Taxonomy and evolution of cultivated plants: Literature review 1983/1984

Summary Important papers on taxonomy and evolution of cultivated plants published in 1983 and 1984 were complied and briefly discussed.

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Taxonomie und Evolution der Kulturpflanzen: Literaturübersicht 1983/1984

Zusammenfassung Wichtige Arbeiten über Taxonomie und Evolution der Kulturpflanzen aus den Jahren 1983 und 1984 wurden zusammengestellt und kurz kommentiert.

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: 1983–1984

, 1983 1984 . .

     

Beitrag zur Morphologie der Infloreszenzen vonSetaria italica (L.) Beauv.

Zusammenfassung Es werden verschiedene Infloreszenzformen vonSetaria italica (L.) Beauv. vergleichend morphologisch untersucht. Wie der Vergleich mit der Wildsippe,Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. zeigt, ist die Entwicklung zur Kulturart mit verschiedenen progressiven Veränderungen im reproduktiven Bereich des Verzweigungssystems verbunden. Dabei führt die zunehmende Förderung der Infloreszenzhauptachse sowie der Partialinfloreszenzen zu einer Vergrößerung und verstärkten Gliederung der Gesamtinfloreszenz. Daneben werden auch regressive Entwicklungstendenzen sichtbar, die in einer zunchmenden Reduktion des Basis- und Spitzenbereichs der Infloreszenz zum Ausdruck kommen. Die stärkste morphologische Ableitung haben Formen mit einer dichotom verzweigten Infloreszenz erfahren. Die Ausprägung der Infloreszenzmerkmale zeigt eine starke Umweltabhängigkeit.

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Contribution to the morphology of the inflorescences ofSetaria italica (L.) Beauv.

Summary The morphology of different types of inflorescences were investigated in Setaria italica (L.) Beauv. The comparison with the wild species,Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv., shows that the evolution towards the cultivated species is combined with different progressive changes in the reproductive part of the ramification system. Thereby the increasing promotion of the main axis of the inflorescence as well as the partial inflorescences leads to an enlargement and increased articulation of the whole inflorescence. Besides regressive developmental tendencies are also observed, as expressed by increasing reduction of the basis and the top of inflorescence. The greatest deviation is seen in the form with dichotomous branched inflorescences. The characters of the inflorescences depend greatly on the environmental conditions.

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Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.

Setaria italica (L.) Beauv. . Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv., . , . , . . .

     

Cytotoxicity against autologous, allogeneic, and xenogeneic tumor targets by human recombinant interleukin-2-activated lymphocytes from healthy dogs and dogs with lung tumors

Before dogs with lung tumors were treated by adoptive immunotherapy, the ability of canine blood lymphocytes (PBL) from the peripheral circulation to differentiate in vitro in the presence of human recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and become tumoricidal was investigated. The PBL from healthy dogs (n = 6) and dogs with lung tumors (n = 5) were grown in culture medium alone, in the presence of rIL-2 to generate lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, or with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and rIL-2 to generate autologous-stimulated lymphocytes (ASL). After 4 days, cytotoxicity by the ASL, LAK, and PBL was determined in a 4-hour 51chromium-release assay. Target cells in the assay were short-term cultured enzyme digests of autologous (self), allogeneic (genetically different) primary tumors, and Raji, the xenogeneic human lymphoma cell line. The PBL cultured without rIL-2 were not cytotoxic against any tumor. However, when a dog's PBL were activated in vitro, they killed the dog's own tumor, ASL more effectively than LAK cells. Pulmonary adenocarcinomas and an osteosarcoma metastasis to lung were among the autologous tumors assayed. Against an allogeneic canine osteosarcoma, ASL generated from healthy dogs were significantly more cytolytic than LAK from healthy dogs, or than ASL generated from tumor-bearing dogs. Cytotoxicity was greater against allogeneic tumor than against Raji. Lectin-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, tested by including PHA in the assay medium with lymphocytes and Raji cells, by ASL and LAK was greater than cytotoxicity of Raji without PHA. Because ASL were more cytolytic than LAK against all targets in vitro, they may be more beneficial than LAK for immunotherapy of canine tumors.     

Congenital porto-systemic shunts in sixteen dogs and three cats

Congenital porto-systemic shunts in sixteen dogs and three cats are described. A major symptom was hepato-encephalopathy. In most cases diagnosis was based on elevated venous ammonia levels, abnormal ammonia tolerance and results of operative mesenteric portography. Clinical signs, laboratory findings, results of portography, and pathologic findings in the liver and the central nervous system are described. A diagnostic schedule is proposed to aid in recognition of this syndrome.     

