Australian goats detoxify the goitrogen 3-hydroxy-4(1H) pyridone (DHP) after rumen infusion from an Indonesian goat

The failure of Australian goats fed Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena) to degrade 3-hydroxy-4(1H) pyridone (DHP), the goitrogenic metabolite of mimosine, was overcome when they were infused with rumen fluid from an Indonesian goat. The leucaena toxicity problem in Australia may well be solved by transfer of specific bacteria capable of degrading DHP anaerobically.     

Abnormal organization of ovarian follicles in the mutantl(1)su(f) mad-ts ofDrosophila melanogaster

Summary The morphology of ovarian follicles in the temperature-sensitive female-sterile mutantl(1)su(f) ^mad-ts has been studied by means of light and electron microscopy. As the follicle cells gradually degenerate at the restrictive temperature (29°C) the follicles become increasingly disorganized with respect to shape and polarity.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 46). We wish to thank Mrs R. Koppa for excellent technical assistance and Mrs G. Mahlke for photographic work. We are also indebted to Dr D. Zissler, Dr E. Gateff and Prof. K. Sander for many helpful suggestions.     

Flavonoid profiles of certain species ofRhynchosia of the family Leguminosae (Fabaceae)

Summary A survey of seventy naturally occurring populations ofRhynchosia representing seven species of different subgenera revealed the occurrence of C-glycosides, O-glycosides, prenylated flavonoids and aglycones.Rhynchosia albiflora (R. cyanosperma) differs in gross morphological features and seed coat color and in its flavonoid composition from the other representative species ofRhynchosia.Acknowledgments. P. Ramachandraiah is grateful to U.G.C., New Delhi, for financial assistance.     

Reduction in bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) infectivity vis-a-vis crude leaf extract of some higher plants

Summary Crude leaf extracts of 17 plants were tested for their antiviral activity against BCMV. An extract ofAzadirachta indica A. Juss. was found to be most potent in reducing the infectivity of the virus.Authors are thankful to Dr R. D. Joshi for his valuable guidance and Prof. S. N. Mathur for providing lab facilities. Financial assistance by U. G. C. and C. S. I. R. is gratefully acknowledged.     

Tetraploidy inProtopterus (Dipnoi)

Summary Comparative DNA values obtained by Feulgen cytophotometry for 3 species ofProtopterus, as well as karyotype analysis, show the existence of a diploid-tetraploid relationship within the genusProtopterus.Research supported by the Division of Human Genetics, K. U. Leuven, Belgium, and by the Université Nationale du Zaire, campus Kinshasa, Zaire. The Department of Human Genetics, University of Amsterdam. The Netherlands, provided laboratory facilities for cytophotometric analysis. I thank J. Bylsma, A. Debont, F. Koperdraad and H. Van den Berghe for advice, R. Ruysschaert and G. Warmoes for hospitality and technical assistance and T. Mohsen for the generous gift ofP. annectens from Senegal.     

The isolation,identification and synthesis of the alarm pheromone ofVespula squamosa (Drury) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) and associated behavior

Summary A material that elicits alarm and attack behavior byVespula squamosa (Drury) workers was isolated from venom extracts and identified by spectroscopic methods as N-3-methylbutylacetamide. This compound elicited attack responses from worker wasps identical to those responses observed when venom was applied at the same dosage. This is the first behavioral role reported for this compound.The authors thank E. Adamak, R. Murphy and F. Takken for technical assistance. This article reports the results of research only. Mention of a proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement or the recommendation for its use by USDA.     

Precocene-induced metamorphosis in the desert locustSchistocerca gregaria

Summary 50–100% of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th instar nymphs ofSchistocerca gregaria exposed to precocene 2 by contact method metamorphosed precociously from the instar treated. The corpora allata of the precocious adults were degenerate. Topical application of a juvenile hormone analogue (ZR-512) induced in the precocious adults the colouration characteristic of sexually mature adults.This research was supported by the N.S.E.R.C. grant No.A4669.We thank Dr G. B. Staal, Zoecon Corporation, Palo Alto, California, for the generous gift of precocene 2 and ZR-512, M. Hota for rearing the insects, R. G. Long, for the photographs, and Jann Aitken for technical assistance.     

