Biochemical changes during the development of cork spot of apples

Biochemical changes occurring during the development of cork spot of York Imperial were investigated. At the first visible sign of the disorder, the rate of ethylene production increases in the affected tissue. Respiration also increases, acetate being the major respiratory substrate rather than glucose. Protein synthesis, pectin synthesis, and the movement of inorganic ions into the tissue follow. During the time the chemical changes are taking place in the tissue, abnormal cell division is initiated, packing the newly-formed cells into the intercellular spaces. At the final stage of development, the tissue becomes brown and appears as a firm brown spot in the flesh of the apple. Cork spot is somewhat different from bitter pit in that the spots appear early in the season, the affected tissue is deeper in the flesh, and firmer. The chemical changes discovered so far in both disorders, however, appear to be similar. We consider the abnormal chemical changes that occur in both disorders to be common to diseases and injuries and not specific for either cork spot or bitter pit.

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Zusammenfassung Die Untersuchungen erstreckten sich auf biochemische Veränderungen, die während der Entwicklung von cork spot bei Äpfeln der Sorte York Imperial auftreten. Beim ersten sichtbaren Anzeichen der Störung steigt die Rate der Äthylenbildung im befallenen Gewebe an. Auch die Atmung nimmt zu, wobei Acetat das grössere Atmungsprodukt darstellt als Glucose. Protein- und Pektin-Synthese sowie Bewegung anorganischer Ionen in das Gewebe folgen. Während der Zeit chemischer Veränderungen im Gewebe beginnt eine abnorme Zellteilung, indem die neugebildeten Zellen in die interzellularen Zwischenräume eingebaut werden. Im Endstadium der Entwicklung wird das Gewebe braun und erscheint als fester Fleck im Fleisch des Apfels. Cork spot unterscheidet sich etwas von der Stippigkeit dadurch, dass die Flecken früher in der Saison erscheinen, sich die befallenen Gewebe tiefer im Fleisch befinden und fester sind. Die chemischen Veränderungen beider Störungen scheinen sich — soweit sie bekannt sind — zu ähneln. Wir glauben, dass die chemischen Veränderungen, die bei beiden Störungen auftreten, allgemein für Krankheiten und Verletzungen zutreffen und nicht entweder für Stippigkeit oder cork spot spezifisch sind.

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Resume Quelques changements biochimiques se produisant pendant le développement du cork spot chez la York Imperial ont été étudiés.Au premier signe visible de désordre, la vitesse de production d'éthylène augmente dans le tissu atteint. La respiration augmente également; l'acétate devient le substrat principal de la respiration, plutôt que le glucose. Une synthèse de protéines, de pectine, ainsi que des déplacements d'ions inorganiques dans le tissu se produisent ensuite.Pendant que les changements biochimiques ont lieu, une division cellulaire anormale est initiée, et les cellules nouvellement formées s'accumulent dans les espaces intercellulaires.Au stade final de développement, le tissu devient brun et apparaît comme une tache brune et ferme, dans la chair de la pomme. Le cork spot diffère quelque peu du bitter pit par le fait que les taches apparaissent tôt dans la saison, le tissu malade étant localisé plus profondément dans la chair, et plus ferme. Les modifications chimiques trouvées dans les deux maladies paraissent cependant être similaires. Nous considérons ces changements chimiques comme propres aux maladies et blessures en général et comme non spécifiques, ni du cork spot, ni du bitter pit en particulier.

