The nature of Solanum × chaucha Juz. et Buk., a triploid cultivated potato of the South American Andes

Summary The variation in Solanum × chaucha Juz. et Buk. (2n=3x=36) was studied using 114 accessions from the Potato Collection maintained by the International Potato Center. These accession represented less than 5% of the collection originally screened for ploidy. Twenty morphological characters of the tubers, inflorescences and leaves were scored. The accessions were grouped into 20 morphotypes on the basis of the tuber characters. Two-qualitative characters, red-anther tip and sky-blue flowers were diagnostic of 4 morphotypes, but the variation of the quantitative characters overlapped among morphotypes, and were of limited value. Electrophoretic separation of tuber proteins in 7.5% polyacrylamide gels generally confirmed the morphotype groupings. It is concluded that each of the morphotypes represents a single genotype, and these are named according to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. The variation within S. × chaucha apparently has been restricted by its hybrid origin.     

Genetical relationships between reactions to bacterial leaf spot,yellow mosaic and Cercospora leaf spot diseases in mungbean (Vigna radiata)

Summary Studies on the inheritance pattern of bacterial leaf spot (BLS), yellow mosaic (YM) and Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) reactions in crosses of BLS and YM resistant/tolerant but CLS susceptible × CLS resistant but BLS and YM susceptible parents indicated that resistances to BLS and CLS were governed by single dominant genes, whereas YM tolerance was a monogenic recessive character. The studies also indicated that these three genes were inherited independently. The simple inheritance pattern and independent assortment of the genes governing resistance/tolerance to these diseases suggest that the usual breeding methods will be adequate to develop multi-disease resistant mungbean cultivars.Paper XII in the series Studies on resistance in crops to bacterial diseases in India.     

Symbiotic variability in Vicia faba. 1. Genetic variation in the Rhizobium leguminosarum population

Summary Twenty isolates taken at random from indigenous populations of Rhizobium leguminosarum sampled near Aberystwyth were each inoculated into plants of a standard Vicia faba variety grown aseptically under conditions free of combined nitrogen. Plants in association with the individual rhizobium isolates exhibited large differences in dry matter yield, nitrogen content, efficiency of nitrogen utilization and date of first flower. The implications of these differences to the productivity and reliability of varieties of field beans are discussed.     

Genetic interpretations of the effects of bulk breeding on four populations of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary The effects of bulk breeding on yield and its components in two high-yeilding and two low-yielding bean populations when grown at crop densities are interpreted in terms of gene action and selection. There was considerable additive variation in the crosses, dominance effects were variable but tended to be negative. The results were compared with results obtained at low density by another worker with the same populations, and this showed that interpretations of gene action in hybrid vigour depend on the test environment used. The interpretations were also compared with plant breeding interpretations made on the same material (Hamblin, 1977), and it was found that a single pattern of response to natural selection, in plant breeding terms, may be explained by more than one genetic interpretation and, conversely, a single genetic interpretation may result in different patterns of response in plant breeding terms. The value of composite crosses in plant breeding are discussed and it is concluded that there is a greater chance of producing improved lines from a large number of simple crosses than from a smaller number of composite crosses.     

Relation in the inheritance of resistance to Pseudoperonospora cubensis rost and Sphaerotheca fuliginea poll. in cucumber (Cucumis sativusl. L.)

Summary Among the genes for resistance against Sphaerotheca fuliginea, the gene s for resistance of the hypocotyl is linked to or identical with gene p for resistance to Pseudoperonospora cubensis. This gene s is present in the cultivars Ashley, Poinsett, Natsufushinari, Pixie, Taipei and in accessions PI 179676. PI 212233 and PI 234517.Although gene s initially brings about some resistance of the true leaf, it appears that when s is present. other genes are necessary for complete resistance to S. fuliginea.     

