In vitro chromosome doubling of nineZantedeschia cultivars

Tetraploid plants have been produced from nineZantedeschia cultivars usingin vitro colchicine treatment. Rapidly-multiplying shoot cultures were treated on a medium containing 0.05% colchicine for 1, 2 or 4 days to induce chromosome doubling. Following the treatment, most shoots were killed but the surviving shoots were multiplied for several subcultures. These shoots were then rootedin vitro and transferred to a greenhouse. Plants were screened 2 months later by measuring stomatal length, and 110 out of 565 plants were selected as putative tetraploids with a stomatal length significantly greater than in diploid control plants. Chromosome counts were carried out on root tips from 44 plants and confirmed that 38 were tetraploids, 2 were chimeras (predominantly tetraploid with a few octoploid cells), and 4 were diploids. Stomatal length has been rechecked in mature tetraploid plants of the cultivar Black Magic, demonstrating that stomatal length is a good indicator of ploidy level inZantedeschia. This study has shown that multiplying colchicine-treated shootsin vitro for several subcultures prior to transfer to soil produced very few chimeras. The stomatal length measurements are non-destructive and allow the rapid screening of a population for tetraploids.     

A comparative study of molecular and morphological methods of describing relationships between perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) varieties

A sample set of registered perennial ryegrass varieties was used to compare how morphological characterisation and AFLP^® (AFLP^® is a registered trademark of Keygene N.V.) and STS molecular markers described variety relationships. All the varieties were confirmed as morphologically distinct, and both the STS and AFLP markers exposed sufficient genetic diversity to differentiate these registered ryegrass varieties. Distances obtained by each of the approaches were compared, with special attention given to the coincidences and divergences between the methods. When correlations between morphological, AFLP and STS distances were calculated and the corresponding scatter-plots constructed, the variety relationships appeared to be rather inconsistent across the methods, especially between morphology and the molecular markers. However, some consistencies were found for closely related material. An implication could be that these molecular-marker techniques, while not yet suited to certain operations in the traditional registration of new varieties, could be suitable methods for investigating disputable distinctness situations or possible EDV (EDV= essentially derived variety. An EDV is a variety being clearly distinct from, but conforming in the expression of the essential characteristics of, an ’initial variety’ (IV) from which it is found to have been predominantly derived) relationships, subject to establishing standardised protocols and statistical techniques. Some suggestions for such a protocol, including a statistical test for distinctness, are given.     

Rest length and compliance of non-immobilised and immobilised rabbit soleus muscle and tendon

The first aim of this study was to measure the contributions of muscle and tendon to the total compliance of resting muscle-tendon units. A second aim was to determine whether the decrease in muscle-tendon unit rest length produced by prolonged immobilisation in a shortened position is mediated primarily by adaptations of the muscle or tendon. One ankle joint from each of five rabbits was immobilised in a plantarflexed position for 14 days. The passive length-tension properties of soleus muscle fascicles and tendons from both hindlimbs were measured using a video-based tensile-testing system. In non-immobilised muscles, muscle fascicle strains exceeded tendon strains by up to four times. However, because the rest length of tendon was much greater than that of muscle fascicles, changes in tendon length accounted for nearly half of the total change in muscle-tendon unit length. The rest length of immobilised muscle-tendon units was less than that of non-immobilised muscle-tendon units from contralateral limbs. Most of this difference was attributable to a change in the rest length of the tendon; there was little change in the rest length of muscle fascicles. It is concluded that the tendon is responsible for a large part of the compliance of rabbit soleus muscle-tendon units at physiological resting tensions, and that adaptation of tendon rest length is the primary mechanism by which the rabbit soleus shortens in response to immobilisation at short lengths. Accepted: 7 May 1997     

Invertebrate grazing during the regenerative phase affects the ultimate structure of macrophyte communities

