Effect of gelling agent on growth and development ofCeratozamia hildae somatic embryos

Individual somatic proembryos ofCeratozamia hildae were exposed to media that differed only in gelling agent utilized. Five different gelling agents were compared in the first experiment: Bacto agar, Agargel, Gel-Gro, Phytagar, and TC agar. In addition, the effect of agar was examined at two levels. Growth, proliferation, and development were assessed. The lower level of agar did not support good somatic proembryo growth. Agargel and the high agar concentration produced cultures with good proliferation. Proembryos exposed to Phytagar, Gel-Gro, and TC agar had the highest proliferation rates. Overall, Gel-Gro was considered the best gelling agent tested. The three concentrations of Gel-Gro used in the second experiment were 2, 4, and 6 g·1⁻, with the lowest concentration representing the control, the recommended concentration. As gelling agent concentration increased, so did mortality; however, the highest Gel-Gro concentration also produced the highest numbers of good-quality, mature somatic embryos. Proliferation rate was greatest at the lowest concentration. These results suggest thatCeratozamia cultures should be exposed to different gelling agents or concentrations of gelling agents at different developmental stages in order to produce the greatest number and highest quality of somatic embryos.     

The role of glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products in oviposition and host-plant finding by cabbage webworm, Hellula undalis

The cabbage webworm, Hellula undalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a tropical pest on crucifers (Brassicaceae), differentiated among host‐plant species for oviposition in laboratory and field tests. White mustard, Sinapis alba (L.) var. Selinda, was the preferred host‐plant, followed by Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. et. Coss var. Canadian brown mustard, and pak‐choi, Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis var. Joi Choi, Black Behi and Bai Tsai. Glucosinolates (GS), secondary plant compounds characteristic to the Cruciferae plant family, and their breakdown products were analyzed by using HPLC and GC‐MS‐techniques. Species differed in GS composition and concentration. Content of GS was highest in S. alba with progressively lower contents detected in B. juncea and B. chinensis. The aromatic GS, 4‐hydroxybenzyl‐GS and benzyl‐GS, were detected in S. alba. In B. juncea the alkenyl GS, allyl‐GS, dominated, whereas in varieties of B. chinensis indolyl and alkenyl GS predominated. Oviposition of H. undalis females on the non‐host‐plant Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis (L.) Fruwirth was stimulated by application of GS extracts from the crucifer species; the extract from S. alba was preferred, followed by extracts from B. juncea and B. chinensis. Hydrolysis of GS in the plant extract from B. chinensis causes loss of the oviposition stimulatory effect of the extract. Application of the GS, allyl‐GS, and benzyl‐GS also stimulated oviposition by H. undalis. Significantly more eggs were laid on leaves treated with the aromatic GS, benzyl‐GS, than with the alkenyl GS, allyl‐GS. Host‐plant odor attracted H. undalis females but not males, in behavioral assays conducted in a Y‐tube olfactometer. Low concentrations of the GS hydrolysis product, allyl‐isothiocyanate, induced anemotaxis of females, but a high concentration of allyl‐isothiocyanate was repellent. Oviposition by H. undalis females was not stimulated by host‐plant volatiles. Females laid eggs on inserted traps and the walls of the Y‐tube regardless of presence or absence of host‐plant odor. The relevance of these results in the context of crucifer‐insect interactions is discussed.     

Molecular characterization of the mitochondrial elongation factor EF-Tu gene in rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.)

The mitochondrial elongation factor EF-Tu (tufM) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) was isolated and characterized. The rice tufM cDNA clone contained 1,726 nucleotides and coded for a 453 amino acid protein including a putative mitochondrial transit peptide of 64 amino acid residues. This coding region was composed of 12 exons and 11 introns. The deduced amino acid sequence showed 62% and 88% identities with rice chloroplast EF-Tu (tufA) and Arabidopsis mitochondrial EF-Tu, respectively. As previously observed for the rice tufA gene, the tufM gene is likely present as one copy in rice. The mitochondrial EF-Tu gene was differentially expressed during flower development, and the other translational EF-Tu genes (chloroplast EF-Tu and cytosolic EF-1 alpha) were also distinctly expressed in a temporal manner. Phylogenetic analysis of the rice tufM gene showed that the mitochondrial tufA homologue of Reclinomonas was more closely related to the mitochondrial tufM genes of flowering plants than fungal and other mitochondrial tuf genes. In addition, the tufM encoded an N-terminal extension showing significant similarity to that of rps14 (or sdhB), which is also a nuclear-encoded rice mitochondrial gene.     

Effect of Trichodesma indicum extract on cough reflex induced by sulphur dioxide in mice.

The effect of methanol extract of whole plants of Trichodesma indicum R. Br. has been investigated on sulphur dioxide (SO2) induced cough reflex in Swiss albino mice. The extract has demonstrated significant (p < 0.001) inhibition in frequency of cough in all the tested doses when compared with untreated control group. The effect persisted up to 90 min of its oral administration and also comparable to that of the effect exhibited by the standard drug (Codeine phosphate). This study confirmed the traditional use of this plant in the treatment of cough. Determination of underlying mechanism of beneficial effect is major topic requiring further comprehensive investigation.     

The Structure of the Gene Pools of the Ethnic Populations of Altai–Sayan Region Based on of Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphism Data

Using the data on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphism, genetic structures of the four Turkic-speaking ethnic groups of Altai–Sayan highlands, Southern Altaians (Altai- Kizhi), Khakassians, Shorians, and Sojots, were described. Mitochondrial gene pools of the populations examined were characterized by different ratios between Mongoloid (M*, C, D, E, G, A, B, and F) and Caucasoid (H, U, T, J, and K) mtDNA lineages. All the populations studied had a strongly pronounced Mongoloid component, the frequency of which was 88.2% in Sojots, 75.9% in Khakassians, 67.4% in Altaians, and 64.3% in Shorians. Maximum frequency of the Caucasoid component (35.7%) was observed in Shorians. Phylogenetic and statistical analyses of the mtDNA group frequency distribution patterns in the gene pools of the ethnic populations of Altai–Sayan highlands and the adjacent territories showed that the populations of the region fell into three groups. The first group included Khakassians, Tuvinians and Altaians, the second group consisted of Sojots, Buryats, and Mongols, while the third group was composed of Uigurs, Kazakhs, and Kyrgyzes. The isolated position of Shorians among the populations examined can be explained by their different anthropological composition and their presumptive relatedness to Finno-Ugric populations of Siberia.     

Magnetic resonance tomography in the diagnosis of renovascular hypertension]

MR tomography was used for investigation of 38 patients with renovascular hypertension (RVH) and 26 healthy persons. A possibility of the use and practical value of the method in the diagnosis and evaluation of renal function and renal arteries (RA) were under study. Some quantitative MRT indices were calculated both for the patients and healthy persons. They included spin-spin relaxation time, proton density, and signal intensity. These data can provide important information on renal function in RVH with relation to kidney sizes and the state of the renal parenchyma (evaluation of the cortical substance and medulla and the border between them). In some cases MRT ensures noninvasive diagnosis of PA stenosis.     

Stotternheim bei Erfurt

Ohne Zusammenfassung