Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in Koompassia malaccensis (Leguminosae), an important tropical timber species

This paper reports the isolation and characterization of 24 polymorphic microsatellite markers in an important tropical timber species, Koompassia malaccensis (Leguminosae). The primers were designed from a genomic library enriched for dinucleotide (CT) repeats and screened on 24 samples from a natural population. The number of alleles detected per locus ranged from two to 13 while the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.042 to 1.000. Significant departure from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (P < 0.05) was detected in two loci. These microsatellite markers were tested across 13 timber species of the same family. The amplification success appeared to be associated with taxonomy classification at the genus but not subfamily levels.     

Cold hardiness in the black rice bug, Scotinophara lurida

Abstract.  The mechanisms and strategies for winter survival of the black rice bug Scotinophara lurida are investigated along with the relationship between cold hardiness and diapause. The ability of S. lurida to survive subzero temperatures varies depending on developmental stage, temperature and exposure duration. Mean supercooling point (SCP) varies from –7.6 to –10.7 °C with developmental stage, but is not significantly different between stages examined. The SCP also varies with season, being lowest in January and increasing rapidly in February and remaining almost at the same level (–7.3 to 9.6 °C) until April The osmolality of haemolymph of field-collected S. lurida adults rises dramatically from 53.9 mOsm kg⁻¹ in August to 75.3 mOsm kg⁻¹ in December, and then declines linearly to 57.0 mOsm kg⁻¹ in May. Field-collected S. lurida adults show a peak glucose content in October, glycerol content in November and trehalose content in December. Only trehalose content decreases after the application of the juvenile hormone analogue, fenoxycarb, suggesting that trehalose is a cryoprotectant during diapause. These various physiological and biochemical traits related to cold tolerance in S. lurida may be, at least in part, under the control of juvenile hormone through the reproductive diapause programme.     

SS33410, an inhibitor of V-ATPase, blocks intracellular protein transport of the VSV-G protein in the Golgi compartment

An earlier report suggested that SS33410, structurally related to folimycin and bafilomycin A(1), blocked secretion of the glycoprotein (G protein) of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) into the medium and, instead, G protein was accumulated intracellulary. To identify the inhibition site of SS33410 in intracellular protein transport, I have analyzed the oligosaccharide chain structure of the intracellularly accumulated G protein. In SS33410-treated VSV-infected cells, G protein oligosaccharide was suggested to have a composition of GlcNAc-Man(5)-GlcNAc(2) as analyzed by Bio-Gel P-4 column chromatography following digestion with alpha-mannosidase, beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase, and then with alpha-mannosidase. SS33410 specifically inhibited vacuolar-type ATPase (V-ATPase). These studies thus suggest that SS33410 blocks the intracellular protein transport before the step of trimming by mannosidase II, which is confined to the medial Golgi compartment.     

Statural growth in known-age African elephants (Loxodonta africana)

The shoulder heights of 224 females and 170 males, and hindfoot length of 236 female and 217 male known-age African elephants ( Loxodonta africana ) were measured, and growth curves constructed for each measure of size. A linear relationship between foot length and shoulder height was confirmed in simultaneous measures of 97 males and 110 females. Growth curves demonstrated the typical sexual dimorphism in both foot length and shoulder height, with males growing more rapidly than females from birth onwards. The size dimorphism in foot length and shoulder height becomes marked by the age of 10 years, with males on average being 60–70 cm taller than females at 65 years. This size dimorphism is produced through faster growth which continues for longer than does that of females. The variance in growth rates is slightly greater for females than for males. It is proposed that female growth after puberty is affected by a trade-off between growth and reproduction, while males who deviate markedly from typical patterns of growth may be subject either to mortality or energetic constraints limiting their potential variance.     