     

Influence of race and post infection temperature on two components of partial resistance to wheat leaf rust in seedlings of wheat

Summary Components of partial resistance, infection frequency and latency period, were determined in 71 winter and spring wheat genotypes in the seedling stage, after infection with three races of leaf rust (Felix 3B, Clement B and Betuwe 85C) at three different day/night temperature regimes (24/18°C, 18/12°C and 12/6°C). The genotypes were split into two groups and two separate experiments were carried out. Five genotypes, SVP 84039, Akabozu, Banco, BH 1146 and Orso, conferred a low infection frequency and a long latency period and Westphal 12A a long latency period, indicating a relatively high level of partial resistance. The correlation coefficient between infection frequency and latency period was low. Race-specificity was not found. There was a significant temperature effect on the latency period. In the second experiment the temperature x genotype interaction was significant. Temperature-response functions of transformed data demonstrated that the latency periods of four relatively resistant genotypes, Westphal 12A, Banco, BH 1146 and Orso and of Sarno and Mirela were most sensitive to temperature. The range between the genotypes with the longest and the shortest latency period was highest at 12°C. Therefore, low temperature regimes are preferred to distinguish differences in level of partial resistance.     

Phylogenetic studies in Citrus reticulata and related types

Summary Sixteen types of mandarins were screened for their leaf flavonoid patterns with the help of cellulose thin-layer chromatography. In general, Tanaka's classification of mandarins into 36 species is untenable, as was already concluded by Swingle (1948), Hodgson (1965) and Singh (1967). It is likely that a fine loose skinned mandarin was first evolved. Later, it hybridized with wild mandarin to give rise to numerous types and forms.Contribution No. 474 of Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore-6, India.     

THE MEASUREMENT AND MECHANISM OF ION DIFFUSION IN SOILS

Integral diffusion coefficients for K in two contrasting soils, containing different levels of exchangeable K, are calculated from measurements of diffusive flux to a hydrogen resin paper. The diffusion coefficients are larger, the higher the exchangeable K level or moisture content. Diffusive flux of K in these soils can be accounted for entirely by diffusion through the soil solution in the pores. Impedance factors calculated compare satisfactorily with values for similar soils reported by other workers. The concentration dependence of the diffusion coefficient is shown to be causally related to the nature of the sorption isotherm. A method for estimating the differential diffusion coefficient at any concentration is described. It can also be calculated from the slope of the sorption isotherm at the chosen concentration, if the value of the impedance factor at the relevant moisture content is known and if diffusion other than through solution only is negligible.     

Reduction of brown trout, Salmo trutta L., salmon, S. salar L., and rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), smolt bycatches in eel pound nets

Two types of bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) were tested in the Randers Fjord, Denmark, aimed at deflecting the surface-oriented smolts of brown trout, Salmo trutta L., salmon, Salmo salar L., and rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), before they became trapped, while retaining the catches of eel, Anguilla anguilla (L.). The methods tested were: a) placing a floating guard net between the wings; and b) submerging the pot net (i.e. last enclosure before fyke net) 55–100 cm below mean sea level. After each haul the pound net-setups were changed from the control to one of the types of BRD, and vice versa. Both methods significantly reduced the bycatch of brown trout smolts, while catches of legal-sized eels were not affected. Submerging the pot net reduced smolt catches of all species; mean reductions were 91.1% for brown trout, 74.5% for rainbow trout, and 86.1% for salmon.     

Characterization of cytoplasmic male sterility in Petunia hybrida. I. Localization,composition and activity of esterases

Summary Anthers of male fertile, cytosterile and restored male fertile clones of Petunia hybrida were compared for esterase activity and composition in subsequent stages of microsporogenesis. Three methods were applied (i) ultra-thin layer isoelectric focussing on polyacryl amide gels, (ii) quantitative spectrophotometrical assay, (iii) histochemical determination of total esterase activity associated to the azo-coupling method (Pearse, 1972).In male fertile and restorer idiotypes the isozyme patterns were quite similar. Both the number and intensity of bands increased gradually till the tetrad stage. In contrast, esterase activity in cytosterile anthers remained at a low level and hardy any new bands showed up in later stages. This unvariable, low activity level in cytosterile anthers was also found in the spectrophotometric assay. Histochemical determinations revealed that in male fertile anthers esterase activity is concentrated in the outer tapetal layer at late prophase and that it accumulates there till the early microspore stage. In male sterile anthers esterase accumulation in the tapetal cells stops at the moment that tapetal breakdown becomes visible. This suggests that differences in esterase activity and composition are an effect rather than a cause of the failing pollen formation.