Micropropagation of three berry fruit species using nodal segments from field-grown plants

Plant micropropagation of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. cv. Berkeley), blackberry (Rubus sp. cv. Smoothstem) and raspberry (Rubus idaeus L. cv. Gradina) was carried out from nodal segments of adult field‐grown plants. Hardwood and softwood cuttings were studied as explant sources. The cultures successfully established were softwood from all three species, and hardwood only from blueberry. Shoot‐bud establishment from blueberry was achieved by culturing explants in WPM salts with MS vitamins for 15 days, and then 30 days in the same medium with 18 mM Zeatin. The best results of multiplication were obtained in the same medium with 25 mM 2iP. For blackberry, shoot‐bud establishment was achieved by culturing explants in MS medium for 15 days, and then in the same medium with 4 mM BA and 0.25 mM IBA. This medium was also the best for blackberry multiplication. Raspberry explants (cvs Gradina and Willamette) were cultured in MS medium for 15 days and then transferred to MS medium supplemented with 4 μm BA and 0.25 mM IBA. After 30 days of culture, only ‘Gradina’ explants survived, from which shoot‐bud establishment was obtained in a modified MS medium (Anderson's macronutrients except calcium, with Sequestrene as the iron source) with the same growth regulators. Multiplication was achieved by subculturing explants in the same medium either with 4 mM BA plus 0.25 mM IBA or with 8 mM BA plus 0.25 mM IBA. Shoots of at least 1 cm in length from all species were rooted ex vitro in a mixture of peat and Perlite (1:1, v/v) in a mist chamber, and 100% of rooting plants were acclimated. Bacterial, fungal and viral diseases were detected in stock plants, while tests carried out in both shoots and regenerated plants revealed the absence of any kind of disease.     

Postzygotic isolation between the two European subspecies of the house mouse: estimates from fertility patterns in wild and laboratory-bred hybrids

We assessed the fertility (reproductive success, litter size, testis weight, spermatocyte-to-spermatid ratio) of F₁s and backcrosses between different wild-derived outbred and inbred strains of two mouse subspecies, Mus musculus domesticus and M. m. musculus . A significant proportion of the F₁ females between the outbred crosses did not reproduce, suggesting that female infertility was present. As the spermatocyte-to-spermatid ratio was correlated with testis weight, the latter was used to attribute a sterile vs. fertile phenotype to all males. Segregation proportions in the backcrosses of F₁ females yielded 11 (inbred) to 17% (outbred) sterile males, suggesting the contribution of two to three major genetic factors to hybrid male sterility. Only one direction of cross between the inbred strains produced sterile F₁ males, indicating that one factor was borne by the musculus X-chromosome. No such differences were observed between reciprocal crosses in the outbred strains. The involvement of the X chromosome in male sterility thus could not be assessed, but its contribution appears likely given the limited introgression of X-linked markers through the hybrid zone between the subspecies. However, we observed no sterile phenotypes in wild males from the hybrid zone, although testis weight tended to decrease in the centre of the transect.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 84 , 379–393.     

Behavioural responses of captive hippopotamus(hippopotamus amphibius)in lactation season:Maternal investment and plasticity of infant self-independence

