in the SE returns to rest, i.e., it repolarizes, the voltage recorded by EPG gradually decreases to the rest potential level (Panel C, Repolarization). In panel C, &#8220;A&#8221; and &#8220;B&#8221; refer to the scenarios shown in panels A and B, respectively. V = Adjustable offset voltage source. Ri = Input resistor. In parallel to the 1 G&#8486; external resistor, the amplifier has an internal (in the OpAmp) high 1.5&#160;T&#8486; resistor (panels A and B, in gray). By remote control of the switch the EPG pre-amp can be changed from normal to emf-mode, which allows obtaining highly accurate voltage values. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/52826/52826fig1highres.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
In the next section, we provide the reader with a basic protocol for performing EPG experiments that is valid for both insect-focused and plant-focused studies.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Brass connector pins</td>
			<td>EPG Systems/hardw.shop</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>&#934; 1.2 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Thin copper wire</td>
			<td>EPG Systems/hardw.shop</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>approx. &#934; 0.2 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Thin gold wire</td>
			<td>EPG Systems</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>&#934; 18 &#181;m</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Soldering fluid</td>
			<td>hardware shop</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>matching the soldering wire</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Resin-cored soldering wire</td>
			<td>hardware shop</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Styrofoam</td>
			<td>any</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Water-based silver glue</td>
			<td>EPG systems</td>
			<td></td>
			<td><a href="http://www.epgsystems.eu/">recipe in: www.epgsystems.eu</a></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paper wipes</td>
			<td>Kimberly-Clark</td>
			<td>5511</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Soldering bolt</td>
			<td>any</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stereomicroscope</td>
			<td>Hund Wetzlar</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>minimum magnification is x10</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Small scissors</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>14088-10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scalpel</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>10050-00</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fine forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11231-20</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vortex</td>
			<td>A. Hartenstein</td>
			<td>L46</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Watercolor brushes</td>
			<td>any</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Number 1 or 2</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Air suction device</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>see description in: www.epgsystems.eu</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Insect pins</td>
			<td>any</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>No. 1 or 2</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Solid table</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Faraday cage</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Hand made</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Computer</td>
			<td>Fujitsu Siemens</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Data acquisition software</td>
			<td>EPG Systems</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Stylet+d</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Giga-4 (-8) Complete System</td>
			<td>EPG Systems</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>includes the following:</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Main control box with USB output</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Di155/Di710</td>
			<td>12/14 bit, rate 100Hz(softw. fixed)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EPG probes 4 (8)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>50x DC pre-amplifier</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Swivel clamps on rod</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DC power adaptor</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>bipolar, 230/115 VAC to -/+8 VDC</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plant electrodes and cables</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Additional test and ground cables&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

a new application of the electrical penetration graph (epg) for acquiring and measuring electrical signals in phloem sieve elements

Electrophysiological properties of cells are often studied in vitro, after dissociating them from their native environments. However, the study of electrical transmission between distant cells in an organism requires in vivo, artifact-free recordings of cells embedded within their native environment. The transmission of electrical signals from wounded to unwounded areas in a plant has since long piqued the interest of botanists. The phloem, the living part of the plant vasculature that is spread throughout the plant, has been postulated as a major tissue in electrical transmission in plants. The lack of suitable electrophysiological methods poses many challenges for the study of the electrical properties of the phloem cells in vivo. Here we present a novel approach for intracellular electrophysiology of sieve elements (SEs) that uses living aphids, or other phloem-feeding hemipteran insects, integrated in the electrical penetration graph (EPG) circuit. The versatility, robustness, and accuracy of this method made it possible to record and study in detail the wound-induced electrical signals in SEs of central veins of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana1. Here we show that EPG-electrodes can be easily implemented for intracellular electrophysiological recordings of SEs in marginal veins, as well as to study the capacity of SEs to respond with electrical signals to several external stimuli. The EPG approach applied to intracellular electrophysiology of SEs can be implemented to a wide variety of plant species, in a large number of plant/insect combinations, and for many research aims.

