In situ primary production in young Antarctic sea ice

An in situ incubation technique used successfully to measure the photosynthetic carbon assimilation of internal algal assemblages within thick multiyear Arctic ice was developed and improved to measure the photosynthetic carbon assimilation within young sea ice only 50 cm thick (Eastern Weddell Sea, Antarctica). The light transmission was improved by the construction of a cylindrical frame instead of using a transparent acrylic-glass barrel. The new device enabled some of the first precise measurements of in situ photosynthetic carbon assimilation in newly formed Antarctic sea ice, which is an important component in the sea ice ecosystem of the Antarctic Ocean. The rates of carbon assimilation of the interior algal assemblage (top to 5 cm from bottom) was 0.25 mg C m^–2 d^–1 whereas the bottom algal community (lowest 5 cm) attained only 0.02 mg C m^–2 d^–1. Chl a specific production rates (P^Chl) for bottom algae (0.020 – 0.056 g C g chl a ^–1 h^–1) revealed strong light limitation, whereas the interior algae (P^Chl = 0.7 – 1.2 g C g chl a ^–1 h^–1) were probably more limited by low temperatures (< –5 °C) and high brine salinities.     

Tissue culture ofKarwinskia humboldtiana—a plant producing toxins with antitumoural effects

Isolated embryos ofKarwinskia humboldtiana were cultured in vitro. The growth of embryos and development to plantlets on woody plant medium supplemented with indole-3-acetic acid 6.10^-2 mol l^–1, gibberellic acid (GA₃) 3.10^-2 mol l^–1, and 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) 2 mol l^–1 was obtained. Multiplication of shoots and rooting of excised shoots has been achieved. Callus formation on modified Murashige-Skoog medium supplemented with 1-naphthaleneacetic acid 10 mol l^–1, GA₃ 14 mol l^–1, and kinetin 5 mol l^–1 on hypocotyls, or on root cultures on medium supplemented with 2.4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid 10 mol l^–1 and BA 10 mol l^–1 was induced.Abbreviations BA 6-benzylaminopurine - 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - GA₃ gibberellic acid - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - NAA 1-naphthaleneacetic acid - TEM transmission electron microscopy     

In vitro comparison of ceftazidime,aztreonam, cefpirome,gentamicin, imipenem,enoxacin, and ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid against 108 strains ofPseudomonas maltophilia

Pseudomonas maltophilia is an uncommon cause of hospital-acquired infection and is resistant to most of the antimicrobial agents used in the treatment of gram-negative infections. Susceptibility of 108 isolates ofP. maltophilia to ceftazidime, aztreonam, defpirome, gentamicin, imipenem, enoxacin, and ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid was determined by an agar dilution method. The isolates were in general resistant to the antibiotics. Imipenem and cefpirome were not active at clinically achievable levels. Of the isolates, 20% were susceptible to 16 g/ml ceftazidime, 53% were susceptible to 4 g/ml enoxacin, 10% were susceptible to 4 g/ml gentamicin, and 25% were susceptible to 64 g/ml ticarcillin plus 2 g/ml clavulanic acid.     

Grazing by a dominant rotifer Conochilus unicornis Rousselet in a mountain lake: in situ measurements with synthetic microspheres

Grazing rates of zooplankton were analysed in the summer of 1999 in Yellow Belly Lake, an oligotrophic system in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho (U.S.A.). The colonial rotifer Conochilus unicornis was a dominant species in the epilimnion, with densities reaching 20 colonies l^–1 (ca. 400 ind. l^–1). Clearance rates were measured with an in situ Haney Grazing chamber and synthetic microspheres 5, 9 and 23m in diameter. At epilimnetic temperatures of around 14 °C, mean clearance rates for 5m particles ranged from 30 to 65 l ind.^–1 h ^–1. Clearance rates were 2–9 times higher on the 5m spheres than on the 9 m spheres, and C. unicornis almost never fed on the 23 m spheres. Grazing rates did not change over the diel cycle. Clearance rates declined more than 10-fold as temperatures declined from 14 °C in the epilimnion to 7 °C in the metalimnion. In the epilimnion, grazing by C. unicornis was more important than grazing by crustaceans in the community, at least on particles 9m. The results show the importance of grazing by rotifers in lakes, and the significance of spatial variations that influence grazing rates.     

