Genetics of Soybean-Heterodera glycines Interactions

The soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines, is one of the most economically important pathogens of soybean. Effective management of the nematode is often dependent on the planting of resistant soybean cultivars. During the past 40 years, more than 60 soybean genotypes and plant introductions (PI) have been reported as resistant to H. glycines. About 130 modern soybean cultivars registered in the United States are resistant to certain races of H. glycines. Several resistance genes have been identified and genetically mapped; however, resistance levels in many soybean cultivars are not durable. Some older cultivars are no longer resistant to certain H. glycines populations in many production areas, especially if a soybean monoculture has been practiced. Past soybean registration reports show that all resistant cultivars developed in public institutions from the mid-1960s to the present have been derived from five PIs. This narrow genetic background is fragile. To further complicate the issue, soybean-H. glycines genetic interactions are complex and poorly understood. Studies to identify soybean resistance genes sometimes have overlapped, and the same genes may have been reported several times and designated by different names. Nevertheless, many potential resistance genes in existing germplasm resources have not yet been characterized. Clearly, it is necessary to identify new resistance genes, develop more precise selection methods, and integrate these resistance genes into new cultivars. Rational deployment of resistant cultivars is critical to future sustained soybean production.     

Fluctuation of body temperature and cuckoo brood parasitism

Body temperatures of 11 bird species, including cuckoos, were measured in an artificial meteorological room. Ratios of change in body temperature to that in air temperature were thereby obtained for each species. Cuckoos demonstrate a remarkably high value, indicating a particularly low ability to regulate body temperature. Viewed in this light, the cuckoo's parasitic behavior is very likely an adaptation to overcome a physiological disadvantage. This in turn might be expected to reinforce delay in evolution of temperature homeostasis.     

Metacercarial dispersion and intracellular parasitism in a strigeid trematode

Combes C. and Nassi H. 1977. Metacercarial dispersion and intracellular parasitism in a strigeid trematode. International Journal for Parasitology7: 501–503. The life cycle of Apatemon graciliformis Szidat, 1928 (Trematoda, Strigeidae), a parasite of Biorrphalaria glabrata in Guadeloupe, involves a novel mode of transmission, experimentally demonstrated, between the second intermediate host and the definitive host. The furcocercariae penetrate gravid females of the ovoviviparous fish, Poecilia reticulata, and develop into metacercariae in vitelline vesicles of the embryos where they encyst a short time before parturition. The young guppies are born infected with 1–3 metacercariae. It is considered that young infected fish are more prone to predation by the definitive host, thereby increasing the probability of the cycle being completed. Domestic ducks have been experimentally infected with these metacercariae. If cercariae penetrate non-gravid P. reticulata, they enter the oocytes; this represents a phase of intracellular parasitism.     

Migration of Gasterophilus intestinalis larvae (Diptera: Gasterophilidae) in the equine oral cavity

Cogley T. P., Anderson J. R. and Cooley L. J. 1982. Migration of Gasterophilus intestinalis larvae (Diptera: Gasterophilidae) in the equine oral cavity. International Journal for Parasitology12: 473–480. Larvae of G. intestinalis pursued a specific migratory pathway within the equine oral cavity en route to the stomach. The larval migration included the following sequence: burrowing in the tongue mucosa, invasion of the interdental spaces, transitory attachment at the root of the tongue and movement to the stomach. The molt from first to second instar did not occur in the tongue, as commonly believed, but between the interdental spaces. Ninety five percent of the larvae invading the interdental spaces were associated with gingiva of the upper molars. SEM analysis revealed further details of the oral migration: (1) air holes excavated in the epithelium which connect with deeper burrows; (2) an intimate association between air holes and posterior spiracles of larvae; (3) precise impressions of larvae in tissue immediately surrounding the most recently formed burrows; and (4) initial larval entry into the tongue through the use of natural disruptions or healing lesions. Factors influencing the development of the oral migration are discussed.     

