The influence of ploidy level on ultrastructure and motility of tench <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tinca tinca</Emphasis> (L.) spermatozoa

The ultrastructure of diploid and triploid tench Tinca tinca (L.) spermatozoa were examined using electron microscopy focusing on parameters that influence movement. Triploid tench were produced artificially using a cold shock. Spermatozoa of triploid males in comparison with diploids featured significantly larger head (P < 0.01), higher amount of mitochondria (P < 0.05), and, surprisingly larger widths of the peripheral doublets and central pair of microtubules and the single microtubule (P < 0.01). However, the diameters of the flagellum were without significant differences as well as the length of the flagellum and length and width of the midpiece. Also motility parameters of spermatozoa did not significantly differ between diploid and triploid males, but the total velocity (summary of spermatozoa velocity and duration of movement) positively correlated with the flagellum length and negatively with the head diameter of tench spermatozoa with a high significant influence (P < 0.01).     

Light colour influences the behaviour and stress physiology of captive tench (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tinca tinca</Emphasis>)

Groups of juvenile tench (7.02 ± 0.28 g) were reared under four different light regimes; blue light, red light (80 Wm⁻² 12L:12D photoperiod) white light (912 ± 210 lux, 80 Wm⁻², 12L:12D photoperiod) and no light (0 lux) (0L:24D). Visibility of fish out of shelters was used as an indicator of activity and was monitored by video recording. Blood plasma cortisol concentrations were also measured. Fish under blue or white light were significantly less active during the photophase than those under red or no light (P < 0.01). Red light produced similar activity patterns to fish receiving 24 h darkness. Plasma cortisol concentrations were also significantly influenced (P < 0.05) with the fish under white light having the highest plasma cortisol concentration (317 ± 62 ng cm⁻³) compared to fish in the dark treatment (106 ± 36 ng cm⁻³). Thus, the provision of coloured light filters increases activity in juvenile tench and may reduce their intrinsic stress level.     

Comparison of performance of genome manipulated and standard tench, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tinca tinca</Emphasis> (L.), groups under pond management conditions

A triennial performance test of five groups of tench, Tinca tinca (L.): Vodnany induced triploid V3n, Vodnany meiotic gynogenic Vgyn, diploid Vodnany V2n, Hungarian H2n and German G2n) in pond monoculture was carried out with diploid golden tench as control (C) to compute corrected weight of the groups tested. Survival rate ranged from 11.6% (V2n) to 30.6% (Vgyn) in yearlings, from 71.2% (V2n) to 91.5% (H2n) in 2 year-olds, from 60.0% (Vgyn) to 75.7% (V2n) in 3 year-olds while that of the control group was 8.5, 38.3 and 40.2% in the respective seasons. After three growing seasons the corrected weight of the fish in the groups H2n (254.6^bg), V3n (257.0^cg) and G2n (371.4^cg) was higher (P < 0.05, Tukey HSD test) than that from the C (183.3^ag) and V2n(205.6^abg) groups. Among the chromosomally manipulated groups, ANCOVA test found the least slaughtering value for Vgyn (84.3%); among the purebreds the highest value was found for H2n (87.32%), significantly differing from V2n and G2n strains. A high gonadosomatic index in females (2.94 vs. 0.44% in males) resulted in inferior slaughtering values.     

Cadmium and copper toxicity to tench <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tinca</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">tinca</Emphasis> (L.) larvae after a short-term exposure

At the onset of swimbladder inflation, Tinca tinca larvae were exposed for 24 h to cadmium or copper at 0.0 (control concentration), 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mg dm⁻³ at 22°C. From then larvae were reared at 25°C for 9 days in un-supplemented water. Both metals resulted in a significantly reduced growth, survival, and retarded swimbladder inflation in a dose-response manner. The highest Cd and Cu concentration delayed the onset of exogenous feeding (live artemia nauplii) for 2 or 1 days, respectively, comparing to the control concentration. Our results demonstrate a highly toxic effect of Cd and Cu in the studied period of larval ontogeny, when fish seem especially sensitive. Although, at low concentrations and long exposure period, Cu is considered more toxic to fish than Cd, our study revealed the reverse effect for first-feeding larvae of both metals at high concentrations and short exposure.     

