Study on the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza of three cultivars of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Summary The establishment and development of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi were studied in three cultivars of potato, which differed in susceptibility to Late blight, in a field experiment on a lateritic sandy-loam during two growing seasons (1980 and 1981). The cultivars SSC 1174 (highly resistant) and Kufri Jyoti (resistant) showed an earlier establishment and more rapid development of VAM fungi than up-to-date (highly susceptible). The first mycorrhizal infection in both SSC 1174 and Kufri Jyoti was observed after 12 days in 1980 and 8 days in 1981, whereas in up-to-date it was observed after 19 and 12 days respectively. The mycorrhizal infection increased with the age of the plants in all the three cultivars.     

Production of a novel syrup containing neofructo-oligosaccharides by the cells of Penicillium citrinum

A novel syrup containing neofructo-oligosaccharides was produced from sucrose (Brix 70) by whole cells of Penicillium citrinum. The efficiency of fructo-oligosaccharides production was more than 55% and those of the main carbohydrate components, 1-kestose (Fruf 21Fruf 21 Glc), nystose (Fruf 21Fruf 21 Fruf 21 Glc) and neokestose (Fruf 26 Glc12 Fruf), were 22, 14 and 11%, respectively.     

Microsatellite markers in the hexaploid Prunus domestica species and parentage lineage of three European plum cultivars using nuclear and chloroplast simple-sequence repeats

In a previous study, cDNA microsatellite markers were described in apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.). Specific PCR primers were designed to amplify the microsatellite-containing regions from genomic DNA in different Prunus species. In the present work, cDNA microsatellite markers were developed in the hexaploid Prunus domestica L. species and polymorphism was ascertained in a segregating plum population. Co-dominant mendelian segregation of alleles was demonstrated and microsatellite polymorphism displayed up to 6 alleles per SSR locus per individual. Parentage lineage of three full-sib European plum cultivars (cv. Cacanska najbolja, Cacanska rana and Cacanska lepotica) was reconstructed by the analysis of the above nuclear SSR markers, completed by four chloroplastic microsatellite loci. The six most informative nuclear loci enabled discrimination between the three Cacak cultivars and unrelated individuals as well as the previously proposed parents, Wangenheim and Pozegaca. Data obtained support previous evidence that these cultivars originated from the Stanley cultivar. However, SSR analysis finally excluded Wangenheim as the other possible parent. Based on the results obtained with nuclear and chloroplast SSR loci, we propose the origin of those three Cacak cultivars in a cross between Stanley as the mother plant and Ruth gerstetter as the pollinator. Furthermore, we demonstrate the utility of these apricot SSR markers for genotype fingerprinting of the hexaploid plum cultivars.     

Wheat chromosome 2D carries genes controlling the activity of two DNA-degrading enzymes

DNA-degrading enzymes of 24.0 kDa and 27.0 kDa were observed to have different activities in two common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars, Wichita and Cheyenne. A substrate-based SDS-PAGE assay revealed that these two enzymes were much more active in Wichita than in Cheyenne. Genes controlling the activities of these two enzymes were localized on chromosome 2D by testing DNA-degrading activities in reciprocal chromosome substitution lines between Wichita and Cheyenne. While the allele on Wichita chromosome 2D stimulated the activities of the 24.0- and 27.0-kDa enzymes in Cheyenne, the allele on Cheyenne chromosome 2D did not reduce the activities of the 24-kDa and 27-kDa enzymes in Wichita. Whether these genes code for the DNA-degrading enzymes themselves or for factors that regulate the enzyme activities remains unknown.This work was supported in part by USDA-Competitive Research Grants Office grant No. 90-37140-5426 to P.S.B. Contribution from Agricultural Research Division, University of Nebraska. Journal Series Number 10304     

The structure of the incompatibility factors of Schizophyllum commune: Constitution of the three classes of B factors

Summary The B factors of Schizophyllum commune are of 3 classes: The high recombining class I has 7 alleles and 7 alleles; the low recombining classes are class II with 7 allels and probably 2 alleles and class III with probably 2 (or also 2) alleles and 7 allels. A fourth hypothetical class (-) was not found and either does not exist or is indistinguishable from class III by the tests employed. The and alleles differ from and by either (a) mutations affecting both mating specificity and recombination frequency, or (b) deletions involving most of the B region.The research was supported by a grant from the Atomic Energy Commission of the U.S. No. (30-1)-3875 and was performed at the Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A.     

