Effect of glucose on the amount of bacteria mineralizing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in soil

Plate numbers of bacteria and relative incidence of strains capable of mineralization of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in chernozem samples incubated for 14 d with the herbicide (50 ppm) in the presence or absence of glucose (1000 ppm) were compared. Whereas the total number of bacteria increased 1.2-fold in the variant with 2,4-D and 2.4-fold in the variant with glucose and the herbicide, the number of 2,4-D-mineralizing bacteria increased 12.1-fold and 34.2-fold, respectively. In a collection of 96 isolates of soil bacteria substantially more strains capable of degradation of 2,4-D in the presence of glucose were detected as compared with the variant without it, indicating that processes of cometabolic type are involved during the degradation of this herbicide in the soil.     

Comparison of malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in someAllium species by isoelectric focusing

Malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes were studied in tenAllium species and in six cultivars ofA. cepa by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel with Ampholine pH 3.5–10.0. Using this method better resolution was obtained than by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The number of MDH isoenzymes obtained by isoelectric focusing is from five to ten in the range of pH 3.65 to 6.75. MDH isoenzymes can be used for characterization on the level of species and cultivars (inA. cepa), but its use on the level of sections and subgenera is questionable.     

The comparison of seed protein patterns within the genusArachis by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

The seed protein patterns of 12Arachis species were compared by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), similarities between patterns were measured by the Jaccard index. Results obtained confirm the close relationships established between members of the genus on morphological grounds and support the more recent classification schemes.A. villosa andA. correntina could well be regarded as distinct species on grounds of protein differences whileA. macedoi andA. villosulicarpa (although members of the same section, Extranervosae) show considerable differentiation of their protein patterns. Surprisingly, the formA. ×batizogaea showed less similarity in protein pattern to those of its parental species than might have been expected. The principle value of seed protein pattern data appears to be in distinguishing species within sections.     

Differential tolerance ofArabidopsis thaliana crown gall tumors and calli to 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine

The degree of tolerance of two crown gall tumors and leaf calli ofArabidopsis thaliana to BUdR was compared. The nopaline producing teratoma tumor tolerated BUdR in concentration as high as 2.10^?4 M. The tolerance of octopine producing unorganized crown gall tumor to BUdR was lower, but both exceeded significantly the degree of tolerance to BUdR of untransformedA. thaliana calli, where 10^?5 M BUdR already show some inhibitory effect on the growth rate.     

Cell surface changes and enzyme release during hypoxia and reoxygenation in the isolated, perfused rat liver

We examined the effects of hypoxia and reoxygenation in isolated, perfused rat livers. Hypoxia induced by a low rate of perfusion led to near anoxia confined to centrilobular regions of the liver lobule. Periportal regions remained normoxic. Within 15 min, anoxic centrilobular hepatocytes developed surface blebs that projected into sinusoids through endothelial fenestrations. Periportal hepatocytes were unaffected. Both scanning and transmission electron microscopy suggested that blebs developed by transformation of preexisting microvilli. Upon reoxygenation by restoration of a high rate of perfusion, blebs disappeared. Other changes included marked shrinkage of hepatocytes, enlargement of sinusoids, and dilation of sinusoidal fenestrations. There was also an abrupt increase in the release of lactate dehydrogenase and protein after reoxygenation, and cytoplasmic fragments corresponding in size and shape to blebs were recovered by filtration of the effluent perfusate. We also studied phalloidin and cytochalasin D, agents that disrupt the cytoskeleton. Both substances at micromolar concentrations caused rapid and profound alterations of cell surface topography. We conclude that hepatic tissue is quite vulnerable to hypoxic injury. The morphological expression of hypoxic injury seems mediated by changes in the cortical cytoskeleton. Reoxygenation causes disappearance of blebs and paradoxically causes disruption of cellular volume control and release of blebs as cytoplasmic fragments. Such cytoplasmic shedding provides a mechanism for selective release of hepatic enzymes by injured liver tissue.     

Hilgendorf’s (1863) dissertation on the steinheim planorbids (Gastropoda; Miocene): The development of a phylogenetic research program for paleontology

Hilgendorf’s (1866) publication on the phylogenyof Planorbis multiformis from Steinheim, Swabian Mountains, is one of the most important contributions of paleontology to early Darwinism. At the same time it helped to lay the foundation for paleontological phylogenetics. Hilgendorf’s unpublished dissertation of 1863, the newly rediscovered collection to his dissertation and the document-file ofHilgendorf’s graduation from Tübingen University help to trace back the origin of Hilgendorf’s ideas.Hilgendorf’s collection contains the oldest phylogenetic tree, which is known so far.     

New subspecies ofSparganium erectum L. from Iran

From the Caspian coastal region of Iran a new taxon,Sparganium erectum L. subsp.mazanderanicum Ponert, is described and illustrated. This new subspecies in some of its characters is near toSparganium erectum L. subsp.microcarpum (Neumann)Domin (with its east distribution trend); in other characters it is near toSparganium erectum L. subsp.neglectum (Beeby)Schinz etThell. (with ist south distribution trend). A comparative table of diacritical characters of these three subspecies is appended.     

Significance of various nitrogen sources for calcium deficient seedlings ofCucurbita pepo L.

The aim of the present investigation was to examine whether some of the growth defects of calcium-deficient pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) seedlings are due to an incapability of the plants to assimilate nitrate nitrogen, such being the mechanism by which according to some of the previous authors growth defects in calcium deficient plants may be produced. The results of the present study, however, demonstrate that the accessibility of various possible products of nitrate reduction is not the limiting factor responsible for growth symptoms of calcium deficiency.