The relation between the contamination of flax seed with Polyspora Lini Laff. and Colletotrichum linicola Pethybr. & Laff. and the incidence of disease in the crop

Using naturally contaminated seed it is shown that the incidence of the seedling, stem-break and browning phases of attack by Polyspora Lini Laff. in flax crops is related to the contamination of the seed with the parasite, the relationship being closer at low or moderate than at high levels of seed contamination. Heavy attacks of the disease did not occur when the number of contaminated seeds was less than 5%. A similar relationship was found to exist between the contamination of seed with Colletotrichum linicola Pethybr. & Laff. and the incidence of seedling blight in the crops.     

The prevention of seed-borne diseases of flax by seed disinfection II. Comparison of the dusting, short wet and fixation methods of treatment

Suitable organo-mercury preparations applied by the short wet method of seed treatment and organo-mercury powders, of the type used for treating cereal seeds, fixed to the seed with water by the fixation method of treatment, gave as satisfactory control of seedling blight and better control of stem break and browning than a proprietary dry fungicide containing tetra-methyl thiuram disulphide (Nomersan) applied at the rate of 12 oz./cwt. of seed.
Treatment of seed heavily infected with Polyspora Lint using an efficient fungicide resulted in highly significant increases in crop and fibre yields, while in the case of seed heavily infected with Colletotrichum Lini similar treatments significantly increased the yield of fibre but not the crop yield. Some treatments significantly increased the crop and fibre yields even when the seed used was only slightly contaminated with P. Lini and C. Lini. The results presented support the suggestion that effective treatment of the seed may produce an increase of fibre not directly attributable to the prevention of seedling blight or stem break and browning but which may be explained by a general beneficial effect due to seed disinfection.
The results obtained suggest that no treatment consistently affected crop establishment in the field.     

Varietal Resistance of Flax to Disease

Field experiments, using contaminated seed, have been carried out from 1941 to 1947 to study the reaction of a wide range of both fibre and oil varieties of Linum usitatissimum to attack by Polyspora Lini Laff., Colletotrichum linicola Pethybr. & Laff., Phoma sp. and Melampsora Lini (Ehrenb.) LéV. The tests made with Colletotrichum linicola were supplemented by direct inoculation experiments with young seedlings grown under greenhouse or laboratory conditions.
None of the varieties tested proved to be immune to attack by Polyspora Lini, Colletotrichum linicola or Phoma sp. Herkules, Concurrent, Hindi, La Plata, Saginaw x Ottawa 770 B and Winona x Ottawa 770 B were resistant to the stem-break and browning phases of attack by Polyspora Lini ; Bison, Hindi and La Plata were resistant to attacks by Colletotrichum linicola , while Hindi and La Plata showed some resistance to Phoma sp. Immunity or a 'high' measure of resistance to attack by Melampsora Lini was exhibited by Formosa, Stakhanovets, Textilshchik, U.S.S.R. No. 2 (ex Dugejheshchya), Wada, Argentine Selection (C.I. 112), Baladi, Bolley Golden (C.I. 644), Bombay (C.I. 42), Hindi, Italia Roma (C.I. 1005–2), J.W.S. (C.I. 708–1), Koto (C.I. 872), Kenya (C.I. 709–1), La Plata, Newland (C.I. 188), Ottawa 770B (C.I. 355), Pale Blue Crimped (C.I. 647), Tammes Pale Blue (C.I. 333–1), Williston Golden (C.I. 25–1) and C.I. 836.
All varieties did not show the same reactions to stem-break as to the browning phase of attack by Polyspora Lini and similar differences were noted in the case of the uredospore and teleutospore stages of Melampsora Lini. In certain varieties the stems showed a greater resistance to attack by Polyspora Lini or Melampsora Lini than the leaves.
Seeds of all varieties tested in the field experiments became heavily attacked with Polyspora Lini (except in La Plata), Colletotrichum linicola and Phoma sp.     

A study of the longevity of the seed-borne parasites of flax in relation to the storage of the seed

From 1939 to 1947 observations were made on the longevity of Colletotrichumlinicola Pethybr. & Laff., Polyspora Lini Laff., Botrytis cinerea F t ., and Phoma sp. occurring to different extents as seed-borne parasites of naturally contaminated samples of flax seed held under ordinary conditions of storage. The results obtained, together with the germination capacity of the seed estimated on different occasions during storage, are given and show that the longevity of the fungi considered varies within the following limits: Colletotrichum linicola , 26–69 months, Polyspora Lini , 16–55 months, Botrytis cinerea , 16–40 months and Phoma sp. 27–43 months. The data provide grounds for suggesting that the higher the percentage number of seeds contaminated with Polyspora Lini the longer will be the time taken for the death of the parasite to occur. As the time taken for the deactivation of the parasites is normally much longer than that for which flax seed for sowing purposes can be safely stored, prolonged storage of the seed does not commend itself as a likely method for securing the control of the diseases caused by seed-borne fungi. The germination capacity of the seed was normally found to be seriously impaired by the time all the parasites had died.     

