Potential for mating disruption of Sparganothis sulfureana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in cranberries.

The feasibility of disrupting mating of Sparganothis fruitworm with a sprayable microencapsulated formulation of (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (E11-14:Ac), the major pheromone component, was evaluated in New Jersey during 1996 and 1997 seasons. In both years, application of encapsulated E11-14:Ac, at 25-187.5 g (AI)/ha, reduced the incidence of mating of virgin females placed in treated plots relative to those placed in control plots. Pheromone trap catches were lower in pheromone treated plots, indicating that fewer male moths were able to locate the traps in treated plots. Larval density and fruit damage were significantly lower in plots treated with 62.5,125, or 187.5 g (AI)/ha of pheromone than in the untreated control. Air and foliage samples were collected to determine the air titers and foliage residuals of E11-14:Ac throughout the adult flight during 1996 and 1997. E11-14:Ac levels in air and foliage samples, declined sharply one wk after the pheromone application. However, detectable levels of E11-14:Ac were present in both air and foliage samples throughout the 3- to 4-wk period after the pheromone application. Multiple applications of pheromone at lower rates may be more effective in maintaining pheromone levels than a single dose at higher rates. These results suggest that mating disruption is a promising strategy to manage Sparganothis fruitworm in cranberries.     

Regulation of root hair density by phosphorus availability in Arabidopsis thaliana

We characterized the response of root hair density to phosphorus (P) availability in Arabidopsis thaliana. Arabidopsis plants were grown aseptically in growth media with varied phosphorus concentrations, ranging from 1 mmol m⁻³ to 2000 mmol m⁻³ phosphorus. Root hair density (number of root hairs per mm of root length) was analysed starting at 7 d of growth. Root hair density was highly regulated by phosphorus availability, increasing significantly in roots exposed to low-phosphorus availability. The initial root hairs produced by the radicle were not sensitive to phosphorus availability, but began to respond after 9 d of growth. Root hair density was about five times greater in low phosphorus (1 mmol m⁻³) than in high phosphorus (1000 mmol m⁻³) media. Root hair density decreased logarithmically in response to increasing phosphorus concentrations within that range. Root hair density also increased in response to deficiencies of several other nutrients, but not as strongly as to low phosphorus. Indoleacetic acid (IAA), the auxin transport inhibitor 2-(p-chlorophenoxy)-2-methylpropionic acid (CMPA), the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), and the ethylene synthesis inhibitor amino-oxyacetic acid (AOA) all increased root hair density under high phosphorus but had very little effect under low phosphorus. Low phosphorus significantly changed root anatomy, causing a 9% increase in root diameter, a 31% decrease in the cross-sectional area of individual trichoblasts, a 40% decrease in the cross-sectional area of individual atrichoblasts, and 45% more cortical cells in cross-section. The larger number of cortical cells and smaller epidermal cell size in low phosphorus roots increased the number of trichoblast files from eight to 12. Two-thirds of increased root hair density in low phosphorus roots was caused by increased likelihood of trichoblasts to form hairs, and 33% of the increase was accounted for by changes in low phosphorus root anatomy resulting in an increased number of trichoblast files. These results show that phosphorus availability can fundamentally alter root anatomy, leading to changes in root hair density, which are presumably important for phosphorus acquisition.     

Iron plaque enhances phosphorus uptake by rice (Oryza sativa) growing under varying phosphorus and iron concentrations

Both solution culture and pot experiments were performed to investigate (a) the effects of external Fe (II) concentrations and forms on the formation of iron plaque on the roots of rice (Oryza sativa) and subsequent P adsorption on iron plaque and shoot P concentrations and (b) the effects of soil moisture regimes on the formation of iron plaque and P adsorption on root surfaces and P accumulation in shoots. The results showed that iron plaque was significantly increased with increasing Fe²⁺ concentrations in the solution culture. The amounts of P adsorbed on the iron plaque were increased significantly with external Fe²⁺ concentrations. Although shoot P concentration was not significantly affected by Fe²⁺ treatment after incubation for 2 days, it was significantly increased in the Fe‐treated plants compared with Fe‐deprived ones after incubation for 4 days. Soil culture experiment showed that the formation of iron plaque on root surfaces was promoted by exogenous iron, with greater amount of iron plaque being formed by addition of ferric hydroxide than of ferric oxide. Phosphorus adsorption on iron plaque also increased with the addition of iron oxides, and increasing soil P increased the amounts of P associated with the iron plaque and shoot P concentration. The amounts of iron plaque were almost sixfold higher under flooding condition than under field capacity condition. Plants pretreated under flooding condition generally had higher shoot P concentrations when they were transplanted to solutions with varying P levels, and this was most pronounced in the treatment with highest solution P concentration. The results suggest that iron plaque acts as a nutrient reservoir for phosphorus in the rhizosphere and helps enhance P acquisition by rice.     

