Association between cancer chemotherapy and canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus, and rabies virus antibody titers in tumor-bearing dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between cancer chemotherapy and serum canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvovirus (CPV), and rabies virus antibody titers in tumor-bearing dogs. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 21 client-owned dogs with various malignancies and 16 client-owned dogs with lymphoma. PROCEDURE: In study A, serum antibody titers were measured by use of hemagglutination inhibition (CPV titers) or serum neutralization (CDV titers) before and at least 1 month after initiation of chemotherapy. Baseline values were compared with values obtained from a control population of 122 healthy dogs seen for routine revaccination. Titers were considered protective at > or = 1:96 for CDV and > or = 1:80 for CPV. In study B, serum IgG titers were measured by use of immunofluorescent assay (CDV and CPV titers) and rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT, rabies titers) at baseline and again at weeks 5, 8, and 24 of a standard chemotherapy protocol for treatment of lymphoma. An IgG titer of > or = 1:50 was considered protective for CPV and CDV. An RFFIT titer of > or = 0.5 U/ml was considered protective for rabies virus. RESULTS: Significant changes were not detected in CDV, CPV, and rabies virus titers following chemotherapy in tumor-bearing dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that established immunity to CDV, CPV, and rabies virus from previous vaccination is not significantly compromised by standard chemotherapy used to treat tumor-bearing dogs.     

Genetic control of acquired high temperature tolerance in winter wheat

Summary The development of high temperature-tolerant wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) germplasm is necessary to improve plant productivity under high-temperature stress environments. The quantification of high temperature tolerance and the characterization of its genetic control are necessary for germplasm enhancement efforts. This study was conducted to determine the genetic control of acquired high temperature tolerance in common bread wheat cultivars. Reduction of 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) by heat-stressed seedling leaves was used as a quantitative measure to characterize acquired high temperature tolerance. Eleven-day-old seedlings of 20 F₁ progeny produced through a complete 5×5 (Payne, Siouxland, Sturdy, TAM W-101, and TAM 108) diallel mating design were acclimated at 37° C for 24 hours, followed by a 2-hour incubation at 50° C. Under these test conditions, acquired high temperature tolerance ranged from a high of 75.7% for the genotype TAM W-101 × TAM 108, to a low of 37.3% for the genotype Payne × Siouxland. Partitioning of genotypic variance revealed that only the general combining ability component effect was statistically highly significant, accounting for 67% of the total genotypic variation. These results suggest that enhancing the level of high temperature tolerance in wheat germplasm is feasible utilizing existing levels of genetic variability and exploiting additive genetic effects associated with high temperature tolerance.Contribution of the Texas Tech College of Agric. Sci. Journal no T-4-386. This work was supported by USDA specific agreement No. 58-7MNI-6-114 from the Plant Stress and Water Conservation Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Lubbock, Texas, USA     

Selection for seed yield in Andean intra-gene pool and Andean × Middle American inter-gene pool populations of common bean

Yields of large-seeded Andean (A) common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars of Chile and Nueva Granada races are 40 to 60% lower compared to their Middle American (M) counterparts of small-seeded Mesoamerica and medium-seeded Durango races. Our objective was to use the concept of congruity backcrossing between Andean x Middle American inter-gene pool [AM 11833 = A 483 (A)///// A 686 (M) //// PVA 800A(A)/// ‘Carioca’ (M)// Carioca (M)/ G 19833 (A)] and between races within Andean gene pool [i.e., intra-gene pool Andean, AA 11834 = A483 (A)//// ‘Cardinal’(A) /// ‘Blanco Español’(A) // BlancoEspañol (A) / ‘Taylor’ (A)] to compare selection for seed yield improvement of large-seeded Andean beans. Seven hundred sixty seven F₂-derived F₃ (F_2:3) families were produced for each population. Visual appraisal for total plant performance, combined with seed yield from non-replicated plots was used for selection of 551 families in F_2:3, 182 families in F_2:4, and 91 families in F_2:5 in each population. Eight hundred twenty three F_5:6 lines were developed from the 91 F_2:5 families in each population. Visual selection, combined with seed yield in non-replicated plots was again used to select 294 lines in F_5:6 in each population. Similarly, 44 highest yielding F_5:7 lines were selected in AM 11833 and 39 F_5:7 lines in AA 11834. Thus, single plant selections were made in the F₂ and F₅, and plants within each plot were harvested in bulk in F₃, F₄, F₆, and F₇. Thirty nine F_5:8 lines from AA 11834 and 44 lines from AM 11833, parents, and checks were evaluated at Popayán and Quilichao, Colombia in 1998 and 1999. Selected lines in both populations, on average, out-yielded the mean of their large-seeded Andean parents. Mean yield of the lines selected from AM 11833 was 50% higher than AA 11834 lines. Twelve F_5:8 lines out-yielded the highest yielding Andean parents G 19833 and A 483 in AM 11833, whereas only one line yielded significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the highest yielding parent A 483 in AA 11834. However, none of selected lines out-yielded small-seeded Middle American parents used in AM 11833 (A 686 and ‘Carioca’). The mean 100 seed-weight of AA 11834 was 36 g compared to 28 G for AM 11833 F_5:8 lines. Selected lines had similar days to maturity as parents in AM 11833, and matured 3 d later in AA11834. Correlation coefficients between yield and 100 seed-weight were negative in both populations. Yield and days to maturity were positively correlated in AA 11834.     

