ALBERT

Notes: Abstract Wheat (cv Chinese Spring) tissues were transformed using Agrobacterium tumefasciens and a new plasmid modular vector, pMVTBP. We constructed pMVTBP with unique restriction sites connecting (1) the CaMV 35S promoter, (2) a Kozak sequence, (3) the FLAG epitope, (4) the (His)6 epitope, (5) a coding region (for wheat TATA Binding Protein, wTBP) and (6) the CaMV 35S 3′UTR. This vector thus allows easy exchange of different regulatory or coding sequences. Explants of either germinating mature seeds, or immature embryos, were induced to callus for up to two weeks, treated with virulence-induced bacteria for one hour, then regenerated into plantlets. Transient expression of a GUS reporter gene, assayed at about one week, occurred in 10–12% of calluses. Expression of the FLAG-tagged wTBP was also detected, by immunostaining. Stable expression, by selective growth on geneticin, and by GUS expression at about six weeks, occurred in 1–2% of calluses, quite comparable to that achieved by other methods.

Notes: Abstract Samples of wheat (n = 25) and maize (n = 30) for animal consumption, collected in 1997 after harvest from western Romania, were analyzed by enzyme immunoassays for mycotoxin contamination. Toxins analyses included deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetylDON, 15- acetylDON, fusarenone X (FX), T-2 Toxin (T-2), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), zearalenone (ZEA), fumonisin B1 (FB1), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A (OA), and citrinin (CT). DON and acetylDONs were the major contaminants in wheat (100%) and maize (46%). Median values for DON, 3-acetylDON, and 15-acetylDON were 880 μg kg-1, 66 μg kg- 1, and 150 μg kg-1 in wheat, and 890 μg kg-1, 180 μg kg-1, and 620 μg kg- 1 in maize, respectively. Additionally, 3,15-diacetylDON was detected in some samples by HPLC-EIA analysis. All samples were negative for FX (〈150 μg kg-1). T-2 was found in wheat (n = 6) and maize (n = 1) at levels between 13 and 63 μg kg- 1. DAS (2.6 μg kg-1) was found in one maize sample. ZEA occurred in all wheat and in four maize samples, median values were 10 μg kg-1 and 250 μg kg-1, respectively. One maize sample contained FB1 (140 μg kg-1). All samples were AFB1-negative (〈4 μg kg-1). OA was found in one wheat sample (37 μg kg- 1), CT was found in one maize sample (580 μg kg- 1). This first reported natural occurrence of a range of mycotoxins in Romanian feeding stuff shows that DON and acetyl DONs may be present at levels which may affect animal production.

Notes: Abstract The fungal odor compounds 3-methyl-l-butanol, l-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone were monitored in nine experimental bins in Winnipeg, Manitoba containing a hard red spring wheat during the autumn, winter and summer seasons of 1984–85. Quality changes were associated with seed-borne microflora and moisture content in both ventilated and non-ventilated bins containing wheat of 15.6 and 18.2% initial moisture content. All three odor compounds occurred in considerably greater amounts in bulk wheat in non-ventilated than in ventilated bins, particularly in those with wheat having 18.2% moisture content. The presence of these compounds usually coincided with infection of the seeds by the fungi Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler, Aspergillus repens DeBarry, A. versicolor (Vuill.) Tiraboschi, Penicillium crustosum Thom, P. oxalicum Currie and Thom, P. aurantiogriseum Dierckx, and P. citrinum Thom. High production of all three odor compounds in damp wheat stored in non-ventilated bins was associated with heavy fungal infection of the seeds and reduction in seed germinability. High initial moisture content of the harvested grain accelerated the production of all three fungal volatiles in non-ventilated bins.

Notes: Abstract Eleven-kilogram parcels of HY-320 wheat, a cultivar of the new Canada Prairie Spring class, were kept at 15 and 19% initial moisture contents (IMC) in simulated storage in a Manitoba farm granary for 60 weeks to determine biotic and abiotic changes and mycotoxin production. Ochratoxin A reached a maximum of 0.24 ppm by week 20 in the 19% IMC wheat, but was absent in the 15% IMC wheat; no other mycotoxins were detected. Temperature, moisture content, O2 and CO2 levels, fat acidity values, seed germination, microfloral incidence and abundance, and the presence of other mycotoxins were monitored. Principal component analysis of all variables showed that the first principal components accounted for 32–41% of the system variability, and contained the ochratoxin A variable. Ochratoxin A was produced in moist grain that had decreased seed germination andAltermaria activity, and high fungal activity byPenicillium andAspergillus versicolor. Compared to other stored cereals previously studied, HY-320 wheat would be ranked in a low-risk category for mycotoxin formation, based on the ochratoxin A levels observed.

Notes: Abstract Sixty-four wheat samples from Spanish flour factories were screened for patulin and patulin-producing moulds. None of them was found to contain any patulin, whereas samples experimentally contaminated with this toxin proved it to be highly unstable. On the other hand, Penicillium griseofulvum was the only in vitro patulin-producing species found (19 samples). Mould growth in the samples was investigated by using yeast-sucrose medium (YES) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to measure the amounts of toxin produced during 40 day's incubation at 20 and 28°C. The highest yield rate of patulin was obtained between the 20th and 30th day of incubation; such a rate, however, was very low throughout the vigorous growth phase, during the first 20 days of incubation. The more appropriate temperature for incubation and patulin production was 28 °C. We also investigated the influence of other incubation conditions in the yield and found stationary dark cultures to be more efficient that shaken or fermentation cultures in YES medium. The best patulin yield achieved was 11.9 mg in the culture broth and 6.3 mg in the mycelium from 100 ml of medium.

Notes: Abstract Wheat for human consumption (140 samples) was collected after harvest from all regions of Bulgaria. The 1995 crop year was characterized by heavy rainfall in the spring and summer months. The internal mycoflora of wheat samples was dominated by Fusarium spp. and Alternaria spp., and storage fungi were rarely present. The samples were analysed for contamination with Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-AcDON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-AcDON), T-2 Toxin (T-2), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), and zearalenone (ZEA), using enzyme immunoassay methods. DON and ZEA were the predominant toxins, with a contamination frequency of 67% and 69%, respectively. The average levels of these toxins in positive samples were 180 μg/kg (DON) and 17 μg/kg (ZEA), maximum concentrations were 1800 μg kg−1 and 120 μg kg−1, respectively. Acetyl derivatives of DON, namely 3-AcDON and 15-AcDON, were found in 2.1 % and 0.7% of the samples, at at maximum level of about 100 μg kg−1. Only one sample was positive for T-2 (55 μg/kg), DAS was not detected. This is the first report about the natural occurrence of a range of Fusarium mycotoxins in wheat for human consumption in Bulgaria.

Notes: Abstract The initial and residual agronomic effectiveness of six apatite rock phosphates from India, one from the USA (North Carolina) and one from Australia (Queensland) were evaluated in a pot trial with wheat on a lateritic soil. All of the Indian rock phosphates were very poor sources of phosphorus. Values of initial effectiveness relative to monocalcium phosphate ranged from 〈 0.0001 to 0.02 and from 〈 0.0001 to 0.008 for measurements based on yield and phosphorus uptake respectively. The residual effectiveness relative to freshly applied monocalcium phosphate was determined by growing a second crop on the fertilized soils. The effectiveness of the Indian rock phosphates remained very low ranging from 〈 0.0001 to 0.002 and from 〈 0.0001 to 0.0004 for yield and phosphorus uptake respectively. Queensland and North Carolina rock phosphates were much superior to the Indian sources with initial effectiveness values in terms of yield of 0.08 and 0.37 and residual effectiveness values of 0.02 and 0.15 respectively. For each crop there was a single relationship between yield and phosphorus uptake (i.e. internal efficiency) for all phosphorus sources showing that variations in yield response were due solely to differences in phosphorus availability. Sodium bicarbonate extractable phosphorus values for fertilized soils sampled shortly after fertilization were not predictive of yield unless different calibration curves were used for the different phosphorus fertilizers.

