Fruit thinning plums and apricots

The need for crop load reduction to improve fruit size andconsistency of cropping on plum and apricot trees is discussed. Threealternative strategies of achieving this objective are described: byinhibition of flowering, prevention of fruit set or stimulation ofincreased fruitlet abscission. Methods of achieving each of thesestrategies, by manual, mechanical or chemical means are discussed andevaluated.     

Genetic diversity and molecular fingerprinting of Prunus cerasus var. austera from central Italy

In central Italy, Prunus cerasus var. austera is cultivated as small stands or scattered trees in marginal areas for the production of jam and wine. Thanks to the healthy attributes of its products and its ability to grow in different environmental conditions, this variety has gained new interest in the development of marginal areas. We assessed the level of the genetic variability of P. cerasus var. austera germplasm from central Italy and identified a ‘core collection’ representative of the present genetic diversity. A total of 161 trees, morphologically identified as var. austera, and one tree, identified as var. caproniana were collected and genotyped by 14 SSRs. Two individuals provided by a commercial plant nursery, one of P. cerasus var. caproniana and one of P. cerasus var. austera, were used as control. Thirteen SSRs presented private alleles in austera. Seven individuals morphologically identified as austera revealed private alleles specific to caproniana. The PCoA and Bayesian clustering analysis showed a main genetic group including var. austera, while a second group included all the caproniana-like genotypes. A core collection of 31 trees (46% of austera genotypes) was selected. This study can be considered as a starting point for future investigations on this variety.     

Meloidogyne hispanica n. sp. (Nematoda: Meloidogynidae), the 'Seville Root-Knot Nematode'

Meloidogyne hispanica n. sp. is described and illustrated from specimens obtained from peach rootstock, Prunus persica silvestris Batsch, from the Seville district of Spain. The perineal pattern of the female is oval shaped to rectangular with low dorsal arch and often widely spaced lateral lines with fringe-like striae. The stylet, 14.1 μm long, has broad, distinctly set off knobs. Males have a high, rounded head cap that slopes posteriorly. Labial disc and medial lips are fused to form elongate lip structures. The robust styler, 23.5 μm long, has large, rounded knobs that are slightly set off from the shaft. Mean second-stage juveniles length is 392.6 μm. The truncate head region is generally not annulated. The distinctly rounded and raised labial disc and the crescent-shaped medial lips form dumbbell-shaped lip structures. The stylet, 11.1 μm long, has rounded, posteriorly sloping knobs. The slender tail, 46.4 μm long, has large irregular-sized annules in the posterior region and ends in a bluntly rounded tip. Tomato was a good host; tobacco, pepper, and watermelon were poor hosts; cotton and peanut were nonhosts. Meloidogyne hispanica n. sp. reproduces by mitotic parthenogenesis and has a somatic chromosome number of 2n = 33-36. The esterase pattern is unique among Meloidogyne species.     

Odour stimuli affecting autumn migration of Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) (Hemipter: ornoptera)

R. padi gynoparae settling in the canopy of the winter host, Prunus padus, tended to form aggregations. Differences in the degree of exposure to wind, sun, etc., did not satisfactorily explain the aggregated pattern observed. In laboratory experiments, aphids did not distinguish between leaves taken from nearby aggregations and leaves taken far away from aggregations. The results of laboratory olfactometer tests and field trapping studies indicate that R. padi gynoparae produce an aggregation pheromone. Thus the aggregated settling pattern of gynoparae of R. padi can best be explained as a response to an aggregation pheromone.     

Transgenic almond (Prunus dulcis Mill.) plants obtained by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of leaf explants

Almond (Prunus dulcis Mill.) leaves were transformed with the marker genes gusA (β-glucuronidase) and nptII (neomycin phosphotransferase II) via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Bacterial strains and preculture of explants affected efficiency of gene transfer evaluated by transient expression assays. Following transformation, shoots were induced from primary explants on medium without kanamycin and exposed to selection 20 days after cocultivation. From 1419 original leaves, four shoots (A, B, C and D) were obtained that showed amplification of the predicted DNA fragments by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). After micropropagation of these shoots, only those cloned from shoot D gave consistently positive results in histochemical GUS detection and PCR amplification. Southern blot hybridisation confirmed stable transgene integration in clone D, which was also negative in PCR amplification of an Agrobacterium gene. Additional molecular analysis suggested that the remaining three shoots (A, B and C) were chimeric. Received: 28 March 1998 / Revision received: 18 April 1998 / Accepted: 12 May 1998     

Identification of Prunus armeniaca cultivars by RAPD and SCAR markers

Nineteen cultivars of apricot (Prunus armeniaca) were distinguished using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. One decamer out of 44 used was useful to differentiate cultivars of the Campania Region from those of Northern Italy, North America and Greece. A sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker was obtained. The results provide a protocol to fingerprint DNA of apricots as an efficient way to quality control and fraud prevention.     

Untersuchungen über den Proteingehalt virusinfizierter Futtergräser

Unter Verwendung verschiedener Methoden der Inokulation wurde das Verhalten von acht Aprikosensorten sowie 18 Pflaumensorten bzw. -zuchtklonen gegenüber dem Plum pox virus (PPV) überprüft und verglichen. Die eingesetzten Methoden führten zu übereinstimmenden Ergebnissen in Hinblick auf Virusresistenz und -anfa¨lligkeit. Die einbezogenen Aprikosensorten entwickelten nach der Übertragung des PPV entweder chlorotische Blattflecken oder sie verhielten sich immun. Überempfindlichkeitsreaktionen waren nicht zu beobachten. Die geprüften Pflaumengenotypen reagierten auf eine Virusinfektion mit der Ausbildung chlorotischer und nekrotischer Symptome, die allein oder gemeinsam auftraten. Immunität lag in keinem Fall vor. Bei dem untersuchten Aprikosensortiment besteht offensichtlich keine Korrelation zwischen Virusisolat, dessen Stammzugehörigkeit (entsprechend den Ergebnissen der PCR) und Resistenzverhalten. Bei Pflaumen scheint der Einflu g des Virusisolates auf das Resistenzniveau grö g er zu sein.     

First record of Stigmatijanus Wei (Hymenoptera: Cephidae)from South Korea with description of a new species

The genus Stigmatijanus Wei, 2007 is recorded from Korea for the first time. A diagnosis of the genus is briefly discussed. A new species, Stigmatijanus koreanus sp. nov., is described from Mt. Homyeong, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. A key to the three species of the genus is provided.