A sodium transporter (HKT7) is a candidate for Nax1, a gene for salt tolerance in durum wheat

Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum) is more salt sensitive than bread wheat (Triticum aestivum). A novel source of Na(+) exclusion conferring salt tolerance to durum wheat is present in the durum wheat Line 149 derived from Triticum monococcum C68-101, and a quantitative trait locus contributing to low Na(+) concentration in leaf blades, Nax1, mapped to chromosome 2AL. In this study, we used the rice (Oryza sativa) genome sequence and data from the wheat expressed sequence tag deletion bin mapping project to identify markers and construct a high-resolution map of the Nax1 region. Genes on wheat chromosome 2AL and rice chromosome 4L had good overall colinearity, but there was an inversion of a chromosomal segment that includes the Nax1 locus. Two putative sodium transporter genes (TmHKT7) related to OsHKT7 were mapped to chromosome 2AL. One TmHKT7 member (TmHKT7-A1) was polymorphic between the salt-tolerant and -sensitive lines, and cosegregated with Nax1 in the high-resolution mapping family. The other TmHKT7 member (TmHKT7-A2) was located within the same bacterial artificial chromosome contig of approximately 145 kb as TmHKT7-A1. TmHKT7-A1 and -A2 showed 83% amino acid identity. TmHKT7-A2, but not TmHKT7-A1, was expressed in roots and leaf sheaths of the salt-tolerant durum wheat Line 149. The expression pattern of TmHKT7-A2 was consistent with the physiological role of Nax1 in reducing Na(+) concentration in leaf blades by retaining Na(+) in the sheaths. TmHKT7-A2 could control Na(+) unloading from xylem in roots and sheaths.     

Study on oxidative stress in patients with abdominal trauma

Reactive oxygen species have been implicated in the etiology of multiple organ dyspepsia syndrome and infection's complications in patients with trauma. But the oxidative stress and antioxidants levels in abdominal trauma have not yet been studied. Therefore, this study was planned to measure lipid peroxidation for oxidative stress and reduced glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) for antioxidant levels in plasma & heamolysate of 30 patients with abdominal trauma and 30 controls. From this study we can summarize that there was an increase in oxidative stress and decrease in antioxidant levels (causing oxidative stress) on day zero in patients with abdominal trauma. This oxidative stress on day zero was not related to the development of complications. There was no significant difference in oxidative stress between patients with solitary and multiple abdominal organ injury and also between patients with hollow viscus injury and solid organ injury on day zero. From this study, we conclude that in patients with abdominal trauma there was increase in oxidative stress and decrease in antioxidant levels on day zero.     

Characteristics of ammonium absorption by excised root and leaf tissues of maize

Absorption of ammonium from solutions of ammonium chloride by maize ( Zea mays L. cv. GS-2) tissue was studied. In contrast to an initial rapid phase of absorption in root tissue, a one hour lag period was recorded in leaf tissue. The maximum rate of uptake was observed at 5–10 m M NH₄Cl in both tissues. Roots had a K_m value of 1.0 m M and V_max of 24.3 μmol ammonium (g fresh weight)⁻¹ h⁻¹, whereas the leaf tissue had a higher K_m (4.1 m M ) and a lower V_max (8.7 μmol). There was a concentration dependent increase in ethanol soluble and insoluble fractions of organic nitrogen during ammonium supply. The optimum pH for ammonium absorption for both tissues was 7.4. The optimal concentration of CaCl₂ for ammonium absorption was 5 m M whereas that of KCl was only 1 m M . In both tissues, the absorption was inhibited substantially by DCMU, DNP, cycloheximide, lincomycin, sodium tungstate, sodium arsenate and to some extent also by the anions nitrate and sulfate. It is suggested that a carrier is involved in an active uptake of ammonium in the leaf tissues.     

Further Studies on a Tomato Black Ring Virus Isolate from Artichoke

An isolate of tomato black ring virus from artichoke (TBRV-A) was compared biologically, physico-chemically and serologically with three strains of the virus, i.e. TBRV-potato bouquet (TBRV-BU), TBRV-beet ringspot (TBRV-W), and TBRV-celery yellow vein (TBRV-Ce). Cytopathic effects of TBRV-A infection in C. quinoa and its relationships with two strains of artichoke Italian latent virus (AILV-S and AILV-G) were also investigated. Physical properties in vitro, sedimentation coefficients and molecular weight of protein subunits and nucleic acid species of TBRV-A were very similar to those known for TBRV. In serological tests, TBRV-A appeared more closely related to TBRV-W (SDI = 1) than to TBRV-Ce and TBRV-BU (SDI = 2–3). Finally, TBRV-A was very, distantly related to AILV-S and AILV-G (SDI = 11–12).     

