Aphid population abundance and pestiferous effect on various bean plant species

The population abundance, infestation, and harmful effects of the aphid Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae) were studied on four bean plant species, namely the country bean (Lablab purpureus var. BARI Seem 1), the yard‐long bean (Vigna sesquipedalis var. BARI Borboti 1), the hyacinth bean (Dolichos lablab var. BARI Seem 6), and the bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris var. BARI Jar Seem 3). Aphid abundance and infestation on the leaves, inflorescences, flowers, and pods differed significantly among the bean plant species, with P. vulgaris and V. sesquipedalis having the lowest and highest results, respectively. Aphid severity grade and the number of trichomes of the bean plant species were negatively correlated. The duration of the growth stages among the bean plant species were significantly different, with V. sesquipedalis having the shortest durations. Aphid abundance and infestation significantly affected the physical and phytochemical characteristics of the bean plant species. The highest reduction of number of leaves, flower inflorescences, and pod inflorescences per plant, and moisture and chlorophyll content in the leaves was found in L. purpureus. The results for V. sesquipedalis revealed the highest reduction in plant height, seed weight, and pH, while those of D. lablab showed the highest reduction in leaf area.     

The unique enzymatic function of field bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dolichos lablab</Emphasis>) <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-galactose specific lectin: a polyphenol oxidase

The polyphenol oxidase (PPO) of field bean (Dolichos lablab) is a tetramer made up of two subunits of mass 29,000 and 31,000 Da. The amino acid sequence of the tryptic peptides showed approximately 90% sequence identity to the d-galactose specific legume lectins. The haemagglutinating activity of a pure and homogenous preparation of PPO measured using human erythrocytes was 1261 HAU mg⁻¹ protein and was inhibited by d-galactose. Purification by galactose-sepharose chromatography also indicated that the PPO and haemagglutinating activities were associated with a single protein. Crude extracts of other legumes did not exhibit PPO activity, yet cross reacted with anti-PPO antibodies. This dual function protein with PPO and haemagglutinating activity is unique to field bean. The two activities are independent of each other occurring at different loci on the protein. These observations further evidence and strengthen the assumption that galactose specific legume lectins have enzymatic function. Both PPO and lectins are proteins that play a vital role in the defense mechanism of plants. The complementarity of these two simultaneous and independent powerful defense mechanisms exhibited by a single protein renders it a candidate gene for the development of inbuilt plant protection.     

Toxic and antigrowth effects of raw and processed field bean (Dolichos lablab) on albino rats

Samples of freeze dried green field bean (Dolichos lablab) and dry mature bean, were subjected to the following processing methods—heat processing, extraction with 80% ethanol, hexane or dilute acid, protein isolation; and these samples were evaluated for growth promoting value and toxicity. Extraction with 80% ethanol or with dilute acid increased survival period of the animals; but these did not promote growth. Heat processing was essential to destroy antinutritional factors and promote growth. Extraction of the beans with 80% ethanol did not however alter the trypsin inhibitor or haemagglutinin activities. The protein isolate and acid-extracted residue which had low trypsin inhibitor and haemagglutinin activities, did not also promote growth. Thus the trypsin inhibtor and haemagglutinin activities did not completely account for the toxicity to albino rats. However, heat processing of ethanol extracted bean flour indicated that the beneficial effect of ethanol extraction was not apparent, once the samples were heat processed. Dry mature bean dhal was more toxic than the whole bean either dry or green. Supplementation of heat processed field bean with methionine and tryptophan promoted good growth of albino rats and significantly increased the protein efficiency ratio. Part of the Ph.D. thesis entitled “Studies on the factors affecting the nutritive value of field beanDolichos lablab”, University of Mysore, 1977.     

Parasitoid-host relationship betweenTrioxys (Binodoxys) Indicus [Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae] andAphis Craccivora [Hemiptera: Aphididae]. VI. Impact of males on the number of progeny of the parasitoid reared on certain host plants

The present paper elucidates the impact of males on the reproductive rate ofTrioxys (Binodoxys) indicus reared on the aphids ofCajanus cajan, Dolichos lablab andSolanum melongena host plants. The F₁ offspring increases with the increase of parasitoid number. This increase is maximum inC. cajan followed byD. lablab andS. melongena reared aphids. The presence of male parasitoids caused a significant decrease in the emergence of F₁ generation.      

