Use of detached tomato leaves to test for resistance to tomato mosaic virus

Samenvatting Een methode werd ontwikkeld om de resistentie van in de kas geteelde tomateplanten tegen tomatemozaïek virus (ToMV) te bepalen. Bladeren van een vatbare en een resistente cultivar werden afgesneden en geïnoculeerd met ToMV. Na 6, 10 en 17 dagen werden de geïnoculeerde bladeren getoetst op de aanwezigheid van virus met ELISA en door inoculatie van bladeren vanNicotiana glutinosa. Met beide toetsmethoden kon de virustoename in de vatbare cultivar al vroeg na inoculatie duidelijk worden aangetoond. In de bladeren van de resistente cultivar was een zeer kleine hoeveelheid virus pas laat na de inoculatie aantoonbaar. Met deze methode is het mogelijk om de resistentie tegen ToMV te bepalen, tevens zaad te winnen en landbouwkundige eigenschappen te evalueren, zonder de plant te infecteren.     

Effects of CO2 enrichment on young plant growth of 96 genotypes of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Summary The early growth of 96 genotypes of tomato was studied at 320 ppm CO₂ and at 750 ppm CO₂ in separate climate rooms. Plants were harvested at 40 and 55 days after sowing. Fresh and dry weights were determined. Large differences between genotypes were found for average plant fresh and dry weights and for relative growth rates. The average overall growth enhancement by CO₂ enrichment was 2.3. Two genotypes showed significant genotype x CO₂ interaction. The consequences of these results for tomato breeding are discussed.     

Solvent-extractable lipids in an acid andic forest soil; variations with depth and season

Total lipid extracts from an acid andic soil profile located on Madeira Island (Portugal) were analysed using gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The profile was covered mainly by grass. Bulk soil characteristics determined included soil pH (H₂O) ranging from 4.5 to 4.0 and TOC, ranging from 84 to 30 g kg⁻¹. A decrease of the contribution of lipids per TOC with depth was observed. The absence of typical bacterial markers might be an indication for reduced bacterial activity, most likely related to the low soil pH and the presence of Al and Fe (oxides). The distribution observed in the top layer with a dominant C₂₆n-alkanol, steroids and triterpenoids, reflected mainly an input by grass leaves. A strong decrease in both relative and absolute concentration of these leaf-derived compounds was observed when comparing the litter layer with the mineral soil. The presence of C₂₂-C₃₂n-alkanoic acids, C₂₂-C₂₆ ω-hydroxy acids, C₃₁n-alkane and C₂₂-C₃₂n-alkanols observed in the sub-soil is indicative of an important contribution by (grass) roots. In summer, a signal most likely reflecting the leaching of microbially derived products from the litter and/or aerial vegetation at the surface was observed.     

Comparative evaluation of six different body regions of the dog using analog and digital radiography

In this study the quality of digital and analog radiography in dogs was compared. For this purpose, three conventional radiographs (varying in exposure) and three digital radiographs (varying in MUSI-contrast [MUSI = MUlti Scale Image Contrast], the main post-processing parameter) of six different body regions of the dog were evaluated (thorax, abdomen, skull, femur, hip joints, elbow). The quality of the radiographs was evaluated by eight veterinary specialists familiar with radiographic images using a questionnaire based on details of each body region significant in obtaining a radiographic diagnosis. In the first part of the study the overall quality of the radiographs was evaluated. Within one region, 89.5% (43/48) chose a digital radiograph as the best image. Divided into analog and digital groups, the digital image with the highest MUSI-contrast was most often considered the best, while the analog image considered the best varied between the one with the medium and the one with the longest exposure time. In the second part of the study, each image was rated for the visibility of specific, diagnostically important details. After summarisation of the scores for each criterion, divided into analog and digital imaging, the digital images were rated considerably superior to conventional images. The results of image comparison revealed that digital radiographs showed better image detail than radiographs taken with the analog technique in all six areas of the body.     