Genetic analysis of in vitro wheat somatic embryogenesis

Summary A spring wheat genotype which produces somatic embryos in vitro, after short and long-term culture, was tested for its ability to sexually transmit this embryogenic trait. Reciprocal crosses were performed between a embryogenic line and a nonembryogenic variety.Immature embryos were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium plus 2 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, gelled with 5.5 g/l agarose. Somatic embryogenesis was not expressed in the F₁'s. In contrast, from several hundred immature embryos of the F₂ generation of one cross, 10.7% and 1.6% expressed somatic embryogenesis in short and long-term cultures respectively. These percentages of embryogenic: non-embryogenic fits a model of a few complementary genes. The embryogenic capacity of the F₂ genotypes depends on the presence of recessive alleles at these gene loci. The long-term wheat somatic embryogenesis capacity requires a more complex mechanism than the short-term one.Abbreviations CS Chinese Spring - Aq Aquila - E Embryogenic - NE Nonembryogenic - SC Subculture     

Analysis of Chinese Spring regenerants obtained from short- and long-term wheat somatic embryogenesis

Summary Somatic embryogenesis was initiated from immature embryos on Murashige-Skoog (MS) medium plus 2 mg.l^-1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2% sucrose and 0.6% agarose. Somatic embryos were isolated and regenerated into whole green plants on MS medium devoid of 2,4-D. These regenerants were previously demonstrated to differ in their mitochondrial DNA organization. In order to estimate their characteristics three progenies of short-term culture regenerants and three progenies of long-term culture regenerants were analyzed and compared to the parental line. These somaclones obtained from the wheat variety Chinese Spring were evaluated for variation of 13 agronomic and morphological quantitative characters in comparison to the parental line. Significant variation was observed for plant height, spike length, main tiller diameter, between the somaclones regenerated from long-term culture and their parent. Differences were observed to increase with the duration of culture, leading to a significant modification of the structure of the plants. Several changes occurred during the somatic tissue cultures, but to a lesser extent than has previously been described in the literature.     

Parental influences on gas exchange rates in grain sorghum

Summary Significant genetic variation in CO₂ assimilation rate (A), stomatal conductance (g), and A: g ratio, which are indicators of intrinsic differences in productivity and water use efficiency (WUE), has been demonstrated in grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] hybrids. The primary objective was to determine the possible parental influence on the components of the A: g relationship in sorghum hybrids across a range of water supplies. Thirty F₁ hybrids resulting from a 6 × 6 diallel crossing pattern constituted the genetic material. Field experiments were conducted using four water supply treatments established through differential irrigation. Carbon assimilation rate (A), g, and leaf water potential (_w) of individual leaves were monitored every 15 to 20 days. Genetic analyses revealed that general- and specific-combining ability effects were evident for A. However, reciprocal and maternal effects were more important in governing the A-g and A-_w relationships. Since the maternal effects were the major determinants in causing reciprocal differences, A can be improved by selecting specific female parents to exploit cytoplasmic factors or physiological characteristics of this parent. Substantial genetic variation in the A-g relationship resulting from significant genetic control of A offers the opportunity to impose selection for high A and stability of A, which might directly contribute to whole plant WUE and productivity in grain sorghum.Abbreviations A carbon assimilation rate - g stomatal conductance to water vapor - GCA General Combining Ability - SCA Specific Combining Ability - WUE Water Use Efficiency     

UV photoreduction of aqueous nitrite in heptane suspensions

Ultraviolet photolysis of aqueous nitrite solutions in contact with a paraffin hydrocarbon causes a reduction of nitrite, by abstracted hydrogen atoms, to occur. This is evidenced by the formation of ammonium whose concentration is found to follow a simple, overall, kinetic pattern.     

Photoreactivity of some organics with aqueous Br− and I− codissolved with nitrate

Our earlier research on the photochlorination of some organics suspended in solutions of aqueous Cl^? codissolved with anionic NO _x ^? is extended to systems comprising either bromides or iodides, and NO ₃ ^? . It is found that the bromide-containing systems follow, under both artificial UV and sunlight, overall reaction patterns quite similar to those of chlorides although the rate term which stands for the bromination of organics is larger and directly proportional to light intensities. Solutions containing iodides also follow a similar overall pattern but the first rate term is now proportional to the square of light intensity. However, they react liberating detectable amounts of iodine which thereafter attack the hydrocarbon. This excess of elementary iodine is thus found to be either dissolved in or adsorbed by the organic; it furthermore also dissolves and becomes complexed in the aqueous phase.     

The reproductive biology and genetic diversity of Potamophila parviflora R. Br.

Potamophila parviflora, a wild relative ofdomestic rice, is endemic to the north-eastern river systemsof New South Wales, Australia. It is the only member of the genus,and is habitat specific. Several new sites were found, mostly in theUpper Clarence catchment. Florets of P.parviflora were found to be 86%female-only, while 14% contained mature malereproductive parts, which occurred more often in the middle sectionof the panicle. Pollen was found to be necessary for the developmentof mature fruits. RAPD data showed that there is very little geneticvariation between individual plants, or between differentpopulations. An embryological study showed several irregularities inmegasporogenesis and megagametogenesis. No tetrads were observed inmegasporogenesis and the ovule is vacuolate at the megaspore mothercell stage. Megagametogenesis proceeded rapidly, nuclei within theovule were sometimes not spherical and varied in size, and sometimesthe antipodal cells doubled in number with a corresponding halving insize of the nuclei. Chromosome number varied between 2n = 24and 2n = 25, between and within populations. These resultsindicate that P. parvifloracould be a diplosporous apomict of the Antennaria type, althoughfurther works are required to provide conclusive proof.