The effects of ‘gibberellin-insensitive’ dwarfing alleles in wheat on grain weight and protein content

Summary Three series of near-isogenic wheat lines differing in dwarfing alleles, in the varietal backgrounds of Maris Huntsman, Maris Widgeon and Bersee, and the F₂ grain on intravarietal F₁ hybrids, produced with a chemical hybridising agent, were examined for grain size and protein content. Individual F₂ grains from Rht1/rht, Rht2/rht and Rht3/rht F₁ spikes were classified for Rht genotype by assaying embryo half grains in a gibberellic acid seedling response test, while the remaining half was used for protein determination. Mean grain weight and protein percentage were lower in all homozygous isogenic lines and the Rht/rht F₁ hybrids than in the respective tall lines, in an allele dose-dependent manner. In all the hybrids, the Rht genotype of individual F₂ grains, which segregated within the spikes of F₁ plants, had no significant effects on grain weight or protein. Consequently, the pleiotropic effects of the Rht alleles on these yield and quality components must be attributed to their presence in maternal plant tissues rather than in the endosperm or embryo tissues of individual grains.     

Evidence for maternal effect in the inheritance of grain protein in crosses between cultivated and wild tetraploid wheats

Summary Reciprocal crosses were made between cultivated wheat (Triticum turgidum var. durum) and a high-protein line of wild tetraploid wheat (T. turgidum var. dicoccoides). F₁ grains (on maternal spikes) were very similar to the selfed grains on the maternal parent in protein percentage, weight and protein content. These traits were also analyzed in F₃ grains developed on F₂ spikes of segregating populations derived from reciprocal crosses between the same cultivated parent and another high-protein line of var. dicoccoides. No significant differences in the mean values of these traits were found between the reciprocal crosses, indicating no cytoplasmic effect. It has been concluded that these grain characteristics are largely determined by the maternal plant.Recipient of Sir Charles Clore Postdoctoral FellowshipThe Marshall and Edith Korshak Professor of Plant Cytogenetics     

Embryo development in reciprocal crosses of Phaseolus vulgaris L. and P. coccineus Lam.

Summary Embryo development was examined in reciprocal crosses of Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Great Northern and P. coccineus cv. Scarlet Runner. The formation of abnormal (shrunken and underdeveloped) embryos constituted the primary crossing barrier between the two species when P. coccineus was the female parent. Plants of P. coccineus X P. vulgaris were obtained by embryo culture. Although the P. vulgaris X P. coccineus cross resulted in normal seed development, the fertility of the resulting hybrids was much lower (27%) than that of the reciprocal hybrids (81%). Three classes of F₂ embryos, normal, shrunken, and underdeveloped were formed on reciprocal F₁s and the frequencies did not differ between reciprocal populations. Thus, the interactions between embryo and endosperm and/or maternal parent rather than cytoplasmic-nuclear effects seem to be important in the determination of the extent of embryo growth. The examination of pollen fertility of F₂ plants and the development of F₂ and F₃ embryos suggests that the formation of abnormal embryos and reduced male fertility are independent events. The P. vulgaris — P. coccineus crosses may be useful in studying the possible involvement of interspecific differences in hormonal metabolism in the development of hybrid embryos.     

The inheritance of tetraploid wheat seed peroxidases

Summary Embryo and endosperm peroxidases from dry mature seeds of three subspecies of tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) were subjected to genetic analysis. The inheritance of eight isozymes (embryo isozymes a₂, d₁, d₂, e and f; and endosperm isozymes b, d and 4) were studied in F₂'s obtained from different wheat accessions. Simple monogenic inheritance producing three banded: one null segregation and two epistatic segregations (97 and 151) were found. In the case of isozymes b, d and 4, monogenic or epistatic segregation depended on the F₂ analyzed. Segregation data indicated that at least 9 different loci would determine the peroxidase isozymes of tetraploid wheat seed, all the loci studied containing null alleles. Furthermore, several loci determining embryo peroxidases were noticed to be mutually linked. All these data are discussed in context of the inheritance of seed peroxidases in hexaploid wheat and rye.     

