Translocation of Nitrogenous Compounds in Symbiotic and Nitrate-Fed Amide-Exporting Legumes

Peoples, M. B., Sudin, M. N. and Herridge, D. F. 1987. Translocationof nitrogenous compounds insymbiotic and nitrate-fed amide-exportinglegumes.–J. exp. Bot. 38: 567–579. The transport of nitrogen from the roots and nodules of chickpea(Cicer anetinum L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medic), faba bean(Vicia faba L.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) was examined in glasshouse-grownplants supplied either with nitrate-free nutrients or with nutrientssupplemented with 1,2,4 or 8 mol m^-3153N-nitrate. A sixth treatmentcomprised uninoculated plants supplied with 8–0 mol m^-31513N-nitrate. For each species, more than 75% of the nitrogenwas exported from the nodules as the amides, asparagine andglutamine. In fully symbiotic plants, the amides also dominatednitrogen transport to the shoot When N2 fixation activity wasdecreased by the addition of nitrate to the rooting medium,the N-composition of xylem exudate and stem solutes changedconsiderably. The relative concentrations of asparagine tendedto increase in the xylem whilst those of glutamine were reduced;the levels of nitrate increased in both xylem exudate and thesoluble nitrogen pool of the stem with a rise in nitrate supply.The changes in relative nitrate contents reflected generallythe contributions of root and shoot to overall nitrate reductaseactivity at the different levels of nitrate used. The relationshipsbetween the relative contents of xylary or stem nitrate andamino nitrogen and the plants' reliance on N2 fixation (determinedby the ¹⁵N isotope dilution procedure) were examined. Data suggestthat compositional relationships based on nitrate may be reasonableindicators of symbiotic dependence for all species under studyexcept faba bean when greater than 25% of plant nitrogen wasderived from N2 fixation. Key words: Nitrogen, translocation, legumes     

Sedimentary Residual Soil as a Waste Containment Barrier Material

Compacted soil liners are widely used as a waste containment barrier to control or restrict the migration of contaminant/leachate from the landfill into the environment because of their low hydraulic conductivity, attenuation capacity, resistance to damage or puncture, and cost effectiveness. Compacted soil liners are usually composed of natural inorganic clays or clayey soils. If natural clayey soils are not available, kaolinite or commercially available high swelling clay (bentonite) can be mixed with local soils or sand. This study examines the potential of a sedimentary residual soil as a waste containment barrier in landfills. The laboratory experiments conducted were: grain size distribution, Atterberg limits, swelling tests, compaction, volumetric shrinkage strain, unconfined compression, hydraulic conductivity and cation exchange capacity. The experimental results were compared with those recommended by various researchers for evaluation of its suitability. Test results showed that the soil compacted with modified Proctor compaction effort possesses low hydraulic conductivity (≤1 × 10^?7 cm/s) and adequate strength. In addition, compacted sedimentary residual soil exhibited little volumetric shrinkage strain of below 4% at this compaction effort. Thus, the sedimentary residual soil could be effectively used for the construction of a waste containment barrier in landfills.     

Transfusion Tissue in the Leaves of Thuja orientalis L.

The studies on the development and structure of transfusiontissue in the leaves of Thuja orientalis L. reveal that thetransfusion tissue develops all around the vascular bundle andforms a broad wing-like structure on either side of the midrib,in almost the entire length of the leaf. It extends beyond thevascular strand and reaches the apex where it is reduced considerably. The transfusion tissue in T. orientalis is of complex natureand is composed of living and non-living elements. The formerincludes transfusion parenchyma and albuminous cells while thelatter only the tracheids. Both vary in their size and shapeat various positions within a leaf.     

Comparison of Groundnut bud necrosis virus isolates based on movement protein (NSm) gene sequences

The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the movement protein (NSm) genes of five isolates of Groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV) originating from different hosts and parts of India such as cowpea and tomato from Kerala, groundnut from Tamil Nadu, and potato from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan were determined and compared to the known NSm sequences. Sequence analysis revealed that the NSm genes of GBNV isolates were identical in length (924 bp encoding 307 amino acids). GBNV isolates shared maximum identity (98–100%) at amino acid levels with GBNV‐Type isolate, while 82–83% and 34–65% amino acid sequence identities were observed with Watermelon silver mottle virus and other Tospoviruses respectively. The NSm genes among GBNV isolates originating from different hosts and locations appeared highly conserved (93–100%), suggesting their common origin.     

Diagnosis of bovine freemartinism by the polymerase chain reaction method

Summary. Using sex chromosome specific primers, leucocyte chimaerism in heterosexual bovine female twins was identified by combining polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction enzyme digests.     

Preparation of Cuticle-free Epidermal Peels for the Demonstration of Primary Pit-fields

Cuticle-free epidermal peels for the demonstration of primarypit-fields (if any) on the outer surface of the epidermal cells,can be prepared by a chemically controlled process, using 5-10per cent NaOH solution as a macerating medium. Such peels canbe obtained from any desired part of the plant within a periodof a week. The process involves allowing the trimmed piecesof the plant material to stand in the NaOH solution at 50–60°C, until all the cuticular depositions on the outer surfaceof the epidermal cells are dissolved and the unwanted tissuesare sufficiently loosened to allow the easy removal of the epidermis.The separation of epidermis is done by giving moderate agitationsin water during washing or by means of a soft-haired brush undera dissecting microscope. The peels so obtained must be washed thoroughly in water andcan then be stained with bismark brown or iron alum hematoxylln.After dehydration in ethanol, they can be mounted permanentlyin Canada balsam.     

可食用文蛤中氧化性胁迫的生物标记物与甲基毒死蜱和草甘膦的生物富集

近几十年期间,在种群和个体受干扰后,对作为早期指示剂的生物标记物的研究受到越来越多的关注。我们用对水生生态系统污染敏感的生物标记物双壳类软体动物(文蛤)来评估两种有机磷杀虫剂(甲基毒死蜱、草甘膦)的影响。文蛤是水生生态系统污染的一种敏感的指示物种。在不同时间段测定文蛤中不同组织的非酶的(谷胱苷肽)和酶的(过氧化氢酶)抗氧化剂,作为文蛤中生物标记物的反应。在实验室条件下,测定了脂质过氧化作用、蛋白羰基含量、总蛋白含量、总脂质含量以及胆碱酯酶的活性。对不同的生物标记与杀虫剂的生物体内积累的相互关系进行了研究。甲基毒死蜱在文蛤组织中具有最大的诱导氧化胁迫的潜能,导致脂质过氧化反应增加并抑制抗氧化剂。而且,鳃是对该反应最敏感的器官。文蛤是一种极好的甲基毒死蜱的积聚者,因为暴露60天后,可以测定到其组织中浓度为824.0 mg/kg w.w的甲基毒死蜱。随着在草甘膦中暴露时间的增加,与背景水平相比,组织中草甘膦的浓度增加大约8×103mg/kg w.w。可以得出这样的结论:在一种生物中测定几种生物标记物是有用的。在双壳类中,蛋白质的羰基诱导可用于双壳类中化学污染物诱导的氧化胁迫的生物指示剂。抗氧化剂的防御成分是敏感的参数,是评估污染的水生生态系统的有用的生物标记物。辅以蛤组织的化学分析,生物标记参数能够提供一种有力的监测工具。