Comparison of artificial diets for rearing Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton, 1865) (Lep., Pyralidae) for Trichogramma mass production

The objective of this research was, based on biological studies, to determine and adequate diet for rearing Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton, 1865) in the laboratory so as to permit the rearing of this factitious host for Trichogramma mass production. The research was conducted at 25 +/- 1 degrees C, RH 60 +/- 10% and photophase of 14 hours. Six artificial diets were compared: a) whole wheat flour (48.5%), ground rice (48.5%) and sugar (3%); b) ground rice (97%) and sugar (3%); c) whole wheat flour (48.5%), rice flour (48.5%) an sugar (3%); d) whole wheat flour (97%) and yeast (3%); e) wheat germ (97%) and yeast (3%); f) rice bran (94%), sugar (3%) and yeast (3%); f) rice bran (94%), sugar (3%) and yeast (3%). All of the diets studied permitted the development of C. cephalonica although the diets with wheat germ and yeast and that consisting of rice bran, sugar and yeast proved to be the most adequate for rearing the moth. These diets reduced the total (egg-adult) cycle, shortened the egg laying period, and produced heavier adults. Studies on the fertility life tables showed that higher net reproduction rates (Ro) and finite ratio of increase (lambda) were obtained from adults reared on these diets.     

Rearing of the pupal parasitoid Brachymeria intermedia on veal homogenate-based artificial diets: evaluation of factors affecting effectiveness

The pupal parasitoid Brachymeria intermedia (Nees) was reared from egg to fecund adult on various veal homogenate-based artificial diets. For every replicate 12.12 ml of each diet were used. Four diets were tested first. Two media, one devoid of and one supplemented with 1 ml Galleria mellonella pupal extract, contained 0.19 g wheat germ and 0.19 g yeast extract each. The other two, one added with and the other devoid of host extract, contained 0.38 g yeast extract each and no wheat germ. All diets also contained chicken egg yolk (1.1 and 0.8 ml in the diets without and with host extract, respectively). The amount of yeast extract was seen to have no significant effect on any of the developmental parameters considered. The replacement of wheat germ with yeast extract was therefore not convenient, considering that the former is far more economical than the latter. Pupal extract was instead found to have a significant effect on pupal and adult yields. The highest adult yield (= 53.2%) was obtained on the diet supplemented with 0.38 g yeast extract and containing host pupal extract. A further four media, each comprising a different kind of material derived from G. mellonella, were subsequently tested. Adult yields were such as to suggest the possibility of replacing pupal with larval extract in the diets as the latter is easier to prepare since there are no cocoons to be removed. In contrast, when the diets were supplemented with larval or pupal homogenate, adult yields dramatically dropped. When B. intermedia was reared in groups rather than individually, most larvae died before attaining maturity. Only two parasitoids, in two different replicates, emerged as adults.     

In vitro rearing of the pupal parasitoidBrachymeria intermedia (Hym.: Chalcididae) on artificial diets with and without host components

The pupal parasitoidBrachymeria intermedia (Nees) was reared from the egg to adult stage on artificial media based on commercial meat homogenates for babies (Plasmon®), either with or devoid of host components. Six media containing 80% homogenate and 20% extract ofGalleria mellonella L. pupae were tested first. Two types of homogenates, intended for babies at the beginning of weaning (a) and well on in weaning (b), were utilized. Media were based on beef, veal and chicken meat, 3 on a-homogenates and 3 on b-homogenates. A significantly higher percentage of parasitoids developed as mature larvae on the a- than on the b-homogenate based diets. This was presumably related to the higher protein, carbohydrate, lipid and calorie level of the a- than of the b- homogenates. Diet veal-a produced the best mean adult yield (27.4%). Other two diets based on the veal-a homogenate were then tested. The first, composed of 80% homogenate, 10% host pupal extract, 7% chicken egg yolk, 1.5% yeast extract and 1.5% wheat germ, produced a mean adult yield of 66.7%, similar to that obtained inG. mellonella pupae. On the second medium, devoid of host components and containing 85% veal-a homogenate, 10% chicken egg yolk, 2.5% wheat germ and 2.5% yeast extract, the mean adult yield was 22.5%. In all media, the adults obtained were viable and fecund.     

