bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plasma Haptoglobin Concentration in Swine After Challenge withStreptococcus suis
Authors: KNURA‐DESZCZKA S. , LIPPERHEIDE C. , PETERSEN B. , JOBERT J. L. , BERTHELOT‐HÉRAULT F. , KOBISCH M. , MADEC F.
Published: March 2003

Eight 15‐week‐old pigs, reared under specific pathogen‐free conditions, were inoculated withStreptococcus suisserotype 2. The animals were monitored before and after challenge by measuring rectal temperature, recording specific clinical symptoms and collecting blood samples for haptoglobin determination. Twenty‐four hours after infection, the average haptoglobin plasma concentration of the animal group increased significantly and reached a maximum 4 days post‐inoculation, followed by a constant mean level until the end of the trial on day 10. In spite of individual differences between the animals, an increase in haptoglobin concentration of at least 2.5 times above normal was observed in all infected pigs 1 day after challenge. Twenty‐four hours after challenge, lameness was observed in five animals and an elevated body temperature was observed in seven of the eight experimental infected animals. These are the classical clinical symptoms of streptococcal infection. Haptoglobin was shown to increase in acuteS. suisinfection in pigs.
Studies on Seasonal Dynamics of Ticks of Ogaden Cattle and Individual Variation in Resistance to Ticks in Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Bekele T.
Published: March 2003

In this study the dominant tick species identified were Amblyomma cohaerens 52.2%, Rhipicephalus pravus 19.3 % and A. variegatum 14.6%. A. cohaerens occurred throughout the sampling period and showed a peak during March. Their number declined significantly (P < 0.01) from August to December. R. pravus occurred from July to December only and peaking in September (P < 0.01). A. variegatum occurred in low numbers throughout the study period with a marked seasonal variation (P < 0.01) and abundant numbers of ticks were observed from May to July. The other tick species identified were Boophilus decoloratus, R. bergeoni and R.evertsi evertsi.

Individual variation in tick infestation level was observed among the animals (P < 0.05). Since all the animals were of the same breed, age group and were managed similarly the selection of animals with low infestation level can be a component of tick control strategy.
Estimating the Prevalence of Salmonella spp. in Swine Herds – Influence of Sensitivity and Specificity of Salmonella Detection
Authors: Steinbach G. , Blaha T. , Methner U.
Published: March 2003

Information about the proportion of truly Salmonella‐free herds is required for an evaluation of the epidemiological situation, the development of control strategies and their implementation. Findings regarding the presence of salmonellas in faeces and intestinal lymph nodes as well as the presence of Salmonella antibodies in meat juice from slaughtered pigs were obtained in the context of a study conducted by a number of institutes. These data were used for an analysis of the validity of data on the prevalence of infected animals within herds and on the prevalence of infected herds. The proportion of batches or herds with exclusively negative individual findings was found to depend not only on the true proportion of truly Salmonella‐free animals within herds but quite essentially also on the distribution of the proportion of infected animals within herds, the sensitivity of the methods of examination and sample sizes. When taking into account the existing dependencies, it was found that among the swine, the real numbers of Salmonella carriers were much higher than shown by bacteriological and serological examination. Regarding salmonellosis in swine, also a number of contaminated herds must be expected which is far higher than that shown by the number of herds with positive findings in at least one animal. Even a low contamination of all or almost all herds would result in the numbers of ‘negative’ batches observed, i.e. batches with exclusively negative individual findings. A rating of the salmonella exposure of herds as high, low, or very low is possible and may, and should be, used for measures of consumer protection, irrespective of the proportion of truly Salmonella‐free herds.
Habitat Selection and Ecology of Two Speleophilic Gobiid Fishes(Pisces: Gobiidae) from the Western Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Herler Jürgen , Patzner Robert A. , Ahnelt Harald , Hilgers Helge
Published: March 2003

The life habits and microhabitat selection of speleophilic gobiid fishes were investigated on the Balearic Island of Ibiza (western Mediterranean Sea).Corcyrogobius liechtensteini(Kolombatović, 1891) was the most frequent species within submarine crevices, cavities and caves.Didogobius splechtnaiAhnelt & Patzner, 1995co‐occurred withC. liechtensteiniin several cases but showed a clear spatial separation based on a different microhabitat preference. The microhabitat selection of both species was confirmed by habitat‐choice experiments in anaquarium.Corcyrogobius liechtensteiniwas frequent in depths between 5 m and 25 m and attained abundances of 14.2 individuals · m−2. This species inhabited the ceilings and upper parts of the walls within the caves.D. splechtnaiwas mainly found between 7 m and 11 m and showed abundances of approximately 2 indivi‐duals · m−2. This species occupied the fine sediment bottoms in the innermost parts of crevices and caves. The growth and the maximum age of both species were determined by length‐frequency distributions. The overall sex ratio from catches of three different years are given forC. liechtensteini.
Early Benthic Organism Colonization on a Caribbean Coral Reef (Barbados, West Indies): a Plate Experimental Approach
Authors: Díaz‐Castañeda Victoria , Almeda‐Jauregui Cesar
Published: March 2003