In a previous study, we implemented the EPG-electrode technique with the purpose of characterizing the electrical signals produced in SEs of the midvein during caterpillar attack1. The midvein is a preferred insertion site for conventional glass electrodes, as well as for glass-stylet electrodes, because it is SE-dense, and relatively robust, hence amenable to the fixation needed for implementing these techniques. Here, we took advantage of the versatility of the EPG electrode with the purpose of gathering ele...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A New Application of the Electrical Penetration Graph EPG for Acquiring and Measuring Electrical Signals in Phloem Sieve Elements at JoVE.com

A New Application of the Electrical Penetration Graph EPG for Acquiring and Measuring Electrical Signals in Phloem Sieve Elements

Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG) is a well-established technique for studying the feeding behavior of stylet-bearing insects. Here we show a new application of EPG as a non-invasive tool for the acquisition of intracellular electrophysiology recordings of sieve elements (SEs), the cells that form the phloem vasculature in plants.

A New Application of the Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG) for Acquiring and Measuring Electrical Signals in Phloem Sieve Elements

Electrophysiological properties of cells are often studied in vitro, after dissociating them from their native environments. However, the study of ...

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Methods for Performing Crosses in Setaria viridis, a New Model System for the Grasses

Setaria viridis is an emerging model system for C4 grasses. It is closely related to the bioenergy feed stock switchgrass and the grain crop foxtail millet. Recently, the 510 Mb genome of foxtail millet, S. italica, has been sequenced 1,2 and a 25x coverage genome sequence of the weedy relative S. viridis is in progress. S. viridis has a number of characteristics that make it a potentially excellent model genetic system including a rapid generation time, small stature, simple growth requirements, prolific seed production 3 and developed systems for both transient and stable transformation 4. However, the genetics of S. viridis is largely unexplored, in part, due to the lack of detailed methods for performing crosses. To date, no standard protocol has been adopted that will permit rapid production of seeds from controlled crosses.
The protocol presented here is optimized for performing genetic crosses in S. viridis, accession A10.1. We have employed a simple heat treatment with warm water for emasculation after pruning the panicle to retain 20-30 florets and labeling of flowers to eliminate seeds resulting from newly developed flowers after emasculation. After testing a series of heat treatments at permissive temperatures and varying the duration of dipping, we have established an optimum temperature and time range of 48 &deg;C for 3-6 min. By using this method, a minimum of 15 crosses can be performed by a single worker per day and an average of 3-5 outcross progeny per panicle can be recovered. Therefore, an average of 45-75 outcross progeny can be produced by one person in a single day. Broad implementation of this technique will facilitate the development of recombinant inbred line populations of S. viridis X S. viridis or S. viridis X S. italica, mapping mutations through bulk segregant analysis and creating higher order mutants for genetic analysis.

Methods for Performing Crosses in Setaria viridis, a New Model System for the Grasses

We have developed a methodology for performing crosses in Setaria viridis (S. viridis). The method involves pruning the panicle prior to a hot water treatment to kill viable pollen. Crosses are performed following a well-controlled growth regime and typically result in the recovery of 1 to 7 cross-pollinated seed/s per panicle.

Setaria viridis is an emerging model system for C4 grasses. It is closely related to the bioenergy feed stock switchgrass and the grain crop foxtail ...

Application of Two-spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae for Plant-pest Interaction Studies

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is a ubiquitous polyphagous arthropod herbivore that feeds on a remarkably broad array of species, with more than 150 of economic value. It is a major pest of greenhouse crops, especially in Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae (e.g., tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini) and greenhouse ornamentals (e.g., roses, chrysanthemum, carnations), annual field crops (such as maize, cotton, soybean, and sugar beet), and in perennial cultures (alfalfa, strawberries, grapes, citruses, and plums)1,2. In addition to the extreme polyphagy that makes it an important agricultural pest, T. urticae has a tendency to develop resistance to a wide array of insecticides and acaricides that are used for its control3-7.
T. urticae is an excellent experimental organism, as it has a rapid life cycle (7 days at 27 &#176;C) and can be easily maintained at high density in the laboratory. Methods to assay gene expression (including in situ hybridization and antibody staining) and to inactivate expression of spider mite endogenous genes using RNA interference have been developed8-10. Recently, the whole genome sequence of T. urticae has been reported, creating an opportunity to develop this pest herbivore as a model organism with equivalent genomic resources that already exist in some of its host plants (Arabidopsis thaliana and the&#160;tomato Solanum lycopersicum)11. Together, these&#160;model organisms could provide insights into molecular bases of plant-pest interactions.
Here, an efficient method for quick and easy collection of a large number of adult female mites, their application on an experimental plant host, and the assessment of the plant damage due to spider mite feeding are described. The presented protocol enables fast and efficient collection of hundreds of individuals at any developmental stage (eggs, larvae, nymphs, adult males, and females) that can be used for subsequent experimental application.

