Effect of low concentration of hydrogen peroxide on indoleacetate oxidase zymogram in Pharbitis nil

Indoleacetate oxidase activity in Pharbitis nil, Japanese morningglory, was zymographically examined. Some isozymes appearedonly after treatment with a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide.This phenomenon was assumed to be due to the overlapping ofboth isozymes and natural inhibitor substances on the zymograms. ¹Present address: Biological Institute, Department of LiberalArts, Shizuoka University, Ooya 836, Shizuoka, Japan. (Received September 30, 1968; )     

Worldwide mitochondrial DNA diversity and phylogeography of pilot whales (Globicephala spp.)

Pilot whales (Globicephala spp.) provide an interesting example of recently diverged oceanic species with a complex evolutionary history. The two species have wide but largely non‐overlapping ranges. Globicephala melas (long‐finned pilot whale; LFPW) has an antitropical distribution and is found in the cold‐temperate waters of the North Atlantic and Southern Hemisphere, whereas Globicephala macrorhynchus (short‐finned pilot whale; SFPW) has a circumglobal distribution and is found mainly in the tropics and subtropics. To investigate pilot whale evolution and biogeography, we analysed worldwide population structure using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences (up to 620 bp) from a variety of sources (LFPW = 643; SFPW = 150), including strandings in New Zealand and Tasmania, and whale‐meat products purchased on the markets of Japan and Korea. Phylogenetic reconstructions failed to support a reciprocal monophyly of the two species, despite six diagnostic substitutions, possibly because of incomplete lineage sorting or inadequate phylogenetic information. Both species had low haplotype and nucleotide diversity compared to other abundant widespread cetaceans (LFPW, π = 0.35%; SFPW, π = 0.87%) but showed strong mtDNA differentiation between oceanic basins. Strong levels of structuring were also found at the regional level. In LFPW, phylogeographic patterns were suggestive either of a recent demographic expansion or selective sweep acting on the mtDNA. For SFPW, the waters around Japan appear to represent a centre of diversity, with two genetically‐distinct forms, as well as a third population of unknown origin. The presence of multiple unique haplotypes among SFPW from South Japan, together with previously documented morphological and ecological differences, suggests that the southern form represents a distinct subspecies and/or evolutionary significant unit. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 98 , 729–744.     

Cypermethrin induction of vitellogenesis and ovarian development in unfed adult female Ornithodoros moubata (Acari: Argasidae)

Summary

Vitellogenesis in ticks is known to be induced by engorgement and mating. In this paper, the synthetic pyrethroid cypermethrin (CyM) is shown to induce production of yolk protein precursor, vitellogenin (Vg), and ovarian development in unengorged mated adult female Ornithodoros moubata. The levels of Vg found in the hemolymph and ovarian development induced by CyM were dose-dependent. i.e., CyM doses of more than 0.2 and 1.0 μg/tick were needed for significant increase of Vg titer in the hemolymph and yolk deposition in oocytes, respectively. Immunological and electrophoretical analyses of Vg and Vitellin (Vn) induced by CyM were identical with those induced by engorgement. Vg titer induced by CyM in unengorged females followed approximately the same time course as that in the normal engorged females. However, Vg titer induced by CyM continued to increase after day 8 and reached a maximum (95 μg/μ1) on day 10 after treatment, while Vg titer induced by engorgement decreased again after reaching a maximum (60 μg/μ1) on day 6, correlated with yolk Vn deposition in oocytes. Ovarian development induced by even high doses (10 or 20 μg/tick) of CyM was slow compared to normal development stimulated by engorgement. Oviposition was not observed in females treated with CyM.     