Depletion of synaptic vesicles at the frog (Rana pipiens) neuromuscular junctions by tetraphenylboron

Summary At the frog neuromuscular junction tetraphenylboron produced a decrease in miniature endplate potential amplitude, accompanied by a decrease in the number but not the size of synaptic vesicles.This work was supported by NIH Grants Nos NS-07740 and NS-05707 to R. L. P. and was done during the tenure of a Research Fellowship of Muscular Dystrophy Associations of America, a Wellcome Research Travel Grant and a grant from the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland to I. G. M. The assistance of Dr.R. M. Schnitzler, W. G. Boldosser andP. M. Spannbauer is gratefully acknowledged.     

Abnormal development of phialides in a strain ofAspergillus niger

Summary AnAspergillus niger mutant strain (hpp) produces an average of 4.1% of conidiophores with phialide proliferations. Increased frequency of proliferations could be induced on all studied strains by growth on potato dextrose agar. The characteristic is recessive and seems to be due to a pleiotropic effect of the mutation for olive conidia color.Acknowledgments. The authors are indebted to CNPq for financial assistance provided with grant PIG/SIP 04/053 as well as the scholarships Pesquisador Científico (R.B.Jr) and Iniciação Científica and Aperfeiçoamento (G.U.V.).     

Thyroid activity in response to some gonadal steroids in methallibure-treatedHeteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

Summary Methallibure treatment is as effective as hypophysectomy in reducing thyroid activity inH. fossilis. Sex steroids (TP and EB) administration restored thyroid activity in methallibure-treated females to normal level, but failed to elicit any response in males. This drug seems to block TSH secretion and thyroid hormone synthesis inH. fossilis.Financial assistance in the form of SRF from ICAR, New Delhi to one of us (R.B.R.), gift of methallibure from ICI Ltd., UK and TSH from NIH, USA, to T.P.S. are gratefully acknowledged.     

Chromosomal translocations in 2 Italian populations ofReticulitermes lucifugus (Rossi) (Insecta,Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Summary The chromosomes of 2 Italian populations ofReticulitermes lucifugus (Rossi) were studied in both spermatogonial and oogonial divisions. The diploid chromosome complement is 2=42. All the first meiotic metaphases in Sardinian males show a complex translocation arranged in chains of 4 bivalents. The Apulian males show either 21 bivalents or 19 bivalents and a chain of 2.The authors express their thanks to Prof. A. Springhetti for his kind help in supplying the materials and for criticism in preparation of this paper, and to Prof. G. Colombo for valuable advice and criticism.     

Phytoalexin response is elicited by a pathogen (Rhizoctonia solani) but not by a mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus mosseae) in soybean roots

Summary A container system was constructed to study the response of soybean roots to infection by mycorrhizal or pathogenic fungi. The system allows a rapid and synchronous inoculation byGlomus mosseae orRhizoctonia solani. The phytoalexin glyceollin was measured in roots of inoculated and uninoculated plants for a period of 30 days. A significantly increased content of phytoalexin was found inR. solani-infected roots as compared to uninfected control roots. However, there was no difference in the glyceollin contents of the mycorrhizal and the control roots for up to 23 days after inoculation. The accumulation of glyceollin inR. solani-infected roots was not influenced by a subsequent inoculation withG. mosseae. Moreover glyceollin accumulated in mycorrhizal plants to the same extent as in control plants when they were inoculated withR. solani. The two fungi did not mutually influence the course of infection when they were inoculated together.     

Unusual distribution of constitutive heterochromatin (C-bands) in the somatic chromosomes of a passerine birdErithacus svecicus

Summary The distribution of constitutive heterochromatin (C-bands) has been studied in a passerine bird,Erithacus svecicus (Linnaeus) (Turdidae, Passeriformes, Aves) (2n=76±). In 7 out of 9 pairs of macrochromosomes pericentromeric heterochromatin has been observed. The smaller 2 pairs of macrochromosomes are entirely heterochromatic.The authors are grateful to Prof. B.K. Behura, P.G. Dept. of Zoology, Utkal University for extending laboratory and library facilities. T.S. is grateful to CSIR, India for providing financial assistance under SRF scheme.     

