Deciphering higher order non-allelic interactions for quantitative characters through twelve generation mean analysis in castor (Ricinus communis L.)

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - The genetic architecture of oil content, seed yield and its related biometric traits in castor was investigated through generation mean analysis in four...     

Insect salivary glands: stimulation of fluid secretion by 5-hydroxytryptamine and adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate

Low concentrations (10(-9)M) of 5-hydroxytryptamine increase the rate of fluid secretion by isolated salivary glands of adult Calliphora. 5-Hydroxytry ptamine is present in Calliphora brain. Adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) also stimulates fluid secretion and may be involved in the mode of action of 5-hydroxytryptamine.     

Fibrosarcoma arising at the site of a retained surgical sponge in a cat

Abstract: An 8‐year‐old female spayed domestic shorthair cat had an abdominal mass palpated as an incidental finding on physical examination. Cytologic findings in ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspirates of the mass were most compatible with a sarcoma, with abundant mineralized material and mixed inflammation. The mass was removed surgically and on gross examination was white‐tan, firm, associated with the mesentery, and when transected contained a gauze sponge in its center. On histopathologic examination, an area of central necrosis with mineralization and numerous refractile fibers consistent with sponge material was surrounded by dense fibrous connective tissue (gossypiboma). Within the connective tissue was a population of highly pleomorphic spindle cells consistent with a fibrosarcoma. Immunohistochemically, most neoplastic cells stained strongly positive for vimentin and a low number of cells were positive for smooth muscle actin. The results were consistent with a fibrosarcoma arising at the site of a retained surgical sponge. At a follow‐up visit 2 months postoperatively, ultrasonographic and cytologic evidence of metastasis was found in the spleen and mesentery. To our knowledge, this is the first report of malignant transformation at the site of a retained surgical sponge in a cat and the first report of a fibrosarcoma arising within a gossypiboma in a domestic animal.     

Progression of a solitary, malignant cutaneous plasma-cell tumour to multiple myeloma in a cat

An 11‐year‐old male domestic shorthair cat was examined because of a soft‐tissue mass on the left tarsus previously diagnosed as a malignant extramedullary plasmacytoma. Findings of further diagnostic tests carried out to evaluate the patient for multiple myeloma were negative. Five months later, the cat developed clinical evidence of multiple myeloma based on positive Bence Jones proteinuria, monoclonal gammopathy and circulating atypical plasma cells. This case represents an unusual presentation for this disease and documents progression of an extramedullary plasmacytoma to multiple myeloma in the cat.     

In vitro regeneration of plantlets from embryonic and seedling explants of Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry)

A protocol has been developed for the in vitro production of plantlets of Engelmann spruce. Embryos and various parts of Engelmann spruce seedlings formed multiple shoots when cultured on defined media containing a cytokinin. The site and time of occurrence of the shoot buds, as well as their number, differed in the various explants. The frequency of shoot-forming explants was influenced by the salt formulation used, the type and concentrations of cytokinins and their mode of application. Development of buds was achieved by transferring the explants to basal medium containing no growth regulators. Elongation of shoots was stimulated by reducing the concentration of salts and sugar, addition of activated charcoal and transferral to increased photoperiod and lower temperature regimes. Maximum rooting was induced by giving a pulse of high concentration of indolebutyric acid to the shoots. The roots developed within 8-10 weeks and the regenerated plantlets were transferred to soil under non-sterile conditions.     