Uptake of sewage derived nitrogen by<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Ulva rigida</Emphasis> (Chlorophyceae) in Bahía Nueva (Golfo Nuevo,Patagonia, Argentine)

Uptake kinetics of nitrogen derived from sewage–seawater mixtures (2.5–20% v/v effluent) were determined in the laboratory for Ulva rigida (Chlorophyceae) native from Bahía Nueva (Golfo Nuevo, Patagonia, Argentine). In terms of nitrogen concentration, experimental enrichment levels varied between 53.7 and 362.3M of ammonium and between 0.77 and 6.21M of nitrate+nitrite. Uptake rates were fitted to the Michaelis–Menten equation, with the following kinetic parameters: ammonium: V_max = 591.2molg^–1h^–1, K _s=262.3M, nitrate+nitrite: V _max=12.9molg^–1h^–1, K _s=3.5M). Both nutrients were taken up simultaneously, but ammonium incorporation was faster in all cases. The results show a high capability of Ulva rigida to remove sewage-derived nitrogen from culture media. In the field, most of the nitrogen provided by the effluent would be tied up in algal biomass, supporting low nitrogen levels found at a short distance away from the source.     

Callus induction and plant regeneration in Vetiveria zizanioides

Callus induction was obtained from basal parts of Vetiveria zizanioides Stapf. leaves cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 9.0 M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-d), 5.7 M indoleacetic acid (IAA) and 4.6 M kinetin. Calli were maintained on MS medium with the addition of 0.9 M 2,4-d and 2.3 M kinetin. Shoot formation was obtained from fast growing 14-day-old callus on the same basal medium supplemented with 0.9 M 2,4-d and 9.3 M kinetin. Embryo-like structures were observed. When transferred to basal medium, shoots readily developed roots. Fully developed regenerated plants were then successfully established in soil.     

Influence of nitrogen on the behaviour of nickel in wheat

A glasshouse experiment was conducted to study the effect of Ni on the growth and nutrients concentration in wheat (Triticum aestivum Cv. WH 291) in the presence and absence of applied N as urea. Responses to N application were observed up to 120 g N g^–1 soil. No response to Ni was observed in the dry matter yield of wheat tops (leaves + stem) in the absence of applied N while in the presence of applied N, significant yield increases were obtained at 12.5g Ni g^–1 soil. Nickel was not toxic to wheat up to 50g Ni g^–1 soil in the presence of 120g N g^–1 soil. Nitrogen and Ni concentration in wheat tops and roots increased with increasing levels of applied N and Ni, respectively. Applied Ni had an antagonistic effect on N concentration. Similarly, N reduced the Ni concentration in the wheat tissues. Positive growth responses to Ni were associated with 22 and 15g Ni g^–1 in wheat tops, in the presence of applied N at 60 and 120g N g^–1 soil, while Ni toxicity was associated with 63, 92.5 and 112.5g Ni g^–1 in wheat tops, in the absence and presence of applied N at 60 and 120g N g^–1 soil, respectively.     

Studies on structure activity relationship of some dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin antioxidants based on their interaction with Fe(III) and ADP

Three dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin (DHMC) derivatives, namely 7,8-DHMC, 6,7-DHMC and 5,7-DHMC alone and complexed with Fe (III) and ADP have been tested for their antioxidative potential. Chemical speciation studies and formation constants reveal the formation of strong DHMC–Fe–ADP (1:1:1) ternary complex. In vitro studies were done for their antioxidative property by scavenging the superoxide radicals (O ₂ ^– ) generated by xanthine + xanthine oxidase (XO) reaction. The IC₅₀ values for 7,8-DHMC, 6,7-DHMC and 5,7-DHMC and their ternary complexes with Fe (III)–ADP worked out to be 34.0 M, 62.0 M, 8.80 mM and 10.5, 11.5 and 148.5 M, respectively. The results indicate that O ₂ ^– scavenging potential of all the three DHMCs increased significantly after forming the ternary complex with Fe(III) and ADP. The structure activity relationship studies suggest that the introduction of hydroxyl group at 7th and 8th positions in the coumarins, irrespective of Fe(III)–ADP complexation, increases the antioxidative efficacy. No change in uric acid production in the reactions done for all studies further reveals that the coumarin derivatives and their complexes were the only causative factors for O ₂ ^– scavenging and not the suppression of the enzyme, xanthine oxidase.Published online: March 2005     

