Inhibition of abscisic acid biosynthesis inCercospora rosicola by triarimol

The fungicide triarimol was tested for its effect on abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation in growing culturesof Cercospora rosicola. ABA accumulation was reduced by approximately 50% with 10^–8 M triarimol. Growth ofC. rosicola, as measured by dry weight accumulation, was inhibited by triarimol concentrations at or greater than 10^–7 M. These results are compared with those obtained with clomazone, ancymidol, and paclobutrazol, which inhibit ABA accumulation by 50% at concentrations of 5 × 10^–5, 5 × 10^–6, and 5 × 10^–7 M, respectively. Triarimol, therefore, is among the most potent inhibitors of ABA biosynthesis reported to date. Feeding studies with [¹⁴C]mevalonic acid confirmed the inhibition of ABA biosynthesis by 5 × 10^–8 M triarimol. These results support previous suggestions that one or more of the steps in the ABA biosynthetic pathway from mevalonic acid is catalyzed by cytochrome P-450. Feeding studies with 1-deoxy-[²H]-ABA in resuspended cultures ofC. rosicola show that the conversion of this substrate is not inhibited by triarimol.     

Capitalist Philanthropy and Russian Revolutionaries: The Jesup North Pacific Expedition (1897-1902)

This review of the Jesup North Pacific Expedition, still the most important expedition in American anthropology, gives an idea of the goals and hazards of fieldwork around 1900, the pitfalls of international research, the tensions between anthropologists and host populations, the careers of early anthropologists, the role of private philanthropy, and the character of anthropology at the turn of the century. Franz Boas was the Expedition's linchpin. His organization of the Expedition, the way he handled problems, and his personal concerns reveal aspects of his view of anthropology and some of his basic attitudes.     

Life history of the predatory mite Phytoseius plumifer and the effect of nutrition on its biology (Acarina: Phytoseiidae)

Phytoseius plumifer could develop and reproduce when fed on the different stages of the red spider mite T. cinnabarinus. The female immature stages lasted for an average of 4.8, 3.8 and 4.5 days respectively when fed on eggs, immatures and adults of the prey at an average temperature of 29.5±1°C. The average number of deposited eggs per female was significantly greater when it fed on immatures and adults (about 45 eggs) than when it fed on prey eggs (about 29 eggs). During the whole life-span the predator female fed on an average of 969 eggs or 438 immatures or 346 adults, of these more than 93% were consumed during the adult stage. Males lived for shorter time and consumed fewer prey than females.The predator could develop and reproduce successfully on date-palm pollen but at a slower rate. On this diet the immature stages lasted 10.5 days and female laid an average of 16.6 eggs. On hollyhock and cotton pollen, or sweet potato leaves, larvae failed to develop to adults.

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Zusammenfassung Phytoseius plumifer konnte sich entwickeln und fortpflanzen, wenn er mit verschiedenen Stadien der Roten Spinnmilbe, Tetranychus cinnabarinus, gefüttert wurde. Die Entwicklungs-stadien des Weibchens dauerten bei einer Mitteltemperatur von 29,5±1° je nach Fütterung mit Eiern, Jungtieren oder Adulten der Beute durchschnittlich 4,8, 3,8 oder 4,5 Tage. Die durchschnittliche Anzahl von einem Weibchen abgelegter Eier war signifikant größer, wenn sie mit Larven und Erwachsenen gefüttert wurden (etwa 45 Eier), als wenn sie mit Eiern der Beutetiere ernährt wurden (etwa 29 Eier). Während der Gesamtlebensdauer verzehrte ein Raubmilben-Weibchen im Durchschnitt 969 Eier oder 438 unreife oder 346 erwachsene Beutetiere, von denen mehr als 93% während des Imaginalstadiums verbraucht wurden. Männchen lebten kürzere Zeit und vertilgten weniger Beute als die Weibchen.Der Räuber konnte sich an Dattelpalmen-Pollen entwickeln und erfolgreich fortpflanzen, jedoch mit einer geringeren Rate. Bei dieser Ernährung dauerte die Entwicklung bis zur Imago 10,5 Tage und ein Weibchen legte im Durchschnitt 16,6 Eier. Mit Stechpalmen- und Baumwoll-Pollen oder an Süßkartoffel-Blättern entwickelten sich die Larven nicht bis zur Imago.

