Relative growth rate correlates negatively with pathogen resistance in radish: the role of plant chemistry

Plant growth rate has frequently been associated with herbivore defence: a large investment in quantitative defence compounds occurs at the expense of growth. We tested whether such a relationship also holds for growth rate and pathogen resistance. For 15 radish (Raphanus sativus L.) cultivars, we determined the potential growth rate and the resistance to fungal wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum. We subsequently aimed to explain a putative negative relationship between growth rate and resistance based on plant chemical composition. Both growth rate and resistance level varied greatly among cultivars. Moreover, there was a strong negative correlation between growth rate and resistance, i.e. there are costs associated with a high resistance level. Roots of slow-growing, resistant cultivars have a higher biomass density. Using pyrolysis mass spectrometry. we part1y explained variation in both growth rate and resistance in terms of the same change in chemical composition. Leaves of slow-growing, resistant cultivars contained more cell wall material. Surprisingly, roots of slow-growing, highly resistant cultivars contained significantly less cell wall material, and more cytoplasmic elements (proteins). We speculate that this higher protein concentration is related to high construction and turn-over costs and high metabolic activity. The latter in turn is thought to be responsible for a rapid and adequate resistance reaction, in which phenols may be involved.     

Interactions of colonisation density and leaf environments on survival of Trioza eugeniae nymphs

1. Female eugenia psyllids Trioza eugeniae oviposit on the margins of expanding young Syzygium paniculatum leaves. The developing nymphs, feeding within pit‐shaped galls on the leaves, cause the leaves to become curled and deformed. The degree of leaf curling was correlated positively with densities of T. eugeniae nymphs. 2. High relative humidity increased persistence of nymphs on leaves at low insect densities, but persistence did not differ between high or low relative humidity conditions when nymphal densities were high and leaves were greatly curled. 3. Direct insolation increased nymphal mortality. Nymphs on the abaxial leaf surface in the direct sun had lower mortality than similarly exposed nymphs on the adaxial leaf surface. 4. Field populations showed high preference for abaxial leaf surfaces and a stronger preference for shaded adaxial surfaces than for exposed adaxial surfaces. 5. Adverse environmental conditions of direct insolation and low relative humidity may be mitigated by leaf curl associated with moderate populations, however competition at high nymphal density supersedes any potential benefit arising from leaf curling and has a negative effect on nymphal survival.     

Summation in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): Effects of amounts,number of wells,and finer ratios

Research conducted by Rumbaugh, Savage-Rumbaugh, and Hegel (1987) demonstrated that chimpanzees, presented with two pairs of quantities of chocolate chips, were capable of combining noncontiguous areas in order to choose the pair that contained the greater quantity. Further research (Rumbaugh, Savage-Rumbaugh, and Pate, 1988) showed that this ability is not based on the avoidance of the pair containing the smallest single amount or selection of the pair containing the largest single amount. In the experiments in the present sutdy, the influence of wells containing zero or one chocolate on summation and the consequences of eliminating the requirement to sum noncontiguous areas by interpersing trials in which only two (rather than four) food wells were investigated. It was found that summation of quantities occurred regardless whether food wells containing zero or one were present. Also, the chimpanzees performed significantly better on two-well trials than on four-well trials, thereby suggesting that they were not simply discounting the space between the wells on four-well trials but, instead, were employing a combinatorial process which we call summation.     

Meteorological factors and the time of onset of chest pain in acute myocardial infarction

Analysis of the time of onset of chest pain in 2254 patients with a myocardial infarction admitted to a coronary care unit in Leicester during a 10-year period shows an association with temperature and humidity. During both the most cold and humid times of the year, the relationship is a strong one. A generalized linear model with a log link was used to fit the data and the backward elimination selection procedure suggested a humid, cold day might help to trigger the occurrence of myocardial infarction. In addition, cold weather was found to have a stronger effect on the male population while those men aged between 50 and 70 years were more sensitive to the effect of high humidity.     

Wild pearl millet population (Pennisetum glaucum,Poaceae) integrity in agricultural Sahelian areas. An example from Keita (Niger)

Morphometric and isozymic analyses of adjacent cultivated and spontaneous populations of pearl millet in Niger revealed in the field a unique continuous distribution of phenotypes ranging from the most cultivated one to a typical cultivated × wild hybrid. The natural population was subdivided into a major wild group and a hybrid wild × cultivated group. Cultivated millet displayed an equilibrium state between recombined domesticated and wild genes. The natural population, in spite of a high rate of immigration by pollen from cultivated plants, retained its structure by apparently reproducing itself exclusively from the major wild group.     

Cultural responsibility in the preservation of local economic plant resources

Understanding the relationships between indigenous people and their threatened economic plants can aid the conservation effort on many levels. Understanding ethnic perceptions of the taxon is critical toin situ andex situ conservation projects and enhances the accompanying educational effort. Examples are discussed from the experience of a grassroots conservation group in southwestern United States, Native Seed/SEARCH. Four levels of economic plant vulnerability are examined among 1) wild-harvested plants, 2) husbanded wild plants, 3) domesticates, and 4) wild relatives of domesticates. Legal interpretations of endangered husbanded and domestic plants are discussed, and further documentation encouraged. Genetic dynamism of threatened indigenous crops is examined and the concept of Systems Conservation (i.e. the plant/human interactive systems) is introduced. Guidelines are offered for incorporating better cultural responsibility intoex situ conservation strategies. The concept of Biocultural Restoration is introduced with an example from an O'odham community. Examples are given of ways indigenous peoples and their knowledge can assist in the conservation effort.     

Response of rice varieties to soil salinity and air humidity: A possible involvement of root-borne ABA

In a phytotron experiment four rice varieties (Pokkali, IR 28, IR 50, IR 31785-58-1-2-3-3) grown in individual pots were subjected to low (40/55% day/night) and high (75/90%) air humidity (RH), while soil salinity was gradually increased by injecting 0, 30, 60 or 120 mM NaCl solutions every two days. Bulk root and stem base water potential (SWP), abscisic acid (ABA) content of the xylem sap and stomatal resistance (rs) of the youngest fully expanded leaf were determined two days after each salt application. The SWP decreased and xylem ABA and rs increased throughout the 8 days of treatment. The effects were amplified by low RH. A chain of physiological events was hypothesized in which high soil electric conductivity (EC) reduces SWP, followed by release of root-borne ABA to the xylem and eventually resulting in stomatal closure. To explain varietal differences in stomatal reaction, supposed cause and effect variables were compared by linear regression. This revealed strong differences in physiological reactions to the RH and salt treatments among the test varieties. Under salt stress roots of IR 31785-58-1-2-3-3 produced much ABA under low RH, but no additional effect of low RH on rs could be found. By contrast, Pokkali produced little ABA, but rs was strongly affected by RH. RH did not affect the relationships EC vs. SWP and SWP vs. ABA in Pokkali, IR 28, and IR 50, but the relationship ABA vs. rs was strongly affected by RH. In IR 31785-58-1-2-3-3 RH strongly affected the relationship SWP vs. ABA, but had no effect on ABA vs. rs and EC vs. rs. The results are discussed regarding possible differences in varietal stomatal sensitivity to ABA and their implications for varietal salt tolerance.