Identification of genes regulated by dark adaptation and far‐red light illumination in roots of Arabidopsis thaliana*

Roots in the soil are illuminated by far‐red (FR) light passed through plant tissues in the daytime, and are in complete darkness at night. To evaluate whether gene expression of roots is affected by a dark‐FR light cycle, gene expression profiles were analysed for dark‐adapted versus light‐grown plants and for FR light‐illuminated versus dark‐adapted plants using the RIKEN Arabidopsis full‐length cDNA microarray (containing approximately 7000 independent, full‐length cDNA groups). Among candidate dark‐ and FR‐regulated genes, several were further analysed. Eleven dark‐inducible and five dark‐repressed genes were characterized. Almost all the dark‐inducible and –repressed genes were oppositely regulated by FR light illumination. The functions of dark‐ and FR‐responsive genes and the significance of FR light‐regulated gene expression in roots under ground are discussed.     

The independent evolution of the metafemoral spring in Coleoptera

Abstract. The metafemoral spring (jumping organ) was known previously only from all Alticinae (Chrysomelidae), one genus of Bruchidae, and two species of Rhynchaeninae (Curculionidae). Here this spring is reported from three subfamilies, seven tribes and twenty-two genera of Curculionidae (three Rhychaeninae, one Erirhininae (Derelomini), and eighteen Ceutorhynchinae) and also from five genera of Buprestidae (four Agrilinae and one Trachyinae). Jumping in Hexapoda is discussed, specifically in the other jumping Coleopteran families that were examined for the presence of the spring (e.g. Melandryidae, Mordellidae, Scraptiidae, Eucinetidae, Limnichidae, Scirtidae and Anthribidae). The phylogenetic value of the metafemoral spring is still unclear; however, there are indications that it is useful in assessing relationships among weevil tribes. As in Alticinae, Curculionidae and Buprestidae have constant intra-generic spring morphology and inter-generic differences. The spring in Bruchidae, Curculionidae and Buprestidae has a simpler morphology than in the Alticinae, but still possesses the features necessary for jumping (metatibial extension). The metafemoral spring has apparently evolved independently in Alticinae, Bruchidae, Curculionidae and Buprestidae, and is an example of convergent evolution.     

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.     

Purine Alkaloids of the Fruits of Camellia sinensis L. and Coffea arabica L. during Fruit Development

The amounts of two purine alkaloids, caffeine and theobromine,in the fruit of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) increased markedlyduring the growing season until the fruit was full-ripened anddried. In the dry fruit, the pericarp contained the most alkaloids,but there were also considerable amounts in the seed coat and,to a lesser extent, the fruit stalk and the seed. The shed seedsalso contained significant amounts of the alkaloids, especiallyin the seed coats. In contrast with the dry fruit of tea, seedsand pericarp of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) fruit contained aconsiderable amount of caffeine and a small amount of theobromide.A small amount of theophylline was also present in the pericarpof the ripened fruit. Relationships between growth and purinealkaloid content in tea and coffee fruits and their roles duringseed formation are discussed. Camellia sinensis L., tea, Coffea arabica L., coffee, purine alkaloids, fruit development, seed, seed coat, caffeine, theobromine, theophylline     

The use of honeydew in foraging for aphids by larvae of the ladybird beetle, Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Abstract.  1. To clarify the use of honeydew in foraging for aphids by larvae of the ladybird beetle, Coccinella septempunctata L., searching behaviour of ladybird larvae for Aphis craccivora Koch and Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris and the abundance of honeydew under aphid colonies were examined in laboratory experiments.
2. More larvae responded by climbing the plants with aphids than responded to plants without aphids. When the plants were replaced with sticks, in order to exclude visual and olfactory cues from plants and aphids, more larvae of C. septempunctata climbed sticks above the area that contained honeydew than climbed sticks above the area that did not contain honeydew. Then, ladybird larvae use honeydew as a contact kairomone when foraging for aphids.
3.  Aphis craccivora deposited a larger number of honeydew droplets beneath the plants than did similar numbers of A. pisum. Thus, C. septempunctata larvae licked more frequently the honeydew of A. craccivora than that of A. pisum and spent longer searching on the area containing honeydew of A. craccivora than that of A. pisum . Consequently, a larger number of larvae climbed a stick above honeydew of A. craccivora than that of A. pisum.
4. It may be also considered that C. septempunctata larvae can distinguish honeydew of the two aphid species and respond more strongly to A. craccivora than A. pisum.     

Application of microsatellite primers for the social wasp Polistes to another social wasp genus, Parapolybia, to estimate genetic relationships among nestmates

We tested 14 pairs of microsatellite primers that had been developed for the genus Polistes to assess their applicability for determining genetic structure in a colony of the genus Parapolybia. At least one of the 14 Polistes primer sets was useful for Parapolybia indica, and the locus identified by this primer set was highly polymorphic. Using this primer set, we estimated the average relatedness among female nestmates of Parapolybia indica to be 0.82 ± 0.05 (mean ± SE), indicating that in this species single mating is normal, although some cases of multiple mating was found.     

Incorporation of Radioiodine into the Developing Endostyle of the Larval Lamprey

Incorporation of radioiodine (¹³¹I⁻) into small larvae of the Japanese river lamprey, 14 days after fertilization, was studied by radioautography. A small amount of radioiodine was incorporated into the larvae and became located in the mid-dorsal region of endostylar cells. The incorporation of radioiodine was greatest in endostylar cells near the junction with the anlage of the endostyle duct. It is possible that these cells form the anlage of the endostyle duct, which enters the endostyle.     

蒙古戈壁上白垩统的暴龙类额骨(英文)

记述了发现于蒙古戈壁查干泰格地点的一块额骨。短的眶缘和矢状脊的存在等特征表明,该标本属于暴龙超科。查干泰格地点出露的地层被认为属于森诺曼-桑托期的巴音沙拉组,新材料的发现为上白垩统下部非常稀少的暴龙类恐龙记录增添了新的内容。