Between-year variation in seed weights across altitudes in the high-alpine plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eritrichium nanum</Emphasis>

Seed weight is a prominent life history trait of plants affecting dispersal, establishment, and survival. In alpine environments, the few studies investigating the effect of elevation on seed weight within species have mainly detected a decrease in seed weight with increasing elevation. This relationship is generally attributed to the adverse climate at high elevations. In order to test this hypothesis, we analyzed seed weight variation across altitudes (2,435–3,055 m a.s.l.) in two consecutive years that differed in weather conditions in the high-alpine cushion plant Eritrichium nanum. We found a significant reduction in seed weight with increasing elevation in both years, but in the growing season with more adverse weather conditions, the reduction was more substantial than in the more favorable year. We conclude that alpine plants may be able to produce well-developed seeds at low elevations in almost all years, independent of weather conditions, whereas reproduction through seeds is potentially limited to years of favorable weather at high elevation.     

Effects of diseases on the growth and yield of spring linseed (Linum usitatissimum), 1988–1998

In spring linseed field experiments with fungicides at Rothamsted from 1988 to 1998, substantial yield losses assoeiated with diseases occurred in three years and slight losses could be associated with diseases in other years. These yield losses were related to decreases in yield components (thousand grain weights and number of capsules). Leaf browning was observed each year and percentage leaf area with browning was the disease factor most consistently related to yield losses (in five years). Yield loss relationships for these five years suggested that for each 10% increase in percentage leaf area with browning there was a yield loss of 0.10 to 0.18 t ha^?1. Stem browning, lesions on capsules and powdery mildew were associated with yield losses in two years, three years and one year, respectively. Yield losses were greatest in years when the period of flowering and early capsule development in June and July was wetter than average; the predominant disease was grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) in wet years up to 1996, whereas pasmo (Mycosphaerella linicola) was most important in 1997 and 1998. Observed yield losses were small in hot, dry years when powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca lini) and verticillium (Verticillium dahliae) were the predominant diseases.     

Effect of Metalaxyl on the incidence and severity of Pearl millet downy mildew disease in Northern Nigeria

Pearl millet downy mildew (DM) incidence, severity and yield losses of two pearl millet varieties (local and improved) due to the disease were determined in the field. Significant differences in the disease incidence and severity were recorded in the plots sown with metalaxyl-treated seeds and those sown with non-treated seeds, indicating the efficacy of the fungicide on the fungus. Yield losses due to non-treatment of seeds with metalaxyl was 40.88 and 45.39% in a local variety and 43.00 and 18.60% in an improved variety in the 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons respectively. Significant differences between plots sown with metalaxyl-treated and those sown with non-treated seeds were obtained for other yield components such as 1000-grains weight, panicle length and weight.     

A single genetic locus in chromosome 1 controls conditional browning during the induction of calli from mature seeds of Oryza sativa ssp. indica

Being the crucial step for rice transgenic manipulation, callus culture from mature seeds is severely restricted by browning of induced calli, especially in the case of indica (Oryza Sativa L.) rice. Once this browning occurs, the callus will die and no embryonic calli can be obtained for regeneration. Here we report an induction procedure that overcomes callus browning was found. To clarify the inheritance pattern of callus browning, two reciprocal crosses F₂ and two backcrosses BC₁ were made between indica cultivar inbred lines 93-11 and YueTaiB (YTB) which produced normal and browning respectively in the same induction medium. The ratio of browning to normal in the reciprocal F₂ and backcross (BC₁) populations tested was approximately 1:3 and 1:1, respectively, these results indicate that callus browning is controlled by one single chromosomal locus which is tentatively named Ic1 (Induced callus 1). The genetic mapping of this locus was carried out using microsatellite markers (SSR) in a 216 extremely browning F₂ seed callus. The analysis of genetic linkage indicated that one single locus that mapped to chromosome 1 was correlated to callus browning, and the closest marker in this study was mapped within 1.9 cM from the target locus.     