EFFECT OF TWILIGHT ON PHOTOPERIODIC INDUCTION IN SOME SHORT DAY PLANTS

Light-sensitivity of the first and the last processes in theinductive dark period, and the effect of twilight on photoperiodicinduction were investigated with four short day plants. In Oryza sativa (Akebono), the first and the last processesare relatively light-insensitive, and the photoperiodicallyeffective day length under natural conditions is consideredto be equal to the astronomical day length. In Biloxi soybean and Perilla frutescens, the first processis re latively light-insensitive, but the last process is moresensitive. Effective dark period seems to begin when twilightis 50200 lux in the evening and continue until it is about 10lux in the morning. In Xanthium saccharatum, both the first and the last processesare relatively light-sensitive, but the former is more sensitivethan the latter. Effective dark period seems to begin when twilightis 110 lux in the evening and continue until it is 1050 luxin the morning. ¹Present address: Laboratory of Genetics and Plant Breending,Faculty of Agriculture, University of Osaka Prefecture, Sakai-City,Osaka. (Received February 17, 1961; )     

FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THE CLUSTERS OF GRANULAR MATERIAL AROUND THE CENTRIOLE IN THE SEA URCHIN EGG: CHANGES IN DISTRIBUTION DURING MITOSIS*

Changes in the distribution of pericentriolar material, which was called “clusters of granular material”, in a previous paper were observed during mitosis of the sea urchin egg by electron microscopy using thick sections. At prophase, small clusters in an early stage of formation were observed near the nucleus. At prometaphase, the clusters appeared to aggregate loosely at the poles of the spindle. They formed large masses at metaphase, while at late anaphase they became reduced in size and formed an array at right angles to the spindle axis. Some clusters still remained near the karyomeres at telophase and then became closely associated with the daughter nucleus. The clusters were closely associated with the astral microtubules and spindle microtubules at prophase and prometaphase, respectively. The granular material is suggested to be a nucleating site of microtubule assembly during mitosis.     

柱穗山羊草2C染色体诱发中国春小麦背景中黑麦1R染色体结构变异的研究

当柱穗山羊草(Aegilops cylindrica Host．)2C染色体单体添加到普通小麦品种中国春和以中国春为背景的派生系时,减数分裂时,不含2C染色体的配子会发生染色体结构变异。为了制备一套黑麦1R染色体缺失系以用于定位黑麦1R染色体上的控制重要农艺性状的基因,把一条2C染色体导人到小黑麦1R二体附加系(21″ 1R″)中,然后让这些个体(21″ 1R″ 2C′,2n=45)自交,以便产生1R染色体结构变异体。实验共检测了345粒F,种子,83粒种子带有结构变异的黑麦1R染色体(24．1％)。通过C分带和原位杂交检测,对来自于23株F2的46个F3植株所带有的异常1R染色体进行了归类：其中1RL端体为39．1％,1RL等臂染色体为2．2％,1RL易位系为32．6％。1RS端体为4．3％,1RS等臂染色体为4．3％,切点在长臂上的缺失体为2．2％。在6．5％的植株中同时含有2种类型的1R染色体结构变异。其余8．7％带有异常1R染色体的个体因为没有原位杂交结果而无法判断是属于哪种类型。已获得的1R结构变异株将有可能进一步发展成为一套可用于定位黑麦1R染色体上重要功能基因的遗传材料。另外,还探讨了综合应用细胞学和分子标记方法鉴定易位染色体中小麦染色体片段的尝试,并对所获结果进行了讨论。     

Effect of high temperature pre-treatment on elongation of the mesocotyl of rice seedlings I. Cell multiplication in the mesocotyl

Mesocotyl elongation in paddy rice seedlings of the japonicatype was markedly stimulated by high temperature pre-treatmentof seeds. Examination of the number of parenchyma cells perone cell layer in longitudinal sections of mesocotyl revealedthat stimulation may be mainly caused by cell multiplication. (Received February 24, 1970; )     

Elimination of protein-food ingested into the crop, and failure of ovarian development in female mosquitoes, Culex pipiens pallens

ABSTRACT. A protein-food rarely activates oogenesis in female mosquitoes when the protein is mixed with sugar and therefore ingested into the crop. A high occurrence of ovarian development occurs, however, when the protein is stored in the midgut. Examination of female C. pipiens pallens fed on egg albumin containing sugar revealed that the protein, once stored in the crop, was easily eliminated without any absorption and that ovarian development occurred only in those few females which retained some part of the ingested albumin for more than 24 h after feeding. Sugar mixed with the albumin was not detected in any excreta of fed females, suggesting that the sugar was digested irrespective of the protein elimination.