Variation,geographical distribution and genetical analysis of esterase isozymes in foxtail millet,Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.

Summary The esterase isozymes of 432 strains of foxtail millet, Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv., collected from different areas throughout Eurasia, were investigated by gel isoelectric focusing. Five phenotypes were recognized, based on the combination of five major activity bands. Cross experiments among different phenotypes revealed these isozymes to be controlled by two codominant alleles and a null allele on the locus, Est-1, and three codominant alleles on another independent locus, Est-2. On locus Est-1, 388 strains had Est-1 ^a, 41 had Est-1 ^b and three had Est-1 ^null alleles. Est-1 ^a was widely distributed throughout Eurasia, while the distribution of Est-1 ^b and Est-1 ^null was distinctly restricted. On locus Est-2, 417 strains had Est-2 ^a, nine had Est-2 ^b and six had Est-2 ^c alleles. Est-2 ^a was widely distributed throughout Asia to Czechoslovakia, but was not detected in the western part of Europe. Est-2 ^b was found in all of the strains from the western part of Europe and in one of the Indian strains. Est-2 ^c was rarely found in Japan and China. The distribution of Est-2 ^a and -2 ^b might indicate some degree of phylogenetic differentiation between the Asian and the European strains. Polymorphism in both loci was observed only in Chinese strains.Contribution No. 30 from the Plant Germ-plasm Institute, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan     

Genotype dependent variation in mycorrhizal colonization and response to inoculation of pearl millet

Summary Genotypes of pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum L. Leeke) were examined for differences in vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) colonization and response to inoculation. For thirty genotypes tested across three field locations there was a range of mycorrhizal colonization intensity between 25 and 56%. In another experiment with two male-sterile lines, restorer lines and their derived crosses, grown in pots filled with non-sterilized soil there were significant differences between genotypes for colonization by mycorrhiza. This showed hostgenotype dependence for mycorrhizal colonization.Root growth rates, mycorrhizal root length, percentage root colonization and plant growth and P uptake were studied in ten genotypes. A set of 3 genotypes with similar root lengths varied significantly with regard to mycorrhizal root length and the percentage colonization. This supports the suggestion that VAM colonization and spread is dependent on the host genotype. The growth responses differed significantly between the genotypes and they also differed in their responses to P uptake and VAM inoculation. The utility of host-genotype dependent differences in VAM symbiosis in plant breeding is discussed.Journal Article No. 453     

Molecular organization of great millet (Sorghum vulgare) DNA

Approximately 52% of the nuclear genome of great millet(Sorghum vulgare) consists of repetitive DNA which can be grouped into very fast, fast and slow components. The reiteration frequencies of the fast and slow reassociating components are {dy7000} and 92 respectively. Approximately 90% of the genome consists of repeated sequences interspersed amongst themselves and with single copy sequences. The interspersed repeat sequences are of three sizesviz. > 1·5 kilobase pairs, 0·5–1·0 kilobase pairs and 0·15–0·30 kilobase pairs while the size of the single copy sequences is 3·0 kilobase pairs. Hence the genome organization of great millet is essentially of a mixed type NCL communication No. 3527.     

Isolation of mitochondrial DNA from cytoplasmic male sterile and maintainer lines of pearl millet,Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke

Summary Mitochondrial DNA has been isolated from paired lines of pearl millet maintainer and cytoplasmic male sterile plants. Evaluation of the DNA by agarose gel electrophoresis shows that good quality DNA of high molecular weight can be obtained from mitochondria of both maintainer and male sterile pearl millet.     

Effects of oxygen partial pressure and combined nitrogen on N2-fixation (C2H2) associated withZea mays and other gramineous species

Summary The objectives of this investigation were to determine the effects of oxygen partial pressure (pO₂) and combined nitrogen (NH ₄ ⁺ ) on rates of acetylene reduction (AR) associated with roots of intact corn, sorghum, and pearl millet plants. Soil-grown plants were carefully removed from soil and incubated hydroponically with the root system enclosed in a plastic cylinder; the tops were left exposed to ambient conditions. Oxygen concentrations around the root systems were controlled by sparging the nutrient solution with known quantities of O₂ in N₂. Ammonium nitrogen was added to the nutrient solution following establishment of AR rates to determine its effect on rates of N₂-fixation (AR). Substantial AR rates (0.1–1.5 mol C₂H₄ g dry wt^–1 h^–1) were associated with roots exposed to 0–2% O₂ (v/v) (0.0–2.02 kPa) in N₂ following at 12–24 h period of exposure to the reduced oxygen tension. Root systems exposed to air failed to demonstrate AR while those exposed to 100% N₂ showed lower activity than those at reduced pO₂ values. Addition of NH ₄ ⁺ (10–20 g N ml^–1 of nutrient solution) reduced AR by 75–90% within 24 h after addition. Oxygen uptake by roots exposed to low pO₂ was substantially reduced.     