Effect of plant oils on quality parameters of Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) reared on liquid larval diet

Liquid larval diets have been developed for several tephritid fruit flies including Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Frogatt) (Q‐fly). In liquid diets, wheat germ oil (WGO) is usually added to improve performance in some quality parameters of reared flies, especially flight ability. However, for some flies, other plant oils may be more readily available, cheaper or produce flies of superior performance. In the present study, four alternative types of plant oils – rice bran, canola, vegetable, and sesame – were incorporated into a fruit fly liquid larval diet to replace the currently used wheat germ oil and their efficacy on the quality parameters of reared Q‐fly was compared to diets containing wheat germ oil or no oil. The quality parameters included: total pupal yield (N), pupal recovery (%), larval duration (days), pupal weight (mg), adult emergence (%), adult fliers (%), rate of fliers (%), sex ratio (%), F₁ egg/female/day and egg hatching (%). There were significant differences among treatments in performance of Q‐fly. Vegetable oil appeared better in terms of total pupal yield, percentage of pupal recovery, percentage of adult emergence, percentage of fliers, mean egg/female/day and % F₁ egg hatch compared with other oil treatments, especially from that of WGO treated diet. The result suggests that WGO can be substituted with rice bran and vegetable oil to improve the liquid larval diet for rearing of B. tryoni, with vegetable oil being the best replacement.     

Ribonucleic acid from coffee beans

A method of extraction of RNA from coffee based on phenol treatment is described. Effectsf of various agents and pH of the extracting buffer on the efficiency of extraction were studied. The best extracting solution is 0·2 M Tris-HCl buffer at pH 7·4 with 1% sodium dodecyl sulphate and 0·05% EDTA. RNA (5–6%) is lost in the tissue residue and 4·6% in the interphase layer. No significant deviation of the spectral characteristics of the RNA solutions obtained from three samples of coffee from that for purified yeast RNA is observed. The purine-pyrimidine ratio for the RNA has been found to be in the range of 1·25–1·38.     

青藏高原植被降水利用效率的空间格局及其对降水和气温的响应

植被降水利用效率(precipitation use efficiency, PUE)是反映生态系统水、碳循环相互关系的重要指标。该文利用GLOPEM-CEVSA模型模拟了青藏高原2000-2008年植被净初级生产力(net primary production, NPP), 以97个野外草地样点实测地上净初级生产力(above-ground net primary productivity, ANPP)对模拟NPP进行验证, 模拟NPP与ANPP线性显著相关(R ² = 0.49, p < 0.001)。利用降水量空间插值数据, 分析了近9年青藏高原植被PUE的空间分布、主要植被类型的PUE及其与降水量之间的变化关系。结果表明: 2000-2008年青藏高原地区植被年平均PUE沿东南向西北递减, 降水量和气温对植被PUE有着重要的影响; PUE在不同植被类型间差异较大, 其中农田PUE最高, 高寒草甸PUE高于高寒草原。在不同降水区域植被PUE与降水量的关系不同, 降水量低于90 mm的区域, 植被PUE值最低((0.026 ± 0.190) g C·m ^-2·mm ^-1, 平均值±标准偏差)、波动最大(变异系数CV = 721%), 与降水量和气温不相关(p = 0.38)。降水量为90-300 mm的地区, 植被PUE较低((0.029 ± 0.074) g C·m ^-2·mm ^-1, 平均值±标准偏差)、波动较大(CV = 252%), 与降水量和气温显著相关(p < 0.001), 降水量和气温能够解释PUE空间变化的43.4%, 其中降水量的影响是气温的1.7倍。降水量为300-650 mm的区域占整个研究区的45%, 主要植被类型为高寒草原, 植被PUE较高((0.123 ± 0.191) g C·m ^-2·mm ^-1, 平均值±标准偏差), CV为155%; 植被PUE的空间变化与降水量和气温极显著相关(p < 0.001), 降水量和气温能够解释植被PUE空间变化的97.8%, 但以气温影响为主导, 其影响是降水量的1.5倍。降水量为650 mm的区域, 植被PUE达到最高(0.26 g C·m ^-2·mm ^-1)。降水量为650-845 mm的区域主要是西藏林芝地区, 植被以常绿针叶林为主, PUE最高((0.210 ± 0.246) g C·m ^-2·mm ^-1, 平均值±标准偏差)、波动最小(CV = 117%); 降水量和气温可解释植被PUE空间变化的93.1% (p < 0.001), 降水量的影响是气温的3.5倍, 但其影响为负。     

