Identification of commercial chicory cultivars for hydroponic forcing and their phenetic relationships revealed by random amplified polymorphic DNAs and amplified fragment length polymorphisms

One‐hundred and twenty‐four amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and 49 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers have been used to distinguish between 20 and 23 commercial chicory cultivars, respectively. These were all Cichorium intybus var. foliosum F₁ hybrids, currently used in hydroponic forcing. Five‐hundred and twenty RAPD primers (OPERON) were tested, of which 156 resulted in reproducible patterns and 26 yielded polymorphisms. Two‐hundred and fifty‐six AFLP primer‐combinations were tested and six combinations were selected for identification purposes. Similarity indices were measured and clustering has been done using pairwise comparison. Both types of marker provide similar conclusions. Two major clusters are formed, representing late and early cultivars. All cultivars were identified using 10 informative RAPD primers or three AFLP primer combinations. A low degree of polymorphism was detected between some early cultivars, suggesting a narrow genetic base in their breeding strategy.     

Development of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers in Eucalyptus from amplified inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR)

Eucalyptus spp. are widely used in exotic plantations. Since many of these trees are derived from vegetative propagation, the routine identification of clones has become increasingly important. The most widely used molecular based method for fingerprinting these clones is by random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs). Although this technique is useful, its results are not very repeatable, especially between laboratories. The aim of this study was to develop microsatellite markers that are highly repeatable, and to investigate their value in Eucalyptus fingerprinting. Typically, this process involves the expensive procedure of constructing an enriched genomic library. However, we used an intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based enrichment technique for microsatellite‐rich regions. With this relatively inexpensive method, microsatellite‐rich regions were amplified directly from genomic DNA, after which PCR products were cloned and sequenced. From these microsatellite‐rich sequences, primer sets were constructed to amplify mono‐, di‐, tri‐, hexa‐and nona‐nucleotide repeats. These markers were all inherited in a Mendelian fashion in the progeny of a test cross between two Eucalyptus grandis trees. The primer sets developed were also able to amplify the corresponding microsatellite loci from five different Eucalyptus spp., namely E. grandis, E. nitens, E. globulus, E. camaldulensis and E. urophylla.     

Charts for Guiding Irrigation in Real Time

In order to adjust correctly the irrigationcalendar to actual weather and waterlimiting conditions, farmers requireguidelines to help them in their day to daydecisions. In this paper a procedure isoutlined to present such guidelines in theform of a single chart. On the chartinformation concerning the irrigationinterval and irrigation duration ispresented. Tables guide the user (i) toadjust the irrigation interval to theactual weather conditions throughout thegrowing season and (ii) to select theduration of the water application as afunction of the characteristics of theirrigation system. In case of watershortage during a particular period,additional data informs the user on thesensitivity of the crop to water stress. Anexample is presented for drip irrigatedtomatoes in the region of Tunis on afluvisol.     

Nitrous oxide emission from herbicide-treated soybean

 The emission of N₂O from soybean plants treated with the herbicides dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and bromoxynil was studied. The N₂O flux from 2,4-D- and bromoxynil-treated soybean was 14.1 ng N₂O-N g^–1 fresh weight h^–1 and 19.7 ng N₂O-N g^–1 fresh weight h^–1, respectively, i.e. approximately twice that of the controls. The NO₂ ^–-N concentration in 2,4-D- and in bromoxynil-treated soybean was about 8 μg N g^–1 fresh weight, i.e. fivefold the concentration found in control plants. The NO₃ ^– content in herbicide-treated soybean did not differ significantly from that of the control plants. Consequently, the accumulation of NO₂ ^–-N during the assimilation of NO₃ ^–-N was thought to cause the observed N₂O release. Probably, N₂O is a by-product produced during either the reaction of NO₂ ^–-N with plant metabolites or NO₂ ^–-N decomposition. Final conclusions must await further experiments. Received: 5 November 1999     

