Prediction of F3 row performance from F2 individual plant data in oats

Summary Parameters estimated from a Gardner-Eberhart analysis of the F₂ generation of a six-parent diallel in oats (Avena sativa L.) were used to compare methods for predicting the performance of F₃ row plots. The prediction methods were: (1) individual F₂ plant performance (F2I), (2) parent average plus F₂ plot deviations (PF2), (3) parent average plus weighted F₂ plot deviations (PF2P), (4) best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) of parent average plus F₂ plot deviations (BPF2), and (5) BLUP plus weighted F₂ deviations (BF2). The F₂ single-plant traits used for prediction were biological yield to predict F₃ biological yield, whole plant and primary tiller grain yield for prediction of F₃ grain yield, and whole plant and primary tiller harvest index (HI) to predict F₃ HI. Prediction methods were evaluated by correlations between predicted and observed F₃ performance. Prediction methods and traits for which correlations were greater than for F2I included: BF2 for biological yield, PF2, PF2P and BF2 for whole plant grain yield, PF2, BPF2, and BF2 for primary tiller grain yield. None had a correlation significantly greater than F2I for either measure of HI, where heritability was large. PF2 is the recommended method for traits with low heritability because of its simplicity and because it had the largest or nearly the largest correlation for each of the yield traits. F2I is the recommended method for traits with larger heritability.Contribution No. 8821 of the U.S. Regional Pasture Research LaboratoryDeceased     

Was “Lucy” more human than her “child”? Observations on early hominid postcranial skeletons

Fully adult partial skeletons attributed to Australopithecus afarensis (AL 288-1, “Lucy”) and to Homo habilis (OH 62, “Lucy's child”), respectively, both include remains from upper and lower limbs. Relationships between various limb bone dimensions of these skeletons are compared to those of modern African apes and humans. Surprisingly, it emerges that OH 62 displays closer similarities to African apes than does AL 288-1. Yet A. afarensis, whose skeleton is dated more than 1 million years earlier, is commonly supposed to be the ancestor of Homo habilis. If OH 62, classified as Homo habilis by its discoverers, does indeed represent a stage intermediate between A. afarensis and later Homo, a revised interpretation of the course of human evolution would be necessary.     

Age-specific flight behavior in relation to body weight and lipid content of Ips calligraphus reared in slash pine bolts with thick or thin inner bark (phloem)

Rearing larvae of Ips calligraphus (Germar) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in bolts of typical slash pine, Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii, with thin (TN; 0.5–1.5 mm) phloem (inner bark) relative to adult beetle body width significantly reduced body weight and lipid content of emerging adults compared with thick (TK; 2.5–3.5 mm) phloem-reared adults. Unmated (pre-nuptial) TK beetles averaged 2-fold longer daily and life-time flight duration than TN beetles. Daily flights were highly variable, averaging <20 min (longest daily flight=173 min). TK and TN beetles initiated flight, and the greatest number flew, on the first or second day after emergence form their rearing bolt; % of beetles flying and survival gradually declined to zero by day 9. Males (both TK and TN) averaged 2.5 days of flight, ca. 1 day longer than females. Fliers lived ca. 2-fold longer than non-fliers. Among TK and TN fliers, significant but weak positive correlations occurred between body weight and lifetime flight duration. Poor correlation between lifetime flight duration and longevity suggests little physiological cost to flight, but effects on fecundity were not assessed. Flight by mated, egg-laying (post-nuptial) beetles was substantially delayed (peaking on day 6), suggesting degeneration and subsequent regeneration of flight muscles.

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Résumé Le comportement de vol d'Ips calligraphus GERMAR (Scolytidae) a été examiné au laboratoire par une technique de vol captif. La génération parentale avait été artificiellement introduite, suivant la taille des adultes (1,6 à 2,1 mm) dans des morceaux de Pinus elliottii Engelm. variété elliottii au phloeme épais (TK=2,5 à 3,5 mm) ou fin (TN=0,5 à 1,5 mm) les larves se sont développées dans ces morceaux de pin. Le poids et la teneur en lipide des adultes obtenus à partir de TN étaient significativement inférieure à ceux de TK. Le poids des mâles les plus gros a été plus réduit que celui des femelles; les mâles les plus petits semblaient être moins efficaces dans l'initiation des attaques sur les arbres, et les femelles les plus petites ont eu une fécondité réduite.Les durées de vol quotidiennes pendant la vie des mâles TK vierges étaient en moyenne deux fois plus longues que celles des mâles TN. Les durées de vol quotidiennes étaient très variables: en moyenne moins de 20 minutes, mais la plus longue a été de 173 mn. En moyennes les adultes TN et TK ont commencé à voler, et volaient en plus grand nombre, le premier et le second jour après l'émergence. Ensuite la fréquence d'adultes volants et le pourcentage de surviveants, ont graduellement diminué jusqu'à tomber à zéro le neuvième jour. Les mâles TN et TK avaient des vols quotidiens plus longs et volaient environ 1 jour de plus que les femelles. L'activité de vol accrue des mâles reflète leur besoin de trouver dans la nature des arbres convenables; les vols des femelles peuvent généralement être plus brefs, étant plus directement orientés comme une réponse aux phéromones mâles.Les voiliers ont vécu environ 2 fois plus longtemps que les non-voiliers. Parmi les voiliers TK et TN il y avait une corrélation positive étroite entre le poids du corps et la durée totale des vols. Il n'y en a qu'une faible corrélation entre cette durée totale des vols et la longévité, suggérant un faible coût physiologique du vol. L'influence de cette durée des vols et du prélèvement consécutif de lipides sur la fécondité n'a pas été examinée. L'initiation au vol chez les individus fécondés a été sérieusement retardée (maximum le sixième jour) par rapport aux vierges, ce qui suggère un dégénérescence des muscles du vol associée à la reproduction, suivie d'une régénération importante, comme cela a été signalé chez d'autres Scolytes.Ces résultats contribuent à notre compréhension des facteurs conditionnant le comportement de vol et d'autres aspects fondamentaux de la biologie des insectes des pins. Une telle connaissance est nécessaire au développement d'une politique efficace de protection.

