Effects of pH,humic substances and animal interactions on survival and physiological status of Asellus aquaticus L. and Gammarus pulex (L.)

Summary The mortality and physiological status (body water content) of Asellus aquaticus (Isopoda) and Gammarus pulex (Amphipoda) were measured after 25 days exposure in 20 natural streams with a pH range of 4.3–7.5 and a colour range of 8–280 mg Pt L^–1. In addition, the effects of keeping the animals as single species or together were studied. The response of Gammarus to low pH was an increased mortality and lower physiological status of surviving individuals in streams with a pH lower than 6.0. In Asellus the physiological status was correlated with pH, while the mortality was not pH dependent. The effects of humus on the physiological status of Asellus was significant when fitted to a second order polynomial function. The influence of humus can, however, be regarded as small relative to pH. The interactions between the species could be described as asymmetric under optimal conditions of high pH and low humus concentrations, where the presence of Gammarus decreased the survival and physiological status of Asellus. Acid stress did not seem to reverse the direction of this asymmetry, but the presence of Gammarus improved the physiological status of Asellus at pH lower than 6.0. Since the presence of Asellus did not increase the mortality or decrease the physiological status of Gammarus, this could be explained by Asellus feeding on Gammarus that died from physiological stress solely. This mechanism suggests that food quality, and thus effects of diffuse competition, can be important for the ability to withstand acid stress. The results, though, give no support for the hypothesis that competition from Asellus is important for the disappearance of Gammarus during the acidification of streams.     

Effective nodulation ofCoriaria myrtifolia L. induced byFrankia strains fromAlnus glutinosa L. (Gaertn.)

The present contribution covers the cross-inoculation between two actinorhizae belonging to different genera and families, mainlyAlnus glutinosa andCoriaria myrtifolia. Frankia strains isolated fromA. glutinosa received from the Netherlands (LDAgp₁r₁, LDAgn₁) and from Scotland (UGL010708), induced a fully effective nodulation onC. myrtifolia. The same effect was caused by a nodule extract fromA. glutinosa. The reverse, a crushed-nodule inoculum fromC. myrtifolia nodulated all theA. glutinosa seedlings, though nodules formed were less effective than those induced by the other inocula. Re-isolation of thoseFrankia strains from the nodules formed onA. glutinosa was readily obtained, whereas attempts to re-isolate them from the nodules formed onC. myrtifolia failed, suggesting that isolation procedures different to those employed should be tried.     

Gas exchange in the salt marsh species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Atriplex portulacoides</Emphasis> L. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Limoniastrum monopetalum</Emphasis> L. in Southern Portugal

Salt marshes are ecosystems subjected to a variety of environmental stresses like high salinity, water deficit, intense radiation or high temperatures. Field measurements were conduced in two halophyte species, Atriplex portulacoides L. and Limoniastrum monopetalum L., in the Reserva Natural do Sapal de Castro Marim, to compare their physiological response, i.e., water potential (ψ), net photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance (gs) under natural conditions. Both species demonstrated marked variations in ψ throughout the year, with very low values in the summer, the period of higher salinity, drought and temperature. Deficit water potential (Δψ = ψ_midday − ψ_predawn) was lower in the summer than in other seasons in A. portulacoides but not in L. monopetalum. The highest values for A and gs in L. monopetalum were observed in autumn and for A. portulacoides in winter, presenting both lowest values in spring and summer. A_max was particularly high for L. monopetalum than for A. portulacoides in summer and autumn, despite gs_max was similar in both species. Diurnal pattern of A and gs were similar in both species, with higher values in the morning, decreasing throughout the day.     

Two ecologically distinct subspecies ofHypochaeris radicata L.

Summary Uptake and assimilation of nitrate by two subspecies ofHypochaeris radicata L. were investigated under laboratory conditions as well as in the field.H. radicata ssp.radicata grows on relatively nitrogen-richer soils thanH. radicata ssp.ericetorum. Attempts were made to relate nitrate uptake and nitrate assimilation in the two subspecies to their different distribution in the field.No differences between the two subspecies with respect to nitrate uptake and nitrate assimilation were observed under laboratory conditions. In plants from the field intact tissue nitrate reductase was higher in ssp.radicata than in ssp.ericetorum. The nitrate reductase activity of both subspecies responded positively to nitrate addition.The significance of nitrate uptake capacity and the level of nitrate reductase for the distribution of plants in the field is here discussed.Grassland species research group, publ. no.15.     

Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of rhizobia that nodulate snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Egyptian soils

Snap bean fields in 12 of the 25 governorates of Egypt were surveyed to determine the distribution and taxonomy of snap bean-nodulating rhizobia. Nodulation rates in the field were very low, indicating that Egyptian soils do not have sufficient numbers of snap bean-compatible Rhizobium spp. A total of 87 rhizobial isolates were assayed on the most commonly grown cultivars in order to identify the most effective strains. The five most effective isolates (R11, R13, R28, R49 and R52) were fast-growing and utilized a wide range of carbon and nitrogen sources. A phylogenetic assignment of these strains by analysis of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene suggested that all fell within the Rhizobium etli–Rhizobium leguminosarum group. Strains R11, R49 and R52 all clustered with other identified R. etli strains, while strains R13 and R28 were more distinct. The distinctness of R13 and R28 was supported by physiological characteristics, such as their ability to utilize citrate, erythritol, dulcitol and lactate. Strains R13 and R28 also yielded the highest plant nitrogen content of all isolates.The highly effective strains isolated in this study, in particular strains R13 and R28, are promising candidates for improving crop yields. The data also suggested that these two strains represented a novel sub-group within the R. etli–R. leguminosarum group. As snap bean is a crop of great economic value to Egypt, the identification of highly effective rhizobial strains adapted to Egyptian soils, such as strains R13 and R28, is of great interest.     

Synthesis and phosphorylation of pollen proteins during the pollen-stigma interaction in self-compatible Brassica napus L. and self-incompatible Brassica oleracea L.

A technique is described which permits the in vivo study of protein synthesis and phosphorylation in the pollen of Brassica spp. during the early stages of the pollen-stigma interaction. In Brassica napus and B. oleracea, compatible pollination is followed by a dramatic activation of protein synthesis in the pollen involving the synthesis of approximately 40 proteins. After incompatible pollinations in B. oleracea, virtually no newly synthesised polypeptides were detected in the pollen except for a small group of high molecular weight proteins which were not normally synthesised during compatible pollinations. Both compatible and incompatible pollinations were followed by the appearance of newly phosphorylated proteins in the pollen; these fell into four distinct groups. In B. oleracea, the number of phosphorylated proteins and the degree of phosphorylation of individual proteins within the four groups differed between compatible and incompatible pollinations. One group of phosphorylated proteins appeared to correspond with the small group of high molecular weight polypeptides which were synthesised in pollen after incompatible pollinations. These findings are discussed in the perspective of cell signalling during the pollen-stigma interaction in Brassica and also in terms of their possible implication in sporophytic self-incompatibility.     

Introgression of Allium fistulosum L. into Allium cepa L.: cytogenetic evidence

Summary A diploid Allium cepa plant was recovered from the backcross of an interspecific triploid (2 x A. cepa + 1 x A. fistulosum) to an A. cepa diploid which exhibited both A. cepa and A. fistulosum Adh-1 alleles. Cytogenetic analyses revealed a recombinant sub-telocentric chromosome. The ADH-1 locus is believed to be on the long arm of the sub-telocentric A. fistulosum chromosome 5. Meiosis of the triploid progenitor gives strong evidence that recombination occurred. A. fistulosum chromosome 8 has been substituted for A. cepa chromosome 1.Contribution of the College of Agricultural Sciences, Texas Tech University, Journal No. T-4-275     

The interaction between Cyprinus carpio L. and Potamogeton pectinatus L. under aquarium conditions

Plants and seedlings of Potamogeton pectinatus were obtained from tubers grown under laboratory conditions. Four plants (mean total length: 14.3 m) and two seedlings (mean height: 10.9 cm) were placed in each of twenty 1001 aquaria illuminated with fluorescent lighting. A 5 cm-thick layer of muddy sediment was then put in each aquarium together with two size-matched fish (mean size classes: 6.8, 14.1 and 23.0 g) of the species Cyprinus carpio. After four weeks, the total length of the plants in the control and small fish aquaria had increased by 71% and 3% respectively, whereas plant total length in the aquaria with medium and large fish had diminished by 33% and 76%, respectively. Few seedlings survived in the presence of the fish. The reduction in plant growth was associated with an increase in water turbidity in all treatments as a result of the benthic feeding habit of C. carpio, and of direct herbivory action in the case of medium- and large-sized fish.     