Abstract. Macrofaunal colonization was studied using coral plates fixed at 10 m depth on a fringing reef in Barbados, West Indies. Two sites were compared: Spring Garden, a site that is affected by eutrophication, and Six Men's Bay which is relatively free of this effect. Two sets of plates were immersed in winter and spring 1990 at each site and monitored for 28 and 19 weeks, respectively. Green and brown algae colonized first, followed 2 weeks later by ostracods, cumaceans, amphipods and polychaetes: terebellids, nereidids and syllids. Most colonizers either nestled or encrusted. A total of 11 017 invertebrates belonging to 145 species were collected. Polychaetes were the most abundant and diverse zoological group. Considering polychaetes, crustaceans and molluscs, the study sites shared around 75% of the species. Overall, densities were higher on lower (shaded) surfaces while diversities were higher on upper (illuminated) sides. Similarity coefficients and correspondence analysis showed different macrobenthic assemblages and colonization patterns in light and shaded and in polluted and unpolluted sites. Coral plates were associated according to their ‘immersion time’ and were closely linked to their stage of development. Spring Garden (polluted) presented a higher number of soft‐bottom and deposit‐feeder species (e.g., Capitella capitata).
The Sponge Community of a Semi‐Submerged Mediterranean Cave
Authors: Corriero Giuseppe , Scalera Liaci Lidia , Ruggiero Daniela , Pansini Maurizio
Published: March 2003

Abstract. The sponge fauna of a semi‐submerged cave from the Tremiti Archipelago (Adriatic Sea) was studied, and its distribution was analyzed in relation to abiotic (water‐movement and light gradients) and biotic (algae and anthozoan substrate cover) ecological factors. Fifty‐five species of sponges were recorded. The number of species and the abundance values of sponges increase in the first part of the cave, then progressively decrease, with a sharp fall at the end of the cave. The quick disappearance of algae along the light gradient allows sponges to thrive in the first portion of the cave. The subsequent, progressive decrement of sponges could be the result of food depletion phenomena due to a long persistence of the water body in this long cavity. A high water‐turbulence, due to the peculiar morphology of the cave and indicated by the recorded values of water‐movement, occurs at the end of the cavity and probably determines the sharp decrement of sponges in the inner portion of the cave. This turbulence may also explain the absence of typical still‐water cave species and probably affects the type of development (shape, overgrowth) of the sponges in the community.
Case Report. Successful therapy of disseminated histoplasmosis in AIDS with liposomal amphotericin B
Authors: Rieg G. K. , Shah P. M. , Helm E. B. , Just‐Nübling Gudrun
Published: March 2003

A 36‐year‐old HIV‐infected male patient presented with relapsing fever episodes to 39 °C, night sweats and weight loss. Computerized tomography of the abdomen showed enlarged multiple lymph nodes. After surgical resection of multiple lymph nodes, disseminated infection with Histoplasma capsulatum was diagnosed. Amphotericin B desoxycholate was initiated for 24 days. Fourteen days after therapy was discontinued, the patient suffered similar symptoms again. Subsequent treatment with liposomal amphotericin B led to rapid improvement within 3 days. Upon discharge, maintenance therapy with 600‐mg itraconazole capsules was initiated and decreased to 400‐mg 14‐days later. Itraconazole therapy was continued until the patient died more than 2 years later because of complications of the underlying disease. At autopsy there were no signs of histoplasmosis.
Evaluation of CHROMagar Candida for rapid screening of clinical specimens for Candida species
Authors: Willinger Birgit , Manafi M.
Published: March 2003

CHROMagar Candida is a new differential culture medium that allows selective isolation of yeasts and simultaneously identifies colonies of Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis and Candida krusei. We evaluated this medium and compared it with a reference medium, Sabouraud glucose agar, for the presumptive identification of yeast species isolated directly on the medium from 1150 clinical specimens. A total of 731 specimens showed no growth, 299 isolates (70.2%) showed growth to the same extent on both media. Forty mixed cultures were detected on both media. More than one isolate was detected in 30 of the tested specimens on either CHROMagar (26 specimens) or Sabouraud glucose agar (four specimens). We found a sensitivity of 98.8% and a specificity of 100% for C. albicans, 66.7% and 99.8% for C. tropicalis, 100% and 100% for C. krusei, and 98% and 95.7% for C. glabrata. Regarding these results, CHROMagar Candida is recommended as a useful isolation medium capable of the presumptive identification of yeasts and better detection of mixed cultures in clinical specimens.
Ultrastructural differences observed in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeast phase cells grown on solid and in liquid medium
Authors: De Moraes Borba Cintia , De Nazareth Silveira Leal Meirelles Maria , Mendes da Silva  , Cunha de Oliveira Pedrina
Published: March 2003

An ultrastructural study was conducted on yeast‐like Paracoccidioides brasiliensis cells grown on liquid and solid peptone—yeast extract—glucose medium. A large proportion of cells grown in liquid medium presented cytoplasmic damage compared with the cells grown on solid medium, which remained intact, suggesting that agar plays an important role in the development of this fungus.
Antifungal activity of plant extracts against dermatophytes
Authors: Ali‐Shtayeh M. S. , Abu Ghdeib Suheil I.
Published: March 2003

