Influence of Phytohemagglutinin on the Agronomic Performance of Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The abundant lectin phytohemagglutinin (10 % of total seed protein) does not contain sulfur amino acids and, being a potent antimetabolite, it is responsible for the lowering of the nutritional value of bean seeds. The aim of the present work was to improve the dry bean cultivar ‘Taylor's Horticultural’ (Asgrow), by genetically introducing the lectin null (lec/lec) character from two null genotypes: ‘Pinto UI 111’ and ‘Heidi’. Thirty-seven BC²F₃ and fourteen BC₆F₅ inbred lines were evaluated in agronomical trials. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed significant differences among BC₂F₃ breedings lines for all traits under evaluation. Comparison of the LedLee genotypes versus lec/lec did not show statistically significant differences in the means for the following traits: yield, yield components and percentage of protein in the seed. Fourteen BC6F5 lines, compared together with their recurrent parent ‘Taylor's Horticultural’, showed significant differences among genotypes for 1000 seed weight, protein percentage on dry matter and ash percentage. No significant differences were observed for grain yield. The data indicate that lectin removal did not have a detrimental effect on the traits evaluated.     

Measured Soil Water Concentrations of Cadmium and Zinc in Plant Pots and Estimated Leaching Outflows from Contaminated Soils

Soil water concentrations of cadmium and zinc were measured in plant pots with 15 contaminated soils which differed in origin, texture, pH (5.1 – 7.8) and concentrations of cadmium (0.2 – 17 mg Cd kg-¹) and zinc (36 – 1300 mg Zn kg-¹). The soil waters contained total concentrations of 0.5 to 17 µg Cd L-¹ and 9 to 3600 µg Zn L-¹, which were dominated by free metal ions as measured by an ion exchange-resin method. Annual leaching outflows were estimated from soil water concentrations to be 0.5 – 17 g Cd ha-¹ y-¹ and 9 – 3600 g Zn ha-¹ y-¹ per 100 mm of net percolation, corresponding to 0.1% per year of the total soil content of cadmium and zinc. The measured soil water concentrations of cadmium and zinc did not correlate linearly with the corresponding soil concentrations but correlated fairly well with concentrations measured in Ca(NO₃)₂ extracts of the soils and with soil water concentrations estimated from soil concentrations and pH. Such concentration estimates may be useful for estimating amounts of cadmium and zinc being leached from soils.     

Malignant lymphoma with cardiac and bone involvement in a dog

Malignant lymphoma involving bone and heart was diagnosed in a 4-year-old Whippet, using radiography, histologic examination, nuclear scintigraphy of the skeleton and heart, and cardiac ultrasonography.     

Microclimate and Animal Life in the Equatorial Mountains

The venom apparatus in both species of Dendroaspis shows great similarity to that described in other proteroglyphs. There is a posterior bulbous portion or main gland and an anterior narrower portion, the accessory gland, that surrounds the secretory duct. The gland is enclosed in a very tough connective tissue capsule. Fibres from the m. adductor externus superficialis insert on the connective tissue capsule on the dorsal aspect of the venom gland. They serve to compress the gland and expel the venom when the snake strikes. Ventrally, fibres of the m. pterygoideus are also inserted on the investing sheath. This muscle supports the gland ventrally and also appears to play some role in venom ejection. The arrangement of the jaw musculature is similar in both species of Dendroaspis. Since the m. adductor externus superficialis is closely associated with the venom gland it has become highly specialized and exhibits great variation among snakes. This muscle in Dendroaspis differs from that in other proteroglyphs in the extension of its origin in a ventral direction over the postorbital bone to the maxilla. As in other elapids, the m. levator anguli oris is absent in both species of Dendroaspis.     

The incidence of Pythium spp. and Aphanomyces cochlioides associated with the sugar-beet growing soils of Britain

In a survey of fungi causing seedling diseases of sugar beet using a soil bioassay, Aphanomyces cochlioides and Pythium spp. were found to occur in 39% and 31%, respectively, of 341 sugar-beet fields selected in a stratified random sample in England, The frequency of A. cochlioides-infested soils varied widely in the different sugar-beet growing areas of the country. Soil pH was the single factor most strongly associated with the distribution of the pathogen, but regression models applied to combinations of factors indicated that soil texture and the interval between sugar-beet crops were also relevant to its frequency. It was detected less often in soils of high pH (≥ 75). heavy texture and where the interval between sugar-beet crops exceeded 5 years. No significant associations were found between the proportion of soils with Pythium spp. and soil or cropping factors.     

Fate of mucilage cell wall polysaccharides during coffee fermentation.

Effects of a 20-h fermentation on cell wall polysaccharides from the mucilage of pulped coffee beans were examined and compared to those of unfermented beans, on alcohol insoluble residues (AIRs), their hot-water-soluble crude pectic substances (PECTs), and their hot-water-insoluble residues (RESs). Yields and compositions were very similar: AIRs, which consisted of approximately 30% highly methylated pectic substances, approximately 9% cellulose, and approximately 15% neutral noncellulosic polysaccharides, exhibited no apparent degradation. However, PECTs from fermented beans were shown to have undergone a slight reduction of their intrinsic viscosity and weight-average molecular weight by capillary viscosimetry and high-performance size-exclusion chromatography. After fermentation, hot-water-insoluble pectic substances of RES exhibited partial de-esterification. Removal of coffee bean mucilage by natural fermentation seems to result from a restricted pectolysis, the mechanism of which remains to be elucidated.