Effect of fungal staling growth products on colony interaction amongRhizoctonia solani Kuhn and some potential rhizosphere fungi

Summary Colony interactions betweenRhizoctonia solani Kuhn: a root pathogen ofLycopersicon esculentum Mill and some dominant rhizosphere fungi were assessed in vitro in virgin and staled agar to examine their antagonistic ability and tolerance to antagonism. The range of inhibition ofR. solani varied widely in competition with some of the antagonists.Acknowledgments. I would like to express my appreciation to Dr R. S. Dwivedi for encouragement and CSIR for financial assistance.Address for reprint request: Dr D.K. Arora, Old G/14, Jodhpur Colony, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.     

Isolation of plasmid DNA fromAgrobacterium by isopycnic density gradient centrifugation in vertical rotors

Summary Fixed angle and vertical rotors are compared in terms of their sample load, run time, and resolution for the preparation of plasmid DNA fromAgrobacterium.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by a CASE Studentship from the SRC and ICI Corporate Laboratories to J.D., and a grant from the SRC to M.R.D. and E.C.C. The authors thank Mr B.V. Case for photographic assistance.     

Torus shaped bands at the 2R telomere region and at the region 68 of the salivary gland chromosomes ofDrosophila auraria

Summary The telomere of the 2R arm of the salivary gland chromosomes ofD. auraria exhibits a definite toroidal structure in routine squashed preparations, stained either by propionic orcein-carmine or by fluorescent dyes. There is evidence that a band (or bands) of region 68 (possibly homologous to that ofD. melanogaster) of the 3L chromosome arm also exhibits a toroidal structure. These toroids are associated with heterochromatin, but it is not certain that they are themselves heterochromatic.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by a grant from Volkswagenwerk-Stiftung to C.D.K. The outstanding technical assistance of Ms G. Karamanlidis is acknowledged.     

Incorporation of base analogues for detection of unusual base compositions in plant metaphase chromosomes (Vicia faba,Leguminosae)

Summary Bromodeoxyuridine and bromodeoxycytidine with fluorescence-plus-Giemsa staining resulted in similar patterns of asymmetric bands inVicia faba chromosomes. Limitations as to the use of methods for identification of A+T-and G+C-rich regions are discussed.Acknowledgements. We are grateful to Mr G. Versteegh. Groningen, for kindly providing us with a sample of BrdC and to Ms B. Hildebrandt for skilful technical assistance.     

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in overwintering monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) from mexico

Summary North American populations of the monarch butterfly,Danaus plexippus, have been found to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their N-oxides. Analytical methods (TLC, GC, and GC/MS) have been developed to isolate, quantitate, and structurally elucidate the alkaloids. Examples of at least two classes of pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been identified, the macrocyclic diesters, senecionine, integerrimine, and seneciphylline, and the monoesters, echinatine, intermedine, and lycopsamine.21 November 1986This work was supported by NSF (Grants BSR-81-19391 and BSR-81-19382), and a Stauffer Chemical Company fellowship. We thank David Hodapp, Mark Stelljes, and Cordula Bruenner for technical help, Dr T.P. Krick, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn., USA, for assistance in GC/MS analysis of PAs, and Dr J.A. Edgar, CSIRO, Parkville, Victoria, Australia, for samples of authentic reference compounds.     

Cornea regeneration in the Pacific giant octopus,Octopus dofleini,and the common octopus,O. vulgaris

Summary Cornea regeneration in a Pacific giant octopus,Octopus dofleini, occurred within 10 days after the injury was observed. Surgical removal of the cornea in 2 common octopi,O. vulgaris experimentally duplicated this cornea regeneration within a 10-day period. It is, therefore, concluded that besides sucking discs, arms, and nerve fibres, octopi can also regenerated corneal tissue.The authors would like to thank U. E. Friese, B. Borowski, P. Burn, J.W. Atz, G.J. Nelson, H. Feinberg, P. Fenimore, C. Roper, M. Nixon, M. Segalla, G. Clark, D.O. Calligaro, J.M. Anderson and R.J. Koestler for assistance and advice. Illustrations were drawn by G.D. This work was supported by the New York Aquarium of the New York Zoological Society, while G.D. was at the New York Aquarium.     

Bisalbuminemia in a bottlenosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Summary Bisaluminemia was found in a female bottlenosed dolphin (Turiops truncatus) on routine examination. There is no association with disease.Acknowledgment. I. wish to thank Dr G. W. Jones, Lincolnton, NC for providing me with the dolphin sera and Mr R. Quinlan of Quinlan Enterprises, Lincolnton, NC for providing the animals.