KARYOTYPES OF FIVE SUBANTARCTIC BIVALVE SPECIES

Chromosomes of five subantarctic species were studied from mitoticmetaphases using cell suspension techniques. Among the Protobranchia,Malletiagigan-lea has a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 38with five metacentric, seven submetacentric, five sub-telocentricand one telocentric pairs, and Yoldia (Aequiyoldia) woodwardialso shows 2n = 38 but with ten metacentric, six submetacentricand three sub-telocentric pairs. Among the Lamellibranchia,the pterioidan Limatula pygmaea has 2n = 38 with six metacentric,eleven submetacentric and two sub-telocentric pairs, the veneroidanCyclocardia astar-toides has 2n = 30 with five metacentric andten telocentric pairs and the anomalodesmatan Laternula ellipticahas 2n = 40 with two metacentric, one submetacentric, two subtelocentricand fifteen telocentric pairs. Our results indicate that in all the Nuculoidea studied so far,a diploid number of 2n = 38 has been found. In addition, thekaryotypes show a close overall appearance in relative lengthswith a majority of meta-centric-submetacentric chromosomes.The species differ in the proportion of the different morphologicaltypes of chromosomes. In the Lamellibranchia, each species correspondsto a particular case within their respective orders (Pterioida,Veneroida, Anomalodesmata). (Received 22 January 1990; accepted 28 March 1990)     

PARTHENOGENESIS, SEX AND CHROMOSOMES IN POTAMOPYRGUS

Widely different sex ratios in certain New Zealand populationsof the hydrobiid gastropod Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Gray) weregenerally found to vary little though in one stream a high-male/low-maleboundary moved steadily upstream over 20 years. Laboratory breeding and chromosome studies indicated that NewZealand high-male populations are diploid with 2n = 34 and reproducesexually, while New Zealand low-male populations and all thosefrom Europe and Australia have 2n = 52 or 46 and reproductionis largely parthenogenetic. (Received 15 July 1991; accepted 30 August 1991)     

The Hybrid Origin of Emilia praetermissa (Senecioneae: Compositae)

Interspecific hybrids were obtained between Emilia coccinea(n = 5) and E. sonchifolia (n = 5). Except for quantitativecharacters such as plant size, head size, and leaf size, thediploid hybrid was similar to E. praetermissa (n = 10). Artificial polyploidization of the diploid hybrid resulted inan allotetraploid which is morphologically indistinguishablefrom E. praetermissa. The artificial tetraploid hybrid and E.praetermissa are also similar with respect to their karyotypesand their meiotic behaviours. Morphological and cytogenetic evidence suggest that E. praetermissaoriginated from a plant which is of hybrid origin and whichis similar to the synthetic tetraploid.     

Ploidy Variation in Solanum brevidens Plants Regenerated from Protoplasts Using an Improved Culture System

Plating efficiency of cultured protoplasts of Solanum brevidensincreased to c. 10% after the addition of 5•0 mol m^–3glutamine to the culture medium. Growth of protoplast-derivedcolonies at densities of 20 colonies cm^–3 was obtainedby lowering the auxin content alter 4–6 d. A sample of50 protoplast-derived plants was examined for chromosomal variation.Twelve plants were diploid (2n=24), 26 were tetraploid (2n=48)and 12 were aneuploid at the tetraploid level (2n=48?). Tetraploidand aneuploid plants had broader leaves and set fewer or noseeds compared to the diploid regenerants which were similarin gross morphology and seed set to control plants. Key words: Solanum brevidens, protoplasts, plant regeneration, variation     

Cytological Diversity and Triploid Frequency in a Complex Population of Ranunculus ficaria L.

An extensive mixed population of Ranunculus ficaria polyplotypeswas mapped, sampled, and examined cytologically. The presenceand relative abundance of different polyplotypes was as follows:31 per cent diploid (2n = 16), 40 per cent tetraploid (2n =32), and 29 per cent presumed intermediate triploid (2n = 24).It was demonstrated that there is no simple character for distinguishingall polyplotypes in the field and chromosome counts must beused for this purpose. The action of winter flood water on bulbildissemination and differences in ecological preference of thepolyplotypes is proposed to account for differences in distributionover the population area. There is some indication that triploidseeds may be produced under a situation of excessive numbersof tetraploid plants relative to diploids which reduces diploid/tetraploidpollen competition on diploid stigmas. Diploid plants with 1–8B-chromosomes were found to occur frequently but no consistenteffect of these B's on vigour, fertility, and meiosis was evident.B-chromosomes were entirely absent from triploid and tetraploidkaryotypes.     