离子注入介导麻黄和甘草总DNA转化苜蓿的初步研究

目的:探索离子注入介导麻黄和甘草总DNA转化苜蓿的方法与效果。方法:氩离子(Ar )注入介导麻黄和甘草总DNA在2个品种的苜蓿中转化,对种子发育正常的T1代苜蓿单株进行生物碱类、黄酮类和皂苷类物质进行定性检识。结果:苜蓿种子经离子注入介导转基因处理后,T1代结荚率很低,复合DNA处理的183和283的结荚率分别为6.40%和8.33%,正常发育的种子分别为2.40%和5.83%。获得了种子发育良好的苜蓿T1代单株50株,其中6个单株根或茎的天然产物定性检识呈阳性。结论:Ar 注入介导外源DNA大分子的转化对苜蓿种子的发育具有很大影响,获得的转基因苜蓿T1代种子,为进一步开展相关化学证据和分子证据的研究提供了宝贵的材料。     

珍稀濒危植物香果树胚性细胞悬浮系的建立和植株再生

以香果树（Emmenopterys henry,）未成熟种子为试材,探讨不同的接种量、基本培养基、糖浓度及植物生长调节物质等对体细胞胚胎生长的影响,建立稳定的香果树胚性细胞悬浮培养与植株再生体系。结果表明：悬浮培养条件下,最适接种量为2％（鲜重）：较适合的基本培养基为MS;蔗糖浓度为1％时容易使球形胚聚合体愈伤化,浓度为3％和6％适合球形胚聚合体增殖。浓度为9％则容易使球形胚聚合体褐化：添加0．5mg·L^-1 6-BA和0．5mg·L^-1NAA的MS液体培养基,当初始蔗糖浓度为3％。然后逐步提高到6％则有利于香果树各个发育阶段的同步化;子叶胚转到不含任何植物生长调节物质的MS固体培养基中可以长成正常植株。     

珍稀濒危植物香果树胚性细胞悬浮系的建立和植株再生

以香果树(Emmenopterys henryi)未成熟种子为试材, 探讨不同的接种量、基本培养基、糖浓度及植物生长调节物质等对体细胞胚胎生长的影响, 建立稳定的香果树胚性细胞悬浮培养与植株再生体系。结果表明: 悬浮培养条件下, 最适接种量为2%(鲜重); 较适合的基本培养基为MS; 蔗糖浓度为1%时容易使球形胚聚合体愈伤化, 浓度为3%和6%适合球形胚聚合体增殖, 浓度为9%则容易使球形胚聚合体褐化; 添加0.5 mg.L-16-BA 和0.5 mg.L-1 NAA的MS液体培养基, 当初始蔗糖浓度为3%, 然后逐步提高到6%则有利于香果树各个发育阶段的同步化; 子叶胚转到不含任何植物生长调节物质的MS固体培养基中可以长成正常植株。     

Endosperm protein of wheat seed as a determinant of seedling growth

Seed of a Mexican semidwarf wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Inia 66), was obtained from a nitrogen fertilizer field trial grown in Mexico. A high positive correlation was obtained between seed protein content and seedling dry weight after 3 weeks growth (r = +0.92^**). The seedling dry weight was positively related to the protein content of the aleurone layer and endosperm, but not to the embryo. Small, 35 milligrams, high protein seeds (4.7 milligrams protein per seed) produced larger seedlings than large, 45 milligrams, low protein seeds (4.3 milligram protein per seed). There was no difference in the weight or protein content of embryos from low and high protein seeds and their growth was similar. Composite seeds of the two protein levels were produced by transferring embryos from one endosperm type to the other. After 4 weeks, there was no difference between the different embryo types grown on the same endosperm type. High protein endosperm produced more vigorous seedlings regardless of the embryo type grown on it, indicating that the factor(s) responsible for the greater growth of high protein seed is in the endosperm.     

Consequences of a mixed reproductive system in the hog peanut,Amphicarpaea bracteata, (Fabaceae)

Summary The forest annual, Amphicarpaea bracteata L. can reproduce via aerial chasmogamous, aerial cleistogamous, and subterranean cleistogamous flowers. Both plant size and light intensity influenced the utilization of the three modes of reproduction. chasmogamous and aerial cleistogamous flower number and the ratio of chasmogamous flowers to the total number of aerial flowers increased with plant size. The latter demonstrated a shift to xenogamy and outbreeding in larger plants. Light intensity indirectly influenced reproductive modes through its infuence on plant size. Seed set by both types of aerial flowers was low and unrelated to plant size. Subterranean seed number and the total dry weight of subterranean seeds per plant increased with size. The subterranean seeds of Amphicarpaea bracteata are thirty-four times larger than the aerial seeds (fresh weight). Under field conditions, subterranean seeds had greater germination after one year than acrial seeds. The plants arising from subterranean seeds were significantly larger and more fecund than those from aerial seeds. Seeds produced by aerial cleistogamous, hand selfpollinated chasmogamous, and naturally pollinated chasmogamous flowers had equivalent germination rates and produced plants of equal size and fecundity. This suggests that the outbred progeny from chasmogamous flowers have no advantage over the inbred progeny from aerial cleistogamous flowers.     