Application of Two-spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae for Plant-pest Interaction Studies

Protocols for efficient preparation of homogenous samples of spider mites, infestation of experimental plants, and assessment of plant damage, as required for studies of plant-pest interaction were developed.

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is a ubiquitous polyphagous arthropod herbivore that feeds on a remarkably broad array of species, with ...

Removal of Trace Elements by Cupric Oxide Nanoparticles from Uranium In Situ Recovery Bleed Water and Its Effect on Cell Viability

In situ recovery (ISR) is the predominant method of uranium extraction in the United States. During ISR, uranium is leached from an ore body and extracted through ion exchange. The resultant production bleed water (PBW) contains contaminants such as arsenic and other heavy metals. Samples of PBW from an active ISR uranium facility were treated with cupric oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs). CuO-NP treatment of PBW reduced priority contaminants, including arsenic, selenium, uranium, and vanadium. Untreated and CuO-NP treated PBW was used as the liquid component of the cell growth media and changes in viability were determined by the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay in human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep G2) cells. CuO-NP treatment was associated with improved HEK and HEP cell viability. Limitations of this method include dilution of the PBW by growth media components and during osmolality adjustment as well as necessary pH adjustment. This method is limited in its wider context due to dilution effects and changes in the pH of the PBW which is traditionally slightly acidic&#160;however; this method could have a broader use assessing CuO-NP treatment in more neutral waters.

Removal of Trace Elements by Cupric Oxide Nanoparticles from Uranium In Situ Recovery Bleed Water and Its Effect on Cell Viability

Production bleed water (PBW) was treated with cupric oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) and cellular toxicity was assessed in cultured human cells. The goal of this protocol was to integrate the native environmental sample into a cell culture format assessing the changes in toxicity due to CuO-NP treatment.

In situ recovery (ISR) is the predominant method of uranium extraction in the United States. During ISR, uranium is leached from an ore body and extracted ...

A Simple Method for Automated Solid Phase Extraction of Water Samples for Immunological Analysis of Small Pollutants

A new method for solid phase extraction (SPE) of environmental water samples is proposed. The developed prototype is cost-efficient and user friendly, and enables to perform rapid, automated and simple SPE. The pre-concentrated solution is compatible with analysis by immunoassay, with a low organic solvent content. A method is described for the extraction and pre-concentration of natural hormone 17&#946;-estradiol in 100 ml water samples. Reverse phase SPE is performed with octadecyl-silica sorbent and elution is done with 200 &#181;l of methanol 50% v/v. Eluent is diluted by adding di-water to lower the amount of methanol. After preparing manually the SPE column, the overall procedure is performed automatically within 1 hr. At the end of the process, estradiol concentration is measured by using a commercial enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA). 100-fold pre-concentration is achieved and the methanol content in only 10% v/v. Full recoveries of the molecule are achieved with 1 ng/L spiked de-ionized and synthetic sea water samples.

A protocol for the extraction and pre-concentration of estradiol from water samples by using an automated and miniaturized system is presented.

A new method for solid phase extraction (SPE) of environmental water samples is proposed. The developed prototype is cost-efficient and user friendly, and ...

Modification and Application of a Leaf Blower-vac for Field Sampling of Arthropods

Rice fields host a large diversity of arthropods, but investigating their population dynamics and interactions is challenging. Here we describe the modification and application of a leaf blower-vac for suction sampling of arthropod populations in rice. When used in combination with an enclosure, application of this sampling device provides absolute estimates of the populations of arthropods as numbers per standardized sampling area. The sampling efficiency depends critically on the sampling duration. In a mature rice crop, a two-minute sampling in an enclosure of 0.13 m2 yields more than 90% of the arthropod population. The device also allows sampling of arthropods dwelling on the water surface or the soil in rice paddies, but it is not suitable for sampling fast flying insects, such as predatory Odonata or larger hymenopterous parasitoids. The modified blower-vac is simple to construct, and cheaper and easier to handle than traditional suction sampling devices, such as D-vac. The low cost makes the modified blower-vac also accessible to researchers in developing countries.

