Ectomycorrhizal Fungi and Associated Bacteria Provide Protection Against Heavy Metals in Inoculated Pine (Pinus Sylvestris L.) Seedlings

The roles of ectomycorrhizal fungi and bacteria associated with corresponding fungal species in distribution of heavy metals within roots and shoots of inoculated pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings were determined in this study. The mycorrhizal fungi forming different morphotypes were identified by PCR-RFLP using respective primers for an internal spacer transcribed region (ITS) of fungal rDNA. Amongst five fungal species detected, three were identified as Scleroderma citrinum, Amanita muscaria and Lactarius rufus. These fungi used for inoculation of pine seedlings significantly reduced translocation of Zn(II), Cd(II) or Pb(II) from roots to shoots, and the pattern of metal-accumulation was dependent on the fungal species. Ectomycorrhizae-associated bacteria identified as Pseudomonas were used as an additional component of the pine inoculation. These dual root inoculations resulted in higher accumulation of the metals, especially Zn(II), in the roots compared to the inoculation with fungal species alone. Consequently, dual inoculation of pine seedlings could be a suitable approach for plant protection against heavy metals and successful planting of metal-polluted soils.     

Extinct technetium in silicon carbide stardust grains: implications for stellar nucleosynthesis

The isotopic composition of ruthenium (Ru) in individual presolar silicon carbide (SiC) stardust grains bears the signature of s-process nucleosynthesis in asymptotic giant branch stars, plus an anomaly in 99Ru that is explained by the in situ decay of technetium isotope 99Tc in the grains. This finding, coupled with the observation of Tc spectral lines in certain stars, shows that the majority of presolar SiC grains come from low-mass asymptotic giant branch stars, and that the amount of 99Tc produced in such stars is insufficient to have left a detectable 99Ru anomaly in early solar system materials.     

US economic assistance to two Micronesian nations: Aid impact,dependency and migration

Abstract: The USA provides economic assistance to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands under the Compacts of Free Association. Both economies demonstrate three of the four MIRAB components: migration, aid and bureaucracy. Only the remittance structure has not developed. Significant US assistance supported large government sectors in both nations. Reductions in US assistance of over a 17‐year period led many island citizens to migrate to the USA. However, to date, remittances have not been substantial. In addition to structural challenges, both nations face institutional constraints including poor governance and lack of accountability over assistance. To improve future growth through more effective use of US assistance, these institutional constraints must be overcome. Future US assistance to both nations will fall over the next 20 years, putting pressure on the island governments and will likely contract their economies. The need for remittance streams is likely to increase. New Compact assistance structures strive to improve aid accountability.     

Effect of three anthocyaninless genes on germination in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) II. Seed germination under stress conditions

Seeds from four pairs of tomato isogenic/near-isogenic lines (IL/NIL) differing for anthocyaninless of Hoffmann (ah), three pairs of IL/NILs differing for anthocyaninwithout (aw) and six pairs of IL/NILs differing for baby lea syndrome (bls) were evaluated for their germination ability under stress conditions: low and high temperature, salt and osmotic stress. Mutant genes affecting anthocyanin biosynthesis enhanced tomato germination capacity under all above mentioned treatments, except for the aw gene under a PEG-6000 treatment. Testa removal accelerated germination under stress conditions, but differences in time to 50% germination between the wild type lines and their ah-, aw- and bls-IL/NILs although diminished, were not eliminated. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of three anthocyaninless genes on germination in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) I. Seed germination under optimal conditions

The effect of three mutant genes affecting anthocyanin biosynthesis – anthocyaninless of Hoffmann (ah), anthocyaninwithout (aw) and baby lea syndrome (bls) – on tomato germination capacities at 24 ° C was investigated. The study was performed on nine anthocyanin containing lines – Apedice, Apeca, Ailsa Craig, Monfavet 167, Monfavet 168, Por, Piernita, VF 36 and VFNT cherry and 13 isogenic/near isogenic lines (IL/NIL) from them: 4 differing for gene ah, 3 differing for gene aw and 6 differing for gene bls). In the majority of the anthocyaninless IL/NILs germination began earlier than that in the wild type lines. Significant differences were observed in the time to 50% germination between the anthocyanin-containing and the anthocyaninless IL/NILs except for the most rapidly germinating line VFNT cherry. Seed weight, water uptake, effect of testa removal and presence or absence of maternal effects in F1 germination responses were investigated in order to elucidate the causes of the more rapid germination in the anthocyaninless IL/NILs. The increased amount of water uptake by the anthocyaninless lines, the shorter treatment time necessary for their testa removal, the important maternal effects in the genetic variability of the time to 50% germination and the differences in germination capacities between the wild type and the mutant IL/NILs after testa removal, indicated that the seed coat and the endosperm had to be affected by the effects of the three genes in a way that caused enhanced germination. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