Notes: Abstract To find critical tissue levels of Zn for wheat, and to evaluate various chemical extractants, a screen-house experiment was conducted on 21 diverse soils representing semi-arid regions in Haryana State, India. The extractants differed in the amounts of Zn extracted and the order was: 0.1 N HC1 〉 EDTA-NH4OAc 〉 EDTA-(NH4)2CO3 〉 DTPA + CaCl2. The amounts (mg kg−1) of extractable Zn associated with a yield reduction of 20% were: DTPA + CaCl2, 0.60; EDTA — (NH4)2CO3, 0.80; EDTA-NH4OAc, 0.92 and 0.1 N HCl, 1.20. The corresponding critical Zn concentration in ten weeks old plants was found to be 17 mg gm−1. The DTPA + CaCl2 method gave the best correlation (r = 0.85) between extracted Zn and Bray's per cent yield. It is recommended for assessing Zn status of soils of semi-arid region.

Notes: Abstract Field experiments with wheat were conducted for two years on flood plain alluvial soils to study the effectiveness of soil application of zinc sulphate and zinc oxide at 0, 15, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days after sowing. Yield and zinc uptake of wheat increased significantly with the application of zinc. Delaying the application of both zinc sulphate and zinc oxide up to 45 days of sowing did not adversly affect the zinc nutrition of wheat. However, delaying the application for 75 or 90 days after sowing eliminated the response. Zinc sulphate, when applied within 60 days of sowing performed better than zinc oxide. In a laboratory study, zinc sulphate maintained a higher level of zinc in the soil solution than zinc oxide at least over a 3-week period.

Notes: Abstract A greenhouse experiment with wheat in 3L pots filled with a sandy loam soil in a factorial design was conducted to determine the effect of potassium on nitrogen utilization. Nitrogen was applied in three NH4-N/NO3-N ratios, 0/100, 25/75 and 50/50, at three levels: 0.75, 1.50 and 3.00gN/pot, and potassium was applied at three levels: 0, 0.5 and 1.0gK/pot. The higher levels of nitrate nitrogen with or without potassium reduced dry matter yields drastically, while the same levels of a NH4-N/NO3-N mixture of 50/50 with applied potassium reduced yields only slightly. Highest grain yield and total yield were obtained with a 25/75 mixture of ammonium/nitrate nitrogen with added potassium. Potassium addition to soil increased the utilization of nitrogen fertilizers, particularly when the ratio of ammonium to nitrate was increased. The highest uptake of reduced nitrogen was at the highest level of the ammonium to nitrate nitrogen ratio (50/50) when potassium was applied. Tillering was enhanced by an increased ammonium ratio in the nitrogen mixture, and by potassium.

Notes: Abstract Field experiments with rice-wheat rotation were conducted during five consecutive years on a coarse-textured low organic matter soil. By amending the soil with 12t FYM ha−1, the yield of wetland rice in the absence of fertilizers was increased by 32 per cent. Application of 80 kg N ha−1 as urea could increase the grain yield of rice equivalent to 120 kg N ha−1 on the unamended soil. Although the soil under test was low in Olsen's P, rice did not respond to the application of phosphorus on both amended and unamended soils. For producing equivalent grain yield, fertilizer requirement of maize grown on soils amended with 6 and 12 t FYM ha−1 could be reduced, respectively to 50 and 25 per cent of the dose recommended for unamended soil (120 kg N + 26.2 kg P + 25 kg K ha−1). Grain yield of wheat grown after rice on soils amended with FYM was significantly higher than that obtained on unamended soil. In contrast, grain yield of wheat which followed maize did not differ significantly on amended or unamended soils.

Notes: Abstract A glasshouse experiment was conducted to examine the comparative growth and P uptake response following P fertilizer application in lupins (Lupinus angustifolius L. cv. Chittick) and chickpeas (Cicer arietinum cv. Tyson) compared to wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Sunstar). Measurements of dry matter, phosphorus uptake and nodule numbers were made at 50 and 100 days after sowing. At the 50 day harvest, the two legume crops produced less dry matter and accumulated less plant P than wheat but no such species interactions were present at the 100 day harvest. Chickpeas showed strong positive responses in nodule numbers with increasing rates of P fertilizer while such effects were less and more variable with lupins.

Notes: Abstract A long term field experiment was conducted on a sandy loam soil from 1983 to 1987 to determine how to best apply phosphorus fertilizer in a rice-wheat cropping system. The treatments included 9 combinations of phosphorus application either to both rice and wheat or to rice or wheat alone. Direct application of phosphorus at 13 kg/ha to both the crops resulted in significantly higher total productivity of the rice-wheat cropping system as compared with 26 kg P/ha applied either to rice or wheat alone. Phosphorus at 13 kg/ha for rice and 26 kg/ha for wheat was as efficient as 13 kg P/ha for rice and 13 kg P/ha for wheat. The higher rate of P (26 kg/ha) applied to both rice and wheat resulted a decline in the total productivity. The residual effects of phosphorus applied to either rice or wheat were significant to the succeeding crop but was inferior to its direct application. Phosphorus increased the leaf area index, chlorophyll content of leaves, and interception of more photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) which resulted in increased grain yield of rice and wheat. Phosphorus status of the surface soil declined markedly, in the absence of P application from 15.4 to 6.4 kg P/ha. Phosphorus applied at 26 kg P/ha to both the crops resulted a build up of the available P status of soil. Phosphorus application at 13 kg/ha to both rice and wheat maintained the phosphorus status of the soil at original level.

Notes: Abstract Grain yield, nitrogen (N) assimilation, ammonia (NH3) volatilization, denitrification and fertilizer N distribution were examined in three commercially grown cereal crops; two were sown into conventionally tilled fields, while the third was direct drilled into an untilled field. The crops were top dressed with urea at establishment, tillering or ear initiation. Crop yield and N assimilation were measured in 16 m by 2.5 m plots receiving 0, 35, 70, 105, 140 or 175 kg N ha−1. A mass balance micrometeorological technique was used to measure NH3 volatilization, and other fertilizer N transformations and transfers were studied using15N labelled urea in microplots. On the conventionally tilled sites application of urea increased the grain yield of wheat from 3.9 to 5.5 t ha−1, when averaged over the five application rates, three application times and two sites. There were no site or application time effects. However, on the direct drilled site, time of application had a significant effect on grain yield. When urea was applied at establishment, grain yield was not significantly increased and the mean yield (2.81 t ha−1) was less than that obtained from treatments fertilized at tillering or ear initiation (4.09 and 4.0 t ha−1, respectively). Much of the variation in grain yield at the no-till site could be ascribed to differences in NH3 volatilization. At the no-till site, NH3 losses were equivalent to 24, 12 and 1% of the N applied at establishment, tillering and ear initiation, respectively. Negligible volatilization of NH3 occurred at the other sites. The surface soil at the no-till site had the highest urease activity and the soil was covered with alkaline ash resulting from stubble burning. Plant recovery of fertilizer N did not vary with application time on conventionally tilled sites (mean 62%). However, plant recovery of15N applied to the no-till site at establishment (35% of the applied N) was significantly less than that from plots where the application was delayed (45% at tillering and 55% at ear initiation, respectively). Leaching of N to below 300 mm depth was minimal (0 to 5% of the applied N). The calculated denitrification losses ranged from 1% to 14% of the applied N. The results show that the relative importance of NH3 volatilization, leaching and denitrification varied with site and fertilization time. The importance of the various N loss mechanisms needs to be taken into account when N fertilization strategies are being developed.

Notes: Abstract In many developing countries, fertilizer recommendations must be made in the absence of plant and soil analyses. When the region is variable in terms of soils, weather, and magnitude of response to fertilizer, a recommendation is likely to involve a high degree of risk for the farmer. Quantification of such risk is key to developing appropriate recommendations for the farmer. However, most methodologies generally used in analyzing fertilizer trials do not allow adequate quantification, especially as a continuous function, of the risk associated with a given recommendation. Three years of on-farm trials conducted in the High Valley of Mexico were used to evaluate different methodologies for generating N fertilization recommendations and their associated risk for wheat (Triticum aestivum) production in the absence of soil tests. When the traditional approach, using average yield responses or separate trial results, was used, an economic optimum was identified, but it was not possible to quantify the associated risk. In contrast, however, by using a combination of response surface methodology and simple probability analysis, the risk associated with any given recommendation was developed, even under the highly variable conditions of the study zone. The approach uses a treatment difference matrix (developed using average yield differences between a treatment and the zero N (0N) check) and its associated standard deviation over locations. From the matrix, an equation (being a function of N rate and relative grain:N price ratios) was developed that shows the probability of outperforming the 0N check for the economic optimum rate.

