Species relationship in the Pennisetum gene pool: enzyme polymorphism

Summary Variation in leaf esterases (EST), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGD), shikimate dehydrogenase (SKDH), leucine aminopeptidase (AMP), phosphoglucomutase (PGM) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) is reported in the Pennisetum gene pool. In the primary gene pool, polymorphism for EST, AMP, SKDH was very high, as compared to the near-monomorphic isozymes of PGD. Two loci controlling leaf esterases Est-1 and Est-2, were identified in the primary gene pool. Differences in allelic frequency distribution of the polymorphic Est-1 locus occur between the cultivated and wild pearl millet. The prevalent alleles of Est-1 are absent in P. purpureum Schumach (secondary gene pool). A monomorphic band of the -esterase-specific Est-2 locus was identified in most of the secondary gene pool accessions, P. squamulatum Fresen and an accession of P. pedicellatum. SKDH and EST revealed differences between most of the tertiary gene pool species. By contrast, a PGD zymogram was prevalent in several species of different sectional taxa. Gene duplication for PGD isozymes occurs in the diploid species, P. ramosum, of the tertiary gene pool. Heterodimers of PGD and EST were observed in the hybrid between pearl millet and P. squamulatum, whereas a monomeric structure characterized SKDH and AMP.     

Relationships between some genetic parameters and test environments in open-pollinated families of Pinus elliottii in South Africa

Summary Growth traits, stem form and branch characteristics in three series of well-replicated trials, comprising open-pollinated families of Pinus elliottii Engelmann, were analysed to investigate whether the absolute value of the component of variance for family effect and its relative value (which is equivalent to one-quarter of heritability on individual values) were related, with trial averages of the traits studied taken as productivity indices of the sites tested. The first series, called the foreign selection series, consisted of four trials comprising open-pollinated families from single clones from a Florida seed orchard and from selected trees in Queensland, Australia. Two trials were established in the eastern Transvaal, at Tweefontein and Frankfort State Forests (SF), and two in Zululand, at Dukuduku and KwaMbonambi SF. The second series, called the Zululand selection series, consisted of open-pollinated families from single trees selected in Zululand that were compared in three trials: in the eastern Transvaal at Wilgeboom SF, in Zululand at Dukuduku SF and in the southern Cape at Lottering SF. The third series, called the South African selection series, consisted of open-pollinated families from single trees selected in the different forest areas of South Africa and compared in four trials: two trials in the eastern Transvaal at Tweefontein and Mariti SF and two in the Natal province at Dukuduku and Weza SF. Some positive and linear relationships between absolute sizes of the variance component for family and trial average for all traits studied, except stem form, were discernible for the foreign selections and for the Zululand selections. The South African selections presented a more erratic pattern of variation. However, when the origin of the genetic material was disregarded, the positive trends were undeniable. Curvilinear relationships between relative values and site averages were discernible, when the origin of the genetic material was disregarded. Further research is needed in order to confirm the suggested effect of site on genetic expressivity of open-pollinated families of slash pine grown in South Africa.     

A specific rearrangement of mitochondrial DNA induced by tissue culture

Summary The induction, growth and regeneration of sugar beet callus to whole plants were all found to be highly genotype-specific. Regenerants of one line (of sterile cytoplasm) were obtained and a study of the chloroplast and mitochondrial DNA in these somaclones was undertaken by gel electrophoresis and cosmid hybridization. In one somaclone a rearrangement in the mitochondrial genome was observed; the novel arrangement of this part of the genome was identical to the corresponding area of the genome of the normal cytoplasm though it was otherwise of sterile type. This suggests that mitochondrial DNA may have a propensity to undergo certain types of rearrangement.     

Regeneration of plants from hypocotyl protoplasts of rapessed (Brassica napus L. var. oleifera) cultivars

Protoplast cultures were prepared from hypocotyls of ten spring rapeseed cultivars. Protoplasts from all genotypes tested formed calli, and shoots were regenerated from calli of nine of the genotypes at frequencies varying from 15 to 76%. The regenerating cultivars fell into a high regenerating group (>60% and a low regenerating group <25%).     