How we improved a landscape study of species richness of beetles in woodland key habitats, and how model output can be improved

In an earlier study (Franc et al., 2007), local species richness of saproxylic oak beetles (including red-listed beetles) in forests was predicted mainly by the landscape (area of woodland key habitat within 1 km of plots). Such results are important for conservation work, but need to be backed up well, for reliable advice. We tested a two-stage method that improved our earlier models and our advice for conservation planning. We studied temperate mixed forest, rich in oaks Quercus robur/Quercus petraea, in a large landscape in Sweden. Franc et al. (2007) analysed 21 forests. Here we selected the significant explanatory variables (predictors) and other biologically relevant predictors, used the earlier 21 forests and sampled 11 new forests such that we expanded the range on the axes of the predictors. We collected in total 320 species of saproxylic oak beetles (23,137 individuals) of which 65 and 38 were red-listed (IUCN criteria, Swedish list 2000 and 2005, respectively). We partly confirmed our original results, but the results also changed in important ways: local species richness is now predicted by a combination of local, landscape and regional factors. Moreover, a local variable (dead wood) was the main predictor of saproxylic oak beetles (all species included), while for red-listed saproxylic oak beetles the landscape (woodland key habitat within 1 km of plots) was the main predictor, of local species richness. Thus, species richness of red-listed saproxylic oak beetles seems to depend mainly on landscapes factors, while total species richness of saproxylic oak beetles seems to depend more on local stand factors. We conclude that a two-stage research design can be useful in landscape and conservation studies, especially for species-rich taxa that require large samples per site.     

Assessment of soil erosion on arable land using Cs measurements: a case study from Jaslovske Bohunice, Slovakia

This study was carried out to obtain a representative set of data on long-term erosion rates from a pilot area located close to the Jaslovske Bohunice village, in western Slovakia using the ¹³⁷Cs-method. The study area chosen was representative of the hilly loess cultivated areas of Slovakia. The sampling strategy was based on a multiple transect approach. Analyses of the samples for ¹³⁷Cs activity were made at the Nuclear Power Plant Research Institute, Jaslovske Bohunice. The ¹³⁷Cs-method was used to obtain long-term estimates of soil erosion in the Jaslovske Bohunice site, a representative hilly loess cultivated area of Slovakia. The estimated reference ¹³⁷Cs inventory was 2910 Bq m⁻², with a coefficient of variation of 4.3%.Examination of the ¹³⁷Cs redistribution in relation to the topography of the study area revealed that, within individual transects the ¹³⁷Cs inventories were closely related to major landforms. The ¹³⁷Cs inventories were considerably lower on the slopes than on the plateau and they were highest in the valley. However, when plotted against a selection of individual quantitative slope parameters, i.e. the S and the LS factors of the USLE or slope inclination, the correlations obtained were weak.Three conversion models, i.e. the proportional model (PM), the simplified mass balance model (MBM1) and the standard mass balance model (MBM2), from the set of models developed at Exeter University, Great Britain were selected to interpret the resulting ¹³⁷Cs measurements into soil erosion/deposition rates. The mean erosion rates estimated with the PM were 22.4, 35.6 with MBM1 and 17.3 t ha⁻¹ per year with MBM2. There was a good agreement between the average of these mean erosion rates (25.1 t ha⁻¹ per year) for the Jaslovske Bohunice site and the estimated mean soil erosion rate obtained for small erosion plots (15 t ha⁻¹ per year) for conditions similar to the study site. Nevertheless, further research on the application of the ¹³⁷Cs-method, in particular the independent validation of the results obtained, is needed. Several issues requiring further study have been highlighted.     

The yield and quality of F1 hybrids of several vegetable plants,compared with standard varieties

Summary In cucumbers some of the F₁ hybrids proved to be more resistant to diseases and more tolerant to a cool temperature. The most productive and the earliest F₁ hybrids, having also the highest percentage of marketable fruits were obtained from crosses, when as a mother parent the inbred line No. 9 of Borszczagowski variety was used and as the father parent the variety 53 BSC white spine.The use of F₁ hybrids seems to improve the possibilities of the production of sweet pepper in cooler countries, like Poland. In experiments, conducted in East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Poland in years 1961 and in Poland also in 1963 the F₁ hybrids gave in all cases earlier and higher yields than the best local standard varieties.In tomatoes the most promising F₁ hybrids seem to be the crosses between a Polish variety Mory 33 and Russian varieties Sztambowy Alpatiewa and Miczurinskij rannij. In the greenhouse trials some of F₁ hybrids, like Nr. 10 x Bizon, Harzfeuer, Weibulls Immuna, Kecskemet Nr. 6, Eurocross gave higher early yields than standard varieties.With onions, most of the F₁ hybrids obtained in the U.S.A. were too early and poor keepers under Polish climatic conditions. Work is conducted to obtain F₁ hybrids of the type of our standard onion variety Wolska, globular in shape and straw yellow in color, but more uniform in all varietal characters.Good results with F₁ hybrids have been also obtained with the Bulgarian F₁ hybrid of Eggplant Nr. 12 x Delikates and also with a Danish F₁ hybrid of Brussel sprouts.

