A Histological Analysis of Regeneration in Watermelon

The optimization of regeneration protocol for different genotypes increases the yield in transformation studies. Cotyledon explants of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb) Matsum & Nakai] cv Crimson Sweet were cultured on MS medium containing combinations of benzyl adenine (BA) (0, 5, 10, 20 µM) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) (0, 0.5, 5 µM). Maximum shoot growth and subsequent rooting from explants on regeneration medium were obtained from the media containing 10 µM BA + 0.5 µM IAA and 20 µM BA (75 and 78%) by direct organogenesis, respectively. Histological analysis showed that cell division was observed in the epidermal and subepidermal layers. Protuberant structures were observed in tissues between 7 and 12 days in culture. Meristematic structures were observed after 12days in culture which later developed into buds.     

Progress since the first international symposium: ‘Genetic aspects of plant mineral nutrition’, Beograd, 1982, and perspectives of future research

Summary The paper discusses the problems of genetic aspects of plant mineral nutrition in the light of the results presented at the First and Second Symposia on ‘Genetic Aspects of Plant Mineral Nutrition’ organized in Beograd in 1982 and Madison in 1985, respectively. On the basis of the results, future directions of research are discussed. The papers deal with the concentration and content of mineral nutrients in different genotypes, physiological and biochemical aspects of the genetic specificity of plant mineral nutrition, relations between plant genotypes and nitrogen fixing micro-organism strains, as well as with some related problems which have been investigated to a lesser extent. Particular attention is paid to papers and problems referring to genetic and breeding research work linked with genetic aspects of plant mineral nutrition as well as the possibilities of developing new cultivars requiring certain soil and mineral nutrition conditions for their cultivation.     

Predator-induced phenotypic plasticity in Daphnia pulex: uncoupling morphological defenses and life history shifts

Chemical cues from a predator Chaoborus sp. induce morphological defense (neck spine) and life history shifts (later reproduction, decreased fecundity but larger juvenile size) in the waterflea Daphnia pulex. These shifts have been interpreted either as costs of defense or as separate adaptation. In order to investigate if the life history shifts can be separated from the morphological defense, Daphnia pulex individuals were exposed to chemical cues from Chaoborus at different stages of life for variable periods. The daphnids that were exposed to Chaoborus started their reproduction later than the controls, although the differences were not statistically significant. Neck spine was induced only if daphnids were exposed to Chaoborus in an early stage of their life. Numbers of eggs produced were not affected by the different treatments, but egg mortality was higher in mothers exposed to Chaoborus. With these treatments it was possible to see neck spine induction without measurable life history changes or costs. On the other hand, irrespective of neck spine presence, the Chaoborus chemical(s) had an effect on Daphnia pulex mothers.Publication no 2159. Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Centre for LimnologyPublication no 2159. Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Centre for Limnology     

The Quaternary eolian sequence of Madeira: stratigraphy, chronology, and paleoenvironmental interpretation

A thick (ca. 40 m) sequence of coastal eolian sediments occurs on a narrow peninsula on the eastern end of the island of Madeira, located in the Eastern Atlantic at 33°N latitude. The sediments consist of black volcanic sands (with or without bioclasts) as well as clay units up to 2 m thick. A series of inceptisols (Eutrochrepts) and one alfisol (a Hapludalf) are developed in these sediments. Land snail shells and secondary carbonates, in the form of well-developed rhizoliths, calcretes, fissure-fills, and soil nodules, are present in abundance. The chronology of the sequence was determined by ¹⁴C and U---Th analyses of land snail shells and secondary carbonates and amino acid epimerization analysis of land snail shells. All sediments, including the clay units, are originally of eolian origin, derived from the beach to the south of the deposit, but some have been redeposited by colluviation. Temporal variation in the lithology of the sediments relates to variations in sea-level, with black sands being deposited during lower sea level stands and clays at the lowest. It is suggested that fine marine sediments, exposed during low sea-level stands, may also be the dominant source of silty or clayey units in other coastal eolian deposits in the subtropical Atlantic and Mediterranean.

The sequence spans from 200,000–300,000 years ago up to the 20th century. Sedimentation was discontinuous and often rapid; erosional hiatuses are present. During the Holocene, eolian sands started accumulating at 8200 yr B.P. during a transgressive phase and stopped at 4500 yr B.P. as sea level approached its present height. Colluviation increased dramatically following the first human settlement of the island in the 15th century and continued up to the 20th century, as dated by amino acid epimerization analysis of land snails. Earlier periods of colluviation were identified from the age distribution of land snail shells redeposited in younger colluvium.

Paleoenvironmental reconstruction was based mainly on soil and sediment features (including rhizolith morphology) and land snail faunas but also on stable isotope variations (¹³C, ¹⁸O) in land snails and secondary carbonates, pollen (generally not well preserved), and phytoliths. Most of the portion of the Middle Pleistocene represented in the sequence was characterized by moderately dry conditions, in comparison to the late Pleistocene and Holocene. During the last interglacial, relatively wet conditions occurred, wetter than during the Holocene interglacial. Moderately moist conditions were present during the accumulation of the thick unit dating to ca. 80,000 yr B.P. As sea level fell subsequent to this period, conditions appear to have become drier. Starting ca. 50,000–55,000 yr B.P., conditions were especially wet, but prior to the last glacial maximum, markedly arid conditions ensued. Toward the end of the last glacial, wet conditions returned and produced the best-developed soil preserved in the sequence. Moderately moist conditions occurred during the early to middle Holocene but apparently become slightly drier after 4500 yr B.P. The impact of human settlement can be seen in the loss of woody vegetation and enhanced gullying and colluviation during the last ca. 500 years.     

Inter-twin relationships and mental health.

We evaluated dominance-submissiveness between co-twins and its relationship to mental health in a cohort study of 419 twins followed from pregnancy to 22-30 years of age. Dominance-submissiveness between co-twins was assessed from three separate perspectives: physical dominance, psychological dominance, and verbal dominance. Depressive, nervous, and psychosomatic symptoms were analyzed in different twin groups. In the physical domain, males were more commonly dominant than females at school age and in adulthood. Before and at school age, girls were more dominant than boys in the psychological and verbal domains, as well as in total dominance. These differences disappeared in adulthood, and 81% of adult twins felt themselves equal to their co-twin in total dominance. Submissiveness in the psychological domain seemed to be associated with increased depressiveness, nervous complaints and psychosomatic symptoms in males of male-female twin pairs. Verbally submissive males in same-sex twin pairs had more depression and psychosomatic symptoms. Among females of same-sex twin pairs, submissiveness in the psychological domain was most clearly associated with depressive symptoms, whereas psychological or verbal dominance-submissiveness among females from male-female twin pairs was not associated with symptoms. Psychologically dominant males and females of same-sex twin pairs expressed greater nervousness than did their co-twins. We conclude that being submissive, especially in the psychological domain, to a female twin partner seems to be stressful, whereas it is easier, especially for females, to be submissive to a male twin partner.