The mitochondrial genome of Fusarium oxysporum

Physical and genetic maps have been constructed for mtDNA from strains of the fungus Fusarium oxysporum representing three pathogenically specialized forms. All three mtDNA maps are circular. Their sizes are 45 kb for F. oxysporum f.sp. raphani and 52 kb for both F. oxysporum f.sp. conglutinans and F. oxysporum f.sp. matthioli. The genetic loci for cytochrome b, the mitochondrial 25S ribosomal RNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit II, have been identified and are similarly arranged on the three genomes.     

Adsorption of tumorigenic Agrobacterium tumefaciens cells to susceptible potato tuber tissues

Cells of tumorigenic Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain B6 were labeled with [35S]methionine and used to estimate bacterial adsorption to potato tuber discs. After 10 min at pH 7.2, about 5 X 10(5) bacteria adsorb to each 9.0-mm disc. Lengthening the incubation period to 90 min increases adsorption to about 11 X 10(5) bacteria per disc. Bacterial adsorption is reduced under both alkaline and acid pH conditions and increases 2.3-fold if the number of bacterial cells in the inoculum is doubled. Adsorption is increased if citrus pectin, polygalacturonic acid, or demethylated pectin is included in the inoculum; methylated polygalacturonic acid is inactive. The activity of citrus pectin is abolished, however, if the compound is applied to the discs as a pretreatment and then removed prior to inoculation. Lipopolysaccharide preparations from five of six A. tumefaciens strains have no effect on bacterial adsorption. The sixth preparation, from nontumorigenic strain NT-1, reduces adsorption by about 20%.     

Micropropagation of Naregamia alata W & A-An Important Medicinal Plant

In vitro clonal multiplication of a valuable medicinal species, Naregamia alata is reported. In shoot tip cultures, maximum multiplication (9 fold/28 days) occurred on MS medium containing 3.1 μM 6-benzylaminopurlne and 8.6 μM gibberellic acid. For the rooting of the shoots, 9.8 μM indole 3-butyric acid was the best. After acclimatization, 90% of the micropropagated plantlets were successfully established in the field.