Morphological characterization of adult Artemia (Crustacea, Branchiopoda) from different geographical origin. Mediterranean populations

Twelve morphological parameters have been measured in Artemiaindividuals belonging to 27 different populations located aroundthe Western Mediterranean basin. An analysis, through multivariatediscriminant procedures, allows us to establish relationshipsamong different populations. The three different types of populationstudied (bisexual diploid, parthenogenetic diploid and parthenogenetictetraploid) are thoroughly characterized by their morphologicalcharacteristics. This simple method is shown to be useful ingrouping different populations and to have predictive valuein assigning new populations to the groups previously analyzed.     

Effect of Sporophytic Heterozygosity on the Male Gametophyte of the Tetraploid Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Quantitative variation for pollen stainability was examinedin both tetraploid x diploid and tetraploid x tetraploid familiesof potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). The diploid parents, whichwere highly heterozygous, produced first division restitution(FDR) 2n pollen. The families used were not affected by cytoplasmic-geneticmale sterility. Significant differences between families werefound. FDR 2n pollen producing diploid clones had progenieswith a significantly higher pollen stainability than those derivedfrom crosses between tetraploid parents. This was related tothe level of heterozygosity in the sporophyte. In FDR 2n pollen,80% of the heterozygosity and a large fraction of epistasispresent in the diploid parent was transmitted to its tetraploidprogeny. This is important for the production of open pollinated,true potato seed, because pollen stainability is significantlycorrelated with fruit set (r = 0·85).Copyright 1994,1999 Academic Press FDR 2n pollen, gametophytic heterozygosity, true potato seed     

Cytological Analysis of Seedling Roots, Transformed Root Cultures and Roots Regenerated from Callus of Swainsona galegifolia (Andr.) R. Br.

The stability of chromosome number was investigated in culturesof roots from Swainsona galegifolia. Roots from germinated seedsor plants grown in vitro when cultured in liquid medium howed90% or more cells with the diploid number of 2n = 32. The remainingcells showed aneuploidy mostly below 32. The stability of chromosomenumbers was not affected by transformation with Agrobacteriumrhizogenes although when roots were transformed with A. rhizogenesLB 9042 the range of chromosome numbers in the few aneuploidcells present was higher than in roots for which strain A4 wasused. In contrast, roots regenerated from callus had only 15%of cells with 2n = 32 and showed a modal number of 18. Six rootcultures established from individual roots regenerated fromcallus showed a wide variation in number (8–83). Fivecultures had a modal number around 18, the sixth, a modal numberof 39 which is above the diploid number. The implication ofthe results for the production of secondary metabolites fromroot culture is discussed. Key words: Agrobacterium rhizogenes, callus cultures, chromosome number, root cultures, Swainsona galegifolia     

The Permeability of Ammonia, Methylamine and Ethylamine in the Charophyte Chara corallina (C. australis)

Ritchie, R. J. 1987. The permeability of ammonia, methylamineand ethylamine in the charophyte Chara corallina (C. australis).—J.exp. Bot. 38: 67–76 The permeabilities of the amines, ammonia (NH₃), methylamine(CH₃NH₂) and ethylamine (CH₃CH₂NH₂) in the giant-celled charophyteChara corallina (C. australis) R.Br. have been measured andcompared. The permeabilities were corrected for uptake fluxesof the amine cations. Based on net uptake rates, the permeabilityof ammonia was 6?4?0?93 µm s^–1 (n = 38). The permeabilitiesof methylamine and ethylamine were measured in net and exchangeflux experiments. The permeabilities of methylamine were notsignificantly different in net and exchange experiments, norto that of ammonia (P_methylamine = 6?0?0?49 µm s^–1(n = 44)). In net flux experiments the apparent permeabilityof ethylamine was slightly greater than that of ammonia andmethylamine (P_{ethylamine, net} = 8?4?1?2 µm s^–1 (n= 40)) but the permeability of ethylamine based on exchangeflux data was significantly higher (P_{ethylamine, exchange} =14?1?2 µm s^–1 (n = 20)). Methylamine can be validlyused as an ammonium analogue in permeability studies in Chara. The plasmalemma of Chara has acid and alkaline bands; littlediffusion of uncharged amines would occur across the acid bands.The actual permeability of amines across the alkaline bandsis probably about twice the values quoted above on a whole cellbasis i.e. the permeability of ammonia across the permeablepart of the plasmalemma is probably about 12 µm s^–1. Key words: Chara, permeability, ammonia, methylamine     

