EFFECT OF ECDYSTERONE ON VITELLOGENIN CONCENTRATION IN HAEMOLYMPH OF MALE AND FEMALE SARCOPHAGA BULLATA

Using Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, cycloheximide, incorporation of ³H-labelled amino acids and immunological methods, we have demonstrated that injection of ecdy- sterone induces de novo synthesis and release of vitellogenin in both sexes of Sarcophaga bullata. Vitellogenin concentrations were measured by the Mancini-radial immunodiffusion technique. In males a dose as low as 1 ng always makes vitellogenin appear in the haemolymph but very reproducible results are only obtained when doses varying from 10 to 250 ng were injected. In this range, the dose-response curve was linear on a semi- logarithmic scale.

In females, vitellogenin concentration remained low until a few hours after liver feeding and thereafter it rose sharply and reached its maximum about 24 h after the protein meal. 100 μg 6-hydroxydopamine HCl, injected before liver feeding in 4-day-old females, inhibited vitellogenin synthesis and yolk deposition, probably by interfering with the release of a brain hormone. This inhibitory effect on vitellogenin synthesis, but not that on yolk deposition, could be overruled by injection of ecdysterone. Juvenile hormone was ineffective on both. Females, ovariectomized on day 2 or 3, accumulated vitellogenin in their haemolymph, indicating that the continuous presence of the ovaries was not required for vitellogenin synthesis. The possible relation between the gonadotrophs hormone from the brain, vitellogenin synthesis and moulting hormone metabolism is discussed.     

The K+/H+ antiporter LeNHX2 increases salt tolerance by improving K+ homeostasis in transgenic tomato

The endosomal LeNHX2 ion transporter exchanges H⁺ with K⁺ and, to lesser extent, Na⁺. Here, we investigated the response to NaCl supply and K⁺ deprivation in transgenic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) overexpressing LeNHX2 and show that transformed tomato plants grew better in saline conditions than untransformed controls, whereas in the absence of K⁺ the opposite was found. Analysis of mineral composition showed a higher K⁺ content in roots, shoots and xylem sap of transgenic plants and no differences in Na⁺ content between transgenic and untransformed plants grown either in the presence or the absence of 120 mm NaCl. Transgenic plants showed higher Na⁺/H⁺ and, above all, K⁺/H⁺ transport activity in root intracellular membrane vesicles. Under K⁺ limiting conditions, transgenic plants enhanced root expression of the high‐affinity K⁺ uptake system HAK5 compared to untransformed controls. Furthermore, tomato overexpressing LeNHX2 showed twofold higher K⁺ depletion rates and half cytosolic K⁺ activity than untransformed controls. Under NaCl stress, transgenic plants showed higher uptake velocity for K⁺ and lower cytosolic K⁺ activity than untransformed plants. These results indicate the fundamental role of K⁺ homeostasis in the better performance of LeNHX2 overexpressing tomato under NaCl stress.     

SOUND PRODUCTION IN THE BLUE-GREEN DAMSELFISH,CHROMIS VIRIDIS (CUVIER, 1830) (POMACENTRIDAE)

ABSTRACT

Sound production is widespread in coral reef fish of the family Pomacentridae. As commonly found in other teleosts, damselfish emit calls in agonistic and courtship contexts. In this paper, evidence of sound production by the blue-green damselfish Chromis viridis is presented for the first time. The recorded sounds consisted of clicks produced during agonistic interactions.     

Floral traits and reproduction of Avicennia schaueriana Moldenke (Acanthaceae): a generalist pollination system in the Lamiales

Pollination systems may vary in their degree of specialization from generalist to specialist and this is associated with the frequency and efficiency of pollinators. Self‐compatibility and a generalist pollination system appear to be adaptations that enhance the ability for colonizing new areas, which is typical of mangrove species. Avicennia schaueriana is a western mangrove species included in Acanthaceae, Lamiales, an order known to have specialized pollination. We aimed to describe the floral morphology and analyze the pollination and reproductive systems of A. schaueriana in a mangrove area on the northern coast of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, to analyze the possible adaptations of this species to the environment. Avicennia schaueriana is self‐compatible; however, pollination activity is essential because there is no spontaneous formation of fruit. Reproductive efficacy was high, indicating pollinator efficiency. Some floral attributes of A. schaueriana suggest specialization; however, the broad spectrum of pollinators observed suggests that it has a generalist pollination system. The way in which pollinators interact with flowers and the environmental conditions may have exerted a selective force on the floral attributes of A. schaueriana, characterizing an adaptive generalized pollination system, which is somewhat specialized.     