Notes: Abstract In a field experiment on deep, yellow, sandy soil near Badgingarra, Western Australia, the residual value of superphosphate applied one and two years previously was measured relative to freshly-applied superphosphate using yields of narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius), barley and wheat. In addition, soil samples were collected for measurement of bicarbonate-extractable soil P. This was also used to estimate the residual value of the superphosphate. For lupins and wheat, and for bicarbonate-extractable soil P, the residual value decreased with increasing level of application. For barley grain, the residual value was not significantly affected by the level of application. The decrease in residual value of superphosphate with increasing level of application is attributed to increased leaching of applied phosphorus (P) down the profile of the sandy soils as the level of application increases. This may reduce subsequent plant yields due to the delay in seedling roots reaching the P in the soil during the crucial early stages of plant growth. For lupins, the relationship between yield and the level of superphosphate applied was markedly sigmoidal. The relationship for wheat and barley was exponential. Consequently, at suboptimal levels of P application, lupins required about two to three times more P than wheat or barley to produce the same yield. However, lupins required less P to achieve near-maximum yield.

Notes: Abstract In a field experiment on a deep pale-yellow sand in a 600 mm per annum rainfall Mediterranean environment of south-western Australia, six levels of phosphorus (P) as superphosphate (O up to 546 kg P ha−1) were applied once only, to the soil surface, before sowing lupins (Lupinus angustifolius). The lupins were grown in a continuous arable cropping rotation with, in successive years, oats (Avena sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), lupins. Five such rotations were started in the experiment from 1985 to 1989. The experiment continued until the end of 1990. The relationship between lupin seed (grain) yields and the level of P applied was measured in the year of P application for five successive years (1985 to 1989). The relationship had the same general form but it varied between years, largely due to different maximum yields (yield plateaux) in each year. The residual value of superphosphate applied three years previously was measured for lupins on two occasions (1988 and 1989) relative to superphosphate applied in the current year. The residual values was different in the two years. The superphosphate applied three years previously was about 30% as effective as freshly applied superphosphate in 1988, and 12% as effective in 1989. At each harvest, the relationship between grain yield and the P concentration in the grain differed for different species. However, for each species at each harvest, the relationship was similar regardless of when the P was applied in the previous years. Thus each species had the same internal efficiency of P use curve, and yields varied only with P concentration in tissue. Bicarbonate-extractable soil P was determined on soil samples taken in mid-July of 1989 and 1990. These soil test values were related to grain yields at harvest. The relationship between yield and soil test values had the same general form but varied for different species within years and for each species between years. It also varied for each species within years depending on the year the P was applied.

Notes: Abstract In a field experiment on a sandplain soil in a low rainfall (326 mm per annum) Mediterranean environment of south-western Australia, the effectiveness of superphosphate applied in 1986 was measured in three subsequent years relative to freshly-applied superphosphate each year, using grain (seed) yields of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and lupins (Lupinus angustifolius). The wheat and lupins were grown in rotation and both crops were grown each year starting in 1986. Bicarbonate-soluble phosphorus was determined on soil samples taken in mid June from where the P treatment was applied in 1986 only. These soil test values were related to the grain yields produced that year. For each level of superphosphate applied in 1986, soil test values decreased with increasing time from application. The relationship between grain yield and soil test values had the same general form within each year for both plant species, but varied between years. For both species, the effectiveness of superphosphate decreased by about 70–80% between the year of application and the first and second years after application, and by a further approximate 10% in the third year. The relationship between grain yield and the level of superphosphate applied became sigmoidal by 1989.

Notes: Abstract The objective of the investigation was to examine whether there exist relationships between the optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate for winter wheat and soil nitrogen fractions extracted by electroultrafiltration (EUF) from autumn samples of the upper soil layer (0–30 cm). Optimum nitrogen fertilizer rates were derived from grain yield curves of field trials carried out with increasing nitrogen fertilizer rates on 19 different sites in 1985/86 and 1986/87. Most soils were luvisols derived from loess, two soils were brown earths and one a pararendzina. Total Nitrogen fertilizer rates were 0, 40, 80, and 120 kg N/ha applied twice before ear emergence. The final nitrogen rate at ear emergence was the same for all treatments, namely 60 kg N/ha. Optimum nitrogen fertilizer rates were derived from the grain yield curve fitted to a modified Mitscherlich equation. The optimum nitrogen fertilizer rates were correlated with the nitrogen fractions extracted by EUF. The regression equation thus obtained showed that NO 3 - , the organic N fraction (EUF Norg), and the EUF Norg-quotient each had a highly significant impact on the optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate. The higher the amounts of EUF-N extracted the lower the optimum nitrogen rate. Substituting the EUF Norg-fraction for total nitrogen concentration in the upper soil layer gave a poorer relationship between the optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate and the soil data. In absolute terms the EUF Norg-fraction had by far the greatest impact on calculating the optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate. The investigation shows that the EUF method is a suitable technique for the determination of available soil nitrogen from which optimum nitrogen fertilizer rates can be derived for winter wheat cultivated under soil and climatic conditions typical for cereal growing areas in central Europe.

Notes: Abstract A technique for the application of the15N isotope dilution technique for the quantification of plant associated biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) was tested and applied to quantify the BNF contribution to two genotypes ofPhaseolus vulgaris. The technique makes use of sequential measurements of the15N enrichment of soil mineral N, and the uptake of labelled N by the “N2-fixing” plant, to simulate its uptake of soil N (the “soil to plant simulation” technique). The test was made with two non-N2-fixing crops (non-nodulating beans and wheat) and two bean genotypes (PR 923450 and Puebla 152), at two levels of N fertilizer addition (10 and 40 kg N ha−1), to compare the actual N uptake with that simulated from the soil and crop15N data. The simulation of the soil N uptake by the non-nod bean crop using this “soil to plant simulation” technique underestimated by 20 to 30% the true N uptake, suggesting that the mineral N extracted from soil samples taken from the 0–15cm layer had a higher15N enrichment than that N sampled by the roots of this crop. In the case of the wheat crop the simulation resulted in a much greater underestimation of actual N uptake. In general the results using this technique suggested that BNF inputs to the bean cultivars was higher than would be expected from the nodulation and acetylene reduction data, except for the early PR beans in the 40 kg N ha−1 treatment. In this case the total N and simulated soil N accumulation were well matched suggesting no BNF inputs. An allied technique (the “plant to plant simulation technique”) was proposed where the15N enrichrnent of soil mineral N was simulated from the data for total N and labelled N accumulation taken from sequential harvests of either of the non-N2 -fixing control crops. This was then utilized in combination with the labelled N uptake data of the other crop to simulate its soil N uptake. However, the results using either technique indicated that the wheat and non-nod or nodulating beans exploited pools of N in the soil with completely different15N enrichments probably due to differences in exploitation of the soil N with depth.

Notes: Abstract Data was assembled from experiments on the fate of15N-labelled fertilizer applied to wheat (Triticum spp.) grown in different parts of the world. These data were then ranked according to the annual precipitation-evaporation quotient for each experimental location calculated from the average long-term values of precipitation and potential evaporation. Percentage recovery of15N fertilizer in crop and soil varied with location in accordance with the precipitation-evaporation quotient. In humid environments more15N fertilizer was recovered in the crop than in the soil, while in dry environments more15N fertilizer was recovered in the soil than in the crop. Irrespective of climatic differences between locations 20% (on average) of the15N fertilizer applied to wheat crops was unaccounted for at harvest. Most of the15N fertilizer remaining in the soil was found in the 0–30 cm layer. The most likely explanation of these differences is that wheat grown in dry environments has a greater root:shoot ratio than wheat grown in humid environments and, further, that the residue of dryland crops have higher C/N ratios. Both factors could contribute to the greater recovery of15N fertilizer in the soil in dry environments than in humid ones.

