Competition between Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Growth indices describing the nature of the competitive relationship between Silene vulgaris and alfalfa during crop establishment were determined from experiments conducted outdoors in southem Manitoba in 1986 and 1987. The results of the experiments indicated that alfalfa dry matter yields were influenced more by intra- than interspecific competition. In comparison S. vulgaris was affected more by interspecific competition. Replacement diagrams and aggressivity indices both demonstrated that alfalfa and S. vulgaris were the aggressor and sub-ordinate species, respectively. Relative replacement rates for alfalfa versus S. vulgaris were significantly greater than unity, indicating that alfalfa exerted a greater replacement pressure on S. vulgaris than did S. vulgaris on alfalfa. Over time alfalfa could be expected to replace S. vulgaris as the dominant species within a population. Barley was more competitive than alfalfa with S. vulgaris. Not only was S. vulgaris shoot dry weight reduced more by barley than by alfalfa during the establishment year, but fewer S. vulgaris seedlings emerged the following year in plots that had been seeded to barley than in those that had been seeded to alfalfa.     

Phenological development and biomass allocation in Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke

Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke, grown from seed or from crown buds, exhibited three dis tinct growth phases; establishment, reproduc tive and post-reproductive. The establishment phase was characterized by rapid accumulation of shoot biomass, high relative growth rates (RGRs) and leaf area ratios (LARs). The sexual reproductive phase was characterized by a rapid increase in floral and seed biomass, minimal root development, and declining RGRs and LARs. In the post-reproductive phase, root and crown biomass increased rapidly concomitant with the development of regenerative buds; low RGR and LAR values occurred during this phase. Although similar growth phases were identified in both the first (grown from seed) and second years (grown from crown buds) of growth, LARs and RGRs were lower in the second than in the first year. In the second year of growth, plants exhibited a continual increase in below-ground biomass throughout growth, including the flowering period, a feature which was absent in the first year of growth.     

Uptake and metabolism as mechanisms of selective herbicidal activity of the 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a] pyrimidines

In order to identify the factors providing the triazolopyrimidines with a wide range of selectivity amongst agriculturally important plant species, studies were made on the uptake and metabolism of a representative compound, N-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-5,7-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine- 2-sulfonamide. This compound is much more phytotoxic to dicots than to monocots. Experiments showed that variations in leaf morphologies and geometries relative to spray applications resulted in different herbicide dosages applied to plant species used in selectivity evaluations. However, this parameter did not have a statistically significant correlation to herbicide selectivity measurements. Characterization of the metabolic pathways showed that the major herbicide metabolites involved methyl hydroxylation or hydroxylation of the aniline ring followed by glucose conjugation. Since these metabolites were not exclusive to either monocots or dicots, herbicide selectivity does not appear dependent on the pathway of metabolism. Studies on the kinetics of metabolism suggest instead that metabolic rate was important. Monocots metabolized the herbicide rapidly and generally were tolerant while the opposite was true of dicots.     

Genetics of resistance to Phytophthora capsici in the Mexican pepper‘Line 291

In order to establish a genetic model of the resistance to Phytophthora cupsici in Capsicum annuum genotype‘Line 29′, three experiments were conducted which included, as well as‘Line 29′, the susceptible genotype‘Morron INIA 224’and several of its F₁, F₂, F₃ and backcrosses. Plants with 4–6 leaves were inoculated by irrigating the culture substrate with a zoospore suspension of isolate B 1. The F² test was applied to the segregating generations to test whether there were one, two, three or four genes involved in the resistance. Additivity and equal weight of all the genes in the final effect were assumed. The hypothesis that best explained the results obtained was the one that assumed three genes in‘Line 29′; at least four alleles had to be present in any genotype for it to behave as resistant. The possible influence of isolate aggressiveness and inoculation method on the results is discussed.     

Inheritance of two body color mutations of the spiny bollworm (Earias insulana)

Reciprocal crosses in all possible combinations between the yellow-green (YG) wild line and two body color mutations — viridian-green (VG) and grayish-white (GW) — of the spiny bollworm,Earias insulana (Boisd.), indicated that these mutations were not sex-linked or controlled cytoplasmically. The YG phenotype was dominant over both body color mutations. A genetic model involving two genes with recessive epistasis is proposed for the inheritance of body color.

