Taxonomy of the genus Lispe Latreille (Diptera: Muscidae) in Korea

In this paper, a total of four species of the genus Lispe are treated. Of these, L. assimilis Wiedemann and L. litorea Fallén are reported for the first time in Korea. A key to the Korean species, their domestic localities, and some illustrations are given.     

Taxonomy of the genus Scathophaga Meigen (Diptera: Scathophagidae) in Korea

Three species of the genus Scathophaga–S. mellipes (Coquillet), S. scybalaria (Linnaeus) and S. stercoraria (Linnaeus) – are treated in this study. Of these, S. scybalaria (Linnaeus) is reported for the first time from Korea. A key to the Korean species, their domestic localities and some illustrations are given.     

Regulation of Storage Protein Synthesis by Sulphur and Nitrogen Nutrition in Cultured Immature Caryopses of Barley

Techniques are described for the culture of developing barley(Hordeum vulgare L.) caryopses. Over a 7 d period in culturethe dry weights and the amounts of starch and protein increasedby at least twofold. Growth was sustained for at least 20 d.The effects of glutamine and cysteine on the amount and compositionof the hordein storage proteins were also studied. Glutaminestimulated total hordein accumulation but caused a disproportionateincrease in the amount of the S-poor ‘C’ hordeinswhen supplied at 100 mol m^–3. Addition of cysteine at1·0 mol m^–3 did not increase the amount of Srich‘B’ hordeins. The results suggest that althoughisolated caryopses are able to take up sucrose and glutamineand convert them to starch and protein there is some limitationin their ability to convert externally supplied cysteine intoproteins. Key words: Hordeum vulgare L., Caryopses, Glutamine, Cysteine, Storage proteins     

Shoot Formation from Explant Cultures of Fourteen Potato Cultivars and Studies of the Cytology and Morphology of Regenerated Plants

Plants were regenerated in quantity from cultured excised stem,rachis or leaf pieces of 13 potato (Solarium tuberosum L.) cultivarsusing modifications of a two-step procedure. Pronounced differenceswere observed in the response of different cultivars and explantsources to medium formulations containing different auxins orcytokinins. A few plants were recovered from tuber pieces ofseven cultivars by a different two-step procedure. Morphologicaldifferences from control plants were observed in some of theprimary regenerants. Anthocyanin pigmentation of tubers wasscored and stable changes to red-splashed white or white tuberswere found in some plants regenerated from cv. Desiree. Regenerantsfrom the particoloured cultivars Cara and King Edward oftenlost this trait but it returned to varying extents in subsequentgenerations. Most of the regenerated plants (87 per cent) containedthe euploid number of chromosomes (2n = 4x = 48). The methodsare suitable for production of plants for assessment of somaclonalvariation in a range of genotypes. Potato breeding, somaclonal variation, chromosome variation, skin colour, explant culture, plant regeneration, solanum tuberosum L. potato     

Properties of Phenylalanyl-tRNA Synthetase and Phenylalanine Ammonia-lyase of Pine Suspension Cultures

Phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activities were demonstrated in partially purified extracts of pine (Pinus elliottii) suspension cultures. The optimum pH for the phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase reaction was 7.5 and the optimum ATP and Mg²⁺ concentrations were 1.0 and 15 mM respectively. Pine, calf liver and yeast tRNA were inadequate substitutes for pea tRNA in the synthetase reaction mixtures. The optimum pH for the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase reaction was 9.0. The K_m for phenylalanine was approximately 6.6 × 10^?5M. The activity of both enzymes in the partially purified extracts was unstable on storage.     

Bioactive factors secreted from mesenchymal stromal cells protect the intestines from experimental colitis in a three-dimensional culture

Background aims

Although mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown therapeutic potential in intestinal tissue repair, controversy concerning their short survival and poor biodistribution in recipient tissues still remains. Therefore, we investigated the paracrine role of MSC in three-dimensional culture of colon with experimental colitis.

Why are Dormice rare? A case study in conservation biology

In the last 100 years, the Dormouse Muscardinus avellcmarius has disappeared from about half its geographical range in Britain. Evidence is presented which indicates that declining range and numbers are due to a complex interplay of factors which include fragmentation, deterioration and loss of specialized habitat. The Dormouse is unusual in being a relatively A-selected small mammal, with exacting ecological requirements which render it very vulnerable, particularly to habitat fragmentation. The Dormouse is also sensitive to climate, both directly and probably indirectly through the effects of weather on the timing and abundance of food (insects, flowers and fruits). Combined with low population density and low intrinsic rate of population increase, this makes the Dormouse highly vulnerable, not just to absolute climatic measures (e.g. temperature, rainfall), but especially to climatic stochasticity, particularly at the edge of its range. There are strong associations between the distribution and changing status of the Dormouse and various climatic parameters, and clear parallels with other climate-sensitive taxa, notably bats and butterflies.
The Dormouse is a very specialized species, highly sensitive to environmental change, resulting in its piecemeal, progressive extinction, particularly in northern counties. It is likely to be a very sensitive indicator species for monitoring future changing environments and an excellent model for studying the effects of habitat fragmentation, climatic shifts and climatic stochasticity.