Electrophoretic mobility of haploid cells, diploid cells, asci, and ascospores of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The electrophoretic mobility of diploid cells, haploid cellsof different mating types, their cell walls, asci, and ascosporesof Saccharomyces cerevisiae was measured with a free-flow electrophoreticapparatus. Haploid -cells and ascospores exhibited higher mobilitythan diploid cells, haploid -cells, and asci. Similar differencesin mobility were found with isolated cell walls of the haploidand diploid cells. ² Present address: Lederle (Japan) Ltd., Kyobashi, Tokyo 104,Japan. (Received December 24, 1976; )     

Pronounced karyological divergence of the North American congeners Sphaerium rhomboideum and S. occidentale (Bivalvia: Veneroida: Sphaeriidae)

Chromosome sets of two North American sphaeriid species, Sphaeriumrhomboideum Say, 1822 and S. occidentale Lewis, 1856, were studiedusing conventional Giemsa staining and karyometric analysis.Pronounced karyological divergence of congeners was revealed.The diploid number of 2n = 44 was reported for S. rhomboideumand this is the first record of a diploid species in the highlypolychromosomic Nearctic sphaeriid fauna. The karyotype wascharacterized by medium-sized and small chromosomes, which decreasedin size gradually from 5.77 to 1.9 µm. Biarmed chromosomeswith medially and submedially located centromeres predominated,but six pairs of subtelo-telocentric elements were also observedin the karyotype. The estimated mitotic chromosome number forS. occidentale ranges from 189 to 213, but most of the cellsexamined contained about 204–209 chromosomes. A firstattempt to karyotype a polyploid sphaeriid was made. It wasrevealed that the comparatively large and middle-sized chromosomescould be grouped in four, so the karyotype presumably evolvedthrough tetraploidization. The small chromosomes formed thelarge fraction, about 137. Due to their similar and indistinctmorphologies, it was impossible to arrange them into subgroupswith confidence. Revealed karyological characteristics are discussedwith reference to the existing phylogenetic interpretationsof the evolutionary history of the Sphaeriinae. (Received 8 November 2006; accepted 25 June 2007)     

Microsporogenesis in some Triploid Dactylorchid Hybrids

During meiosis in naturally occurring triploid hybrids betweenthe diploid Orchis fuchsii Druce (2n = 4O) and the two tetraploids,O. purpurella Steph. and O. praetermissa Druce (2n = 8O), thereis a regular formation of 20 bivalents and 20 bivalents. Sincethe two tetraploid species themselves show typical ‘diploid’behaviour in synapsis and fertility, they are considered tobe allopolyploids, and the hybrid pairing to be allosyndetic.The implication is therefore that both tetraploids are amphidiploidsof which O. fuchsii has been one progenitor. It is suggestedthat varieties of the polytypic diploid O. latifolia L. sec.Pugsl. may have been the other progenitors. A feature of interestin the microsporogenesis of both parents and hybrids is theclose synchronization of nuclear events in the pollen massulae,which behave as physiological units throughout meiosis and pollen-mitosis.In the triploids, although numerous dysploid nuclei are produced,none dies prematurely, probably because of mutual compensationwithin what is, in effect, a common cytoplasmic matrix.     

Comparison of Embryo Development in Wild and Cultivated Arachis Species

Embryo development following selfing was investigated in twowild diploid peanut species, Arachis batizocoi Krap. et Greg.(coll. K 9484) (2n = 20) and A. duranensis Krap. et Greg. nom.nud. (coll. K 7988) (2n = 20), and one cultivated tetraploidspecies, A. hypogaea L. NC-Ac 18000 (2n = 40). Rates of pegelongation and sequences of embryo development for each specieswere compared. Peg elongation rates were similar for the twowild species, but for A. hypogaea it was only one-third to one-halfthat of the diploid species. Embryos in A. hypogaea showed slightlymore rapid cell division than in the wild species. The observedvariation in reproductive development between the wild and cultivatedspecies indicate that different control mechanisms may governdevelopment in the different species and may be at least partiallyresponsible for failure to produce viable interspecific hybridsat various ploidy levels. The observations are also importantfor determining the time at which embryos of different speciesof Arachis will reach the appropriate stage of development forsuccessful culture on an artificial medium during embryo rescueprocedures. Peanut, Arachis hypogaea, wild species, embryo, peg     

