A rapid method for early generation selection of dwarf genotypes in wheat

Summary In the early generations of a breeding programme to incorporate the successful Norin 10 semidwarfing genes into adapted tall or standard lines, the bread and durum wheat breeder must be able to recognise and discard those lines that are not homozygous for the dwarfing gene. A method which exploits the gibberellin insensitive reaction of lines carrying the genes combined with a single seed descent technique is described in which most unwanted genotypes may be removed as F2 seedlings.     

Genetic interpretations of the effects of bulk breeding on four populations of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary The effects of bulk breeding on yield and its components in two high-yeilding and two low-yielding bean populations when grown at crop densities are interpreted in terms of gene action and selection. There was considerable additive variation in the crosses, dominance effects were variable but tended to be negative. The results were compared with results obtained at low density by another worker with the same populations, and this showed that interpretations of gene action in hybrid vigour depend on the test environment used. The interpretations were also compared with plant breeding interpretations made on the same material (Hamblin, 1977), and it was found that a single pattern of response to natural selection, in plant breeding terms, may be explained by more than one genetic interpretation and, conversely, a single genetic interpretation may result in different patterns of response in plant breeding terms. The value of composite crosses in plant breeding are discussed and it is concluded that there is a greater chance of producing improved lines from a large number of simple crosses than from a smaller number of composite crosses.     

Effects of photoperiod and temperature on flowering in mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek)

Summary Forty strains of mungbeans, including all of the entries in the 1st and 2nd International Mungbean Nurseries (IMN), were grown in plant growth chambers in photoperiods of 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 hours and mean temperatures of 18, 23, and 28°C. Results show that (1) mungbean strains differ in their flowering response to photoperiod and to mean temperature; (2) increasing the photoperiod of reducing the mean temperature delayed flowering, the amount of delay varied with the strain: (3) variations in mean temperature may alter the effect of the photoperiod on flowering in particular strains. Twenty-five strains which flowered in all photoperiod-temperature treatments could be divided into four groups, each group being successively later in flowering. The remaining 15 strains could be divided into four groups, according to their failure to flower within 105 days in specific photoperiod-temperature treatments. Flowering response in the growth chamber is useful in explaining flowering response in the 2nd IMN at three locations varying from 14°N to 49°N latitude.Contribution No 7516 from the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Relation in the inheritance of resistance to Pseudoperonospora cubensis rost and Sphaerotheca fuliginea poll. in cucumber (Cucumis sativusl. L.)

Summary Among the genes for resistance against Sphaerotheca fuliginea, the gene s for resistance of the hypocotyl is linked to or identical with gene p for resistance to Pseudoperonospora cubensis. This gene s is present in the cultivars Ashley, Poinsett, Natsufushinari, Pixie, Taipei and in accessions PI 179676. PI 212233 and PI 234517.Although gene s initially brings about some resistance of the true leaf, it appears that when s is present. other genes are necessary for complete resistance to S. fuliginea.     

Skeletal muscle protein turnover in broiler and layer chicks

Dietary infusion of L-[U-14C]tyrosine was used to estimate the fractional protein synthesis rates (FSR) in broiler and layer chickens. Six 2-wk-old birds of each strain were placed in individual metabolism cages and given a purified diet in agar-gel containing 2 microCi L-[U-14C]tyrosine for 6 h. The birds were sacrificed and the pectoralis major (PM) and two combined leg (LM) muscles (gastrocnemius and peroneous longus) were removed for analysis. Subgroups of chickens were sacrificed 3 d before and 3 d after infusion to observe changes in muscle composition to calculate fractional protein accretion rates (FAR). Fractional protein breakdown rates (FBR) were calculated by difference (FBR = FSR-FAR). Protein, ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) concentrations were determined to observe relationships between these cellular constituents and FSR. Fractional whole body growth rate and FSR in PM was greater (P less than .05) in broiler than layer birds. The FSR in LM of the layer was not different (P greater than .05) from that of broilers, and from the FSR of the PM in each bird-type. The calculated FBR in the layer PM was at least 17% higher than that of the other muscles. Ratios of FSR to FBR indicated that 16% of the protein synthesized in the layer PM was retained, compared with 45% in the broiler PM. The RNA activity of the layer PM was less (P less than .05) than that of the other muscles investigated. Deoxyribonucleic acid activity was lower (P less than .05) in the PM than LM of either bird-type.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The efficiency of nitrogen in cattle manures when applied to a double‐annual forage cropping system