Shoot,root and flower morphogenesis on tomato inflorescence explants

Regeneration of de novo shoots, roots and flowers has been obtained on inflorescence explants of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and -naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) were added in a 3×3×3 factorial combination with kinetin, each at 0.001, 0.1 and 10 M concentrations. Direct shoot formation occurred on media with 10 M kinetin and 0.001 M IAA or NAA. Root formation was observed on media with 0.1–10 M IAA, IBA or NAA. Flower formation occurred on elongated shoots with several leaves on media with 10 M IAA and 0.1 M kinetin. Shoot organogenesis was increased by substituting 10 M zeatin or N⁶-benzyladenine (BA) for kinetin. Eleven tomato cultivars were tested for their ability to undergo de novo shoot regeneration on the improved medium. All tomato cultivars were capable of shoot morphogenesis with a mean number of shoots per explant that ranged from 1.3 (Red Alert) to 5.3 (Large Red Cherry). Histological studies revealed that active cell divisions occurred in subepidermal and cambial tisue during the first week of culture. Meristematic centers of dividing cells were evident by day 14, and well-developed shoot apices and leaf structures were observed on 50% of the explants 28 days after culture initiation.Abbreviations BA N⁶-benzyladenine - IAA Indole-3-acetic acid - IBA Indole-3-butyric acid - 2iP N⁶-[²-isopentyl]adenine - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - PGR plant growth regulator     

In vitro propagation of Anacardium occidentale L.

Multiple buds have been induced from cotyledonary nodes of cashew, Anacardium occidentale L. Maximum number of buds were initiated on Murashige & Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with 117 mM sucrose, 14.6 mM maltose and 22.2 M BA. The buds were harvested at each subculture after elongation on MS medium supplemented with 100 ml l^-1 coconut water, 14.6 mM maltose, increased sucrose (146 mM) and decreased BA (4.4 M). Excised microshoots were rooted in vitro on MS medium in the presence of 117 mM sucrose, 2.9 M IAA and 4.9 M IBA. Plantlets have been successfully transferred to soil and have been established in the field.     

Clonal propagation of Callistemon by tissue culture techniques

Callus development in Callistemon viminalis was readily achieved when axillary buds derived from nodal tissue were placed in a medium containing macro- and micro-nutrients, sucrose (0.06 M), inositol (300 M), nicotinic acid (20 M), pyridoxine hydrochloride (3 M), thiamine hydrochloride (2 M), riboflavin (10 M), cytokinins (5 M) and auxins (0.1 M). The presence of benzylaminopurine (5 M) and p-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (0.1 M) promoted the most vigorous callus development and sprout formation. Rooting of nodal material was rare but occurred readily following the transference of sprouts developed on callus to a basal medium containing sucrose and salts. Root initiation was stimulated, however, by the presence of auxins. Chlorophenoxyacetic acid while stimulating root initiation repressed root growth. Indole butyric acid stimulated both root initiation and shoot growth at concentrations of 0.005 to 0.1 M. The treatment of choice for rooting and shoot growth was the addition of indole butyric acid at a concentration of 0.01 M.     

Polyamines and proline are affected by cadmium stress in nodules and roots of soybean plants

The effect of moderate (50 M) and high (200 M) doses of Cd were studied in relation to polyamine (Pas) metabolism, proline level and the glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase system (GS/GOGAT) activity in nodules and roots of soybean plants during 6 days of treatment. The lower Cd concentration increased putrescine (Put) in both nodules and roots, while 200 M Cd increased Spm only in nodules and Put in roots. Spermidine (Spd) decreased in roots under both Cd concentrations. Arginine decarboxylase (ADC) and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) were both involved in Put biosynthesis in roots. In nodules, Put formation could mainly be attributed to ODC activity. Diamine oxidase (DAO) activity was severely reduced by 50 and 200 M Cd either in nodules or roots. The GS/GOGAT system activity was depressed either with 50 or 200 M Cd, but most significantly with the highest metal concentration. Under 200 M Cd, GS activity decayed to 25% or 60% of the control in nodules and roots, respectively, while GOGAT decreased 85% in nodules and 79% in roots by day 4 of treatment. Ammonium increased greatly in nodules (200% over the controls) and roots (100%) under 200 M Cd. Proline concentration increased significantly in nodules and roots under both Cd treatments, more markedly under 200 M Cd. The relationship between Pas and proline accumulation and nitrogen assimilation is discussed.     