New records of marine Tardigrada in the Mediterranean Sea

Meiofauna from Chafarinas archipelago (western Mediterranean, N. Africa) were studied, and marine Tardigrada were identified to species level. A total of 15 species, belonging to families Stygarctidae, Halechiniscidac (Subfamilies Halechiniscinae, Florarctinae, Styraconyxinae and Tanarctinae), Batillipedidae, and Echiniscoididae, were found for the first time from the Alboran Sea and southwestern Mediterranean area. Four species and one subspecies are new records for the Mediterranean Sea: I'ioractus acer, F. asper, P. stellatus, Actinarctus doryphorus and Echiniscoides sigismundi hispaniensis. The male of Floractus stellatus , previously unknown to science, is described. Many species have been recorded for the first time in different sedimentary environments, such as midlittoral pools, very shallow gravels, pools in a mixed rocky environment or between Posidonia oceanica meadows, 'Amphioxus' gravels, and coastal detritic.     

Light and Electron Microscopic Observations on the Heterotrich Ciliate Climacostomum virens

SYNOPSIS. Alveolar membranes and an epiplasm exist under the cell membrane of the noncontractile heterotrich ciliate Climacostomum virens. Postciliary microtubular ribbons join at the right of each somatic kinety to form a Km fiber. Two transverse microtubular fibers occur per kinetosomal pair. A myonemal network interconnects the kinetosomal bases intrakinetally and interkinetally. Ultrastructural comparisons are made between the contractile and noncontractile heterotrichs.
The buccal cortex consists of an adoral zone of membranelles, a peristomal field, a buccal tube, the apical membranelles, and a haplokinety. The kineties of the peristomal field and buccal tube are rows of paired kinetosomes, with a postciliary ribbon of microtubules arising from the posterior kinetosome of each pair, and a transverse ribbon and an oblique ribbon from the anterior kinetosome. No Km fibers exist in this region. The haplokinety is a collar of paired kinetosomes surrounding the cytostome; a postciliary microtubular ribbon descends from each kinetosomal pair into the cytostomal region. Ultrastructural details of the buccal cortex of C. virens and other heterotrichs are compared. The nemadesmata which lie under the membranelles are implicated in the body bending of C. virens.
Algae endosymbiotic in the cytoplasm of C. virens are described.     

The production‐ecological sustainability of cassava,sugarcane and sweet sorghum cultivation for bioethanol in Mozambique

We present an approach for providing quantitative insight into the production‐ecological sustainability of biofuel feedstock production systems. The approach is based on a simple crop‐soil model and was used for assessing feedstock from current and improved production systems of cassava for bioethanol. Assessments were performed for a study area in Mozambique, a country considered promising for biomass production. Our focus is on the potential role of smallholders in the production of feedstock for biofuels. We take cassava as the crop for this purpose and compare it with feedstock production on plantations using sugarcane, sweet sorghum and cassava as benchmarks. Production‐ecological sustainability was defined by seven indicators related to resource‐use efficiency, soil quality, net energy production and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Results indicate that of the assessed systems, sugarcane performed better than cassava, although it requires substantial water for irrigation. Targeted use of nutrient inputs improved sustainability of smallholder cassava. Cassava production systems on more fertile soils were more sustainable than those on less fertile soils; the latter required more external inputs for achieving the same output, affecting most indicators negatively and reducing the feasibility for smallholders. Cassava and sweet sorghum performed similarly. Cassava production requires much more labour per hectare than production of sugarcane or sweet sorghum. Production of bioethanol feedstock on cultivated lands was more sustainable and had potential for carbon sequestration, avoiding GHG emissions from clearing natural vegetation if new land is opened.     

The effects of inbreeding on the parental values of potato dihaploids

Dihaploids obtained from a somatically chromosome-doubled dihaploid potato were crossed with Solanum phureja clones. To test the effect of inbreeding, measurements were made of their seed production and the tuber yield, tuber number and mean tuber weight of their offspring. On average, seed production of the second generation dihaploids was higher than that of the original dihaploid progenitor. Progeny tuber yield and its components were little different from those of the original dihaploid's progeny. Tuber flesh quality, as measured lack of blemishes, was better in the offspring of second generation dihaploids.
It is suggested that the negative effects of producing second generation dihaploids are minor compared with producing the first generation dihaploid from a tetraploid, because most deleterious recessives have already been unmasked. The results indicated residual variation within the original dihaploid which could be exploited for plant breeding purposes.
An indicator of inbred status, alternative to the inbreeding coefficient, is suggested which could be applied to both diploids and tetraploids.