Notes: Abstract Long-term field experiments play an important role in understanding the complex interactions of plants, soils, climate and management and their effects on sustainable crop production. A long-term fertilizer experiment with maize-wheat-cowpea (fodder) is in progress since 1971 at Punjab Agricultural University farm Ludhiana, India. The experimental result for the first 21 years showed that application of N alone or in combination with P did not produce as much maize and wheat grains as the application of N, P and K together. Eight years after the start of the experiment, the optimal levels of N, P and K application (100% NPK) were unable to sustain the similar (maize) yield level as before because of Zn deficiency. Whereas in FYM amended plots the Zn deficiency did not appear and the higher crop yields could be sustained. The chemical control of weeds could not sustain the maize productivity at the same level as the manual removal of weeds. It was concluded that the high level of crop production can be sustained with the application of N, P and K under intensive cropping system provided deficiency of any of the micronutrient does not crop up. The deficiency of Zn is most likely to occur in semi-arid light textured alluvial soils under intensive cropping without the addition of farm yard manure/organic manures. In maize based cropping systems, manual control of weeds may be preferred to the chemical one. Addition of FYM in conjunction with 100% NPK is most beneficial both from bio-physical and economic point of view.

Notes: Abstract A greenhouse study was conducted to determine if soil pH affects the requirement for water-soluble P and the tolerance of water-insoluble impurities in TSP fertilizers. Two commercial TSP fertilizers were selected to represent a range in phosphate rock sources and impurities. Phosphate fertilizer impurities were isolated as the water-washed fraction by washing whole fertilizers with deionized water. TSP fertilizers with various quantities of water-soluble P (1.2 to 99% water-soluble P) were simulated by mixing the water-washed fertilizer fractions or dicalcium phosphate (DCP) with reagent-grade monocalcium phosphate (MCP). The fertilizers were applied to supply 40 mg AOAC available P kg−1 to a Mountview silt loam (fine-silty, siliceous, thermic Typic Paleudults). Wheat (Triticum aestivum (L.)) was harvested at 49 and 84 days after planting. Soil pH values at the final forage harvest were 5.4±0.16 and 6.4±0.15. At a soil pH of 5.4, the TSP fertilizers required only 37% water-soluble P to reach maximum yields while at pH 6.4 the fertilizers required 63% water-soluble P. Results of this study show that higher levels of water -insoluble P can be tolerated in TSP fertilizers when applied to acid soils. Phosphorus uptake was not affected by soil pH, but for the mixtures containing the fertilizer residues the source having the lowest level of Fe and Al had a higher relative agronomic effectiveness.

Notes: Abstract In land use plans, fertilizer recommendations are indispensable to avoid soil nutrient depletion or soil water pollution. Nutrient relations of five cereals have been evaluated on the basis of a literature review with the aim of arriving at such fertilizer recommendations at regional level. Nutrients considered were nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for millet, sorghum, maize, rice and wheat. The relevant nutrient relations are fertilizer nutrient application to nutrient uptake, and nutrient uptake to crop yield. In addition, post-anthesis nutrient uptake is considered. Subsequently, obtained results are used in simulation modelling exercises to calculate the time required to attain an equilibrium nutrient balance and to investigate the effect of erosion control and straw recycling. Although fertilizer requirements could be assessed for each of the five cereals, monitoring of nutrient supply from natural sources remains necessary. Moreover, research on fertilizer use should focus on improvement of fertilizer recoveries and multiperiod models for both N and P uptakes by crops to allow quantitative land use planning where the time scale is included.

Notes: Abstract Winter wheat crops were grown with ostensibly adequate supplies of all soil nutrients in 1990 and 1991 with the aim of testing if late foliar supplements of K and N, applied at key development stages, could improve grain yield and grain N content. Foliar sprays of KNO3 solution, supplying up to 40 kg K ha−1 in total, at flag leaf unfolded, inflorescence completed and the watery-ripe stage of grain filling, had no effect on yield, yield components or grain N. Urea, supplying 40 kg N ha−1 at flag leaf unfolded, had no effects on grain yield and grain N in 1990, but in 1991 grain N was increased by 0.14% whilst yield was reduced by up to 0.6 t ha−1. Urea scorched flag leaf tips in both years. In 1990, the spring was very dry and foliar supplements might have been expected to have had an effect, but on this highly fertile soil all crop K and N requirements were met from the soil.

Notes: Abstract Seven chemical extractants were tested for their relative performance to predict the response of wheat to Mn application in coarse textured alkaline soils of semi-arid region. Five out of the seven extractants were found to be promising for the estimation of critical level of available Mn in these soils, as the amount of Mn extracted by these extractants was positively and significantly correlated with relative grain yield as well as Mn uptake. The critical deficiency level of soil available Mn with 0.005 M DTPA, 0.02% hydroquinone, 0.02 N sodium pyrophosphate, 0.1N H3PO4 and 0.05N HCl+0.025N H2SO4 was 3.1, 13.8, 23.5, 5.3 and 17.8 mg kg-1 soil, respectively. The 1N ammonium acetate and 0.01M CaCl2 were found to be unsuitable extractants for these soils. Further field trials at eight locations with varying levels of Mn deficiency showed successive increase in the grain yield of wheat with foliar Mn application, emphasizing the need for Mn fertilization when wheat is grown on Mn deficient soils.

Notes: Abstract Rainfed rice (Oryza sativa L.)-based cropping systems are characterized by alternate wetting and drying cycles as monsoonal rains come and go. The potential for accumulation and denitrification of NO3 − is high in these systems as is the production and emission of CH4 during the monsoon rice season. Simultaneous measurements of CH4 and N2O emissions using automated closed chamber methods have been reported in irrigated rice fields but not in rainfed rice systems. In this field study at the International Rice Research Institute, Philippines, simultaneous and continuous measurements of CH4 and N2O were made from the 1994 wet season to the 1996 dry season. During the rice-growing seasons, CH4 fluxes were observed, with the highest emissions being in organic residue-amended plots. Nitrous oxide fluxes, on the other hand, were generally nonexistent, except after fertilization events where low N2O fluxes were observed. Slow-release N fertilizer further reduced the already low N2O emissions compared with prilled urea in the first rice season. During the dry seasons, when the field was planted to the upland crops cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), positive CH4 fluxes were low and insignificant except after the imposition of a permanent flood where high CH4 fluxes appeared. Evidences of CH4 uptake were apparent in the first dry season, especially in cowpea plots, indicating that rainfed lowland rice soils can act as sink for CH4 during the upland crop cycle. Large N2O fluxes were observed shortly after rainfall events due to denitrification of accumulated NO3 −. Cumulative CH4 and N2O fluxes observed during this study in rainfed conditions were lower compared with previous studies on irrigated rice fields.

Notes: Abstract A pot study with four levels each P (control, 6.5, 13.0, 19.5 mg kg−1) and Cl− in irrigation water (control, 30, 60, 90me l−1) was carried out to test Cl− and P interaction on wheat. It has been found that optimum P nutrition alleviates the toxic effect of excess Cl−. Highest P rate resulted in a significant yield increase upto a Cl− level of 60me l−1. Cl− depressed P content in the plant only at a Cl− level of 90me l−1, while P rates had no major impact on the Cl− concentration in the plant. Lower Cl− concentration at higher P rates are rather a dilution effect than an antagonistic one. With optimum P supply higher Cl− contents in the plants were tolerated than with a low P supply.

Notes: Abstract A field experiment on a potassium deficient Typic ustochrept soil of the University Farm at Pura, Kanpur compared the responses of wheat, chickpea, mustard and Egyptian clover to added potassium for two consecutive years commencing in 1979–80. All the crops responded to potassium fertilization. Sensitivity of various crops to potassium deficiency was in the order: Egyptian clover 〉 chickpea 〉 wheat 〉 mustard. Higher sensitivity of Egyptian clover and chickpea compared to wheat was in agreement with their comparatively high root cation exchange capacity. Mustard by contrast showed higher root cation exchange capacity and exhibited least potassium sensitivity because of its higher potassium utilization efficiency. Leaf K content and total uptake of potassium by all crops was increased by applying potassium upto the highest level.

