Physiological Changes in Phaseolus vulgaris in Response to Long-term Ozone Exposure

The effects of ozone on Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Lit were investigatedusing open-top chambers (OTCs) ventilated with charcoal andPurafil filtered air (CF treatments), ambient air (NF treatments)and ambient air to which low, medium or high concentrationsof ozone were added (NFL, NFM and NFH). Ozone additions of 8,16 and 23 nl l^–1 were made during phase 1 of the experiment(0–44 d after emergence, DAE), and additions of 15, 30and 47 nl l^–1 were made during phase 2 (45–99 DAE).Ozone was added to the chambers between 1100 and 1800 h GMT,for 3 or 4 consecutive days each week. The seasonal 7-h meanozone concentrations were 8, 21, 27, 33 and 38 nl l^–1in the CF, NF, NFL, NFM and NFH treatments, respectively. No visible symptoms of ozone injury or significant physiologicalchanges were detected in P. vulgaris during phase I of the experiment.In phase 2, the photosynthesis (Pn) and stomatal conductance(gs) of NFH-plants were inhibited by 73% and 86%, respectively,during ozone exposure, and recovered to pre-exposure valueson the following day. These observations were made prior tothe appearance, 60 DAE, of bronze lesions on the leaves of NFH-plants.The photosynthetic capacity and gs of NFH-leaves decreased asthe severity of ozone injury increased. Rates of weight lossfrom excised leaves also increased with increasing ozone injury.Microscopic investigations of the bronzed regions revealed extensivecellular breakdown, including tonoplast and chloroplast enveloperupture, and the aggregation of the cytoplasmic contents towardsone end of the cell. Severely damaged leaves abscised from the plants, resultingin premature canopy senescence in the NFM and NFH treatments.This, coupled with the lower photosynthetic capacity of existingleaves led to 25 % lower yield in the NFH than the NF treatment(P < 0.05). Phaseolus vulgaris, green bean, ozone, symptom development, photosynthesis, cell ultrastructure     

Die Eiablagehandlung der Mittelmeerfruchtfliege Ceratitis capitata Wied. Ihre Abhängigkeit von Größe und Dichte der Früchte

• 1 In Zweifachwahlen bevorzugten unbeeinflußte Mittelmeerfruchtfliegen die größere Attrappe für die Eiablage, sofern Größen zwischen 1 cm und 6 cm angeboten wurden. In Einfachwahlen wurden Kugeln von 3 cm und 6 cm φ gleich gut belegt, solche von 1–2 cm φ dagegen gemieden.
• 2 Die Bevorzugung der größeren Attrappe war unabhängig von der Attrappenfarbe und bei 1500 Lux auch von der Licht- oder Schattenlage der Einstichöffnungen.
• 3 Behaarte Oberflächen und klaffende Spalten störten die Legetätigkeit auch an Früchten optimaler Größe. In Einfachwahlen wurde die Eiablage durch stark behaarte Oberflächen aber nicht verhindert, sondern nur verzögert.
• 4 Äpfel von 4–6 cm φ regten gleich stark zum Bohren an, für die Eiablage bevorzugten die ♀ ♀ jedoch die leichter anstechbaren. Äpfel von 2 cm φ wurden immer nur schwach belegt.
• 5 Attrappengruppen wurden Einzelattrappen stets vorgezogen, sofern alle Kugeln gleich groß waren. Dagegen enthielten beide Anordnungen die gleiche Eimenge, wenn nur die Einzelattrappe stark nach Cox Orange duftete. War die Einzelattrappe größer als die Attrappen der Gruppe, wurde die Gruppe vernachlässigt. Die Legeleistung war von der Anzahl der Attrappen unabhängig.
• 6 Der Beginn der Bohrtätigkeit und die Aufenthaltsdauer an den Attrappen waren abhängig von der Oberflächenkrümmung.
• 7 Attrappen von 2–6 cm φ wurden auch in Umwegversuchen recht unterschiedlich belegt. Bezogen auf das jeweilige Volumen enthielten dagegen alle ungefähr die gleiche Eimenge.
• 8 Die Anzahl der Besucher und die relative Flugaktivität waren abhängig von der Größe und Dichte der Früchte oder Attrappen, die Bohr- und Legetätigkeit dagegen nur von der Oberflächenstruktur und -krümmung der einzelnen Körper.
• 9 Die ♀♀ bevorzugten in Zweifachwahlen die größere Attrappe, unabhängig davon, ob sie beide Körper gleichzeitig nebeneinander oder nur zeitlich nacheinander wahrnehmen konnten. Die Größere wurde nicht nur ihrer optischen, sondern auch ihrer taktilen Merkmale wegen stärker belegt.

