Effect of starvation on the content of free amino acids in plasma of different breeds of hen

Summary Leghorn, Cornish and White Rock hens were subjected to starvation. Free amino acids were determined in blood samples taken after 48, 72 and 96 h of starvation. A progressive decrease in concentration of the majority of amino acids was found. Changes in amino acid concentrations during starvation were dependent on the breed of hen.     

The level of free amino acids in erythrocytes of different breeds of hen

Summary The content of free amino acids was determined in erythrocytes of adult Leghorn (Lg, White Rock (WR) and Cornish (Cr) hens, bred under identical conditions. The concentration of total amino acids was twice as high in the erythrocytes as in plasma, amounting to 396 m/100 ml, 424 m/100 ml and 475m/100 ml in White Rock, Cornish and Leghorn hens, respectively.Significant differences were found in the ratio of basic amino acids to acidic amino acids. These values were 0.76, 1.75 and 3.19 in White Rick, Leghorn and Cornish hens, respectively; in the plasma of all 3 breeds the ratio was 1. Statistically significant interbreed differences were expressed more distinctly in erythrocyte than in plasma amino acid concentrations. For absolute concentrations the differences were significant in the case of 9 amino acids.     

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.     

Viability and activity in readily culturable bacteria: a review and discussion of the practical issues

In microbiology the terms viability and culturability are often equated. However, in recent years the apparently self-contradictory expression viable-but-nonculturable (VBNC) has been applied to cells with various and often poorly defined physiological attributes but which, nonetheless, could not be cultured by methods normally appropriate to the organism concerned. These attributes include apparent cell integrity, the possession of some form of measurable cellular activity and the apparent capacity to regain culturability. We review the evidence relating to putative VBNC cells and stress our view that most of the reports claiming a return to culturability have failed to exclude the regrowth of a limited number of cells which had never lost culturability. We argue that failure to differentiate clearly between use of the terms viability and culturability in an operational versus a conceptual sense is fuelling the current debate, and conclude with a number of proposals that are designed to help clarify the major issues involved. In particular, we suggest an alternative operational terminology that replaces VBNC with expressions that are internally consistent.     

Spontaneous chlorophyll mutants of Pennisetum americanum: Genetics and chlorophyll quantities

Summary Thirteen spontaneously occurring chlorophyll deficient phenotypes have been described and their genetic basis was established. Ten of these — white, white tipped green, patchy white, white virescent, white striping 1, white striping 2, white striping 4, fine striping, chlorina and yellow virescent showed monogenic recessive inheritance and the remaining three — yellow striping, yellow green and light green seedling phenotypes showed digenic recessive inheritance. The genes for (i) white tipped green (wr) and yellow virescent (yv) and (ii) patchy white (pw) and white striping 1 (wst 1) showed independent assortment. Further, the genes for white (w), white tipped green (wr) and yellow virescent (yv) were inherited independently of the gene for hairy leaf margin (Hm).In the mutants — white tipped green, patchy white, white striping 1, white striping 2, fine striping, chlorina, yellow virescent, yellow striping, yellow green and light green phenotypes total quantity of chlorophyll was significantly less than that in the corresponding controls, while in white virescent there was no reduction in the mature stage. For nine of the mutants the quantity of chlorophyll was also estimated in F₁'s (mutant x control green). In F₁'s of six of the mutants — white tip, patchy white, chlorina, yellow virescent, fine striping and yellow striping the quantity of chlorophyll was almost equal to the wild type. In the F₁'s of three of the mutants — white striping 1, white striping 2 and light green an intermediate value between the mutant and wild types was observed. In yellow virescent retarded synthesis of chlorophyll, particularly chlorophyll a was observed in the juvenile stage. Reduced quantity of chlorophyll was associated with defective chloroplasts. In the mutants — white tipped green, white virescent, fine striping, chlorina, yellow striping, yellow green and light green defective plastids were also observed. In patchy white secondary destruction of chlorophylls and the presence of defective plastids were found to be associated with reduced chlorophyll quantity at maturity.Paper chromatographic studies of leaf flavonoids revealed some variation between the inbreds, but there were three common spots, 7, 8 and 9, except for PDP in which the spot 8 was absent. Chlorophyll deficient mutants differed from their respective controls in the absence of one or more of the spots present in the controls and in the presence of new spots in some of the mutants.Most of the chlorophyll mutants showed higher survival rate in the Kharif season than in Rabi season which was attributed to the higher mean day temperature and longer day light period in the Kharif season than in Rabi season.     