The aqueous extracts (15 μg ml−1 medium) of 22 plants used in folkloric medicine in Palestine were investigated for their antifungal activity and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against nine isolates of Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton violaceum. The extract of the different plant species reduced colony growth of the three dermatophytes by 36 to 100% compared with the control treatment. Antimycotic activity of the extract against the three dermatophytes varied significantly (P<0.05) between test plants. Extracts of Capparis spinosa and Juglans regia completely prevented growth of M. canis and T. violaceum. The most active extracts (90–100% inhibition) were those of Anagallis arvensis, C. spinosa, J. regia, Pistacia lentiscus and Ruta chalapensis against M. canis; Inula viscosa, J. regia and P. lentiscus against T. mentagrophytes; and Asphodelus luteus, A. arvensis, C. spinosa, Clematis cirrhosa, I. viscosa, J. regia, P. lentiscus, Plumbago europea, Ruscus aculeatus, Retema raetam and Salvia fruticosa against T. violaceum. The MICs of these most active plants ranged from 0.6 to 40 μg ml−1. The three dermatophytes differed significantly with regard to their susceptibility to plant extracts. Trichophyton violaceum was the most susceptible being completely inhibited by 50% of the extracts followed by M. canis and T. mentagrophytes which were completely inhibited by only 23 and 14% of the extracts, respectively.
Case Report. Onychomycosis due to Chaetomium globosum successfully treated with itraconazole
Authors: Hattori  , Adachi  , Kaneko  , Shimozuma  , Ichinohe  , Iozumi
Published: March 2003

We have experienced a case of toenail infection caused by Chaetomium globosum which we treated with itraconazole 100 mg day−1 for 6 months, after which time the nail lesions were almost cured. Our case is the first reported case of onychomycosis caused by Ch. globosum in Japan, and the seventh in the world.
Case Report: Chronic dermatophyte infection in a patient with vitiligo and discoid lupus erythematosus
Authors: Khosravi A. R. , Mansouri P. , Moazzeni M.
Published: March 2003

We report the case of a patient suffering from vitiligo and discoid lupus erythematosus. The nails of the left hand were involved with subungual hyperkeratosis. He was treated by local and systemic corticosteroid and chloroquine but hyperkeratotic lesions progressed on the affected sites and were found to be caused by Trichophyton violaceum.
Characterization of Aphanomyces invadans isolates using pyrolysis mass spectrometry (PyMS)
Authors: Lilley J. H. , Beakes G. W. , Hetherington C. S.
Published: March 2003

Summary. Twenty‐one isolates of Aphanomyces invadans, the fungal pathogen associated with the Asian fish disease epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS), were compared with other Oomycete fungi in terms of their pyrolysis mass spectrometry (PyMS) profiles. Canonical variate analysis (CVA) of the pyrolysis mass spectra distinguished the Aphanomyces species from a wide scatter of Achlya and Saprolegnia isolates. Further CVA and hierarchal cluster analysis (HCA) separated the Aphanomyces species into two main groups. The first group clustered A. invadans isolates from EUS outbreaks in Thailand, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia and Japan together. However, HCA also included the crayfish plague fungus Aphanomyces astaci within this group. Non‐pathogenic Aphanomyces strains isolated from ulcerative mycosis (UM)‐affected fish were shown to be distinct from A. invadans, and instead clustered with saprophytic Aphanomyces strains to form the second group. Recently, an invasive Aphanomyces pathogen has been isolated from UM‐affected fish, but that was not tested here. This is the first report using PyMS in the study of Oomycete systematics. The technique was not sensitive enough to show any intraspecific differences, but it was considered a useful technique for the discrimination of species where taxonomic relationships are uncertain.
Case Report. Successful treatment of two cases of post‐surgical sternal osteomyelitis, due to Candida krusei and Candida albicans, respectively, with high doses of triazoles (fluconazole, itraconazole)
Authors: Petrikkos G. , Skiada A. , Sabatakou H. , Antoniadou A. , Dosios T. , Giamarellou H.
Published: March 2003

Summary. Two female patients, aged 75 and 59 years, respectively, with candidal sternal osteomyelitis were successfully treated by the administration of triazoles. Both had developed post‐operative wound infection after sternotomy for coronary artery by‐pass grafting. Sternal osteomyelitis was confirmed by bone scans with technetium 99Tc and gallium 67Ga. The cultures, from the pus draining at the site of the sternotomy scar, grew Candida krusei in the first case. The fistula closed after a 9‐week course of itraconazole therapy (800 mg daily, followed by 600 mg daily) and the patient completed a 6‐month period of therapy. The second patient had underlying diabetes mellitus. Post‐operatively she developed two fistulae draining pus on the sternum. The pus cultures grew C. albicans. Initial treatment with oral fluconazole (400 mg daily) failed. Subsequent treatment with liposomal amphotericin B also failed. A dramatic improvement was noted when the patient received high doses of fluconazole (800 mg daily). The fistulae gradually closed after 1 month. Oral fluconazole was continued for 6 months. The cure was confirmed by bone scans. Three years later, both patients remained well.
Search for correlation between symptoms and signs of changes in the oral mucosa and presence of fungi
Authors: Kurnatowska A. J.
Published: March 2003