Studies on two Serologically Distinct Raspberry Ringspot Virus Strains from Artichoke

Two raspberry ringspot virus variants, RRV-T and RRV-G, found in artichoke of Turkish and Greek origin, were compared biologically (indexing), biochemically and serologically to two strains of the same virus, RRV-S and RRV-E originating from Scotland and England, respectively. Molecular weight values of protein and nucleic acid of RRV-T and RRV-G were in good agreement with those already known for RRV. RRV-T and RRV-G appeared serologically very similar to each other (serological differentiation index = 1) and well distinguishable from RRV-S and RRV-E (serological differentiation indices varying between 3 and 6). Phaseolus vulgaris cv. La Victoire, Ocimum basilicum cv. Foglia di Lattuga, Cucumis sativus cv. Delicatezza, and Cucurbita pepo cv. Zucchetta striata d'ltalia seemed herbaceous hosts useful for differentiating each strain from the others on symptomatological basis.     

Characterization of a Tymovirus Isolated from Anagyris foetida as a Strain of Scrophularia Mottle Virus

A virus isolated from Anagyris foetida and infecting species in the Leguminosae and Solanaceae had typical properties of a tymovirus. It sedimented as two components (49 S and 103 S) and induced the formation of double membrane-bounded invaginations in the chloroplasts of infected cells. Large numbers of ‘empty shells’ were found in the nuclei. The coat protein had a molecular weight of c. 20.000 and the RNA consisted of c. 5500 nucleotides. Crystallization of the virus in laminal crystals could be achieved by precipitation with 10 % polyethylenglycol 6000 and 1 % NaCl. Serologically, the virus was closely related to Scrophularia mottle, Ononis yellow mosaic and Plantago mottle viruses. The four viruses which all infect leguminous hosts are separated by serological differentiation indices which are mostly between 1 and 3. It is therefore suggested that they all should be considered as strains of the same virus which for reasons of priority should have the name Scrophularia mottle virus (ScrMV). The proposed Anagyris strain clearly differs from the Scrophularia mottle, Ononis yellow mosaic and Plantago mottle strains of ScrMV in host range, symptomatology, electrophoretic mobility serological properties and some cytopathogenic effects. It is not clear why the Anagyris strain infects A. foetida systemically in nature, but only locally under greenhouse conditions.     

Floristic characterisation of alkali soils in northwestern India

Summary Floristic composition studied in a 40 hectares representative site of alkali soils in the Indo-gangetic plains of Northwestern India revealed a remarkably restricted spectrum of natural vegetation. Soil analysis of specific niches, occupied by aggregations of different species, was employed to identify alkali halophytes. Response functions of eight prominent species to increasing levels of soil alkalinity, studied in pot culture, showed that most of them were adapted to alkali soils. Based on the computed importance value indices and observed biomass production maxima, it has been inferred thatSporobolus marginatus, Sporobulus coromandelianus, Diplachne fusca andChloris barbata, qualify as plant indicators of high-alkali soil conditions.     

Structures of the sialylated oligosaccharide chains in swine tracheal mucin glycoproteins

The structures of the major sialylated oligosaccharide chains in swine tracheal mucin glycoprotein were established. The oligosaccharide chains were released by treatment with alkaline borohydride and isolated by gel filtration on Bio-Gel P6 columns and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The neutral oligosaccharide chains in this glycoprotein have been characterized in previous studies (Rana, S.S., Chandrasekaran, E.V., Kennedy, J., and Mendicino, J. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 12899-12907; Chandrasekaran, E.V., Rana, S.S., Davila, M., and Mendicino, J. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 12908-12914). The present study reports the isolation of four monosialylated chains ranging in length from 6 to 14 sugar units, two disialylated chains containing 6 and 12 sugar units, and one trisialylated chain containing 9 sugar units. The structure of the sialylated oligosaccharides was determined by permethylation analysis and sequential hydrolysis with specific exoglycosidases. The following structures (where GalNAcol is N-acetylgalactosaminitol) were assigned to these oligosaccharides.     

Induced interchange heterozygosity in diploid Chrysanthemum

Summary Following a programme of recurrent irradiation and planned hybridization, it has been possible in Chrysanthemum carinatum to synthesise an interchange stock in which 12 of the 18 chromosomes are involved in rearrangements and form a single multiple association during meiosis. Induced interchange heterozygosity of this type has been made use of for studying the relationship between fertility and meiotic behaviour. Relatively high fertility of the interchange heterozygotes was found to be mainly due to a pronounced tendency of the interchange multiples to show preferentially a particular type of orientation at metaphase. Factors governing the orientation of multiple association resulting from interchange heterozygosity have been discussed.