Genetic analysis of salt tolerance during germination in Lycopersicon

Summary The salt-tolerant cultivated tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) accession, PI174263, and a sensitive cv, UCT5, were crossed to develop reciprocal F₁, F₂ and BC₁ populations for genetic analysis of salt tolerance in tomatoes during seed germination. Variation was partitioned into embryo, endosperm and maternal (testa and cytoplasmic) components. Generation means analysis indicated that there were no significant embryo (additive, dominance or epistatic) effects on germination performance under salt stress. Highly significant endosperm additive and testa dominance effects were detected. The proportion of the total variance explained by the model containing these two components was R²=98.2%. Variance component analysis indicated a large genetic variance with additive gene action as the predominant component. Furhter inspection indicated that this variance was attributable to endosperm additive effects on germinability under salt stress. Narrow-sense heritability was estimated as moderately high. Implications for breeding procedures are discussed.     

Genetic control of Endosperm Balance Number (EBN): three additive loci in a threshold-like system

Summary The genetic control of Endosperm Balance Number (EBN) was investigated by a complete diallel of four exceptional diploid Solanum commersonii-S. chacoense hybrids (1 1/2 EBN) and backcrosses to their species parents, S. commersonii (1 EBN) and S. chacoense (2 EBN). Crosses in which the female parent had a higher EBN value than the male, S. chacoense (2 EBN)XF₁ (11/2 EBN) and F₁ (11/2 EBN)X S. commersonii (1 EBN), produced viable seed to aborted seed ratios of 11.1 and 11.3, respectively, and had average to small sized viable seed. Crosses in which the female parent had a lower EBN value than the male, S. commersonii (1 EBN)XF₁ (11/2 EBN) and F₁ (11/2 EBN)XS. chacoense (2 EBN), produced viable seed to aborted seed ratios of 1 7.9 and 1 6.7, respectively, and had average to large sized viable seeds. The results of these crosses appear to be consistent with the relative EBN values of the male and female parent. A model is proposed for the system regulating endosperm development. The assumptions of this model are: (1) three unlinked loci control the system; (2) the loci are homozygous within a species; (3) the genes have additive effects and are of equal strength within a species; (4) the genes within S. chacoense have twice the effect with respect to endosperm regulation as those within S. commersonii; and (5) a slight excess maternal dosage will produce the qualitative effect of small but viable seed. This model, in which quantitative genes operate in a dosage dependent system bears many similarities to classical, threshold-type genetic models.     

Classification of cultivated rices into indica and japonica types by the isozyme,RFLP and two milled-rice methods

Four methods for classifying cultivated rices (Oryza sativa L.) (including IR varieties) into indica and japonica types — waxy gene product in endosperm starch, glutelin ₃ molecular weight in milled rice, RFLP polymorphism at the Wx locus and Glaszmann's isozyme method — were compared. On the basis of the two endosperm traits and the RFLP method Glaszmann's group 1 (indica) was classified as mainly indica and intermediate groups 2, 3 and 4 as exclusively indica. However, the endosperm traits classified Glaszmann's group 5 as mainly indica, while the RFLP method classified it as japonica. The RFLP waxy gene probe was closest to the isozyme method in classifying group 6 as japonicas; the waxy gene product gave mainly indica reaction even in group 6, and the glutelin ₃ method was intermediate. All IR rices were classified as being indica on the basis of Wx gene product and by Glaszmann's method, but a few were classified as japonica by the glutelin ₃ method and by the RFLP waxy gene probe.     

Inheritance of the dwarf plant type in blackgram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper)

Summary The inheritance of the dwarf plant type was studied in blackgram (V. mungo (L.) Hepper). Type 9 has erect plant type with normal internode length. The mutant line, EMSD has reduced internode length. The F₁, F₂ and F₃ generations of a cross between Type 9 and EMSD and its reciprocal were studied. The extreme dwarf plant type appeared to be governed by a single recessive gene, dw ₁ dw ₁ with no cytoplasmic effect.Part of Ph.D. Thesis submitted by the first author     

Temperature-sensitive coupling and uncoupling of ATPase-mediated,nonradiative energy dissipation: Similarities between chloroplasts and leaves

