A molecular technique for selection of self-compatible varieties of Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai)

The pear cultivar ‘Osa-Nijisseiki’ (S₂S^sm ₄; sm = stylar-part mutant) has been used as a parent to breed self-compatible cultivars that produce excellent fruits. However, determination of the self-compatibility of ‘Osa-Nijisseiki’ offspring requires a lot of time, 6 years or more, by conventional cross breeding. We have designed a rapid reliable method for the identification of self-compatible varieties of ‘Osa-Nijisseiki’ offspring based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) with S-allele specific restriction endonucleases. By using this method, 8 self-compatible varieties were selected among 16 selections resulting from a cross between the self-compatible cultivar ‘Osa-Nijisseiki’ (S₂S^sm ₄) and the self-incompatible cultivars ‘Niitaka’ (S₃S₉), ‘Whasan’ (S₃S₅), ‘Chuwhangbae’ (S₄S₆). The S-genotypes of 16 ‘Osa-Nijisseiki’ offsprings were also determined. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

5-(2,6-difluorobenzyl)oxymethyl-5-methyl-3-(3-methylthiophen-2-yl)- 1,2-isoxazoline as a useful rice herbicide

5-(2,6-difluorobenzyl)oxymethyl-5-methyl-3-(3-methylthiophen-2-yl)-1,2-isoxazoline derivative was synthesized, and its herbicidal activity was assessed under glasshouse and flooded paddy conditions. 5-(2,6-Difluorobenzyl)oxymethyl-5-methyl-3-(3-methylthiophen-2-yl)-1,2-isoxazoline demonstrated good rice selectivity and potent herbicidal activity against annual weeds at 125 g of a.i. ha(-1) under greenhouse conditions. Soil application of this compound showed complete control of barnyard-grass to the fourth leaf stage at 250 g of a.i. ha(-1). Field trials indicated that this compound controlled annual weeds rapidly with a good tolerance on transplanted rice seedlings by post-emergence and soil application. This compound showed a low mammalian and environmental toxicity in various toxicological tests.     

Mobile point defects and atomic basis for structural transformations of a crystal surface

Structural transformations on elemental semiconductor surfaces typically occur above several hundred degrees Celsius, and the atomic motions involved are extremely rapid and difficult to observe. However, on the (111) surface of germanium, a few lead atoms catalyze atomic motions so that they can be observed with a tunneling microscope at temperatures below 80 degrees C. Mass transport and structural changes are caused by the creation and propagation of both vacancy-like and interstitial-like point defects within the crystal surface. The availability of dangling bonds on the surface is critical. A detailed atomic model for the observed motions has been developed and is used to explain the structural phase transition Ge(111)-c(2x8) <--> 1x1, which occurs near 300 degrees C.     

Inactivation of TNF signaling by rationally designed dominant-negative TNF variants

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a key regulator of inflammatory responses and has been implicated in many pathological conditions. We used structure-based design to engineer variant TNF proteins that rapidly form heterotrimers with native TNF to give complexes that neither bind to nor stimulate signaling through TNF receptors. Thus, TNF is inactivated by sequestration. Dominant-negative TNFs represent a possible approach to anti-inflammatory biotherapeutics, and experiments in animal models show that the strategy can attenuate TNF-mediated pathology. Similar rational design could be used to engineer inhibitors of additional TNF superfamily cytokines as well as other multimeric ligands.     

Evidence of a pluripotent human embryonic stem cell line derived from a cloned blastocyst

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technology has recently been used to generate animals with a common genetic composition. In this study, we report the derivation of a pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cell line (SCNT-hES-1) from a cloned human blastocyst. The SCNT-hES-1 cells displayed typical ES cell morphology and cell surface markers and were capable of differentiating into embryoid bodies in vitro and of forming teratomas in vivo containing cell derivatives from all three embryonic germ layers in severe combined immunodeficient mice. After continuous proliferation for more than 70 passages, SCNT-hES-1 cells maintained normal karyotypes and were genetically identical to the somatic nuclear donor cells. Although we cannot completely exclude the possibility that the cells had a parthenogenetic origin, imprinting analyses support a SCNT origin of the derived human ES cells.     

Lipid-like material as the source of the uncharacterized organic carbon in the ocean?

The composition and formation mechanisms of the uncharacterized fraction of oceanic particulate organic carbon (POC) are not well understood. We isolated biologically important compound classes and the acid-insoluble fraction, a proxy of the uncharacterized fraction, from sinking POC in the deep Northeast Pacific and measured carbon isotope ratios to constrain the source(s) of the uncharacterized fraction. Stable carbon and radiocarbon isotope signatures of the acid-insoluble fraction were similar to those of the lipid fraction, implying that the acid-insoluble fraction might be composed of selectively accumulated lipid-like macromolecules.     

關於馬鈴薯晚疫病的預測和防治的研究(摘要)

三年的觀察顯示馬鈴薯地裡出現的中心病株是當年該病開始流行的標誌。在華北北部的條件下,到開花期才可能發現最早的中心病株。田間只有個別的植株成爲中心病株。即便完全播種病薯也是如此。通常在植株特別茂密、開花較早的低窪地點最容易發現中心病株。在田間的一般植株還沒有任何感染的跡象時,中心病株就已經有了眾多的典型病斑,並且其下層葉片開始發黃。隨後,病害從中心病株順着風向往周圍的植株擴展。但是,傳播的距離是有限的。在觀察的一個典型實例中,中心病株發現後經過10天,田間全部病斑數目的檢查表示90%以上的病斑分佈於中心病株周圍大約800平方米的面積上(圍1)。在晚疫病可能流行的季節中,每次侵染的潛育期相當恒定,變動的幅度僅在3至4     

长豇豆抗枯萎病的遗传

两个抗镰刀菌枯萎病(Fusarium oxysporum Schl.f.sp.tracheiphilum)的长豇豆品种“猪肠豆”和“珠燕”分别与感病品种“红嘴燕”及“四季青”进行正、反杂交及回交。用分离自广州地区的5个长豇豆枯萎病菌株的混合孢子液进行苗期人工接种鉴定,测定亲本F_1、F_2及回交群体的抗病性。遗传分析的结果表明:“猪肠豆”与“珠燕”这两个抗源品种对枯萎病的抗性均受一个显性基因控制。