Carbohydrate dynamics in particle-size fractions of sandy spodosols following forest conversion to maize cropping

In southwest France, much of the forested land on sandy spodosols has been converted to continuous maize cropping in the last few decades. To evaluate the impacts of this change on soil organic matter properties, we compared total organic C and neutral and amino sugars content in whole soil and particle size separates of two forested, and five related sites that had been either clear-cut for 12 and 18 mo, or cultivated to maize for 4-22 yr. Soil carbohydrates accounted for 4-7% of the total organic C across all sites. Soil organic C contents of clear-cut and cultivated sites were only 57-79% of the average value measured in forested sites. Accordingly, carbohydrate content of clear-cut and cultivated sites were only 35-66% of the value in forested sites. Ordering the sites in a chronosequence indicated that both total organic C and carbohydrate contents decreased with an increase in time elapsed since clear-cutting and maize cultivation. The only exception was a partial recovery of carbohydrate content in the site that had been under continuous maize for 22 yr. The clay+silt fraction (0-50 μm) was enriched in carbohydrates, mainly of microbial origin, whereas the sand size fractions (50-200 and 200-2000 μm) contained fewer carbohydrates which were mainly of plant origin. Monosaccharide analysis of particle size separates revealed significant differences in carbohydrate composition between sites. Relative to forested sites, the coarse and fine sand fractions in clear-cut and cultivated sites were depleted in carbohydrates and were relatively enriched in plant-derived carbohydrates. Carbohydrate content of the clay+silt fraction drastically decreased upon clear-cutting. Amino sugar content was consistently lower in clear-cut and cultivated sites than in forested sites, indicating that microbial populations were negatively affected by clear-cutting and cultivation. The fungal population appeared more sensitive than bacteria to these land-use changes as indicated by a greater decline in glucosamine than in muramic acid contents.     

Einfluß von Penicillin in hoher Konzentration auf Aufnahme und Einbau von35S-Methionin in isolierte Wurzeln vonPisum sativum

Zusammenfassung In Nährlösung nach Bonner und Addicott (1937) wurde der Einfluß hoher Konzentrationen von Penicillin G (1,5 · 10^–3 bis 6 · 10^–3 g/ml) auf Aufnahme und Einbau von³⁵S-Methionin in das Eiweiß verschiedener Entwicklungsabschnitte isolierter Wurzeln von Erbsenkeimlingen untersucht. Die Methionin-Aufnahme wurde bei den drei Wurzelsegmenten übereinstimmend durch 6 · 10^–3 g Penicillin je ml Nährlösung leicht gehemmt und durch 1,5 und 3 · 10^–3 g/ml gefördert, und zwar durch die schwächere Konzentration am stärksten. Die absolute Größe des Methionin-Einbaus in das Eiweiß der Wurzelzellen und die darin erreichte spezifische Methionin-Markierung werden durch das Penicillin noch weniger beeinflußt als die Stoffaufnahme. Bei Einwirkung von Penicillinmengen, die das Wurzelwachstum stark herabsetzen, weicht die Intensität des Stoffeinbaus von den unbehandelten Kontrollen (ohne Penicillin) nur unerheblich ab.

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Summary In nutrient solutions (Bonner and Addicott 1937) the influence of high concentrations of penicillin G (1,5 · 10^–3 up to 6 · 10^–3 g/ml) was investigated upon uptake and incorporation of³⁵S-methionine into the proteins in segments of different developmental stage of isolated roots of pea seedlings. In all three root segments uptake of methionine was slightly depressed by 6 · 10^–3 g penicillin per ml nutrient solution, and stimulated by 1,5 · 10^–3 and 3 · 10^–3 g/ml, most strongly by the weaker concentration. The absolute quantity of methionine incorporation into proteins of root cells and the specific methionine activity reached within these cells are less influenced by penicillin than the uptake. In solutions with penicillin quantities strongly inhibiting root growth the intensity of methionine incorporation differs but insignificantly from that of tests without penicillin.

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(1937) G ( 1,5 · 10^–3 6 · 10^–3 / ³⁵S- . : 6 · 10^–3 , 1,5 3 · 10^–3 / -; . «» , , , . , , ( ).

     

Peru coastal currents during el nino: 1976 and 1982

Year-long measurements of subsurface current and temperature on Peru's continental shelf included the onset of El Ni?o in 1976 and 1982. The Peru Coastal Undercurrent more than doubled in speed and advected anomalously warm water poleward. El Ni?o began in different seasons in 1976 and 1982, but the current and temperature responses were very similar. Acceleration of poleward flow at 10 degrees S occurred several days after sea level rose at the Galápagos Islands in October 1982, suggesting the onset of El Ni?o propagated as a Kelvin wave.