Isolation of 21 new polymorphic microsatellite loci in the phytopathogenic fungus Venturia inaequalis

Twenty‐one new polymorphic microsatellite markers were isolated in the phytopathogenic fungus Venturia inaequalis, the causal agent of apple scab. An enrichment protocol was used to isolate microsatellite loci and the level of polymorphism was assessed on 44 European isolates. All loci were polymorphic with an average of 9.1 alleles per locus (range 2–24). Tests of cross‐species amplifications suggest that at least some of these microsatellites could be used in different species, mainly Spilocaea pyracanthae and S. eriobotryae.     

Mating disruption for control of damage by codling moth in Virginia apple orchards

Polyethylene dispensers (Shin Etsu) containing 172 ml of the sex pheromone, (E, E)-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol (63%), dodecenol (31%) and tetradecenol (6%), of codling moth (CM),Cydia pomonella (L.), were placed in apple orchards in Virginia. Two blocks of about 2 ha each were treated in 1989, and three in 1990. Dispensers were placed in trees at a density of 1000/ha shortly after apple bloom. Male orientation to pheromone traps was almost totally disrupted (a few males were captured at high population densities). In 1989, the Daleville pheromone-treated block had 0.9% and 0.8% CM-injured fruit in the center and edge, respectively; 0% and 39.5% injured fruit were found in the conventional control and abandoned blocks, respectively. The Criglersville orchard (‘organically’ managed, with high CM density) CM harvest injury was 16.0%, 16.5%, 34.5%, and 26.5% in the pheromone-treated center and edge, organic control and abandoned blocks, respectively. In 1990, the Daleville CM harvest injury was 4.7%, 7.3%, 1.1%, 0.3% and 58%, in the pheromone-treated center and edge, control center and edge, and abandoned blocks, respectively (possible reasons for the high injury in this block are discussed). Harvest injury in the Fincastle pheromone-treated and control blocks were 0.7% and 0%, respectively. The Criglersville orchard yielded 17%, 19% and 20% CM-injured fruit at harvest in the pheromone-treated, organic control and abandoned blocks, respectively. Pheromone release rate was calculated as 37 mg/ha/h in 1989.     

Biosynthese des produits volatils de la pomme: Formation des alcools et des esters a partir des acides gras

The biosynthesis of apple volatiles (alcohols and esters) was studied using disks of aged tissues. After adding each substrate, the volatiles formed were analysed and estimated by GLC and their qualitative and quantitative composition compared with those of the control. Alcohols were formed from aliphatic acids having either the same number of carbon atoms, or from higher homologues through β-oxidation. Fatty acids with an even carbon number gave rise to butanol and hexanol, while odd carbon fatty acids generated propanol and pentanol. Esters were synthesized from the corresponding acid and alcohol and the yield was very high. Volatile profiles differed from one variety to another, yellow-skinned varieties producing chiefly acetic acid esters and the red-skinned mainly butyric acid esters. Provided the right substrates were given, all the esters were synthesized by the different tissues assayed, and the nature of the volatiles produced by each variety depends on the substrates present in the fruit. However, in Golden Delicious apples, which have a low content of butyric esters, erogenous butyrate was rapidly and completely transformed into acetate.     

利用外源多酚氧化酶酶促氧化制备茶黄素的研究

本实验选用不同的酶源，通过采用生物酶促氧化的方法制取含量较高的茶黄素粗品。研究表明，在供试的酶源中，对茶黄素的形成与积累的效果依次为：梨子〉茶叶〉苹果，利用梨子PPO制取茶黄素，其含量高达45．727％，制率也高达41．11％。而在供试的茶鲜叶中，苹云较好，槠叶齐次之，在以苹云冷冻叶为酶源制取的茶黄素含量达33．737％，制率达42．22％。     

Phloridzin and apple scab

Phloridzin, sieboldin, trilobatin, phloretin and 3-hydroxyphloretin can all be used as carbon sources by Venturia inaequalis in culture. Resistance to apple scab was not linked with inheritance of sieboldin or trilobatin in seedlings. There is no direct connection between phloridzin or its breakdown products and scab resistance.     

Respiration rates of apple trees, estimated by CO2-efflux measurements

Abstract. Measurements of the efflux of CO₂ from 5–6 year old container grown apple trees, in the dark at a range of temperatures (T), indicated that respiration rate (R) can be described by the equation R = SL e ^kT. The temperature coefficient k, was the same at all times of the year and for all components of the trees, but the values of a varied. At the same temperature respiration rates were low when the trees were dormant, rose rapidly to a peak in spring (before full bloom) and then declined steadily through the season. When respiration was expressed as a flux density, rates for different components of the tree were usually similar. Differences were sometimes statistically significant but no clear pattern emerged. The results obtained are similar to those published for other plants and the equation can be used in the calculation of the carbon balance of apple trees.     

Estimation of an effective soil water potential at the root surface of transpiring plants

Abstract. A simple method is described for estimating an average of 'effective' soil water potential at the root surface for transpiring plants. The method is based on measurements of leaf water potential and leaf conductance to water vapour in stressed plants and in well-watered controls, and uses the simple Ohm's law analogue for water flow in the soil-plant system. The technique is applied to data for field-grown apple trees and to previously published data for wheat and cowpea.     

Variation in fatty acid composition of apples in relation to soft scald

The distribution of fatty acids within individual fruits was uneven early in storage. When soft scald developed in the fruit, the affected tissue contained less linoleic acid than sound tissue. Differences in fatty acid composition were also found between freshly harvested fruit from different trees within an orchard. Apples that were stored at O° had a low linoleic acid content during the early weeks of storage when the fruit are susceptible to the disorder but the content then increased substantially during subsequent storage. It seems that a low linoleic acid content renders the fruit more susceptible to soft scald.     

Metabolism of added gibberellic acid in Malus pumilla in relation to cool storage breakdown

Gibberellic acid (GA₃) that was injected into the core of apples to reduce internal breakdown, was found to accumulate in the cortical tissue during cool storage only to a limited extent and never exceeded 0.5 % of the added dose. Limitations on the commercial use of GA₃ would appear to be associated with the low level of incorporation into susceptible tissue.