The relationship between glucose consumption byRhizobium spp. from some common cultivated legumes and their efficiencies

Summary A study of glucose consumption and efficiency of forty strains each of (1) a Rhizobium sp. of the pea group,Rhizobium leguminosarum from pea (Pisum sativum var. Bonneville), (2) of one of the alfalfa groupRhizobium meliloti from fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum var. Pusa Early Bunching) and (3) and (4) ofRhizobium sp. of the cow pea group each from black gram (Phaseolus mungo var. N.P.4) and Egyptian bean (Dolichos lablab var. Pusa Green Bunch) showed that there was a good deal of variation between the amounts of glucose consumed by the strains from a single legume and that a positive correlation existed between the amount of glucose consumed by a strain from a legume and its efficiency. In the case of strains from fenugreek and black gram the rate of increase in efficiency per unit consumption of glucose was found to be about seven times that in the case of strains from bean and over three times that in the case of strains from pea. These factors were somewhat negatively correlated with the size of the seeds of the legumes, those of bean being the largest and of fenugreek the smallest.     

Complete primary structure of a newly characterized galactose-specific lectin from the seeds of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dolichos lablab</Emphasis>

A new unique lectin (galactose-specific) purified from the seeds of Dolichos lablab, designated as DLL-II is a heterodimer composed of closely related subunits α and β. These were separated by SDS-PAGE and isolated by electroelution. By ESI-MS analysis their molecular masses were found to be 30.746 kDa (α) and 28.815 kDa (β) respectively. Both subunits were glycosylated and displayed similar amino acid composition. Using advanced mass spectrometry in combination with de novo sequencing and database searches for the peptides derived by enzymatic and chemical cleavage of these subunits, the primary sequence was deduced. This revealed DLL-II to be made of two polypeptide chains of 281(α) and 263(β) amino acids respectively. The β subunit differed from the α subunit by the absence of some amino acids at the carboxy terminal end. This structural difference suggests that possibly, the β subunit is derived from the α subunit by posttranslational proteolytic modification at the COOH-terminus. Comparison of the DLL-II sequence to other leguminous seed lectins indicates a high degree of structural conservation. Electronic Supplementary Material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Enzyme inhibitors from plants: Enterokinase inhibitors in tubers and seeds

Of the 22 tubers and 9 pulses screened for inhibitors of enterokinase activity, the following 12 tubers,Curcuma amada, Kyllinga monocephala, Solanum tuberosum, Canna indica, Helianthus tuberosus, Coleus parviformis, Mirabilis jalapa, Colocasia antiquorum (red variety),Alium cepa, Amorphophalus companulatus, Maranta arundinacea, Daucus carota, and 9 pulses namely,Vigna sinensis, Arachis hypogea, Pisum sativum, Phaseolus vulgaris (white bean),Phaseolus vulgaris (kidney bean),Phaseolus mungo, Cicer arietinum, Dolichos lablab and Cajonus cajan contained inhibitory activity. Three tubers,Amorphophalus companulatus, Maranta arundinacea andDaucus carota and all the nine pulses exhibited endogenous esterase activity towards benzoyl arginine ethyl ester. Among the 8 pulses and 3 tubers processed by affinity chromatography on trypsin-sepharose, to separate trypsin inhibitor from enterokinase inhibitor,Phaseolus vulgaris (kidney bean),Phaseolus vulgaris (white bean) andDolichos lablab contained distinct enterokinase inhibitors. These fractions were devoid of trypsin inhibitor activity. The trypsin inhibitor fromColeus parviformis tubers alone did not bind to trypsinsepharose and was recovered in the unbound fraction along with the enterokinase inhibitor.     

The Significance of Leaf Area in Evapotranspiration

Evapotranspiration rates increased with leaf area and fell withits decline at the time of flowering of cotton plants (Gossypiumbarbadense L.) and this relation was maintained while the rateof pan evaporation was steadily decreasing. A similar relationshipwas established for the hyacinth bean (Dolichos lablab L.) butevapotranspiration dropped at the onset of flowering, at thetime when leaf area was still increasing and the evaporatingpotential of the atmosphere began to rise. Evapotranspirationper unit area of leaf surface per day declined progressivelywith age for both species.     