A rapid extraction method for detecting aflatoxin producing isolates

A rapid extraction method for screening aflatoxin producing potential ofAspergillus flavus group isolates is described. The method is performed using a moist wheat medium with ca. five infected grains extracted with 2 mL of chloroform, and using thin layer chromatography. This method was proved with 95A. flavus isolates from animal feeds.     

Cleavage of territrems by alkaline hydrogen peroxide: Isolation and characterization of the aromatic moiety of territrems

The chemical reaction of cleavaging territrem B to give 3,4,5-trimethoxy benzoic acid by alkaline hydrogen peroxide was investigated. The method was applied for confirmation of the chemical structure of the aromatic moiety of territrem A, A’, B, and B’. The physicochemical properties of the aromatic cleavage product of territrem Aindicated the structure as 3,4-methylendioxy, 5-methoxy benzoic acid (or 4-methoxy, 6-carboxy, 1, 3-benzodioxole). The experiment also gave the evidences that territrem A and A’, on the other hand territrem B and B’ have the identical aromatic moieties on their structures.     

Infection of Aotus vociferans (karyotype V) monkeys with different strains of Plasmodium vivax

Twenty splenectomized Aotus vociferans (karyotype V) monkeys were infected with strains of Plasmodium vivax from New Guinea, North Korea, Indonesia, El Salvador, and Honduras. Peak parasite densities ranged from 4,840 to 75,500 per mm3. Gametocytes infective to different species of mosquitoes were produced with all strains of P. vivax studied. Two transmissions of the Chesson strain of P. vivax were made by the intravenous inoculation of dissected sporozoites from An. dirus mosquitoes. Prepatent periods were 16 days.     

Plant regeneration from cultured immature embryos of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench

Summary Immature embryos of 20 sorghum genotypes were cultured on MS 5 medium containing MS mineral salts supplemented with 2,4-D, zeatin, glycine, niacinamide, Ca-pantothenate, L-asparagine, and vitamins. For regeneration, calli were transferred onto the same medium with the exception that IAA was substituted for 2,4-D. In general, immature embryos obtained 9–12 days after pollination resulted in the best redifferentiation. Ability of calli to regenerate varied among genotypes; cultivars C401-1 and C625 had the highest redifferentiation frequencies. Ability to redifferentiate was heritable and acted as a dominant trait. At least two gene pairs were involved. Regenerated R₀ plants were planted in a greenhouse and their selfed (R₁ and R₂) progenies were planted in the field and examined for morphological and cytological variations. The majority of the phenotypic variations noted in R₀ were not transmitted to later generations. However, variants for plant height, degree of fertility, and midrib color persisted in R₁ and R₂ generations. A variation in tallness was attributable to one dominant mutant gene. Short stature and male sterility variants appeared to be consequences of recessive mutant genes controlling those traits. Minor variations in peroxidase banding patterns were found among R₀ plants.This study was supported by a research grant from Kansas Sorghum Commission and by a Research Fellowship to the senior author from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries, China. Contribution 86-456-J from the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station     

丽江百合鳞茎细胞内贮藏物质的细胞形态学观察

丽江百合(Lilium lijiangenese L.J.Peng,sp nov.)引种栽培三年。鳞茎体积增大,中部鳞片细胞由平均12层增加到21层。细胞体积由平均86.5×79微米增加到97.5×89.7微米。细胞内含有两种贮藏颗粒,一种体积较大,椭圆形,另一种体积略小呈圆球形。较大者含有淀粉物质,较小者含有蛋白质、脂肪、多糖和少量核糖核酸。细胞内平均淀粉粒数由4.2个增加到8个,其体积由29.1×19.5微米增加到46.8×23.4微米。蛋白质颗粒数由平均12个增加到70个,体积稍有减小,由4.68—7.8微米减少到3.9—5.85微米。     

Studies on cellular adhesion of Xenopus laevis melanophores: modulation of cell-cell and cell-substratum adhesion in vitro by endogenous Xenopus galactoside-binding lectin

We have investigated cell-cell and cell-substratum adhesion of Xenopus laevis neural crest cells at various stages of melanophore differentiation. Single-cell suspensions were obtained by trypsinization and aggregated in a cell-cell adhesion assay. Unpigmented cells did not adhere while the rate of adhesion of melanophores correlated with the degree of melanization. Melanophore cell-cell adhesion decreased significantly in the presence of beta-galactosidase, which suggests that cell-surface galactose is involved. Beta-galactoside-binding lectin has been isolated and purified from embryos at the stage of neural crest migration. When added to aggregating cells smaller, looser clusters formed compared to controls. When lectin was added to cells in stationary culture to test cell-substratum adhesion, melanophores spread more smoothly and formed more regular spacing patterns. These results suggest that this lectin can modulate receptors used in cell-cell and cell-substratum adhesion of melanophores.