Variation in the DNA Content of Glycine Species

Nuclei were isolated from cotyledons of a range of accessionsfrom 14 species of Glycine. These were stained with ethidiumbromide and the relative fluorescence for each genotype wasmeasured by flow cytometry. The DNA content was estimated bycomparison of relative fluorescence with that from nuclei fromseedling leaves of Allium cepa, whose DNA content has been calculatedpreviously by chemical assay. The 4C amounts for diploid Glycineranged from 3.80 to 6.59 pg. Two groups of diploid species appearedfrom the analysis. The first consisted of species with amountsranging from 3.80 to 5.16 pg and included G. canescens (AA),G. argyrea (A₁ A₁), G. clandestina (A²A²), G. microphylla(BB),G. latifolia (B₁B₁), G. tabacina 2n=40 (B²B²), G. tomentella2n=38 (EE) and 2n=40 (DD), G. max and G. soja (GG), G. arenariaand G. latrobeana. A second group had higher DNA contents rangingfrom 5.27 to 6.59 pg, and consisted of G. curvata, G. cyrtoloba(CC), and G. falcata (FF). The polyploid species, G. tabacina2n=80 (AABB, BBB¹B¹), G. tomentella 2n=78 and 2n=80 (AAEE andDDEE, respectively) contained amounts approximating to the sumsof the respective parental diploid species thought to have givenrise to these allotetraploids. Intraspecific variation was detectedin the DNA content of G. canescens. Within the overall distributionof DNA amounts found in A genome species, each genome containeda range of DNA contents specific to that species. This phenomenonwas also detected amongst B genome species.     

Polyploidy and aneuploidy inOphrys,Orchis, andAnacamptis (Orchidaceae)

Studies on chromosome numbers and karyotypes in Orchid taxa from Apulia (Italy) revealed triploid complements inOphrys tenthredinifera andOrchis italica. InO. tenthredinifera there is no significant difference between the diploid and the triploid karyotypes. The tetraploid cytotype ofAnacamptis pyramidalis forms 36 bivalents during metaphase I in embryo sac mother cells. Aneuploidy was noticed inOphrys bertolonii ×O. tarentina with chromosome numbers n = 19 and 2n = 38. There were diploid (2n = 2x = 36), tetraploid (2n = 4x = 72), hexaploid (2n = 6x = 108) and octoploid (2n = 8x = 144) cells in the ovary wall of the diploid hybridOphrys apulica ×O. bombyliflora. Evolutionary trends inOphrys andOrchis chromosomes are discussed.     

The Uptake and Utilization of Phosphorus and Nitrogen by Diploid, Tetraploid and Hexaploid Wheats (Triticum spp.)

Twenty genotypes of Triticum and Aegilops wheats including diploid,tetraploid and hexaploid types, were grown under contrastingphosphorus (P) regimes (control and low P) at 15 °C by dayand 10 °C at night. Dry-matter production and phosphorusand nitrogen uptake and distribution were measured on matureplants. Phosphorus efficiency (PE) was considered in terms of yieldper unit of P in the main shoot and concentration of phosphorusin grain (per cent P). In the low-P set, PE, which ranged from110 to 715 mg grain mg^–1 P, increased as the yield perculm and dry-matter partitioning (harvest index) increased,with hexaploid > tetraploid > diploid. In both the controland low-P plants percentage P in grain decreased in the orderdiploids > tetraploids > hexaploid wheats. Grain phosphoruswas highly negatively correlated with the log of grain yield(r = –0.74; –0.88) and the log of harvest index(r = –0.80 and –0.88) for control and low-P plants,respectively. This suggests that future gains in plant harvestindex will cause smaller reductions in grain phosphorus concentrations.But, within either a high or low phosphorus supply, wheats witha given grain harvest index have significantly different grainphosphorus concentrations, and conscious selection for thischaracter is feasible. Low-P plants had similar grain nitrogen concentrations but lowernitrogen harvest indexes than control plants. Aegilops spp., Triticum spp., wheat, yield components, harvest index, polyploidy, evolution, phosphorus efficiency     

CHROMOSOMES OF MELANOPSIS DUFOURI FERUSSAC, 1823 (CAENOGASTROPODA: MELANOPSIDAE)