Breeding,production and marketing of golden tench (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Tinca tinca</Emphasis> (L.)) in Gan Shmuel Fish Breeding Center,Israel

A first attempt to introduce tench (Tinca tinca (L.)) to Israel, followed by comparative growth experiments, was carried out in 1947. A batch of 200 fingerlings, which were supposed to serve later as brood fish, was imported from Switzerland to Fish Culture Experimental Station at Sdeh Nahum. However, after 2 years tench were considered unsuitable for culturing in Israel and the trials were abandoned. Two factors affected negatively these historically early trials: (1) Tench was just second exotic species introduced to Israel some years after introduction of the common carp, and the Israeli fish farming expertise at that time was low. (2) The Independence War temporarily delayed advancement of aquaculture. A second introduction of tench was performed in 1992, when a golden mutant of tench was imported to Gan Shmuel Fish Breeding Center (GS-FBC) from the Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology at Vodňany, Czech Republic. Currently, GS-FBC is the only Israeli fish hatchery that maintains golden tench as a part of breeding program as well as a number of other varieties of ornamental fish and species, all of them produced mostly for export. Tench (800–1,000 g) females are maintained separately from males, in order to prevent uncontrolled reproduction. Routinely, in April, the fish are transferred indoors and induced to spawn artificially with a single injection of GnRH synthetic analog—DAGIN. Dry method of stripping is used to obtain eggs and sperm. After fertilization the sticky eggs are spread in a single layer on walls of 230 dm³ cylindrical incubators provided with conical bottom, or they are degummed using a solution of milk/water. At a water temperature of 24°C, hatching (70% hatching rate) occurs 36–40 h after fertilization. The larvae absorb their yolk sac 2–3 days after fertilization and they start feeding on small size (200 μm) Artemia nauplii. At the age of 7–10 days, if fry are retained indoors, they are fed with regular size Artemia and starter feed, or are released into a nursing 0.5–1.0 ha pond. Usually, the fish are grown to the marketing size (5–15 cm) and exported abroad, mainly to Europe. About 100,000 golden tench fingerlings, with a total value of € 40,000 are produced and marketed annually.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ty</Emphasis>1<Emphasis Type="Italic">/copia</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ty</Emphasis>3<Emphasis Type="Italic">/gypsy</Emphasis>-like DNA sequences in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus </Emphasis>species

Two repeated DNA sequences isolated from a partial genomic DNA library of Helianthus annuus, p HaS13 and p HaS211, were shown to represent portions of the int gene of a Ty3 /gypsy retroelement and of the RNase-Hgene of a Ty1 /copia retroelement, respectively. Southern blotting patterns obtained by hybridizing the two probes to BglII- or DraI-digested genomic DNA from different Helianthus species showed p HaS13 and p HaS211 were parts of dispersed repeats at least 8 and 7 kb in length, respectively, that were conserved in all species studied. Comparable hybridization patterns were obtained in all species with p HaS13. By contrast, the patterns obtained by hybridizing p HaS211 clearly differentiated annual species from perennials. The frequencies of p HaS13- and p HaS211-related sequences in different species were 4.3x10(4)-1.3x10(5) copies and 9.9x10(2)-8.1x10(3) copies per picogram of DNA, respectively. The frequency of p HaS13-related sequences varied widely within annual species, while no significant difference was observed among perennial species. Conversely, the frequency variation of p HaS211-related sequences was as large within annual species as within perennials. Sequences of both families were found to be dispersed along the length of all chromosomes in all species studied. However, Ty3 /gypsy-like sequences were localized preferentially at the centromeric regions, whereas Ty1/ copia-like sequences were less represented or absent around the centromeres and plentiful at the chromosome ends. These findings suggest that the two sequence families played a role in Helianthusgenome evolution and species divergence, evolved independently in the same genomic backgrounds and in annual or perennial species, and acquired different possible functions in the host genomes.     

