Alien chromosome transmission and somatic elimination in monosomic addition lines of Gossypium australe F. Muell in G. hirsutum L.

The efficiency of using monosomic alien addition lines (MAALs) to introgress agronomical traits of interest carried by wild diploid Gossypium species into the main cultivated cotton species G. hirsutum depends on the opportunities of confronting the alien chromosome with the recipient background genome at each generation and on the occurrence of translocations and homoeologous recombinations. The selfed-progeny of five MAALs of G. australe in G. hirsutum was screened with SSR markers to determine the transmission frequency of the alien chromosome and monitor its integrity. Three MAALs revealed a transmission frequency significantly lower than the expected ratio and one MAAL presented an exclusive transmission of the additional chromosome. In these four MAAL the alien chromosome was transmitted almost unaltered. With the fifth MAAL the alien chromosome was normally transmitted but was altered in half of the plants carrying it. In one MAAL, normally carrying brown fiber, the emergence of some plants carrying white and brown fiber revealed the somatic elimination of the additional chromosome. The loss of this chromosome seems to be triggered by its deletion.     

Cannabinoids for the pharmaceutical industry

Summary Cannabis sativa, is a rich source of a variety of compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenoids and flavonoids. Their content depends upon the plant genetics, growth conditions, time of harvest and drying conditions. To date, more than 60 different cannabinoids have been identified in the plant. Cannabis has been used medicinally for 4000 years and remained in the British pharmacopaeia until 1932, and in the British Pharmaceutical Codex until 1949. Medical use has been prohibited in the UK since 1973. The principal cannabinoid, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was first isolated in 1964; the first cannabinoid pharmaceutical product Marinol® (a synthetic THC product) was approved in the USA in 1985. The discovery of specific cannabinoid receptors in the early 1990s and subsequent identification of the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachadonoylglycerol, led to a resurgence of interest in the field of cannabinoid medicine, especially within the pharmaceutical industry. Cannabidiol (CBD), as a non-psychoactive, cannabinoid is currently a cannabinoid of significant interest, showing a wide range of pharmacological activity. The other classes of compounds present in cannabis also have their own pharmacology (e.g. terpenoids, flavonoids). The potential for interaction and synergy between compounds within the plant, may play a role in the therapeutic potential of cannabis. This may explain why a cannabis-based medicine using extracts containing multiple cannabinoids, in defined ratios, and other non-cannabinoid fractions, may provide better therapeutic success and be better tolerated than the single synthetic cannabinoid medicines currently available. The development and employment of one of these medicines, Sativex®, is described.     

Soluble sugars and carboxylic acids in ripe apricot fruit as parameters for distinguishing different cultivars

Major sugar and carboxylic acid components in apricot flesh fruits were detected and quantified. Fifty-one genotypes including clones growing in France, Spain, Italy, Greece and USA, belonging to the INRA germ plasm collection has been evaluated. Principal component analysis (PCA) has been performed to study correlation among fruit quality measurements and to interpret relationships between genotypes as a tool for germ plasm characterization. A marked variation in malic and citric acid content has been observed and PCA revealed clusters of apricot genotypes for the malic/citric ratio content. A good correlation between sugar component and refractometer index (r = 0.83) has been detected. The wide range of diversity in malic and citric acid content in apricot germ plasm makes it possible to breed and select genotypes with improved flavour on the basis of superior phenotypes. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Evaluation of Physicochemical Methods for Treatment of Cu, Pb, Sb, and Zn in Canadian Small Arm Firing Ranges Backstop Soils

This paper presents the results of physicochemical treatment on Pb-, Cu-, Sb-, and Zn-contaminated Canadian small arm firing range (SAFR) backstop soils in order to evaluate the potential of such methods for remediation of SAFR backstop soils. Remediation target for the treatment assays was to attain the Québec Department of Environment commercial C criterion or more realistically, to reach the soil burial D criterion. Two treatment lines (TL) were evaluated. TL-1, consisting of jig and Wilfley table (WT) treatments on the 0.5–3 mm and 53–500 μm soil size fractions (SF), respectively, and chemical leaching on the <53 μm SF and TL-2, consisting of jig on the 1–4 mm SF, spiral, and WT treatments on 250 μm–1 mm SF, and Kelsey jig assays on the <250 μm SF. For both TL, the untreated SF (>3 mm for TL-1; >4 mm for TL-2), and the gravimetric separation concentrates could be sent for recycling in smelter facilities. Results showed that the finer SF (<53 μm SF for TL-1; <250 μm SF for TL-2) were very difficult to treat. Even with metal removed mass proportions up to 78% for Pb, concentrations were still very high after chemical leaching; and the Kelsey jig showed deceiving metal removed mass proportions (up to 47% for Pb). In both TL, the jig and the WT showed Pb removed mass proportions up to 98% and treated mass proportions up to 77% in their respective SF. Whole process efficiencies in the cleaned soils showed that TL-1 led to the remediation of up to 65% of the initial total soil, and TL-2, 36%. TL-1 and TL-2 results showed that the WT effectively treated soils of 53 μm–1 mm SF, and the jig, soils of the 1–4 mm SF. Our study shows that gravimetric concentration techniques are very promising for the treatment of SAFR backstop soils, and further research has to be done in order to treat the SF lower than 53 μm.     