Studies on the relationship between cyanide-resistant respiration and expression of alternative oxidase in mung bean using antibodies prepared by synthetic polypeptide

Twelve peptides, including eight conservative amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence of hydrophilic S helix of the alternative oxidase (AOX), were synthesized by solid-phase method. The polypeptide was coupled with α-chymotrypsinogen, and the antibodies were obtained through immunizing domestic rabbit by injecting this complex. By using these antibodies, which were raised to immunoreact with total proteins of purified mitochondria from different organs of mung bean seedlings, we find that there are two hybridizable AOX bands in mitochondria. Their molecular weights are about 35 and 38 ku, respectively. Moreover, the respiratory parameters of hypocotyl, true leaf and cotyledon of mung bean seedlings show that true leaf has the highest total respiration (V_t), alternative pathway (AP) capacity (V_alt) and the activity of AP (ρV_alt) among the three organs. V_t andρV _alt of cotyledon ranked the second. Hypocotyl has the lowest V_t andρV _alt, but its V_alt is higher than that of cotyledon. These results are consistent with the analysis of Western blotting of expression of AOX. The highest V_t andρV _alt in true leaf are accompanied two hybridizable polypeptides of AOX protein, 35 ku and 38 ku respectively. The next is cotyledon V_t andρV _alt with only one 38 ku hybridizable polypeptide of AOX protein. HypocotylV _t andρV _alt is the lowest and its immunoblotting band is similar to that of cotyledon, but the expressive amount of 38 ku protein is less than that of cotyledon. The results suggest that the 35 ku AOX may contribute mainly to true leafρV _alt.     

Studies on the relationship between cyanide-resistant respiration and expression of alternative oxidase in mung bean using antibodies prepared by synthetic polypeptide

Twelve peptides, including eight conservative amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence of hydrophilic S helix of the alternative oxidase (AOX), were synthesized by solid-phase method. The polypeptide was coupled with α-chymotrypsinogen, and the antibodies were obtained through immunizing domestic rabbit by injecting this complex. By using these antibodies, which were raised to immunoreact with total proteins of purified mitochondria from different organs of mung bean seedlings, we find that there are two hybridizable AOX bands in mitochondria. Their molecular weights are about 35 and 38 ku, respectively. Moreover, the respiratory parameters of hypocotyl, true leaf and cotyledon of mung bean seedlings show that true leaf has the highest total respiration (Vt), alternative pathway (AP) capacity (Valt) and the activity of AP (ρValt) among the three organs. Vt and ρValt of cotyledon ranked the second. Hypocotyl has the lowest V, and ρValt, but its Valt is higher than that of cotyledon. These result     

Upper limits of temperature for growth inChlorella (Chlorophyceae)

The upper limit of temperature for growth is a species-specific character in the genusChlorella. The limits of 14Chlorella species range from 26–30°C (C. saccharophila) to 38–42°C (C. sorokiniana), withC. fusca var.vacuolata (34°C) andC. kessleri (34–36°C) assuming an intermediate position. Thus, there is no wide gap in the temperature limits between the normal (“low-temperature”) species ofChlorella and the “high-temperature” species,C. sorokiniana.     

Change in striation density and systematics ofCocconeis scutellum var.Ornata (Bacillariophyceae)

Cocconeis scutellum var.ornata Grun. from three localities of Japan was studied. The striation density in 10 μm showed a marked tendency to increase with the decrease of the valve length in both raphe and rapheless valves, and this tendency did not vary with locality or environmental condition. The striation densities of rapheless valves were 4–6 in 10 μm for a valve length of 40μm, 4–6.5 for 30 μm, 6–9 for 20μm and 6.5–11 for 15μm. Those of raphe valves were 10–11 in 10μm for a valve length of 40μm, 10–12 for 30μm, 11–14.5 for 20μm and 12.5–17 for 15μm. According to the range of changing value in striation density obtained by the present study,C. scutellum var.schmidti Frenguelli andC. japonica Schmidt are identical withC. scutellum var.ornata. Dedicated to Prof. Munenao Kurogi on the occasion of his academic retirement. Culture experiment in the present study was undertaken at the Institute of Algological Research, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University at Muroran.     

Plantlet regeneration of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kappaphycus alvarezii</Emphasis> var. adik-adik by tissue culture

Three color morphotypes of Kappaphycus alvarezii var. adik-adik (brown, green and red) collected from a farming area in Tictauan Is., Zamboanga City, Philippines were used as explants in the study in order to micropropagate ‘new’ plants. Individual sections of sterile Kappaphycus alvarezii var. adik-adik, initially cultured in a 48-well culture plate containing ESS/2 + E3 + PGR, released callus cells after 4–5 days of incubation at 23–25°C, 13:11H LD cycle and 10–15 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹ light intensity. True calli were formed after 29–35 days following dense formation of filaments or undifferentiated round cells at the medullary and inner cortical layers of the section. Plantlets (2–3 mm long) of Kappaphycus alvarezii var. adik-adik were able to regenerate after 98, 150 and 177 days in-vitro among the reds, greens, and browns, respectively. This study established successful methods for the production and regeneration of tissue explants of Kappaphycus alvarezii var. adik-adik which can possibly be used to mass produce ‘new’ cultivars for land- and sea-based nurseries as sources for commercial farming. Presented at the 6th Meeting of the Asian Pacific Society of Applied Phycology, Manila, Philippines.     