     

Screening technique for differentiating the degree of spikelet filling in rice

Summary Fully filled spikelets were determined by specific gravity method in some rice varieties. As specific gravity increased, the filled spikelets decreased while the test weight (1000-grain weight) increased. The potential test weight was found to be more than the weight known for the variety. Different grades of grain were characterised as (i) average (ii) good and (iii) Very good based on the degree of spikelet filling. The fully fitted spikelets were found to be lower in all the varieties tested and the partially filled but useful for yield calculations were higher. The grain grade index denotes the proportion of fully filled spikelets recovered at 1.18 specific gravity to the total number of spikelets formed. It was suggested that this inded is useful as a screening tool in varietal improvement programme for identifying high yield potential plants.     

Trypanosoma brucei: analysis of relapsing populations in sensitive and resistant breeds of cattle

The clone DiTat 1.1 of Trypanosoma brucei brucei was injected into four bovids, and clones obtained from successive waves of parasitemia were used to study the expressed variant-specific surface glycoprotein repertoire. Twenty-four clones were obtained which could be classified into 12 different variable antigen types, in addition to the clone injected, using agglutination or immunofluorescence with monospecific antisera. The variable surface glycoproteins of the 25 clones were extracted using the detergent octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside in the presence of the protease inhibitor, N-cbz-L-phenylalaninechloromethylketone. The molecular weights varied from 52,000 to 69,000 and the pI from 5.0 to 8.8. The virulence of 14 clones representing 13 variable antigen types was ascertained in mice. The mean survival time ranged from 20.5 to 43.0 days. Clones isolated from early peaks of parasitemia in the bovid were the most virulent while clones derived from later peaks were less virulent. It seems that organisms of diminishing virulence appear in bovids, leading to self-cure of the disease. All clones were sensitive to human serum in a blood infectivity inhibition test. Antibody against all virulent clones appeared in 20 cattle (10 Zebus, 10 Baoulés) which had been injected with T. brucei DiTat 1.1. There was no evidence for parasites of high or low virulence being preferentially expressed in resistant or sensitive hosts.     

小鼠肝脏免疫抑制蛋白质(LISP)的分离纯化和鉴定

用硫酸铵分段盐析及DEAE-Sephadex A-50、羟磷灰石和CM纤维素等多种柱层析方法,从正常小鼠肝浸液中分离纯化出一种免疫抑制蛋白质(LISP)。在体外用微量该蛋白质就能强烈抑制小鼠T、B淋巴细胞对促有丝分裂原和同种异型抗原的增生反应。纯化的蛋白质在聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(PACE)和等电聚焦(IEF)鉴定时均显示为一条区带,其等电点(pI)值在7.5—7.8范围。沉降系数利S_(20),w为5.39。Sephadex G-100凝胶层析测得LISP的分子量为78,000道尔顿。十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)提示LISP是由二个相同的亚基组成,亚基分子量为38,500道尔顿。LISP是一种既非糖蛋白又非脂蛋白的碱性蛋白质,对它的氨基酸组成也作了分析。     

Ovarian and fat body protein concentrations in Ips sexdentatus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) parasitized by nematodes

The protein concentrations of fat body and ovaries in Ips sexdentatus either uninfected or infected by Parasitaphelenchus sp., P. sexdentati, or Contortylenchus diplogaster were measured at various stages of insect development, from preswarming maturation to the first oviposition (24 hr after mating). Weight variations of the fat body and ovaries in insects infected by C. diplogaster show the same evolution as those observed in uninfected insects, but at a much lower level. Fat body proteins in uninfected insects reach their minimum level during swarming, but they remain fairly constant throughout the maturation of the first egg. After dropping shortly after swarming, the ovarian protein level in such insects increases in two stages during ovarian maturation. The first stage, which corresponds to a slow protein incorporation, takes place during the first 12 hr after mating. During the second stage, i.e., beyond 12 hr, a significant level of proteins is rapidly incorporated into the ovaries. In insects infected by Parasitaphelenchus fat body proteins are reduced and protein incorporation into the ovaries is reduced; Parasitaphelenchus would thus affect at least some proteins required for ovarian maturation in their host. Fat body protein levels are even more affected by C. diplogaster than by Parasitaphelenchus, while incorporation into ovaries seems to be less affected in spite of slower ovarian growth. C. diplogaster might thus essentially act both upon proteins which are not required for the ovarian maturation of their host and upon nonproteinaceous substances that are required for such maturation. Results are discussed in relation to the possible mode of action of parasitic nematodes.     

细菌(Pseudomonas maltophilia)之绒毛膜促性腺激素(hCG)结合物质之研究

 细菌(Pseudomonas moltophilia)与hCG及LH有特异的亲和力,实验发现,细菌之生长曲线与hCG结合活性成平行关系,96小时达高峰,细菌之培养液中含有可溶性结合蛋白,该蛋白经硫酸铵沉淀(80％饱和度)、Sephadex G-100柱层析、DEAE-纤维素柱0.5mol/L NaCl梯度洗脱,再过Sepharose CL-AB柱,收集之活性部分经SDS电泳测得其分子量为70,000,凝胶层析测Stokes radius为41A,Schiff氏染色未见着色带。