Genetic analyses of resistance of the wheat differential cultivars Carstens V and Spaldings Prolific to two races of Puccinia striiformis

Genetic analysis of resistance of wheat seedlings to two races of Puccinia striiformis was conducted on F₁, F₂ and F₃ generations from crosses Carstens V (CV) × Lee, Spaldings Prolific (SPA) × Lee and CV × SPA. F₂ generations from crosses of CV and SPA with Strubes Dickkopf (SD) were also studied. The plants were classified into six resistance classes and analysed by factorial correspondence analysis and nonhierarchical classification. The two P. striiformis isolates tested were a French isolate of race 43E138 and a Lebanese isolate of race 2E16, selected for the differences in their virulence spectra for the common differential cultivars Strubes Dickkopf and Nord Desprez. Resistance of CV and SPA was recessive and dominant to races 43E138 and 2E16, respectively. CV possessed three or four resistance genes, one of them being expressed with both races. Two genes of CV had a cumulative effect for resistance to 43E138 and two or three gave dominant resistance to 2E16. SPA had three resistance genes, all of which gave resistance to 2E16 and two of which also gave resistance to 43E138. SPA had one gene in common with CV for resistance to both races. Furthermore, the gene for resistance to race 2E16 in CV and SPA was allelic with a gene in SD, and was probably Yr25 .     

Orobanche species and population discrimination using intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR)

Summary Orobanche species are commonly identified using morphological characteristics. In many cases, the distinction of closely related species is difficult, and a molecular tool is more suitable to differentiate them. In this study, genomic polymorphism between morphologically distinct species was investigated through amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) regions. Five primers were used to study genetic variation in the morphologically distinct species O. hederae and O. amethystea, as well as the closely related species O. cernua and O. cumana. For the first two species, all the primers detected genetic polymorphism. Anchored primers allowed the identification of more specific molecular markers than non‐anchored tri‐ and tetranucleotide primers. Genetic polymorphism was investigated among three O. hederae populations using the two types of primer. One non‐anchored and two anchored primers detected intraspecific variation, which was not correlated with the geographical location of those populations. The primer (GATA)₄ detected polymorphism between five specimens each of O. cernua and O. cumana species collected from different countries, permitting these two closely related species to be clearly differentiated. This study demonstrated that ISSR markers can be highly reliable for precise identification of Orobanche species.     

Spatial dependence and the relationship of soil organic carbon and soil moisture in the Luquillo Experimental Forest,Puerto Rico

We used geo-spatial statistical techniques to examine the spatial variation and relationship of soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil moisture (SM) in the Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF), Puerto Rico, in order to test the hypothesis that mountainous terrain introduces spatial autocorrelation and crosscorrelation in ecosystem and soil properties. Soil samples (n = 100) were collected from the LEF in the summer of 1998 and analyzed for SOC, SM, and bulk density (BD). A global positioning system was used to georeference the location of each sampling site. At each site, elevation, slope and aspect were recorded. We calculated the isotropic and anisotropic semivariograms of soil and topographic properties, as well as the cross-variograms between SOC and SM, and between SOC and elevation. Then we used four models (random, linear, spherical and wave/hole) to test the semi-variances of SOC, SM, BD, elevation, slope and aspect for spatial dependence. Our results indicate that all the studied properties except slope angle exhibit spatial dependence within the scale of sampling (200 – 1000 m sampling interval). The spatially structured variance (the variance due to the location of sampling sites) accounted for a large proportion of the sample variance for elevation (99%), BD (90%), SOC (68%), aspect (56%) and SM (44%). The ranges of spatial dependence (the distances within which parameters are spatially dependent) for aspect, SOC, elevation, SM, and BD were 9810 m, 3070 m, 1120 m, 930 m and 430 m, respectively. Cross correlograms indicate that SOC varies closely with elevation and SM depending on the distances between samples. The correlation can shift from positive to negative as the separation distance increases. Larger ranges of spatial dependence of SOC, aspect and elevation indicate that the distribution of SOC in the LEF is determined by a combination of biotic (e.g., litterfall) and abiotic factors (e.g., microclimate and topographic features) related to elevation and aspect. This demonstrates the importance of both elevation and topographic gradients in controlling climate, vegetation distribution and soil properties as well as the associated biogeochemical processes in the LEF.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The organophosphorous insecticide chlorpyrifos affects the neuroepithelial junction, the bioelectric parameters of the skin of the frog Caudiverbera caudiverbera, and the structure of model cell membranes

