Allozyme variability and phylogenetic relationships in the cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) and related species

Gene frequencies at 13 isozyme loci were determined in three South American taxa of cultivated potatoes [the diploid group (gp.) Stenotomum, the diploid subgroups (subgp.) Goniocalyx, and the tetraploid gp. Andigena ofS. tuberosum], in the diploid weed speciesS. sparsipilum, and in most of the main cultivars now raised in the Northern Hemisphere (the tetraploid gp. Tuberosum ofS. tuberosum). High levels of genetic variability (mean number of alleles per locus, percentage of polymorphic loci, and mean heterozygosity) were detected, being higher in tetraploid potatoes. An equilibrium among the evolutionary factors which increase genetic variability and artificial selection for maximum yield would explain the high uniformity of heterozygosity values we observed in both Andigena (0.36 ± 0.02) and Tuberosum (0.38 ± 0.01) cultivars.—The low value of genetic distance (D = 0.044) between Stenotomum and Goniocalyx does not support the status of species forS. goniocalyx.—In most isozyme loci, the electromorphs of gp. Andigena were a combination of those found in both gp. Stenotomum andS. sparsipilum, suggesting an amphidiploid origin of gp. Andigena from that two diploid taxa. The presence in Andigena of unique electromorphs, which were lacking in both gp. Stenotomum andS. sparsipilum, suggests that other diploid species could be also implied in the origin of tetraploid Andean potatoes. Furthermore, since Andigena were more related to Stenotomum (D = 0.052) than toS. sparsipilum (D = 0.241), the autopolyploidization of Stenotomum individuals and the subsequent hybridization with gp. Andigena may also have occurred. Thus, our study suggests a multiple origin (amphidiploidy, autoploidy, and hybridization at tetraploid level) of gp. Andigena.—Most of the electromorphs of gp. Tuberosum were also found in gp. Andigena; both the direct derivation of that group from the Andean tetraploid potatoes and the repeated introgression provided by breeding programmes could explain this result. However, the allele c of Pgm-B, present in 30 out of 76 Tuberosum cultivars from Northern Hemisphere as well as in 3 Chilean Tuberosum cultivars, lacks in the 258 Andigena genotypes sampled, suggesting that Chilean germplasm could have taken part in the origin of at least the 39% of the potato cultivars from Europe and North America analyzed here.—The distanceWagner procedure provides an estimate of a 30% of heterogeneity in the evolutionary divergence shown by different groups of cultivated potatoes. Diploid groups show a higher (22.5%) evolutionary rate than tetraploids, which can be attributed to both tetrasomic inheritance and facultative autofecundation that exists in Andigena and Tuberosum groups. Thus, artificial selection acting since 10000 years has not resulted in a higher rate of molecular evolution at the isozyme level in the tetraploids.     

Influence of physiologically active substances of the soil humus on the activity of glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase in pea (Pisum sativum L.) roots

The influence of phenolic and humic acids on the activity of glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase in the roots of pea under aseptic conditions has been investigated. It seems clear that vanillic and protocatechuic acids inhibit the enzyme activity in the excised roots of pea, but their dry weight increases in relation to the control. Gallic acid stimulates the G-6-PD activity in the roots of whole plants. The humic acids influence neither the enzyme activity nor the dry weight of pea seedlings after short-term treatment.     

A family with a satellited Yq chromosome

Summary A large pedigree with a satellited Yq chromosome is described, Q, C, and NOR banding were performed. Family C proband suffers from a Klinefelter syndrome.     

The influence of age on the activity of the renin-angiotensin system in rats with adrenal-regeneration hypertension

In female rats aged 21 and 80 days, uninephroadrenalectomy with enucleation of the remaining adrenal was performed and 0.17 mol X l-1 saline offered as the only drinking fluid. The changes of plasma concentration of renin (PRC), and its substrate (RSC) and renal renin activity (RRA), considered as an indicator of the secretory activity of the regenerating adrenal were studied 5, 10, 20, 40 and 60 days after the adrenal enucleation to look for possible age differences related to the higher susceptibility of immature rats to the hypertensive influence of the regenerating adrenal. It has been found that: 1. In adrenal-enucleated rats the saline-induced decrease of RRA was delayed for a shorter time period in immature rats than in adult ones (5 vs. 10 days), during which blood pressure, saline consumption and RSC were lowered. The decrease of PRC was retarded in the older group only. 2. In rats with regenerating adrenals the PRC and RRA decrease was greater in animals subjected to enucleation of the remaining adrenal gland when immature, than in those operated when adult. At the end of the experiment this age difference disappeared. 3. The age difference in PRC and RRA suppression appeared during the period, when neither blood pressure nor saline consumption were higher in immature rats than in adult ones. 4. In rats with regenerating adrenals the renal mass was greater than in saline drinking controls. In the younger group, which in contrast to the adult one developed hypertension, this increase was greater and directly related to the blood pressure level from the 20th post-enucleation day onwards. It is being suggested that the changes of PRC, RRA and RSC observed up to the 10th post-enucleation day indicates relative adrenal insufficiency, the shorter duration of which in immature rats reflects their higher sensitivity to mineralocorticoids produced by the regenerating adrenal. This also manifests itself by greater PRC and RRA suppression in this age group. The haemodynamic results of the greater RRA suppression in the not yet fully developed kidneys of immature rats may facilitate the development of a "vicious circle" mechanism between blood pressure and hypertensive renal damage and thus contribute to the higher sensitivity to adrenal-regeneration hypertension.     

Responses of epidermal diffusive conductance to simultaneous changes in two factors: Determination of interactions

Responses of the epidermal diffusive conductance (gep) to irradiance (I) during ontogeny of primary bean leaves or during their wilting were followed. Effects ofI, leaf age and leaf water potential (Ψw) as well as interactive effects (I × leaf age andI × Ψw) ongep were statistically significant.