Summary. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between the symptoms and signs of oral mucosal changes and the presence of fungi. The investigation comprised 235 subjects. Fungi were detected in the oral cavities of 196 of these subjects. The fungi belonged to different species of the genus Candida. A significant correlation was found between the presence of fungi in the oral cavity and the existence of burning sensation, xerostomia, dysgeusia and non‐idiopathic bleeding from the surface of the oral mucosa. A similar correlation was observed between the fungal colonization and atrophic changes, as well as reddened oral mucosa with lesions, ulceration and keratotic problems.
Limited genetic diversity of Candida albicans in fecal flora of healthy volunteers and inpatients: a proposed basis for strain homogeneity in clinical isolates
Authors: Khatib R. , Ramanathan J. , Riederer K. M. , DePoister D. , Baran J.
Published: March 2003

Summary. Molecular analysis of Candida albicans isolates from individual patients often yields a single strain at multiple sites. Whether this strain‐limitation is due to virulence factors favoring the invasive strain or to lack of genetic diversity in the gastrointestinal reservoir is uncertain. We elected to study C. albicans genotypes in the fecal flora among healthy volunteers and inpatients. Self‐obtained stool swabs or stool samples were cultured on inhibitory mold agar. From each subject with C. albicans, nine colonies were randomly selected, individually propagated, and typed utilizing random amplified polymorphic DNA. Colonies were considered identical (all bands matched), related variants (one to three unique bands), or distinct strains (more than three unique bands). Analysis showed a single clone in 33/43 (76.7%) volunteers and 6/18 (33.3%) inpatients (P = 0.018), two to four related variants in eight (18.6%) volunteers and 10 (55.6%) inpatients, and two distinct strains in two volunteers (4.6%) and two inpatients (11.1%). Strain variation was more common in females (33.5 versus 5.6%; P = 0.04) and tended to increase with age (r = 0.245, P = 0.06). These findings illustrate that most healthy subjects harbor a single strain of C. albicans in the fecal flora. This strain may undergo genetic evolution leading to minor clonal variations. The mechanisms for strain selection, maintenance and possible evolution remain to be delineated.
Prevalence of Aspergillus fumigatus and other fungal species in the sputum of adult patients with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Bakare N. , Rickerts V. , Bargon J. , Just‐Nübling G.
Published: March 2003

Summary Aspergillus fumigatus is often found in the respiratory tract secretions of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), although the role of the fungus for progression of pulmonary disease remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of A. fumigatus and other fungi in sputum of adult CF patients using different methods for culture and microscopy. Results from the analysis of 369 samples from 94 patients showed that A. fumigatus could be isolated in 45.7% of patients. Other moulds were rare, but the yeast Candida albicans was another frequent isolate, detected in 75.5% of patients. A comparison of different culture media showed no difference between a selective medium developed to specifically inhibit Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a standard fungal culture medium for growth of A. fumigatus, although both were more efficient for detection of fungi than other bacterial culture media. Fluorescent microscopy with calcofluor white was more sensitive for detection of fungal hyphae in undiluted sputum than standard methylene blue staining. This study shows that A. fumigatus and C. albicans have a high frequency in adult CF patients. Microbiological analysis should routinely include methods for specific identification of fungi to monitor for potential complications arising from fungal disease in these patients.
Inhibition of human pathogenic fungi by ethnobotanically selected plant extracts
Authors: Ficker Christine E. , Arnason J. T. , Vindas P. S. , Alvarez L. P. , Akpagana K. , Gbéassor M. , De Souza C. , Smith M. L.
Published: March 2003

Summary In this study, 36 extracts derived from 29 plant species selected using an ethnobotanical approach were tested for antifungal activity against a taxonomically diverse group of 13 human pathogenic fungi. We compared the inhibitory characteristics of these plant extracts with those of the commonly used antifungals, amphotericin B and ketoconazole, and the plant‐derived antifungal, berberine. Several plant extracts, notably those from Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Juglans cinerea (butternut), had pronounced antifungal activity against a wide variety of fungi, including strains that were highly resistant to amphotericin B and ketoconazole. Further exploration of Z. officinale as an antifungal is warranted as this species is generally regarded as safe for human consumption.
Development of non‐narcotic (opiumless and alkaloid‐free) opium poppy, Papaver somniferum
Authors: Sharma J. R. , Lal R. K. , Gupta A. P. , Misra H. O. , Pant V. , Singh N. K. , Pandey V.
Published: March 2003

A mutation breeding programme using gamma rays and ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) was carried out for genetic conversion of narcotic ‘opium poppy’ into non‐narcotic ‘seed poppy’. Two families contained 31 latexless (opiumless) and 23 partial latex‐bearing plants which were identified in the M2 and confirmed in the M3 generations by the ‘ray‐pluck’ method. Thin‐layer chromatography (TLC)‐densitometry of powdered capsule hulls (straw) from 22 representative plants also revealed that none of the five opium alkaloids (morphine, codeine, thebaine, papaverine and narcotine) was present in the straw. Six plants also possessed high seed yield (4.0–5.66 g/capsule vs. 3.39 g for control) and seven had a high seed oil content (50.7‐53.5%). The best mutant genotype, LL‐34 of the family C1‐Comb‐113‐2, with 5.66 g/capsule seeds containing 52.6% oil was designated as cv. ‘Sujata’. This, perhaps the world's first opiumless and alkaloid‐free seed poppy cultivar, offers a cheap and permanent (fundamental) solution to the global problem of opium‐linked social abuse. Simultaneously, it serves as a safe and potential food crop with protein‐rich seeds and healthy unsaturated seed oil.
Evidence for phenotypic assortative mating for flower colour in periwinkle
Authors: Kulkarni R. N.
Published: March 2003

