Viscous dissipation in three-dimensional convection with temperature-dependent viscosity

Numerical simulations of three-dimensional convection with temperature-dependent viscosity and viscous heating at realistic Rayleigh numbers for Earth's mantle reveal that, in the strongly time-dependent regime, very intense localized heating takes place along the top portion of descending cold sheets and also at locations where the ascending plume heads impinge at the surface. For a viscosity contrast of 100, these localized heat sources exceed the internal heating due to the radioactive decay of chondritic materials by more than an order of magnitude. The horizontally averaged viscous dissipation is concentrated in the top of the convecting layer and has a magnitude comparable with that of radioactive heating.     

Crossability of some green-peach-aphid-resistant tuber-bearing solanums,potential bridging species,andSolanum tuberosum ssptuberosum

Blue light fluorescence microscopy was found to be a quick and easy procedure for assessing pollen tube development in interspecific pollinations ofSolanum. Based on penetration of pollen tubes to the base of the style, several combinations of green-peach-aphid-resistant species and potential bridging species to S.tuberosum ssp.tuberosum should be considered for embryo culture. Sterile or highly infertile hybrids were obtained between green-peach-aphid-resistantS. tuquerrense andS. tuberosum ssp.tuberosum and are described. Slightly fertile hybrids were obtained betweenS. tuquerrense andS. polytrichon, a species compatible withS. tuberosum ssp.tuberosum.     

Enhancement of diploid Solanum chacoense Bitt. using adapted clones of Solanum phureja Juz. & Buk.

Summary F₁ hybrids between Solanum phureja and S. chacoense were studied in a new approach to enhance wild diploid potato species using adapted S. phureja clones as the female parent. S. chacoense parents had few tubers, whereas S. phureja parents had been previously selected for tuberization under long days. Twenty hybrid families were evaluated for haulm vigor, vine maturity, stolon development, frequency of tuberization, tuber set, tuber yield and average tuber weight under naturally occurring increasing or decreasing photoperiods in spring and fall growing seasons in Morocco. The hybrid plants were more vigorous, later maturing with thicker stolons in the spring season. Frequency of tuberization and tuber set did not vary with season. Tuber yield and average tuber weight were higher in fall; the maximum yield was 2.4 and 4.6 kg per hill under spring and fall conditions, respectively. Remarkable variation was found both between and within hybrid families for all traits in this first cycle of enhancement. The selection of vigorous, fertile clones incorporating the S. chacoense genome is possible by using S. phureja as an adapted germplasm source.     

Reciprocal differences between hybrids of Solanum tuberosum Groups Tuberosum (haploid) and Phureja

Summary Yield components including total tuber yield, total tuber number, vine maturity, vine vigor and average tuber weight as well as seed germination and pollen stainability were studied in 28 exact reciprocal hybrid families, between 12 Solanum tuberosum Group Tuberosum (haploid) (TH) and 12 S. tuberosum Group Phureja (PH) clones in a NC Mating Design II in 4 sets of 3 by 3 reciprocal hybrids at three locations, one in Minnesota (USA) and two in Morocco. TH parents were insensitive to daylength whereas most PH clones required critical photoperiods equal to or less than 14 hours for tuberization. Mean reciprocal differences were significant for most traits at all 3 locations. Hybrids with TH cytoplasm were superior to those with PH cytoplasm by 18% for tuber yield, 21% for tuber number, and 9% for vine maturity, but inferior to hybrids with PH cytoplasm by 11% for vine vigor and 19% for time to reach 80% seed germination. Reciprocal differences were not detected for average tuber weight. Six reciprocal crosses revealed significant differences for pollen stainability but the overall mean difference (one location) was not significant. Possible reasons for the observed reciprocal differences included gamete selection, pseudo-self-compatibility and/or interaction of cytoplasm with both nuclear genes and environment. Differences for critical photoperiod of TH and PH parents were also demonstrated as a probable source of reciprocal differences.Scientific Journal Series Article 14896 of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station supported in part by the U.S. Agency for International Development, contract no. 608-0160, IAV Morocco Project.     

Dry matter accumulation and phosphate distribution in soybean grown on varying levels of phosphate nutrition 1

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) plants grown under normal nutrient conditions remobilize a high percentage of the total P absorbed from leaves to developing seeds. This study was conducted to determine the effect of P nutrition on dry matter production and P accumulation, distribution and remobilization during reproduction in soybean. Williams 82 soybeans were established in hydroponic culture in the greenhouse at four levels of P (0.45 mM, 0.20 mM, 0.10 mM or 0.05 mM) and harvested four times during reproductive growth. Dry matter production and P accumulation were reduced in the 0.05 mM P treatment to levels that were 10% of the 0.45 mM P treatment. The proportion of total plant P retained by nodules of low P plants was greater than that retained by nodules of high P plants (8.9% vs 4.2%). The 0.05 mM P plants partitioned a greater percentage of their P to seeds (74% vs 63%) than did the 0.45 mM P plants. Remobilization of P began in the 0.05 mM P plants earlier than in plants grown with 0.45 mM P. Restriction of P supply resulted in a greater percentage of plant P being retained by roots and nodules, and also in an increased percentage of plant P remobilized to the seed. Increased P remobilization indicates the importance of P in the life cycle of the plant. Increased P retention by nodules suggests that root nodule bacteroids exert demands on P irrespective of plant P status.