The provision of supplementary fresh water improves the breeding success of the globally threatened Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita

The Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita is a globally threatened species with its main remaining world population breeding in an area of sea cliffs and coastal semi‐desert steppe near Agadir in southern Morocco. Between 1998 and 2002, we showed experimentally that the small‐scale provision of fresh water near the breeding colonies led to an increase in the productivity of the birds. The increase was greatest in years with low natural rainfall but was positive in all years tested. The supplementary fresh water appears to help buffer productivity against the impacts of low rainfall and its provision is now part of the ongoing conservation measures for this species.     

Expression of low molecular weight heat-shock proteins and total antioxidant activity in the Mediterranean tree Quercus ilex L. in relation to seasonal and diurnal changes in physiological parameters

The total antioxidant activity (TAA) and the accumulation of small heat shock proteins (sHsps) were analysed under field conditions in Quercus ilex with regard to organ ontogeny and the physiological state of the plant. The results point toward the participation of sHsps and an increase of TAA in the general adaptation syndrome (GAS) of woody Mediterranean evergreens. In leaves and stems, there was a definite TAA seasonal pattern but no effect from diurnal variations or from the current stage of organ ontogeny. TAA was about twice as large in summer as in spring and winter and the hydrophilic antioxidant content was about 16 times greater than that of lipophilic antioxidants. The accumulation of sHsps in leaves also showed a seasonal pattern, but no effect from diurnal variations or from leaf ontogeny. In summer days, the sHsps content remained invariable even during the daylight hours in which the leaves were physiologically recovered. However, the accumulation of sHsps in stems did vary in relation to organ ontogeny. Old stems had a high accumulation of sHsps throughout the year, whereas in young stems, accumulation of sHsps was detected only in summer. This is probably due to a higher quantity of lignified and suberized tissues in the older stems. Using two‐dimensional immunodetection for leaves and stems, two sets of Hs protein species (17 and 10 kDa regions) were observed. In stems, there was an increase in 10 kDa proteins from winter to summer. These results are discussed and the possible role of the two types of polypeptides in the face of environmental and endogenous oxidative stress are considered.     

Effects of Growth Regulators on Polyamine Content and Peroxidase Activity in Hevea brasiliensis Callus

3, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (3,4-D) and benzylaminopurine(BAP) at 9 µM (control medium) was compared with 4.5,2.25, and 0.45 µM for ability to induce callogenesis andembryogenesis from seed explants of Hevea brasiliensis. Supplyingthese growth regulators at 4.5 µM for 20 d improved embryogenicpotential compared with the control medium (El Hadrami, Carronand d'Auzac, 1991, Annals of Botany 67, 511–515), sustainedputrescine, spermidine and spermine at a higher level throughoutof much of the culture period (40–70 d), and maintainedlow levels of peroxidase activity. In the control medium, poorcallus embryogenesis is considered a consequence of rapid ageingof tissues characterized by (i) acceleration of an early buttransient production of polyamines, which promoted embryogeniccapacity, and (ii) an early peak in peroxidase activity thatwas positively correlated with callus browning, one of the factorslimiting embryogenesis. Somatic embryogenesis, polyamines, peroxidase, Hevea brasiliensis, rubber-tree     

Effect of Photoperiod and Electrical Potentials Applied to Petioles on the Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase Activity used as Marker of Floral Induction in Shoot Apices of Spinach I

The increase of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) activityhas been proposed as an early marker of floral evocation inthe shoot apical meristem of spinach. This induction is obtainedby the transfer of vegetative plants from short days to continuouslight. The exposure of a single leaf to continuous light inducedthe same effect as that produced with the whole plant. In vegetativeconditions (short days), an electrical potential of ten volts(electrical current: 12·5 µA) applied to the petioleof a single leaf induced a weak increase of G-6-PD activityin the shoot apex, while under inductive conditions, this increasewas similar to that of control plants (transferred to continuouslight). Application of an electrical potential to the petioleand the root inhibits the increase linked to the inductive transfer.These results show that an externally applied electrical potentialmay interact with the natural electrical gradients along theshoot and consequently inhibit the normal floral developmentby an as yet unspecified mechanism. Spinacia oleracea, floral induction, interorganic relations, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, shoot apex, electrical potentials     

A SIMPLE ALTERNATIVE TO GENERALIZED PROCRUSTES ANALYSIS: APPLICATION TO SENSORY PROFILING DATA

A statistical method for analyzing sensory profiling data obtained by means of fixed vocabulary or free choice profiling is discussed. The most interesting feature of this method is that it involves only simple statistical treatment and can therefore be performed using standard software packages. The outcomes of this method are compared to those of Generalized Procrustes Analysis on the basis of two data sets obtained, respectively, by means of fixed vocabulary and free choice profiling. A significance test is also discussed in order to assess whether the overall configuration of the products is meaningful. This significance test is based upon a simulation study involving the permutation procedure.