Toxicity of Diazinon 60 EC for embryos and larvae of tench, <Emphasis Type=Italic>Tinca tinca</Emphasis> (L.)

The effects of Diazinon 60 EC (organophosphate insecticide, active substance diazinon) on mortality, growth rate, early ontogenetic rate, and occurrence of malformations was studied in embryos and larvae of tench, Tinca tinca (L.). The exposure of fish to 0, 10, 100, 1,000, and 3,000 μg dm⁻³ of Diazinon 60 EC was initiated 24 h after fertilization of eggs and concluded 32 days later. At the highest concentration tested (3,000 μg dm⁻³), total mortality was observed within the first 15 days of exposure. A concentration of 1,000 μg dm⁻³ caused high incidence of malformations, decrease in growth rate and ontogenetic development slowed down. A concentration of 100 μg dm⁻³ mildly decreased growth rate, but at 10 μg dm⁻³ no changes compared to the control were observed. Thus, Diazion 60 EC at the concentration of 10 μg dm⁻³ is not dangerous for the embryos and larvae of tench.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">tumefaciens</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of callus cells of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crataegus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">aronia</Emphasis>

A genetic transformation system has been developed for callus cells of Crataegus aronia using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Callus culture was established from internodal stem segments incubated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5 mg l⁻¹ Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 0.5 mg l⁻¹ 6-benzyladenine (BA). In order to optimize the callus culture system with respect to callus growth and coloration, different types and concentrations of plant growth regulators were tested. Results indicated that the best average fresh weight of red colored callus was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1.5 mg l⁻¹ kinetin (Kin) (callus maintenance medium). Callus cells were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium harboring the binary plasmid pCAMBIA1302 carrying the mgfp5 and hygromycin phosphotransferase (hptII) genes conferring green fluorescent protein (GFP) activity and hygromycin resistance, respectively. Putative transgenic calli were obtained 4 weeks after incubation of the co-cultivated explants onto maintenance medium supplemented with 50 mg l⁻¹ hygromycin. Molecular analysis confirmed the integration of the transgenes in transformed callus. To our knowledge, this is the first time to report an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system in Crataegus aronia.     

Ectopic expression of cucumber (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis sativus</Emphasis> L.) <Emphasis Type="Italic">CsTIR</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">AFB</Emphasis> genes enhance salt tolerance in transgenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis</Emphasis>

Auxin receptors TIR1/AFBs play an essential role in a series of signaling network cascades. These F-box proteins have also been identified to participate in different stress responses via the auxin signaling pathway in Arabidopsis. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is one of the most important crops worldwide, which is also a model plant for research. In the study herein, two cucumber homologous auxin receptor F-box genes CsTIR and CsAFB were cloned and studied for the first time. The deduced amino acid sequences showed a 78% identity between CsTIR and AtTIR1 and 76% between CsAFB and AtAFB2. All these proteins share similar characteristics of an F-box domain near the N-terminus, and several Leucine-rich repeat regions in the middle. Arabidopsis plants ectopically overexpressing CsTIR or CsAFB were obtained and verified. Shorter primary roots and more lateral roots were found in these transgenic lines with auxin signaling amplified. Results showed that expression of CsTIR/AFB genes in Arabidopsis could lead to higher seeds germination rates and plant survival rates than wild-type under salt stress. The enhanced salt tolerance in transgenic plants is probably caused by maintaining root growth and controlling water loss in seedlings, and by stabilizing life-sustaining substances as well as accumulating endogenous osmoregulation substances. We proposed that CsTIR/AFB-involved auxin signal regulation might trigger auxin mediated stress adaptation response and enhance the plant salt stress resistance by osmoregulation.     