Prevalence of vancomycin resistant enterococci on poultry farms established after the ban of avoparcin

Fecal samples from poultry on farms established after the ban of avoparcin (study farms) and from poultry on farms previously exposed to avoparcin (control farms) were examined for the presence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). The samples were collected during the autumn and winter of 2001-2002. One isolate from each positive sample was selected, identified to species level, and examined for the presence of the vanA gene. The concentration of VRE and generic enterococci in the samples were also determined. In addition, the susceptibility to the ionophoric coccidiostat narasin was examined in a number of enterococcal isolates from poultry and in some enterococci of porcine origin that had not been exposed to narasin. VanA-type VRE was detected in samples from 64% of the study farms and 96% of the control farms. However, the concentration of VRE in the control samples was about six times larger than in the samples from the study farms. The minimum inhibitory concentration values for narasin differed between the poultry (1-4 mg/liter) and the porcine (0.25-0.5 mg/liter) isolates, indicating a decreased susceptibility towards narasin among enterococci from poultry.     

Riparian defoliation by the invasive green alder sawfly influences terrestrial prey subsidies to salmon streams

Invasive species in riparian forests are unique as their effects can transcend ecosystem boundaries via stream‐riparian linkages. The green alder sawfly (Monsoma pulveratum) is an invasive wasp whose larvae are defoliating riparian thin‐leaf alder (Alnus tenuifolia) stands across southcentral Alaska. To test the hypothesis that riparian defoliation by this invasive sawfly negatively affects the flow of terrestrial prey resources to stream fishes, we sampled terrestrial invertebrates on riparian alder foliage, their subsidies to streams and their consumption by juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). Invasive sawflies altered the composition of terrestrial invertebrates on riparian alder foliage and as terrestrial prey subsidies to streams. Community analyses supported these findings revealing that invasive sawflies shifted the community structure of terrestrial invertebrates between seasons and levels of energy flow (riparian foliage, streams and fish). Invasive sawfly biomass peaked mid‐summer, altering the timing and magnitude of terrestrial prey subsidies to streams. Contrary to our hypothesis, invasive sawflies had no effect on the biomass of native taxa on riparian alder foliage, as terrestrial prey subsidies, or in juvenile coho salmon diets. Juvenile coho salmon consumed invasive sawflies when most abundant, but relied more on other prey types selecting against sawflies relative to their availability. Although we did not find effects of invasive sawflies extending to juvenile coho salmon in this study, these results could change as the distribution of invasive sawflies expands or as defoliation intensifies. Nevertheless, riparian defoliation by these invasive sawflies is likely having other ecological effects that merits further investigation.     

Drought responses of above‐ground and below‐ground characteristics in warm‐season turfgrass

Water shortages have become more chronic as periodic droughts prolong and water demand for urban and agricultural use increases. Plant drought responses involve coordinated mechanisms in both above‐ and below‐ground systems, yet most studies lack comparisons of root and canopy responses under water scarcity and recovery. This is particularly true of research focused on warm‐season turfgrasses in sandy soils with extremely low water holding capacity. To address the lack of examination of coordinated stress and recovery responses, this study compared the above‐ and below‐ground plant responses during a dry‐down period of 21 days and recovery among four warm‐season turfgrass species in the field. Canopy drought responses and recovery were quantified using digital image analysis. In situ root images were captured using a minirhizotron camera system. Common bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] endured the entire drought period without losing 50% green cover while other species lost 50% green cover in 11–34 days predicted from the regression. The interspecific differences in drought resistance were mainly due to root characteristics. Other drought mechanisms appear to be responsible for differences identified in drought resistance between “Zeon” and “Taccoa Green” manilagrass [Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr.]. Recovery was delayed for up to 2 weeks in the second year, warranting further evaluation for turfgrass persistence under long‐term drought. Three‐week drought posed no threat to the survival of zoysiagrass. Species and genotypic variations were found in achieving full post‐recovery, which can be used to develop water conservation strategies and to adjust consumer expectations.     

Inactivation of Piscine orthoreovirus

Piscine orthoreovirus infects various salmonid fish species, and the infection is associated with diseases such as heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI) in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). There are no vaccines available or genetically selected resistant hosts that can efficiently control piscine orthoreovirus (PRV) infection. Currently, the only prophylactic measure against PRV is general biosecurity measures aiming to break the transmission cycle. Methods to eradicate infectious virus from contaminated facilities are desirable, but the knowledge on how to inactivate PRV is lacking. A major bottleneck for inactivation studies is the lack of ability to propagate PRV in cell culture. Therefore, in this study we developed an in vivo model for detection of infectious PRV particles after treatment of the virus with inactivation tools such as heat, pH, iodine, UV and commercially available disinfectants. The results show that standard iodine treatment is efficient in inactivation of the virus, and similarly are high and low pH extremes and treatment with Virocid, a commercially available disinfectant. A UV dose of at least 50 mJ/cm² is required for inactivation, and the virus has high resistance against heat treatment.