Control of Sucrose Metabolism in Polyethylene Glycol-stressed Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) Young Seedlings. The Role of Sucrose

Four-d-old Ceratonia siliqua L. seedlings were treated with30% PEG 4000 for several time periods, or with 26.5% and 25%PEG for 48 h. Drought stress was imposed on some seedlings inorder to compare the results of stress due to drought with thosedue to the application of PEG. The water content of the axisand cotyledons and their osmotic potentials decreased with stressfor the first 72 h and then remained constant, whilst dry weightincreased after the first 24 h of imposed stress. Results implythe existence of an osmoregulation mechanism which was morepronounced when the stress was mild. Sucrose content increasedwith stress in both axes and cotyledons, and a negative correlationwas found between osmotic potential and sucrose content in bothembryo parts, suggesting the involvement of sucrose in the osmoregulationmechanism. Upon stress recovery sucrose content decreased andfructose accumulated in the axes. Sucrose synthetase activitywas very low in cotyledons, while acid and alkaline invertaseactivity was too low to be measured. PEG-induced stress causedsucrose synthetase activity to decrease in both axes and cotyledons,while upon stress recovery sucrose synthetase activity increased.The activity of both invertases in the axes did not change significantlywith stress. Correlation of sucrose content with sucrose synthetaseactivity suggests that this enzyme is involved in the controlof osmoregulation in both parts of the embryo.     

There is No Somatic Meiosis in Embryogenic Leaves of Cichorium

Several papers dealing with carrot cell cultures describe meiosis-likedivisions and haploid cells prior to somatic embryogenesis.We have studied the first division in embryogenic mesophyllcells of a diploidCichorium intybus L. and of a tetraploid hybridC.intybus L.xC. endivia L. which undergo direct somatic embryogenesisfrom single cells when leaf fragments are placed in a liquidagitated inductive medium (modified MS with 1x10^-7M NAA and2.5x10^-6M 2-iP), in darkness, at 35°C. MicrosporogenesisinC. intybus provided aspects of meiosis for comparison. Inleaves incubated in inductive conditions, DAPI staining of nucleishowed normal mitosis on days 3–6; about 0.6% cells inprophase had undergone spontaneous endoreduplication leadingto a tetraploid somatic embryo. Immunocytochemistry of tubulinrevealed the constant presence of a preprophase band, as ina normal mitosis. The first pluricellular somatic embryos becamevisible on day 5 of culture. Flow cytometric determination ofnuclear DNA on days 4, 5 and 6 did not show any peak correspondingto the 1C DNA level for the diploid plant or to the 2C DNA levelfor the tetraploid. Instead there was a weak but constant peakat the 4C and 8C levels. We conclude that inCichorium leaves,the first division of somatic embryogenesis is a normal mitosis,with a small shift to endoreduplication. In our opinion, somaticmeiosis is not a prerequisite during direct somatic embryogenesis. Cichorium ; chicory; somatic embryogenesis; cell division; flow cytometry; tubulin     

Invasive ecosystem engineers on soft sediment change the habitat preferences of native mayflies and their availability to predators

1. Dreissenid mussels (quagga mussels, Dreissena bugensis, and zebra mussels, D. polymorpha) are invasive species that function as ecosystem engineers in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Dreissena are increasingly abundant on silt, sand and other soft substrates; by altering benthic habitat, these mussels can alter benthic community structure. 2. We used laboratory mesocosm experiments to examine the effects of soft‐sediment Dreissena clusters on the habitat preference of Hexagenia, a native burrowing mayfly that is an important food source to fish. We conducted three experiments to test whether Hexagenia: (1) select for bare sediment, soft sediment covered with live Dreissena (added structure and food resources) or soft sediment with clusters made of empty Dreissena shells (added structure only), (2) prefer a specific density of live Dreissena on soft sediment and (3) select for or avoid sediment with an accumulation of empty Dreissena shells. 3. Contrary to initial expectations, we found that Hexagenia selected for sediment covered with live Dreissena clusters, followed by empty Dreissena shells clusters, and lastly what was previously thought to be the preferred habitat, bare sediment. Not only did Hexagenia prefer Dreissena‐covered sediment, but they also preferred high densities of Dreissena. 4. We also experimentally tested the effects of Dreissena‐covered soft sediment on the availability of Hexagenia to fish. We had three treatment levels representing three distinct habitat types: (1) bare sediment (no Dreissena) treatment in which water was turbid because of mayfly activity, (2) Dreissena‐covered sediment treatment in which water was clear because of Dreissena filtration and (3) Dreissena‐covered sediment with added turbidity. We found that in low light conditions, similar to many locations where both organisms are found to co‐occur, both yellow perch and round goby consumption of Hexagenia significantly decreased when Dreissena covered the bottom sediment. 5. These results suggest that by choosing Dreissena‐covered habitat, Hexagenia receive protection from fish predation in turbid/low light systems. However, protection from predation cannot be the only reason Hexagenia select Dreissena‐covered sediments, as Hexagenia selected for live clusters more often than empty clusters and may be a result of additional food resources.     

The provision of supplementary fresh water improves the breeding success of the globally threatened Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita

The Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita is a globally threatened species with its main remaining world population breeding in an area of sea cliffs and coastal semi‐desert steppe near Agadir in southern Morocco. Between 1998 and 2002, we showed experimentally that the small‐scale provision of fresh water near the breeding colonies led to an increase in the productivity of the birds. The increase was greatest in years with low natural rainfall but was positive in all years tested. The supplementary fresh water appears to help buffer productivity against the impacts of low rainfall and its provision is now part of the ongoing conservation measures for this species.     

Tomato pith necrosis caused by Pseudomonas corrugata n. sp.

A disease of mature tomato plants is described, the symptoms of which include brown discoloration and/or necrosis and collapse of the pith. These are sometimes accompanied by vascular browning, external dark brown to black stem lesions, bacterial flux from stem wounds and adventitious root formation. The disease, which appears to be favoured by high humidity and/or free water on the plant surfaces and by high N fertiliser, has been widespread on many glasshouse holdings in England since 1971 but has caused severe loss on only a few. It is thought to be caused by a new species of the genus Pseudomonas for which the name P. corrugata Roberts and Scarlett is proposed.     

The Self viewed from ‘Within’ or ‘Without’ Twists and Turns in Gender Identity in a Patrilineal Society

The paper explores some of the complexities of west African concepts of self and gender. Its point of departure is a conviction that understanding is ill served by Western notions of self and gender, which are based on definitive divisions between the legal and moral self on the one hand, and the self as subjectively known on the other. Moreover, Western concepts of gender oppose male and female, whereas in the African context reciprocity; the 'relations between’ receive emphasis. The analysis uses original fieldwork data, and historical records to present a picture of a conceptual order upon which Western categories are being superimposed.