Two experiments were conducted with periwinkle, Catharanthus roseus, to determine the extent of natural outcrossing. Three white‐flowered, fully self‐fertile, monogenic recessive mutants, namely, dwarf, wavy leaf margin and curved leaf were used, together with their parental white‐flowered variety, ‘Nirmal’, and a normal pink‐flowered variety, PS‐1. The extent of total outcrossing ranged from 43.4 to 79.3% among mutants. Outcrossing between white × white‐flowered plants ranged from 28.3 to 65.3% and was two to four times greater than that between white × pink‐flowered plants in the three mutants. The extent of out‐crossing between white × pink‐flowered plants was similar “02.2‐15.0%” in all mutants and also similar to that in the normal white‐flowered variety,‘Nirmal’(00.4%), where white × white flower out‐crossing could not be estimated. There were no large differences in the number of seeds per fruit, percentage fruit set and germination percentage of seeds obtained from self, white × white and white × pink flower crosses made in the glasshouse. There were also no significant differences in the number of flowers produced by the genotypes used in the study. The observed higher frequency of white × white flower matings compared with white × pink flower matings appeared to be due to the constancy of flower colour exhibited by the butterfly pollinators Pachliopta hector and Catopsilia pyranthae during their flower visits. Observations made on the occurrence of natural self‐pollination revealed that automatic self‐pollination did not occur in periwinkle.
Chromosomal location of Fusarium head blight resistance genes and analysis of the relationship between resistance to head blight and brown foot rot
Authors: Mentewab A. , Rezanoor H. N. , Gosman N. , Worland A. J. , Nicholson P.
Published: March 2003

In order to identify chromosomes involved in resistance to Fusarium head blight, a set of 21 substitution lines of Triticum macha (resistant) chromosomes into ‘Hobbit’'sib’(susceptible) were evaluated in trials over 2 years. For the first year's trial, all plants were inoculated on the same day with a conidial suspension of F. culmorum. For the second trial, individual plants were inoculated precisely at mid anthesis of each plant over a period of 2 weeks. The disease level was assessed by visual scoring, relative ear weight and F. culmorumn‐specfic quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that T. macha chromosomes 1B, 4A and 7A conferred good overall resistance, suggesting that they carry important genes for resistance. In two additional trials, T. macha and ‘Hobbit’'sib’ were evaluated for resistance to brown foot rot. The results showed that T. macha was more susceptible than ‘Hobbit’‘sib’, indicating that stem base disease response is not correlated with head blight resistance in these cultivars.
Hordeum bulbosum‐a new source of disease resistance‐transfer of resistance to leaf rust and mosaic viruses from H. bulbosum into winter barley
Authors: Walther U. , Rapke H. , Proeseler G. , Szigat G.
Published: March 2003

An outline is given of results for the transfer of new resistances against leaf rust and barley mosaic viruses from Hordeum bulbosum into winter barley. Progenies from backcrosses of barley cultivars with H. bulbosum hybrids were tested both in conventional breeding trials and in additional tests under controlled conditions. Resistance to both pathogens proved to be stable and of good heritability, with differences occurring which depended on the combinations used. Lines with resistance to all leaf rust and mosaic viruses tested, or to either one, were selected. Both resistances segregated independently.
Tolerance to low temperatures and tuber soft rot in hybrids between Solanum commersonii and Solanum tuberosum obtained through manipulation of ploidy and endosperm balance number (EBN)
Authors: Carputo D. , Cardi T. , Palta J. P. , Sirianni P. , Vega S. , Frusciante L.
Published: March 2003

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the tolerance to low temperatures and tuber soft rot in hybrids between Solanum commersonii and Solanum tuberosum. The experimental materials consisted of F1 triploid, BC1 pentaploid‐near pentaploid and BC2 tetraploid–near tetraploid hybrids. The F1 triploids had a freezing tolerance and acclimatization capacity closest to S. commersonii. This indicated that the endosperm barriers which prevent the introgression of 1EBN S. commersonii into 4EBN S. tuberosum had been overcome. Indeed, the triploids produced 2n eggs, thus giving a compatible maternal to paternal EBN ratio in the hybrid endosperm generated by the 3x(2EBN) × 4x(3EBN) crosses. The tolerance to low temperatures of BC1 and BC2 hybrids was lower than that of the F1. However, a number of genotypes were identified which were able to withstand temperatures down to ‐5°C. Some BC2 hybrids were also tested for their tolerance to tuber soft rot, and some resistant hybrids were detected. A number of them combined the capacity for cold acclimatization with tolerance to tuber soft rot. These hybrids have an EBN of 4; they are fertile and have been used in backcrosses with 4EBN S. tuberosum.
Development of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers in Eucalyptus from amplified inter‐simple sequence repeats (ISSR)
Authors: Van Der Nest M. A. , Steenkamp E. T. , Wingfield B. D. , Wingfield M. J.
Published: March 2003