Physiological integration in the clonal perennial herb Trifolium repens L.

Summary Translocation of ¹⁴C-labelled carbohydrates between the parent stolon and branches, and among branches, of Trifolium repens plants was investigated in two glasshouse experiments to determine patterns of physiological organisation in this clonal species. Differential defoliation treatments were applied to the parent stolon and/or branches to test the sensitivity of translocation to the short-term carbon needs of defoliated sinks. Strong reciprocal exchange of carbohydrate between the parent stolon and branches was observed, with 18 41% of the ¹⁴C exported from leaves on the parent stolon moving to branches, while branches simulta-neously exported 25% (for old source branches) to 54% (for young source branches) of the ¹⁴C they assimilated to the parent plant, including translocation to other branches. Branch-to-branch translocation occurred both acropetally and basipetally. Parent-to-branch, branch-to-parent and branch-to-branch carbon fluxes all increased in response to defoliation of the sink, at the expense of carbon supply to stolon tissue or roots of the source module. Reduced export to stolon tissue of the parent axis played a major role in facilitating C reallocation from leaves on the parent stolon to defoliated branches. The observed patterns of C allocation and translocation could be adequately explained by accepted source-sink theory, and are consistent with a high degree of intra-plant physiological integration in resource supply and utilisation. This information provides mechanistic explanations for aspects of the growth dynamics and ecological interactions of T. repens in the patchy environment of a grazed pasture.     

Environmentally induced variation in uric acid concentration and xanthine dehydrogenase activity in Littorina saxatilis (Olivi) and L. arcana Hannaford Ellis

Littorina saxatilis and Littorina arcana collected from a boulder field low in the intertidal zone had a uric acid concentration significantly higher than snails collected from nearby cliff crevices that were at the upper limit of their vertical range on the shore. The absolute concentrations varied with different collections, suggesting a possible seasonal fluctuation in uric acid. L. arcana had a greater concentration of uric acid than did L. saxatilis when both were from the boulder field, but the two did not differ significantly when taken from crevices. Samples from the two sites were marked and transplanted; by four weeks the transplanted animals showed a tendency to develop a uric acid concentration similar to that of natives of the site, suggesting a physiological rather than a genetic adaptation. Xanthine dehydrogenase activity differed between animals from the two sites in the same manner as the uric acid concentration.     

Phenotypic and genetic diversity among rhizobia isolated from three Hedysarum species: H. spinosissimum,H. coronarium and H. flexuosum

Cultural, physiological and biochemical properties of 18 strains of rhizobia isolated from root nodules of the forage legume H. spinosissimum were compared with those of rhizobia from the related species H. coronarium (15 strains) and H. flexuosum (four strains). On the basis of 43 characteristics the 37 strains of Hedysarum rhizobia could be divided into two groups by numerical analysis. The H. spinosissimum rhizobia formed the first group and the second group comprised the strains from H. coronarium and H. flexuosum. The reference Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae strain 250A was clustered with the rhizobia from H. coronarium and H. flexuosum. By contrast Bradyrhizobium sp. (Arachis) reference strain 280A was not clustered with any of the strains tested, indicating that the H. spinosissimum rhizobia differ from both Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium. Serological data also discriminate between H. spinosissimum and H. coronariumrhizobia but not between the latter and H. flexuosum strains. The strains tested exhibit a high degree of specificity for nodulation and nitrogen fixation. We also determined the16SrRNA gene sequence of H. spinosissimum rhizobia (four strains), H. coronarium (two strains) and H. flexuosum (two strains) and found that the four H. spinosissimum isolates share a 98% identity among each other in this region but they showed less than 92% identity to the H. coronarium and H. flexuosum isolates. The H. spinosissimum isolates were closely related to both Mesorhizobium loti and M. ciceri, sharing 97% identity with each species.     