The use of cattle manure (CM) for fertilization presents challenges for optimizing nitrogen (N) use. Our work aimed to assess N efficiencies, in a 6‐year experiment with three biennial rotations of four crops: oat–sorghum (first year) and ryegrass–maize (second year) in a rainfed humid Mediterranean area of Spain. Fertilization treatments included the following: control (no N), 250 kg mineral N ha^?1 year^?1 (250MN), three CM rates (supplying 170, 250 and 500 kg N ha^?1 year^?1) and four treatments where the two lowest CM rates were complemented with either 80 or 160 kg mineral N ha^?1 year^?1. Treatments were distributed randomly in each of three blocks. Maximum dry‐matter yield (~44–49 t ha^?1 rotation^?1) was achieved in the third rotation, and only the control and the 170CM yielded significantly less. Within the limitations of the EU Nitrate Directive, the N steady state supply of 170CM always requires a complement of mineral N (80 kg N ha^?1) to maximize N agronomic efficiency. The maximum N‐fertilizer replacement value (250CM vs. 250MN) was 0·67, without significant differences between the two treatments in other N‐related efficiency indexes, which indicates that plants took advantage of residual‐N effects. Nitrogen losses by leaching in the 250CM treatment were around 5–7% of the N applied. This reinforces the sustainability of manure recycling in long cropping seasons.     

PEDOGENIC GRADIENTS OF THE POLAR REGIONS

Soils of the polar regions are divided into three zones—Arctic Brown, Polar Desert, and Cold Desert. The Arctic Brown soil coincides approximately with the arctic tundra belt, the Polar Desert zone is penecontiguous with the high arctic, and the Cold Desert zone is represented by the ice-free sectors of Antarctica. The zones are broad and diffuse. Well-drained soils of the southern sectors of the Arctic Brown soil zone have embryonic podzolic affinities whereas soils of the northern portions of this same zone exhibit a low temperature calcification process akin to a cold steppe condition. Vascular plants form a continuous mat in the Arctic Brown soil zone but within the Polar Desert soil zone they are patchy or at times completely lacking. In the Polar Desert soils algae and diatoms appear to be the main contributors of soil organic matter. The Cold Desert soils of Antarctica are virtually void of organic matter. The above three soil zones, in effect, are sectors of a pedogenic gradient. Progressing from the northern fringes of the forested land, to colder climates, precipitation decreases, organic matter content of the soil decreases, and soil pH values tend to increase. In the Polar Desert soils, alkaline reactions are common whereas the Cold Desert soils of Antarctica are usually saline. Polar Desert soils and Cold Desert soils have many morphologic affinities. Tundra and Bog soils dominate areally in the main tundra belt but are confined to the local swales and depressions in the high arctic. Both Tundra and Bog soils tend to have higher pH values as one progresses to colder, drier climates. Neither Tundra nor Bog soils have, as yet, been recorded in Antarctica.     

Haematological evaluation of ethanolic extract of Allium ascalonicum in male albino rats

The haematological effect of ethanolic extract of Allium ascalonicum was evaluated in male albino rats during a 21 day administration at the doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w, orally. Parameters evaluated include the serum lipids, red and white cell indices. The results showed that the extract administered decreased most of the parameters relating to red cell and increased most of those parameters relating to white cells. It also decreased the total cholesterol (TCH), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) with no significant effect on the triglyceride levels.     

用激光剥蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱研究小麦籽粒元素的共分布

增加粮食可食用部分微量营养元素的浓度, 需要更好地了解其在植株, 特别是籽粒内的运输和分布规律。激光剥蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱(laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, LA-ICP-MS)是一种测定植物组织中元素空间分布的新技术。采用该技术对成熟小麦籽粒中锰(Mn)、铜(Cu)、锌(Zn)和磷(P)的空间分布及其关联程度定量研究。结果表明, 所测元素在籽粒不同部位的浓度分布差异很大。Cu、Zn和P浓度均以糊粉层最高, 胚乳最低, 胚居中, 浓度最大差异分别达15、42和33倍; Mn浓度则以胚最高, 胚乳最低, 糊粉层居中, 浓度最大差异达9倍。籽粒同一部位不同位置的元素浓度亦不相同, 外周胚乳(靠近糊粉层)的元素浓度大于内侧胚乳部位对应元素的浓度, 胚最外侧盾片部位的元素浓度大于胚中间位置的元素浓度, 且各元素趋势一致。比较分析发现, 麦粒不同部位元素的浓度变化存在明显的同步性, 籽粒中P浓度高的部位金属元素(Mn、Cu和Zn)浓度也高。这说明不同元素在向籽粒不同部位运输和积累过程中可能存在密切关联性。