Cytogenetic and genetic relationships between populations of Aegilops ventricosa Tausch

Summary Five samples of Aegilops ventricosa (2n=4x=28, genome formula DDNN) from different geographical origins, were crossed in a diallelic scheme. Metaphase I chromosome pairing of the hybrids, accounting for all the possible genetic combinations, was analysed. Only bivalents were formed in some hybrids, while multivalents were scored in other ones. Seed storage proteins, gliadins and albumins, were also analysed by means of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Based on the presence of multivalents in hybrids, and on the differences in seed protein profiles, the samples could be grouped into two clusters. Meiosis was regular in hybrids obtained within samples of the same group, while multivalents were present in hybrids involving a sample of one group and one of the other. The evolutionary trends in Ae. ventricosa are discussed.     

Report on a travel to the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 1983 for the collection of indigenous taxa of cultivated plants

Summary The mission was carried out within the Mediterranean Programme of the IBPGR in April/May 1983 with participants from the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (Agricultural Research Centre, Tarabulus), the Istituto del Germoplasma, Bari, and the Zentralinstitut für Genetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung, Gatersleben. In Tripolitania, the Fezzan- and Ghadmis-areas 316 samples, mostly cereals and vegetables, have been collected. In Tripolitania and the Ghadmis-area the land-races have been nearly completely replaced by new varieties. In the Fezzan genetic erosion is in progress. There, several cereal- and vegetable-land-races could still be collected. The land-races may be useful for breeding programmes.

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Bericht über eine Reise in die Sozialistische Libysche Arabische Volksjamahiriya 1983 zur Sammlung autochthoner Sippen von Kulturpflanzen

Zusammenfassung Die Reise erfolgte im Rahmen des Mediterranean Programme des IBPGR im April/Mai 1983 mit Teilnehmern aus der Sozialistischen Libyschen Arabischen Volksjamahiriya (Agricultural Research Centre, Tarbulus), des Istituto del Germoplasma, Bari, und des Zentralinstituts für Genetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung, Gatersleben. In Tripolitanien, dem Fezzan und dem Gebiet von Ghadmis wurden 316 Proben, meist von Getrieden und Gemüsen, gesammelt. In Tripolitanien und dem Gebiet von Ghadmis sind die Landsorten fast vollständig von neueren Sorten verdrängt worden. Im Fezzan schreitet die Generosion fort. Hier konnten noch zahlreiche Getreide- und Gemüselandsorten gesammelt werden. Die Landsorten können für Züchtungsprogramme nützlich sein.

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Character analysis and numerical classification in a wheat collection from Sicily

Summary A study was undertaken using 48 characters observed in plants, spikes and seeds in order to determine the amount of information of different characters and their taxonomic importance in tetraploid wheat samples from Sicily. A classification of the material was also attempted using similarity indices.The most important characters appear: leaf pubescence, glume colour and length, and seed colour. Using all characters, similarity indices among samples were computed and a classification was worked out. This classification, which is very similar to those proposed by various scientists, produces hierarchical groups, showing different levels of merging, and offers very interesting hypotheses on the evolution of the Siciliandurum wheats.

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Merkmalsanalyse und numerische Klassifikation an einer Weizen-Kollektion aus Sizilien

Zusammenfassung Untersucht wurden 48 Pflanzen-, Ähren- und Kornmerkmale an Proben tetraploider Weizen aus Sizilien, um den Informationsgehalt unterschiedlicher Merkmale und ihren taxonomischen Wert zu erfassen. Anhand von Ähnlichkeitsindices wurde auch eine Klassifikation des Materials vorgenommen.Als bedeutsamste Merkmale erscheinen: Blattpubeszenz, Spelzenfarbe und-länge und Kornfarbe. Auf der Grundlage aller Merkmale wurden Ähnlichkeitsindices zwischen den Proben errechnet und eine Klassifikation ausgearbeitet. Diese ist den Klassifikationen anderer Wissenschaftler sehr ähnlich, ergibt hierarchische Gruppen mit unterschiedlichem Ähnlichkeitsniveau und ermöglicht die Aufstellung einer interessanten Hypothese zur Evolution der sizilianischendurum- Weizen.

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Spontaneous cortical activity reveals hallmarks of an optimal internal model of the environment

The brain maintains internal models of its environment to interpret sensory inputs and to prepare actions. Although behavioral studies have demonstrated that these internal models are optimally adapted to the statistics of the environment, the neural underpinning of this adaptation is unknown. Using a Bayesian model of sensory cortical processing, we related stimulus-evoked and spontaneous neural activities to inferences and prior expectations in an internal model and predicted that they should match if the model is statistically optimal. To test this prediction, we analyzed visual cortical activity of awake ferrets during development. Similarity between spontaneous and evoked activities increased with age and was specific to responses evoked by natural scenes. This demonstrates the progressive adaptation of internal models to the statistics of natural stimuli at the neural level.     

