Plantlet formation from isolated protoplasts ofSolanum melongena L.

Summary Mesophyll protoplasts were isolated from axenic shoot cultures ofSolanum melongena by the one-step enzymatic method. Of the different media employed for the culture of protoplasts, a medium modified fromKao andMichayluk (1975) supported sustained mitotic cycles most effectively. Organogenesis from protoplast-derived callus was achieved on transfer toMurashige andSkoog'S (1962) medium supplemented with an appropriate auxin and a cytokinin.     

Allomyces neo-moniliformis gametogenesis

Summary InAllomyces neo-moniliformis meiosis takes place during resting sporangium germination. The meiospores are characteristically binucleate and biflagellate as described byEmerson (1938) andTeter (1944). A variation in the number of nuclei and flagella per meiospore from two is correlated with germination of the resting sporangia under reduced oxygen tension. The meiospores are extremely poor swimmers and are typically amoeboid. At encystment the gamma bodies of the cell are mobilized and appear involved in cyst wall synthesis. A single mitotic division of each nucleus gives rise to four nuclei. Gamete cleavage is as described for spore cleavage inBlastocladiella (Lessie andLovett 1968). The assembly of the nuclear cap and side body complex of the spore are extremely late processes in gametogenesis. The gametes are released when the single papilla dissolves. The gametes fuse in pairs and after zygote formation the cell is uninucleate with two flagella. The biflagellate zygote is an active swimming cell. The presence of homothallism or hetero-thallism inA. neo-moniliformis is discussed.     

The annual species ofAdonis (Ranunculaceae)—a polyploid complex

The five annual species ofAdonis L., sect.Adonis, growing in Israel, form a series of diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid species. Their somatic chromosome numbers are 2n = 16 inA. annua L.,A. dentata Del. andA. palaestina Boiss., 2n = 32 inA. microcarpa DC., 2n = 48 inA. aestivalis L.; counts forA. dentata, A. palaestina andA. microcarpa are new records. There are indications that alloploidization may have been involved in the process of speciation in sect.Adonis. A taxonomic survey of the 8 species of the section reveals that a higher ploidy level is usually combined with a larger distribution area.     

A family outbreak of tinea capitis due to Trichophyton violaceum in Michigan. Its control with griseofulvin

Summary An outbreak of tinea capitis caused byTrichophyton violaceum in five siblings of a family of eight in Michigan and its control with griseofulvin are described.The griseofulvin (Fulvicin) tablets used in this study were provided by Schering Corporation, Bloomfield, New Jersey, through Dr.G. Kenneth Hawkins.We gratefully acknowledge the help extended by Mrs.Matilde Dolen, Mrs.Miriam Harris, Mr.George Miller and Mr.Walter Boehme of the Norris and Jefferson Schools in Nankin, Michigan.     

Research advances on pesticide resistance in natural enemies

Recent research on the factors governing resistance development among arthropod natural enemies is reviewed, including selection studies of resistance development in the predatory miteAmblyseius fallacis (Garman) andTetranychus urticae Koch and patterns of toxicity to pesticides and mixed function oxidase activity in a group of pests, predators and parasites. New areas of resistance development in the speciesPhytoseiulus persimilis A. H. andTyphlodromus pyri Scheuten are discussed as are genetic studies of resistance inP. persimilis and the toxicology of resistance inA. fallacis. Lastly, the widespread documentation of resistance inA. fallacis, a predator of plant-feeding mites, the cecidomyidAphidoletes aphidimyza (Rond.), a predator of aphids and 2 parasites of leafhopper in orchards of North America, is discussed relative to the long-term use of organophosphate-based insecticides and programs of integrated pest control.

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Résumé Les récentes recherches sur les facteurs déterminant le développement d'une résistance aux pesticides chez les arthropodes ennemis naturels des ravageurs sont rappelées, y compris les études sur la sélection pour cette résistance de l'acarien prédateur,Amblyseius fallacis (Garman) et deTetranychus urticae Koch, ainsi que les types de toxicité des pesticides pour un ensemble de ravageurs et de leurs parasites et prédateurs. De nouveaux domaines dans les phénomènes de la résistance chezPhytoseiulus persimilis A.H. etTyphlodromus pyri Scheuten sont discutés, telles que les études génétiques de la résistance chezP. persimilis et la toxicologie de la résistance chezA. fallacis. Enfin la très abondante documentation sur la résistance deA. fallacis, prédateur d'acariens phytophages, deAphidoletes aphidimyza (Rond), cecidomyie prédatrice de pucerons et de deux parasites de cicadelles en vergers en Amérique du Nord, est discutée en fonction de l'utilisation prolongée d'insecticides à base d'organophosphorés et de programmes de lutte intégrée.

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Published as article No. 8498 of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824.     