Size variation in Brachionus plicatilis resting eggs

The effect of temperature and salinity on resting egg size of two Brachionus plicatilis (Rotifers) clones was investigated. Clones were selected according to their different behaviour in laying resting eggs: one clone ejects them, whereas they remain inside the females body in the other clone. The difference in resting eggs size between the two clones is noticeable, although the difference is not as great as that between female body size. An important temperature-salinity interaction on resting egg size has been observed. The general inverse relationship between size and temperature is only true at lower temperatures. At high temperatures size varies around the mean although could be greater than at intermediate temperatures. This is more evident at the intermediate salinity tested which is considered to be the closest to the optimum in our experiments. This pattern of variation suggests that mean size is bigger than expected, in relation to temperature and salinity, when these factors have values close to the extremes of their range, normally found in nature, and to which adaptative mechanisms can evolve. Size is bigger at the salinity — temperature low - low and high - high combinations which are the most commonly found in the temperate environments.     

Molecular genetics of rotifers: preliminary restriction napping of the mitochondrial genome of Brachionus plicatilis

Methods are presented to extract and purify mitochondrial DNA from the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. The mtDNA obtained is of sufficient purity for digestion with restriction endonucleases. EcoR I restriction patterns are presented for 4 geographically separated clones. A restriction map based on digestion with 5 different restriction enzymes is included for one of these clones. Finally, use of mtDNA analysis for studies on the population structure and biogeography of rotifers is discussed.     

The particle size characteristics of fluvial suspended sediment: an overview

The particle size characteristics of suspended sediment are of fundamental importance in understanding its role in a variety of environmental processes. Existing knowledge concerning the spatial and temporal variability of the grain size composition of suspended sediment is, however, relatively limited. At the global scale, major contrasts may exist between individual rivers in the calibre of their suspended load and this may be related to a number of controls including climate, catchment geology and basin scale. Any attempt to understand the precise relationship between the grain size characteristics of suspended sediment and those of its source material must also take account of the selectivity of erosion and delivery processes. A local case study undertaken by the authors in the 1500 km² basin of the River Exe in Devon, UK is used to illustrate the considerable spatial variability that may occur within a relatively small area and the complexity of the associated controls.Available evidence concerning the temporal variability of the grain size characteristics of suspended sediment emphasises the diverse patterns of behaviour that may exist and the complexity of the controls involved. In some rivers the sediment may become coarser as flow increases, in others it may become finer, whilst in others it may exhibit a relatively constant grain size composition. Data from the local case study in the Exe basin are again used to highlight the considerable diversity in response to changing discharge that may occur within a relatively small area.Any attempt to understand the dynamics of sediment movement through a river system must also take account of the potential contrast between the ultimate and effective particle size distribution of suspended sediment in response to aggregation. Results from the Exe basin study indicate that even in rivers with relatively low solute concentrations, almost an order of magnitude difference may exist between the median particle size associated with the ultimate and effective grain size distributions.     

Relative importance of temporal and spatial heterogeneity in the zooplankton community of an artificial reservoir

Zooplankton samples were collected monthly at three stations in Ogochi Reservoir during 1980, and the temporal and horizontal variations in the density of dominant taxa were evaluated by a standard 2-way ANOVA with random effects. The analysis revealed that horizontal is greater than temporal variation in the warm water season (> 18 °C), whereas temporal variation is greater in the cold water season (< 18 °C). Horizontal heterogeneity of the zooplankton community found in the warm water season seems to be associated with differences in site-specific conditions.     

Scale insect allozyme differentiation within and between host trees

Summary Allelic frequencies and genotypic distributions in three polymorphic enzyme systems demonstrated genetic differentiation over extraordinarily short distances in a population of black pineleaf scale insects infesting ponderosa pine trees. A hierarchical analysis of the population genetic structure showed significant differences between demes on different twigs within individual host trees, between demes on neighboring trees, and between demes in pine plots on adjacent city blocks. Allelic frequencies at a malic enzyme locus were associated with deme-to-deme variation in ecological correlates of insect fitness, suggesting adaptive hypotheses about the causes of population subdivision.