Notes: Abstract Two field experiments were conducted on Mn-deficient soils to evaluate the efficiency of rates, methods and time of MnSO4.H2 O application for wheat. Manganese sulphate was broadcast and mixed in soils at the rate of 5 to 50kg Mn ha−1 before seeding and 10 to 40 kg Mn ha−1 as top dress at 28 days — just before first irrigation. Three sprays of 1% MnSO4·H2O unneutralised solutions were applied, the first at 26 days — 2 days before first irrigation and the others afterward at weekly intervals. Both the methods caused a significant and marked increase in grain yield. Three foliar sprays were as effective as soil applications of 20 to 40 Kg Mn ha−1 before seeding. The difference in grain yield resulting from soil applications of Mn before seeding and applications at the first irrigation was not significant. The DTPA-Mn status of 20 fields, selected on the basis of varying degree of Mn deficiency, was related to grain yield (r = 0.77**). Also grain yield of all the experiments had a significant correlation with Mn content of grain (r = 0.55** to 0.82**) and straw (r = 0.77** to 0.82**). The critical limits calculated by statistical method were 1.25, 2.18 and 3.5 mg Mn kg−1 soil for severe deficiency, deficiency and latent deficiency respectively for wheat.

Notes: Abstract Labelled Ca(H2PO4)2 · H2O was added to two soils (an Oxisol and a vertisol) at two rates, both as a point source and completely dispersed through the soil. The point source treatments included two spatial distributions at each of two percentages of soil volume fertilized. Total and fertilizer phosphorus uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum) grown for 42 days were determined in a glasshouse experiment. Uptake of fertilizer phosphorus was not affected by spatial distribution, but declined in the Oxisol as percentage soil volume fertilized increased at the low application rate. The implications of these results in terms of the effects of cultivation on fertilizer availability are briefly discussed.

Notes: Abstract Investigations were carried out in a long term field experiment from 1976 to 1982, on a loamy sand soil to find out the fertilizer requirements of groundnut and wheat grown in fixed rotation. Application of 26 kgP/ha to wheat alone was found to be sufficient for both wheat and succeeding groundnut. Application of phosphorus to both wheat and groundnut did not result in extra beneficial effect over P application to wheat alone. However, application of 26 kg P/ha to groundnut alone was not sufficient for succeeding wheat. There was no response from K application (25 kg K/ha) in either of these two crops. Increasing the dose of N from 50–150 kg/ha to wheat significantly increased the grain yield of wheat but the pod yield of succeeding groundnut were markedly lowered. Response of wheat to 150 kg N/ha was more marked when P was also applied to wheat and response was less when P was applied to preceding groundnut alone. Zinc application at 6.25 kg/ha to wheat alone resulted in significant increase in grain yield of wheat and pod yield of succeeding groundnut.

Notes: Abstract Low grade phosphate rock (PR), containing high amounts of oxides of iron and aluminium is neither suitable for fertiliser production nor useful for direct application to annual crops. The fertiliser effectiveness of P extracted by H2SO4 from a low-grade phosphate rock, PR (Christmas Island C-grade PR) was evaluated for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on a calcareous loam (pH 8.4) and a non-calcareous loam (pH 6.9) in field and glasshouse experiments. Superphosphate was used to compare the performance of the acid extracts of PR. In the non-calcareous loam soil, crop establishment and yield were significantly reduced by the acid extracts of PR due to increased acidity. In the calcareous soil, however, the acid extracts of PR performed as well as superphosphate; similar or even higher crop yields were obtained with the former, especially when applied near the seed. The acid extracts of low-grade PR may, therefore, have a role in calcareous soils, where the extract can be applied directly or added in the irrigation waters to supply P to crops.

Notes: Abstract Field experiments were conducted at 32 locations, chosen for their wide range in DTPA extractable Zn, to determine the critical deficiency level of Zn for predicting response of wheat to Zn application. Soil application of 5.6 kg Zn ha−1 significantly increased the grain yield in deficient soils. Soil extractable Zn was significantly related with per cent grain response and absolute grain yield. Both the graphical and statistical methods of Cate and Nelson indicated the critical level to be 0.75 mg kg−1 soil of DTPA extractable Zn. This level gave a predictability value of 82 per cent.

Notes: Abstract Three factorial experiments with four replications were conducted in a greenhouse to examine the effectiveness of gypsum, elemental sulfur (ES powder) and three S containing N fertilizers, viz., ammonium sulfate (AS), urea + ES, and Ureas (20% AS and 80% urea). All experiments were conducted twice in different years. In the first experiment with uncropped soil, the effects of soil type, leaching rate (2.3 and 6.9 mm water per day) and urea addition on sulfate leaching losses were studied. Leaching losses decreased in the order Ureas 〉 ammonium sulfate (AS) 〉 gypsum ≫ urea + ES. Increasing the leaching rate greatly increased sulfate losses from both soils. Losses were greater in the sandy Typic Hapludoll than in the clayey Oxic Paleustalf. Sulfate adsorption was found to decrease strongly with rising the pH in both soils. Hydrolysis of urea temporarily raised the pH of the soil, thereby increasing the sulfate leaching losses. In the second experiment the effects of S rate (0–65 mg per kg soil), split application and leaching rate (0 and 2.3 mm per day) on sulfate leaching losses and ‘apparent S recovery’ (ASR) by three successive cuts of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) were studied. Herbage yield more than doubled when S was applied. The effectiveness of the sulfate fertilizers was greater when S was split-applied than given all at once. With split applications the ASR decreased in the order: Ureas 〉 AS 〉 gypsum 〉 urea + ES 〉 ES powder. ES fertilizers were least effective, because the oxidation rate of ES to sulfate was clearly too slow. In the third experiment the effects of S rate (0–40 mg per kg soil) and split application on sulfate leaching losses and ASR in the grain of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were studied under leaching conditions (2.3 mm per day). Grain yield increased strongly due to S application. Split application greatly increased the effectiveness of the sulfate fertilizers and appeared to be an effective tool in satisfying the S need of the crop under leaching conditions. Again, ES fertilizers were least effective, because the oxidation rate of ES was too slow to meet the S demand of the crop. In all experiments leaching losses of sulfate from the ES fertilizers were smaller than from the sulfate fertilizers.

Notes: Abstract In a field experiment on a sandplain soil in a low rainfall (326mm per annum) Mediterranean environment of south-western Australia, seven levels of single superphosphate, 0, 7.5, 10, 14, 19.5, 30 and 39 kg P ha−1, were placed at either 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 or 13 cm depth before sowing wheat (Triticum aestivum) at 3 cm. In a separate treatment, superphosphate was drilled with the seed (the normal practice). In the second year, the plots were sown with lupins (Lupinus angustifolius) at 3 cm depth with no additional superphosphate. In three separate treatments, superphosphate at 0, 14 and 39 kg P ha−1, was drilled with the lupin seed (the normal practice) on plots that had received no superphosphate in the first year. Yields of wheat and lupins were used as a measure of the effectiveness of the superphosphate placement treatments relative to the effectiveness of superphosphate drilled with seed of wheat (year 1) or lupins (year 2), to give relative effectiveness (RE) values in each of the two years. In the first year the RE of superphosphate was increased by about 20% when the fertilizer was placed 5 to 9 cm deep in the soil. In the second year, the RE of superphosphate for producing lupin grain was increased by about 30–60% where the fertilizer had been placed 5–13 cm deep in the previous year compared with freshly drilled 3 cm deep. The yield of wheat or lupins was closely related to the P content of plant tissue; each relationship was independent of the depth or year of superphosphate application.

Notes: Abstract The important effect of nitrogen in changing the patterns of mineral content and mineral removal is analysed for grass swards and wheat. Different models are proposed; accumulated dry matter developed throughout a growing period is shown to be an excellent reference for assessing the evolution of the plant mineral content and the mineral removal the growing crop. Applications in diagnosing mineral nutrition status and optimising fertilizer use are proposed and discussed.