Assessment of arthropod abundance in crops is critical for investigating population dynamics and species interactions. Here we describe the modification and application of a leaf blower-vac for suction sampling of arthropods in rice.

Rice fields host a large diversity of arthropods, but investigating their population dynamics and interactions is challenging. Here we describe the ...

Measuring and Mapping Patterns of Soil Erosion and Deposition Related to Soil Carbonate Concentrations Under Agricultural Management

Spatial patterns of soil erosion and deposition can be inferred from differences in ground elevation mapped at appropriate time increments. Such changes in elevation are related to changes in near-surface soil carbonate (CaCO3) profiles. The objective is to describe a simple conceptual model and detailed protocol for repeatable field and laboratory measurements of these quantities. Here, accurate elevation is measured using a ground-based differential global positioning system (GPS); other data acquisition methods could be applied to the same basic method. Soil samples are collected from prescribed depth intervals and analyzed in the lab using an efficient and precise modified pressure-calcimeter method for quantitative analysis of inorganic carbon concentration. Standard statistical methods are applied to point data, and representative results show significant correlations between changes in soil surface layer CaCO3 and changes in elevation consistent with the conceptual model; CaCO3 generally decreased in depositional areas and increased in erosional areas. Maps are derived from point measurements of elevation and soil CaCO3 to aid analyses. A map of erosional and depositional patterns at the study site, a rain-fed winter wheat field cropped in alternating wheat-fallow strips, shows the interacting effects of water and wind erosion affected by management and topography. Alternative sampling methods and depth intervals are discussed and recommended for future work relating soil erosion and deposition to soil CaCO3.

Spatial patterns of soil erosion and deposition can be inferred from differences in ground elevation mapped at appropriate time increments. Such changes in elevation are related to changes in near-surface soil carbonates. Repeatable methods for field and laboratory measurements of these quantities and data analysis methods are described here.

Spatial patterns of soil erosion and deposition can be inferred from differences in ground elevation mapped at appropriate time increments. Such changes ...

Development of New Methods for Quantifying Fish Density Using Underwater Stereo-video Tools

The use of video camera systems in ecological studies of fish continues to gain traction as a viable, non-extractive method of measuring fish lengths and estimating fish abundance. We developed and implemented a rotating stereo-video camera tool that covers a full 360 degrees of sampling, which maximizes sampling effort compared to stationary camera tools. A variety of studies have detailed the ability of static, stereo-camera systems to obtain highly accurate and precise measurements of fish; the focus here was on the development of methodological approaches to quantify fish density using rotating camera systems. The first approach was to develop a modification of the metric MaxN, which typically is a conservative count of the minimum number of fish observed on a given camera survey. We redefine MaxN to be the maximum number of fish observed in any given rotation of the camera system. When precautions are taken to avoid double counting, this method for MaxN may more accurately reflect true abundance than that obtained from a fixed camera. Secondly, because stereo-video allows fish to be mapped in three-dimensional space, precise estimates of the distance-from-camera can be obtained for each fish. By using the 95% percentile of the observed distance from camera to establish species-specific areas surveyed, we account for differences in detectability among species while avoiding diluting density estimates by using the maximum distance a species was observed. Accounting for this range of detectability is critical to accurately estimate fish abundances. This methodology will facilitate the integration of rotating stereo-video tools in both applied science and management contexts.

We describe a new method for counting fishes, and estimating relative abundance (MaxN) and fish density using rotating stereo-video camera systems. We also demonstrate how to use distance from camera (Z distance) to estimate species-specific detectability.

The use of video camera systems in ecological studies of fish continues to gain traction as a viable, non-extractive method of measuring fish lengths and ...

