Application of the Red List Index as an indicator of habitat change

For the first time ever, the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List Index for habitat types was calculated for an entire country, Finland. The RLIs were based on species threat assessments from 2000 and 2010 and included habitat definitions for all 10,131 species of 12 organism groups. The RLIs were bootstrapped to track statistically significant changes. The RLI changes of species grouped by habitats were negative for all habitat types except for forests and rural biotopes which showed a stable trend. Trends of beetles and true bugs were positive in rural and forest habitats. Other 16 observed trends of species group and habitat combinations were negative. Several trends observed were in accordance with studies focusing on particular taxa and habitats, and drivers for their change. This study demonstrates the usefulness of the RLI as a tool for observing habitat change based on species threat assessment data.     

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.     

Isotype concentrations of human antibodies to Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide (Hib) in young adults immunized with the polysaccharide as such or conjugated to a protein (diphtheria toxoid)

Antibody responses of young adults to Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide (Hib) or its protein conjugate were studied with special attention to the isotype composition of the antibodies. Three conclusions of interest can be made: 1) Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in polysaccharide-immunized volunteers displayed the subclass pattern previously found in antibodies to meningococcal type A polysaccharide. IgG1 was the predominant subclass in IgG antibodies of some individuals, IgG2 in others. Still others had the two subclasses in varying but more even proportions. 2) The conjugate vaccine induced a geometric mean response 2 to 3 times higher and an IgG response 4 times higher to Hib than the polysaccharide vaccine. 3) Anti-Hib antibodies induced by the conjugate vaccine still had essentially the same IgG subclass composition as anti-Hib antibodies induced by the polysaccharide. This composition was strikingly different from the composition of the anti-diphtheria toxoid response induced by the same conjugate vaccine.     

The growth of potential food poisoning organisms on chicken and pork muscle surfaces

Muscle surfaces of pork were inoculated with a mixture of Yersinia enterocolitica and Staphylococcus aureus , and chicken muscle with Campylobacter jejuni or a mixture of Salmonella typhimurium and Staph. aureus . The surface growth at 20°C was followed microscopically. Organisms grew as discrete colonies bound together by a glycocalyx which differed between bacterial species. On prolonged incubation colonies spread peripherally and tended to coalesce, while still retaining their colony structure. Staphlycoccus aureus colonies were very small and remained so. The glycocalyx was considered critical in maintaining the dense populations of bacteria on the meat surfaces.