Genetic analysis of resistance to whitebacked planthopper in twenty-one varieties of rice,Oryza sativa L.

Summary The inheritance of resistance to whitebacked planthopper Sogatella furcifera (Horvath) was studied in 21 rice varieties. Reactions of F₁; F₂ and F₃ progenies of the crosses of 21 resistant varieties with the susceptible variety TN 1 revealed that a single dominant gene governs resistance in Mushkan 41, Santhi, Siahnakidar 195, SM2-34, Tirisurkh 251, Zirijowaian 245, 18, 24A, 39, 76 S, 78, 180, 213 B, 267, 293, CI 6037-4, NP97, S39 JKW and Bansphul. In varieties 65 and 274 A, resistance is governed by one dominant and one recessive gene which segregate independently of each other. Tests for allelism with the Wbph 1 gene originally identified in N 22 revealed that the dominant gene present in all the test varieties is the same as Wbph 1. Further studies are required to determine the allelic relationships of the recessive gene found in varieties 65 and 274 A.     

Immunocytochemical localization of oxytocin in corpora lutea and luteinized cysts from anoestrous ewes stimulated with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone

Summary Anoestrous Romney Marsh ewes with or without progesterone pretreatment were injected with multiple low-doses of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone followed by a single, larger bolus. Blood samples were taken at twelve-hourly intervals for progesterone radioimmunoassay. Ewes were slaughtered on day 3 or 5 after the bolus injection, and the ovaries were collected for histology and immunocytochemical examination for oxytocin-immunocreactivity. The corpora lutea of all ewes killed on day 3 had similar weights and morphology. The ovaries of those ewes which were not pretreated with progesterone also contained some luteinized cysts. Ewes slaughtered on day 5 were separated into 2 groups according to plasma progesterone profiles, which were either rising (normal), or falling after a transitory rise (abnormal). Those ewes pretreated with progesterone all had a normal progesterone profile whereas, of 14 ewes not pretreated with progesterone, 6 were normal and 8 abnormal. Corpora lutea were significantly lighter in the abnormal group and the ovaries of most of these ewes also contained luteinized cysts. All corpora lutea and luteinised cysts showed staining for oxytocin-immunoreactivity although the staining intensity was variable. In corpora lutea from normal ewes oxytocin was restricted to large luteal cells. In addition tissues from abnormal ewes also contained many cells with an atypical elongated shape which stained for oxytocin-immunoreactivity. These results show that progesterone pretreatment is needed for both normal morphological and endocrine development of corpora lutea in anoestrous ewes stimulated with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone.     

Nucellar callus of ‘Femminello’ lemon,selected for tolerance toPhoma tracheiphila toxin,shows enhanced release of chitinase and glucanase into the culture medium

Phoma tracheiphila is the causative agent of the disease mal secco. Citrus cultivars differ substantially in respect to their sensitivity to the pathogenP. tracheiphila and its toxin. Some cultivars (e.g., Femminello lemon) are inherently sensitive while others (e.g., Tarocco orange) are tolerant. Cell lines derived from nucellar tissue of Femminello, Tarocco and a cell line selected for tolerance to the fungal toxin (Femminello-S) were used to study host-pathogen interaction. Our results showed that calli or conditioned media of Tarocco and Femminello-S inhibited the size of co-cultivated fungal colonies when compared to Femminello. In addition, conditioned medium of Tarocco as well as FemminelloS, but not Femminello, promoted bursting of hyphal tips. A ten-fold increase in chitinase and glucanase enzymatic activity, as evaluated by radiometric assay and laminarin hydrolysis respectively, was detected in Femminello-S extracellular extracts as compared to Femminello. An increase in chitinase was also shown by immunoblot analysis. Our findings suggest a positive correlation between the presence of chitinase and glucanase in the conditioned media of the cultured cells and the tolerance of those cells toP. tracheiphila toxin.     

