Further characterization of dandelion yellow mosaic virus from lettuce and dandelion

A damaging virus isolated in the Netherlands from lettuce was studied and compared with a virus isolated from dandelion orginating from Czechoslovakia. It was found to biologically resemble dandelion yellow mosaic virus incompletely described from dandelion and lettuce in Great Britain (Kassanis, 1944, 1947) and from dandelion in Germany (Hein, 1963). Mechanical transmission was greatly improved by buffer solution and transmission byMyzus persicae seemed to be in the non-persistent manner. Longevity in vitro of the virus hardly exceeded one day. Thermal inactivation was between 60 and 65 °C and the dilution end-point was between 10 000 and 100 000. It was still infectious in leaf material dried and stored over CaCl₂ at 4 °C for 6 1/2 years. The virus was isolated and purified with difficulty and was found to consist of one type of spherical particle of ca 30 nm diameter, with a sedimentation coefficient of 159 S, a buoyant density of 1.42 g.cm^?3 and an A₂₆₀/A₂₈₀ ratio of 1.67. An antiserum was prepared with a titre of 256 in the agar double-diffusion test. The virus could be identified in crude extracts from lettuce andChenopodium amaranticolor by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), but not by agar double diffusion. It could only be visualized in crude sap in the electron microscope after trapping of virus particles on antiserum-coated grids. The virus cannot yet be assigned to any known virus group. It is of potential economic importance to lettuce because of its occurrence in widely differing regions in Europe, its aggressiveness and virulence on 22 out of 23 lettuce cultivars tested (and on endive) and its pathogenicity toLactuca genotypes which are resistant to lettuce mosaic virus and other important pathogens of lettuce. ‘Laibacher Eis’ was the only cultivar showing some tolerance.     

STUDIES ON WEED SPECIES OF THE GENUS POLYGONUM L.

Summary. Seeds of Polygonum persicaria from several sources, or from plants subjected to in lain treatments, were chilled for varying periods and incubated for a 3-week germination test period. Populations differed widely in seed weight and to some extent in the response to different periods of chilling. No relationship between this response and the climate of the locality of origin could be found. There was much variation in seed weight and germination behaviour between individual plants within populations. A total of four polymorphic seed categories were observed. The proportions of seeds in the two main categories varied widely between and within populations, and were affected by certain environmental factors. These factors also appeared to affect the degree of inter-plant variation in seed shape and germination behaviour.
Travaux sur les espàes indésirables du genre Polygonum L. V. Variations dans le poids des semences, leur comportement à la germination et leur polymorphisme chez P. persicaria L.     

STUDIES ON WEED SPECIES OF THE GENUS POLYGONUM L.

Summary. Seeds of Polygonam persiaria were collected from seven localities during 1962. In 1963 plants of these seven populations were grown in the field and sampled at regular intervals over the period 21st June to 13th August. At all samplings there were differences between populations in total dry weight, in leaf area index and in total nitrogen content, and populations also differed in the date of flowering. The populations also differed significantly in relative growth rate, leaf area ratio, net assimilation rate and relative nitrogen absorption rate. The variations in net assimilation rate did not appear to be closely associated with variations in leaf area index. Certain growth attributes were correlated with the latitude of origin, and it is tentatively suggested that the populations may represent genetically distinct latitudinal ecotypes.
Études sur des espèces de mauvaises herbes du genre Polygonum L.     

Giant radiation-induced color halos in quartz: solution to a riddle

The radii of radiation-induced color halos(RICHs) surrounding radioactive mineral inclusions in mica generally correspond closely to the calculated range of common uranogenic and thorogenic alpha particles in mica. Many exceptions are known, however, and these variants have led investigators to some rather exotic interpretations. Three RICHs found in quartz are identified as aluminum hole-trapping centers. Whereas the inner radii of these RICHs closely match the predicted range of the most energetic common alphas(39 micrometers), the color centers observed extend to 100 micrometers. Migration of valence-band holes down a radiation-induced charge potential might account for enigmatic RICHs. Such RICHs provide natural experiments in ultraslow charge diffusion.     

The detection and measurement of stray electrical leakages on dairy farms: effects on performance

Sources of stray electrical leakage from Power Supply Authority alternating current (AC), fence energiser pulses and randomly generated pulses and spikes on 55 dairy farms in the Waikato area were identified between December 1986 and March 1988. The electrical measurements were made using a specifically designed voltmeter able to detect voltages between 0.1V and 1500V, from single voltage spikes of two microseconds or greater duration from direct current (DC) as well as 50 Hz AC. Ninety-five sources of stray voltage were identified, and 53 per cent of properties had more than one source of >0.5V. The major source was from electric fence energisers. Rotary platform parlours were among the commonest sources of random or transient voltage spikes. Leakage of AC into one or other of the components of the milk transport system such as vat, plate cooler, milk lift pump and milk line was common. Owners acknowledged the improvements in milk production, reproductive performance and growth rate of calves after reduction of the exposure of dairy cattle to stray electrical leakage. A representative summary of five case records helps define the range of improvements that may possibly be achieved.