Top-down and bottom-up regulation of herbivores: Spodoptera frugiperda turns tables on endophyte-mediated plant defence and virulence of an entomopathogenic nematode

Abstract.  1. The fungus Neotyphodium lolii forms a symbiotic relationship with its grass host Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass). The fungus benefits from access to plant nutrients and photosynthate, whereas the plant benefits from acquired chemical defence against herbivory.
2. This study examined the potential for endophyte-mediated plant defences to influence interactions between fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda , and the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae and clarified biological mechanisms underlying the observations made.
3. In laboratory and greenhouse experiments, S. frugiperda larvae were fed endophytic or non-endophytic L. perenne then exposed to S. carpocapsae or injected with the nematodes' symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus nematophila .
4. In all instances, S. frugiperda larvae fed endophyte-infected grass suffered significantly lower mortality than those fed non-endophytic plants. Although larvae fed endophyte-infected grass often had significantly lower biomass than those fed uninfected grass, these differences did not account for altered susceptibility to S. carpocapsae .
5. Endophyte-mediated reductions in herbivore susceptibility to the nematode pathogen represent a herbivore adaptation that effectively turns the tables on both plant and natural enemy by reducing the virulence of the nematodes' symbiotic bacteria while expanding the temporal window of herbivory.     

Development of media for growth ofDioscorea Deltoidea cells andin vitro diosgenin production: Influence of media constituents and nutrient stress

Summary Callus culture ofDioscorea deltoidea produced diosgenin and sterols during stationary phase. Ammonium nitrate (420 mg Nitrogen/l) as sole nitrogen source supported better growth than a combination of ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate (totally equivalent to 840 mg Nitrogen/l). The production of diosgenin increased under low phosphate concentration (100 mg/l) whereas high phosphate concentration (240 mg/l) promoted growth. Micronutrients, when used at 1 1/2 strength, enhanced growth and diosgenin production. Depletion of nitrogen increased the diosgenin synthesis by a factor of 2. Adoption of a two stage culture method enhanced the diosgenin production in cultured cells by eight-fold.     

Genotypic variation in zinc efficiency and resistance to crown rot disease (Fusarium graminearum Schw. Group 1) in wheat

A crown rot disease in wheat caused by the fungusFusarium graminearum Schw. Group 1 is a widespread problem in chronically Zn-deficient Australian soils. A link between crown rot and Zn deficiency was established by Sparrow and Graham (1988). This paper reports a test of a further hypothesis, that wheat genotypes more efficient at extracting zinc from low-zinc soils are more resistant to infection by this pathogen. Three wheat cultivars (Excalibur, Songlen and Durati) of differential Zn efficiency were tested at three zinc levels (0.05, 0.5 and 2.0 mg Zn kg⁻¹ of soil) and three levels ofF. graminearum S. Group 1 inoculum (0.1 g and 0.3 g kg⁻¹ live chaff-inoculum and control having 0.1 g kg⁻¹ dead chaff inoculum). Six weeks after sowing dry matter production of shoots and roots was decreased byFusarium inoculation at 0.05 mg and 0.5 mg kg⁻¹ applied Zn.Fusarium inoculum at 0.1 g was as effective as 0.3 g kg⁻¹ for infection and decreasing dry matter. The infection at the basal part of culm decreased significantly by increasing the rate of Zn application. Excalibur, a Zn-efficient cultivar (tolerant to Zn deficiency) produced significantly more shoot and root dry matter, and showed less disease infection compared with Zn-inefficient cultivars (Durati and Songlen) at low (0.05 mg Zn kg⁻¹ soil) and medium (0.5 mg Zn kg⁻¹ soil) Zn fertilization rates. Higher rate of Zn fertilization (2.0 mg Zn kg⁻¹ soil) reduced the disease level in Durati to the level of Excalibur but the disease level of Songlen was still high, indicating its high Zn requirement and or sensitivity to crown rot. The data on Zn uptake show that Excalibur, being Zn-efficient, was able to scavenge enough Zn from Zn-deficient soil, we suggest that besides sustaining growth Excalibur was able to build and maintain resistance to the pathogen; inefficient cultivars needed extra Zn fertilization to achieve performance comparable to that of Excalibur. The present study indicates that growing Zn-efficient cultivars of wheat along with judicious use of Zn fertilizer in Zn-deficient areas where crown rot is a problem may sustain wheat production by reducing the severity of the disease as well as by increasing the plant vigour through improved Zn nutrition. ei]Section editor: R Rodriques-Kalana     

Two novel microsatellite markers for prenatal prediction of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)

Autosomal recessive spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has been mapped to a 6-cM interval on chromosome 5q12–13.3, flanked proximally by locus D5S6 and distally by locus D5S112. In this study we describe the isolation of two new microsatellite markers (EF1/2a and EF13/14) near locus D5S125, which lies 2 cM distal to D5S6. We show by linkage analysis and the study of the recombinants in 55 SMA pedigrees that the disease lies in the 4-cM interval between EF1/2a and D5S112. Fluorescence in situ analysis of cosmids from D5S6, EF1/2a and D5S112 confirms the genetic order and relative distance of markers. The microsatellites EF1/2a and EF13/14 are the first highly polymorphic PCR based proximal markers in SMA to be described, and will be of value in prental prediction of the disorder.     