Interspecific hybridization between Corchorus olitorius Linn. and C. capsularis Linn. and the cytogenetical basis of incompatibility between them

The pollen grains of Corchorus olitorius and capsularis (jute) germinate within ten minutes in cross-pollinations as well as in self-pollinations. No perceptible difference is observed in the number of capsularis pollen grains germinating on olitorius stigmas and vice versa, though an olitorius stigma (being bigger) accommodates more pollen than capsularis.Several hundreds of flowers of different capsularis types were pollinated with those of olitorius and vice versa for three years. Very small quantities of seeds are produced in the cross-pollinations compared to self-pollinations. The percentages of empty, partially full and full seeds produced vary greatly in different crosses including their reciprocal ones. Most of the seeds obtained are shrivelled and empty. Few apparently normal looking full seeds, more or less of the same size in appearance as selfed ones that are produced in certain crosses, weigh less than the same number of selfed seeds of the respective female parents concerned; this suggests the under-development of the embryo or/and endosperm. The seeds do not germinate. Even in spite of including some types of capsularis closer to olitorius in certain characters and the wild types of both species in the crossing programme, still there was no success in getting hybrids between the two cultivated species of jute. Style reduction methods also fail. The possibilities of getting hybrids between them are indicated.

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Samenvatting Getracht is de soortskruising van Corchorus olitorius x C. capsularis tot stand te brengen. Voor de veredeling van jute (o.a. op ziekteresistentie) zou dit belangrijke perspektieven kunnen bieden.Ofschoon wel enig zaad verkregen werd, gelukte het toch niet daaruit F₁ planten op te kweken. Bij de voortzetting van het onderzoek zal gezocht worden naar methoden om de beide soorten toch te overbruggen.

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Department of Agriculture, Calcutta University     

Impact of Conyza bonariensis density and establishment period on soyabean grain yield,yield components and economic threshold

Conyza spp. have become a major weed around the world, mainly because of weed resistance issues. The objective of this work was to test the hypothesis that the soyabean crop yield is dependent on the density of Conyza bonariensis and on the timing of weed establishment in relation to the crop sowing date. It was also theorised that these variables affect soyabean crop yield components and the economic threshold of C. bonariensis on soyabean. Field experiments were conducted during 2010 and 2011 using a randomised complete block design. In each experiment, several densities (0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 192 plants m^?2) of C. bonariensis were established in soyabean fields. Conyza bonariensis establishment dates varied considerably between the experiments [81, 38 and 0 days before soyabean sowing (DBSS)]. Conyza bonariensis plants were first cultivated in a glasshouse and then transplanted to the field at the three‐leaf growth stage. At the lower densities, each C. bonariensis plant decreased soyabean yield by 36%, 12% and 1.0%, when established at 81, 38 and 0 DBSS respectively. The economic thresholds based on sensitivity analysis were below 0.5 plant m^?2 when C. bonariensis was introduced at 81 and 38 DBSS; in contrast, they were between 2 and 4 plants m^?2 when the weed was established at the crop sowing time. The results emphasise the importance of proper C. bonariensis management prior to soyabean sowing and highlight the need for residual herbicides to avoid grain yield losses.     

Biochemical and molecular studies of early blight disease in tomato

Tomato early blight occurs worldwide and it is prevalent wherever tomatoes are grown. Alternaria solani Sorauer, the causal agent, has been recognized as a serious foliar pathogen of tomato and there are very few cultivars which possess resistance against early blight. Alternaric acid is the major toxin of A. solani. In this study, alternaric acid and fungal culture filtrate were used as an elicitor in NDT-96 (tolerant) and GP-5 (susceptible) tomato varieties in order to study and compare their abilities to induce defense-related enzymes, viz., catalase, peroxidase, β-1,3 glucanase, phenylalanine-ammonia-lyase (PAL), chitinase and polyphenol-oxidase (PPO) along with total phenols, and total soluble proteins. NDT-96 showed a rapid induction of all these pathogenesis-related enzymes except catalase along with total phenols as compared to GP-5 with both the treatments. Differential expression of total soluble proteins revealed higher protein content in NDT-96 as compared with GP-5. A 49.48 kDa protein was observed to be absent in GP-5. In addition, 25 microsatellite markers (SSR) were screened for polymorphisms among the above mentioned two tomato varieties. Of these, SSR 286 revealed a significant polymorphic band of 108 bp in NDT-96.