Genetic diversity analysis of Moroccan lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) landraces using Simple Sequence Repeat and Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms reveals functional adaptation towards agro‐environmental origins

In the absence of previous molecular characterization, we assessed genetic diversity of 53 Moroccan lentil landraces including two local cultivars using simple sequence repeat (SSR) and amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP). Nineteen SSRs yielded 213 alleles, and seven AFLP primer combinations gave 766 fragments of which 422 were polymorphic. Moderate to high genetic variation was observed. Several small groups of landraces were differentiated. Interestingly, one of the smallest groups contained short‐cycle landraces with high early vegetative growth. Landraces in that group were from the dry land location of Abda, where they were likely selected for adaptation to drought and heat stress over centuries. Another group contained two landraces from highland areas that may have been selected for specific adaptation to cold stress. A third group contained one landrace from the Zear region known for its seed quality and has been proposed for the protected designation of origin (PDO) quality mark. Both techniques gave evidence of differentiation of the latter landrace supporting the idea of PDO attribution. Functional grouping according to agro‐environmental origins, cycle duration and early vegetative vigour was observed.     

Plant tissue culture of Secale: A review

Summary Plant tissue culture of rye employs different parts of plant bodies originating from various stages of rye ontogenesis. For the culture initiation mainly diploid and after that tetraploid forms were used, however, haploids and triploids were subject of investigation. The development of plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis or organogenesis required the using of numerous basal media with various plant growth hormones. Haploidization appeared to be the most difficult problem and only interspecies hybridization helped to overcome this problem. Wide sexual intergenera and interspecies hybridization in cereals require the development of proembryo and immature embryo culture system. Using the nurse culture basing on immature endosperm resulted in getting fully formed rye plants. There is no progress in somatic cell genetic manipulation of rye because of lack of plant regeneration system in mesophyll green leaf and suspension protoplast cultures.Abbreviations 2, 4, 5, Cl₃POP... 2, 4, 5-Cl₃-phenoxypropionic acid, dicamba...-3, 6-dichloroasinic acid - GA₃... gibberellic acid - BA... benzyladenine - IBA... 3-indolebutric acid - IAA... indoleacetic acid - NAA... 1-naphtylacetic acid - 2, 4-D... 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - 2, 4, 5-T... 2, 4, 5-trichloroacetic acid - p-CPA... parachlorophenoxyacetic acid - CM... coconut milk - CW... deproteined coconut milk - Kin Kinetin     

Selection of Al-resistant plants from a sensitive rice cultivar, using somaclonal variation, in vitro and hydroponic cultures

A selection procedure is described that isolated Al-resistant individuals from a sensitive rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotype. Somaclonal variation was used as the only source of variability and selection pressures were applied at both callus and regenerated plant levels. When 10 week-old, embryo-derived calli were submitted to different Al stresses for a period of 20 weeks. After this in vitro stress period, selected calli were grown during 18 weeks, without selection pressure, on regeneration media. Selection pressures were applied on regenerated plants (R0), and 9 R0 plants which produced seeds were selected. The transmission of the Al-resistant character to the R1, R2, R3 and R4 generations was then investigated, and three plant lines which had an increased percentage of Al-resistant plants till the fourth generation of self-pollination, were identified. One was from a callus maintained on an Al-free medium. The efficiency of in vitro selection pressures was therefore debated. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Resistance to tomato spotted wilt virus in transgenic tomato hybrids

Summary Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) causes significant economic losses in the commercial culture of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Culture practices and introgression of natural sources of resistance to TSWV have only been marginally effective in controlling the TSWV disease. Recently however, high levels of protection against TSWV have been obtained by transforming tobacco with a chimaeric gene cassette comprising the TSWV nucleoprotein gene. This report demonstrates the successful application of this newly-created TSWV resistance gene in cultivated tomato. Transformation of an inbred tomato line with the TSWV nucleoprotein gene cassette resulted in high levels of resistance to TSWV that were maintained in hybrids derived from the parental tomato line. Therefore, transformant lines carrying the synthetic TSWV resistance gene make suitable progenitors for TSWV resistance to be incorporated into the breeding programmes of tomato.     

Empirical functions for dependent furrow irrigation variables.

A complete set of dependent furrow irrigation variables has been identified, for which empirical functions, of general applicability, have been developed. A one-dimensional sensitivity analysis technique coupled with dimensional analysis was employed to reduce the number of independent irrigation variables to a manageable size. Simulation experiments were carried out to generate the data used in developing the pertinent functional relationships. Regression analysis was used to ascertain the specific form of the equations. The predictive quality of the functions has been assessed by comparing their output with those of a zero-inertia model, and was found to be satisfactory. Received: 22 May 1996     

小缸径涡流室柴油机用喷油嘴的研究

该文分析了目前国产涡流室柴油机的机型现状，通过理论计算分析指出用一种结构参数的喷油嘴不能满足不同气缸工作容积涡流室柴油机的匹配要求，提出为优化柴油机动力性、经济性、排放、噪声及可靠性等综合性能，喷油过程必须有合理的喷油持续期，应根据柴油机循环喷油量的大小选用不同结构参数和流量的喷油嘴进行匹配试验。文中分析了针阀流通面积、针阀运动的泵吸容积、压力室容积的大小与柴油机循环喷油量的关系，以及它们对喷油过程和柴油机性能的影响。结合国内生产实际情况，给出了一个轴针式喷油嘴系列设计方案，并用试制样品初步进行了试验，试验结果表明柴油机的燃油消耗率、排气烟度明显降低，性能得到了优化提高。     

Strategies for risk assessment of existing chemicals in soil

In the risk assessment of industrial chemicals, an assessment of the risk to soil should be performed whenever relevant inputs occur via the following pathways: application of sewage sludge, wet or dry deposition, application as a pesticide constituent (e.g. solvent or metabolite), irrigation. An evaluation of the results for 34 chemicals from the first EU priority list showed that only 35% of the risk assessments for the terrestrial compartment were performed on the basis of at least 2 valid tests with soil organisms. In the vast majority of cases, the equilibrium partitioning method was used to extrapolate from aquatic to soil toxicity. However, no indications exist for a correlation between aquatic and terrestrial toxicity. Moreover, the exposure routes for soil organisms (uptake via pore water, air included in soil pores, ingestion of soil particles) are much more complex than those for aquatic organisms. As a new approach, it is therefore suggested that, in cases of relevant exposure (e.g. estimated or measured concentrations of >10 μg/kg), an assessment should generally be performed on the basis of valid terrestrial tests rather than on an extrapolation from the aquatic toxicity. It is recommended that prolonged exposure tests should be used already for an initial assessment of substances that have a strong tendency to adsorb on soil particles and thus a long residence time in soil. A decision scheme for the risk assessment of industrial chemicals in soil is presented, trigger values, testing strategies as well as assessment factors for derivation of a Predicted No Effect Concentration (PNEC_soil) are discussed. An example of a terrestrial risk assessment for substances from the first EU priority list is given in order to illustrate current practice.