Seed germination and seedling fitness in Mesua ferrea L. in relation to fruit size and seed number per fruit

Effect of fruit size and seediness (seed number per fruit) was examined on germination and early growth of seedlings in Mesua ferrea L. Fruiting incidence (number of fruited trees in a population) and fruit loading (number of fruits per tree) vary from one year to the other, and were greater in 1997 than in 1998. Seeds from large fruits (> 40 g) are preferred for forestry plantations and those from small fruits (< 40 g) are discarded, despite a greater proportion of small fruits (63.2 %) than large fruits (36.8 %). A fruit, large or small in size, may contain one, two, three or four seeds. The germination percentage of seeds increased from 1-seeded through 4-seeded fruits both in laboratory and greenhouse conditions, and both in case of large and small fruits. Conversely, the mean seed weight and germination time decreased along this gradient, i.e. seeds from 1-seeded fruits were the heaviest and required maximum time for germination, and the seeds from 4-seeded fruits were the lightest and required minimum time for germination. The seeds from small fruits were lighter in weight, achieved lower germination percentages and required greater germination time than the seeds from large fruits in all four seeded categories. Seedlings from seeds from 1-seeded fruits survived better and with stronger vigour after 1 year of growth than seedlings from 2-, 3- and 4-seeded fruits. Further, seedling survival and vigour were greater for seeds from large rather than small fruits.     

Selected immunologic parameters and infections in children in over 1 year after completion of the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

An analysis of infection incidence within one year after completion of the treatment for the acute lymphoblastic leukemia was performed in the group of 24 children. Infections incidence was related to the selected immunological parameters, mainly T4 and T8 lymphocyte subpopulations assayed with monoclonal antibodies. T4/T8 cells ratio (Ix) was determined. It was found that moderate decrease in the total lymphocyte count and Ix exist in children one year after completion of the treatment. This index is more significantly lower in children with more frequent infections while the absolute numbers of T4 and T8 lymphocytes are relatively increased. The obtained results suggest that no significant immunosuppression is observed in children affecting the number and the course of infections.     

濒危植物水青树种子的生物学特性

通过连续三年（2006～2008）对水青树种子（Tetracentron sinense）的形态特征和生理特性等指标进行检测,探讨了不同储藏温度、时间和不同基质对水青树种子萌发的影响,分析了与种子生物学特性相关的濒危机制。水青树种子很小,其形态特征、千粒重、含水量和饱满度在不同年限间差异不显著,而吸水速率却差异显著,其中2007年种子的吸水速率最快。TTC染色测得3年水青树种子的活力几乎为0,但其活力指数分别为0、0.41和0.27,表明TTC染色法不适于水青树种子活力的估算。低温储藏后,3年种子的萌发率分别为1.25%、96.5%、70.8%,发芽势分别为1%、59.8%、41.8%。随储藏时间的增加,2007年种子活力降低的速度都慢于其它2年,低温储藏的种子活力降低速度慢于常温储藏的种子。不同基质对水青树种子的萌发和幼苗的生长有一定影响。结果表明,大年水青树种子的活力明显强于小年,随储藏时间的增加其活力的丧失速度也慢于小年;低温储藏有利于种子活力的保持。种子生物学特性方面导致水青树更新困难的原因可能有以下几点：（1）长期进化形成的小种子虽有利于传播和散布,但不利于种子和幼苗的存活;（2）长期低温不适于种子萌发,难以形成应有的幼苗格局;（3）长期湿润环境不适于种子安全度过寒冷期。     

合理施肥对银杏园土壤肥力和酶活性的影响

首次研究合理施肥对银杏园土壤肥力和酶活性的影响,结果表明合理施肥,改善了土壤理化性状,显著地提高了土壤肥力和土壤酶的活性;从而培育了银杏发达的根群,促进了树体的生长。增加了银杏鲜根重和百叶鲜重,减少了银杏黄化株率,提高了银杏挂果株率及种核的产量和品质。     