Population dynamics of Japanese serow in relation to social organization and habitat conditions. II. Effects of clear-cutting and planted tree growth on Japanese serow populations

Population responses of Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) to clear-cut logging and planted tree growth were studied by a direct count of the number observed in three areas, Takiyama (305 ha), Gentouziro (270 ha), and Tanokashira (324 ha), near Wakinosawa Village, Aomori Prefecture, Japan, during 1976–89. At Takiyama, a mature mixed forest ofThujopsis dolabrata var.hondai andFagus crenata decreased from 73 to 39% coverage of the area due to clear-cutting during 1978–83. The serow population maintained a relatively low stable density (3–6 individuals per km²) until 1985–87, and increased 5–10 years after the clear-cutting, reaching 9–10 km⁻² in 1988. At Gentouziro and Tanokashira, young plantations of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) covered about half of each area. The population densities between 1980 and 1983 were relatively high (14–19 km⁻²), but declined thereafter, reaching 10–14 km⁻² in 1988–89. These results indicated that the density increase resulted from an improvement of food supply due to growth of scrub following the clear-cutting, and that the density decline resulted from a habitat change due to growth of planted Japanese cedar and a decrease in the food supply. In Wakinosawa Village, serow density began to increase 5–10 years after forest cutting, and the high population density, about three- or six-fold larger than that in mature forest, is expected to be maintained for about 20 years after logging.     

喀斯特坡地2种地埂篱根-土复合体抗剪和抗冲性能综合评价

分析喀斯特地区不同地埂篱根系的形态和力学特性,量化其根-土复合体抗剪和抗冲性能的强弱,探寻该地区地埂篱根系固土抗蚀性能的评价因子,为喀斯特坡地水土流失治理中植被恢复措施的科学应用提供参考。选取重庆酉阳龙潭槽谷为研究区,分上、中、下坡分别布设拉巴豆和光叶苕子2种地埂篱,采用根系扫描仪和电子万能试验机测定其根系形态和力学参数,应变控制式直剪仪测定复合体抗剪强度,原状土冲刷水槽法测定复合体抗冲指数。结果表明：(1)抗剪复合体中,拉巴豆平均根长密度和根表面积密度分别高出光叶苕子59.32%和16.86%;抗冲复合体中,拉巴豆平均根长密度、根表面积密度和根体积密度较之光叶苕子高出30.48%、57.78%、92.98%;拉巴豆根系极限抗拉力和抗拉强度均显著高于光叶苕子。(2)2种地埂篱根系均能增强土壤的抗剪和抗冲性能,其中拉巴豆和光叶苕子复合体粘聚力较之对照土体分别增强了113.06%—124.37%和51.56%—87.12%,抗冲指数最高达到对照土体的2.81倍和2.45倍。(3)不同坡位,下坡2种植物的根长密度显著高于上、中坡;拉巴豆根系抗拉特性在下坡表现最优,光叶苕子在上坡表现更好;拉巴...     

Regeneration in subalpine coniferous forests

The regeneration process of a subalpine coniferous forest, a mixed forest ofTsuga diversifolia (dominant species),Abies veitchii, Abies mariessi, andPicea jezoensis var.hondoensis, was studied on the basis of annual ring data. The age class distribution was discontinuous and four age groups occurred in the study plot (30m×30m). The canopy layer was a mosaic of patches (83.8–133.7 m² patch area), which had different mean ages. The recruitment of canopy trees was carried out only by advance regeneration in the plot. The diameter growth ofAbies andPicea exceeded diameter growth ofTsuga in the gap.Abies lived for 200–300 years and their trunks were susceptible to heart rot.Picea lived for 300–400 years andTsuga for more than 400 years. The regeneration process derived from the analysis of the plot consisted of three phases leading to the development of a even-aged patch; (1) the establishment of saplings before a gap opening, (2) the opening of a gap in the canopy and repair of the canopy by advance regenerated saplings dominated by rapid growth species,Abies andPicea, and (3) the dying off of canopy trees as each species reached the end of its life-span, resulting in pure patches of long-livedTsuga.     