Problems in estimating growth rates of marine phytoplankton from short-term14C assays

Growth rate estimates () of phytoplankton populations that were sampled from nitrogen-limited continuous cultures and then incubated for short durations in batch culture with added¹⁴C-HCO₃ ^– were significantly different than steady-state growth rates () for 3 of 5 marine phytoplankton species. Two diatoms,Thalassiosira weissflogii andChaetoceros simplex, displayed virtually identical growth rates (=) over a wide range of, whereas for a third diatom,Phaeodactylum tricornutum, was overestimated by an average of 40% compared to. In contrast, was underestimated by the¹⁴C technique for the two remaining species: up to 40% at a steady-state of 1.0 day^–1 for the chlorophyteDunaliella tertiolecta and up to 100% at of 1.4 day^–1 for the haptophytePavlova lutheri. For the latter two species the divergence between and appeared to increase with increasing steady-state. A simple model of labeled and total carbon flow between the aqueous phase and cellular biomass was constructed to demonstrate that respiration was negligible when=, but was significant when>. In the cases in which<, a rapid physiological alteration presumably took place once the steady state was disturbed and cells were placed in the incubation chambers, which perhaps was related to the nutritional state of the cultures at the time of sampling. Questions thus are raised regarding our ability to measure accurately primary productivity from shipboard experiments with confined samples of phytoplankton from nutrient-impoverished waters that probably are less hardy than the laboratory cultures used in these studies.     

First survey on the natural occurrence of Fusarium mycotoxins in Bulgarian wheat

Wheat for human consumption (140 samples) was collected after harvest from all regions of Bulgaria. The 1995 crop year was characterized by heavy rainfall in the spring and summer months. The internal mycoflora of wheat samples was dominated by Fusarium spp. and Alternaria spp., and storage fungi were rarely present. The samples were analysed for contamination with Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-AcDON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-AcDON), T-2 Toxin (T-2), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), and zearalenone (ZEA), using enzyme immunoassay methods. DON and ZEA were the predominant toxins, with a contamination frequency of 67% and 69%, respectively. The average levels of these toxins in positive samples were 180 g/kg (DON) and 17 g/kg (ZEA), maximum concentrations were 1800 g kg^–1 and 120 g kg^–1, respectively. Acetyl derivatives of DON, namely 3-AcDON and 15-AcDON, were found in 2.1 % and 0.7% of the samples, at at maximum level of about 100 g kg^–1. Only one sample was positive for T-2 (55 g/kg), DAS was not detected. This is the first report about the natural occurrence of a range of Fusarium mycotoxins in wheat for human consumption in Bulgaria.Abbreviations 3-AcDON 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol - 15-AcDON 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol - DAS diacetoxyscirpenol - DON deoxynivalenol - EIA enzyme immunoassay - T-2 T-2 toxin - ZEA zearalenone     

The effect of triacontanol on micropropagation of Capsicum frutescens and Decalepis hamiltonii W & A

We studied the effect of triacontanol (TRIA) on shoot multiplication and rooting of in vitro derived shoot tips of Capsicum frutescens and Decalepis hamiltonii W & A. In both shoot multiplication and rooting phases, TRIA was administered at 2-20 g l^–1. TRIA resulted in highest promotion of axillary shoot proliferation at 2 g l^–1 in Capsicum frutescens and 20 g l^–1 in Decalepis hamiltonii while rooting was maximum at 5 and 10 g l^–1 for Capsicum frutescens and Decalepis hamiltonii respectively. TRIA enhanced shoot growth and chlorophyll content of leaves and also influenced root induction and supported growth of the roots. This work reveals that TRIA can be used as an effective growth regulator in the micropropagation of Capsicum frutescens and Decalepis hamiltonii, an endangered shrub of Deccan peninsular India.     