In vitro chromosome damage due to PCB interactions

In order to study the possible mutagenic properties of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), human lymphocyte cultures were examined for chromosome breakage, rearrangements, sister-chromatid exchange, and mitotic delay. The present study, which used cyclophosphamide as a positive control, shows that one planar PCB congener, 3,4,3',4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl, caused dose-related chromosome breakage in human lymphocytes exposed in vitro to 0.1-10(-4) micrograms/ml. In contrast, the non-planar PCB, 2,5,2',5', did not cause chromosome damage in comparable tests even at concentrations as high as 1 microgram/ml. However, when 3,4,3',4' at a concentration lower than that which causes chromosome breakage (10(-5) micrograms/ml) was combined with a non-clastogenic concentration of 2,5,2',5', the chromosomal damage observed was far in excess of what one would expect from higher doses of 3,4,3',4' alone. These results suggest that some PCB congeners may interact to cause synergistic genotoxic effects.     

The relationship of the dispersion phase of chromocentric nuclei in the mitotic cycle to DNA synthesis

Summary A small proportion of nuclei in root meristems ofAllium flavum, Bryonia dioica andLupinus angustifolius exhibit a dispersion of their chromocentres; the structure of such nuclei corresponds to the Zerstäubungsstadium (Z-phase) described byHeitz.Microdensitometry and autoradiography were employed to determine the location of the Z-phase in the mitotic cycle. In bothAllium andBryonia Z-phase is located at the end of the DNA-synthetic (S) phase and not at early prophase as has been assumed hitherto; inLupinus Z-phase is also associated with the S-phase.     

Interactive cytogenetic effects on rat bone-marrow due to chronic ingestion of 2,5,2',5' and 3,4,3',4' PCBs.

Rats who were fed low doses of single PCBs, either 2,5,2',5' or 3,4,3',4', did not demonstrate any chromosome breakage or mitotic changes in their bone marrow cells. However, there was a significant increase in chromosome damage observed in bone marrow cells of rats ingesting 10 ppm 2,5,2',5' plus 0.1 ppm 3,3,3',4' in combination. It is suggested that this PCB combination, previously found to cause superadditive chromosome damage in vitro, is also capable of causing chromosome damage in vivo, but these effects do not compromise cell proliferation because the mitotic index is not depressed.     

Mutations in the yeast cyclin-dependent kinase Cdc28 reveal a role in the spindle assembly checkpoint

Anaphase onset and mitotic exit are regulated by the spindle assembly or kinetochore checkpoint, which inhibits the anaphase-promoting complex (APC), preventing the degradation of anaphase inhibitors and mitotic cyclins. As a result, cells arrest with high cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activity due to the accumulation of cyclins. Aside from this, a clear-cut demonstration of a direct role for CDKs in the spindle checkpoint response has been elusive. Cdc28 is the main CDK driving the cell cycle in budding yeast. In this report, mutations in cdc28 are described that confer specific checkpoint defects, supersensitivity towards microtubule poisons and chromosome loss. Two alleles encode single mutations in the N and C terminal regions, respectively (R10G and R288G), and one allele specifies two mutations near the C terminus (F245L, I284T). These cdc28 mutants are unable to arrest or efficiently prevent sister chromatid separation during treatment with nocodazole. Genetic interactions with checkpoint and apc mutants suggest Cdc28 may regulate checkpoint arrest downstream of the MAD2 and BUB2 pathways. These studies identify a C-terminal domain of Cdc28 required for checkpoint arrest upon spindle damage that mediates chromosome stability during vegetative growth, suggesting that it has an essential surveillance function in the unperturbed cell cycle.Communicated by A. Aguilera     

Relationships between chromosome damage, cell cycle delay and cell killing induced by bleomycin or X-rays

The extent of mitotic delay and chromosome aberration induction by X-rays and bleomycin has been compared in normal human foetal fibroblasts at doses giving approximately equal levels of cell killing, assayed as colony-forming ability. Bleomycin induced much less G2 delay and chromosome damage than X-rays. We conclude that the major mechanism of cell killing by bleomycin does not involve chromosome damage but the cells pass through a number of division cycles before dying and a common DNA lesion is involved in G2 delay and chromosome damage.     

Pollen dimorphism in threeTeucrium species (Lamiaceae)

In the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands pollen dimorphism was found inTeucrium fruticans L.,T. pseudochamaepitys L., andT. rotundifolium Schreber. Generally, this dimorphism shows two sizes of pollen grains, the smaller more or less collapsed. The percentage of pollen viability is calculated. Differences in size between viable and nonviable pollen grains are similar, being about 40% inT. fruticans andT. pseudochamaepitys, and about 26% inT. rotundifolium. With regard to pollen viability, the percentage of male sterility is higher inT. fruticans, in which from male sterile (ms) plants, 100% nonviable pollen was obtained from every flower observed. InT. pseudochamaepitys andT. rotundifolium with rare exceptions, the percentage of nonviable pollen does not seem to be significant.     