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.
Use of chrysanthemum plantlets grown in vitro to test cultivar susceptibility to white rust, Puccinia horiana P. Hennings
Authors: Takatsu Y. , Ohishi K. , Tomita Y. , Hayashi M. , Nakajima M. , Akutsu K.
Published: March 2003

An efficient incubation and inoculation system for white rust was established using plantlets of chrysanthemum growing in vitro. The internal conditions of a culture vessel (plant box) were maintained at a humidity of 90‐100% and an optimum temperature of 20‐25°C, which are suitable conditions to germinate teliospores and basidiospores of the pathogen. Telia were maintained continuously on plants in the plant box and were used as an inoculum for infection experiments throughout the year, allowing differences in susceptibility to white rust among chrysanthemum cultivars to be detected. Susceptibility to white rust in the plant‐box evaluation showed a good correlation with the rating of sporulation on plants grown in a greenhouse. The method described here is a simple, space‐saving inoculation system to evaluate the susceptibility of chrysanthemums to white rust.
Colchicine‐induced variation of cell size and chloroplast number in leaf mesophyll of rice
Authors: Hassan L. , Wazuddin M.
Published: March 2003

Comparisons were made in the C1 generation between the untreated controls (2x) and colchicine‐treated diploids (C2x) for variation of leaf mesophyll cell size and chloroplast number. Differences were found in that the cell section area and the number of chloroplasts per cell in all the seven lines investigated were significantly greater in the C2x selections compared with the 2x controls using coded determination. In each case, there was an enhancement of chloroplast number independent of the variation in cell size.
Environmental variability and heritability of high oleic acid content in winter oilseed rape
Authors: Schierholt A. , Becker H. C.
Published: March 2003

Winter oilseed rape, with high oleic (HO) acid contents (C18:1) is of interest for nutritional as well as for industrial purposes. HO mutants have been described, but only limited information is available on any environmental influence on the expression of oleic acid content in these mutants. Therefore, a population of 60 doubled‐haploid (DH) lines segregating for oleic acid content (56‐75% C18:1) was grown in two years at three locations in northern Germany. Analysis of variance revealed a high heritability for oleic acid content of h2= 0.99. Subdividing the DH population into a high (> 64% C18:1) and a low (< 64% C18:1) oleic acid class showed high heritabilities (h2= 0.94) for C18:1 contents within both the high and low oleic acid types. The oleic acid contents in HO types of winter oilseed rape were environmentally stable at the three locations tested.
Genetic analysis of bread‐making quality in wheat and spelt
Authors: Zanetti S. , Winzeler M. , Feuillet C. , Keller B. , Messmer M.
Published: March 2003

Bread‐making quality in wheat and spelt reflects the combination of several, mostly quantitatively inherited parameters. The aim was to find molecular markers linked to quantitative trait loci (QTL) for quality parameters. Zeleny sedimentation values (Zel), protein (Prot), kernel hardness (KH) and 1000‐kernel weight (TKW) of 226 F5 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from a cross between wheat and spelt were assessed in different environments. The dough properties of 204 RILs were assessed with an alveograph. Based on a genetic map of 187 loci, nine QTL were found for Zel and Prot, explaining 47% and 51% of the phenotypic variance, respectively. Fifty‐four per cent of the variance was explained by 10 QTL for KH and eight for TKW. For the alveograph parameters 10 QTL were found for baking strength, nine for tenacity, seven for configuration ratio, and four for elasticity index and extensibility. The phenotypic variance explained ranged from 25% to 48%. The population mean of the dough parameters was shifted towards the spelt parent. It is concluded that non‐additive effects are crucial in the expression of high bread‐making quality of wheat. The consequences for wheat and spelt breeding programmes are discussed.
Effect of the ph1b mutant on chromosome pairing in hybrids between Dasypyrum villosum and Triticum aestivum
Authors: Yu M. Q. , Deng G. B. , Zhang X. P. , Ma X. R. , Chen J.
Published: March 2003

Chromosome pairing was analysed in F1 hybrids of the wheat cultivar ‘Chinese Spring’ (CS) and its ph1b mutant (CSphlb) with Dasypyrum villosum. On average, 1.61 chromosomes per cell paired in the hybrid CS ×D. villosum, but 14.43 in the hybrid CS ph1b×D. villosum. Genomic fluorescence in situ hybridization (GISH) revealed three types of homoeologous association between wheat (W) and D. villosum (D) chromosomes (W‐D, D‐W‐W and D‐W‐D) in pollen mother cells of the CS ph1b×D. villosum hybrid, and only one type (W‐W), in the CS ×D. villosum hybrid. Both F1 hybrids were self‐sterile. The seed set of the backcross of CS ×D. villosum with CS was 6.67% and that of CS ph1b×D. villosum with CS or CS ph1b was only 0.45%. The chromosome number of BC1 plants varied from 48 to 72. Translocations of chromosome segments or entire arms between wheat and D. villosum chromosomes were detected by GISH in the BC1 plants from the backcross of CS ph1b×D. villosum to CS ph1b.
Expression of male sterility in alloplasmic Brassica juncea with Erucastrum canariense cytoplasm and the development of a fertility restoration system
Authors: Prakash S. , Ahuja I. , Upreti H. C. , Kumar V. Dinesh , Bhat S. R. , Kirti P. B. , Chopra V. L.
Published: March 2003

