Partitioning of Carbon and Nitrogen During Growth and Development of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.)

Budgets for C and N were computed for pigeonpea (Cajanus cajanL.) at 15 d intervals, for the entire life cycle. Maximum Cand N in dry matter was observed at 90 d after sowing. Of theplants total respiratory loss during the vegetative phase, shoots,roots and nodules accounted for 65%, 23% and 12%, respectively.During the reproductive phases, the respiratory burden of theroots increased, while that of shoots and nodules decreased.Total respiratory loss as a proportion of net photosynthateremained more or less constant until ‘flowering and pod-setting’but increased heavily during seed filling, losing nearly 75%of the photosynthate in respiration. The efficiency of nitrogenfixation, in relation to respiratory output of the whole plantand nodulated roots, decreased during the period 60–90d after sowing, while that of nodules decreased from day 45onwards. Photosynthate supply to nodules and nodulated rootsincreased up to 75 d and 90 d after sowing, respectively. During45–90 d, nodules were fixing a constant proportion ofN per unit of C translocated (0.2 mg N mg^–1 C). Nodulatedroots, on an average, fixed 0.07 mg N mg^–1 C translocatedin the vegetative phase and this value decreased considerablyduring the subsequent phases. The crop produced during its lifecycle 50.4 g of glucose equivalents and yielded 3.8 g seed drymatter and 0.8 g seed protein giving an average of 13.2 g g^–1seed dry matter and 62.8 g g^–1 seed protein. Selectioncriteria for the improvement of C, N economy in pigeonpea havebeen suggested. Key words: Cajanus cajan, Carbon, Nitrogen, Dry weight, Plant parts, Growth, Development, Models     

Cytohistological correlation as a measure of quality assurance of a cytology laboratory

Cytohistological correlation as a measure of quality assurance of a cytology laboratory In a hospital-based cytology screening programme for the early detection of preinvasive lesions of the uterine cervix, 166 women with abnormal smears (human papillomavirus (HPV) changes, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and invasive carcinoma) were referred to the central colposcopy clinic between January 1989 and December 1991. The colposcopist (V.S.) was able to take a direct biopsy in 156 cases. In the remaining 10 cases, biopsy could not be taken because of unsatisfactory colposcopy. A cytohistological correlation was obtained in 121/156 (77.5%) cases, and the remaining 35 cases showed a disparity in diagnosis. These were reviewed by one of us (P.S.) and the reasons for underdiagnosis/false negatives and overdiagnosis/false-positive results were analysed. It was found that sampling error was the cause of false negativity and underdiagnosis in most cases, while interpretative errors resulted in the overdiagnosis and false-positive smears. The reasons for interpretative errors were studied in detail. Les corrélations cyto-histologiques comme mesure de l'assurance qualité dans un laboratoire de cytologie Dans le cadre d'un programme hospitalier de dépistage précoce des lésions précurseurs et des lésions invasives du col utérin, 166 femmes ayant un frottis anormal (lésions virales à HPV, CIN, carcinome infiltrant) ont été vues dans le service central de colposcopie entre janvier 1989 et décembre 1991. Dans 156 cas, le colposcopiste (VS) a pu réaliser une biopsie. Dans les 10 cas restants, la colposcopie n'était pas satisfaisante et la biopsie n'a pas été pratiquée. Une corrélation cyto-histologique a pu être établie dans 121 cas sur 156 (77, 5%) avec, dans 35 cas, constatation d'une discordance diagnostique. Ces cas ont été revus par l'un de nous (PS) et les raisons de cette sous-évaluation diagnostique/faux-négatifs et de surévaluation diagnostique/faux-positifs, ont été analysées. Cette analyse montre que le prélèvement est à l'origine des faux-négatifs et de la sous-évaluation diagnostique dans la majorité des cas, alors que l'erreur d'interprétation est responsable de la surévaluation diagnostique et des faux-positifs. Les sources d'erreur d'interprétation ont été étudiées dans le détail. Die Korrelation zwischen Zytologie und Histologie als Massnahme der Qualitatssicherung eines zytologischen Labors Im Rahmen des Screeningprogramms eines Krankenhauses wurden 166 Frauen mit auffälligen Befunden (HPV, CIN oder invasive Karzinome) zwischen Januar 1989 und Dezember 1991 einer zentralen Kolposkopieklinik überwiesen. Biopsien konnten in 156 Fällen gewonnen werden, während das kolposkopische Bild dies in 10 Fällen nicht rechtfertigte. Übereinstimmung zwischen Zytologie und Histologie wurde in 121/156 (77,5%) erzielt. Abweichungen ergaben sich in 35 Fällen, die genau analysiert wurden. Entnahmefehler verursachten die meisten falsch negativen und unterbewerteten Fälle, während falsch positive und zu hoch bewertete Fälle auf Interpretationsfehlern beruhten. Diese wurden genau studiert.     