On morphological variation in Keratella cochlearis populations from Holstein lakes (Northern Germany)

Keratella cochlearis occurs in many Holstein lakes (northern Germany) as three well defined and separated forms: cochlearis, hispida, and tecta, each showing very little variation between the lakes. The present data show that the tecta form did not originate from a Lauterborn cycle.     

Uptake of Zn++ and aflatoxin from perlite and liquid culture by Zea mays seedlings

The present paper reports our attempts to determine whether the inclusion of 0.0014 mM Zn⁺⁺ within a hydroponic culture medium affects the ability of 12-day-old Zea mays, cv. SS-522 to take-up [³H]-aflatoxin B₁. Data from the corollary experiment, i.e., whether inclusion of aflatoxin affects the ability of Zea mays, cvs. Truckers White, X-Sweet and Merit to take-up ⁶⁵ZnCl₂ are presented also. This report is a preliminary to one regarding an in-progress analysis of whether pollutant levels of Zn⁺⁺ affect aflatoxin uptake and distribution. In the absence of irrigating seedlings, which were grown in Perlite containing ⁶⁵ZnCl₂, with a solution containing mixed aflatoxins, the stem contained the greatest amount of label with root plus seed the next highest and the leaf the least for each of the cvs. In contrast, when the seedlings were irrigated with a solution containing mixed aflatoxins, the root plus seed contained either an amount nearly identical to (cv. Truckers White) or in excess of that within the stem (cvs. X-Sweet and Merit). Calculation of the percentages of aflatoxin-induced diminutions in leaf, stem and root label suggested that the aflatoxins interfered with the translocation of ⁶⁵ZnCl₂ from the root to the stem and leaf, at least for cvs X-Sweet and Merit. When 0.0014mM Zn⁺⁺ as ZnSO₄ was added to an incubation medium in which 12-day-old seedlings were suspended and plant growth assessed over 72 hours, a 15% increase (significant at 0.05 level) in seedling height over that of Zn⁺⁺-deficient plants was observed. No differences in [³H]-aflatoxin B₁ uptake were noted between those seedlings which were grown in either Zn⁺⁺-containing or lacking media. Less than one % of the[³H]-aflatoxin B₁ which was taken-up was recovered within chloroform extracts of the seedlings. The distributions of radioactivity from [³H]-aflatoxin B₁ for leaf, stem, seed and root were 0, 57, 26 and 19% and 0, 26, 58 and 18% for Zn⁺⁺-containing and -lacking media, respectively.     

Adsorption of small biological molecules on silica from diluted aqueous solutions: Quantitative characterization and implications to the Bernal's hypothesis

To describe quantitatively the adsorption of prebiotically important compounds of low molecular weight (amino acids, short linear peptides, cyclic dipeptides, the Krebs's cycle and other carboxylic acids, nucleosides and related phosphates) on silica surface from diluted neutral aqueous solutions, equilibrium constants (K) and free energies (–G) of adsorption were determined from the retention values measured by means of high-performance liquid chromatography on a silica gel column and from the isotherms measured under static conditions. For most carboxylic acids (including amino acids and linear peptides) –G values were negative and K<1, thus showing very weak adsorption. Cyclic dipeptides (2,5-piperazinediones) exhibited higher adsorbability; –G>0 and K>1 were found for most of them. Influence of the structure of -substituent on the adsorbability is analyzed. A linear dependence of –G on the number of aliphatic carbon atoms in a sorbate molecule was found for the series of aliphatic bifunctional amino acids, related dipeptides and 2,5-piperazinediones, as well as for the row from glycine to triglycyl glycine. The adsorption of nucleosides and their phosphates is characterized by much higherK and –G values (of the order of 10² and 10⁴, respectively). The adsorption data available from our work and literature are summarized and discussed with implications to the Bernal's hypothesis on the roles of solid surfaces in the prebiotic formation of biopolymers from monomeric building blocks.corresponding author: on leave of absence from Institute of Surface Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine.     