1. Although the biomass of freshwater macrophytes consumed by invertebrate herbivores (excluding crayfish) is usually low, there is growing evidence that invertebrates do exert a structuring effect on macrophyte communities. To explain this, we postulated that the effect of invertebrates may be concentrated on macrophytes during their regenerative phase.
2. We tested this hypothesis by means of a mesocosm-based experiment, in which we investigated the effects of different densities of pond snails [ Lymnaea stagnalis (L.)] on macrophytes regenerating from the natural sediment propagule bank.
3. After 2 months, a diverse macrophyte community had established in the absence of snails, mainly from sexual propagules. Under moderate snail grazing (4 individuals m⁻²), the ultimate biomass of macrophytes was similar, but its species composition differed dramatically. Only a few unpalatable taxa, such as Ceratophyllum demersum and Nymphaeaceae, persisted. Moreover, the relative success of macrophytes regenerating from vegetative rather than sexual propagules improved. Under higher snail grazing (20 m⁻²), all macrophytes disappeared before the end of the experiment.
4. These results confirm that snails at natural densities can have a strong effect on the ultimate structure of macrophyte communities by selectively consuming some species at a juvenile stage. Therefore, the regenerative phase can be seen as a window of opportunity for invertebrate grazers, which can have a qualitative effect on communities that is disproportionate to the biomass consumed.     

The use of DNA markers to estimate the extent and nature of genetic variability in Solatium tuberosum cultivars

High levels of DNA polymorphism were detected in 27 Solanum tuberosum cultivars examined. Combinations of at least two c-DNA clones have been identified which in conjunction with EcoRI allow important UK potato cultivars to be characterised by their molecular profiles. The widely grown North American cultivar Russett Burbank was also successfully fingerprinted. Estimates of genetic diversity based on restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) data indicate the important role that wild potato species and exotic germplasm have played in the development of the cultivars studied. A graphical method for simultaneously highlighting similarities and differences between genotypes for individual hybridising fragments is presented. This approach is particularly useful in identifying and recording fragments which are unique to certain genotypes. Two potato cultivars: Fiona and Morag produce unique RFLP profiles when digested with EcoRI and EcoRV and probed with a flax ribosomal DNA sequence. Both Fiona and Morag possess incomplete or partial (quantitative) type resistance to G. pallida which was transferred from S. vernei. The preferential transmission of the r-DN A fragments from S. vernei may indicate that this locus is associated with genetic factors controlling resistance to G. pallida.     

Comparison of geographically distant populations of Rhizobium isolated from root nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris

Seventy-two rhizobial strains were isolated from the root nodules of french beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris ). They were sampled from two geographically distant field populations and 18 additional different sites in France. They were characterized by a) plasmid profiles, (b) RFLP analysis of total cellular DNA using various chromosomal and symbiotic gene probes (including nif H from Rhizobium etli bv. phaseoli ) and c) their ability to nodulate a potential alternative host, L. leucocephala. Over half of the isolates were ascribed to Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli on the basis of the hybridization analysis, the possession of multiple copies of nif H and their inability to nodulate L. leucocephala. The remaining isolates belonged to 2 groups which were shown to be genomically distinct from R. leguminosarum bv. phaseoli, R. etli bv. phaseoli and R. tropici. Most members of these two groups shared with R. tropici the ability to nodulate L. leucocephala and, for isolates of only one of these groups, the presence of one copy of nif H. Members of each of the 3 taxa were widely distributed in France and circumstantial evidence of pSym transfer between them was shown. R. leguminosarum bv. phaseoli and one of the two novel groups co-occurred within the two geographically distant populations. Individual genotypes were conserved between them. The finding of a third taxon at various other locations indicated additional diversity among rhizobia nodulating beans.     