Axillary shoot induction and plant regeneration in Plantago ovata Forssk

Axillary shoot induction and plant regeneration were obtained in Plantago ovata. The optimum medium for inducing axillary shoots was Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium [5] supplemented with 4.6 M kinetin and 0.05 M NAA. Rooting of shoots was best on half-strength MS medium containing 5.0 M IBA and 0.05 M kinetin. The regenerated plants were similar to the control plants in karyotypic and phenotypic details.     

Changes with age in the absorption spectrum of chlorophyll α in a diatom

Summary Absorption spectra of a young and an old culture of the diatom Pheodactylum tricornutum were measured in thin layers between two opal glass sheets. The spectra at 24° and at -196°C were replotted to give equal areas from 730–625 m to allow direct comparison. At 24°C the spectrum for the difference between the two cultures had a negative component of 18 m half width centered at 675 m and a positive region of W_0.5=26 m near 700 m.The spectra at -196°C may be somewhat distorted by clumping of the cells during freezing but nevertheless the 16 day culture clearly showed a smaller proportion of Ca 670 to Ca 680. This older culture has a shoulder due to a 707 m component. The difference curve at -196°C shows the decrease of an unsymmetrical band peaking at 669 m and an increase at 695 m in addition to the 707 m component. Due to the possibility of distortion, the presence of an actual component at 695 is doubtful in these particular cultures.The room temperature spectrum in the chloropyhll a region for the 5 day culture can be closely fitted by a single probability curve at 675 m having a half-width of 31 m. The sum of two components, with widths more reasonable for chlorophylls, also matched the data well enough. These two probability curves, of 22 m half width, centered on 669 and 683.2 m and had a height ratio, h₆₆₉/h₆₈₃ of 1.18. In the 16 day culture the ratio for these bands changed to 1.11 and there was extra absorption around 700 m.Dedicated to Professor C. B. van Niel on the occasion of his 70th birthday     

In vitro micropropagation of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Sprengel.: Comparison between two methodologies

In vitro micropropagation of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi was performed to increase the number of ground cover species able to serve as substitute for members of the Rosaceae susceptible to fire blight. Explants (node segments) excised from plants growing in the greenhouse were established in vitro on a medium containing 10 M -naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and activated charcoal (2 g I^-1). Using in vitro grown shoots, two propagation procedures were used:- Culture of nodal fragments with 50 M NAA resulted in the growth of 6 to 7 nodes every 4 weeks, yielding 1 700 almost rootable shoots after 4 subcultures;- Development of axillary shoots obtained with media containing 25 M benzyladenine (BA) and 20 M indoleacetic acid (IAA) yielded almost 500 rootable shoots after 4 subcultures. The rate of propagation decreased after the 3^rd subculture.Percentage of in vitro rooted shoots reached 98% with diluted micronutrients and 10 M NAA but 31% of the plants died during acclimatization.Abbreviations BA benzyladenine - BM basal medium - HID high intensity discharge - IAA indoleacetic acid - IBA indolebutyric acid - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - PAR photosynthetic active radiation - 2iP 2-isopentenyladenine     

Clearance rates of bacteria-sized particles by freshwater ciliates,measured with monodisperse fluorescent latex beads

Summary Monodisperse fluorescent latex particles with diameters of 0.57 and 1.04 m have been used to measure the clearance rates of bacteria-sized particles by two ciliates from a Norwegian lake. The clearance rates by Epistylis rotans on these particles were in the range 0.23 to 1.26 l ind^-1h^-1, and by Strombidium sp. 0.26 to 0.90 l ind^-1 h^-1. The clearance rates varied with food level and temperature. Possibilities and limitations of the suggested method are discussed.     

Development of high frequency multiple shoot formation in Persian clover (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trifolium resupinatum</Emphasis> L.)

An efficient and reliable micropropagation system for Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum L.) was developed using different explants and media. Node, hypocotyl and cotyledonary node explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with combinations of either 6-benzyladenine (BA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or BA, Kinetin (KIN) and IBA. Direct multiple shoots developed within 6weeks in all explants in most media tested. The best shoot multiplication capacity was obtained from cotyledonary node explants on MS medium containing 7.1M BA and 1M IBA or 14.1M BA and 1M IBA. Elongated shoots were rooted on either MS medium alone or combination with different concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and -naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). High rooting was achieved in half strength MS medium containing 8M IBA.