Pre‐copulation intervals,copulation frequencies,and initial progeny sex ratios in two biotypes of whitefly,Bemisia tabaci

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) is a species complex, and its systematic classification requires controlled crossing experiments among its genetic groups. Accurate information on pre‐copulation intervals, copulation frequencies, and initial frequency of egg fertilization of newly emerged adults is critical for designing procedures for collecting the virgin adults necessary for these experiments. In the literature, considerable variation is reported between B. tabaci populations, with respect to the length of the pre‐copulation interval and the initial frequency of egg fertilization. Here, we used a video‐recording method to observe continuously the copulation behaviour of the Mediterranean/Asia Minor/Africa (B biotype) and the Asia II (ZHJ1 biotype) groups of B. tabaci. We also recorded the initial frequency of egg fertilization, as determined by the sex of the progeny. When adults were caged in female–male pairs on leaves of cotton plants, the earliest copulation events occurred 2–6 h after emergence; at 12 h after emergence 56–84% of the females had copulated at least once, and nearly all (92–100%) had copulated at least once by 36 h after emergence. Both females and males copulated repeatedly. Approximately 80 and 20% of copulation events occurred during the photophase and scotophase, respectively. By 72 h post‐emergence, the females of the B and ZHJ1 biotypes had copulated on average 6.1 and 3.9 times, respectively. When adults were caged in groups on plants 1–13 h after emergence, 30–35% of the eggs deposited during this period were fertilized, and approximately 90% of females were fertilized by the end of the 13 h. Although timing of copulation differed in detail between the two genetic groups, the results demonstrate that B. tabaci adults can start to copulate as early as 2–6 h post‐emergence and the majority of females can become fertilized on the day that they emerge.     

Use of the spin label method for studying the structure of the brain membranes in cats with streptomycin poisoning

The structural changes in cat brain membranes under the injections of intramuscular streptomycin which is ototoxic antibiotic have been studied. The increase of membrane microviscosity in brain areas which are the direct projection of the auditory way has been revealed using fat acidic spin probe on the basis of stearic acid. The changes in membranes of other brain areas have not been found that exhibits a specific streptomycin influence on the auditory analyzer. The EPR spectra of the hydrocarbon spin label C12H25 localizing in near membrane region don't change in brain membranes of experimental animals compared with the normal ones.     

固定化酶的微环境效应—载体离子基团性质的影响

作者合成了阴离子型和阳离子型葡聚糖,以此为载体,用CNBr活化其剩余羟基,固定化了葡萄糖淀粉酶和葡萄糖异构酶。就离子型载体对固定化酶的蛋白载量、最适pH和热稳定性等的影响做了考察。发现固定化酶的蛋白载量不仅与载体的电性质有关,也与酶分子自身的电性质有关。当载体电性质与酶蛋白电性质相反时,固定化酶的蛋白载量增加,热稳定性提高、载体电性质与酶蛋白电性质相同时,固定化酶的蛋白载量不变或下降,其热稳定性不变。作者还发现当离子型载体孔度和体系缓冲液浓度一定时,酶分子能否进入多孔性载体内部,对其最适pH是否变化影响极大。若酶分子仅被连接在载体的外表层,其最适pH不发生变化,反之亦然。作者还观察到当多糖类载体引入氨基或羧基后,大大增强了其抵抗微生物侵蚀的能力。     

Changes in soil microflora associated with control of Sclerotium Rolfsii by Furfuraldehyde

The efficacy of 2‐furfuraldehyde for control of Sclerotium rolfsii was studied in laboratory and greenhouse experiments. Mycelial growth of the fungus was reduced proportionally with concentrations of 0.1–0.5 ml furfuraldehyde l^‐1 agar medium, and viability of sclerotia diminished on exposure to 2‐furfuraldehyde vapours. Detectable populations of bacteria and fungi, including Trichoderma spp., were reduced significantly (9=0.05) when furfuraldehyde was added to the agar used for soil dilution plates of untreated soil. Repeated treatments of natural soil with the fumigant significantly increased populations of Trichoderma spp. and bacteria, but diminished numbers of actinomycetes. Increasing dosages applied to soil artificially infested with S. rolfsii caused a reduction of disease on lentil, Lens culinaris. Results indicate that the compound, when applied to field soil, changes the composition of soil microflora and has potential for integrated control of S. rolfsii.     

The thermodynamics of complex formation of cyclic tetra-aza-tetracetic acids

Enthalpy changes for the complexation of alkaline-earth and transition metals with three cyclic tetra-aza-tetracetic acids (cDOTA, cTRITA and cTETA) were obtained by continuous titration calorimetry. From these values and free energy data, the entropy changes for the same reactions were derived. The results show that these complexes are stabilised by both favourable enthalpy and entropy changes, except those of Mg²⁺ and those of Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺ with cTETA. Generally, the entropy changes for the reactions of the alkaline-earth metals are higher than for the reactions of the non cyclic polyaminocarboxylic acids, but for the reactions of the transition metals the entropy changes are comparable for the cyclic and non cyclic ligands. These results are discussed in terms of a model of ‘cage’ coordination of the metals.The enthalpy changes decrease with the increase in size of the tetra-aza ring (except in the case of Cu²⁺) but no specific cavity size effect is noticeable. Consideration of the temperature-dependent and temperature-independent contributions to ΔH supports the idea that the number of coordinated nitrogen atoms and carboxylate groups vary along the series.     

Fluorescence properties of catecholamines in isolated storage organelles of adrenal medulla

THe quantum yield, the life time and the degree of polarization of the fluorescence of intact chromaffin granules isolated from bovine adrenal medulla were compared to those of catecholamines solutions and catecholamine/ATP mixtures. Rising concentrations of catecholamines in aqueous solutions exhibited increasing quenching and decreasing life times indicating that the quenching was collision induced. Similar effects occurred in mixtures of catecholamines with ATP and Ca²⁺ showing that the nucleotide did not remarkedly hinder the mobility of the catechol group. In suspensions of whole granules stron quenching and shortening of life time was observed compared with solutions of disrupted granules. Fluorescence yield and life time were decreased by about the same factor suggesting that storage of the amines was not correlated with a major immobilization of the catechol group. The degree of polarization of intact granules was higher than that of solutions of catecholamines alone, but similar to catecholamine/ATP mixtures with concentrations corresponding to those found in the granules. This indicates an interaction of catecholamines with ATP in the granules. The results are in agreement with a storage model for catecholamines in the chromaffin granules of adrenal medulla in which catecholamines are bound to ATP, but in a non-rigid way.