An analysis of interspecific hybrids and phylogenetic implications inCucumis (Cucurbitaceae)

Investigations on interspecific crossability in 8Cucumis species (2n = 24) and chromosome pairing and pollen fertility of their hybrids from 15 combinations have been utilized for tracing the phylogenetic relationships among these taxa and factors responsible for their differentiation. A collective evaluation of data suggests that there are three broad groups of species, one of the spiny fruited interfertile species, whose hybrids show varying degree of chromosome associations and low to high pollen fertility; the second of species with non-spiny fruits, which are completely incompatible with the former but weakly compatible with the cultivated species,C. melo L. to produce partly developed seeds, and the third group ofC. metuliferus E. Mey. exSchrad. andC. melo and its different botanical varieties. The species with spiny fruits can be further divided based on karyomorphological similarities and/or on relative genomic affinity, indicated by chromosome pairing and hybrid pollen fertility.Cytogenetics inCucumis III.     

Cold-sensitive chromosome regions and heterochromatin inCestrum (Solanaceae):C. strigillatum,C. fasciculatum,andC. elegans

Cold-induced mitotic under-condensation of certain chromosome segments is a rare phenomenon in plants. There are about 11 genera of monocotyledons and only 3 of dicotyledons, where species are known to have such cold-sensitive regions (CSRs). The molecular causes of cold-induced undercondensation are not clear, and no consistent cytochemical characteristics of CSRs are known. Recently we have presented a chromosome banding analysis on CSRs and their relation to constitutive heterochromatin inCestrum parqui (Solanaceae), a species of sect.Cestrum. The present study is concerned with a similar analysis inC. strigillatum of sect.Cestrum, and inC. fasciculatum andC. elegans of sect.Habrothamnus. Chromomycin/DAPI fluorescent double staining, sequential C-banding, and sequential silver impregnation were applied. The species differ in detail but are similar qualitatively. Four classes of heterochromatin can be discriminated. (1) CSRs, with banding properties indicating AT-rich constitutive heterochromatin. After cold-treatment CSR heterochromatin can be silver-impregnated from interphase, as chromocentres, to metaphase, as undercondensed segments. CSRs are subject to frequent heteromorphy. (2) Nucleolar organizers. Two pairs were identified in the karyotypes. Banding properties indicate GC-rich heterochromatin. The nucleolar organizing regions are less evident and their silver-reducing capability reduces during metaphase. (3) Non-nucleolar CMA-positively fluorescing bands. These are minute, polymorphic, positively C-stained, and restricted to one or a few sites in the karyotypes. (4) Indifferently fluorescing, positively C-stained bands. They occur on centromeres, some chromosome ends, and clustered over the chromosome arms. They are mostly very delicate and do not resist harsh banding treatments. — The species investigated here andC. parqui resemble each other qualitatively in heterochromatin classes (1), (2), and (3), but differ much in banding properties of class (4). Therefore, heterochromatin characteristics in the genus are not so uniform as the present results inC. strigillatum, C. fasciculatum, andC. elegans appear to show.     

Species of hypocrella

Summary Additional information is given from studies of types and authentic specimens for 25 species of Hypocrella.Stereocrea aurantiaca is transferred to Hypocrella asH. aurantiaca (Petch) comb. nov.,H. caulium is considered an invalid name andH. brasiliana (P. Henn.) comb. nov. is proposed. It is concluded thatH. sloaneae, H. nectroides, H. citrina, H. melaena, H. disjuncta andH. amazonica all are valid species.H. verruculosa is considered conspecific withH. phyllogena. H. fluminensis is a synonym ofH. epiphylla andH. guaranitica, H. spegazzini, H. orbicularis andH. cornuta are synonyms ofH. palmae. Similarities between several species of the eastern and western hemispheres are noted.Paper from the Herbarium and the Department of Botany, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.     

Induction of aldose reductase activity inCandida guilliermondii by pentose sugars

Summary Cell extracts ofCandida guilliermondii grown ind-xylose,l-arabinose,d-galactose,d-glucose,d-mannose and glycerol as sole carbon sources possessed NADPH-dependent aldose reductase activity, but no NADH-dependent activity was detected.d-xylose andl-arabinose were the best inducers of aldose reductase activity. The highest enzyme activity ind-xylose orl-arabinose-grown cells was observed first withl-arabinose followed byd-xylose as substrates of the enzymatic reaction. However, only low activity was found ind-glucose,d-mannose andd-galactose-grown cells, indicating that these carbon sources cause catabolite repression. Enzyme activities induced ind-xylose-grown cells were twice as high as those obtained from the cells under resting conditions. Furthermore, the level of induction of aldose reductase activity depended on the initial concentration ofd-xylose. The present study shows that aldose reductase activity may be efficiently induced by pentose sugars of hemicellulosic hydrolysates and weakly by hemicellulosic hexoses.     

