Intraspecific larval competition in two solitary parasitoids, Apoanagyrus (Epidinocarsis) lopezi and Leptomastix dactylopii

Analysis of total aromatic amino acid (free and bound) in some cucumber accessions selected previously for resistance to western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) [Thysanoptera: Thripidae], indicated that low concentrations of these essential nutrients, relative to total leaf protein, were correlated with a reduction in damage by the insect. Further analysis of samples of four important horticultural crops (lettuce, tomato, pepper and cucumber) with unknown levels of resistance to thrips showed a significant genotypic variation in the concentrations of total aromatic amino acids relative to the total leaf protein. Accessions from each crop with low or high concentrations of aromatic amino acids in proteins were exposed to thrips larvae. Regression analysis showed a highly significant positive correlation between aromatic amino acid concentration in leaf protein and thrips damage, regardless of crop species. It is concluded that higher concentrations of aromatic amino acids in plant proteins are important for successful thrips development. These results provide plant breeders with a promising tool for indirect selection without using undesirable insect bioassays.     

Lipid changes in mature-green bell pepper fruit during chilling at 2°C and after transfer to 20°C subsequent to chilling

Lipid composition and pigment content in bell pepper ( Capsicum annuum L. cv. Bell Tower) fruit that were freshly harvested, chilled 14 days at 2° C. or chilled and then transferred to 20 °C for 3 days ("rewarmed") were determined. There was slight to moderate loss of membrane glycerolipids during chilling, with much greater losses after chilled fruit was rewarmed. Galactolipid (GL) loss exceeded that of phospholipid (PL). The ratio of monogalactosyl -to digalactosyl-diacylglycerol did not change in chilled or in rewarmed fruit, and there was no chlorophyll loss, but the amount of neutral carotenes declined during chilling and dropped further alter rewarming. Only minor changes in total membrane sterols (TMS = free sterols + steryl glycosides + acylated steryl glycosides) were noted in chilled and in rewarmed fruit (a small increase followed by a small decrease), but major changes occurred in sterol glycosylation and esterification. The ratio of stigmasterol to sitosterol increased during chilling and rose further after rewarming. Due to PL loss, the ratios of TMS and free sterols to PL increased in rewarmed fruit. The ratio of linolenate (18:3) to linoleate (18:2) rose during chilling and after rewarming in all fatty-acyl lipids (GL. PL. and acylated steryl glycosides), but the unsaturation index increased only in GL. These results indicate that most membrane damage occurs after rewarming of chilled fruit and that the chloroplasts are especially chilling sensitive.     

辣椒四个品种的核型研究

本文对我国栽培辣椒Capsicum annuum L.的四个品种即汉川椒、华椒一号、牛角椒和二金条进行了核型分析,其染色体数目均为2n=2x=24,核型公式均为2n=24=20m+2sm+2st,但汉川椒和华椒一号具一对随体,牛角椒和二金条具两对随体。本文还对它们的进化关系进行了讨论。     

辣椒四个品种的核型研究

本文对我国栽培辣椒Capsicum annuum L.的四个品种即汉川椒、华椒一号、牛角椒和二金条进行了核型分析,其染色体数目均为2n=2x=24,核型公式均为2n=24=20m+2sm+2st,但汉川椒和华椒一号具一对随体,牛角椒和二金条具两对随体。本文还对它们的进化关系进行了讨论。     

Influence of Initial Population Densities of Meloidogyne incognita on Three Chile Cultivars

The effects of Meloidogyne incognita on the Big Jim, Jalapeno, and New Mexico No. 6 chile (Capsicum annuum) cultivars were investigated in microplots for two growing seasons. All three cultivars were susceptible to M. incognita and reacted similarly to different initial populations of this nematode. Severe stunting and yield suppressions occurred at all initial M. incognita densities tested ranging from 385 to 4,230 eggs and larvae/500 cm³ soil. Regression analysis of the microplot data from a sandy loam soil showed yield losses of 31% for the 1978 season and 25% for the 1979 season for the three cultivars for each 10-fold increase in the initial population of M. incognita.     

Water-relation parameters of giant and normal cells of Capsicum annuum pericarp

Abstract. Measurements of the water-relation parameters of the giant subepidermal cells (volume, V = 0.119 to 1.658 mm³; = 0.53±0.35 mm³, SD, n = 23) and the smaller mesocarp parenchyma cells ( V = 0.10 to 0.79×10⁻³ mm³; = 0.36±0.27×10⁻³ mm³, SD, n = 6) of the inner pericarp surface of Capsicum annuum L. were made using the Jülich pressure probe. The volumetric elastic modulus ɛ for the large cells was between 1.5 and 27 MPa for a pressure range of 0.09 to 0.41 MPa. For the small cells ɛ was 0.1 to 0.6 MPa for a pressure range of 0.22 to 0.39 MPa. The turgor pressure P , the half-time of water exchange T _1/2, and the hydraulic conductivity L _p were as follows, with SD and number of replicates: large cells, P = 0.27±0.06 MPa (23), T _1/2=2.7±2.2 s (46), L _p=5.8±3.7 pm s⁻¹ Pa⁻ (46); small cells, P = 0.33±0.07 MPa (6), T _1/2= 33±10s (12), L _p=0.21±0.07 pm s⁻¹ Pa⁻¹ (12). The determination of these basic water-relation parameters is considered as a prerequisite for future ecotoxicological and phytopathological studies. The differences between the large and the small cells are discussed in relation to a desirable biophysical definition of succulence. Further, for the large cells a pressure and volume dependence of ɛ was demonstrated.     

Cytomorphology of induced octoploid Chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Summary Octoploidy was induced in Chili pepper (Capsicum annuum cultivar cerasiformis) through the application of colchicine and the cytomorphological features of two octoploid plants were described. In general, the octoploids did not exhibit gigas characters when compared to the tetraploids; on the contrary they were less vigorous, suggesting that the optimum and desirable ploidy level for Capsicum is probably tetraploid. Chromosome associations such as octovalents and hexavalents, in addition to IVs, IIIs, IIs and Is, were recorded at diakinesis and metaphase I. Meiosis was highly irregular and the pollen and seed fertility was very low. Cytological features of octoploid Chili peppers are compared with octoploids of Physalis and Petunia.     

Organogenesis in pepper tissue cultures

Knowledge concerning in vitro growth and developmental responses of bell and chile peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) has been limited. Shoot and root organogenesis in cultures of seedling explants was restricted to primary cultures or those less than three months old under 12-and 16-h photoperiod at 25°C. Shoot organogenesis was extended to 5 months under continuous light at 25°C, and to 8 months under continuous light at 28.5°C. Murashige and Skoog basal media containing 0.05mg/l each of IAA and BA promoted shoot elongation and rooting of some explant sources, while 0.05-4 mg/l IAA with 10–50 mg/l BA promoted adventitious shoot bud formation. Glucose was superior to sucrose as the carbon source. Leaf discs collected from greenhouse-grown plants regenerated shoots for at least 2 months. Incubation environment, carbon source, explant source, growth regulator treatment and passage number were not independent variables as demonstrated by statistical analysis. The plant regeneration techniques described here have useful but limited applications, not extending to unorganized callus or cell suspension cultures.Journal article no. 1151 of the New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Influence of partial defoliation of green pepper on the senescence,growth, and nitrate reductase of the remaining leaf

Summary Removal of all but one leaf from pepper plants prevented the senescence of the remaining leaf and caused increases of approximately 140, 200, and 200%, respectively in leaf area, weight, and nitrate reductase activity. Development of the fruit (fresh and dry weight increases) was only approximately 65% of that of fruit on control plants.