Plantlet regeneration via somatic embryogenesis in anther callus of Vitis latifolia L.

Anthers of Vitis latifolia L. (wild grape) cultured on Nitsch and Nitsch medium supplemented with 20 μM 2,4-D and 9 μM BAP produced callus after 4–6 weeks. Subculture of callus onto Nitsch and Nitsch medium containing 10 μM NAA produced somatic embryos within 6 weeks. On growth regulator-free Nitsch and Nitsch basal medium somatic embryos converted to plantlets in 6–8 weeks. One gram of callus produced more than 400 somatic embryos with 13.7% being converted to complete plantlets, which were subsequently established in soil. Regenerated plants were found to have mixoploid populations of cells, 2n = 38 and n = 19. Received: 23 May 1998 / Revision received: 21 September 1998 / Accepted: 10 October 1998     

Wild chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) mouthwashes in methotrexate-induced oral mucositis

Oral mucositis is a known complication of methotrexate (MTX) therapy, but a single efficacious intervention or agent for prophylaxis or management of this side effect has not yet been identified. We report a case of MTX-induced oral mucositis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis, who was successfully treated with Wild chamomile mouthwashes.     

The role of abscisic acid in the ripening of grapes

Ripening in grapes ( Vitis vinifera L. cv. Thompson seedless) was accompanied by an increase in the levels of sucrose, glucose and fructose and a decrease in the levels of acids. The activity of glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-l–6-bisphospbatase was lower in sweet grapes as compared to sour ones. Abscisic acid (10⁻⁶ M) stimulated the gluconeogenic process in sour grapes. The levels of some gluconeogenic enzymes were also elevated in its presence. Cyclohexitnide (0.036–1.8 mM) nullified the abscisic acid effect, suggesting that this effect involves de novo protein synthesis. The incorporation of [¹⁴C]-leucine into proteins was enhanced about 80% by abscisic acid, confirming that abscisic acid promoted protein synthesis. Again, cycloheximide blocked the hormone mediated increase in the incorporation of radioactivity into proteins. The results indicate that one of the factors for sourness in certain mature ripe grapes may be that abscisic acid is not available.     

Quantitative Aspects of the Development of Meloidogyne arenaria Larvae in Grapevine Varieties and Rootstocks

The development and productivity of parasitic stages of Meloidogyne arenaria were quantitatively defined in 14 varieties or rootstocks of grapevine. Mean development to maturity was related linearly to the number of degree-hours above 10 C temperature experienced from the time of penetration in all cultivars in which nematode adulthood was achieved. Averaged across varieties, 13,142 heat units were required for development of the mean individual to maturity. The standard deviation of the developing individuals about the mean, expressed as a proportion with 1 representing adulthood, did not differ with time or among varieties after 7,000 degree-hours had elapsed. Earliest egg production was observed after 7,662 degree-hours, averaged across varieties, considerably before mean development to maturity. Varieties were also ranked relative to the number of larvae establishing infection sites, and the rate of egg production per adult female. Varieties could he grouped according to their levels of horizontal resistance.     

Morphometric variation in nearly unstudied populations of the most studied mammal: The non-commensal house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) in the Near East and Northern Africa

The phenotypic consequences in the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) of the transition from an ordinary field-dwelling rodent to a species that is dependent on human populations was studied by investigating the morphometric variation of non-commensal populations of M. m. domesticus from Syria, Jordan, SW Iran, and Libya and comparing them with that of conspecific commensal populations from Eastern Turkey, Greece, and Bulgaria. Commensal populations of M. musculus musculus from the Czech Republic were used as an outgroup. About 849 adult specimens of M. musculus were analysed by multivariate procedures based on standard molar, skull and body measurements. As expected, there was considerable variation among the studied populations and a good correspondence between morphometric and geographic distances. The resulting morphometric tree was consistent with the hypothesis that the original radiation of M. m. domesticus took place somewhere in the Near East. Commensal populations of M. m. domesticus form a single derived branch. Specimens originating from four different sites in eastern Syria showed the greatest similarity to one another and possessed relatively bigger molars than the other studied populations. Commensal populations were characterised by longer tails when compared to non-commensal populations, which suggests an adaptation for living in a more three-dimensionally heterogeneous environment for commensal populations.     