Larval diet influence on oviposition behaviour inSpodoptera littoralis

Females ofSpodoptera littoralis Boisd. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) with different feeding experiences during their larval development were tested for their ovipositional response to methanol extracts of larval frass and semisynthetic diets. The effect of the following frass, diet and diet component extracts was tested: (a) frass fromS. littoralis orAgrotis segetum larvae fed on a potato-based diet; (b) frass fromS. littoralis larvae fed on a wheat germ-based diet; (c) potato and wheat germ-based diets; and (d) potatoes and wheat germ. Ovipositing females without prior experience of the potato diet were deterred by extracts of: (1) larval frass from either species fed on potato diet; (2) the potato-based diet; (3) potato. Also females with experience of the potato diet during only a part of their larval development were deterred from oviposition by frass of larvae reared on the potato diet and by the diet itself. However, for females reared on the potato diet for their entire larval development, oviposition was no longer deterred by either of the three extracts listed above. Extracts of: (1) frass from larvae of either species reared on wheat germ diet: (2) the wheat germ diet; or (3) wheat germ did not significantly affect oviposition. Females with ablated antennae were still deterred by frass extracts from larvae fed on potato diet, when they had been reared on the wheat germ diet. In feeding experiments, larvae of larval stage one and of larval stage three-four reared on either of the two diets preferred to feed on the wheat germ diet. However, the preference was significantly stronger for larvae with no prior contact with the potato diet. The effect of larval experience on the loss of oviposition-deterring activity by extracts of larval frass, diets and diet components is discussed in view of induction and selection.     

Selection of an Artificial Diet for Laboratory Rearing of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Opogona sacchari</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera: Tineidae) (Bojer, 1856)

The banana moth Opogona sacchari (Bojer) (Lepidoptera: Tineidae) is a polyphagous pest that can cause serious damage, in particular to banana crops in southern Brazil. The insect is a quarantine pest in several countries, including Argentina, the main consumer market for bananas from southern Brazil. Little information is available about the biology and ecology of this moth, such as a suitable diet for laboratory rearing. In order to provide support for integrated pest management of the pest, this study furnished data for selecting two diets suitable for continuous laboratory rearing of O. sacchari, one based on dried beans, wheat germ, soy bran, brewer’s yeast, and casein and another diet with wheat germ and casein as protein sources. With both diets, the viability of the egg-adult period exceeded 68%, with fertility over 338 eggs per female. A corrected biotic potential analysis gave similar values for the two diets.     

桂林小花苣苔离体快速繁殖技术

对抗结核植物桂林小花苣苔(Chiritopsis repanda var. guilinensis)进行离体培养与快速繁殖技术研究。结果表明: 桂林小花苣苔叶片外植体的最适初代诱导培养基为MS+0.5 mg·L^–16-BA+0.05 mg·L^–1IBA, pH8.0; 最适继代增殖培养基为 MS+0.1 mg·L^–16-BA+0.05 mg·L^–1IBA, pH6.0, 繁殖系数7.0/35天; 最适生根培养基为1/2MS+0.2 mg·L^–1NAA, pH6.0, 生根率为93.6%。模拟桂林小花苣苔自然生境, 在春季对生根试管苗进行大棚移栽, 成活率达90%。根据上述快繁技术, 理论上每株试管苗每年可繁殖桂林小花苣苔种苗46万株。     

In Vitro Rearing of the Parasitoid Exorista larvarum (L.) (Diptera: Tachinidae) on Meat Homogenate-Based Diets

The tachinid Exorista larvarum (L.), a polyphagous gregarious larval endoparasitoid of Lepidoptera, was reared from egg to fecund adult on media containing commercial meat homogenates for babies as the main ingredient. Four media, each containing a diverse homogenate supplemented with extract of Galleria mellonella L. pupae, were tested first. Despite the difference in nutrient content, the kind of homogenate did not significantly affect the adult yields (30.2 to 40.7%) or puparial weights. Two other diets free of host materials (I and II) were then tested. Both were based on Gerber veal homogenate combined with different amounts of yeast extract and chicken egg yolk and were supplemented with wheat germ (I) or saccharose (II). Adult yields (28.7 to 32.7%) and puparial weights did not differ significantly between the two diets. Fly longevity and fecundity of the females obtained on diet I were comparable to those of the females emerged from puparia formed in G. mellonella larvae. Male and female puparial weights were, however, higher and development times longer on the diet than in the host.     