Komparative Aussagemuster in Bezug zu komplementären und enkaptischen Modellen der Morphologie

The unity of organisms can be viewed in terms of the concepts of enkapsis and complementarity. A model (or a type) represents those properties (of elements, structure, and system) which renders cases - the organisms under consideration — comparable. Comparability is established by operations (or metamorphoses) which relate a case to a model. Therefore, the model and the operations must be enumerated together, if a certain morphology is to be established and applied. Two models, which in some way are related, are conjunct, otherwise they are disjunct. If one model is deducible from the other, they are enkaptic conjunct. If the models are essentially different, that is to say that they cannot be transduced into each other, although they condition each other, they are complementary conjunct: although not comparable themselves, only both together describe a case (or a set of cases) completely. Now, the comparability of a case with two models is considered. The two basic patterns of general comparability are homology and analogy. If the two models are complementary conjunct, nine patterns of special comparability can be distinguished. Each is named in accordance with the general meaning of homology and analogy and, as far as possible, with conventional scientific usage. With minor modifications the terminology also applies to more complicated patterns of comparability including distinct or different conjunct models.     

Geographische Herkunft und Anpassung beim Apfel

Zusammenfassung In den Jahren 1961 und 1962 wurden Untersuchungen mit Hilfe der Exosmose-Methode durchgeführt, um sich über die Frostresistenz von nahezu 100 Apfelsorten zu orientieren. Die Versuchsergebnisse (ausgedrückt in RLF-Werten, d. h. als Proportion des elektrolytischen Widerstandes zwischen den Kontrollen und den kältebehandelten Pflanzenteilen) zeigen gute Übereinstimmung mit den Resultaten anderer Härtebeurteilungsmethoden, z. B. mit den Gefrierversuchen in Gefrierkammern und mit den amerikanischen, deutschen und schweidischen Freilandbeobachtungen. Die berechneten Korrelationskoeffizienten gaben Werte von r=>+0,750 mit einer statistischen Sicherheit von P=<0,001. Es gibt jedoch Sorten, welche sich unter den verschiedenen Versuchsbedingungen nicht gleichartig verhielten. In diese Gruppe gehören die Sorten Goldparmäne, James Grieve, Lanes Prince Albert, Schöner aus Nordhausen, Slava Petersburga und Transparente de Croncels. Der Zusammenhang zwischen der geographischen Herkunft und der Frostresistenz ist augenfällig. Die durchschnittlichen RLF-Werte der frostempfindlichen oder sehr frostempfindlichen französischen Sorten liegen bei ungefähr 150, die der finnischen und baltischen frostharten Sorten dagegen unter 110. Die Rangordnung der verschiedenen Klimagebiete erfolgte entsprechend der geographischen Lage. Es gab Sorten, die der allgemeinen Tendenz nicht folgten und sich abweichend verhielten. Hierzu gehören: Transparente de Croncels, (Frankreich), Wealthy (USA), Cox Pomona und Ribston (Großbritannien). Über eine wesentlich schlechtere Resistenz, als auf Grund des Ursprungsgebietes zu erwarten war, verfügt Ontario (Kanada).     

