Action cascade of an insect gonadotropin,testis ecdysiotropin,in male Lepidoptera

Summary

Testis sheaths from late last instar larvae and mid-developing pupae of Heliothis virescens and Lymantria dispar synthesize ecdysteroid in vitro. Gonadal ecdysteroid can stimulate the production of growth factors from the sheaths which, in turn, promote the growth and development of the genital tract. Ongoing basal synthesis is controlled by positive feedback to exogenous ecdysteroid; titers of this hormone approaching those of molting last instar larvae and developing pupae effect maximum synthesis. These findings suggest that circulating titers of ecdysteroid hormone promote gonadal ecdysteroidogenesis, and thus coordinate the actions of the gonads with metamorphic events in the whole animal. Synthesis of ecdysteroid by testes is initiated, however, by a brain neuropeptide, testis ecdysiotropin (TE). TE is a 21 amino acid peptide of molecular weight 2472 Da. TE boosts basal steroid synthesis by pupal testis sheaths as well. It acts primarily via G_i protein and second messengers diacyl glycerol and low calcium influx, resulting in stimulation of phosphokinase C. G_s protein and its resultant messenger, cyclic AMP, also play roles in activation and inhibition of ecdysteroidogenesis. The interplay of controlling systems probably serves to fine tune a system essential to gonadal development and function.     

A Temperature Effect on the Expression of Genotypic Differences in Flowering Induction in Antirrhinum majus

Three inbred lines of Antirrhinum majus and the F₁ generationsof crosses between them were scored for flowering time in ninegreenhouse and garden experiments. The inbreds fell into twogroups, the difference between which showed a marked interactionwith environments. The two lines (An 105, An 106) which weresimilar were earlier flowering than the third line (An 101)in those environments which produced generally early flowering,but were later than An 101 when the environmental conditionsled to late flowering. In all cases the F₁ generations wereat least as early as the earlier parent. Cabinet experiments identified temperature as the importantenvironmental factor when day length was kept constant at 16h. At 25°C, An 105 and An 106 were earlier than An 101 whileat 12°C, at which temperature the average flowering timewas much later, An 101 was earlier. The F₁ generations werelike An 105 and An 106 at 25°C but showed heterosis at 12°C. The differences in flowering time between genotypes were inall cases established by the time the first reproductive budsbecame visible (budding time). Thus a temperature differencewell outside the range of vernalizing temperatures is havinga striking effect on the phenotypic expression of genotypicdifferences determining the transition from vegetative to floweringdevelopment.     

THE FUNDAMENTAL THEOREM OF NATURAL SELECTION

The fundamental theorem of natural selection was a valiant attempt by R. A. Fisher to fit a quart into a pint pot
The present author reviewing Population Genetics by Ewens, 1969 a (Edwards, 1969).
Many authors have maintained that the theorem holds only under very special conditions, while only a few (e.g. Edwards, 1967) have thought that Fisher may have been correct – if only we could understand what he meant! It will be shown here that this latter view is correct
Price, 1972.
My own reason for not including a planned chapter on the fundamental theorem is… [ that ] in spite of many efforts I am still not satisfied that I am able to provide an account that does the theorem justice
The present author in the Epilogue to Foundations of Mathematical Genetics (Edwards, 1977).     

Female polymorphism, condition differences, and variation in male harassment and ambient temperature

Female polymorphism is considered to be maintained through negative frequency-dependent selection imposed by costly male harassment. However, few studies have questioned whether male harassment negatively affects female morph success and does so differently for female morphs, especially in the wild. In the present study, we quantified female morph condition (relative body mass and energy reserves) for a colour polymorphic damselfly under natural conditions and evaluated these measures against variation in proxies of male harassment (population density and operational sex ratio) and ambient temperature. Differences in protein content between female morphs were detected and the variation in condition could partly be explained from concomitant variation in proxies of male harassment. Specifically, the relationship between protein content and operational sex ratio differed between morphs in that the negative effect of male harassment was more pronounced in gynomorphs than in andromorphs. In addition, ambient temperature affected the body mass and protein content of female morphs differently, with andromorphs having higher condition values in favourable weather conditions, whereas, for gynomorphs, the patterns tended to be opposite. In conclusion, the results obtained in the present study suggest that male harassment negatively and differentially affects female morph success. Future studies should aim to elucidate whether the observed effects of ambient temperature contribute to the maintenance of the polymorphism.  © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2009, 97 , 545–554.     

Some botanical reference works

This list contains some of the major botanical reference works. It is a list that is far from complete. A botanical equivalent to Smith & Painter's Guide to the literature of the zoological sciences is needed.     

Stomatal Responses to Humidity and the Water Potentials of Epidermal and Mesophyll Tissue

Effects of ambient humidity on relative water contents (RWC)and water potentials were measured separately for epidermaland mesophyll tissues in leaves of two species. Water potentialsdid not always change in the same direction as RWC within thesame tissue and rarely were the changes in water potential andRWC of one tissue correlated with those of the other. The natureof the humidity responses of stomata in certain species is discussedin relation to these results and to the anatomical propertiesof epidermal tissues.