Notes: Abstract Using soils with an acidic subsurface layer, three glasshouse experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of placement method and application rate of triple superphosphate (TSP) and North Carolina phosphate rock (NCPR) on dry matter (DM) yields. Time of application of NCPR on DM yield response of wheat was also studied. For Experiment 1, soil was collected in depth intervals of 0–2; 4–6; 6–8; and 8–10 cm from a red earth (chromic luvisol). The treatments included two P sources (TSP and NCPR), three placement methods (broadcast, banded or mixed into the subsurface layer, 6–8 cm), and six application rates. In this P deficient soil with an acidic subsurface layer, there was relatively little effect of application method of TSP on wheat yield responses. The maximum dry matter yield responses for broadcast, band and mix application methods was 30, 42 and 50 %, respectively. Responses to NCPR broadcast, band and mix methods were 20, 9 and 44 %, respectively. Mixing NCPR into to acidic subsurface layer produced yields similar to those from TSP although a higher application rate of P as NCPR was needed to achieve this outcome. Treatments for Experiments 2 and 3 were time of application of NCPR (0 and 30 days before sowing) and rate of application of NCPR (0 and 40 mg P/pot). In Experiment 2 (same soil as Experiment 1) application of NCPR prior to sowing, resulted in higher Colwell P concentration than when applied at sowing, but time of application had no effect on final DM yields. Experiment 3 used a red podzolic (chromic luvisol) soil which had a lower P-status, was more acid and had a lower exchangeable Ca2+ concentration than the red earth. Application of NCPR prior to sowing resulted in lower DM yield than when it was applied prior to sowing.

Notes: Abstract Using15 N tracer technique, the fate and efficiency of nitrogen in supergranules of urea as compared with that in powdered urea were studied in rice fields. The results obtained show that supergranules of urea were characterized by the slight N loss and high N recovery as well as by delayed but long lasting fertilization effects. It follows that the supergranules should be applied earlier and at a lower rate as compared with powdered urea.

Notes: Abstract Wheat was grown continuously in soil amended with 5 levels of superphosphate and with 4 levels of urea at 3 sites. The incidence and severity of take-all, caused byGaeumannomyces graminis var.tritici, declined with increasing rates of application of both superphosphate and urea. In both years, the severity of take-all on plants receiving neither superphosphate nor urea was about 40% while at the highest level of superphosphate and urea supply the take-all severity was approximately halved at 22%. There was an increase in grain yield in response to applied superphosphate and urea to the highest level of each nutrient. There was also an increase in the 1,000-kernal weights with superphosphate and urea fertilizer application.

Notes: Abstract The phosphorus (P) requirement for grain production of different crop species (oats (Avena sativa), barley (Hordeum vulgare), triticale (xTriticosecale), narrow-leafed lupins (Lupinus angustifolius), and sandplain lupins (L. cosentinii) was compared with wheat (Triticum aestivum) in five field experiments on different lateritic soils in south-western Australia. Seven or eight levels of superphosphate were applied at the start of each experiment. The amount of P required to produce 70% (four experiments) or 90% (one experiment) of the maximum yield was used to compare P requirements. Large differences in the P requirements of the species were obtained. On P deficient soil in 3 experiments, oats required from 50 to 70% less P than wheat, but required 40% more P on a soil with a long history of superphosphate applications. Compared with wheat, in the year of P application, barley required 50% less P in one experiment, had similar P requirements in two experiments, and required 80% more P in another experiment. In the years after P application, barley required 20% less P in two experiments. On an acidic soil triticale required from 50% to 70% less P than wheat, but on less acidic soil it required 100% more P. In the year of P application, narrow-leafed lupins required 800% more P than wheat in one experiment, and 30% more P in the other experiment. In the year of P application, sandplain lupins required 70% less P than wheat in one experiment.

Notes: Abstract Nineteen soils from the south east of the Province of Buenos Aires (Argentina) that had been fertilized with moderate amounts of P (10–40 kgP/ha) during the last 10 years were used to investigate the effect of time on the decline of P availability as measured by three soil tests (Bray 1, Bray 2, Olsen) and the null-point method. Differences in rates of P decline among soils and chemical methods were characterized by an exponential coefficient for time (b 2) in equations which describe the changes of the added P retained by the soil (Pr =ac b1 t b2). The rate of decline of P for the nineteen soils calculated for the soil test methods was ordered decreasingly as: null-point 〉 Olsen 〉 Bray 1 〉 Bray 2. The ability of the chemical methods for assessing the residual value of P for wheat growth (RV) was tested in a pot experiment on seven of the soils that differed in their individual rates of reaction with P. Differences between soils in the rate of reaction with P as measured in the laboratory by the null-point method and by the Olsen test were reflected in different residual values for P fertilizer for wheat plants. Thus the value ofb 2 for these methods was well correlated with the observed residual values. The soil properties commonly associated with the retention of P were not related to the value ofb 2 suggesting that more than one soil property may be involved in the measure ofb 2. The exponent for timeb 2 may be used as an index of the ability of the soil test to reflect the decline of P availability with time.

Notes: Abstract The residual effectiveness of copper (Cu) applied 18 to 21 years previously was estimated for grain yield of wheat. In one field experiment, current levels of Cu fertiliser were applied and its effectiveness was compared to that of the same level of Cu applied previously. The effects of nitrogen (N) fertiliser on the Cu concentration in the youngest emerged blade and in the grain, as well as the effects of N levels on the grain yield of wheat, were also studied. Where the recommended level of Cu fertiliser had been applied previously, its residual effectiveness depended on the soil type. On the grey sands over clay and gravelly sands over clay, the residual Cu would last approximately 20 years where wheat is grown in rotation with a legume crop (Lupinus augustifolius L.) and where N fertiliser is applied at high levels (92 kg N ha−1). On the yellow brown sandy earths of the Newdegate district, the residual value was in excess of 30 years. When Cu levels in the soil are marginal, high levels of N applied to wheat crops grown on stubbles of legume crops (high soil N) could suffer from induce Cu deficiency which could reduce grain production. Critical concentrations of Cu in the youngest emerged blade of less than 1.2 mg Cu kg−1 at Gs50–59 would indicate Cu deficiency. Cu concentrations of less than 1.1–1.2 mg Cu kg−1 in the grain suggest that the wheat crop is marginally supplied with Cu. In both situations, Cu fertiliser needs to be applied before the next crop.

Notes: Abstract A strain ofPenicillium bilaji Chalabuda (PB) has recently been commercially released as a seed inoculant to increase phosphorus (P) uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of drill applied P (15 kg P ha−1) with PB seed inoculation on early growth, development, P uptake, and grain yield of ‘Stoa’ spring wheat at four sites in North Dakota. Fertilization with P consistently enhanced early season growth, main stem development, tillering and P uptake. Seed inoculation with PB had little or no effect on these traits. Phosphorus fertilization tended to increase common root rot severity (CRR, incited byCochliobolus sativus (Ito & Kurib) Drechs.), while PB inoculation had no effect. Grain yields were significantly increased by P fertilization at one location. Inoculation with PB also increased grain yield at this location. The reason why PB inoculation increased yield at this location is not evident, as plant growth and P uptake were not enhanced earlier in the season. Averaged across all four sites, PB inoculation increased wheat yields 66 kg ha−1, which is similar to averaged yield responses reported from the Prairie Provinces of Canada.

Notes: Abstract A static model that predicts the nitrogen (N) fertilizer requirement of grain sorghum or wheat crops is described. Inputs required by the model are soil nitrate-N (kg ha−1) in the profile at sowing, total N (%) in the plough layer, available water in the profile at sowing (mm) plus rainfall during the growing season (mm). Output includes fertilizer N required for both maximum yield and optimum economic yield. The model was tested by using published field data from Nebraska and Kansas (U.S.A.), South Australia and Northern Territory (Australia), and Saskatchewan (Canada). The model was accurate when no fertilizer N was required, and when large amounts were required, but quantitative prediction of moderate requirements was only fair. Predictions for grain sorghum were better than for winter wheat, probably because total water use was a better predictor of yield potential for grain sorghum than for winter wheat. Further refinement for specific environments should make the model practical for dryland cereal crops.

Notes: Abstract During primary infection by conidia ofErysiphe graminis f. sp.tritici, three mechanisms of resistance operate in first leaves of 8-day-old seedlings of both resistant and susceptible wheats. The first mechanism, operating at the penetration site, is responsible for the failure of penetrations attempted by primary germ tubes (PGT). The second mechanism is concerned with the abortion of haustoria in normal-appearing host cells. The third mechanism relates to the abortion of haustoria and the hypersensitivity of the penetrated host cells. With the inoculum-level of 19–24 conidia/mm2, the three mechanisms together prevented 89.3 % of the attempted penetrations by PGT from producing normal haustoria in resistant wheat Purdue 5752C1-7-5-1 and 37.4 % in the susceptible wheat Vermillion. The first mechanism accounted for the prevention of 73.3 % of the attempted PGT penetrations on Purdue 5752C1-7-5-1 and 36 % on Vermillion. The second mechanism was responsible for stopping 19 % of all the successful penetrations in Purdue 5752C1-7-5-1 and 0.8 % in Vermillion. The third mechanism accounted for the failure of 41 % of all the successful penetrations in Purdue 5752C1-7-5-1 and 1.4% in Vermillion. Thirty-six hours after inoculation, 10.7% of all the attempted PGT penetrations appeared to be developing normally in first leaves of 8-day-old seedlings of resistant wheat Purdue 5752C1-7-5-1 as compared to 62.6 % in the susceptible wheat Vermillion. This appears to be the first report showing the relative effectiveness of various mechanisms of resistance concerning any powdery mildew fungus.

