Effects of global environmental change on carbon partitioning in vegetative plants of Triticum aestivum and closely related Aegilops species

The use of fossil fuel is predicted to cause an increase of the atmospheric CO₂ concentration, which will affect the global pattern of temperature and precipitation. It is therefore essential to incorporate effects of temperature and water supply on carbon partitioning of plants to predict effects of elevated [CO₂] on growth and yield of Triticum aestivum. Although earlier papers have emphasized that elevated [CO₂] favours investment of biomass in roots relative to that in leaves, it has now become clear that these are indirect effects, due to the more rapid depletion of nutrients in the root environment as a consequence of enhanced growth. Broadly generalized, the effect of temperature on biomass allocation in the vegetative stage is that the relative investment of biomass in roots is lowest at a certain optimum temperature and increases at both higher and lower temperatures. This is found not only when the temperature of the entire plant is varied, but also when only root temperature is changed whilst shoot temperature is kept constant. Effects of temperature on the allocation pattern can be explained largely by the effect of root temperature on the roots' capacity to transport water. Effects of a shortage in water supply on carbon partitioning are unambiguous: roots receive relatively more carbon. The pattern of biomass allocation in the vegetative stage and variation in water-use efficiency are prime factors determining a plant's potential for early growth and yield in different environments. In a comparison of a range of T. aestivum cultivars, a high water-use efficiency at the plant level correlates positively with a large investment in both leaf and root biomass, a low stomatal conductance and a large investment in photosynthetic capacity. We also present evidence that a lower investment of biomass in roots is not only associated with lower respiratory costs for root growth, but also with lower specific costs for ion uptake. We suggest the combination of a number of traits in future wheat cultivars, i.e. a high investment of biomass in leaves, which have a low stomatal conductance and a high photosynthetic capacity, and a low investment of biomass in roots, which have low respiratory costs. Such cultivars are considered highly appropriate in a future world, especially in the dryer regions. Although variation for the desired traits already exists among wheat cultivars, it is much larger among wild Aegilops species, which can readily be crossed with T. aestivum. Such wild relatives may be exploited to develop new wheat cultivars well-adapted to changed climatic conditions.     

Effects of opioid blockade with nalmefene in older impotent men

We evaluated the effect of the opioid antagonist nalmefene on the HPG axis and on food consumption in 14 older impotent men. These patients had low to low normal mean serum testosterone values and normal gonadotrophin levels on screening evaluation. Normal response to GnRH was demonstrated in all the men. The protocol called for 24 hours of evaluation before and during administration of nalmefene 2.0 mg IV every 8 hours for 3 doses. During each 24 hour period, the following determinations were made: serum testosterone, FSH, and LH by five separate determinations between 8 AM and noon; 8 AM and 11 PM serum cortisols; 24 hour urine collections for free cortisol; and nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT). Food consumption was measured from 4 PM to 10 AM during the two periods. Nalmefene resulted in significant rises in testosterone, LH, and FSH. Nalmefene significantly elevated morning and evening cortisol measurements in all the patients. Nalmefene decreased total calorie consumption, principally by decreasing fat consumption. There was no effect on NPT. We conclude that in older impotent men, nalmefene acutely increases activity of the HPG axis and decreases calorie intake predominantly by decreasing fat consumption.     

Effects of larval competition on survival and growth in Mediterranean fruit flies

1. Larval success was compared when one, two, or three egg clutches were laid in kumquat fruits (≈ 10 ml in volume) either successively on the same day or at the rate of one clutch per day. 2. Increased clutch density was associated with a significant decrease in larval survival rate and non‐significant decreases in larval growth rate and pupal mass. 3. Larval and pupal parameters showed significantly larger variance when clutches were laid on successive days than on the same day, suggesting a competitive advantage for older larvae over younger larvae. 4. The results suggest that, in small fruit, reduced fitness due to larval competition may act against possible fitness benefits due to social facilitation among adult females, hence reducing the likelihood of non‐linear population dynamics caused by processes such as the Allee effect.     

Differential inhibitors of DNA polymerases alpha and delta

DNA polymerases alpha and delta from bone marrow are similar in many respects, the major known difference being the exonuclease activity of delta. Differential inhibitors of alpha and delta have been sought to assist in their functional and physical separation. Butylphenyl deoxyguanosine triphosphate is one. It effectively inhibits alpha at less than 1 microM concentration, whereas more than 100 microM is required to similarly inhibit delta. Another is the monoclonal antibody, SJK 132-20, which neutralizes the polymerase activity of alpha but not delta. These differential inhibitors further define alpha and delta as separate categories of eukaryotic DNA polymerase and promise to facilitate the study of both.