土壤种子库的分类系统和种子在土壤中的持久性

对国际上已经发表的10个土壤种子库分类系统的内容进行了总结和阐述,并对土壤种子库分类系统进行了评述,其中Thompson ＆ Grime在1979年提出的把土壤种子库分为短暂土壤种子库（Transient soil seed bank）和持久土壤种子库（Persistent seed bank）的二元分类系统以及Thompson等人提出的把土壤种子库分为（1）短暂土壤种子库,（2）短期持久土壤种子库（Short term persistent seed bank）,（3）长期土壤种子库（Long termp ersistent seed bank）的三元分类系统在生态学文献中已被广泛采用。在此分类的基础上产生了植物种子在土壤中的持久性（Persistence）概念,持久性是指植物的一种特性,是指植物的种子在土壤中能够存活超过1a的特性;植物种子的持久性被认为是一种对环境的进化适应,它可以在多个生长季节萌发从而分担环境震荡的风险,持久土壤种子库不仅在不稳定的环境里占有优势;即使在稳定的环境里,也被认为能够减少种内和种间的竞争;造成持久性的原因可分为环境因子和种子本身的特性比如休眠等两个方面,持久土壤种子库的出现使得土壤种子库的研究与进化生物学结合起来,使得土壤种子库的研究进入一个新的领域,更易激发人们的兴趣。关于种子的大小、形状及持久性的关系问题已经引起了相当的争论,基本上有4种格局：一是种子大小和形状与种子在土壤中的持久性有关,小而圆或扁的种子在土壤易存活持久;二是种子大小与种子在土壤中的持久性有关,小种子在土壤中易存活持久,但种子形状与持久性无关;三是种子大小、形状与种子在土壤中的持久性无关;四为较大的种子在土壤易存活持久,而种子形状与种子在土壤中的持久性无关。影响种子在土壤中的持久性因子比较复杂,总结过去的文献发现主要有以下几个因子：①种子的散布方式,②捕食,③植被的物种组成,④风,⑤土壤基质,⑥火,⑦干扰等。通过比较分析和研究,提出影响种子大小和在土壤中的持久性关系格局的关键因子是气候,特别是生态系统所在地的雨量;湿润气候下容易产生前两种格局,而干旱环境下的生境容易产生后两种格局。     

TRANSPARENT TESTA10 encodes a laccase-like enzyme involved in oxidative polymerization of flavonoids in Arabidopsis seed coat

The Arabidopsis thaliana transparent testa10 (tt10) mutant exhibits a delay in developmentally determined browning of the seed coat, also called the testa. Seed coat browning is caused by the oxidation of flavonoids, particularly proanthocyanidins, which are polymers of flavan-3-ol subunits such as epicatechin and catechin. The tt10 mutant seeds accumulate more epicatechin monomers and more soluble proanthocyanidins than wild-type seeds. Moreover, intact testa cells of tt10 cannot trigger H2O2-independent browning in the presence of epicatechin and catechin, in contrast with wild-type cells. UV-visible light detection and mass spectrometry revealed that the major oxidation products obtained with epicatechin alone are yellow dimers called dehydrodiepicatechin A. These products differ from proanthocyanidins in the nature and position of their interflavan linkages. Flavonol composition was also affected in tt10 seeds, which exhibited a higher ratio of quercetin rhamnoside monomers versus dimers than wild-type seeds. We identified the TT10 gene by a candidate gene approach. TT10 encodes a protein with strong similarity to laccase-like polyphenol oxidases. It is expressed essentially in developing testa, where it colocalizes with the flavonoid end products proanthocyanidins and flavonols. Together, these data establish that TT10 is involved in the oxidative polymerization of flavonoids and functions as a laccase-type flavonoid oxidase.     

After-Ripening in Festuca idahoensis Seeds: Adaptive Dormancy and Implications for Restoration

Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue) was a common native perennial bunchgrass in the sagebrush steppe of the western United States until the introductions of domestic livestock and alien plants. Restoration of Idaho fescue to degraded sites will likely involve reseeding, and one of the factors affecting reseeding success is germinability of the seeds employed. We investigated effects of after-ripening and storage temperature on germinability of Idaho fescue seeds collected from a central Oregon site. Six months of after-ripening were required before maximum germination was obtained. Storage of dry seeds at either room temperature (20°C) or at cooler, alternating temperatures (5/15°C) did not alter the rate at which dormancy was lost. Storage at the warmer temperature promoted rapid germination in seeds that had broken dormancy. Seed longevity varied greatly from year to year. Seeds produced in a very dry year had poorer germination and shorter longevity than seeds produced during a year with near normal precipitation. Because seed dispersal occurs in late July and early August for Idaho fescue in central Oregon, a six-month after-ripening requirement ensures that the greatest potential germination coincides with the spring period most likely to provide sufficient moisture for seedling establishment.