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.     

Diallel analysis of submergence tolerance in rice,Oryza sativa L.

Summary The genetics of submergence tolerance in rice was studied in a 10 × 10 half-diallel cross set involving 10 lowland rice varieties, four of which were tolerant (FR13A, FR43B, Kurkaruppan, and Goda Heenati) and the remaining six were nontolerant (RD19, IR42, IR17494-32-1, IR19672-24-3, Jagannath, and CR1009). Estimates of genetic parameters following Hayman's method showed significant additive and nonadditive gene action and the latter appeared to be solely due to dominance. Narrow sense heritability (0.70) indicated that additive gene effects were more important in the inheritance of the trait. Tolerance was dominant over nontolerance and the average dominance was within the range of incomplete dominance. Dominant alleles were more concentrated in the three tolerant parents, FR13A, Kurkaruppan, and FR43B in that order. Wr/Vr graphic analysis suggested the involvement of both major and minor genes. Combining ability analysis by Griffing's method also indicated significance of both additive and nonadditive effects, and the former appeared to be more important than the latter. The hybrids involving FR13A with RD19, IR42, and IR17494-32-1, and those of Kurkaruppan with RD19 and CR1009 appeared to be promising for incorporating an adequate level of tolerance to submergence into lowland rice cultivars.     

The inheritance of host plant resistance and its effect on the relative infection efficiency of Magnaporthe grisea in rice cultivars

The inheritance of host plant resistance and its effect on the relative infection efficiency for leaf blast was studied in the crosses IR36/CO39 (partially resistant × highly susceptible) and IR36/IR64 (both partially resistant). On the natural scale, gene action appeared multiplicative. After log transformation, additive effects described most of the genetic variation in the cross IR36/CO39, while additive and dominance effects were about equal in magnitude in the cross IR36/IR64. Dominance was towards increased resistance. No transgressive segregation occurred in the cross IR36/CO39. The number of genes that reduce lesion number was estimated to be zero in CO39 and five or more in IR36. The cross IR36/IR64 showed transgressive segregation in both directions, and IR36 and IR64 each contain at least one gene that is not present in the other cultivar. The heritabilities (narrow sense) in the F₂ were low (range 0.06–0.16), while narrow sense heritabilities based on F₃ lines were much higher (range 0.41–0.68). Lesion numbers in F₃ lines were reasonably correlated with those in F₅ progenies derived from the same F₂ plant (r was±0.6 in both crosses). Partial resistance can be effectively improved by selecting the most resistant plants from the most resistant F₃ lines.     

Analysis of the effect of rye chromosomes 4R, 6R and telomeric heterochromatin on 7R on homologous chromosome pairing in pentaploid hybrids (AABBR,AABBD)

Summary Meiotic pairing in Triticum turgidum cv. Ma (4x) with a mean chiasmata frequency of 27.16 per cell was compared with chiasmata frequencies in its hybrids with several triticale strains, Chinese Spring wheat and its addition lines for Imperial rye chromosomes 4R and 6R. In hybrids between Ma and x Triticosecale cv. Rosner the chiasmata frequency was marginally reduced by an average of 1.25%, by 8.8% in hybrids with x Triticosecale cv. DRIRA HH and by 6.7% with DRIRA EE (lacking 90% telomeric heterochromatin from chromosome arm 7RL). In pentaploid hybrids between Ma and T. aestivum cv. Chinese Spring the reduction was an average of 10.30%, while addition lines with rye chromosome 6R reduced chiasmata frequencies by an average of 7.4% and rye addition line for 4R showed the greatest depression in chiasmata frequency in hybrids by a 25.04% reduction. An interchange difference involving long chromosome segments was observed between Ma and Rosner.Contribution No. 819 Ottawa Research Station     