Towards F<Subscript>1</Subscript> Hybrid Seed Potato Breeding

Compared to other major food crops, progress in potato yield as the result of breeding efforts is very slow. Genetic gains cannot be fixed in potato due to obligatory out-breeding. Overcoming inbreeding depression using diploid self-compatible clones should enable to replace the current method of out-breeding and clonal propagation into an F₁ hybrid system with true seeds. This idea is not new, but has long been considered unrealistic. Severe inbreeding depression and self-incompatibility in diploid germplasm have hitherto blocked the development of inbred lines. Back-crossing with a homozygous progenitor with the Sli gene which inhibits gametophytic self-incompatibility gave self-compatible offspring from elite material from our diploid breeding programme. We demonstrate that homozygous fixation of donor alleles is possible, with simultaneous improvement of tuber shape and tuber size grading of the recipient inbred line. These results provide proof of principle for F₁ hybrid potato breeding. The technical and economic perspectives are unprecedented as these will enable the development of new products with combinations of useful traits for all stakeholders in the potato chain. In addition, the hybrid’s seeds are produced by crossings, rendering the production and voluminous transport of potato seed tubers redundant as it can be replaced by direct sowing or the use of healthy mini-tubers, raised in greenhouses.     

有机物-金属相互作用对重金属负载土柱中粘土矿物吸附剂再生的影响

Natural clay minerals can play an important role in crude remediation of wastewater polluted with the heavy metals (HMs) Cu,Zn and Ni.The presence and timing of addition of natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) have a significant effect on the HM removal by clay mineral sorbents.However,the influence of the presence of DOM on the remediation of the used clay mineral sorbents once saturated with HMs is largely unknown.To resolve this,clay mineral-rich soil column of varying composition,loaded (i) with Cu,Zn and Ni only,(ii) first with DOM followed by Cu,Zn and Ni,or (iii) with DOM,Cu,Zn and Ni simultaneously,was used in a set of desorption experiments.The soil columns were leached with 0.001 mol L-1 CaCl2 dissolved in water as control eluent and 0.001 mol L-1 CaCl2 dissolved in DOM as treatment eluent.During the preceding loading phase of the sorbent,the timing of DOM addition (sequential or concurrent with HMs) was found to have a significant influence on the subsequent removal of the HMs.In particular when the column was loaded with DOM and HMs simultaneously,largely irreversible co-precipitation took place.Our results indicate that the regeneration potential of clay mineral sorbents in wastewater treatment will be significantly reduced when the treated water is rich in DOM.In contrast,in manured agricultural fields (where HMs enter together with DOM),HM mobility will be lower than expected from interaction dynamics of HMs and clay minerals.     

Quantitative resistance to Botrytis cinerea from Solanum neorickii

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is susceptible to gray mold (Botrytis cinerea). Quantitative resistance to B. cinerea was previously identified in a wild relative, S. neorickii G1.1601. The 122 F₃ families derived from a cross between the susceptible S. lycopersicum cv. Moneymaker and the partially resistant S. neorickii G1.1601 were tested for susceptibility to B. cinerea using a stem bioassay. Three putative quantitative trait loci (pQTL) were detected: pQTL3 and pQTL9 reducing lesion growth (LG) and pQTL4 reducing disease incidence (DI). For each pQTL, a putative homologous locus was identified recently in another wild tomato relative, S. habrochaites LYC4. pQTL3 was confirmed by assessing disease resistance in BC₃S₁ and BC₃S₂ progenies of S. neorickii G1.1601. pQTL4 was not statistically confirmed but the presence of the S. neorickii resistance allele reduced DI in all three tested populations. The reduction in LG of pQTL9 was not confirmed but rather, this locus conferred a reduced DI, similar to observations in the QTL study using S. habrochaites. The results are discussed in relation to other disease resistance loci identified in studies with other wild tomato relatives.     