Notes: Abstract Nine soil tests for phosphate were evaluated for predicting the yield and P content of wheat, barley and oats grown on a sandy soil in Western Australia: Olsen, modified Olsen 1 (soil:solution ratio 1:5), modified Olsen 2 (soil:solution ratio 1:50), Colwell, Bray 1, Bray 2, modified Bray 2T (shaking time 10 minutes), modified Bray 2C (pH 3.7) and lactate. The soil had been fertilized 5 years previously with 20 levels each of superphosphate (OSP, range 0 to 400 kg P ha−1) and Queensland rock phosphate (QRP, range 0 to 20 000 kg P ha−1). For each species and fertilizer taken separately, all the tests, except for lactate, gave a good prediction of yield. When data for OSP and QRP were pooled, Bray 2 and modified Bray 2T tests were unsatisfactory predictors of both yield and P content. A linear relationship (P 〈 0.05) between mean soil tests value (χ) and the standard deviation (σ χ ) of the test value was observed for each soil test. For QRP, the results for lactate were the most variable (i.e.σχ/χ was greatest) followed by modified Olsen 2 〉 Bray 1 〉 Bray 2 〉 Olsen 〉 modified Bray 2C 〉 modified Olsen 1 〉 modified Bray 2T 〉 Colwell. The order for OSP fertilized soil was Bray 1 〉 modified Bray 2T 〉 Bray 2 〉 Olsen 〉 Colwell 〉 modified Bray 2C 〉 modified Olsen 1 〉 lactate 〉 modified Olsen 2. For combined OSP and QRP data, the results of the Olsen 1 and Colwell extractions were the least variable. Errors in the prediction of yield (σ Y ) for all crops resulting from an error in soil test values (σχ) were calculated. For OSP-fertilized soil variability in values for the Bray-1 test provided the highest error (about 16%) in the prediction of the yield, followed by Bray 2 (12%) 〉 Bray 2T (10%) 〉 Olsen (8%) 〉 Colwell (7%) 〉 modified Bray 2C (6%) 〉 lactate (4%). Maximum error was at yields of about 65% of maximum yield. For soil fertilized with QRP, lactate provided the highest error (about 10%) in the prediction of yield, followed by the other tests (〈 6%). Maximum error was at yields of about 35% of maximum yield. The Colwell soil test gave the most accurate overall prediction of yield for both fertilizers.

Notes: Abstract A field experiment was conducted for three consecutive winter crop seasons commencing in 1979–80 on the Typic Ustochrept of Pura to evaluate iron pyrites as S fertilizer. Four crops viz, wheat, chickpea, mustard and Egyptian clover were tested for their responsiveness to added pyrites. All the crops responded significantly to added pyrites. Mustard proved most sensitive to S deficiency in soil and wheat the least. Between the two legumes, Egyptian clover was more sensitive to S stress than chickpea. Average biomass production by Egyptian clover was highest followed by wheat, mustard and chickpea. Mustard and Egyptian clover required more S to achieve maximum biomass production compared with wheat and chickpea but they also recovered from the soil a large proportion of added S than wheat and chickpea. Addition of pyrites increased availability of S in soil. Pyrites enhanced mobilization of soil P and its utilization by the crops.

Notes: Abstract A multisite field experiment was conducted to study the effect of topdressed Se-enriched Ca(NO3)2 (CN) and basal applied NPK on the selenium (Se) concentration in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Selenium was applied either through CN (at the rates of 0, 6.45, and 12.91 g Se ha−1) or NPK (5.83 g Se ha−1). Selenium concentration in wheat grains increased consistently with increasing rate of Se-enriched CN or NPK. However, the superiority of Se-enriched CN over NPK in raising the Se concentration in wheat grain depended on location and growth conditions. At the same rate both methods of Se-application were found to be equally effective in raising the Se concentration of wheat grains. The Se concentration of grain was generally higher in the light textured soils than in the medium to heavy textured soils. Without Se application, the Se-concentration in wheat grain was about 16µg kg−1 which is regarded insufficient to meet the Se requirement for Se in animal and human. Calcium nitrate enriched with 25 mg Se kg−1 (6.45 g Se ha−1) increased the Se concentration in wheat grain to a desired level.

Notes: Abstract The bioluminescently marked Pseudomonas fluorescens strain 5RL, has been used previously to follow colonisation of soy bean roots (De Weger et al. [1991] Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57:36-41). In the present paper the method has been further developed and optimized for wheat roots and it is used to get a quick overview of the colonisation patterns of many different root systems at the same time. Colonisation was followed on wheat plants grown in our gnotobiotic sand system (Simons et al., 1996. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 9: 600–607) and the following results were obtained. (i) A spatio-temporal analysis of the colonisation of wheat roots showed that 4 days after planting the highest bacterial activity was observed at the upper part of the root. After 6 days the high bacterial activity at the upper part was further increased, whereas spot-like activities were observed on the lower root parts, possibly due to micro-colonies. (ii) Bacterial mutations causing lack of motility or auxotrophy for amino acids resulted in impaired colonisation of the lower root parts, indicating that motility and prototrophy for the involved amino acid(s) are important factors for wheat root colonisation by strain 5RL. (iii) Coinoculation of strain 5RL with other wild type Pseudomonas strains on the root influenced the colonisation pattern observed for strain 5RL. Colonisation was not visually affected when the competing strain was a poor root coloniser, but was severely reduced when the competing strain was a good root coloniser. The results show that the spatio-temporal colonisation of wheat root by P. fluorescens strain 5RL and derivatives is similar to that of strain WCS365 on tomato. The advantage of the use of lux-marked strains is that the results are obtained much quicker than when conventional methods are used and that the result is supplied as an image of the colonisation pattern of many different roots.

Notes: Abstract The influence of prey density, within-field vegetation, and the composition and patchiness of the surrounding landscape on the abundance of insect predators of cereal aphids was studied in wheat fields in eastern South Dakota, USA. Cereal aphids, aphid predators, and within-field vegetation were sampled in 104 fields over a three year period (1988–1990). The composition and patchiness of the landscape surrounding each field were determined from high altitude aerial photographs. Five landscape variables, aggregated at three spatial scales ranging from 2.6 km2 to 581 km2, were measured from aerial photographs. Regression models incorporating within-field and landscape variables accounted for 27–49% of the variance in aphid predator abundance in wheat fields. Aphid predator species richness and species diversity were also related to within-field and landscape variables. Some predators were strongly influenced by variability in the composition and patchiness of the landscape surrounding a field at a particular spatial scale while others responded to variability at all scales. Overall, predator abundance, species richness, and species diversity increased with increasing vegetational diversity in wheat fields and with increasing amounts of non-cultivated lands and increasing patchiness in the surrounding landscape.

Notes: Abstract Management of stored-grain insect pests by farmers or elevator managers should be based upon a knowledge of the grain storage environment and the ecology of insect pests. Grain storage facilities and practices, geographical location, government policies, and marketing demands for grain quality are discussed as factors influencing stored-grain insect pest management decisions in the United States. Typical practices include a small number of grain samples designed to provide grain quality information for segregation, blending and marketing. This low sampling rate results in subjective evaluation and inconsistent penalties for insect-related quality factors. Information on the efficacy of insect pest management practices in the United States, mainly for farm-stored wheat, is discussed, and stored-grain integrated pest management (IPM) is compared to field-crop IPM. The transition from traditional stored-grain insect pest control to IPM will require greater emphasis on sampling to estimate insect densities, the development of sound economic thresholds and decision-making strategies, more selective use of pesticides, and greater use of nonchemical methods such as aeration. New developments in insect monitoring, predictive computer models, grain cooling by aeration, biological control, and fumigation are reviewed, their potential for improving insect pest management is discussed, and future research needs are examined.