The most frequent chromosome numbers were 2n = 36 and n = 18in Melanopsis dufouri Férussac inhabiting the Ullal deBaldovi, an ancient spring of the Albufera lake (Valencia province),and the small stream Rambla de Gaibiel (Castellon province)in Spain. Subtelocentric and subtelo-telocentric chromosomespredominated in the sets of snails from both populations. Pericentricinversions were basic factors in the interpopulational differentiationof karyotypes. Intrapopulational karyotype polymorphism (specimenswith 2n = 36, 2n = 34, rarely 2n = 35) and mosaic molluscs occurredin the Ullal de Baldovi population as a result of small chromosomeelimination. The rather frequent appearance of one or two non-homologuesmall chromosomes in hypodiploid nuclei 2n = 35, 2n = 34 wasobviously connected with fragmentation of chromosomes. Karyologicalfindings are in accordance with phenotypic diversity of M. dufourifrom the Ullal de Baldovi population. (Received 27 February 1997; accepted 10 October 1997)     

Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Regeneration from Leaf Callus of Hordeum vulgare

Explants obtained from the basal portion of leaves of Hordeumvulgare (cv. Karan 92) gave rise to callus when cultured onMurashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyaceticacid (2, 4-D). Initially, the callus was friable, shiny-whiteand watery but subsequently some compact, nodular callus appeared.The latter were cultured on MS medium containing 0.05 mg l^–12, 4-D and 0.1 mg l^–1 N6-furfurylaminopurine (kinetin),when plantlets were generated. Histological studies showed thatplantlet regeneration occurred by the formation of somatic embryos.The regenerated plants had the normal diploid chromosome number(2n = 14). Hordeum vulgare, barley, somatic embryogenesis, tissue culture, plant regeneration     

Retroelement insertional polymorphisms, diversity and phylogeography within diploid, D-genome Aegilops tauschii (Triticeae, Poaceae) sub-taxa in Iran

Background and Aims: The diploid goat grass Aegilops tauschii (2n = 2x = 14) is nativeto the Middle East and is the D-genome donor to hexaploid breadwheat. The aim of this study was to measure the diversity ofdifferent subspecies and varieties of wild Ae. tauschii collectedacross the major areas where it grows in Iran and to examinepatterns of diversity related to the taxa and geography. Methods: Inter-retroelement amplified polymorphism (IRAP) markers wereused to analyse the biodiversity of DNA from 57 accessions ofAe. tauschii from northern and central Iran, and two hexaploidwheats. Key Results: Eight IRAP primer combinations amplified a total of 171 distinctDNA fragments between 180 and 3200 bp long from the accessions,of which 169 were polymorphic. On average, about eight fragmentswere amplified with each primer combination, with more bandsbeing amplified from accessions from the north-west of the countrythan from other accessions. Conclusions: The IRAP markers showed high levels of genetic diversity. Analysisof all accessions together did not allow the allocation of individualsto taxa based on morphology, but showed a tendency to put accessionsfrom the north-west apart from others regions. It is speculatedthat this could be due to different activity of retroelementsin the different regions. Within the two taxa with most accessions,there was a range of IRAP genotypes that could be correlatedclosely with geographical origin. This supports suggestionsthat the centre of origin of the species is towards the south-eastof the Caspian Sea. IRAP is an appropriate marker system toevaluate genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships withinthe taxa, but it is too variable to define the taxa themselves,where more slowly evolving morphological, DNA sequence or chromosomalmakers may be more appropriate.     

GENETIC AND MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION OF POPULATIONS BELONGING TO THE BULINUS TRUNCATUS/TROPICUS COMPLEX (GASTROPODA; PLANORBIDAE) IN SOUTH WESTERN ZIMBABWE

Aquatic snails from south western Zimbabwe belonging to theBulinus trunscatus/tropicus complex vary widely in shell formsuggesting that more than one taxon could be present. This possibilitywas investigated by making observations on snail samples from13 populations from the Plumtree area, in respect of allozymevariation (5 polymorphic loci), shell morphology (9 variables),copulatory organ and chromosome number. Comparative data wereobtained from snails from north western Zimbabwe identifieddefinitely as B. tropicus. Analysis of the genetic structurerevealed a high degree of polymorphism (P) ranging from 0.29–0.80among populations from Plumtree and expected heterozygosity(H_e) from 0.02–0.22. No enzymatic diagnostic loci werefound which could differentiate the different morphs or populationsand discriminant function analysis on the morphological datashowed an overlap of morphs among populations. Snails analyzedfor chromosome number were all diploid (2n = 36). Snails exposedto Schistosoma haematobium mira-cidia were all refractory. Thisinformation supports the view of a single species, B. tropicus,which is differentiated due to migration barriers and whereenvironmental variables might be implicated in the morphometricdivergence. (Received 31 July 1995; accepted 15 January 1998)