Immunofluorescence localization of the epidermolytic toxin target in mouse epidermal cells and tissue

Summary An epidermolytic toxin target was observed in keratohyalin granules of sectioned epidermis by a direct fluorescence procedure using FTC-toxin, but not by an indirect procedure using sequential reaction with toxin, anti-toxin and FTC-secondary antibody. The investigation of the two procedures was extended to keratinocytes. A dispase digestion procedure yielded three fractions which corresponded to basal, spinous and granular cells according to biochemical and morphological criteria. It was shown that the direct and indirect procedures both detected the toxin target in the keratohyalin granules of granular cells, but that the indirect procedure was very insensitive. In control experiments, the profilaggrin of keratohyalin granules was detected readily in cells by a direct procedure using FTC-antiprofilaggrin but only weakly by an indirect double antibody procedure. Insensitivity to indirect procedures thus appears to be a particular property of the keratohyalin granule site. It was shown that the toxin target was readily accessible in permeable (trypsin-isolated) granular cells but inaccessible in impermeable (dispase-isolated) cells.     

Genotypic control of pollen plant formation in Nicotiana tabacum L.

Summary Tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L.) of four varieties (Badischer Burley, White Burley, Techne, Kupchunos) were raised at different temperatures and daylengths and the effect of genotype on embryogenic pollen grain formation in situ and on pollen plant formation in anther and pollen cultures from these plants was studied. Genotype controlled embryogenic pollen grain and pollen plant formation by defining productivity under standard growth conditions (long days at 24 °C). Kupchunos was the most productive variety, followed by White Burley, Techne, and Badischer Burley. Furthermore, genotype defined which environmental factor was able to affect embryogenic pollen grain and pollen plant formation and also to which degree. In anther cultures, in addition to these effects, genotype controlled the formation of (an) inhibitory substance(s) in the anther wall in interaction with the plant growth conditions. In Badischer Burley and Techne, inhibitor action could be prevented by isolation of the pollen after one week of anther culture. Finally, direct pollen cultures in Badischer Burley and Techne produced embryos were only when the pollen was isolated from nearly mature anthers, while in White Burley and Kupchunos, embryos also produced at earlier stages and at higher yields. This indicated that genotype controls the time when the embryogenic pollen grains become ready to divide. The results are discussed in relation to strategies to overcome recalcitrance of species and genotypes.     

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.     

Ecological theories and Dutch nature conservation

This paper aims to achieve insight into various ecological theories in the Netherlands which have different, and sometimes opposing, views on the conservation of nature. Interviews, publications and archival research brought to light four separate theories: vitalistic/holistic, dynamic, cybernetic and chaos. Diversity is reached through stability according to vitalistic/holistic and cybernetic theories, but through change and instablility according to the dynamic and chaos theories. These two groups are working apart, and continue to have their own ideas. Prediction of the future is only possible with the vitalistic/holistic and cybernetic theories. Ecologists who adhere to these theories feel responsible and able in different ways to change ecological nature towards desirable end goals. The other two theories, dynamic and chaos, appear to be less activist.     

Effects of soil pH and associated cations on growth of apple trees planted in old orchard soil

Summary Trunk circumferences were measured on apple trees which had been grown for 5 to 10 years on land previously in apple orchard. Soil beneath each tree was analysed for soil acidity characteristics and basic cations. Tree growth (trunk circumference), was generally retarded but highly variable, but correlated well with the soil measurements in four of the six orchards investigated. Size of Delicious, Tydeman and Rome Beauty cultivars correlated positively with soil pH and negatively with 0.02M CaCl₂-soluble Al and Mn, while that of McIntosh grown adjacent to the Delicious and Tydeman trees in two of those orchards correlated little or not at all with these soil acidity characteristics. However, in the three orchards where McIntosh trees were grown, their size correlated (r=0.72^**, 0.71^**, 0.54^**) well with exchangeable soil Mg. The effects of soil acidity and associated nutrient deficiencies on growth of young apple trees is discussed.Contribution No. 602.     