水杉愈伤组织诱导及植株再生

通过愈伤组织诱导器官发生途径, 建立了水杉(Metasequoia glyptostroboides)的植株再生体系, 探讨了不同外植体 (种胚、幼叶切块、茎段、根段)和植物生长调节剂对不定芽直接再生和愈伤组织诱导器官发生的影响。结果表明: 以种胚、无菌苗叶片、茎段和根作为外植体, 在MS补加2,4-D、NAA和6-BA不同组合的培养基上都能诱导得到愈伤组织, 其中种胚诱导愈伤组织效果最好, 诱导率可达100%, 茎诱导效果次之, 诱导率为97.1%。诱导愈伤组织效果较好的培养基有:MS+1.0 mg·L^–1 2,4-D + 0.5 mg·L^–1 6-BA、MS + 0.1 mg·L^–1 6-BA + 1.0 mg·L^–1 NAA、MS + 0.5 mg·L^–1 6-BA+1.0 mg·L^–1 NAA、MS+1.0 mg·L^–1 6-BA+1.0 mg·L^–1 NAA、MS+0.5 mg·L^–1 6-BA+2.0 mg·L^–1 NAA、MS+1.0 mg·L^–1 6-BA + 2.0 mg·L^–1 NAA和MS + 0.5 mg·L^–1 2,4-D + 0.5 mg·L^–1 NAA。以愈伤组织在MS培养基上植株再生效果最好, 再生率为62.5%。     

应用稀土调控藏红花胚性愈伤组织的生长与分化

为提高藏红花(Crocus sativus)胚性愈伤组织的繁殖系数与出芽率, 以建立藏红花离体快繁体系, 解决其资源短缺问题, 采用两步法, 用稀土调控其胚性愈伤组织的生长与分化。结果表明, 在添加了0.25 mg·L^–1 NAA、3 mg·L^–1 6-BA和400 mg·L^–1 CH的B₅固体培养基中, 0.04 mmol·L^–1 La³⁺促进胚性愈伤组织生长的效果最佳, 繁殖系数为12, 是不添加稀土处理组的1.48倍; 在添加了0.25 mg·L^–1 NAA、3 mg·L^–1 6-BA和400 mg·L^–1 CH的1/2 B₅固体培养基中, 0.06 mmol·L^–1 Ce³⁺促进胚性愈伤组织分化出芽的效果最佳, 出芽率高达84.5%, 是不添加稀土处理组的1.81倍, 且高于国外报道的出芽率(40%)。初步解决了藏红花胚性愈伤组织生长慢和出芽率低等问题, 为建立高效稳定的藏红花离体快繁体系奠定了基础。     

林下植被抚育对樟人工林生态系统碳储量的影响

以亚热带东部地区48年生樟(Cinnamomum camphora)人工林为研究对象, 探讨不同林下植被处理方式对植被和土壤碳储量的影响。研究结果表明: 1)林下植被抚育增加了植被的碳储量, 增幅为48.87%, 平均每年比未抚育林分增加了0.62 t·hm^-2; 2)林下植被抚育降低了土壤有机碳含量, 降低幅度介于4.79%-34.13%之间, 其中0-10 cm、10-20 cm土层比未抚育林分分别降低了10.16 g·kg^-1和8.58 g·kg^-1, 差异达到显著水平(p < 0.05); 3)林下植被抚育降低了森林土壤碳储量, 降低幅度介于1.98%-43.45%之间, 其中0-10 cm和10-20 cm土层分别降低了15.39 t·hm^-2和11.58 t·hm^-2, 差异达到极显著水平(p < 0.01)和显著水平(p < 0.05); 4)林下植被抚育降低了森林生态系统总碳储量, 降低幅度为4.27%, 但差异不显著。因此, 林下植被抚育虽有利于植被碳储量的积累, 但降低了土壤有机碳含量和储量。     

Development of a dry artificial diet for Nezara viridula (L.) and Euschistus heros (Fabricius) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Artificial diets prepared with wheat germ, soybean protein, dextrosol, potato starch, sucrose, cellulose, soybean or sunflower oil, and vitamin solution for rearing Nezara viridula (L.) and Euschistus heros (Fabricius) were tested under controlled temperature (25 +/- 1 degrees C), RH (60 +/- 10%), and photophase (14h). Three diets were tested and compared with the natural diet privet [soybean and peanut seeds and privet Ligustrum lucidum Ait. fruit (Oleaceae)]. All three artificial diets allowed full development. The diet containing sunflower oil was the most suitable for N. viridula while E. heros developed better on a diet composed of soybean oil. Data indicated that the artificial diets were inferior to the natural diet. The artificial diets were more adequate for E. heros.     

