Tolerance to the fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani AG4 of transgenic tobacco expressing the maize ribosome-inactivating protein b-32

The maize b-32 protein is a functional ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP), inhibiting in vitro translation in the cell-free reticulocyte-derived system and having specific N-glycosidase activity on 28S rRNA. Previous results indicated that opaque-2 (o2) mutant kernels, lacking b-32, show an increased susceptibility to fungal attack and insect feeding and that ectopic expression in plants of a barley and a pokeweed RIP leads to increased tolerance to fungal and viral infection. This prompted us to test whether b-32 might functi on as a protectant against pathogens. The b32.66 cDNA clone under the control of the potato wun1 gene promoter was introduced into tobacco by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Out of 23 kanamycin resistant regenerated shoots, 16 contained a PCR fragment of the corrrect size spanning the boundary between the promoter used and the coding region of the b-32 gene. Eight independently transformed tobacco lines were randomly chosen for protein analysis: all of them expressed b-32 protein. The data presented indicate that transgenic tobacco plants expressing b-32 show an increased tolerance against infection by the soil-borne fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn     

Isolation,characterization and evaluation of 11 autosomal STRs suitable for population studies in black and gold howler monkeys Alouatta caraya

We identified 11 polymorphic microsatellite markers for Alouatta caraya. Three markers were isolated from an enriched genomic library of A. caraya (AC14, AC17, AC45), five were previously described in Homo sapiens (TGMS1, TGMS2, D5S117, D8S165, D17S804), and three were identified for Lagothix lagotricha (1110, 1118, 157). Forty‐eight individuals from one Argentinean population were genotyped, yielding heterozygosity values between 0.146 and 0.792. These markers provide an exclusion power of 0.922 when neither parent is known (0.992 when one parent is known) and are suitable for parentage analysis, population genetics and phylogeographical studies of A. caraya, the southernmost primate in the New World.     

Ecophenotypic variation and phylogenetic inheritance in first lower molar shape of extant Italian populations of Microtus (Terricola) savii (Rodentia)

Seventeen extant populations of Microtus (Terricola) savii have been investigated for correlations of first lower molar shape to climatic variables by means of geometric morphometrics, and controlling for phylogenetic inheritance. Comparative methods revealed that climatic variables and phylogeography provide a very similar contribution to variation in first lower molars morphology, whereas tooth size does not appear to be affected by climatic conditions. Climate‐related changes have been recognized in the anteroconid portion of the tooth. This indicates that molar tooth variation is strongly influenced by climatic conditions, although in a complex way. Calabrian populations, often ascribed to Microtus (Terricola) brachycercus, form a distinct cluster, in agreement with the most recent genetic analyses. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 99 , 632–647.     

A comparative study of competitive ability between two cactophilic species in their natural hosts

Abstract Competition is a major aspect of the ecology of insect communities exploiting ephemeral and fragmented resources. We analysed the effect of intraspecific (single species culture) and interspecific (mixed species culture) competition on larval viability, developmental time and wing length in the cactophilic Drosophila buzzatii and Drosophila koepferae (Diptera: Drosophilidae) reared in cultured media prepared with fermenting tissues of three common natural cactus hosts in nature at different densities. Our results show that all traits measured were affected by both intra‐ and interspecifc competition, although the effect of competition depended on the Drosophila species and the rearing cactus. In fact, flies tended to have a lower viability, shorter wing size and longer developmental time as a function of increasing density in single species culture in both D. buzzatii and D. koepferae (intraespecific competition). Besides, the performance of both species was seriously affected (shorter body size, slower developmental times, lower viability) by the presence of heterospecific competitors except in the case of D. koepferae reared in its primary host plant, Trichocereus terschekii. We also show that D. koepferae successfully utilized Opuntia quimilo, which is absent in most parts of its distribution range. We discuss the roles of intra‐ and interspecific competition as determinants of the relative abundance of these two species in the arid zones of Southern South America.     

Pheomelanin Production by the Lipoxygenase-Catalyzed Oxidation of 5-S-Cysteinyldopa and 5-S-Cysteinyldopamine

5-S-cysteinyl-dopa (cysdopa) and 5-S-cysteinyl-dopamine (cysdopamine) are oxidized in vitro by soybean lipoxygenase (LOX) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide giving rise to the corresponding pheomelanins. The reaction is activated by caffeic acid and other catechols, suggesting a cofactor role for these compounds. The activating effect is proportional to the concentration of the cofactor, with a saturation profile. The activation extent of the various cofactors is directly related to LOX affinity for the same compounds. The possible implications of the peroxidative action of LOX in Parkinson's disease and in aging are discussed.     

The shape of the mandibular corpus in large fissiped carnivores: allometry,function and phylogeny

Mandibular corpus shape variability was investigated in seven families of both extant and extinct mammalian carnivores using two‐dimensional landmarks and geometric morphometric methods. The landmark configuration represents the position of the fourth premolar relative to the canine and the lower carnassial, plus related features of the corpus profile. Between families, the corpus manifests differences in shape and allometry. Additionally, families differ in the relationship between the angle α (a carnassial trait proxy for hypo‐hypercarnivory) and mandibular corpus shape. When phylogenetic relatedness is taken into account using five different phylogenies as covariates, interspecific scaling is still present but the relationship between α and corpus shape is no longer significant. This suggests that the allometric relationship reflects the physical constraints of mastication, resulting in relatively increased corpus depth with higher loads. In contrast, the angle α is related to corpus curvature and this relationship is phylogenetically constrained by the reduction of the molar battery in large feliforms early during the carnivore radiation. In summary, large fissiped carnivores show extensive functional convergence in mandibular corpus shape although the evolutionary routes leading to such functional convergence are different. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 154 , 832–845.     

Effects of photoperiod and temperature on the development of Bonagota cranaodes

Abstract.  The Brazilian apple leafroller, Bonagota cranaodes (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is reared in the laboratory under a long-day (LD 14 : 10 h) and a short-day (LD 7 : 17 h) photoperiod at 22 °C, and under two different temperatures (10–13 °C and 21–22 °C). The development time from larval to adult eclosion do not differ between the two photoperiods, but did between the two temperature regimes. However, the larvae do not enter diapause, even under short day conditions and low temperatures. The number of adults obtained does not differ with temperature and light conditions. Field captures with pheromone traps show that Brazilian apple leafroller occurs in apple orchards throughout the year and the population densities are lower in winter. Accordingly, control measures should be taken during the off-season.