Identification of QTL controlling high levels of partial resistance to Fusarium solani f. sp. pisi in pea

Fusarium root rot is a common biotic restraint on pea yields, and genetic resistance is the most feasible method for improving pea production. This study was conducted to discover quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling genetic partial resistance to Fusarium root rot caused by Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc. f.sp. pisi (F.R. Jones) W.C. Snyder & H.N. Hans (Fsp). A RIL population was screened in a Fusarium root rot field disease nursery for 3 years. Composite interval mapping was employed for QTL detection using the means of disease severity from three growing seasons. Five QTL were identified, including one QTL identified in all three years. The multiyear QTL Fsp‐Ps2.1 contributed to a significant portion of the phenotypic variance (22.1–72.2%), while a second QTL, Fsp‐Ps6.1, contributed 17.3% of the phenotypic variance. The other single growing season QTL are of additional interest as they colocate with previously reported pea–Fusarium root rot resistance QTL. QTL Fsp‐Ps2.1, Fsp‐Ps3.1, Fsp‐4.1 and Fsp‐Ps7.1 are flanked by codominant SSRs and may be useful in marker‐assisted breeding of pea for high levels of partial resistance to Fsp.     

The Self-Assembly Mechanism of Alkanethiols on Au(111)

The self-assembly mechanism of alkanethiol monolayers on the (111) surface of gold was discovered with the use of an ultrahigh-vacuum scanning tunneling microscope. Monolayer formation follows a two-step process that begins with condensation of low-density crystalline islands, characterized by surface-aligned molecular axes, from a lower density lattice-gas phase. At saturation coverage of this phase, the monolayer undergoes a phase transition to a denser phase by realignment of the molecular axes with the surface normal. These studies reveal the important role of molecule-substrate and molecule-molecule interactions in the self-assembly of these technologically important material systems.     

Synchronous climate changes in antarctica and the north atlantic

Central Greenland ice cores provide evidence of abrupt changes in climate over the past 100,000 years. Many of these changes have also been identified in sedimentary and geochemical signatures in deep-sea sediment cores from the North Atlantic, confirming the link between millennial-scale climate variability and ocean thermohaline circulation. It is shown here that two of the most prominent North Atlantic events-the rapid warming that marks the end of the last glacial period and the Bolling/Allerod-Younger Dryas oscillation-are also recorded in an ice core from Taylor Dome, in the western Ross Sea sector of Antarctica. This result contrasts with evidence from ice cores in other regions of Antarctica, which show an asynchronous response between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.     

Regional fisheries management organizations and the new biodiversity agreement: Challenge or opportunity?

In 2018, the international community began formal intergovernmental negotiations over a new legally binding instrument for the protection of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. Protecting marine biodiversity is imperative for a sustainable future, and all the different organizations and agreements will have to work together to achieve this common goal. One of the first key principles to be agreed was to “not undermine” the existing legal instruments or mandates of regional and sectoral marine governance organizations. While fisheries are not being discussed during the negotiations, a marine biodiversity agreement is likely to still impact regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), due to overlapping areas of interest. This article aims to firstly, assess the potential constraints posed by the commitment to “not undermine”; secondly, consider how aspects of the biodiversity agreement, such as area‐based management and environmental impact assessments, might enhance RFMOs; and thirdly, suggest meaningful ways to ensure cooperation between RFMOs and the marine biodiversity agreement.     

Cd, Ni, Pb, and Zn Concentrations in Forest Vegetation and Soils in Maine

Bioaccumulation of trace metals in plant tissues can present a health risk to wildlife, and potentially to humans. The Passamaquoddy tribe in Maine was concerned about health risks of cadmium (Cd) because of a health advisory for moose liver and kidney consumption due to high Cd levels. This study found relatively low to moderate concentrations of Cd, nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) concentrations in four common terrestrial moose browse species, associated forest soils, and two species of aquatic vegetation on Passamaquoddy tribal land in eastern Maine. Terrestrial plant tissue concentrations ranged from 0.1 to 1.97, 0.65 to 7.08, 0.29 to 2.0, and 42 to 431 mg kg^?1 for Cd, Ni, Pb and Zn, respectively. Deciduous species, particularly aspen and birch, may be a more significant source of Cd and Zn to wildlife compared to coniferous or aquatic species. Aquatic plant tissue concentrations ranged from 0.11 to 0.14, 0.46 to 1.01, 0.8 to 0.9, and 22 to 41 mg kg^?1 for Cd, Ni, Pb and Zn, respectively. Total O horizon concentration means for coniferous and deciduous were 0.50 and 1.00, 4.27 and 4.11, 55 and 21, and 55 and 167 mg kg^?1 for Cd, Ni, Pb and Zn, respectively. The study provides baseline vegetation and soil trace metal concentrations for a remote region in Maine impacted by non-point sources.     

Reactions of potato varieties to skin spot (Oospora pustulans) infection and transmission in different soils

Summary Emergence delay and blanking caused by skin spot were shown to depend on the degree of seed infection and were intensified by heavier soil. From similarly affected seed they were significantly less withKerr’s Pink than withKing Edward, Majestic orRedskin. Growth was very similar from normal and necrotic buds ofKerr’s Pink but virtually no growth was recorded from necroticKing Edward buds, suggesting that sprout vigour influences field response to skin spot. Transmission of infection inKing Edward to stem bases, stolons and progeny tubers depended on seed infection and even minimal inoculum caused stolon and tuber infection especially in heavier soils. With severely infected seed transmission was greatly reduced in light soil. This indicates one means of reduction of disease incidence. Colonisation byOospora pustulans of stem bases and stolons probably provides inoculum multiplication centres. Maximum colonisation was detected generally in September and declined during senescence.