The Plant Infection Test: Spray and Wound-Mediated Inoculation with the Plant Pathogen Magnaporthe Grisea

Plants possess a powerful system to defend themselves against potential threats by pathogenic fungi. For agriculturally important plants, however, current measures to combat such pathogens have proved too conservative and, thus, not sufficiently effective, and they can potentially pose environmental risks. Therefore, it is extremely necessary to identify host-resistance factors to assist in controlling plant diseases naturally through the identification of resistant germplasm, the isolation and characterization of resistance genes, and the molecular breeding of resistant cultivars. In this regard, there is need to establish an accurate, rapid, and large-scale inoculation method to breed and develop plant resistance genes. The rice blast fungal pathogen Magnaporthe grisea causes severe disease symptoms and yield losses. Recently, M. grisea has emerged as a model organism for studying the mechanisms of plant-fungal pathogen interactions. Hence, we report the development of a plant virulence test method that is specific for M. grisea. This method provides for both spray inoculation with a conidial suspension and wounding inoculation with mycelium cubes or droplets of conidial suspension. The key step of the wounding inoculation method for detached rice leaves is to make wounds on plant leaves, which avoids any interference caused by host penetration resistance. This spray/wounding protocol contributes to the rapid, accurate, and large-scale screening of the pathotypes of M. grisea isolates. This integrated and systematic plant infection method will serve as an excellent starting point for gaining a broad perspective of issues in plant pathology.

The Plant Infection Test: Spray and Wound-Mediated Inoculation with the Plant Pathogen Magnaporthe Grisea

Here, we present a protocol to test plant virulence with the plant pathogen Magnaporthe grisea. This report will contribute to the large-scale screening of the pathotypes of fungi isolates and serve as an excellent starting point for understanding the resistant mechanisms of plants during molecular breeding.

Plants possess a powerful system to defend themselves against potential threats by pathogenic fungi. For agriculturally important plants, however, current ...

Experimental Protocol for Examining Behavioral Response Profiles in Larval Fish: Application to the Neuro-stimulant Caffeine

Fish models and behaviors are increasingly used in the biomedical sciences; however, fish have long been the subject of ecological, physiological and toxicological studies. Using automated digital tracking platforms, recent efforts in neuropharmacology are leveraging larval fish locomotor behaviors to identify potential therapeutic targets for novel small molecules. Similar to these efforts, research in the environmental sciences and comparative pharmacology and toxicology is examining various behaviors of fish models as diagnostic tools in tiered evaluation of contaminants and real-time monitoring of surface waters for contaminant threats. Whereas the zebrafish is a popular larval fish model in the biomedical sciences, the fathead minnow is a common larval fish model in ecotoxicology. Unfortunately, fathead minnow larvae have received considerably less attention in behavioral studies. Here, we develop and demonstrate a behavioral profile protocol using caffeine as a model neurostimulant. Though photomotor responses of fathead minnows were occasionally affected by caffeine, zebrafish&#160;were markedly more sensitive for photomotor and locomotor endpoints, which responded at environmentally relevant levels. Future studies are needed to understand comparative behavioral sensitivity differences among fish with age and time of day, and to determine whether similar behavioral effects would occur in nature and be indicative of adverse outcomes at the individual or population levels of biological organization.

Here, we present a protocol to examine larval zebrafish and fathead minnow locomotor activities and photomotor responses (PMR) using an automated tracking software. When incorporated in common toxicology bioassays, analyses of these behaviors provide a diagnostic tool to examine chemical bioactivity. This protocol is described using caffeine, a model neurostimulant.

Fish models and behaviors are increasingly used in the biomedical sciences; however, fish have long been the subject of ecological, physiological and ...

Combining Eye-tracking Data with an Analysis of Video Content from Free-viewing a Video of a Walk in an Urban Park Environment

As individuals increasingly live in cities, methods to study their everyday movements and the data that can be collected becomes important and valuable. Eye-tracking informatics are known to connect to a range of feelings, health conditions, mental states and actions. But because vision is the result of constant eye-movements, teasing out what is important from what is noise is complex and data intensive. Furthermore, a significant challenge is controlling for what people look at compared to what is presented to them.
The following presents a methodology for combining and analyzing eye-tracking on a video of a natural and complex scene with a machine learning technique for analyzing the content of the video. In the protocol we focus on analyzing data from filmed videos, how a video can be best used to record participants&#39; eye-tracking data, and importantly how the content of the video can be analyzed and combined with the eye-tracking data. We present a brief summary of the results and a discussion of the potential of the method for further studies in complex environments.

The objective of the protocol is to detail how to collect video data for use in the laboratory; how to record eye-tracking data of participants looking at the data and how to efficiently analyze the content of the videos that they were looking at using a machine learning technique.

As individuals increasingly live in cities, methods to study their everyday movements and the data that can be collected becomes important and valuable. ...