The effects of temperature on the dark relaxation kinetics of nonradiative energy dissipation in photosystem II were compared in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) chloroplasts and leaves of Aegialitis annulata R. Br. After high levels of violaxanthin de-epoxidation in the light, Aegialitis leaves showed a marked delay in the dark relaxation of nonradiative dissipation, measured as non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of photosystem II chlorophyll a fluorescence. Aegialitis leaves also maintained a moderately high adenylate energy charge at low temperatures during and after high-light exposure, presumably because of their limited carbon-fixation capacity. Similarly, dark-sustained NPQ could be induced in lettuce chloroplasts after de-epoxidizing violaxanthin and light-activating the ATP synthase. The duration and extent of dark-sustained NPQ were strongly enhanced by low temperatures in both chloroplasts and leaves. Further, the NPQ sustained at low temperatures was rapidly reversed upon warming. In lettuce chloroplasts, low temperatures sharply decreased the ATP-hydrolysis rate while increasing the duration and extent of the resultant trans-thylakoid proton gradient that elicits the NPQ. This was consistent with a higher degree of energy-coupling, presumably due to reduced proton diffusion through the thylakoid membrane at the lower temperatures. The chloroplast adenylate pool was in equilibrium with the adenylate kinase and therefore both ATP and ADP contributed to reverse coupling. The low-temperature-enhanced NPQ quenched the yields of the dark level (F_o) and the maximal (F_m) fluorescence proportionally in both chloroplasts and leaves. The extent of NPQ in the dark was inversely related to the efficiency of photosystem II, and very similar linear relationships were obtained over a wide temperature range in both chloroplasts and leaves. Likewise, the dark-sustained absorbance changes, caused by violaxanthin de-epoxidation (A_508nm) and energy-dependent light scattering (A_536nm) were strikingly similar in chloroplasts and leaves. Therefore, we conclude that the dark-sustained, low-temperature-stimulated NPQ in chloroplasts and leaves is apparently directly dependent on lumen acidification and chloroplastic ATP hydrolysis. In leaves, the ATP required for sustained NPQ is evidently provided by oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria. The functional significance of this quenching process and implications for measurements of photo-protection versus photodamage in leaves are discussed.Abbreviations and Symbols A antheraxanthin - Chl chlorophyll - DPS de-epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle, ([Z+A]/[V+A+Z]) - F, F steady-state fluorescence in the absence, presence of thylakoid energization - F_o, F_o dark fluorescence level in the absence, presence of thylakoid energization - F_m, F_m maximal fluorescence in absence, presence of thylakoid energization - NPQ nonphotochemical quenching (F_m/F_m)–1 - V violaxanthin - Z zeaxanthin - NRD nonradiative dissipation - PFD photon flux density - [2ATP+ADP] - pH trans-thylakoid proton gradient - S pH-dependent light scattering - _PSII (F_m–F)/F_m, photon yield of PSII photochemistry at the actual reduction state in the light or dark - [ATP+ADP+AMP] We thank Connie Shih for skillful assistance in growing plants and for conducting HPLC analyses. Support from an NSF/USDA/DOE postdoctoral training grant to A.G. is gratefully acknowledged. A.G. also wishes to thank Prof. Govindjee for valuable discussions. C.I.W.-D.P.B. Publication No. 1197.     

Genetics of α-amylases from rye endosperm

Summary Fifteen inbred lines of rye, F₁ and F₂ progenies from crosses between lines were studied using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Conventional genetic analysis of -amylase zymograms showed that the 19 bands detected in the endosperm of germinating caryopses were controlled by three linked structural loci and one independent modifying locus, which influenced the electrophoretic mobility of isozymes. Two codominant alleles were found at the -Amy1, -Amy2 structural loci and the M--Amy modifying locus while the -Amy3 locus had three alleles. Double-banded expression of the -amylase alleles was probably due to the simultaneous presence of modified and unmodified forms of isozymes on the zymogram.This work was supported by Polish Academy of Sciences under project MR-II/7 and was also a part of the author's PhD Thesis     

Inheritance of resistance to blackmold (Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler) in two interspecific crosses of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum ×L. cheesmanii f.typicum)

Inheritance of resistance to blackmold, a disease of ripe tomato fruit caused byAlternaria alternata, was studied in two interspecific crosses. The parents, F₁ and F₂ generations of a cross between the susceptibleLycopersicon esculentum Mill. cultivar Hunt 100 and the resistantL. Cheesmanii f.typicum Riley accession LA 422, and the parents, F₁, F₂, F₃, and BC₁ P₂ generations of a cross between the susceptibleL. Esculentum cv. VF 145B-7879 and LA 422 were evaluated. The following disease evaluation traits were used: symptom rating (a symptom severity rating based on visual evaluation of lesions), diseased fruit (the number of diseased fruits divided by the total number of fruit scored), and lesion size (a function derived from the actual lesion diameter). Generation means analysis was used to determine gene action. The data of the Hunt 100 × LA 422 cross fit an additive-dominance model for all three traits. The VF 145B-7879 × LA 422 cross data best fit a model that included the additive × additive and additive × dominance interaction components for the trait diseased fruit, whereas higher-order epistatic models would have to be invoked to fit the data for the traits symptom rating and lesion size. A minimum of one gene segregated for all three traits. Broad-sense heritability estimates ranged from 0.09 to 0.16 for all three traits, indicating that selection for improved resistance to blackmold will require selection on a family performance basis.     

