Detection of polymorphisms in the prion protein gene in the Belgian sheep population: some preliminary data

The development of clinical signs of TSE/scrapie in sheep has been linked to polymorphisms in the prion protein (PRNP) gene. The most important polymorphisms appear to be at codons 136, 154, and 171. The objective of this study was to investigate the polymorphisms at these codons in the Belgian sheep population, including clinical healthy animals, healthy animals at the slaughterhouse and animals in TSE/scrapie positive farms (including a Nor98 farm).     

Preventing chimerism in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Summary A fast neutron irradiation experiment using two different dose rates has been performed on the potato variety Desiree in order to obtain chimera-free mutants. Both tubers and tuber parts (cross sections) were de-eyed at different moments before and after irradiation. Adventitious sprouts successively developing on the callus in the holes of excised eyes were separated from the treated tubers and planted individually. So called grouped sprouts were separated. Results indicated that (practically) chimera-free mutants can be obtained by de-eying tuber parts shortly before irradiation, by applying relatively high dose-rates and by taking adventitious sprouts which develop not earlier than three months after irradiation.Separation of the grouped sprouts demonstrated that each part originated from a single original cell.This article is dedicated to Dr F. P. Ferwerda who till September 1969 was in charge of potato mutation research at our Institute.     

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.     

The inheritance of harsh leaves in tetraploid cocksfoot

Research was conducted to study the inheritance of the characteristic ‘dentated leaves’ in the autotetraploid grass species Dactylis glomerata. From segregation ratios of inbred and crossbred populations the following conclusions can be drawn:

1. 1.
   Harshness of leaves is a dominant character. Simplex plants have a dominant phenotype but are less strongly dentated than duplex plants.     

New root growth of Douglas-fir seedlings at low carbon dioxide concentration

New root growth of conifer nursery seedlings is dependent on light, but whether this is necessary only for photosynthesis, or also has some other root growth promoting effect is unknown. This question was investigated using one-year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings grown at two nurseries from the same seed lot and taken from cold storage in March and April. New root production was examined in two 10-day root growth capacity (RGC) experiments. Seedlings were subjected to one of four treatments: (1) control, (2) exclusion of light, (3) low CO(2) concentration, and (4) girdling to separate the phloem connection between shoot and root. Shoots were enclosed in Plexiglas cuvettes and supplied with scrubbed air to reduce the CO(2) concentration to 11 to 22 microl l(-1) in the light. The closed system used in Experiment 1 was opened to the atmosphere briefly each day to restore O(2) to ambient, but this was unnecessary for the open system used in Experiment 2. In Experiment 1, new root production was affected by treatments in the order: control > low CO(2) concentration > dark > girdling. Greater new root production in the low CO(2) treatment compared with the dark treatment was attributed to brief increases in CO(2) to ambient concentrations when O(2) was restored each day. In Experiment 2, new root production at the low CO(2) concentration in the light was essentially the same as in darkness, but only 17% of the control value. Thus light appeared to play no part in new root production other than permitting photosynthesis. Limited production of new roots occurred in the absence of photosynthesis, which was further reduced by girdling, presumably because, after girdling, only root system reserves could be used.     

Vascular tissue anatomy of Norway spruce needles and twigs in relation to magnesium deficiency

Vascular tissues of needles and twigs of Norway spruce with low foliar magnesium concentrations were examined by light microscopy. Observations were made on samples from (1) apparently healthy trees, (2) trees exhibiting progressive symptoms of decline, including the yellowing and fall of needles and the death of twigs and branches in the subapical canopy, and (3) trees recovering from symptoms of decline after fertilization with magnesium sulfate. Abnormalities in cambium and phloem anatomy, which were apparent in 2-year-old needles of declining trees, were seen only in needles at least 4 years old in healthy trees, suggesting that needles of declining trees are susceptible to precocious aging. Abnormalities in xylem anatomy were observed in needles 3 years or more in age in declining trees, but were never seen in needles of healthy trees. Over time, anatomical abnormalities in declining trees were seen in progressively younger twigs, which may explain the acropetal development of decline symptoms. After fertilization with magnesium sulfate, normal phloem and xylem were observed in the newly formed tissues.