Changes in relationships of nulliparous and parous females of Japanese monkeys at arashiyama with some aspects of troop organization

Social interactions of the adult females (nulliparous, primiparous, multiparous young, and multiparous old) of the Arashiyama-B troop of Japanese monkeys were studied. Using focal-animal and instantaneous sampling techniques, specifically identified social interactions involving allogrooming, social play, and agonism, nonspecific body-contact with and proximity to other animals were recorded from 1975 to 1978. By identifying the animals who had the above mentioned social interactions with the focal females, an attempt has been made to analyze the changes in relationships between the females of different classes and their closest kins, distant kins, and non-kins. Multiparous young females spend more time in social interactions involving allogrooming, nonspecific body-contact, and proximity than do females of the other classes and most of their social interactions are centered around their own offspring. Social interactions of the nulliparous females are fewer than those of the young mothers. But, the social interactions of the nulliparous females with their kins are much more frequent than those of the other females, i.e., once a female bears offspring, she concentrates her efforts in raising it and her social life becomes closed than before. Social interactions of the old mothers decrease and their social life is also centered more around their own young offspring. However, the social interactions of the females with non-kins, the interactions which strengthen troop integration, are independent of the class of the females. This report constitutes one part of the thesis submitted by the author to the Faculty of Science of Kyoto University in 1979 for the award of degree of Doctor of Science.     

Polymorphonuclear neutrophil-mediated antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity of herpesvirus-infected cells: ultrastructural studies

Bovine polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) can mediate antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC) of herpesvirus-infected cells. Since cytotoxicity occurs only in the presence of PMN and specific antiviral antibody, but not until viral membrane antigens are expressed on the target cell, it is concluded that antibody must recognize viral membrane antigens before cytotoxicity can occur. Cytotoxicity also requires very close contact between the target cell and the PMN cell. These interactions occur as early as 1 h after incubating antibody, infected cells, and PMN, but the actual lysis and release of intracellular components occur over an extended period. It was assumed that degranulation was not involved in the initiation of cytotoxicity, but was involved in the final stage of destruction. The mechanism of lysis is proposed to involve the interaction of PMN membranes with target cell membranes with subsequent reorganization and activation of the PMN plasma membrane at points of contact with the target cell. This results in possible production of transmembrane channels which allows for the release of target cell contents.     

The Sex Determination Gene transformer Regulates Male-Female Differences in Drosophila Body Size

Almost all animals show sex differences in body size. For example, in Drosophila, females are larger than males. Although Drosophila is widely used as a model to study growth, the mechanisms underlying this male-female difference in size remain unclear. Here, we describe a novel role for the sex determination gene transformer (tra) in promoting female body growth. Normally, Tra is expressed only in females. We find that loss of Tra in female larvae decreases body size, while ectopic Tra expression in males increases body size. Although we find that Tra exerts autonomous effects on cell size, we also discovered that Tra expression in the fat body augments female body size in a non cell-autonomous manner. These effects of Tra do not require its only known targets doublesex and fruitless. Instead, Tra expression in the female fat body promotes growth by stimulating the secretion of insulin-like peptides from insulin producing cells in the brain. Our data suggest a model of sex-specific growth in which body size is regulated by a previously unrecognized branch of the sex determination pathway, and identify Tra as a novel link between sex and the conserved insulin signaling pathway.     

Oxytocin Increases the Influence of Public Service Advertisements

This paper presents a neurophysiologic model of effective public service advertisements (PSAs) and reports two experiments that test the model. In Experiment 1, we show that after watching 16 PSAs participants who received oxytocin, compared to those given a placebo, donated to 57% more causes, donated 56% more money, and reported 17% greater concern for those in the ads. In Experiment 2, we measured adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) and oxytocin levels in blood before and after participants watched a PSA. As predicted by the model, donations occurred when participants had increases in both ACTH and oxytocin. Our results indicate that PSAs with social content that cause OT release will be more effective than those that do not. Our results also explain why some individuals do not respond to PSAs.