Hormonal regulation of gene expression in the “slender” mutant of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

The slender mutant of barley resembles a normal barley plant treated with high doses of gibberellic acid (GA₃). Expression of GA₃-regulated and abscisic acid (ABA)-regulated mRNAs was studied in the endosperm and roots of mutant and wild-type (WT) plants.Production of -amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) by WT embryoless half-grains was dependent on the presence of GA₃, and was prevented by ABA. In contrast, -amylase was produced by half-grains of the slender mutant in the absence of added GA₃, although it was still reduced by ABA. The spectrum of -amylase mRNAs in slender embryoless half-grains incubated in the absence of added GA₃ was the same as in WT endosperm half-grains incubated in the presence of GA₃. These results indicate that the endosperm of the slender mutant exhibits similar properties to WT endosperm treated with GA₃.In roots the expression of an ABA-inducible mRNA was similar in slender and WT seedlings either treated with exogenous ABA or exposed to dehydration. This result, and the effect of ABA on -amylase production by the endosperm, indicate that the slender plants retain sensitivity to ABA.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - AMV avian myeloblastosis virus - GA gibberellin - GA₁ gibberellin A₁ - GA₃ gibberellic acid - WT wild-type     

Evidence on the nature and origins of endosperm dosage requirements in Solanum and other angiosperm genera

Success of seed development following sexual crosses is primarily dependent on proper endosperm function and development. The failure to produce triploids, or triploid block in 4x×2x crosses served as the impetus for numerous studies of embryo and endosperm to attempt to explain cross failure. Early explanations were based upon a concept of a 232 ploidy balance between maternal tissue, endosperm, and embryo. Subsequent studies done with maize demonstrated that normal endosperm development in intraspecific maize crosses is dependent solely on having a 21 maternal to paternal genome dosage in the endosperm. These results have been modified and extended to solanaceous species in the form of an endosperm dosage system in which empirically determined factors must bear the same 21 relationship for crosses to succeed. Crossing behavior of these species suggest that the system is polygenically controlled and regulates both interspecific and intraspecific crosses. Endosperm dosage systems explain many aspects of species evolution, but the system appears to have originated as an ancient means of ensuring diploid fidelity.     

Molecular genetic mapping of a high-lysine mutant gene (<Emphasis Type="Italic">opaque-16</Emphasis>) and the double recessive effect with <Emphasis Type="Italic">opaque-2</Emphasis> in maize

The lysin content in maize endosperm protein is considered to be one of the most important traits for determining the nutritional quality of food and feed. Improving the protein quality of the maize kernel depends principally on finding a mutant with a higher lysine content. Two high-lysine mutant lines with opaque endosperm, QCL3024 and QCL3021, were isolated from a self-cross population derived from Robertsons Mutator stocks. The gene controlling this mutation is temporarily termed opaque-16 (o16). In order to illuminate the genetic locus and effect of the o16 gene, two F_2:3 populations, one developed from a cross between QCL3024 and QCL3010 (a wild type line) and another from a cross between Qi205 (opaque-2 line) and QCL3021, were created, and F₃ seeds from the F₂ plants in the two populations were evaluated for lysine content. The distributions of lysine content and tests for their normality indicate that the lysine content in the two populations is regulated by the major gene of o16 and genes of o2 and o16, respectively. Based on two data sets of the linkage maps of the F₂ plant marker genotypes and the lysine content of F₃ seeds originating from the two F_2:3 populations, the o16 gene was located within 5 cM, at either 3 or 2.2 cM from umc1141 in the interval between umc1121 and umc1141 on the long arm of chromosome 8, depending on the recombination rate in the two populations as determined by composite interval mapping. According to the data of the F_2:3 population constructed from the o2 and o16 lines, the double recessive mutant effect was analyzed. The average lysine content of the F₃ o2o2o16o16 families identified by the umc1066 and umc1141 markers was approximately 30% higher than that of the F₃ o2o2 and o16o16 families, respectively. The lysine content of seven F₃ families among nine F₃ double recessive mutant families showed different increments, with an average increase of some 6% compared with that of the maternal o2 line. The potential application of the o16 mutant for maize high-lysine breeding may be to combine it with the o2 mutant bearing modifier genes, thus obtaining a mutant with much higher lysine content. For the purpose of pyramiding the o16 with o2 genes, the availability of closely linked markers of the o16 and o2 loci will facilitate marker-assisted selection and greatly reduce breeding time and effort.     

