The discrimination between Rb+ and K+ by Escherichia coli is changed after bacteriophage T7 infection

Rb+ and K+ have similar chemical properties. They share the uptake systems in Escherichia coli and can replace each other inside the cell. These common features led to experiments in which the radioactive isotope 86Rb was used to trace intracellular K+ fluxes. However, the E. coli pumps discriminate between these two ions and one should thus be cautious using 86Rb+ as a tracer for K+. We now report that T7 infection alters the degree of discrimination in such a way that changes of intracellular Rb+ do not reflect changes of K+. It has been observed that shortly after infection the 86Rb+ level was strongly reduced (Ponta, H., Altendorf, K.-H. and Schweiger, M. (1976) Mol. Gen. Genet. 149, 145-150). In contrast, determination of the K+ content showed no change directly after infection (Kuhn, A., Jütte, H. and Kellenberger, E. (1983) J. Virol. 47, 540-552). The efflux of 86Rb was only evident when Rb+ was used in trace amounts. In media conditions under which intracellular K+ was mainly replaced by Rb+, 86Rb+ efflux was not observed.     

Taste receptor activity and feeding behaviour reveal mechanisms of white spruce natural resistance to Eastern spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana

The pattern of feeding of Eastern spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.) (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) is compared on foliage from white spruce Picea glauca (Moench) Voss. (Pinaceae) trees previously determined to be susceptible and resistant to defoliation by budworm. No differences are observed in electrophysiological responses from taste sensilla to aqueous extracts of the two foliage types, nor is there a preference for either extract type in a choice test. Acetone extracts from the two foliage types are both preferred to a control sucrose solution, although neither elicits a preference relative to the other. These results suggest that there is no difference in phagostimulatory power of internal leaf contents of the two foliage types. Longer‐term observation of feeding behaviour in a no‐choice situation shows no difference in meal duration, confirming the lack of difference in phagostimulatory power. However, on average, intermeal intervals are twice as long on the resistant foliage, leading to an overall lower food consumption during the assay. This result suggests an anti‐digestive or toxic effect of the resistant foliage that slows behaviour and limits food intake. Previous research has shown that waxes of the resistant foliage deter initiation of feeding by the spruce budworm and that this foliage contains higher levels of tannins and monoterpenes. The data suggest that the resistant foliage contains a post‐ingestive second line of defence against the spruce budworm.     

Enzyme activities in a clay-loam soil amended with various crop residues

Summary Amylase, dehydrogenase, arylsulphatase and phosphatases activities were measured in a clay-loam soil amended with seven different crop residues. All enzyme activities, except phosphomonoesterase, were generally higher in the derived soil samples than in the original soil. Addition of tobacco and sunflower residues caused an increase on most of the enzyme activities while tomato residues increased only the amylase and phosphodiesterase activities. As the enzyme activities were positively correlated to each other, a common source of the enzymes is suggested even though the coefficients of correlation demonstrate that only a low percentage of the variability can be ascribed to the interactions among enzyme activities.     

Decomposition of three halophytes in different habitats of an eastern scheldt salt marsh

Summary A 20.5-month study was undertaken to determine detrital processing of the halophytesSpartina anglica, Elytrigia pungens, andHalimione portulacoides in three different habitats of an estuarine salt marsh in the South-West Netherlands. Decomposition was measured using litter-bags of three different mesh sizes to partition the effects of different faunal groups on decomposition. From April 1980 through October 1981 litter-bags were sampled regulary from a creek, the upper marsh, and from a plant-debris belt on the higher marsh. Dry weights and nutritive values were measured and animals were counted. Mainly rates of loss are reported here. Zonal differences were significant. At first, decomposition in the creek was most rapid. After two months the processes in the creek slowed down because of the trapping of silt by the bags, which probably simulated the natural course of the decomposition process in the water. Decomposition on the marsh followed the most regular pattern, while in the plant-debris belt the pattern was very irregular. Population dynamics of microfaunal organisms supported these findings. In the plant-debris belts loss rates seem to be higher than on the marsh, because of the influence of detritivorous macrofaunal organisms. The loss rates of the three plant species differed significantly.Halimione decomposed fastest, especially in the beginning, and in the plant-debris habitat. On the upper marsh and in the plant-debris belt the loss rates ofSpartina seem to be a little higher than those ofElytrigia.Communication No. 233, Delta Institute for Hydrobiological Research, Yerseke, The Netherlands.     

Drought resistance in pearl millet

The influence of wilting on the levels of free proline, soluble proteins, reducing sugars, starch and on the activities of nitrate reductase, invertase, amylase and pyrophosphatases have been studied in the leaf tissue of five cultivars of pearl millet at their vegetative stage under pot culture conditions. The metabolic changes could not be correlated with the yield behaviour of the cultivars under a drought condition in the field.