     

Interspecific Hybridization of Trifolium repens with T. hybridum Using In Ovulo Embryo and Embryo Culture

In ovulo embryo culture followed by culture of excised immatureembryos produced interspecific hybrids between Trifolium repensL. (white clover) and autotetraploid T. hybridum L. (alsikeclover). Ovules containing hybrid embryos were excised 12–14 dafter pollination and cultured on Nitsch (1951) medium supplementedwith 15% young cucumber juice for 5–6 d. Embryos weresubsequently excised and transferred to hormone-free EG medium,a medium suitable for the culture of immature embryos. A total of 118 hybrid seedlings were obtained from 1978 reciprocalpollinations. All seedlings produced showed various chlorophylldeficiencies, either totally albino or albino with green sectors.Transmission electron microscope studies were carried out toinvestigate plastid development in embryos and seedlings. Someembryos produced only callus. Plants were regenerated from sevencalli. Two semi-albino plants survived transfer to soil, andone plant produced flowers. Backcrosses to T. repens producedone green plant. Hybridity is supported by analysis of morphological characters,karyotype and the gel electrophoretic separation of leaf isozymes. Pollen irradiated with 40 Gy of gamma rays was also used forpollinations. Results indicate that in certain cases ionizingradiation might be useful in overcoming hybrid inviability. Trifolium repens, Trifolium hybridum, clover, interspecific hybridization, in ovulo embryo culture, irradiation     

Factors Controlling the Abundance and Size Distribution of the Phototrophic Ciliate Myrionecta rubra in Open Waters of the North Atlantic

ABSTRACT. Myrionecta rubra, a ubiquitous planktonic ciliate, has received much attention due to its wide distribution, occurrence as a red tide organism, and unusual cryptophyte endosymbiont. Although well studied in coastal waters, M. rubra is poorly examined in the open ocean. In the Irminger Basin, North Atlantic, the abundance of M. rubra was 0–5 cells/ml, which is low compared with that found in coastal areas. Distinct patchiness (100 km) was revealed by geostatistical analysis. Multiple regression indicated there was little relationship between M. rubra abundance and a number of environmental factors, with the exception of temperature and phytoplankton biomass, which influenced abundance in the spring. We also improve on studies that indicate distinct size classes of M. rubra; we statistically recognise four significantly distinct width classes (5–16, 12–23, 18–27, 21–33 μm), which decrease in abundance with increasing size. A multinomial logistic regression revealed the main variable correlated with this size distribution was ambient nitrate concentration. Finally, we propose a hypothesis for the distribution of sizes, involving nutrients, feeding, and dividing of the endosymbiont.     

Symbiotic streptomycetes in antennal glands of the South American digger wasp genus Trachypus (Hymenoptera,Crabronidae)

Several insect taxa have evolved symbioses with actinobacteria that protect the host or its nutritional resources against pathogens. Digger wasps of the genus Philanthus (‘beewolves’; Hymenoptera, Crabronidae) cultivate ‘Candidatus Streptomyces philanthi’ (Ca. S. philanthi) in specialized antennal glands and transfer them to subterranean brood cells, where the symbionts provide protection for the beewolf larva against pathogens by producing a cocktail of antibiotic substances. The present study investigates the occurrence of antennal symbionts in two species of the genus Trachypus, which is the closest relative to Philanthus. Cross sections of the antennae from females of both Trachypus denticollis and Trachypus boharti reveal bacteria‐containing gland reservoirs that are morphologically very similar to those found in Philanthus spp. Polymerase chain reaction‐based screens with specific primers, sequencing of the partial 16S rRNA gene, and fluorescence in situ hybridization confirm the presence of close relatives of ‘Ca. S. philanthi’ in T. denticollis and T. boharti. However, 16S rRNA sequence divergence between Trachypus spp. and Philanthus spp. symbionts is much higher for T. boharti than for T. denticollis, suggesting that horizontal transmission and/or de novo uptake of symbionts from the environment occurs occasionally. The results obtained indicate that the protective symbiosis with antennal actinobacteria is older and more widespread than previously recognized and occurs in at least two genera of digger wasps that comprise approximately 170 species.     

New Streptocarpus species (Gesneriaceae) from South Africa

Two new rosulate species of Streptocarpus are described from the eastern seaboard of South Africa. The first is endemic to Mpumalanga Province. This species has almost actinomorphic corollas with small cylindrical tubes and was previously included within Streptocarpus parviflorus. However, molecular and morphological data and habitat preference do not support this classification. The second species is from the Msikaba River Gorge in the Eastern Cape Province. It adds to the already impressive list of endemic plant species from this region and is allied to other rosulate species of the Eastern Cape. It approaches Streptocarpus rexii in flower size but differs in its much shorter corolla tubes, which lack purple nectar guides. In addition, the corolla floors are marked with yellow bars reminiscent of Streptocarpus cyaneus and also seen in sympatric populations of the small‐flowered Streptocarpus modestus. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 743–748.