The increased population of the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa L.) in Europe

In this paper the recent population changes of the Wild Boar in different European countries is analysed through the study of hunting statistics. A simultaneous increase in numbers is observed throughout the whole area during the period 1965–1975. From 1975 onwards the population stabilizes itself apart from in peripheral areas like Finland. Potentially favourable factors which play a part in this process are discussed and certain reproductive and dispersive characteristics which favour its invasive behaviour are discussed.     

Ethidium Probing of the Parallel Double- and Four-stranded Structures Formed by the Telomeric DNA Sequences dG(GT)4G and d(GT)5

Abstract

Oligonucleotides 3′-d(GT)₅-(CH₂CH₂O)₃-d(GT)₅-3′ (parGT), containing GT repeats present in the telomeric DNA from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, had been demonstrated to form bimolecular structure, GT-quadruplex (qGT) [O. F. Borisova et al. FEBS Letters 306, 140–142 (1992)]. Four d(GT)₅ strands of the GT-quadruplex are parallel and form five G-quartets while thymines are bulged out. The four GT repeats when flanked by guanines, 3′-dG(TG)₄G-(CH₂CH₂O)₃- dG(GT)₄G-3′ (hp-GT), had been shown to form a novel parallel-stranded (ps) double helix with G·G and T·T base pairs (hp-GT ps-DNA) [A. K. Shchyolkina et al. J. Biomol. Struct. Dynam. 18, 493–503 (2001)]. In the present study the intercalator ethidium bromide (Et) was used for probing the two structures. The mode of Et binding and its effect on thermostability of qGT and hp-GT were compared. The quantum yield (q) and the fluorescence lifetime (τ) of Et:qGT (q = 0.15 ±0.01 and τ = 24 ±1 ns) and Et:hp-GT (q = 0.10 ± 0.01 and τ = 16.5 ± 1 ns) indicative of intercalation mode of Et binding were determined. Et binding to qGT was found to be cooperative with corresponding coefficient ω = 3.9 ± 0.1 and the binding constant K= (6.4 ± 0.1)·10M^?1. The maximum number of Et molecules intercalating into GT-quadruplex is as high as twice the number of inerspaces between G-quartets (eight in our case). The data conform to the model of Et association with GT-quadruplex suggested earlier [O. F. Borisova et al. Mol. Biol. (Russ) 35, 732–739 (2001)]. The anticooperative type of Et binding was observed in case of hp- GT ps-DNA, with the maximum number of bound Et molecules, N = 4 ÷ 5, and the association constant K = (1.5 ± 0.1)·10⁵ M^?1. Thermodynamic parameters of formation of Et:qGT and EtBr:hp-GT complexes were calculated from UV thermal denaturation profiles.     

Chromosome numbers in Brazilian species of Crotalaria (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae) and their taxonomic significance

Chromosome numbers were counted for 23 species of Crotalaria native to Brazil. Among these data there were new counts for 15 taxa, and some confirmed previous reports or represented numbers that were different from those cited previously. The chromosome numbers most frequently found were 2 n  = 16 and 2 n  = 32. Only C. incana L. had 2 n  = 14 and C. tweediana Benth. had 2 n  = 54. The counts 2 n  = 32 and 54 were found in species of section Calycinae and 2 n  = 16 and 14 in species of section Chrysocalycinae . The data revealed the importance of chromosomal parameters in the characterization of sections Calycinae and Chrysocalycinae in Brazil. We discuss the systematic significance and evolutionary aspects for the genus, comparing the results with the two sections that are native in Brazil.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 151 , 271–277.     

Chromosome numbers and meiotic analysis in the pre-breeding of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Brachiaria decumbens</Emphasis> (Poaceae)

A total of 44 accessions of Brachiaria decumbens were analysed for chromosome count and meiotic behaviour in order to identify potential progenitors for crosses. Among them, 15 accessions presented 2n = 18; 27 accessions, 2n = 36; and 2 accessions, 2n = 45 chromosomes. Among the diploid accessions, the rate of meiotic abnormalities was low, ranging from 0.82% to 7.93%. In the 27 tetraploid accessions, the rate of meiotic abnormalities ranged from 18.41% to 65.83%. The most common meiotic abnormalities were related to irregular chromosome segregation, but chromosome stickiness and abnormal cytokinesis were observed in low frequency. All abnormalities can compromise pollen viability by generating unbalanced gametes. Based on the chromosome number and meiotic stability, the present study indicates the apomictic tetraploid accessions that can act as male genitor to produce interspecific hybrids with B. ruziziensis or intraspecific hybrids with recently artificially tetraploidized accessions.     

Patterns of genetic variability at individual minisatellite loci in minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata populations from three different oceans

The genetic variability at six cloned minisatellite loci was analyzed in minke whale populations from the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Antarctic Oceans. Three loci displayed only a few different alleles in each of the three populations, with heterozygosity ranging from 0.00 to 0.47, and three loci revealed many different alleles in at least two fo the three populations, with heterozygosity ranging up to 0.98. Using small sample sizes, samples from two adjacent Antarctic Management Areas were not found to differ significantly in allele frequencies at any of the six loci. The use of principal coordinate analysis to detect multilocus disequilibria was explored. No significant evidence was found of intrapopulation heterogeneity within the pooled Antarctic sample. Pronounced interoceanic differences were observed at every locus, confirming the existence of genetic isolation found earlier using more conventional marker systems. The populations from the three oceans appear to have diverged to such a degree that the hypervariable loci have had time to evolve independently and arrive at different evolutionary stages in different populations. The frequency of undetected "null" alleles is remarkably high in minke whale populations compared to human populations and is probably a result of the cloning protocol used. Minisatellite loci are shown to provide a powerful population genetic tool, supplying levels of resolution appropriate to different degrees of evolutionary divergence.      

Transgenic tobacco plants expressing Tarin 1 inhibit the growth of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato and the development of Spodoptera frugiperda

The protein Tarin 1, from Colocasia esculenta, was expressed in Nicotiana tabacum. Bioassays were done on plants expressing Tarin 1 at different levels using Spodoptera frugiperda larvae, various bacteria and fungi and the root‐knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica. It was found that S. frugiperda larvae fed on transformed plants had retarded and lower pupation, lower accumulated biomass and higher mortality rate than larvae fed on control plants. Also, Tarin 1 was found to inhibit the growth in vitro of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato. For Meloidogyne javanica, both relative replication and root damage were greater in control plants than in transformed plants, but the results were not statistically significant. This work illustrates the effects of plants expressing Tarin 1, on the growth and development of insects and bacteria, and shows its potential for pest management.