Nationalization and Globalization Trends in the Wild Mushroom Commerce of Italy with Emphasis on Porcini (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Boletus edulis</Emphasis> and Allied Species)

Nationalization and Globalization Trends in the Wild Mushroom Commerce of Italy with Emphasis on Porcini ( Boletus edulis and Allied Species). This paper presents an historical overview of wild mushroom commerce in Italy, with a focus on recent trends in the production of porcini (Boletus edulis and closely allied species). Over the past century, two major trends—nationalization and globalization—have been apparent in the wild mushroom commerce of Italy. First, a simplified national mushroom menu has emerged through processes of governmental regulation and culinary fashion, but it has come at the expense of differing, localized mushroom traditions which may suffer under the European Union’s free trade principles. Second, Italy has emerged as a focal point of a global market for a small number of mushroom species—particular porcini. While the name porcini has become synonymous with Italian cuisine, and in spite of a vibrant tradition of recreational mushroom collecting in Italy, most of the porcini commercially available in Italy or exported by Italy are no longer of Italian origin. Porcini and other mushrooms now flow into Italy from all over the world—especially from China and eastern Europe—and are then often exported as “Italian porcini.” This globalization of the wild mushroom trade, while offering significant income to rural producers and processors around the globe, has other effects as well, for example, a kind of national branding as “Italian” of globally-produced products, of which porcini is one, that is in direct opposition to some of the European Union’s rules for regional denominations.

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Processi di Nazionalizzazione e Globalizzazione nel Commercio Italiano dei Funghi spontanei, con Particolare Riguardo ai Porcini ( Boletus edulis e Specie Affini). Questo articolo presenta una panoramica storica sul commercio dei funghi spontanei in Italia, con particolare riguardo alle recenti tendenze nella produzione dei porcini (Boletus edulis e specie affini). Nello scorso secolo si sono osservate due tendenze principali—di nazionalizzazione e di globalizzazione—nel commercio dei funghi spontanei in Italia. In primo luogo si è affermata nel territorio nazionale una tradizione limitata al consumo di un numero contenuto di specie, sia per effetto di alcune normative che di mode culinarie, ma ciò è avvenuto a discapito di tradizioni locali più ricche, che potrebbero ulteriormente risentire dei principi per il libero scambio all’interno dell’Unione Europea. In secondo luogo, l’Italia si è posta in evidenza come un punto nodale per il mercato globale di alcune specie fungine, in particolare dei porcini. Nonostante quest’ultimo termine sia tradizionalmente associato alla cucina italiana, e nonostante esista in Italia una vivace e radicata tradizione nella raccolta amatoriale dei funghi, la maggior parte dei porcini ivi commercializzati (allo stato fresco, essiccati o variamente conservati) o esportati verso altri paesi non sono più di origine locale. I porcini e altre specie fungine giungono attualmente in Italia da ogni parte del mondo—in modo particolare dalla Cina e dall’Europa orientale—e sono successivamente spesso esportati come “prodotti Italiani.” Questo processo di globalizzazione del mercato dei funghi spontanei, pur offrendo un significativo introito ai raccoglitori e commercianti rurali su tutto il globo, è responsabile di altri effetti, come per l’appunto una sorta di marchio nazionale “Italiano” su alcuni prodotti di provenienza globale, come per l’appunto i porcini, cosa che contrasta con alcune delle regole dell’Unione Europea in materia di denominazioni regionali.

     

Competence of the pollen of wild species and the cultivar of tomato to affect fertilization at low temperature

Summary The competitive ability of the pollen of wild tomato species (Solanum pennellii, Lycopersicum hirsutum and L. minutum) and a cultivar of tomato to affect fertilization at low temperature was investigated. Pollen grains of wild species were mixed with those of the cultivar and pollinated onto the stigma of the cultivar. The number of seedlings resembling the wild species, excluding L. minutum, were significantly higher when the plants were maintained at a low temperature (8°–12° C) than when they were maintained at a normal temperature (22°–28° C). This indicates that the pollen of S. pennellii and L. hirsutum wild species can compete better with pollen of the cultivar at a low temperature, while there was no change in the competitive ability of L. minutum pollen under these conditions.     

Microsporogenesis of the feathers (fertile branches derived from annual buds) in Vitis vinifera,cv Picolit giallo

Abstract

Using light and electron microscopy, we have studied the microsporogenesis and tapetal development of the feathers in two different low producing clones of Picolit giallo (sp. Vitis vinifera). In these clones while the productivity of the main branches (fertile branches originated from buds, formed in the previous year, that remained silent during the winter) is very low, that of the feathers (fertile branches derived from annual buds) is always normal.

The microsporogenesis and tapetal development proceed normally in almost all the examined anthers; it is remarkable that at the tetrad stage the tapetal cells appear well structured without any degeneration symptom, unlike what observed for the main branches. Moreover in most of the mature anthers the pollen grains are numerous, pleinty of organelles and show sometimes thickenings in the callose layer under their wall. The tapetal cells of these anthers have disappeared. Only in few anthers we observed the presence of collapsed pollen grains and tapetal cells with anomalous development, that are still present when the pollen grains are mature. This rare situation for the feathers is on the contrary frequent for the main branches.