New combinations and typifications in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bistorta</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Persicaria</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polygonum,</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rumex</Emphasis> (Polygonaceae)

New combinations are proposed in anticipation of the Polygonaceae treatment in the forthcoming volume of Intermountain Flora: Polygonum kelloggii var. esotericum, P. kelloggii var. watsonii , Rumex densiflorus var. pycnanthus , R. salicifolius var. utahensis, and R. occidentalis var. tomentellus. Typifications are proposed to facilitate ongoing studies in Polygonaceae and to maintain current usage.     

Revision of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serrulati</Emphasis> species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penstemon</Emphasis> section <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccanthera</Emphasis> subsection <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serrulati</Emphasis>

A revision of Penstemon sect. Saccanthera subsect. Serrulati includes a new species (P. salmonensis), a new variety (P. triphyllus var. infernalis), and the elevation of a subspecies to species (P. curtiflorus), bringing the total number of species to eight, which are keyed and described, complete with nomenclature and type citations.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Galleria</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">mellonella</Emphasis> are Resistant to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pneumocystis</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">murina</Emphasis> Infection

Studying Pneumocystis has proven to be a challenge from the perspective of propagating a significant amount of the pathogen in a facile manner. The study of several fungal pathogens has been aided by the use of invertebrate model hosts. Our efforts to infect the invertebrate larvae Galleria mellonella with Pneumocystis proved futile since P. murina neither caused disease nor was able to proliferate within G. mellonella. It did, however, show that the pathogen could be rapidly cleared from the host.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caenorhabditis</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">briggsae</Emphasis> genome contains active <Emphasis Type="Italic">CbmaT1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tcb1</Emphasis> transposons

The maT clade of transposons is a group of transposable elements intermediate in sequence and predicted protein structure to mariner and Tc transposons, with a distribution thus far limited to a few invertebrate species. We present evidence, based on searches of publicly available databases, that the nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae has several maT-like transposons, which we have designated as CbmaT elements, dispersed throughout its genome. We also describe two additional transposon sequences that probably share their evolutionary history with the CbmaT transposons. One resembles a fold back variant of a CbmaT element, with long (380-bp) inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) that show a high degree (71%) of identity to CbmaT1. The other, which shares only the 26-bp ITR sequences with one of the CbmaT variants, is present in eight nearly identical copies, but does not have a transposase gene and may therefore be cross mobilised by a CbmaT transposase. Using PCR-based mobility assays, we show that CbmaT1 transposons are capable of excising from the C. briggsae genome. CbmaT1 excised approximately 500 times less frequently than Tcb1 in the reference strain AF16, but both CbmaT1 and Tcb1 excised at extremely high frequencies in the HK105 strain. The HK105 strain also exhibited a high frequency of spontaneous induction of unc-22 mutants, suggesting that it may be a mutator strain of C. briggsae.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quinua</Emphasis> and Relatives (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chenopodium</Emphasis> sect.<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chenopodium</Emphasis> subsect.<Emphasis Type="Italic">Celluloid</Emphasis>)

Traditionally viewed as an Andean grain crop,Chenopodium quinoa Willd. includes domesticated populations that are not Andean, and Andean populations that are not domesticated. Comparative analysis of leaf morphology and allozyme frequencies have demonstrated that Andean populations, both domesticated(quinua) and free-living(ajara), represent an exceptionally homogeneous unit that is well differentiated from allied domesticates of coastal Chile(quingua) and freeliving populations of the Argentine lowlands(C. hircinum). This pattern of relationships indicates that Andean populations represent a monophyletic crop/weed system that has possibly developed through cyclic differentiation (natural vs. human selection) and introgressive hybridization. Relative levels of variation suggest that this complex originated in the southern Andes, possibly from wild types allied withC. hircinum, with subsequent dispersal north to Colombia and south to the Chilean coast. Coastal populations were apparently isolated from post-dispersal differentiation and homogenization that occurred in the Andes. Other data point toward a center of origin in the northern Andes with secondary centers of genetic diversity subsequently developing in the southern Andes and the plains of Argentina. Comparative linkage of South American taxa, all tetraploid, with North American tetraploids of the subsection will eventually clarify this problem. While the possibility of a direct phyletic connection betweenC. quinoa and the Mexican domesticate(C. berlandieri subsp. nuttalliae,) cannot be excluded, available evidence indicates that the latter represents an autonomous lineage that is associated with the basal tetraploid, C. b. subsp.berlandieri, through var.sinuatum, whereas South American taxa show possible affinities to either var. zschackei or var.berlandieri. An extinct domesticate of eastern North America,C. b. subsp.jonesianum, represents either another instance of independent domestication, possibly from subsp. b. var.zschackei, or a northeastern outlier of subsp.nuttalliae.     