Male external genitalia and systematic relationships of the Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata Blyth, 1875)

Penial morphology was studied in six preserved specimens of the Japanese macaque,Macaca fuscata. Structure of the glans penis and baculum inM. fuscata is essentially similar to that in the rhesus macaque,M. mulatta. With age the skin of the penis inM. fuscata apparently becomes progressively more darkly and extensively pigmented, and the baculum becomes progressively longer. One immature specimen examined, with penial skin unpigmented and baculum cartilaginous, appears to be abnormally retarded in penial development. Penial morphology suggests that the allopatric speciesM. fuscata, M. mulatta, M. cyclopis, andM. fascicularis constitute a closely interrelated group. Contrary to a previous report, there is no evidence that penial morphology inM. fuscata is transitional to that inM. radiata andM. sinica. InM. fuscata, M. mulatta, andM. fascicularis, latitudinal variation of body size and relative tail length conforms toBergmann's rule andAllen's rule; external proportions in three specimens ofM. cyclopis only partly conform to this pattern.     

Chromosomal effects on peptidase activities inDrosophila melanogaster

The peptidase system inDrosophila melanogaster (dipeptidase-A, -B, and -C and leucine aminopeptidases G and P) was used as a model to study the effects of modifier genes on activity of enzymes with similar functions. A screen of X, second, and third chromosome substitution isogenic lines revealed the presence of activity modifiers for peptidases on all three chromosomes. Correlation analyses indicated that covariation between some of the peptidase activities is independent of genetic background, while others are associated with variable second chromosomes. Chromosome-specific effects onK _m ,V _max, and specific activity of partially purified peptidases were also detected. Moreover, a repeatable technique using anion-exchange column chromatography allowed the characterization of possibly two putative peptidic enzymes, glycyl-l-isoleucine-ase andl-leucyl-l-proline-ase, whose kinetic properties differ from the dipeptidases and the leucine aminopeptidases. These findings confirm the existence of activity modifiers for peptidases, much like other enzymes inDrosophila melanogaster. These studies were supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (GM42-115-01A1), the Whitaker Foundation of the Research Corporation (C-2560), and the National Science Foundation (USE 8951018) to Kazuo Hiraizumi.     

Effects of a ferrate-containing preparation on diverse metabolic processes in yeast

A plant-sap-derived preparation containing bi-and tervalent ferrate anions was tested on growth, respiration on glucose, and membrane transport of 6-deoxy-d-glucose (6-dGlc) and 2-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) in several yeast species,Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Lodderomyces elongisporus, Rhodotorula gracilis, andDipodascus magnusii. Growth was enhanced by as much as 65%, respiration was not affected significantly except for a decrease inR. gracilis, transport of 6-dGlc was not affected while that of Aib was increased by up to 45% inR. gracilis and up to 27% inL. elongisporus.     

Changes in patterns of alkaline serine protease and bacilysin formation caused by common effectors of sporulation inBacillus subtilis 168

Bacilysin biosynthesis and alkaline serine protease production inBacillus subtilis 168 were monitored and compared in batch cultures when various effectors of sporulation were added at different stages of growth in a medium containing sucrose and glutamate. Depending on the time of addition, glucose affected sporulation and serine protease formation to the same extent, but had no effect on bacilysin production. Ammonium andl-alanine additions suppressed all three processes. Casamino acids severely interfered with bacilysin formation and sporulation, but not with protease formation. Decoyinine, a well-known inducer of sporulation, induced protease formation as well, but did not affect bacilysin biosynthesis. The extent of the observed effects depended largely on the time of metabolite additions. The results are discussed with reference to a possible coregulation of sporulation and the formation of bacilysin and alkaline serine protease inB. subtilis.     

Karyotypes of three species of the family Cottidae (Scorpaeniformes)

Karyotypes and cellular DNA contents of three species of the family Cottidae viz.Icelus cataphractus, Gymnocanthus intermedius andAlcichthys alcicornis were analyzed. Structural modifications within the family were supposedly by Robertsonian translocations. The diploid chromosome numbers were determined to be 48 inAlcichthys alcicornis, 44 inGymnocanthus intermedius and 40 inIcelus cataphractus. The DNA contents ranged from 1.46 to 1.50pg/cell in the three species. The karyotype ofIcelus cataphractus is unique in having the smallest chromosome number (2n = 40) and 14 large-sized chromosomes. From the chromosome number and the existence of some large chromosome pairs, Robertsonian translocations seem to have occurred frequently inIcelus cataphractus andGymnocanthus intermedius.