Remarks on the anatomy and ontogeny of scales of teleosts. I

Densitometer records were made from the scales of a number of fish species, mainly from pikeperch. Analysis of the records showed that the pattern of hollows, representing the circuli in the curves, was very regular. No arrangement into groups of narrowly interspaced circuli could be demonstrated. It was therefore concluded that the circuli of the surface layer do not produce the “growth-checks”. Ringlike structures were also present in the fibrous basal plate. These were about 3–5 μm closer together than the circuli. These two circular gratings of slightly different inter-ring spacing will create an interference pattern, in this case a circular moiré pattern, having no direct relation to the structures present in the two layers forming the scale.     

Autolysis of chlamydospores of Fusarium solani f. sp. cucurbitae in chitin and laminarin amended soils

Lysis of chlamydospores of Fusarium solani f. sp. cucurbitae is enhanced both in chitin and in laminarin amended soils. In soil amended with both chitin and laminarin, lysis of chlamydospores resembles that in control soil. Addition of chitin and laminarin to soil stimulates the growth of both bacteria and actinomycetes. In soils amended with chitin and with both chitin and laminarin, a chitinolytic microflora is stimulated. Penetration of chlamydospore cells by soil microorganisms has not been observed using the electron microscope. The mechanism of lysis of chlamydospores in soil is discussed.     

The use of a comparative particle size distribution index for the numerical classification of soil parent materials: application to mollisols of the argentinian pampa

A method to estimate the magnitude of discontinuities or similarities in parent materials having equivalent mineralogical composition is proposed. It is based on a particle size distribution index which compares for two samples the weight percentages of all fractions taken between selected size limits.The indexes form a matrix and are used to construct a dendrogram which illustrates the clustering into groups. The calculations are carried out by computer using a Fortran programme.The technique was applied to a set of soil samples of Mollisols in the humid undulating pampa in Argentina and good agreement with field observations was obtained.     

Extraction, gas-liquid chromatographic detection, and quantitation of hexachlorophene residues from plant tissues high in lipid content

A method has been developed for the extraction, cleanup, derivatization, detection, and quantitation of hexachlorophene (HCP) residues from 2 types of plant storage tissue high in lipid content. Wet soybean or peanut tissue was homogenized and extracted with ethyl ether and chromatographed on silica gel to remove the neutral lipids. The cleaned up sample was methylated with diazomethane and the dimethoxyhexachlorophene was eluted from a second silical gel column and chromatographed on a 6' glass column packed with 3% OV-1 or 3% SE-30 on Gas-Chrom Q. The instrument detection limit for the 63Ni electron capture detector was less than 0.1 ng for dimethoxyhexachlorophene and about 1 ppb HCP residue in plant issue. Recovery of 10-420 ppb HCP added to tissue averaged 90.9 +/- 5.7%. Interfering substances were removed, column life was increased, peak sharpness was increased, and tailing of the parent compound was decreased by using appropriate column chromatography.     

Long-term effects of five ameliorants on a saline-sodic soil of South Africa

The effects of five ameliorants for saline-sodic soil reclamation on certain chemical and physical soil properties over a four-year period of observation are reported. Of these ameliorants, three are conventionally used (gypsum, sulphur, manure); the other two are for this purpose either unusual (potassium sulphate) or relatively unknown (molasses meal). Results published in a previous paper demonstrated that molasses meal had a very rapid-acting favourable effect on most soil physical properties whilst soil chemical conditions remained essentially unchanged. The effect on physical properties was presumably due to soil aggregation by the polysaccharide component of molasses meal. As a follow-up this paper shows, however, that this aggregation does not last long; the rigidly arid climatic conditions under which this experiment was carried out apparently do not favour the preservation of structural bonds consisting of polysaccharide gums. Consequently, a gradual decline of structural conditions took place after the second year. Although initially not as effective as molasses meal, gypsum and sulphur retained their favourable influence on physical properties over a longer period. Potassium sulphate and farmyard manure provided virtually no benefits.