Genetic mapping of a quantitative trait locus (QTL) that enhances the shoot differentiation rate in Hordeum vulgare L.

A quantitative trait locus (QTL) controlling shoot differentiation from immature embryo callus was identified by linkage analysis with morphological and isozyme markers in barley, Hordeum vulgare L. Immature embryos were isolated from cvs Azumamugi (difficult to differentiate), Kanto Nakate Gold (easy to differentiate), their hybrids (F₁) and a backcross population derived from a cross Azumamugi x F₁. The embryos were cultured in vitro for callus initiation and subsequent shoot differentiation. The shoot differentiation rate was closely associated with ear type (v locus), isocitrate dehydrogenase isozyme (Idh-2), and esterase isozyme (Est-11). These markers were found to reside in a chromosome segment of approximately 30cM on chromosome 2. Recombination frequency was 9.9% between v and a proposed QTL named Shd1 (shoot differentiation), 11.5% between Idh-2 and Shd1, and 21.3% between Est-11 and Shd1. All data showed the Idh-2, v, Shdl and Est-11 loci to be arranged in this order from proximal to distal on the long arm of chromosome 2.     

Genetic analysis of Verticillium wilt tolerance in cotton using pedigree data from three crosses

Summary Three crosses and descendant generations were used in a field study of the inheritance of tolerance to Verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium dahliae Kleb., in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). The tolerant cultivar Acala SJC-1 was crossed to more susceptible parents, breeding line S5971 and cultivars Acala 4-42 and Deltapine 70. Seven generations were evaluated for each cross: the two parents (P₁ and P₂), F₁; F₂, F₃, and reciprocal backcrosses (B₁ and B₂). The genetic control of tolerance in these crosses appears to involve more than one gene, based on an unsatisfactory fit to expected phenotypic distributions for the generations under a single-locus model. An analysis of generation means indicated that pooled additive and pooled dominance effects over loci were adequate to explain the variation among generations for crosses of SJC-1 X S5971 and SJC-1 X DPL70. Tolerance in these crosses appeared to be controlled by recessive factors. For the SJC-1 X 4-42 cross, an adequate fit to a digenic epistatic model was not possible, and none of the genetic parameters except the F₂ mean were significant. Heritabilities for tolerance to Verticillium wilt, determined from regressions of F₃ progeny on F₂ parents for the crosses of SJC-1 X S5971 and SJC-1 X DPL70, ranged from 0.12 to 0.28. Therefore, individual plant selection for improved tolerance is expected to be inefficient.Contribution from the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA, to be included in a dissertation by the senior author in partial fulfillment of the Ph. D. degree     

Genetische Untersuchungen zur Resistenz der Gerste gegen Gelbrost (Puccinia striiformis West.)

Zusammenfassung Fünf Sommergersten, die gegen Rasse 24 von Puccinia striiformis resistent sind, wurden in fast allen möglichen Kombinationen miteinander und mit drei anfälligen Formen gekreuzt. Die F ₂-Generationen, in zwei Fällen auch die F ₃, wurden im Gewächshaus mit Rasse 24 infiziert. Zusätzlich konnten F ₂-Generationen einiger Kreuzungen auch auf dem Feld mit Rasse 24 geprüft werden. Eine sichere Klassifikation und damit die eindeutige Analyse der Ergebnisse war nur im Gewächshaus möglich. Die Feldversuche stützen zwar diese Ergebnisse, hätten aber allein keine sicheren Schlüsse erlaubt.Die Resistenz aller fünf untersuchten Gersten ist monogen rezessiv bedingt. Drei von ihnen sind bezüglich des Resistenzgens allel: Bigo — yr, Ab. 14 — yr, BBA 2890 — yr. In Abed Binder 12 liegt yr2 vor, in I 5 yr3. Die Ergebnisse deuten auf Unabhängigkeit der drei Gene, enge Kopplung kann ausgeschlossen werden.

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Genetic studies on the resistance of barley to yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis West.)