α-and β-Glycosidases in maize roots

Four glycosidases were analyzed in 10 mm apical segments prepared from growing roots (15 mm) of Zea mays L. The pH optima were found to be 5.8 for -glucosidase, 4.4 for -galactosidase, 6.4 for -glucosidase and 6.0 for -galactosidase. The -glucosidase showed 4-fold higher activity than the -galactosidase. The distribution of the -glucosidase activity was signifcantly different from that of the -galactosidase, -glucosidase and -galactosidase.Abbreviations -Glu -glucosidase - -Gal -galactosidase - -Glu -glucosidase - -Gal -galactosidase     

On age morphological changes of males of Chydoridae (Cladocera)

Summary Young and adult males of 11 species of Chydoridae are studied, their figures being published here (fig. 1–15). The necessity is stressed to distinguish young forms of males and gynandromorphic individuals.Pleuroxus balatonicus is considered to be described from the population ofPleuroxus unicatus having under Balaton Lake conditions retarded transformation of young males into adult form, and accordingly having unusually numerous young males. \qO\qs\qn\qo\qv\qn\qy\ye \qr\ye\qz\qu\ql\Qj\qt\qa\qt\qy 11 (. 1–15). . , Pleuroxus uncinatus , Pleuroxus balatonicus.     

The catalysis of nucleotide polymerization by compounds of divalent lead

Summary Soluble lead salts and a number of lead-containing minerals catalyze the formation of oligonucleotides from nucleoside 5-phosphorimidazolides. The effectiveness of lead compounds correlates strongly with their solubility. Under optimal conditions we were able to obtain 18% of pentamer and higher oligomers from ImpA. Reactions involving ImpU gave smaller yields.Abbreviations A adenosine - U uridine - Im imidazole - MeIm 1-methyl-imidazole - EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - pA adenosine 5-phosphate - pU uridine 5-phosphate - Ap adenosine cyclic 2:3-phosphate - ATP adenosine 5-triphosphate - AppA P₁,P₂-diadenosine 5-diphosphate - pNp (N = A,U) nucleotide 2(3), 5-diphosphate - ImpA adenosine 5-phosphoreimidazolide - ImpU uridine 5-phosphorimidazolide - A ²pA adenylyl-[25]-adenosine - A ³pA adenylyl-[35]-adenosine - pA ²pA 5-phospho-adenylyl-[25]-adenosine - pA ³pA 5-phospho-adenylyl-[35]-adenosine - pUpU 5-phospho-uridylyl-uridine - pApU 5-phospho-adenylyl-uridine - pUpA 5-phospho-uridylyladenine - (pA)n (n, 2,3,4,) oligoadenylates with 5 terminal phosphate - ImpApA 5-phosphorimidazolide of adenylyl adenosine - (pA) ₅₊ pentamer and higher oligoadenylates with 5 terminal phosphate - (Ap)nA (n = 2,3,4) oligoadenylates without terminal phosphates In the following we do not specify the nature of the internucleotide linkageIn the following we do not specify the nature of the internucleotide linkage     

Geometry of the dry-state oligomerization of 2′,3′-cyclic phosphates

Summary Evaporation of a solution of thymidine plus either theexo or theendo diastereomer of uridine cyclic 2,3-O, O-phosphorothioate (U > p(S) in 1,2-diaminoethane hydrochloride buffer gave the 2,5 and 3,5 isomers of (P-thio) uridylylthymidine (Up(S)dT) in a ratio of 1:2 with a combined yield of about 20%. These isomers were re-converted to U > p(S) and dT by a reaction that is known to proceed by an in-line mechanism. Both the 2,5 and 3,5 isomers gave as product the same diastereomer of U > p(S) that had been used originally in their formation. These dry-state prebiotic reactions (Verlander, Lohrmann, and Orgel 1973) are thus shown to be stereospecific, and both the 2,5 and 3,5 internucleotide bonds are formed by an in-line mechanism.Abbreviations DAE 1,2-diaminoethane - HPLC high pressure liquid chromatography - RNase bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A, EC 3.1.4.22 - TEAB triethylammonium bicarbonate - tris tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane - UMP(S) uridine monophosphorothioate - U > p uridine cyclic 2,3-phosphate - U > p(S) uridine cyclic 2,3-O, O-phosphorothioate - Up(S)dT (P-thio)uridylylthymidine - U2p(R_p-S)5dT (P-thio)uridylylthymidine with theR configuration at phosphorous, and a 2,5 internucleotide linkage     