Fertilization of declining conifer stands in the Vosges and in the French Ardennes

Twenty fertilization experiments were set up in 1985 and 1986 in the Vosges mountains, using mostly calcareous or Mg fertilizers, in order to verify whether fertilization can attenuate defoliation and yellowing recently recorded in Silver fir and Norway spruce. In the Ardennes, a fertilization experiment set up in Norway spruce stands prior to the appearance of yellowing was assessed. In these areas, the total acid deposition is about 2 kg eq H⁺ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Nitrogen deposition is much more important in the Ardennes (52 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in form of wet and dry deposition) than in the Vosges (16 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). The results in the eight adult stands showed no uniform reaction to the treatments. Spontaneous improvement, further deterioration independently of the treatment, as well as a positive reaction to fertilization were observed. Additional N or P fertilization sometimes had a beneficial effect on Ca or Mg treatments. The selection of the stands with the best response turns out to be difficult, as the nutrient contents of needles alone seem not to be a satisfactory criterion for selection. Young plantations reacted positivley to the treatments. Soluble Mg fertilizer leads to an immediate response. Low solubility Ca-Mg fertilizers (Ca-Mg lime) did not produce reactions until three years after the application. In the Ardennes, in a 40 yr old spruce stand suffering from severe Mg deficiency, a Ca and Ca-phosphate fertilization applied 5 yr before yellowing appeared had positive effects on crown density, discoloration and wood production. Conversely, a single N fertilization in this experiment, as well as in a young plantation in the Vosges, had a marked negative effect on Mg nutrition, even at low levels.     

Environmental change hastens the demise of the critically endangered riverine rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis)

Declining population numbers coupled with the growing evidence of global change have focussed attention on the critically endangered riverine rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis) endemic to South Africa. The aim of this study is to develop a habitat model to aid in the identification of isolated populations, offer opportunities for re-introduction or introduction, and guide future conservation efforts by assessing the possible impacts of global change. We attempt a novel approach where plant species which afford the riverine rabbit cover from predation and its primary food sources are modelled utilising the same technique and are included as a predictor variable in the habitat model for both current and future projections of potential habitat. Inclusion of this proximal variable as well as riparian areas yields a more parsimonious habitat model than using climatic variables alone. Results suggest that unsurveyed suitable habitat east of Victoria West might harbour previously overlooked isolated populations or offer new opportunities for re-introductions. Future climatic conditions under the most severe general circulation model for the region (HADCM3) suggest that, on average, in excess of 96% of the current habitat could become unsuitable, mitigated only slightly by a possible 7% increase in range in adjacent upper catchment areas. Consideration of existing land transformation increases this range reduction by a further 1%. Given that ex situ captive breeding programmes have met with no success and that the bulk of future potential range lies well outside of the currently known and surveyed areas the current adaptation options of conservancy establishment and captive breeding need to be re-evaluated. Without positive human intervention the future of the critically endangered riverine rabbit under conditions of global change seems certain.     

Genetic diversity and pathogenic variability among isolates of colletotrichum species from strawberry

ABSTRACT Ninety-five isolates of Colletotrichum including 81 isolates of C. acutatum (62 from strawberry) and 14 isolates of C. gloeosporioides (13 from strawberry) were characterized by various molecular methods and pathogenicity tests. Results based on random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) polymorphism and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 2 sequence data provided clear genetic evidence of two subgroups in C. acutatum. The first subgroup, characterized as CA-clonal, included only isolates from strawberry and exhibited identical RAPD patterns and nearly identical ITS2 sequence analysis. A larger genetic group, CA-variable, included isolates from various hosts and exhibited variable RAPD patterns and divergent ITS2 sequence analysis. Within the C. acutatum population isolated from strawberry, the CA-clonal group is prevalent in Europe (54 isolates of 62). A subset of European C. acutatum isolates isolated from strawberry and representing the CA-clonal and CA-variable groups was assigned to two pathogenicity groups. No correlation could be drawn between genetic and pathogenicity groups. On the basis of molecular data, it is proposed that the CA-clonal subgroup contains closely related, highly virulent C. acutatum isolates that may have developed host specialization to strawberry. C. gloeosporioides isolates from Europe, which were rarely observed were either slightly or nonpathogenic on strawberry. The absence of correlation between genetic polymorphism and geographical origin in Colletotrichum spp. suggests a worldwide dissemination of isolates, probably through international plant exchanges.