The current study examines the acute effects of the organophosphorus pesticide chlorpyrifos on a sympathetic synapse of the frog Caudiverbera caudiverbera. Nerve stimulation was followed immediately by a transient increase in the short-circuit current (SCC) and in the potential difference (PD), which consisted of a rapid and then a slow component. Chlorpyrifos concentrations from 5 μM to 1.0 mM caused a dose-dependent block of both components to a 10% of their control values, which was reversed by washout. The pesticide blockade did not affect the skin response to noradrenaline. X-ray diffraction and fluorescence spectroscopy studies on membrane models showed marked phospholipid perturbation, which favors changes in ion channel conformation and interferes with receptor proteins, thus altering noradrenergic transmission and Cl⁻ secretion in the mucous glands. The foregoing results may be interpreted as a reversible inhibition of the neuroepithelial synapse to nerve stimulation, possibly due to non-specific lip μd-protein perturbation, interference with synaptic transmission, and transient Cl⁻ channel inactivation.     

The Pacific Pest List Database for agricultural trade facilitation

The Pest List Database for the Pacific is a user-friendly database that provides information on agricultural pest occurrences within a country as required to facilitate trade in terms of the International Plant Protection Convention and International Standards For Phytosanitary Measures. Its main outputs are: (a) a pest list for any specified crop intended for export and (b) a list of pest incursions detected on imported goods from any selected country. The system is designed for use by the 22 Pacific Island countries and territories that the Secretariat of the Pacific Community serves and is so far installed in five countries with a new one being delivered every 3–4 months. It is typically delivered with a few thousand known pest occurrence records of that country, and look-up lists of several thousand Pacific pests and a few hundred crops.     

Application of fuzzy logic for the simulation of Plasmopara viticola using agrometeorological variables*

A mechanistic model called PLASMO was developed earlier to simulate grapevine downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) and has been applied in several viticultural areas of Italy since 1988 by the collaboration of several research institutions of Firenze. In this study, a new simulation model based on fuzzy logic has been developed for the same structure (biological cycle of P. viticola). This approach allows classical quantitative information to be used together with qualitative information. Vague concepts can also be handled. Agrometeorological data is used, with an hourly time step, starting from budbreak to the end of the growing season. Air temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and leaf wetness are required. The simulated processes are the growth of grapevine leaf area and the main phases of the biological cycle of the pathogen: incubation, sporulation, germination, spore survival and inoculation. The main epidemiological outputs are timing of infection events and disease intensity. The performance of the model is evaluated and the mechanistic and fuzzy logic approaches are compared.     

Frequency of transmission of artichoke Italian latent nepovirus by Longidorus fasciatus (Nematoda: Longidoridae) from artichoke fields in the Iria and Kandia areas of Argolis in northeast Peloponnesus, Greece

Artichoke Italian latent nepovirus (AILV) transmitted by Longidorus fasciatus is a causative agent of artichoke patchy chlorotic stunting (APCS) in northeast Peloponnesus in southern Greece. Populations of L. fasciatus collected from the Iria and Kandia areas of Argolis in northeast Peloponnesus were used in laboratory experiments to determine the frequency of transmission of the virus by its natural vector. One tenth to almost one half of the L. fasciatus specimens recovered from soil collected in two artichoke fields showing APCS transmitted AILV. Allowing nematodes access for 4 wk to Nicotiana clevelandii mechanically infected with AILV did not increase the number of individual specimens able to transmit virus. The total number of specimens transmitting virus in an experiment did not exceed fifty percent of the individuals tested. Virus-like particles were only observed adsorbed to the inner surface of the odontostyle and it is suggested that the high frequency of transmission of AILV by L. fasciatus is a result of efficient dissociation of virus particles from the specific sites of retention in the vector.