---

Zusammenfassung Es werden erneut die Einflüsse verschiedener Grade einer Infektion von Pflanzknollen mit Tüpfelfleckigkeit (Oospora pustulans) auf das Auflaufen und die Fehlstellen aufgezeigt (Tabellen 2, 3 und 5). Versp?tetes Auflaufen und Fehlstellen kamen bei st?rkerem Befall des Saatgutes vermehrt vor, waren verst?rkt auf schwererem Boden, und bei ?hnlich stark befallenem Pflanzgut traten diese M?ngel beiKerr’s Pink signifikant weniger auf als beiKing Edward, Majestic undRedskin (Tabellen 2 und 3). Das Pflanzenwachstum aus normalen und nekrotischen Knospen vonKerr’s Pink war sehr ?hnlich, aber bei nekrotischen Knospen vonKing Edward wurde praktisch kein Wachstum festgestellt (Tabelle 4). Dies weist darauf hin, dass der Faktor Triebkraft die Reaktion der Sorten auf Tüpfelfleckigkeit im Feld beeinflusst. Die Krankheitsübertragung auf die Tochterknollen wurde sowohl durch die Pflanzgutinfektion als auch durch die Bodenart (Tabellen 6, 7 und 8) beeinflusst. Die Uebertragung der Krankheit bei der SorteKing Edward auf die Stengelbasen und die Stolonen sowie auf die Tochterknollen wurde untersucht (Abb. 1, 2 und 3 und Tabelle 9). Selbst die kleinste Menge Inokulum auf anscheinend freiem Pflanzgut verursachte sowohl eine Stolonen- als auch eine Knolleninfektion, besonders in schwereren Bodenarten. Anderseits übertrug stark infiziertes Pflanzgut in leichtem Boden die Krankheit nur in sehr reduziertem Masse auf die Tochterknollen. Dies würde auf eine M?glichkeit zur Bek?mpfung der Krankheit bei anf?lligen Sorten hinweisen. Starke Pflanzgutinfektion übertr?gt die Krankheit wenig mehr als ein schwacher Befall des Pflanzgutes, und wahrscheinlich müssen Stolonen und Stengelbasen als Inokulum-Vermehrungszentren betrachtet werden. Die Besiedlung der Stengelbasen und der Stolonen war im Juli (Abb. 1), 6 Wochen nach der Pflanzung, ziemlich ausgedehnt, stieg zu einem Maximum, in den meisten F?llen im September, an (Abb. 2) und nahm besonders in leichteren B?den ab, wenn die Pflanzen abzusterben begannen (Abb. 3).

---

Résumé Les effets de divers degrés d’infection des plants de pomme de terre par l’oosporiose (Oospora pustulans) sur la levée et les vides sont à nouveau mis en évidence (tableaux 2, 3 et 5). De hauts niveaux d’infection des plants accroissent le retard de la levée et l’importance des ‘non-levée’; les sols lourds intensifient ces accidents; les plants étant infectés au même degré, ces accidents sont significativement moindres chezKerr’s Pink que chezKing Edward, Majestic etRedskin (tableaux 2 et 3). ChezKerr’s Pink les germes normaux et les germes nécrotiques donnent une croissance très semblable; par contre chezKing Edward, les germes nécrotiques ne donnent pratiquement aucune croissance (tableau 4). Ceci fait supposer que le facteur ‘vigueur des germes’ influence la réaction au champ des variétés à l’oosporiose. La transmission de la maladie aux tuberculesfils est également influencée par l’infection des plants et par le type de sol (tableaux 6, 7 et 8). Les auteurs ont étudié, chez la variétéKing Edward, la transmission de l’infection à la base des tiges et aux stolons, ainsi qu’aux tuberculesfils (fig. 1, 2, 3 et tableau 9); un minimum d’inoculum sur des plants apparemment sains provoque une infection à la fois des stolons et des tubercules, particulièrement dans les sols lourds. Par contre, en sol léger, des plants sévèrement infectés ne transmettent l’infection à la descendance que dans une mesure très faible. Cette observation suggère une méthode de lutte contre la maladie pour les variétés susceptibles. Une grave infection des plants transmet un peu plus l’infection qu’une infection légère et, vraisemblablement, les stolons et la base des tiges constituent des centres de multiplication de l’inoculum. La conlonisation de la base des tiges et des stolons est très importante en juillet (fig. 1), 6 semaines après la plantation, et atteint son maximum dans la majorité des cas en septembre (fig. 2), ensuite diminue, particulièrement en sols légers, au moment où les plantes vieillissent. (fig. 3).

---

---

Edinburgh School of Agriculture Miscellaneous Publication No. 509.     

The relationship between temperature and sprout growth in stored seed potatoes

Summary Sprout growth in a range of European cultivars was studied over two seasons at constant temperatures from 2 to 25°C, with an additional 33 (day)/22°C (night) treatment in the second season. There were only minor differences in the response of the cultivars and the optimum for sprout growth was at 15–18°C in all cases, when measured over an extended period, but initially sprout growth was more rapid at 23–25°C. Sprout growth at 23–25°C was frequently arrested by sub-apical necrosis, and at these temperatures the sprouts remained short enough for the tubers to be planted by hand without desprouting.