Map- vs. homology-based cloning for the recessive gene ol-2 conferring resistance to tomato powdery mildew

The recessive gene ol-2 confers papilla-associated and race-non-specific resistance to tomato powdery mildew caused by Oidium neolycopersici. In order to facilitate marker assisted selection (MAS) in practical breeding programmes, we identified two simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and one cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) marker which are linked to the resistance locus and co-dominantly inherited. Aiming to provide a base for ol-2 positional cloning, we used a large segregating F₂ population to merge these markers with all the ol-2 linked amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP^®) markers previously identified in an integrated genetic map. By screening a tomato bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library, we detected two BAC clones containing two expressed sequence tags (ESTs) homologous to the gene mlo, responsible for powdery mildew resistance in barley, as well as an ol-2-linked marker. Chromosomal mapping by Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH) revealed major signals of the two BAC DNAs in the pericentromeric heterochromatin of the short arm of chromosome 4, in the same region where the ol-2 gene was previously mapped. The genetic and cytogenetic co-localisation between ol-2 and tomato mlo-homologue(s), in addition to the similarity of ol-2 and mlo resistances for both genetic and phytopathological characteristics, suggests that ol-2 is likely a mlo-homologue. Thus, a homology-based cloning approach could be more suitable than positional cloning for ol-2 isolation.     

Further identification of races of Cladosporium fulvum (Fulvia fulva) on tomato originating from the Netherlands France and Poland

Races ofCladosporium fulvum, which can overcome the resistance of the genes Cf₂, Cf₄, Cf₅, Cf₈, Cf₉ and Cf₁₁ have appeared in the Netherlands, France and Poland. Known isolates from the Netherlands and France and three new isolates from Poland have been investigated for the presence of virulence genes using a set of genotypes carrying resistance genes Cf₂ to Cf₁₁.Several Dutch isolates of races, earlier designated as 2.4, 2.4.5 and 2.4.5.9, were found to break down the resistance gene Cf₁₁. These races must therefore be designated as 2.4.11, 2.4.5.11 and 2.4.5.9.11 respectively. In the new Polish isolates virulence genes, overcoming the resistance genes Cf₂, Cf₄, Cf₈, Cf₉ and Cf₁₁ were found. Since all races able to grow on genotypes with Cf₄, could also grow on genotypes carrying Cf₈, it was impossible to discriminate between the genes Cf₄ and Cf₈. These Polish isolates were designated as races 4.11, 2.4.11 and 2.4.9.11. The consequences of the occurrence of these races for tomato breeding are discussed.Samenvatting Fysio's vanCladosporium fulvum, die de resistentie-genen Cf₂, Cf₄, Cf₅, Cf₈, Cf₉ en Cf₁₁ kunnen doorbreken, zijn in Nederland, Frankrijk en Polen opgetreden. Met behulp van een groep genotypen, die de resistentie genen Cf₂ tot en met Cf₁₁ dragen, zijn Nederlandse, Franse en enkele nieuwe Poolse isolaten onderzocht op de aanwezigheid van virulentiegenen. Enkele Nederlandse isolaten, eerder aangeduid met 2.4, 2.4.5. en 2.4.5.9, bleken het resistentie-gen Cf₁₁ te kunnen doorbreken. Deze moeten daarom aangeduid worden als respectievelijk 2.4.11, 2.4.5.11 en 2.4.5.9.11. In de nieuwe Poolse isolaten werd virulentie gevonden voor Cf₂, Cf₄, Cf₈, Cf₉ en Cf₁₁. Alle fysio's die op genotypen met Cf₄ konden groeien, groeiden ook op genotypen met Cf₈. Daarom kon geen ondersheid gemaakt worden tussen Cf₄ en Cf₈. De Poolse isolaten behoren tot de fysio's 4.11, 2.4.11 en 2.4.9.11. De gevolgen van het voorkomen van deze fysio's voor de tomateveredeling worden besproken.     

Allelic test proves genes Cf4 and Cf8 for resistance to Cladosporium fulvum (Fulvia fulva) on tomato to be undistinguishable

In an allelic test it was proven that the genes Cf₄ and Cf₈ for resistance toC. fulvum in tomato are undistinguishable, confirming a recent suggestion that Cf₈ does nott provide a novel source for resistance toC. fulvum.Samenvatting In een allelie-toets werd aangetoond dat de genen Cf₄ en Cf₈ voor resistentie tegenC. fulvum van tomaat niet te onderscheiden zijn. Hiermee werd een recente suggestie bevestigd, dat Cf₈ geen nieuwe resistentie tegenC. fulvum verschaft.