Development and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in endangered fern Adiantum reniforme var. sinense

Fourteen polymorphic microsatellite loci in the endangered fern Adiantum reniforme var. sinense were developed and characterized using the Fast Isolation by AFLP of Sequences Containing repeats (FIASCO) protocol. Polymorphism of each locus was assessed in a bulked sample of 30 individuals from 8 natural populations. The number of alleles per locus varied from 2 to 11, with an average value of 6.2. The ranges of observed and expected heterozygosity were 0.000–0.895 and 0.226–0.868, respectively. These microsatellite markers provide useful tools for the ongoing conservation genetic studies of Adiantum reniforme var. sinense.     

Composition and optical properties of reaction centre core complexes from the green sulfur bacteria Prosthecochloris aestuarii and Chlorobium tepidum

Photosynthetically active reaction centre core (RCC) complexes were isolated from two species of green sulfur bacteria, Prosthecochloris (Ptc.) aestuarii strain 2K and Chlorobium (Chl.) tepidum, using the same isolation procedure. Both complexes contained the main reaction centre protein PscA and the iron–sulfur protein PscB, but were devoid of Fenna–Matthews–Olson (FMO) protein. The Chl. tepidum RCC preparation contained in addition PscC (cytochrome c). In order to allow accurate determination of the pigment content of the RCC complexes, the extinction coefficients of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) a in several solvents were redetermined with high precision. They varied between 54.8 mM⁻¹ cm⁻¹ for methanol and 97.0 mM⁻¹ cm⁻¹ for diethylether in the Q_Y maximum. Both preparations appeared to contain 16 BChls a of which two are probably the 13²-epimers, 4 chlorophylls (Chls) a 670 and 2 carotenoids per RCC. The latter were of at least two different types. Quinones were virtually absent. The absorption spectra were similar for the two species, but not identical. Eight bands were present at 6 K in the BChl a Q_Y region, with positions varying from 777 to 837 nm. The linear dichroism spectra showed that the orientation of the BChl a Q_Y transitions is roughly parallel to the membrane plane; most nearly parallel were transitions at 800 and 806 nm. For both species, the circular dichroism spectra were dominated by a strong band at 807–809 nm, indicating strong interactions between at least some of the BChls. The absorption, CD and LD spectra of the four Chls a 670 were virtually identical for both RCC complexes, indicating that their binding sites are highly conserved and that they are an essential part of the RCC complexes, possibly as components of the electron transfer chain. Low temperature absorption spectroscopy indicated that typical FMO–RCC complexes of Ptc. aestuarii and Chl. tepidum contain two FMO trimers per reaction centre. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Purification and characterization of tubulin from the catfishHeteropneustes fossilis

Tubulin was purified from the brain of the catfishHeteropneustes fossilis by cycles of temperature-dependent assembly and disassembly. Fish tubulin assembles into microtubules in the absence of high molecular weight microtubule associated proteins. Its subunits comigrate with goat brain α andβ tubulin subunits and is composed of 4 major α andβ tubulins each as analyzed by isoelectric focusing and two dimensional gel electrophoresis. Peptide mapping showed it to be very similar to goat brain tubulin. Polymerization of catfish brain tubulin occurs optimally between 18–37°C and the critical protein concentrations of assembly at 18°C and 37°C are the same, as opposed to mammalian brain tubulins.     

Acetylene reduction and indoleacetic acid production by Azospirillum isolates from Cactaceous plants

Azospirillum isolates were obtained from rhizosphere soil and roots of three cactaceae species growing under arid conditions. All Azospirillum isolates from rhizosphere and roots ofStenocereus pruinosus andStenocereus stellatus were identified asA. brasilense; isolates of surface-sterilized roots fromOpuntia ficus-indica were bothA. brasilense andA. lipoferum. Azospirilla per g of fresh root in the three species ranged from 70×10³ to 11×10³. The most active strains in terms of C₂H₂ reduction (25–49.6 nmol/h·ml) and indoleacetic acid (IAA) production (36.5–77 μg/ml) were those identified asA. brasilense and isolated from Stenocereus roots.A. lipoferum isolated from Opuntia roots produced low amounts of IAA (6.5–17.5 μg/ml) and low C₂H₂-reduction activity (17.8–21.2 nmol/h·ml).