Growth and development of immature life stages ofPropylaea 14-punctata L. andCoccinella 7-punctata L. [Col.: Coccinellidae] simulated by the metabolic pool model

The conversion of aphid prey tissue (Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris) into predator biomass (immature life stages ofPropylaea 14-punctata L. andCoccinella 7-punctata L.) is calculated by plotting weight gain against assimilation (i.e. consumption minus egestion). This concept is added to the metabolic pool model byGutierrez et al. (1981) that enables the simulation of growth and development of a predator on a physiological basis. Physiological time is expressed in daydegrees above lower development thresholds for both species. Visual examination of observed and calculated values showed that the model satisfactorily describes the growth patterns of the above predators.      

Selection for resistance to filtrates of Fusarium spp. in embryogenic cell suspension culture of Medicago sativa L.

A highly embryogenic cell suspension of alfalfa derived from a genotype sensitive to Fusarium oxysporum was successfully used for selection in vitro for resistance to culture filtrates of F. oxysporum, F. solani and F. avenaceum. Fifty two stable resistant cell lines were obtained and 500 plants regenerated from them. Among the 167 regenerants tested under glass there were 12–20% more plants with increased resistance to pathogens than in the group of plants regenerated from a control cell line. It was also found that the cell suspension cultures derived from genotypes of alfalfa with increased resistance to Fusarium spp. better tolerated filtrates of the pathogen. The results of a comparison of virulence of individual isolates of several species of Fusarium with toxicity of their filtrates to plants in vivo and in cell cultures were not unequivocal.     

Seed germination and dormancy in the medicinal woodland herbs Collinsonia canadensis L. (Lamiaceae) and Dioscorea villosa L. (Dioscoreaceae)

We used a double germination phenology or “move-along” experiment (sensu Baskin and Baskin, 2003) to characterize seed dormancy in two medicinal woodland herbs, Collinsonia canadensis L. (Lamiaceae) and Dioscorea villosa L. (Dioscoreaceae). Imbibed seeds of both species were moved through the following two sequences of simulated thermoperiods: (a) 30/15 °C→20/10 °C→15/6 °C→5 °C→15/6 °C→20/10 °C→30/15 °C, and (b) 5 °C→15/6 °C→20/10 °C→30/15 °C→20/10 °C→15/6 °C→5 °C. In each sequence, seeds of both species germinated to high rates (>85%) at cool temperatures (15/6 and 20/10 °C) only if seeds were previously exposed to cold temperatures (5 °C). Seeds kept at four control thermoperiods (5, 15/6, 20/10, 30/15 °C) for 30 d showed little or no germination. Seeds of both species, therefore, have physiological dormancy that is broken by 12 weeks of cold (5 °C) stratification. Morphological studies indicated that embryos of C. canadensis have “investing” embryos at maturity (morphological dormancy absent), whereas embryos of D. villosa are undeveloped at maturity (morphological dormancy present). Because warm temperatures are required for embryo growth and cold stratification breaks physiological dormancy, D. villosa seeds have non-deep simple morphophysiological dormancy (MPD). Neither species afterripened in a 6-month dry storage treatment. Cold stratification treatments of 4 and 8 weeks alleviated dormancy in both species but C. canadensis seeds germinated at slower speeds and lower rates compared to seeds given 12 weeks of cold stratification. In their natural habitat, both species disperse seeds in mid- to late autumn and germinate in the spring after cold winter temperatures alleviate endogenous dormancy.     

Monosomic and double monosomic substitutions of Hordeum bulbosum L. chromosomes into H. vulgare L.

Summary One of the aims of the interspecific crossing programme between Hordeum vulgare L. and H. bulbosum L. has been to introgress desirable genes into barley from the wild species. However, despite their close taxonomic relationship there have been few reports of achieving this objective using amphidiploid hybrids. In order to broaden the range of available hybrids, partially fertile triploids between H. vulgare (2n = 2x = 14) and H. bulbosum (2n = 4x = 28) were developed and crossed with H. vulgare as female parent. From 580 progeny which were screened, eight putative single monosomic chromosome substitution lines and one double monosomic substitution were identified by cytological analysis. These involved the substitution of H. vulgare chromosome 1 (two lines), 6 (four lines), 6L (one line), 7 (one line) and 1 + 4 (one line) by their respective H. bulbosum homoeologues. The H. bulbosum chromosome was frequently eliminated during plant development, but it was observed regularly in pollen mother cells of two lines. However, pairing between the H. bulbosum chromosome and its H. vulgare homoeologue was low. Several of the lines were more resistant than their H. vulgare parents to powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis DC. f.sp. hordei Em. Marchai), net blotch (Drechslera teres Sacc.) and scald (Rhynchosporium secalis (Oudem.) Davis). Apart from their use in studying genome relationships, their value to plant breeders will depend on the ease of inducing translocations between the parental chromosomes.     

