In vitro differentiation in callus cultures of moth bean,Vigna aconitifolia (JACQ) marechal

Callus cultures of two cultivars of Vigna aconitifolia (IPCMO-926, RDM-120) were raised and their growth and differentiation studied. In IPCMO-926 callus cultures, numerous shoot buds differentiated on MS medium with BA (0.4–22.2 μM) alone or in combination with IAA (5.7 μM). In RDM-120 best differentiation of shoot buds was observed on a medium with K (23.2 μM) and IAA (5.7 μM). Kinetin alone, however, induced rhizogenesis in callus cultures. In suspension cultures of IPCMO-926 embryoids differentiated on MS medium with K (0.5 μM) and 2,4-D (0.4 and 0.9 μM).     

Nonradioactive in situ localization of poly(A)+ RNA during pollen development in anthers of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

Summary A method is described for non-radioactive labeling of total mRNA [poly(A)+ RNA] in plastic-embedded plant tissue sections. Oligo-deoxythymidylic acid (oligo-dT) labeled with digoxigenin-conjugated dUTP was used for in situ hybridization to poly(A)+ RNA in sections of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) anthers. The digoxigenin was immuno-stained using antidigoxigenin IgG and gold-labeled protein-A, followed by silver enhancement of the gold label. Reproducibly similar positive staining patterns were obtained with digoxigenin-labeled oligo-dT and polyuridylic acid [poly(U)], but not with a similarly labeled sense probe, poly(A). In the developing anthers, from the onset of meiosis to the production of pollen grains, labeling patterns were compatible with a gradual depletion of nuclear and chromosome-associated sporophytic mRNA molecules during prophase of meiosis, followed by postmeiotic production of gametophytic mRNA in microspore nuclei and the vegetative nuclei of the pollen grains.Abbreviations BSA bovine serum albumin - DIG digoxigenin - IgG immunoglobulin-G - oligo-dT oligo-deoxythymidylic acid - PAS-ABB periodic acid Schiff-aniline blue black - PBS phosphate buffered saline - poly(A) polyadenylic acid - poly(U) polyuridylic acid - SSC standard saline citrate     

A new streptomycete and a new polyene antibiotic,acmycin

A new antifungal antibiotic named acmycin was isolated from a soil streptomycete. Detailed comparative taxonomic studies showed that the organism differed from three related species of streptomycetes. The organism was referred to asStreptomyces sp. AC₂. The isolated antibiotic appears to be of polyene nature.     

Collagenolytic activity of a soil actinomycete

A soil actinomycete hydrolyzed collagen extracted from bovine Achilles tendon, calf skin, carp swim-bladder and rat tail tendon. Glucose, mannose, aspartic acid and asparagine increased its collagenolytic activity which was optimum at 28 °C and at pH 7.2 – 7.5. Metallic ions, NaEDTA, cysteine, 4-chloromercuribenzoate, glutathione and sodium azide were inhibitory.     

Pentacyclic steroids,part XVI,studies on the total syntheses of racemic 1,6-dithiabenz[3,4]estra-3, 5(10),8,14-tetraen-17-one and its D-homo analogue

The total syntheses of racemic 1,6-dithiabenz[3,4]-estra-3,5(10), 8,14-tetraen-17-one [VII]and 1,6-dithiabenz-[3,4]-D-homoestra-3,5(10),8,14-tetraen-17a-one [IX]starting fron isothiochroman-4-one [I]are described.     

Dryinid parasitoids of rice leafhoppers and planthoppers in the Philippines II. Rearing techniques

Three new techniques of rearing dryinids parasitising rice hoppers were developed, namely, laboratory rearing technique for detailed observations, device for transporting and rearing field-collected hoppers to estimate percentage parasitism and a breeding technique.

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Résumé Trois nouvelles techniques d’élevage de dryiinides parasites des cicadelles du riz ont été mises au point. L’une pour l’élevage en laboratoire en vue d’observations précises, un système pour le transport et l’élevage de cicadelles récoltées dans la nature afin d’évaluer le pourcentage de parasitisme et une technique d’élevage permanent.

     

Morphology,serology and biochemical characters of phage CVX-5, isolated from a patient with colitis

Electronmicroscopic observations indicate that bacteriophage CVX-5 has an angular head with long spiral tail which is noncontractile, possibly having 2--3 tail fibres attached at the distal part of the tail. This phage is antigenically unrelated to any of the T-phages. Inhibition of phage CVX-5 multiplication by mitomycin C and incorporation of 3H-thymidine into this phage indicate that phage CVX-5 is a DNA phage.