Anti-cyanobacterial fatty acids released from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myriophyllum spicatum</Emphasis>

This study was carried out to identify unknown allelochemicals released from Myriophyllum spicatum and to investigate their anti-cyanobacterial effects. A series of analyses of culture solutions and methanol extracts of M. spicatum using gas chromatograph equipped with a mass selective detector revealed that M. spicatum released fatty acids, specifically, nonanoic, tetradecanoic, hexadecanoic, octadecanoic, and octadecenoic acids. Nonanoic, cis-6-octadecenoic, and cis-9-octadecenoic acids significantly inhibited growth of Microcystis aeruginosa, whereas tetradecanoic, hexadecanoic, and octadecanoic acids did not show any effect. When the inhibitory effect of nonanoic acid was compared with those of 4 polyphenols and eugeniin, which are anti-cyanobacterial compounds previously reported to be released by M. spicatum, nonanoic acid was found to be the most inhibitory to M. aeruginosa. These results indicate that not only polyphenols and eugeniin but also fatty acids such as nonanoic acid must be studied to reveal how M. spicatum exerts its allelopathic effect on M. aeruginosa.     

Bio-resolution of glycidyl (<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>)-methylphenyl ethers by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus megaterium</Emphasis>

A newly isolated Bacillus megaterium with epoxide hydrolase activity resolved racemic glycidyl (o, m, p)-methylphenyl ethers to give enantiopure epoxides in 84–99% enantiomeric excess and with 21–73 enantiomeric ratios. The (S)-enantiomer was obtained from rac-glycidyl (o or m)-methylphenyl ether while the (R)-epoxides was obtained from glycidyl p-methylphenyl ether. The observations are explained at the level by enzyme-substrate docking studies.     

In planta transformation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Notocactus scopa</Emphasis> cv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Soonjung</Emphasis> by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium </Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">tumefaciens</Emphasis>

Notocactus scopa cv. Soonjung was subjected to in planta Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation with vacuum infiltration, pin-pricking, and a combination of the two methods. The pin-pricking combined with vacuum infiltration (20-30 cmHg for 15 min) resulted in a transformation efficiency of 67-100%, and the expression of the uidA and nptII genes was detected in transformed cactus. The established in planta transformation technique generated a transgenic cactus with higher transformation efficiency, shortened selection process, and stable gene expression via asexual reproduction. All of the results showed that the in planta transformation method utilized in the current study provided an efficient and time-saving procedure for the delivery of genes into the cactus genome, and that this technique can be applied to other asexually reproducing succulent plant species.     

Ectopic over-expression of two apple <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flowering Locus T</Emphasis> homologues, <Emphasis Type="Italic">MdFT1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">MdFT2</Emphasis>, reduces juvenile phase in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis</Emphasis>

To get insight into mechanism by which apple tree (Malus domestica Borkh.) regulates flowering, two apple flowering locus T (FT) homologues, MdFT1 and MdFT2, were isolated from the leaf cDNAs of cultivar Gala. The open reading frames (ORFs) of two MdFTs encoded 174 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of MdFT1 and MdFT2 showed 94.3 % similarity to each other, while 72.6 and 76.0 % to AtFT protein, respectively. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR indicated their specific expression in leaves. Visualization of MdFT2-GFP fusion protein demonstrated its localization on membrane. Ectopic overexpression of either MdFT1 or MdFT2 in Arabidopsis significantly induced early flowering by activating the downstream flowering-related genes.