Occurrence of reducing terminal N-acetylglucosamine 3-sulfate and fucosylated outer chains in acidic N-glycans of porcine zona pellucida glycoproteins

Structures of acidic N-glycans released from porcine zona pellucida glycoproteins by hydrazinolysis were studied. The results indicated that the acidic glycans are of mono- to tetraantennary complex-type with and without N-acetyllactosamine repeating units. Sulfated residues are not only located at the C-6 position of GlcNAc included in the N-acetyllactosamine repeating units, but also at the C-6 position of GlcNAc in the non-repeated antennae and at the C-3 position of reducing terminal GlcNAc residue. Analysis of the oligosaccharide fragments released by endo--galactosidase digestion and by hydrazine/nitrous acid treatment also revealed that various sulfated and non-sulfated forms of fucosylated structures such as Fuc12Gal14(±SO–36)GlcNAc (type 2H), Gal14(Fuc13)(±SO–36)GlcNAc(Lex) and Fuc13 or 4(±SO–36)GlcNAc, are expressed in the repeated outer chain moieties.     

Heterosis among populations of maize (Zea mays L.) with different levels of exotic germplasm

Summary Thirteen maize (Zea mays L.) populations including five adapted, five adapted x exotic, two composites of adapted and exotic, and one exotic selected for adaptability were crossed in a diallel mating system. The parents and 78 crosses and nine check hybrids were evaluated for grain yield and plant height in five environments. The Gardner-Eberhart model Analysis II indicated that additive and nonadditive gene effects accounted for 60 and 40% of the total variation among populations, respectively, for grain yield and 86% and 14% of the total variation, respectively, for plant height. Components of heterosis were significant in the combined analysis for both traits. Adapted Corn Belt populations tended to have higher performance in crosses and greater values of variety heterosis than 50% adapted populations. Nebraska Elite Composite, Corn Belt x Mexican, and Corn Belt x Brazilian showed high mean yields in crosses, however, they were not among those with high estimates of variety heterosis. One exotic population (Tuxpeno x Antigua Grupo 2) and three adapted populations [307 Composite, NB(S₁)C-3, and NK(S₁)C-3] might be combined together to form a high-yielding population. It may be possible to synthesize two useful populations for reciprocal recurrent selection by grouping Tuxpeno x Antiqua Grupo 2, NB(S₁)C-3, and NS(FS)LFW-8 into one population and NK(S₁)C-3, KrugxTabloncillo, and 307 Composite in the other one.Contribution from the Department of Agronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583. Published as Paper No. 8011. Journal Series, Nebr. Agric. Exp. Station. Research was conducted under Project 12-049     

Genotypic stability analysis of yield and related agronomic characters in wheat-Agropyron derivatives under varying watering regimes

Summary Genotypic stability of grain yield and yield related traits was estimated for the 8 wheat-Agropyron derivatives, 441, 442, Vostock, PPG 56, PPG 56SS, 449, 450 and 441SS, together with two spring wheat controls, Drabant and Sv 01382, grown under varying watering regimes for two years. Differences among environments, genotypes and their interactions were highly significant for all traits. The genotypes X environments linear response were significant for number of spikelets per main spike, grain number per main spike and single grain weight. No significant linear responses were detected for grain yield or the rest of yield related traits. Deviations from linear responses were highly significant for all traits under study. Grain yield stability was not associated with the stability of yield components. PPG 56SS was identified as the stable variety with the highest mean grain yield per plant under the severe stress environment. Mean grain yields in the severe stress environment were correlated with the genotypic stability parameter . The severe stress environment was recognized as the optimum test environment. The study revealed a shift in the association between grain yield per plant and its components under the varying environments.     