Evaluation of structural and physiological plant characteristics in relation to the distribution of cadmium in maize inbred lines

To establish the structural and physiological characteristics related to the genotypic variation in Cd distribution between maize inbred lines (shoot Cd excluders and non-shoot Cd excluders), shoot and root morphological parameters were studied on plants grown in nutrient solution. Furthermore, the xylem sap composition and the desorbability of Cd from roots of these inbreds have been compared. No relationship between the morphological characteristics of either shoot (specific leaf area and leaf area ratio) or root (specific root length, specific surface area, and average diameter) and Cd distribution could be assessed. Cadmium concentrations in the xylem exudates from non-shoot Cd excluders were higher than those from shoot Cd excluders, but not related to citrate and malate concentrations. The absolute and relative amounts of Cd desorbed from roots of shoot Cd excluders were about twice as high compared to those of the non-shoot Cd excluders, especially at the lowest Cd concentration in solution. The absence of a relationship between shoot or root morphological parameters and Cd partitioning and the differences between both groups in the amounts of Cd desorbed, even at similar root Cd concentrations, indicate that the differential Cd distribution between shoot Cd excluders and non-shoot Cd excluders may be related to the observed differences in root Cd concentration, desorption characteristics and binding capacity of Cd inside and/or outside the root and its distribution within the roots.     

Sources and inheritance of resistance to leaf curl virus in Lycopersicon

Summary One hundred and twenty-two varieties, lines and wild accessions of Lycopersicon were screened under three different regimes during the autumn/winter season of 1982–83 and 1983–84 for resistance to tomato leaf curl virus (TLCV). L. hirsutum f. glabratum (B6013) and L. hirsutum f. typicum (A1904) proved to be highly resistant to TLCV in all three environments. Various accessions of L. peruvianum were also highly resistant. L. pimpinellifolium (A1921) exhibited no TLCV symptoms within 90 days. Of the cultivated varieties, Acc 99 exhibited the minimim score for susceptibility; AC 142, Collection No. 2, Kalyanpur Angurlata and HS 101 had a low rating for virus incidence. The inheritance of resistance was studied in the interspecific crosses between a TLCV resistant line of L. pimpinellifolium (A1921) and five (HS 101, HS 102, HS 110, Pusa Ruby and Punjab Chhuhara) susceptible cultivars of L. esculentum. Parents, F₁, F₂ and backcross progenies were artificially inoculated with local strains of TLCV using vector the viruliferious whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.). Data indicated that the resistance of L. pimpinellifolium (A 1921) is monogenic and incompletely dominant over susceptibility.     

High-level Expression of Maize <Emphasis Type="Italic">γ</Emphasis>-zein Protein in Transgenic Soybean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Glycine max</Emphasis>)

Primers were developed for 118 microsatellites isolated from grape (Vitis vinifera) genomic libraries enriched for (AC)n repeats. Only one microsatellite sequence matched other grape SSR-sequences in the GeneBank database. Genotyping was carried out in the parental lines and four offspring of two pseudo-test-cross populations, Cabernet Sauvignon x Seyval and Chardonnay x Bianca, and a further six other grape genotypes (V. vinifera Sultanina, Merlot, Syrah, Müller-Thurgau, Vitis Regent and V. riparia Gloire de Montpellier). A total of 108 microsatellites showed easily scorable alleles and 100 of them segregated according to a configuration suitable for mapping in either cross. A further 8 SSRs, although unsuitable for mapping in those crosses, showed polymorphism in the other genotypes tested. This set of markers was used, along with 75 microsatellites of other repeat-types, to fingerprint 46 offspring of the cross Chardonnay x Bianca. For each full-sib, individual heterozygosity and distance in repeat units between pairs of alleles at each locus (mean d²) were calculated as a tool for predicting highly outbred recombinant individuals. Six microsatellites with segregation ratios significantly distorted towards the lack of homozygous sibs were identified and mapped to linkage groups LG 3 and LG 5. Estimation of heterozygosity at genome-wide level and genotyping at loci for which homozygous sibs are discriminated against are discussed for marker-assisted background selection in outcrossing grapevines.