What makes a long tail short? Testing Allen's rule in the toque macaques of Sri Lanka

Allen's rule (1877) predicts ecogeographical anatomical variation in appendage proportions as a function of body temperature regulation. This phenomenon has been tested in a variety of animal species. In macaques, relative tail length (RTL) is one of the most frequently measured appendages to test Allen's rule. These studies have relied on museum specimens or the invasive and time-consuming capturing of free-ranging individuals. To augment sample size and lessen these logistical limitations, we designed and validated a novel noninvasive technique using digitalized photographs processed using LibreCAD, an open-source 2D-computer-aided design (CAD) application. This was used to generate pixelated measurements to calculate an RTL equivalent, the Tail to Trunk Index (TTI) = (tail [tail base to anterior tip] pixel count/trunk [neck to tail base] pixel count). The TTI of 259 adult free-ranging toque macaques (Macaca sinica) from 36 locations between 7 and 2,087 m above sea level (m.a.s.l.) was used in the analysis. Samples were collected from all three putative subspecies (M. s. sinica, aurifrons, and opisthomelas), at locations representing all altitudinal climatic zones where they are naturally distributed. These data were used to test whether toque macaque tail length variation across elevation follows Allen's rule, predicting that RTL decreases with increasing elevation and lower temperature. Our results strongly supported this prediction. There was also a statistically significant, negative correlation between elevation and annual average temperature. The best predictor for the TTI index was elevation. Significant subspecies differences in RTL are linked in part to their ecological and altitudinal niche separation, but overall the variation is seen as the species' adaptation to climate. The method developed for the quick morphometric assessment of relative body proportions, applicable for use on unhabituated free-ranging animals, widens the range of materials available for research studying morphological characteristics and their evolution in primates.     

海珠国家湿地公园浮游植物群落结构时空变化

浮游植物是湿地生态系统的重要组成成分,其数量及群落结构变化会对湿地生态系统的结构和功能产生重要影响。为了解海珠国家湿地公园浮游植物群落结构及时空动态变化特征,于2017年冬、2018年夏两季分别进行了调查。结果表明:海珠国家湿地公园共检到浮游植物171种,隶属7门64属,其中绿藻门、硅藻门和蓝藻门种类分别占总种类的44%、26%和13%;广州平裂藻(Merismopedia cantonensis)和细小平裂藻(Merismopedia minima)在两季均为优势种,冬季啮蚀隐藻(Cryptomonas erosa)也较多;浮游植物群落结构、丰度与生物多样性指数具有明显季节变化,冬季硅藻和绿藻占优,分别占藻类总丰度的32%和29%;夏季蓝藻占绝对优势,占68%;夏季浮游植物平均丰度达(25.58±18.47)×10⁶cells·L^-1,约为冬季的3倍; Shannon物种多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数冬季分别为4.38和0.77,夏季分别为2.92和0.51;从空间上看,海珠湖浮游植物种类、多样性指数均较低,而丰度较高;塘涌和西江涌硅藻...     

黄土高原北部典型灌丛枝条生物量估算模型

于2015年8月末在陕西神木县六道沟小流域采集200个柠条和210个沙柳枝条,测定枝条的基径(D)、长度(H)、含水量(W₀)、鲜质量(W_F)和干质量(W),选用指数函数和异速生长方程建立了4种由枝条形态指标估算枝条生物量的简易模型,并对模型的拟合效果进行验证. 结果表明: 对于柠条和沙柳灌丛,基于D、H二者组合变量(D²H)的异速生长方程是估算枝条生物量的最优模型,该模型经线性转化后可以消除生物量数据的异方差性,且拟合效果最优,决定系数(R²)最大,平均误差(ME)、平均绝对误差(MAE)、总相对误差(TRE)、平均系统误差(MSE)和平均绝对百分误差(MPSE)整体上最小,基本满足生态学研究的精度要求.     

综合性医院平均住院日绩效指标集的构建与应用

目的 构建以平均住院日为核心的绩效指标集,在此基础上,制定绩效目标及关键控制举措,并跟踪实际的执行效果。方法 收集2008年12月—2013年6月共计55个月的重点科室平均住院日数据,运用相关性分析和多元线性回归提取影响平均住院日的显著因素,根据模型结论,研究分析绩效控制目标和举措并进行应用。结果 现阶段有效缩短平均住院日应主要解决“收容收治比及床位资源的利用效率”两对关键矛盾,模型应用后,医院院整体平均住院日由原来的15.7天降低为11.6天,重点科室平均住院日由19.2天降低为14.6天。结论 平均住院日绩效指标集的应用有助于优化医院资源配置,达到显著提高整体运营效率的目的。