Toxicity ofParthenium hysterophorus L. to cattle and buffaloes

Summary Parthenium hysterophorus L., when fed to buffalo bull calves and cross bred bull calves resulted in acute toxicity leading to death. The former animals developed severe dermatitis. Autopsy revealed ulceration of alimentary tract. Extensive pathological changes were noticed in liver, kidney and skin.Acknowledgments. We thank, Dr Satish Dhawan and Mr M. A. Sethu Rao for their keen interest. The help rendered by Bangalore City Corporation authorities in the supply of Parthenium is gratefully acknowledged.     

Flavonoids ofArctium minus (Compositae)

Zusammenfassung Die hauptsächlichen Flavonoide ausArctium minus (Compositae) sind Isoquercetrin und Rutin. Zusätzliche Flavonoide sind Kaempferol-3-o-Glukosid und 3-o-Rhamnoglukosid, Quercetin-7-o-Glukosid, 3-o-Arabinosid und ein 3-o-Glukosid das mit Isoquercetin isomer ist.     

Ribosomal gene numbers in Microseridinae (Compositae: Cichorieae)

Summary 8 species of the subtribe Microseridinae contain between 1100 and 3400 genes for 25 and 18 S ribosomal RNA. The gene numbers seem to evolve by discrete steps. Their trend follows a general reduction in genome size during the evolution of the annual species ofMicroseris, but numbers remain high in one of them and inAgoseris grandiflora. 2 species ofPyrrhopappus differ by a duplication of the ribosomal gene numbers; 5 S ribosomal RNA genes in 4 species are repeated roughly 10,000 times.We thank Miss S. Werner, Miss A. Roth and Miss U. Krehan for help with some of the experiments. This paper is part of a project supported by grant Ba 536/1-5 from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Amphibious vision inCoryphoblennius galerita L. (Perciformes)

The morphology of the ophthalmic cornea in the blenniid fishCoryphoblennius galerita (Teleostei) shows adaptation to the amphibious life. Amphibious vision is provided by a flattened area within the cornea. Eyes of other, non-amphibious blenniids are compared with those ofC. galerita.     

X-ray microanalysis in pearls ofMytilus edulis L. (bivalvia)

Summary Metacercariae feeding on the tissues of Mytilus edulis deposit their excretes into the mussel. The clusters of excretes are surrounded by a pearl sac. Increasing amounts of Ca-proteids are transported into the pearl sac epithelium and into the pearl.     

A queen bee extract (Apis mellifera L.) (Hymenoptera) reduces the fecundity ofTenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera)

Summary 3 different doses of crude queen bee extract were administered to pairs of adultTenebrio molitor L.; the extract exerted an inhibitory action on fecundity, but did not induce complete sterility of the females.     

A novel tetracyclic sesquiterpene from the oil of orejuela ofCymbopetalum penduliforum (Dunal)

Résumé De l'éther de pétrole extrait de l'huile de l'Orejula (Cymbopetalum penduliforum Dunal, Baill) fut examiné pour son contenu en terpènes. On a isolé les sesquiterpènes tétracycliques (ishwarone). L'évidence chimique et spectral appuie la constitution chimique et sa conversion à isoishwarone.

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The authors are grateful to Dr.F. Will, Mr.W. F. Kuhn and Mr.G. Vilcins for their valuable analytical data and to Dr.R. F. Dawson for the oil of orejuela and Dr.P. C. Parthasarathy for the authentic sample of isoishwarane. We wish to thank ProfessorsA. Burger andN. H. Cromwell for helpful discussions.     

Heterochromosomen beiVipera berus L. (Viperidae,Serpentes)

Summary A dimorphic pair of chromosomes was found among the macrochromosomes in mitosis of females ofVipera berus L. It corresponds to a pair of medium-sized chromosomes in the male. The conclusion is drawn that females are heterogametic (ZW-type), males being homogametic (ZZ-type). Similar observations were made inVipera aspis L.,Natrix natrix L., andNatrix maura L.     

La formule chromosomique deSorex minutus L. (Mammalia-Insectivora)

Summary The chromosome complement ofSorex minutus L. has been determined. The caryotype is characterized by a diploid number of 42 and by aNF (fundamental number) of 56. The sex-chromosomes are of theX−Y type usual in mammals. The origin and the evolution of the chromosome set ofS. minutus, S. unguiculatus, andS. araneus have been discussed.      

Die Probeentnahme in kinetischen Stoffwechseluntersuchungen mit WasserlinsenLemna minor L. (Lemnaceen)

Summary A suitable sample technique for duckweed (Lemnaceae) in kinetic studies of photosynthesis or other metabolic processes is described. It enables one to remove plants from a culture chamber in a closed gas and/or nutrient solution circuit without disturbing the system.     

Sex reversal ofCobitis taenia L. (Osteichthyes,fam.Cobitidae)

Riassunto Una popolazione diCobitis taenia, specie considerata sinora gonocorica, é risultata essere ermafrodita non bilanciato cioé con alta variabilità sessuale, comprendente ermafroditi successivi proterandrici e femmine. La presenza di maschi puri non é stata ancora dimostrata.

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This work was supported by a financial grant from the Italian C.N.R.     

Inheritance of four characters inDolichos lablab L. (Leguminosae)

Summary Trigenic ratios have been reported for the first time for the following characters: Habit of the plant, inflorescence type, pod form and pod colour. The first two characters show the presence of 3 common genes and the latter ones are independent.Acknowledgment. The authors are grateful to Dr N.P. Patil, Director of Research, University of Agricultural Sciences, Hebbal, Bangalore, for his encouragement in the course of this study.     

Chromosome change during growth inPuschkinia libanotica L. (Liliaceae)

Summary The variation in chromosome size in root-tip meristem ofPuschkinia libanotica L. was studied at different days of root growth with special attention to DNA, RNA, total protein and histone contents. The results show that the size and organisation of chromosomes even within the one tissue is subject to considerable change during growth and development.The author is thankful to Prof. H. Rees, FRS, Department of Agricultural Botany, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, Wales, U.K., for his guidance and to University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, for granting him a SRC fellowship.     

Bestimmung des DNS-Gehaltes in Zellkernen des Nervengewebes vonHelix pomatia L. undPlanorbarius corneus L. (Stylommatophora und Basommatophora,Gastropoda)

Summary It has been demonstrated by cytophotometric measurements of the DNA-content in glial- and nerve cells of the snailsHelix pomatia (Stylommatophora) andPlanorbarius corneus (Basommatophora) that the giant nuclei of nerve cells in the central ganglia contain more than tens of thousands of DNA compared with sperm nuclei. According to the DNA-content of sperms (=n), the values for glial cells are between 2n and 4n for both species.

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Herrn Prof. Dr. W.Dittrich, Institut für Strahlenbiologie der Universität Münster, danke ich für die Möglichkeit, am UMSP I arbeiten zu dürfen; Frl. A.Stipproweit danke ich für sorgfältige technische Assistenz.