中国柳属2新记录种

该文报道了中国柳属的2个新记录种——椭圆叶柳(Salix staintoniana A.K.Skvortsov)和锡金垫柳(S.pseudocalyculata Kimura)。提供了这2个新记录种的特征图片,补充描述了椭圆叶柳的雌株形态特征,并对新记录种和其近缘种的形态特征进行了比较。     

Xanthomonas campestris pv.parthenii pathovar nov. incitant of leaf blight of parthenium

A new bacterial leaf blight disease of parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) is described for the first time. The disease-causing bacterium was isolated and its morphological, physiological and biochemical characters were determined. The pathogenicity of bacterium is apparently limited only to parthenium. The pathogen was identified asXanthomonas campestris pv.parthenii pathovar nov. on the basis of morphological, physiological, biochemical and pathogenic characteristics.     

Low genetic differentiation betweenAdiantum capillusveneris L. andA. ogasawarense Tagawa (Adiantaceae), an endemic pteriodophyte of the bonin (ogasawara) islands

Genetic differentiation was examined betweenAdiantum capillus-veneris L. andA. ogasawarense Tagawa. A total of 136 individuals from two populations ofA. ogasawarense and three populations ofA. capillus-veneris were sampled. Allozymes encoded by 19 putative loci for nine enzyme systems were observed. The populations ofA. ogasawarense are genetically differentiated from those ofA. capillus-veneris; conspecific populations cluster together. However, genetic identity between two species was estimated to be 0.815, and indicates that the degree of allozyme differentiation is lower than those between endemic flowering plants and their progenitors. It is possible that the low genetic differentiation observed betweenA. ogasawarense andA. capillus-veneris results from a recent origin of the endemic species,A. ogasawarense.     

Systematic significance of seed coat morphology inSilene L. s. str. (sileneae-caryophyllaceae) from Korea

Seeds of eight species ofSilene s. str. in Korea were examined with a dissecting stereomicroscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to evaluate the systematic significance of seed coat microstructure. The seeds ofSilene s. str. were characterized by triangular or reniform shape, planed or concave dorsal surface in outline, tuberculate or colliculate testa, and sinuated cell margin. Based on the degree of grooves and invagination at dorsal surface, the seeds of the examined taxa ofSilene s. str. fall into two distinct groups: (I) dorsal grooves inconspicuous, surface planed (Silene jenisseensis andS. repens), (II) dorsal grooves conspicuous, surface concave (six remaining taxa). Within each group, seeds of all species may be further distinguished based on shape, size, and testa surface sculpturing. A key to the different species or groups of species is provided, and the systematic significance between/among the taxa is also briefly discussed.     

Inheritance of some marker genes in Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.

Summary A study on a series of genetic markers was run on five hybrids of foxtail millet, Setaria italica, and on one interspecific hybrid S. viridisxS. italica (S. viridis is the wild relative of S. italica). Seven enzymatic systems were investigated using starch gel electrophoresis (esterase, alcohol dehydrogenase, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, acid phosphatase, malate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, cathodic peroxidase). This genetic analysis of the 6 F2 has allowed us to define 12 polymorphic loci: Est-1, -2 and -3, Adh-1, Got-1 and -2, Acph-1, Mdh-1 and -2, Pgd-1 and -2, and Pox-1. All of them behaved like dimers, except Est-1 and Est-2 which showed monomeric structures. Two other markers were examined: waxy endosperm, which appeared to be controlled by one locus, and anthocyanic pigmentation of the collar, for which at least two loci are responsible. Studies of linkage carried out on three F2 showed two linkage groups: Mdh-1, Pox-1, Wx, Est-3, and a locus for collar colour, and Est-2, and one or two other loci of colouring.