An alloplasmic mustard, Brassica juncea, has been synthesized by placing its nucleus into the cytoplasm of the related wild species Erucastrum canariense to express cytoplasmic male sterility. To achieve this, the sexual hybrid E. canariense (2n=18, EcEc) ×Brassica campestris (2n= 20, AA) was repeatedly backcrossed to B. juncea (2n= 36, AABB). Cytoplasmic male‐sterile (CMS) plants were recovered in the BC4 generation. These plants are a normal green and the flowers have slender, non‐dehiscing anthers that contain sterile pollen. Nectaries are well developed and female fertility is > 90%. The fertility restoration gene was introgressed to CMS B. juncea from the cytoplasmic donor E. canariense through pairing between chromosomes belonging to B. juncea with those of the E. canariense genome. The restorer plants have normal flowers, with well‐developed anthers containing fertile pollen. Meiosis proceeds normally. Pollen and seed fertility averaged 90% and 82%, respectively. F1 hybrids between CMS and the restorer are fully pollen fertile and show normal seed set. Preliminary results indicate that restoration is achieved by a single dominant gene. The constitution of the organelle genomes of the CMS, restorer and fertility restored plants is identical, as revealed by Southern analysis using mitochondrial and chloroplast probes atp A and psb D, respectively.
PCR‐genotyping of barley seedlings using DNA samples from tissue prints
Authors: Drescher A. , Graner A.
Published: March 2003

Screening of large numbers of plant samples with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based techniques is a central task in marker‐assisted plant breeding and molecular genetics. While PCR and electrophoresis have been streamlined as a result of high‐throughput analysis methods, the collection of plant material and its processing to make it accessible for reliable amplification reactions remain labour‐intensive, costly and not amenable to automation. As an alternative to traditional extraction protocols, DNA can be bound to specially treated paper (FTA‐paper). For PCR analysis, instead of being added as a liquid suspension, DNA is then released from small paper disks that are immersed into the reaction mixture. In the present study, several parameters were investigated for the successful amplification of various single‐copy sequence characterized amplified region markers from barley tissue prints. The results show that the FTA‐paper approach offers a quick, reliable and low‐cost alternative for PCR screening even in a crop plant with a large genome.
Monosomic addition lines of Beta corolliflora in sugar beet: plant morphology and leaf spot resistance
Authors: Gao D. , Jung C.
Published: March 2003

Monosomic addition lines in Beta vulgaris from Beta corolliflora were described morphologically and characterized for disease resistance. Monosomic addition plants (2n= 19) were selected among segregating offspring by a squash dot technique in combination with B. corolliflora‐specific probes. Plants carrying an added chromosome were characterized by leaf shape, plant size and plant vigour. In this way, most addition lines could be distinguished from diploid beets, however, to identify those plants unequivocally, molecular marker analysis was also necessary. Transmission frequencies of each addition line were determined to be in the range 13.9% (Cor‐4) to 60% (Cor‐9). High transmission rate of addition line Cor‐9 was assumed to be due to apomictic propagation because transmission rate after selfing cannot exceed 50%. Cercospora leaf spot resistance tests were performed on 167 monosomic plants from seven different addition lines, two fragment addition lines and 89 diploid controls. No line exhibited complete resistance, but the monosomic additions Cor‐3 and Cor‐4 showed significantly lower infection rates than their diploid sibling plants. The identification of monosomic addition lines with apomictic and disease resistance characters offers the possibility of transferring those genes to sugar beet.
Eyespot resistance in wheat ×Aegilops kotschyi backcross lines
Authors: Thiele A. , Schumann E. , Peil A. , Weber W. E.
Published: March 2003

In wheat, eyespot caused by PseudoCercosporella herpotrichoides, is one of the main foot‐rot diseases. Yield losses up to 40% occur in some years. Plant protection by fungicide application is possible, but a better way is through resistance breeding. Two resistance sources are currently used: Aegilops ventricosa and the old French variety ‘Cappelle Desprez’. A new source of resistance has been found in the accession AE120 of Ae. kotschyi from the Gatersleben gene bank with the genome constitution UUSvSv. This accession has been crossed and backcrossed twice to susceptible wheat varieties, and in each generation, plants with a relatively high level of resistance have been selected. From this material, lines have been developed and tested in F6 to F8. Finally, several lines could be classified as moderately resistant, such as the French variety ‘Cappelle Desprez’ after resistance determination during milk ripeness (DC75). No line reached the high resistance level achieved with Pch‐1 from Ae. ventricosa. The yield of these lines under infection conditions was higher compared with ‘Cappelle Desprez’. The line 6018‐96‐3 showed a high yield of 64.3 dt/ha compared with 59.6 dt/ha, on the average, in combination with the best expression of eyespot resistance in the adult growth stage over 3 years.
Inheritance of resistance to race F of broomrape in sunflower lines of different origins
Authors: Akhtouch B. , Muñoz‐Ruz J. , Melero‐Vara J. , Fernández‐Martínez J. , Domínguez J.
Published: March 2003