In order to promote hippopotamus management in the captive and ex-situ environment, especially the control of behavioural and physiological status during breeding and lactation seasons, we conducted a preliminary study on behavioural responses of a pair of hippos including both mother and infant in Hangzhou Wildlife Park, China. The study of the captive hippos for about 1-month in the lactation season was carried out during August and September, 2009. The behavioural patterns were identified by all occurrence sampling and instantaneous scanning sampling methods with 5-10 min intervals. As a result, mother-offspring conflicts and interactions did occur throughout the whole study period. Early maternal investment showed a positive trend in activity rhythms (slope = 0.0014, Z = 0.3027, P ＜0.001) and a negative trend (slope = -0.0066, Z = 0.8807, P＜0.001) in territorial occupation of water, all of which supported our hypotheses that the mother hippo might exert less care for the infant and cut down on her own obligations in nursing. For infant self-independence, during the whole lactation season, the primary trends of activities and territorial occupation dynamics of the infant hippo were slightly different from before, judging from linear models (slope = -0.0017, Z = 0. 3309, P＜0.001). However, the frequencies of activities were not stable, especially at around 12 days of age. The trends of territorial occupation (slope = -0.0071, Z= 0. 904, P＜0.001) also showed negative dynamics in water body occupation by the time the infant hippo grew up. The general trend (slope = -0.005, Z = 0.06, P＜0.001) of suckling dynamics was demonstrably negative, with an upwards fluctuation at period 3 (10-15th day). This also illustrated that as the infant developed, the dependency on the mother was reduced at the end of the lactation season. In addition, a sharp decline between P3 and P4 also supported the mother-offspring conflict theory. In general, time budgets of hippos in active behaviour were (31.8±2.1)% for the mother and (32.1 ±2.6)% for the infant. Spatial distributions in water within temporal limitations were (80.1 ±2.7)% for the mother and (81.8±2.7)% for the infant. Behavioural dynamics showed strong synchronous relations between maternal investment and infant independence. Our current short-term investigation proves to be a key in management and conservation of hippopotami during the lactation season.     

Root Hydraulic Conductivity of Two Cactus Species in Relation to Root Age, Temperature, and Soil Water Status

The effects of root age, temperature, and soil water statuson root hydraulic conductivity (L_P) were investigated for twocactus species, Ferocactus acanthodes and Opuntia ficus-indica.The volumetric flux density of water was measured for excisedroot segments, either using negative hydrostatic pressures appliedto the proximal end or using reverse flow of water from theroot to the soil. For both species, L_P at 20 ?C increased withroot age, average values reaching a maximum of 3.9 ? 10^–7m s^–1 MPa^–1 for F. acanthodes and 5.2 ? 10^–7m s^–1 MPa^–1 for O.ficus-indica at 11 to 17 weeksof age; L_P subsequently declined with increasing root age forboth species. L_P was maximal at a temperature of about 10 ?Cfor the youngest roots (1–3 weeks), this optimum shiftingto 40 ?C for 8-week-old roots of both species. For older roots(up to 1.5-years-old), L_P increased with temperature from 0?C to 50 ?C, with a Q₁₀ of 1.3 between 20 ?C and 30 ?C. At asoil water potential (_soil) of –0.016 MPa, root L_P wasindependent of the direction of water flow for both species.Depending on root age, L_P declined 45- to 500-fold for F. acanthodesand 90- to 800-fold for O.ficus-indica as _soil was reduced from–0.016 to –1.06 MPa, consistent with a rectifier-likebehaviour with respect to water movement between soil and roots.Incorporation of such responses into water uptake models shouldlead to a better understanding of root function. Key words: Ferocactus acanthodes, Opuntia ficus-indica, water potential, tension, reverse flow     

Regulation of heat shock proteins in the apple maggot Rhagoletis pomonella during hot summer days and overwintering diapause

Abstract Developing larvae of the apple maggot Rhagoletis pomonella are frequently exposed to summertime apple temperatures that exceed 40 °C and, during their overwintering diapause, pupae are exposed to sub‐zero soil temperatures for prolonged periods. To investigate the potential involvement of heat shock proteins (Hsps) in response to these environmental extremes, the genes encoding Hsp70 and Hsp90 in R. pomonella are cloned and expression monitored during larval feeding within the apple and during overwintering pupal diapause. Larvae reared in the laboratory at constant temperatures of 25, 28 or 35 °C express Hsp90 but very little Hsp70. Larvae do not survive rearing at 40 °C. The temperature cycles to which larvae were exposed inside apples in the field, ranging 16–46.9 °C over a 24‐h period, elicit strong Hsp70 and Hsp90 expression, which begins at mid‐day and reaches a peak in late afternoon, coinciding with peak air and apple temperatures. Heat shock proteins are also expressed strongly by pupae during their overwintering diapause. Hsp70 is not expressed in nondiapausing pupae but is highly expressed throughout diapause. Hsp90 is constitutively expressed in both diapausing and nondiapausing pupae. Rhagoletis pomonella thus strongly expresses its Hsps during pupal diapause, presumably as a protection against low temperature injury, and during larval development to cope with natural temperature cycles prevailing in late summer.