Summary Five spring barley varieties resistant to race 24 of Puccinia striiformis were crossed with each other and with three susceptible varieties (Table 1) in almost all possible combinations. The F ₂ generations and in two cases also the F ₃, were inoculated in the greenhouse with race 24. F ₂ generations of some of the crosses were, in addition, tested with race 24 in the field. Dependable classification of resistance and, consequently, unambiguous interpretation of results was possible only for the experiments carried out in the greenhouse. Although the field tests confirmed these results, they would not have been conclusive by themselves.The resistance of all of the five varieties studied is due to single recessive genes (Table 2). Three of the varieties have alleles at the same locus, the other two varieties have other resistance genes (Tables 3 and 4): Bigo — yr, Ab. 14 — yr, BBA 2890 — yr; Abed Binder 12 — yr2; I 5 — yr3. The results suggest that the three genes are inherited independently, close linkage can be excluded.

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Angenommen durch H. Stubbe     

Genetic control of grain yield and its related traits in bread wheat

Summary Genetic control of tiller number, grain number, grain weight, harvest index and grain yield in six generations, along with the biparentals, F₃s, F₂xparental progeny, and F₂xF₁ progeny were investigated in an intervarietal cross of bread wheat involving two highly competitive varieties, WL711 and HD 2009. The performance of F₁, B₁, B₂, F₂, × p₁, F₂ × P₂ and F₂ × F₁ progeny was midway between the parents involved with respect to all the evaluated characters. The biparental progeny excelled the mean performance of their corresponding F₂ and F₃ progeny in tiller number, seed weight and grain yield. The estimates of variance components obtained from the two models deployed were almost similar. Considerable additive genetic variance was observed for grains per spike, seed weight and grain yield while dominance variance was more pronounced for harvest index. The additive-dominance model was adequate for grains per spike and harvest index. Epistatic effects of additive × additive and additive × dominance type for tiller number and grain yield, and of additive × dominance type for seed weight were observed. The digenic epistatic model was inadequate for explaining the nature of gene action for tiller number, seed weight and grain yield. The studies indicated that non-allelic interactions should not be ignored in formulating wheat breeding programmes and that a biparental approach could be adopted as an extremely useful tool for enhancing genetic variability and the creation of transgressive segregants. The usefulness of breeding methodologies utilising a biparental approach is discussed.     

In situ monitoring of chlorophyll fluorescence to assess the synergistic effect of low temperature and high irradiance stresses inSpirulina cultures grown outdoors in photobioreactors

A chlorophyll fluorescence technique was applied to anin situ study on the effects of low temperature and high light stresses onSpirulina cultures grown outdoors in controlled tubular photobioreactors at high (1.1 g L^–1) and low (0.44 g L^–1) biomass concentrations. Diurnal changes in PSII photochemistry (F _v/F _m) after 15 min of darkness, or in the light (dF/F _m), and non-photochemical (qN) quenching were measured using a portable, pulse-amplitude-modulated fluorometer. The depression of theF _v/F _m ratio ofSpirulina cultures grown outdoors at 25°C (i.e. 10°C below optimum for growth) and 0.44 g L^–1, reached 30% at the middle of the day. At the same time of the day thedF/F _m ratio showed a reduction of up to 52%. The depression of bothF _v/F _m anddF/F _m was lower in the cultures grown at 1.1 g L^–1. Photoinhibition reduced the daily productivity of the culture grown at 0.44 g L^–1 and 25°C by 33% with respect to that grown at 35°C. Changes in the growth yields of the cultures grown under different temperatures and growth rates correlate well with analogous changes in photon yield (dF/F _m). Simple measurements of photochemical yield (F _v/F _m) can be used to test the physiological status ofSpirulina cultures. The results indicate that the saturating pulse fluorescence technique, when usedin situ, is a powerful tool for assessment of the photosynthetic characteristics of outdoor cultures ofSpirulina.     

The allelic relationship of genes giving resistance to mungbean yellow mosaic virus in blackgram

Summary The allelic relationship of resistance genes for MYMV was studied in blackgram (V. mungo (L.) Hepper). The resistant donors to MYMV — Pant U84 and UPU 2, and their F₁, F₂ and F₃ generations — were inoculated artificially using an insect vector, whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Genn.). The two recessive genes previously reported for resistance were found to be the same in both donors.Part of Ph.D. Thesis submitted by the senior author. Research Paper No. 4271