Measurement of the Water Potential of Intact Plant Tissues1

A modified design of a thermocouple psychrometer is describedwhich utilizes the Peltier effect for producing an exceedinglysmall wet-bulb thermometer. The thermocouple assembly has beenreduced to miniature dimensions and the thermocouple chamberconsists of a silver cylinder (volume 0.06 cm³) whose base isformed by the material under observation. This makes it possibleto measure water potentials over limited surfaces of intactplant tissues, e.g. germinating pea seeds (Pisum sativum L.).The apparatus is capable of measuring water potentials downto a magnitude of about –6,000 joules/kg.³     

Effect of Nitrogen on Nitrate Reductase Activity in the Nodules and Leaves of Summer Moong (Vigna radiata)

The relation of the in vivo nitrate reductase (NR) activityto growth period was studied in the nodules and the leaves ofthe summer moong (Vigna radiata). The maximum NR activity wasobserved 31 days after sowing (DAS) in the leaves and 28 DASin the case of the nodules. In a pot experiment, the effectof the various nitrogen concentrations, namely 0, 3, 6, 9 and12 mg kg^–1 was studied on NR activity at three growthstages. The maximum NR activity was observed at 6 mg kg^–1N during the pre-flowering stage (26 DAS). Though the noduleshave higher NR activity, its expression was limited by substrateavailability. The NR activity in the leaf could be used as anindex of NR activity in the nodules. Nitrate reductase, nitrogen, nitrate, moong, Vigna radiata     

A new species of Porina from the Andaman Islands,India

A new species of foliicolous lichens, Porina andamanensis, from the Andaman Islands, India, is described and illustrated.     

Secondarily-forming Coated Vesicles in Ray Parenchyma Cells of Pinus radiata Needle Traces

Coated vesicles in ray parenchyma cells of Pinus radiata needletraces were observed to form secondarily from smooth vesicles.The nascent coated vesicles were seen as small protrusions ofthe bounding membrane of smooth vesicles. Initially they wereellipsoidal or dome shaped, later becoming spheroidal. Althougha coat was observable at the spheroidal stage the coat was mostpronounced in vesicles that had separated from parent smoothvesicles. Coated vesicles were most common near dictyosomeswhere they were often seen in stages of formation from smoothvesicles and in the cortical cytoplasm near the plasmalemma.The plasmalemma developed small protrusions some of which appearedcoated at the cytoplasmic face. Coated vesicles, Pinus radiata, needle trace, ray parenchyma     

The Role of ABA in the Control of Apple Seed Dormancy Re-appraised by Combined Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Measured by GC—MS²—SIR³, endogenous ABA⁴ in embryonicaxes of seeds of Malus pumila L. cv. Golden Delicious decreased8-fold and cotyledon ABA by only 60%, during 10–50 d ofstratification at 5 ?C, after ABA leaching during an initial24 h soaking. During stratification, the percentage germinationof embryos transferred to 17?C showed a significant linear dependenceon log_e of ABA levels in the axes at transfer. Between 50 and70 d, ABA levels increased markedly in axes and testa both ofstratified seeds and seeds allowed to re-dry at 17 ?C afterinitial soaking. The ability of fully stratified axes with elevatedendogenous ABA to germinate indicated that stratification haddecreased their ABA sensitivity. Changes in cotyledon ABA couldnot account for the promotory effect of cotyledons on germinationduring the first 30 d of stratification. Loss of testa inhibitionof germination during stratification was not linked with changesin testa ABA. Stratification markedly increased the sequestrationin the axes of exogenous ABA supplied via the cotyledons. Changesboth in axis ABA levels and sensitivity were thus correlatedwith dormancy release, but subject to modifying control by thecotyledons and testa not involving ABA. Rehydration of driedseeds affected axis ABA later during storage via mechanismsunconnected with dormancy. Key words: ABA, seed dormancy, stratification     

Efficacy of carboxin and heat treatment for controlling the growth of Sclerotium rolfsii during culture of the mushroom Pleurotus flabellatus

Soaking paddy straw for 18 h in a carboxin suspension in water (5 mg a.i./l) effectively controlled the growth of Sclerotium rolfsii occurring as a natural contaminant in paddy straw, during culture of the mushroom Pleurotus flabellatus. Carboxin at this concentration delayed sporophore formation by 2–3 days, but did not affect total yield. No detectable carboxin residues were found in the mushrooms grown on the treated paddy straw. Treatment of the paddy straw with hot water at 60°C for 10 min completely controlled the contaminant without affecting mushroom growth and yield; but 20 mm treatments with hot air at 60°C or heating with the steam to 75–80°C did not control S. rolfsii.     

Mating Systems and Distribution in some Tropical Ferns

Applying mating system genetics as the tool, three tropicalferns, namely, Ceratopteris thalictroides, Pseudodrynaria coronansand Pityrogramma calomelanos were examined for their distributionalpatterns. Absence of recessive lethals in the sporophytes ofP. colomelanos allows its spores to function as a single propagulein the colonization of open habitats through intra-gametophyticselfing and it is widely distributed. The phenomenon of leakylethality and ultimately recessive sporophytic lethality inP. coronans is associated with a restricted distribution ofthe species in the forest. Ecological specialization in thecase of C. thalictroides also renders it a poor colonizer thoughits mating system is directed towards intergemetophytic selfingwith capacity in time for intra-gametophytic selfing.