Lethal and repellent effects of transfluthrin and metofluthrin used in portable blowers for personal protection against Ochlerotatus togoi and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)

The lethal efficacy of three vaporizing insecticides – 0.6% transfluthrin and 0.6% metofluthrin in portable battery‐powered blowers and 2.5% bioallethrin in electric mats – was assessed in unventilated and ventilated screened room conditions against Ochlerotatus togoi (Theobald) females. The mosquitoes were highly susceptible to transfluthrin and metofluthrin. Mean mortality rates of mosquitoes exposed to transfluthrin and metofluthrin in portable blowers ranged from 95 to 100% at a distance of 10 cm from mosquito cages in both room conditions; this was a >2.4‐fold greater mortality rate than for mosquitoes exposed to bioallethrin in electric mats under the same conditions (mean 40%). The three insecticides showed a decrease in mortality rate at a distance of 70 cm: rates were <5.0, 32.5, 85.0 and 90.0% for 10, 30, 60, and 120 min after exposure, respectively, for the same exposure periods in a closed room. In semi‐field repellent tests with human volunteers, 0.6% concentrations of transfluthrin and metofluthrin provided mean biting protection of 76.1 and 59.9% on legs, 68.5 and 52.1% on arms, 63.4 and 63.1% on the chest, and 87.1 and 52.9% on the face, respectively. In field tests, 0.6% transfluthrin effectively repelled Armigeres subalbatus and Aedes albopictus, with mean biting protection of 85.4 and 89.3% on exposed legs and arms, respectively, of the human volunteers. Metofluthrin at 0.6% also effectively repelled Ar. subalbatus, with mean biting protection levels of 71.8 and 73.5% on the legs and arms, respectively. There was no significant difference of repellent activity between the two vaporizing insecticides in the field.     

The Correlation of Digestive Vacuole pH and Size with the Digestive Cycle in Paramecium caudatum1

ABSTRACT. The temporal changes in the size and pH of digestive vacuoles (DV) in Paramecium caudatum were reevaluated. Cells were pulsed briefly with polystyrene latex spheres or heat-killed yeast stained with three sulfonphthalein indicator dyes. Within 5 min of formation the intravacuolar pH declined from ～7 to 3. With the exception of a transient and early increase in vacuolar size, vacuole condensation occurred rapidly and paralleled the acidification so that vacuoles reached their lowest pH and minimal size simultaneously. Neutralization and expansion of vacuole size began when vacuoles were GT8 min old. No labeled vacuoles were defecated prior to 21 min after formation but almost all DV were defecated within 1 h so that the digestive cycle of individual vacuoles ranged from 21 to 60 min. Based on these size and pH changes, the presence of acid phosphatase activity, and membrane morphology, digestive vacuoles can be grouped into four stages of digestion. The DV-I are GT6 min old and undergo rapid condensation and acidification. The DV-II are between 4 to 10 min old and are the most condensed and acidic vacuoles. The DV-III range in age from 8 to ～20 min and include the expanding or expanded vacuoles that result from lysosomes fusing with DV-II. The DV-IV are GD21 min old, and since digestion is presumably completed, they can be defecated. The rise in intravacuolar pH that accompanies vacuole expansion suggests that lysosomes play a role in vacuole neutralization in addition to their degradative functions. The acidification and condensation processes in DV-I appear to be unrelated to lysosomal function, as no acid phosphaiase activity has been detected at this stage, but may be related to phagosomal functions important in killing food organisms, denaturing proteins prior to digestion, and preparing vacuole membrane for fusion with lysosomes.     

Effects of optimum doses of nitrogen,phosphorus, potassium and calcium on silkworm,Bombyx mori L., growth and yield

Silkworm rearing has been an income source for small-holding farmers in Pakistan. Over the years efforts have been made to improve silkworm quality and quantity and thus develop better prospects for increasing yield and income. Mulberry leaves Morus alba L. in a series of experiments have been supplemented with various nutrients in different doses and combinations. Relative success has been achieved in this context. In our present experiments on silkworm Bombyx mori L., we fed the larvae on mulberry leaves supplemented with different doses of N (0.2%), P (0.1%), K (0.3%) and Ca (0.1%) at 26 ± 3°C with 65 ± 5% relative humidity. The results showed better outputs in terms of food consumption (72.55 g/10 larvae), coefficient of utilization (76.45%), body weight (70.07 g/10 larvae) and body length (8.56 cm/larvae) than where simple mulberry leaves were offered. Our net gains with these production parameters have been in terms of heavier cocoons with and without pupa (2.25 and 0.69 g/cocoon), respectively.