     

Entamoeba histolytica--the virulence of imported strains

We tested the virulence of 15 strains of Entamoeba histolytica, imported to Czechoslovakia, by intracaecal inoculation of laboratory rats. According to the scoring system of Neal, none of the 15 strains possessed the virulence index greater than 2. This indicates that all the organisms tested should be classified as avirulent. However, it should be noted that all the strains produced infection of the caecum and thus should be considered infective for rat. For 7 strains, isoenzyme patterns were determined for PGM, HK and ME. One imported strain, obtained from student from Congo, demonstrated isoenzyme pattern for PGM and HK indicated that the strain was virulent. This organisms had the index of virulence 1.8 (avirulent) in animal experiment; it was isolated from cysts of clinically asymptomatic patient. Examination of the rectal mucosa of the donor of the strain indicated typical chronic catarrhal proctitis of mild degree. Examination of the patient's serum demonstrated the presence of anti E. histolytica antibodies by CIEP, while the ELISA test was negative. Twenty-one cyst carriers were examined by rectoscopy. Pathologic changes were observed in 20 of these, as follows: altered vascular structure (13X), roughened mucosa (12X), mucosal reddening (10X), decreased glistening (7X), mucus in mucosa (5X), inflammatory pseudopolypes (2X), ulcers (2X), enanthema (1X). Histological biopsies were obtained in 15 cases. One was considered normal. Remaining 14 biopsies exhibited following morphological changes: increased mucus secretion (8X), edema (7X), lymphocytic and plasmocytic infiltration (6X), lymphocytic and plasmocytic infiltration in addition to the presence of eosinophilic granulocytes (6X), presence of mucophages (5X), haemorrhages (4X), increased vascularity (3X), lymphocytic and plasmocytic infiltration with presence of extremely abundant eosinophilic granulocytes (1X), erosive-ulcerative changes of mucosa (1X). The changes observed indicated chronic catarrhal proctitis with expression to greater or less degree of signs of chronic catarrhal inflammation.     

Modelling the escape of Chondrostereum purpureum spores from a larch forest with biological control of Prunus serotina

Chondrostereum purpureum is being developed as a microbial herbicide to controlPrunus serotina in coniferous forests. After biological control, the fungus produces basidiospores that may reach and infect non-target plants. As part of a risk analysis, spore escape from a forest was quantified. For this purpose, a stratified model was developed for a forest of 250 m with 250 m. A turbulent diffusion equation was used to describe spore fluxes for each layer.In a simple calculation procedure, the spore fluxes for the different layers were calculated simultaneously. The downwind escape fraction was found to vary from 0.19 to 0.45, and the upward escapte fraction from 0.07 to 0.23. These escape fractions increased with increasing wind speed.Number of spores released from basidiocarps, and escape fractions could be used as inputs for a Gaussian plume model to calculate spore immission into orchards.     

Variability among Spanish citrus tristeza virus isolates revealed by double-stranded RNA analysis

A survey for citrus tristeza virus (CTV) strains, based on double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) analysis, was carried out in five locations on the eastern citrus-growing area of Spain. CTV was recovered from 137 trees of different ages, citrus species and varieties, sampled in 53 orchards. The best months for dsRNA recovery were April, May, September, October, and November, and the highest dsRNA yield was obtained from sweet orange cultivars. Sixteen dsRNA profiles differing by the number and/or position of subgenomic bands were detected. One of these profiles was detected in more than half the trees analysed. Maximum diversity of dsRNA patterns was found in the location with the oldest citrus orchards and the highest CTV incidence (Alzira-Carcaixent). In many instances, several dsRNA profiles were detected in neighbouring trees of the same orchard, notably in Alzira-Carcaixent, where 70% of the plots sampled contained more than one profile. The possible causes for the diversity of CTV isolates found in this specific area are discussed.     

Characterization of an isolate of beet mosaic virus from South Kazakhstan

A filamentous virus isolated from a sugar-beet plant showing systemic mosaic collected in South Kazakhstan was identified as an isolate of beet mosaic virus (BMV-K). BMV-K was transmitted by the green peach aphid Myzus persicae in a non-persistent manner, and by sap inoculation to 11 out of 19 species from seven families tested. The virus could not be transmitted to Nicotiana tabacum, N. debneyi, N. glutinosa and N. clevelandii, cither mechanically or with M. persicae. The thermal inactivation point of BMV-K in sugar-beet sap was 55-60 C, dilution end point 1:1000 and longevity in vitro 2 days at 20 C. A purification procedure produced 1-5-3 mg of purified virus from 100 g of infected Stellaria media plants. Purified virus contained a single protein species of molecular weight 34 700 Da. In ELISA tests, BMV-K reacted positively with BMV-specifc antisera obtained from Japan. Germany and Portugal. By competitive DAS- ELISA, the virus isolate was shown to be closely serologically related to all the three isolates of BMV, and very distantly related to bean yellow mosaic and soy bean mosaic viruses.