A new race F of broomrape overcomes all known resistance genes in cultivated sunflower, but recently, sources of resistance against race F have been developed. The objective of the present research was to study the inheritance of resistance to race F in crosses between 12 resistant sunflower breeding lines, derived from three different sources of resistance, and the susceptible male‐sterile line P‐21. Parental lines and F1, F2, F3 and BC1 generations were evaluated for broomrape resistance. Segregations in the F2 and BC1 to resistant parent approached resistant to susceptible ratios of 1: 15 and 1: 3, respectively, in most of the crosses, suggesting a double dominant epistasis. However, segregations of 3: 13 and 1: 1 for F2 and BC1, respectively, indicating a dominant‐recessive epistasis, were also found. The F3 data confirmed these results. Owing to the recessive nature of this resistance, it must be incorporated into both parental lines for developing resistant hybrid cultivars.
Genetic diversity and relationships among pea cultivars revealed by RAPDs and AFLPs
Authors: Simioniuc D. , Uptmoor R. , Friedt W. , Ordon F. , Swiecicki W.
Published: March 2003

In order to obtain an overview of the genetic diversity present within the set of pea cultivars released in Germany, 21 cultivars were analysed at the DNA level by random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs) and amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), as well as for agronomic traits. Yield of grain cultivars ranged from 2.95 to 3.87 t/ha. Based on the screening of 60 RAPD primers and 32 Eco RI + 3/Mse I+3 AFLP primer combinations, 20 RAPD primers and 11 Eco RI + 3/MseI+ 3 primer combinations generating polymorphic and distinct fragments were chosen for estimation of genetic diversity. Twenty RAPD primers amplified a total of 314 scorable bands ranging from about 262 bp to 1996 bp. Of these, 175 fragments (55.7%) were polymorphic. Based on these data, genetic similarity (GS) was estimated between 0.80 (‘Lisa’ vs.‘Grapis’) and 0.94 (‘Bohatyr’ vs. ‘Sponsor’; mean GS = 0.88). Eleven AFLP primer combinations led to the amplification of 949 scorable fragments ranging from 43 to 805 bp and of these, 462 (48.7%) were polymorphic. Genetic similarity based on AFLPs was calculated between 0.85 (‘Lisa’ vs.‘Laser’) and 0.94 (‘Bohatyr’ vs. ‘Sponsor’, mean GS = 0.90). Correlation of genetic similarity estimated on RAPDs and AFLPs was estimated at r = 0.79** using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and at r = 0.84 by the Mantel test, respectively. UPGMA cluster analysis carried out on these data separately for RAPDs and AFLPs and on the combined data reflected, to some extent, pedigree relationships and cophenetic correlations (r = 0.89 for RAPDs, r = 0.88 for AFLPs, and r = 0.93 RAPDs + AFLPs) indicate a good fit of respective clusters to genetic similarity data. The correlation of cluster analyses to pedigree information and the impact on parental genotype selection is discussed.
Turnip (Brassica rapa L. ssp. rapifera Metzg.) population improvement and cultivar production
Authors: Bradshaw J. E. , Gemmell D. J. , Gowers S. , Wilson R. N.
Published: March 2003

In 1977, a fodder turnip breeding programme was started from seven cultivars with the primary aim of increasing dry‐matter yield. The breeding method chosen was population improvement by half‐sib family selection on a biennial cycle. Seed production in polythene tunnels with blowflies as pollinators was followed by assessing the resulting progenies in replicated yield trials and observation plots from which plants were selected for the next cycle. Six generations of selection resulted in a population with a yield that was 25% higher than the mean of the initial seven cultivars. This was remarkably close to the predicted superiority of the population, despite a significant discrepancy in one generation. It is concluded that the greatest response to selection per year would be achieved by selecting eight families from 128 assessed for 1 year in trials at two or three sites with an overall total of six replicates, given a resource limit of 800 plots.
Inheritance of resistance to wheat midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana, in spring wheat
Authors: McKenzie R. I. H. , Lamb R. J. , Aung T. , Wise I. L. , Barker P. , Olfert O. O. , McIntosh R. I.
Published: March 2003

Inheritance of resistance to a wheat midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin), was investigated in spring wheats derived from nine resistant winter wheat cultivars. F1 hybrids were obtained from crosses between resistant winter wheats and susceptible spring wheats, and used to generate doubled haploid populations. These populations segregated in a ratio of 1:1 resistant to susceptible, indicating that a single gene confers the resistance. The F2 progeny from an intercross among spring wheats derived from the nine resistance sources did not segregate for resistance. Therefore, the same gene confers resistance in all nine sources of resistance, although other genes probably affect expression because the level of resistance varied among lines. Heterozygous plants from five crosses between diverse susceptible and resistant spring wheat parents all showed intermediate levels of response, indicating that resistance is partly dominant. Susceptible plants were reliably discriminated from heterozygous or homozygous resistant ones in laboratory tests, based on the survival and development of wheat midge larvae on one or two spikes. This powerful resistance gene, designated Sm1, is simply inherited and can be incorporated readily into breeding programmes for spring or winter wheat. However, the use of this gene by itself may lead to the evolution of a virulent population, once a resistant cultivar is widely grown.