Full 1H NMR assignment of a 24-nucleotide RNA hairpin: Application of the 1H 3D-NOE/2QC experiment

The subject RNA models the binding site for the coat protein of the R17 virus, as well as the ribosome recognition sequence for the R17 replicase gene. With an RNA of this size, overlaps among the sugar protons complicate assignments of the ¹H NMR spectrum. The cross peaks that overlap significantly in 2D-NOE spectra can frequently be resolved by introducing a third, in our approach the double-quantum, frequency axis. In particular the planes in a 3D-NOE/2QC spectrum perpendicular to the 2Q axis are extremely useful, showing a highly informative repeating NOE-2Q pattern. In this experiment substantial J-coupling confers special advantages. This always occurs for geminal pairs (H5/H5 for RNA plus H2/H2 for DNA), as well as for H5/H6, for H3/H4 in sugars with substantial populations of the N-pucker, for H1/H2 for S-puckered sugars, and usually for H2/H3. For the 24-mer RNA hairpin the additional information from the 3D-NOE/2QC spectrum allowed assignment of all of the non-exchangeable protons, eliminating the need for stable-isotope labeling.     

Adenosine-5′-phosphosulfate (APS) as sulfate donor for assimilatory sulfate reduction in Rhodospirillum rubrum

Crude extracts of Rhodospirillum rubrum catalyzed the formation of acid-volatile radioactivity from (³⁵S) sulfate, (³⁵S) adenosine-5-phosphosulfate, and (³⁵S) 3-phosphoadenosine-5-phosphosulfate. An enzyme fraction similar to APS-sulfotransferases from plant sources was purified 228-fold from Rhodospirillum rubrum. It is suggested here that this enzyme is specific for adenosine-5-phosphosulfate, because the purified enzyme fraction metabolized adenosine-5-phosphosulfate, however, only at a rate of 1/10 of that with adenosine-5-phosphosulfate. Further, the reaction with 3-phosphoadenosine-5-phosphosulfate was inhibited with 3-phosphoadenosine-5-phosphate whereas this nucleotide had no effect on the reaction with adenosine-5-phosphosulfate. For this activity with adenosine-5-phosphosulfate the name APS-sulfotransferase is suggested. This APS-sulfotransferase needs thiols for activity; good rates were obtained with either dithioerythritol or reduced glutathione; other thiols like cysteine, 2-3-dimercaptopropanol or mercaptoethanol are less effective. The electron donor methylviologen did not catalyze this reaction. The pH-optimum was about 9.0; the apparent K _m for adenosine-5-phosphosulfate was determined to be 0.05 mM with this so far purified enzyme fraction. Enzyme activity was increased with K₂SO₄ and Na₂SO₄ and was inhibited by 5-AMP. These properties are similar to assimilatory APS-sulfotransferases from spinach and Chlorella.Abbreviations APS adenosine-5-phosphosulfate - PAPS 3-phosphoadenosine-5-phosphosulfate - 5-AMP adenosine-5-monophosphate - 3-AMP adenosine-3-monophosphate - 3-5-ADP 3-phosphoadenosine-5-phosphate (PAP) - DTE dithiorythritol - GSH reduced glutathione - BAL 2-3-dimercaptopropanol     

An alphoid DNA sequence conserved in all human and great ape chromosomes: evidence for ancient centromeric sequences at human chromosomal regions 2q21 and 9q13

Using vector-CENP-B box polymerase chain reaction (PCR) we isolated and cloned from a human chromosome 21-specific plasmid library, a 1 kb DNA sequence, named pH21. In in situ hybridization experiments, pH21 hybridized, under high stringency conditions, to the centromeric region of all the human, chimpanzee, gorilla and orangutan chromosomes. On human chromosomes pH21 also identified non-centromeric sequences at 2q21 (locus D2F33S1) and 9q13 (locus D9F33S2). The possible derivation of these sequences from ancestral centromeres is discussed. Sequence analysis confirmed the alphoid nature of the whole pH21 insert.GenBank accession number, M64321