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Zusammenfassung Einige Hybridsorten der Gurke haben sich in unseren Prüfungen als widerstandsfähiger gegen Krankheiten erwiesen und auch ihre Ansprüche an die Temperatur waren geringer. Die besten F₁ Hybriden wurden von Kreuzungen erhalten, bei denen die Linie Nr. 9 der Borszczagowski Gurkensorte als Muttersorte und die Sorte 53 BVC als Vatersorte benutzt wurden.Die Benutzung von Hybridsorten scheint die Möglichkeiten des Anbaues von Gemüsepaprika in Ländern mit kühlerem Klima wie Polen zu verbessern. In den Versuchen, die in Ost-Deutschland, Tschechoslowakei — während zweier—und in Polen — während dreier Jahre — durchgeführt wurden, waren die Hybridsorten immer früher erntereif und lieferten höhere Erträge als die Standardsorten.Bei den Tomaten scheinen die besten Hybridsorten die Kreuzungen zwischen der polnischen Sorte Mory 33 und den sowjetischen Sorten Sztambowyj Alpatiewa oder Miczurinskij rannij zu liefern. In den Versuchen mit Gewächshaustomaten erbrachten manche Hybridsorten wie Nr. 10 x Bizon, Harzfeuer, Weibulls Immune, Keckskemet Nr. 6, Eurocross eine frühere Ernte mit höheren Erträgen als die besten Standortsorten.Fast alle in Amerika erhaltenen Hybridsorten von Zwiebeln waren für polnische Klimaverhältnisse zu früh und deshalb nicht genug lagerfest. Es wird jetzt an der Züchtung einer Zwiebel Hybridsorte mit den Eigenschaften unserer Standardsorte Wolska aber mit der Ausgeglichenheit der Sortenmerkmale einer Hybridsorte gearbeitet.Gute Ergebnisse sind auch mit der bulgarischen Hybridsorte der Eierfrucht (Nr. 12 x Delikates) und mit der dänischen Hybridsorte des Rosenkohls (Jade F₁) erhalten worden.

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Résumé Dans nos expériences nous avons constaté, que les variétés hybrides de concombre sont plus resistantes aux maladies et sont moins exigeantes en chaleur. Nous avons obtenu les meilleurs concombres hybrides F₁ par croisement de la lignée No. 9 de Borszczagowski comme plante maternelle avec la variété 53 BVC comme plante paternelle.Il nous semble possible que l'utilisation de variétés hybrides donnera des meilleures possibilitês de culture du paprica dans les pays de climat frais, par exemple en Pologne. Les expériences menées en Pologne pendant 3 ans ont montré, que les variétés hybrides étaient toujours plus précoces et donnaient toujours plus de fruits que les variétés locales.Nous avons obtenu les meilleurs hybrides de tomate en croisant la variété polonaise Mory 33 avec les variétés de URSS Sztambowyj Alpatieva ou Miczurinskij rannij. Les expériences concernant les tomates cultivées dans les serres ont montré, que quelques varietés hybrides telles que No. 10 x Bizon, Harzfeuer, Weibulls Immune, Kecskemet No. 6, Eurocross ont donné plus de fruits et étaient plus précoces que les meilleures variétés locales.Presque toutes les variétés hybrides américaines d'oignon se sont montrées trop précoces dans les conditions climatiques de Pologne et c'est pourquoi elles se conservent mal pendant le stockage. Une variété hybride d'oignon, ayant toutes les qualités de la variété polonaise standard Wolska et ayant en même temps les qualités d'une variété hybride est encore l'objet des études actuelles en vue de l'amélioration de cette plante.Nous avons en aussi des bons resultats avec une variété hybride d'aubergine de Bulgarie No. 12 x Delikates et avec une variété hybride de chou de Bruxelles d'origine danoise Jade F₁.

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Paper read in Lund, Sweden (EUCARPIA-CIQ Congress, 14th to 17th July 1965) on 17/7/1965.