SEAWEED ANATOMY AND PHOTOSYNTHETIC PERFORMANCE: THE ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF LIGHT GUIGES,HETEROGENEOUS ABSORPTION AND MULTIPLE SCATTER12

Light absorption by two green seaweeds with similar photophysiology but different anatomies are compared: i) Ulva lactuca var. rigida (C. Ag.) Le Jolis, an optically translucent species of two cell layers both bearing chloroplasts; and, ii) Codium fragile subsp. tomentosoides (van Goor) Silva, an optically opaque species with a colorlelss medulla surrounded by a cortex of choloroplast-bearing utriclels. Thallus absorptance (fraction of incident light absorbed) was measured for various pigment contents. Absorptance by U. lactuca was dependent on pigment concentration in an exponential manner and never exceeded 0.6, whereas absorptance by C. fragile was independent of pigment concentration and always approached a balue of 1.0. Water in the medullary tissue of C. fragile is often of the utricles. The utricles appear to be “integrating spheres” enhancing the capture of incident light, aided by the wave-guide function of the thin peripheral layer of cytoplasm and a reflector function at their base. Photosynthitic performance for U. lactuca saturates at high light intensities and attenuates rapidly with decreasing intensities. In contrast, photosynthetic performance for C. fragile saturates at low light intensities and attenuates slowly with diminishing radiation. Extrapolated diel variation in photosynthesis shows that U. lactuca's anatomy is adaptive for high light intensity environments, whereas C. fragile's anatomy is adaptive for low light intensity environments. Both seaweeds fit into the ecological category of “fugitive” species, and compete in the Long Island Sound (Atlantic Ocean) rocky intertidal for free-space. Predictions are presented for relative species abundances along a monotonic gradient of light intensity.     

Interaction of Meloidogyne javanica with Different Races of Meloidogyne incognita

The interspecific interactions of Meloidogyne javanica with races 1, 2, 3, and 4 of M. incognita on tomato were determined. Impacts of the interactions on fecundity and morphometrics of females were also examined. Mutually inhibitory interactions occurred between M. javanica and the races of M. incognita, but the negative interactions did not reflect in plant growth. Numbers of root galls, egg masses, mature females, total population, fecundity, and reproduction factor declined in concomitant treatments, but the morphometrics of the females remained unaltered. In general, mutual suppressive effects in all parameters were smaller for M. javanica than M. incognita, but some variations occurred among the races of M. incognita. Race 2 appeared to be more competitive than other races. The interaction between the species was not intense; therefore, the species coexist in mixed populations in agricultural fields.     

A survey of the socially parasitic ant generaEpimyrma Emery, 1915 andChalepoxenus Menozzi, 1922 in Italy (Hymenoptera,Formicidae, Myrmicinae)

Summary An up-to-date synthesis is presented of the available faunistic and biological data concerning the Italian species belonging to the socially parasitic ant generaEpimyrma Emery andChalepoxenus Menozzi.The first known populations ofE. corsica (Emery) andE. stumperi (Kutter) in Italy were discovered in the Lucretili mountains (Latium) and in Alto Adige, the former species being previously recorded only in Corsica and Dalmatia (Yugoslavia), the latter in the French and Swiss Alps.The first records ofE. ravouxi (André),E. kraussei (Emery) andC. muellerianus (Finzi) in central Italy are presented. Since no species of either genera has ever been collected in Italy in the area between the Po valley and Calabria, these new records are of great interest.Maps, showing the currently known distribution of each taxon in Italy, are provided.     

Current status of Agrilus hyperici (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) released in Australia in 1940 for the control of St John's wort: Lessons for insect introductions

The root‐borer Agrilus hyperici was established successfully in Australia in 1940 for the biological control of the weed Hypericum perforatum. It failed to spread widely, however, and surveys in 1980 found that it survived in only one area; near Mudgee in New South Wales. Two isolated populations were found here, both restricted to sheltered creek systems. The distribution of the larger population, at Piambong, was confined to an area of about 10 km². In 1981–82, 76.8% of plants in the core of this area showed damage by larvae to their roots. Although the level of attack was lower than that known from southern Europe, survivorship patterns from larva to adult were similar, confirming A. hyperici to be a ’K‐selected’ insect. The population declined significantly following a severe drought in 1982. Consideration of the early history of their introductions coupled with knowledge of their biologies suggest that strong competition by Chrysolina spp., strongly ‘r‐selected’ insects introduced at the same time, may have restricted the development of A. hyperici. The danger of co‐releasing insects with different life‐history strategies is discussed.     

Intra- and intraspecific variation of Juniperus virginiana and J. scopulorum seedling based on volatile oil composition

Comparisons of volatile oil constituents were made among samples of juvenile foliage collected from 78 Juniperus virginiana and 28 J. scopulorum seedling sources growing in a “common garden” environment. A canonical variate analysis, a principal coordinates analysis and hybrid distance diagrams of 30 chemical characters indicate both taxa are good species and that they exhibit clinical patterns in the Great Plains. In addition, a possible evoluitonary link between present-day J. virginiana populations in southern Texas and ancient J. scopulorum populations is indicated.