Enrichment of purple photosynthetic bacteria from earthworms

Abstract Numerous bacteria present in soil during its passage through the alimentary canal of earthworms resist digestive action and the antimicrobial defenses of the worms. Thus, several kinds of non-sulfur purple photosynthetic bacteria (Rhodospirillaceae) can be enriched from 'purees' of washed earthworms (or from intestinal contents of the worms) using a procedure that exploits the capacity to fix N₂ during anaerobic phototrophic growth with organic acid carbon sources. It appears that earthworm enrichments can be designed to provide highly selective methods for isolation of Rhodomicrobium vannielli and Rhodopseudomonas palustris , and perhaps of other purple bacteria. The extensive burrowing activities of earthworms undoubtedly contributes to the widespread dissemination of Rhodospirillaceae in soils.     

Biological flora of Central Europe: Rorippa palustris (L.) Besse

Rorippa palustris is an autogamous short-lived polycarpic herb capable of sprouting from roots. It prefers open wet habitats, such as pond and river shores or emergent pond bottoms. Recently it has expanded into disturbed fertile wetlands. This article reviews the taxonomic status and morphology, the distribution, ecology, life cycle, population biology and genetics of this species.     

Verbenone reduces landing of the redbay ambrosia beetle,vector of the laurel wilt pathogen,on live standing redbay trees

1. Laurel wilt is a disease that has caused extensive mortality of redbay Persea borbonia in the southeastern U.S.A. The redbay ambrosia beetle Xyleborus glabratus is the vector of the causal agent of laurel wilt, the fungus Raffaelea lauricola.
2. We tested two potential repellents to the redbay ambrosia beetle, verbenone and methyl salicylate (MeSA) in an 8‐month large‐scale experiment conducted in three locations in Florida. In each location, redbay trees were treated with a single or double application of SPLAT (Specialized Pheromone and Lure Application Technology; ISCA Technologies, Riverside, California) verbenone, as well as SPLAT with a 1:2 mix of MeSA and verbenone.
3. The MeSA + verbenone mixes did not reduce beetle captures compared with the control treatment, whereas SPLAT verbenone alone significantly reduced the number of beetles captured on sticky traps placed on redbay trees in the three locations. The reduction of beetle capture was similar regardless of one or two treatments of SPLAT verbenone. The reduction of tree death with the SPLAT verbenone treatment was not statistically significant.
4. The results of the present study suggest that trunk application of verbenone can reduce landing rates of the redbay ambrosia beetle on live redbay trees and shows promise for use in an integrated pest management strategy against laurel wilt.

     

Herbicide-resistant transgenic creeping bentgrass plants obtained by electroporation using an altered buffer

Modification of an electroporation buffer using Ca(NO₃)₂ and elevated pH (9–10) appeared to have a favorable effect on gene transfer to creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.) Penncross protoplasts, resulting in an increase in the transformation frequency of about twofold. Following electroporation with the plasmid pARK22 containing the bar gene, a total of 278 bialaphos-resistant cell colonies were obtained from four experiments. The bialaphos-resistant regenerants proved to be transgenic by Southern hybridization of the amplified DNA. All the tested transgenic plants showed herbicide (HERBIE) resistance at the field rate of 0.5–1% (vol/vol). Ammonia contents in leaves after spraying with the herbicide increased less in transgenic plants than in untransformed control plants. Received: 10 February 1998 / Revision received: 8 April 1998 / Accepted: 24 April 1998