A selective activity-dependent requirement for dynamin 1 in synaptic vesicle endocytosis

Dynamin 1 is a neuron-specific guanosine triphosphatase thought to be critically required for the fission reaction of synaptic vesicle endocytosis. Unexpectedly, mice lacking dynamin 1 were able to form functional synapses, even though their postnatal viability was limited. However, during spontaneous network activity, branched, tubular plasma membrane invaginations accumulated, capped by clathrin-coated pits, in synapses of dynamin 1-knockout mice. Synaptic vesicle endocytosis was severely impaired during strong exogenous stimulation but resumed efficiently when the stimulus was terminated. Thus, dynamin 1-independent mechanisms can support limited synaptic vesicle endocytosis, but dynamin 1 is needed during high levels of neuronal activity.     

Influence of shearing on oxidative stress and some physiological parameters in ewes

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of shearing on physiological and oxidative stress parameters in ewes. Twenty Comisana ewes were used and divided into two groups. Ten ewes were left unshorn as a control group (Group A) and 10 ewes were shorn (Group B). All measurements were taken before and after shearing, and repeated 8 h after shearing and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 15 days after shearing. Reactive oxygen species (dROMs), antioxidant barrier (oxy‐adsorbent), thiol antioxidant barrier (SHp) and packed cell volume (PCV) were assessed in blood samples collected by means of jugular venipuncture. Rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR) and heart rate (HR) were also measured. Two‐way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Bonferroni's test, was used for the assessment of significant effects due to shearing and time. The statistical analysis showed significant increases (P < 0.01) of dROMs, oxy‐adsorbent, SHp, and a significant decrease (P < 0.01) of RT and RR associated with time and shearing. Our results indicate that shearing causes a change in the ewe's homeostatic balance that leads to oxidative stress.     

High levels of genetic differentiation between Wolbachia-infected and non-infected populations of Folsomia candida (Collembola, Isotomidae)

The Gram-negative -Proteobacterium Wolbachia pipientis has been described as an obligate endosymbiont in many arthropod species, where it induces a variety of reproductive alterations, including parthenogenesis. Recently, this microorganism has also been detected in the parthenogenetic collembolan Folsomia candida. Here, we confirm the occurrence of the endosymbiont also in two Italian parthenogenetic populations of F. candida using ultrastructural (electron microscopy) and molecular (PCR screening on two bacterial genes) evidence. The strain isolated in the Italian populations has almost-identical gene sequences compared to that previously isolated in other populations of F. candida. In addition, we discovered a population of Folsomia cf. candida, which showed the presence of both males and females. This population is not infected by Wolbachia. A screening of two mitochondrial genes (COI and COII) showed that the bisexual population has high levels of genetic divergence in comparison with the parthenogenetic ones, even suggesting the possibility that it belongs to a different species. Furthermore, the remarkably high levels of genetic divergence between the two parthenogenetic populations suggests a possible influence of Wolbachia on inducing such differentiation, and, in the long term, speciation.     

Impact of Land Use and Urban Runoff on the Contamination of the Sarno River Basin in Southwestern Italy

A study was conducted to determine the contaminantlevel of the Sarno River basin, a small creek located insouthwestern Italy. Six sampling site locations were selected tocoincide with two previous studies conducted in 1975 and 1985 toprovide a basis for comparison. For each location, twelve sampleswere collected over the period October 1997–September 1998.Results indicated a degradation in river water quality, especiallynear the mouth. This was reflected by a dissolved oxygenconcentration of about 0.8 mg L^-1 near the urban areas ofScafati, Pompei and Castellamare of Stabia. At the same locations,BOD₅ and COD values were two to five times higher than theallowable regulatory maximum levels, respectively. About 4 kmfrom the headwaters, the average oxygen concentration was 4.7 mgL^-1, BOD₅ values were close to the standard limit (37 vs 40 mg L^-1), and COD values were above the standard limits(252 vs 160 mg L^-1). Highest concentrations were detectedduring peak tomato production. During this time, settleable solidswere also elevated, two to six times the regulatory standard.Coliform bacteria densities were found in excess of the standardlimits at all sites. Near the head of the river, mean fecalcoliform (22,571 MPN mL^-1) and streptococci densities (14,214 MPN mL^-1) surpassed the regulatory level of 120 and 20 MPN mL^-1, respectively, reflecting the input from the urbansettings of Sarno and agricultural fields. The heavy metaldissolved concentrations were low at all sampling sites. Most ofthe analyzed contaminants increased when comparend with 1985data. BOD₅ increased 5 to 10 times at sites near the urbansettings of Scafati, Pompei and Castellamare di Stabia, whereasCOD increases were twofold at all sites. A decline of chromiumlevels was observed due to the recent effective treatment ofwaste water from the tanning plants.