Comparative digestibility of energy and nutrients in diets fed to sows and growing pigs

The objective of this research was to compare values for digestible energy (DE) and metabolisable energy (ME) and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients in 11 diets fed to both growing pigs and gestating sows. Three diets were based on corn, wheat or sorghum and eight diets were based on a combination of corn and soybean meal, canola meal, conventional distillers’ dried grains with solubles, low-fat distillers’ dried grains with solubles, corn germ meal, corn bran, wheat middlings or soybean hulls. A total of 88 gestating sows (252 ± 24.2 kg BW; parity two to six) and 88 growing barrows (40 ± 4.7 kg BW) were used and randomly allotted to the 11 diets with eight replicate sows or pigs per diet. Faecal and urine samples were collected for 4 d following a 19 d adaptation period. The DE, ME and ATTD of gross energy (GE), acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and crude protein (CP) in the 11 diets were calculated. Gestating sows had greater (p < 0.05) ATTD of GE and CP and DE values for all diets compared with growing pigs. Gestating sows also had greater (p < 0.05) ME values than growing pigs for the three grain diets and the diets containing wheat middlings and soybean hulls. No differences were observed in ATTD of ADF and NDF between gestating sows and growing pigs for any of the diets, except that gestating sows had greater (p < 0.05) ATTD of NDF than growing pigs when they were fed the four protein diets. The ATTD of GE and CP and DE values in gestating sows may be predicted by using equations generated from the values of ATTD of GE and CP and DE values obtained in growing pigs. Results of this research indicate that ATTD values of CP and GE obtained in gestating sows are greater than the values obtained in growing pigs, but values for ATTD of ADF obtained in growing pigs are not different from values in gestating sows.     

Some effects on the aphid Myzus persicae of ingesting antibiotics incorporated into artificial diets

Ten antibiotics were incorporated individually at different concentrations into artificial diets fed to the aphid Myzus persicae. The survival and larviposition of apterous adult aphids, and the growth and development of larvae were severely affected by albamycin (sodium novobiocin), chloromycetin (chloramphenicol), ilotycin glucoheptonate (erythromycin glucoheptonate), and the tetracyclines aureomycin (chlortetracycline HCl), oxytetracycline HCl, and tetracycline HCl. Alata-production by the apterous adults that were maintained in groups on the diets was dramatically curtailed by these antibiotics, some at concentrations as low as 0·0001%. Mandelamine (methenamine mandelate), penicillin-G, streptomycin sulphate, and viomycin sulphate had a much lesser effect on larval growth, even when these antibiotics were incorporated into the diet at concentrations as high at 0·1%. The results are discussed in relation to the probable functions of the aphid's symbiotes in the nutrition of the aphid.     

Nutritional evaluation,using rats,of diets based on cereals and ethanol-grown yeast

Six experiments on growing rats were conducted to measure the nutritive value of diets based on cereals (wheat and barley, 1:1) and ethanol-grown yeast. Optimum protein provision in isonitrogenous diets (11.3% crude protein) determined on the basis of live weight gain, feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio was found to be 60 and 40% for cereal and yeast protein, respectively, corresponding to a diet containing 84.5% cereals and 13.2% yeast (Experiments 1 and 2). The addition of single amino acids (l-lysine, 0.05–0.15%; dl-methionine, 0.1–0.3%) or their combinations (l-lysine + dl-methionine, 0.05 + 0.1%; 0.1 + 0.1%; 0.05 + 0.2%; and 0.1 + 0.2%) to the diet containing 13.2% yeast had no significant effect on either growth rate or feed efficiency (Experiments 3 and 4). A non-fortified diet alone proved to be comparable in nutritive value to a standard diet containing high-quality protein components.The diet with yeast providing 20% and cereals providing 80% of the total protein (5.55% yeast, 92.15% cereals) with combined supplement of amino acids ($\text{dl}\text{-methionine}\text{0.2\% +}\text{l}\text{-lysine}\text{0.2\% +}\text{l}\text{-isoleucine}\text{0.1\%}$; Experiment 5) promoted growth rate and feed efficiency similar to the standard diet, in spite of the fact that the experimental diet protein-content was about 3% lower. In a separate experiment (Experiment 6), similar results were achieved with the supplement of l-lysine alone (0.15% of the diet).As suggested by the results of model experiments on rats, the nutritive value of diets based on cereals and ethanol-grown yeast, possibly supplemented with amino acids, is comparable with that of diets containing animal protein components.     

