Carbohydrate dynamics in particle-size fractions of sandy spodosols following forest conversion to maize cropping

In southwest France, much of the forested land on sandy spodosols has been converted to continuous maize cropping in the last few decades. To evaluate the impacts of this change on soil organic matter properties, we compared total organic C and neutral and amino sugars content in whole soil and particle size separates of two forested, and five related sites that had been either clear-cut for 12 and 18 mo, or cultivated to maize for 4-22 yr. Soil carbohydrates accounted for 4-7% of the total organic C across all sites. Soil organic C contents of clear-cut and cultivated sites were only 57-79% of the average value measured in forested sites. Accordingly, carbohydrate content of clear-cut and cultivated sites were only 35-66% of the value in forested sites. Ordering the sites in a chronosequence indicated that both total organic C and carbohydrate contents decreased with an increase in time elapsed since clear-cutting and maize cultivation. The only exception was a partial recovery of carbohydrate content in the site that had been under continuous maize for 22 yr. The clay+silt fraction (0-50 μm) was enriched in carbohydrates, mainly of microbial origin, whereas the sand size fractions (50-200 and 200-2000 μm) contained fewer carbohydrates which were mainly of plant origin. Monosaccharide analysis of particle size separates revealed significant differences in carbohydrate composition between sites. Relative to forested sites, the coarse and fine sand fractions in clear-cut and cultivated sites were depleted in carbohydrates and were relatively enriched in plant-derived carbohydrates. Carbohydrate content of the clay+silt fraction drastically decreased upon clear-cutting. Amino sugar content was consistently lower in clear-cut and cultivated sites than in forested sites, indicating that microbial populations were negatively affected by clear-cutting and cultivation. The fungal population appeared more sensitive than bacteria to these land-use changes as indicated by a greater decline in glucosamine than in muramic acid contents.     

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.     

Characterisation of the kappa light chain of the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Two full length cDNA sequences encoding the kappa light chain of the Australian marsupial, Trichosurus vulpecula, the brushtail possum, were isolated from a mesenteric lymph node cDNA library. The constant regions (Ckappa) of the two light chains were identical, but the variable (Vkappa) and joining (Jkappa) regions were different. At the amino acid level, possum Ckappa was most similar to Ckappa of an American marsupial, Monodelphis domestica (75%), with similarity to eutherian Ckappa ranging from 47 to 63%. The availability of molecular data will enable the development of immunological reagents for studying immune responses and disease in marsupials, thereby aiding conservation strategies and veterinary medicine.     

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。     

Epizootic of equine influenza in 1969 in Poland

Epidemiological observations on the course and spread of equine influenza in Poland during the 1969 epizootic were carried out. The dynamics of the spread of the disease in the country are shown graphically by voivodship. The disease incidence and mortality rates for the entire country are also shown. The highest incidence of disease and mortality rates were found to be in November 1969. A/equi-2/Warsaw/69 was identified as the causal virus. It caused the largest epizootic in the country since 1954.     

Genetic organization of aromatic rice as revealed by RAPD markers: A case study in conserving crop genetic resources on farm

Summary On-farm conservation of landraces is one strategy to maintain the diversity of crop germplasm in local agro-ecosystems. The genetic structures of landraces are a key biological factor in on-farm conservation strategies. To accumulate a genetic understanding that will help establish a methodology for on-farm conservation, the genetic organization of landraces of aromatic rice in Namdinh province, Vietnam was analyzed using RAPD markers. Eighteen RAPD markers detected 38 genotypes among 320 aromatic rice samples growing at 23 sites of farmers' fields and in the experimental field that derived from 13 sites. Geographical variation was observed in the frequency of genotypes, whereas individual landraces could not be distinguished by RAPD markers. Genetic variation within a site was generally smaller than that among sites. The degree of genetic similarity of the plants in a site varied among sites, as did the number of genotypes. Changes in genetic structure over time were investigated using experimental populations each derived from approximately 30 plants from 13 farmers' fields. The differences detected by DNA markers between the genetic structural in the farmers' fields and those in experimental fields suggested that genetic drift is a major cause of these differences. The present study suggests that DNA markers are an essential means to monitor the genetic structures of heterogeneous landraces of rice, and are useful for selecting study sites for the on-farm conservation of genetic diversity as well as for successive monitoring.     

Characterization of cytoplasmic male sterility in Petunia hybrida. I. Localization,composition and activity of esterases

Summary Anthers of male fertile, cytosterile and restored male fertile clones of Petunia hybrida were compared for esterase activity and composition in subsequent stages of microsporogenesis. Three methods were applied (i) ultra-thin layer isoelectric focussing on polyacryl amide gels, (ii) quantitative spectrophotometrical assay, (iii) histochemical determination of total esterase activity associated to the azo-coupling method (Pearse, 1972).In male fertile and restorer idiotypes the isozyme patterns were quite similar. Both the number and intensity of bands increased gradually till the tetrad stage. In contrast, esterase activity in cytosterile anthers remained at a low level and hardy any new bands showed up in later stages. This unvariable, low activity level in cytosterile anthers was also found in the spectrophotometric assay. Histochemical determinations revealed that in male fertile anthers esterase activity is concentrated in the outer tapetal layer at late prophase and that it accumulates there till the early microspore stage. In male sterile anthers esterase accumulation in the tapetal cells stops at the moment that tapetal breakdown becomes visible. This suggests that differences in esterase activity and composition are an effect rather than a cause of the failing pollen formation.