DNA sequence organization in the genomes of three related millet plant species

Summary A major portion of the genomes of three millet species, namely, barn yard millet, fox tail millet and little millet has been shown to consist of interspersed repeat and single copy DNA sequences. The interspersed repetitive DNA sequences are both short (0.15–1.0 kilo base pairs, 62–64% and long (>1.5 kilo base pairs, 36–38%) in barn yard millet and little millet while in fox tail millet, only long interspersed repeats (>1.5 kilo base pairs) are present. The length of the interspersed single copy DNA sequences varies in the range of 1.6–2.6 kilo base pairs in all the three species. The repetitive duplexes isolated after renaturation of 1.5 kilo base pairs and 20 kilo base pairs long DNA fragments exhibit a high thermal stability with Tms either equal to or greater than the corresponding native DNAs. The S1 nuclease resistant repetitive DNA duplexes also are thermally stable and reveal the presence of only 1–2% sequence divergence.The present data on the modes of sequence arrangement in millets substantiates the proposed trend in plants, namely, plants with 1C nuclear DNA content of less than 5 picograms have diverse patterns of sequence organization while those with 1C nuclear DNA content greater than 5 picograms have predominantly a short period interspersion pattern.Abbreviations kbp kilobase pairs NCL Communication No. 3606.     

Fermentation of a composite finger millet-dairy beverage

Fermented composite beverages of finger millet and milk are popular, nutritious, traditional foods in many parts of Zimbabwe. With the aim of commercial production, we determined what type of microbial cultures can be used to ferment a composite finger millet and skimmed milk powder gruel and the optimum conditions for its production. Composites containing between 0 and 100% finger millet gruel by volume were inoculated and incubated at various temperatures. The desired pH of 4.5 or less was obtained with incubation at 30 to 45 °C (but not at lower temperatures) with lower pH values being obtained as the temperature increased. YC380 (a yoghurt type bacterial starter culture) produced a pH of 4.5 or less only when skim milk was also present; V2 (another yoghurt type bacterial starter culture) did so at all levels of finger millet gruel and JC (a mixed strain culture developed to ferment cereals) only when finger millet gruel was present. A clear relationship between incubation temperature and syneresis could not be established but syneresis decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing proportions of finger millet gruel. A thick product with a set consistency was obtained with YC380 at an incubation temperature of 45 °C and a storage temperature of 7 °C regardless of proportion of finger millet gruel. V2 produced a thick product with a set consistency at an incubation temperature of 45 °C, and storage temperature of 7 °C and when the proportions of finger millet gruel were between 0 and 50%. It appears that yoghurt type bacterial cultures can be successfully used to produce a composite fermented beverage from finger millet and skim milk, but cultures developed for fermentation of cereals are not suitable.     

谷子叶片光合速率日变化及水分利用效率

通过降低空气湿度（ 从约３０ ％ 减少到５ ％ ） 、增加ＣＯ２ 浓度（ 从４００ μｌ ＣＯ２／Ｌ增加到７３０ μｌ ＣＯ２／Ｌ） 、烫叶鞘破坏韧皮部等处理对谷子叶片光合速率日变化和水分利用效率（ＷＵＥ） 进行了研究, 发现中午光合速率降低与光合产物积累有关; 虽然低大气相对湿度（５ ％ ） 使光合速率有所降低,但提高了ＷＵＥ。而烫叶鞘使光合物质积累既抑制了光合速率,又降低了ＷＵＥ。     

谷子显性雄性不育基因“Ms~（ch）”的细胞质转换

通过种间杂交和连续置换回交,选育出具有轮生狗尾草（Ｓ,ｖｅｒｔｉｃｉｌｌａｔａ（Ｌ．）Ｂｅａｕｖ．）细胞质的谷子（Ｓｅｔａｒｉａｉｔａｌｉｃａ（Ｌ．）Ｂｅａｕｖ．）核质杂种,以带有上位基因Ｒｆ的显性核不育植株为父本与此核质杂种杂交,已将显性核不育基因导入轮生狗尾草细胞质中,从其分离后代中选出了具有显性核不育基因的新核质杂种,为谷子的三系选育和细胞质研究创造了新工具,也为核互作杂优利用增加了核质互作优势新机制。     

谷子不育系及其相应可育系小孢子发育的细胞学观察

以谷子2个品种的不育系及其保持系为材料,对其小孢子发育的细胞形态学进行了观察研究。结果表明:昭盟A花药的外部形态及花粉母细胞的发育过程与昭盟B相似,能形成外观正常的三核花粉,但其花药不能开裂散粉。石炮A表现出了败育时间和方式的多样性,且不育系与保持系间在花药长度上有显著差异。此外,两种不育系的维管束都表现出不同程度的发育不良。不良程度与药囊退化程度相关。