Gummy stem blight resistance of cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.)

Summary A start was made with breeding for resistance to gummy stem blight in cucumber. A method has been development for screening plants in a young stage. Using this method a distinct level of resistance was found in plants of Leningradsky, Wjarnikovsky,a P.I. entry from Birma, Rheinische Vorgebirge and a P.I.entry from Turkey. Lines developed from this material show a higher level of resistance than Dutch slicing and pickling cucumber varieties.     

Gibberellic acid as a gametocide for the common onion (Allium cepa L.)

Summary A high concentration of gibberellic acid (GA₃, 2%) was found to act as a gametocide for the common onion, Allium cepa L., when sprayed in the beginning of the bolting process.This technique is suggested as a possible substitute for hand emasculation, since it would greatly facilitate interspecific and intervarietal crosses, recurrent backcrosses and the selection of good B lines.     

Gibberellins as gametocides for the common onion (Allium cepa L.). III. GA4+7 and pollen viability

Summary The gametocidal effect of GA₄₊₇ in onion is strong in respect of pollen production but very weak or absent in respect of pollen viability. Large scale application of GA₄₊₇ for the production of onion hybrid seed is still impossible because of low seed yield and high costsof required chemicals. On a small scale, however. GA₄₊₇ can be used very well to emasculate breeding material.Because of switching over to the gibberellin terminology of plant physiologists, this title slightly deviates from that of the two previous articles.     

Effect of temperature on the occurrence of male sterility in onion (Allium cepa L.)

Summary Experiments were made to ascertain whether sex expression in the onion depends on temperature.Some populations were found to be largely male sterile at about 14°C and much less so at 20°–23°C. In other populations this phenomenon did not occur. Besides all the fertile populations produced less and worse pollen at 14°C.The first-mentioned temperature influence may be an essential factor in searching for an explanation for the partially male sterile plants found by various research workers, and for the unexpected segregations for male sterility when A-, B- and C-lines are propagated.     

Determination of the genetic variation in the effect of temperature and daylength on bolting of Brassica campestris L.

Summary Effects of temperature and daylength on the bolting of a number of B. campestris accessions were investigated both in the open and in the IVT phytotron. From the results it was concluded that low temperature and genotype are the predominant factors with respect to bolting. Daylength has rather limited influence. One cultivar bolted more than 12 weeks earlier at 10 and 14°C than at 18°C. On the other hand some cultivars did not require vernalization at all.At 14°C and short daylength, depending on genotype, the period of time between sowing and 50% bolting ranged from 8 to 30 weeks. At this temperature the stimulating effect of long day (24 h), depending again on the genotype, ranged from 0 to 4 weeks. The genotypes most resistant to bolting appeared to be the stubble turnips (B. campestris ssp. rapa).In terms of seed(ling) vernalization at 5°C the cold requirement ranged from 0 to more than 3 weeks, depending on the genotype. The required vernalization periods at 5°C can be used as a criterion in screening for resistance to bolting.     

Nucleotide sequence of hog cholera virus RNA: properties of the polyprotein encoded by the open reading frame spanning the viral genomic RNA

Hog cholera virus RNA was cloned and sequenced. A single major open reading frame (ORF), encoding an amino acid sequence of 3898 residues, was found in the second reading frame of the sequence of one of the cDNA strands. We demonstrated that the ORF spans the length of the viral sense RNA, which implies that it is translated into a precursor polyprotein. Several properties of this polyprotein, like hydrophobicity, position of putative protease cleavage sites, distribution of N-linked glycosylation sites, distribution of cysteines and distribution of acidic and basic residues are described and discussed.     

Comparison of amino acid profiles of feeds and fish as a quick method for selection of feed ingredients: a case study for Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier)

The amino acid profile of Colossoma macropomum was determined. Indispensable amino acid levels were similar to those reported in other fish species. Suitability of local, Costa Rican, ingredients as protein sources for C. macropomum was evaluated based on their protein content and indispensable amino acid profile. It was calculated that, in a standard diet (40% protein. 25% fish meal), blood meal, soya meal, poultry byproducts, meat and bone meal, and meat meal can substitute more than 80% of the fish meal. More than 40% of the fish meal can be substituted by shrimp meal, pigeon pea, cotton meal, peanut oil cake, cow pea, corn gluten and water hyacinth. As differences between amino acid profiles between fish species seem to be small, promising alternative ingredients for C. macropomum might be equally interesting for formulation of feeds for other species. Soya meal is the currently used ingredient with the highest potential to substitute fish meal completely. Further research is needed to determine if the use of alternative ingredients is limited by constraints such as decreased feed digestibility, presence of anti-nutritional factors, additional production and processing costs.     

Effect of dietary lipid level on protein utilization and the size and proximate composition of body compartments of Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier)

Juvenile Colossoma macropomum were fed ad libitum diets containing either 30% or 40% protein, while the dietary lipid level varied between 5% and 20%. Growth and protein utilization efficiency increased with the dietary lipid level. However, the economic feasibility of the addition of extra dietary lipid to C. macropomum diets is questionable, as for every extra gram of protein deposition it was necessary to replace 20–25 g of dietary carbohydrates by lipids. Moreover, increased dietary lipid levels resulted in increased lipid deposition. In C. macropomum, feed uptake was regulated by the dietary protein level and unaffected by the dietary lipid level. Dissection of the body into head, viscera and trunk revealed that 45–48% of the body lipids were stored in the trunk, independent of diet composition. A positive relation between dietary and body protein level was confirmed in this experiment. However, the dissection of the body revealed that the body protein concentrations in head + viscera and trunk are not changed significantly by the dietary protein level. The higher protein contents offish fed higher-protein diets are due to an increase in the relative weight of the trunk (muscle) to the total body weight.     

Effect of number of meals and frequency of feeding on voluntary feed intake of Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier)

Juvenile, 0.87 g Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier) were submitted to different ad libitum feeding regimes. Feeding frequency ranged from one to five meals per day and intervals between meals from 3 h to 24 h. Higher feeding frequencies resulted in higher feed uptake, a higher growth rate and a decreased feed utilization efficiency. Feed consumption was lower at 0700 h than at 1900 h. The amount of feed from different meals persisting in the digestive tract was determined with chromic-oxide-marked feed. This method revealed that with ad libitum feeding, about 21% of the feed remained uneaten. Feed losses did not differ significantly between feeding regimes. Feed accumulated in the digestive tract in the morning and early afternoon. In the late afternoon most feed rests disappeared from the digestive tract and feed consumption increased. It is suggested that feed uptake and growth of C. macropomum can be improved by extending the feeding period after 1900 h.     

Aantasting in frambozen door Pratylenchus penetrans (Cobb.) Sher et Allen

Summary Raspberries and strawbereis planted several years after a previous crop of raspberries were found attacked byPratylenchus penetrans. Raspberries planted in places where appled trees had been taken out showed slightly stunted growth and a moderate attack of the roots byP. penetrans.The symptoms of heavily infested raspberries were: severely stunted growth of above ground parts without other particular symptoms; a very poor root system, parts of which are completely dead and blackened or show dead, blackened bark, and the absence of fine feeding roots. In cases of light attack the root system is more normal but there is a number of rather large black lesions.Raspberries should not be planted after raspberries, after fruit trees susceptible to attack byP. penetrans, after strawberries or on possibly infested soil (in general light soils) unless a determination of the degree of infestation in the plant sites has shown that the place is safe. In case of infestation suitable measures to eradicate the nematodes should be taken. It may be expected that a fairly light degree of infestation of the soil is sufficient to cause appreciable damage.