三江源区不同退化程度高寒草原土壤呼吸特征

为了研究高寒草原退化对土壤呼吸的影响, 对三江源区不同退化程度的高寒草原土壤呼吸进行了测定, 分析了土壤呼吸与生物量、土壤温度以及土壤湿度的相关性, 结果表明: 1)不同退化程度的高寒草原土壤呼吸均表现出一定的月动态, 这种月动态在不同退化程度间各有不同。2)高寒草原在退化演替序列上生长季平均土壤呼吸速率呈先增加后降低的变化趋势, 其中在中度退化程度下达到最高值((2.46 ± 0.27) μmol·m^-2·s^-1), 显著高于未退化((1.92 ± 0.11) μmol·m^-2·s^-1)和重度退化((1.30 ± 0.16) μmol·m^-2·s^-1)水平(p < 0.01), 与轻度退化((2.22 ± 0.19) μmol·m^-2·s^-1)无显著差异(p > 0.05), 重度退化程度下呼吸速率显著低于其他退化水平(p < 0.01)。3)地上生物量和土壤呼吸存在极显著线性正相关关系(p = 0.004), 而地下生物量与土壤呼吸的相关性不很显著(p = 0.056)。4)除重度退化外, 未退化、轻度退化和中度退化高寒草原土壤呼吸与土壤温度显著正相关; 土壤呼吸与土壤湿度的二项式拟合方程在轻度退化程度下达到显著水平(p < 0.05), 而在未退化、中度退化和重度退化程度下均达到极显著水平(p < 0.01)。     

Nitrogen metabolism and urea kinetics in the rock hyrax (Procavia habessinica)

Summary Nitrogen metabolism and urea kinetics were studied in rock hyraxes (Procavia habessinica) fed diets of different protein content.The maintenance nitrogen (N) requirement of the rock hyrax (311 mg·kg^–0.75·24 h^–1 of dietary N, or 209 mg·kg^–0.75·24 h^–1 of truly digestible N) is similar to that of several marsupial species, and thus lower than that of other eutherians.Urea recycled to the gut, measured with single injections of¹⁴C-urea, was 63% and 60% of urea entry rate on diets with 14.6% and 8.2% crude protein, respectively. Urea recycling increased to 70% when water intake was restricted, but decreased to 40% on a low (5.3%) protein diet, presumably because of a low energy intake.Urea utilization in the gut, measured with single injections of¹⁵N-urea, was 59% and 53% of urea degradation on the 14.6% and 8.2% protein diets, respectively. Urea utilization increased to 71% on the low protein diet, and increased to 98% with water restriction.The low maintenance nitrogen requirement appears to be the main physiological attribute of the rock hyrax enabling it to survive periods of low dietary protein availability. However, this low requirement can be related to the low basal metabolic rate of the Hyracoidea in general, and thus is not necessarily a primary adaptation to the environment.     

Yeast Asparagine (Asn) tRNA without Q Base Promotes Eukaryotic Frameshifting More Efficiently than Mammalian Asn tRNAs with or without Q Base

In this study, we compare the efficiency of Asn tRNA from mammalian sources with and without the highly modified queuosine (Q) base in the wobble position of its anticodon and Asn tRNA from yeast, which naturally lacks Q base, to promote frameshifting. Interestingly, no differences in the ability of the two mammalian Asn tRNAs to promote frameshifting were observed, while yeast tRNA^Asn_–Q promoted frameshifting more efficiently than its mammalian counterparts in both rabbit reticulocyte lysates and wheat germ extracts. The shiftability of yeast Asn tRNA is therefore not due, or at least not completely, to the lack of Q base and most likely the shiftiness resides in structural differences elsewhere in the molecule. However, we cannot absolutely rule out a role of Q base in frameshifting as wheat germ extracts and a lysate depleted of most of its tRNA and supplemented with calf liver tRNA contain both Asn tRNA with or without Q base.