     

Combined effect of ambient temperature and solar radiation on maned sloths' behaviour and detectability

Changes in ambient temperature and solar radiation may affect sloths' metabolic rate and body temperature, with consequent changes in activities, postures and microhabitat selection. Although the separate effect of temperature and solar radiation on sloth's behaviour have been previously studied, the combined effect of these climatic factors on behavioural aspects of sloths has never been systematically evaluated in field conditions. Here we evaluated the influence of hourly ambient temperature variation on maned sloth (Bradypus torquatus) activities, postures and tree crown positions, under sunny and cloudy conditions; and tested if any of the animal posture and position increase their exposure to human detection. We performed 350 h of visual observation on eight maned sloths, equipped with radio-backpacks, in northern Bahia, Brazil, recording their activities, and their resting postures and positions on tree crowns. We also recorded the time taken to visualize the sloths on 58 days to analyse if sloths' detection is affected by posture and position. Higher ambient temperature, within a range of 21–33°C, increased the sloths' activity levels in cloudy conditions but reduced their activity in sunny conditions. Increasing ambient temperature also reduced the frequency of huddled posture and increased the frequency of extended posture and permanence in the inner tree crown. Lastly, the postures and positions did not influence sloths' detectability. Thus, the direction of the temperature–activity relationship depends on climatic conditions (sunny/cloudy), and individuals rely on resting postures and positions to thermoregulate. The warmer and drier future climate, expected to occur in the northern Atlantic Forest, may impose change in the diurnal activity levels and postural pattern for this threatened species, leading maned sloths to reduce its activity on sunny and warmer days and adopting an extended posture.     

Molecular phylogenetic study of flavonoids in medicinal plants: a case study family Apiaceae

Journal of Plant Research - The current study examined the phylogenetic pattern of medicinal species of the family Apiaceae based on flavonoid groups production, as well as the overall mechanism of...     

Growth and cell volume of Euglena gracilis in different media.

It is necessary to propagate Euglena gracilis cells for several days after transfer from one medium to another to establish the steady state of balanced growth. Steady-state growth was established in minimal and in complex medium. Specific growth rates and cell volume distributions were computed for each culture medium. Mean cell volume of E. gracilis is not uniquely correlated with the specific growth rate.     

Organization and development of the perivascular space system in the neurohypophysis of the laboratory mouse

Summary The organization of the system of perivascular space around the capillaries in the neurohypophysis was studied in the adult and developing laboratory mouse by the use of histological silver impregnation and electron microscopical techniques.In the median eminence short and long extensions, arising mainly from the shallow space around capillary loops of the primary plexus of the portal system, formed radiations into the adjacent neural tissue of the external zone. The tissue of the neural lobe was separable into non-vascular regions dominated by undilated portions of neurosecretory nerve fibres and pituicytes, and neurovascular regions with perivascular space extensions forming an extensive system of connections between neighbouring capillaries.In the median eminence, the system of extensions of the perivascular space was estimated to increase the neurovascular contact surface area by at least 50%, implying an increased efficiency of the organ without a notable increase of its volume. The possibility that the ramifications of the perivascular space imply an enhanced uptake rate into the bloodstream and a subsequent increased concentration of the neurohormones in the portal blood, was discussed.During development of the median eminence, differentiation of perivascular space extensions of the adult type started in the juvenile of about three weeks of age, when shallow capillary loops had been formed. In the neural lobe, perivascular space ramifications were already present when the internal capillaries were formed and were fairly frequent in ten-day young. At the age of three to four weeks the organization of the system was similar to that of the adult animal.