Notes: Summary Injection of α-ecdysone into the larval haemolymph of late third instar larvae ofD. virilis induces both the extrusion of secretory proteins and the inactivation of the enzyme glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate-aminotransferase (E.C. 2.6.16) in the salivary glands. In the presence of actinomycin D or cycloheximide the hormone is ineffective. If before adding these inhibitors RNA synthesis is allowed to proceed for 1.5h, or protein synthesis for 2h after ecdysone injection, however, the protein extrusion and the enzyme inactivation do occur. It is proposed that ecdysone controls these two cytoplasmic events at the transcriptional level by the activation of specific Correlations with puff activities are discussed.

Notes: Summary 1. The developmental potentials of dissociated cells of the different regions of the male foreleg disc ofDrosophila melanogaster were analysed. To this end, various amounts of foreleg disc material were dissociated together with an excess of heavily irradiated wing discs (“feeding layer”), and the reaggregates were cultured for 10 days in the abdomens of adult hosts prior to metamorphosis. 2. The foreleg disc cells were in most cases unable to regenerate missing structures in a circular direction within the leg segments. Instead they strongly tended to adopt the specifications of more distal leg segments (distal transformation), irrespective of the region of origin of the ancestor cells within the disc. 3. The distal transformation occurred mainly, if not exclusively, during an early phase (“initial phase”) in the reaggregates. 4. The extent of distal transformation was most pronounced in those series in which the foreleg cells were initially least diluted by the “feeding layer” cells. 5. Cells of the lower lateral quadrant were very poor both in proliferative activity and in the extent of distal transformation, compared to cells of the three remaining quadrants. In the experiments with a low initial dilution of the foreleg cells, cells of the lower medial quadrant underwent distal transformation much more distinctly than cells of the upper medial and the upper lateral quadrants. 6. Allotypic structures occurred exclusively in reaggregates of the upper medial and upper lateral quadrants. In these implants, however, the frequency of transdetermination was extremely high. 7. Two alternative mechanisms are discussed which could have led to the general occurrence of distal transformation. They differ in the basic assumption of whether or not the “feeding layer” cells were able to interact with the leg cells to influence their regulative behaviour. In addition, interactions among the leg cells themselves seemed to stimulate proliferation to varying degrees and may account for the observed differences in the degree of distal transformation.

Notes: Summary Three-hundred and twenty fertile,pal-induced Y-chromosome mosaic males and females were obtained. Fractional analysis of the sons of 55 somatically mosaic flies that were also germinally mosaic tentatively suggests that the number of functional primordial germ cells inDrosophila melanogaster is variable and that it is seldom greater than 24. From the observed 0.17 frequency of germinal mosaicism it was estimated that the average number of pole cells at the end of blastoderm formation is 45. At present, the germ cells afford the only opportunity to compare genetic estimates of the number of blastoderm or primordial cells with available histological counts. The good agreement between them suggests that both the fractional and the mosaic frequency methods for estimating primordial or blastoderm cell numbers of various larval and imaginal anatomical structures provide reasonably close approximations of the actual values.

Notes: Summary 1. Histological analyses were made of imaginal discs and histoblasts during the larval development ofDrosophila melanogaster to determine the number of cells, the patterns of cell division and the growth dynamics in these adult primordia. Histological studies were also made of the imaginal rings which are the primordia of the adult salivary gland, fore-and hindgut, the anlage cells of the midgut and several larval and embryonic tissues. 2. In the newly-hatched larva, the immature eye-antenna, wing, haltere, leg and genital discs contain about 70, 38, 20, 36–45 and 64 cells respectively. These numbers include cells destined to form cuticular elements as well as peripodial, tracheal and nerve cells and probably the progenitors of adepithelial cells. The number of cells counted in the various imaginal disc anlagen is 1.5 to 4 times higher than the numbers deduced from genetic mosaic analyses by other investigators and reasons for these differences are given. 3. About 12 h after fertilization, mitosis ceases in all tissues of the embryo except the nervous system. After the larva hatches, mitosis resumes in most of the imaginal anlagen and in some larval tissues. The time of resumption of mitosis in the imaginal anlagen was determined after treating the larvae with colchicine for 2 h. 4. Among the imaginal discs, the eye disc is the first to begin cell division, at about 13–15 h after the hatching of the larva (first instar) followed by the wing (15–17 h), the haltere (18–20 h), the antenna, leg, and genitalia (24–26 h, early second instar), and finally the labial and dorsal prothoracic discs (52–54 h, early third instar). The cell doubling time for various discs was calculated from cell counts and the times agree closely with the doubling times deduced from clonal analyses by other workers: e.g., 7.5 h for the cells of the wing disc. 5. The imaginal ring of the hindgut first shows cell division early in the second instar. The imaginal rings of the foregut and salivary glands, the anlage cells of the midgut and the cells of the segmental lateral tracheal branches begin to divide early in the third instar. 6. The histoblasts which are the anlagen of the integument of the adult abdomen do not increase in number from the time of larval hatching until about 5 h after pupation when they begin to divide. Their behaviour contrasts with that of the histoblasts of the other dipterans such asCalliphora, Musca andDacus, which begin to divide during the second instar. 7. The histoblasts are an integral part of the larval abdominal epidermis and, unlike imaginal disc cells, secrete cuticle during larval life. Each hemisegment consists of an anterior dorsal, a posterior dorsal, and a ventral histoblast nest containing about 13, 6 and 12 cells respectively. The 62 histoblasts in each larval segment represent about 7–8% of the total number of cells that form the integument of that segment. 8. The number of cells in a particular type of histoblast nest was constant for both male and female larvae and among the different abdominal segments, except that the anterior dorsal group of the first and the seventh segments contains fewer cells than those of the other segments. Although the male and female adultDrosophila lack the first abdominal sternite and the male lacks the seventh abdominal tergite and sternite, the ventral histoblast nests of the first and the dorsal and ventral nests of the seventh abdominal segments are present in the larval stages as well as in the prepupa and have the same morphology and cell number as similar nests in the rest of the abdominal segments. 9. The cells of the imaginal discs increase in volume about six-fold and their nuclei increase in volume three-fold between the time of hatching and the initiation of mitosis. The histoblasts increase in volume about 60-fold and their nuclei increase in volume about 25-fold between larval hatching and pupariation. 10. Prior to each cell division, the nuclei of the columnar cells of the disc epithelium and of the histoblasts appear to migrate toward the apical surface of the epithelium. The cells round up and shift toward the apical region where mitosis occurs. After cytokinesis, the daughter cells move back to deeper positions in the epithelium. Because the nuclei of the non-dividing cells continue to lie deep in the epithelium, this intermitotic migration of nuclei gives these epithelia a pseudostratified appearance. 11. Analyses of the growth of larval cells and of organs confirmed the observations of earlier investigators that cell division occurs only in a few larval tissues, whereas growth in the rest of the larval tissues is by cell enlargement and polyteny. During larval life, cell division was detected only in the central nervous system, gonads, prothoracic glands, lymph glands and haemocytes. Each tissue began mitosis at a characteristic stage in larval life. The larval cells that did not divide, grew enormously, e.g., epidermal cells increased in volume 150-fold and their nuclei increased in volume 80-fold. 12. The adepithelial cells, which give rise to some of the imaginal muscles, were first identified between the thick side of the imaginal dise epithelium and the basement membrane at the beginning of the third larval instar (50–52 h). The origin of these precursors of mesodermal structures was analysed and evidence is presented that the adepithelial cells come from the disc epithelium. The question of the origin of the mesoderm of cyclorrhaphan Diptera is reviewed and it is suggested that the imaginal disc ectoderm may become segregated from the rest of the embryo before gastrulation has occurred, that is before the mesoderm has been established.

Notes: Summary The present investigation analyzes intercellular junctions in tissues with different developmental capacities. The distribution of junctions was studied inDrosophila embryos, in imaginal disks, and in cultures of disk cells that were no longer able to differentiate any specific pattern of the adult epidermis. The first junctions —primitive desmosomes andclose membrane appositions — already appear in blastoderm.Gap junctions are first detected in early gastrulae and later become more and more frequent.Zonulae adhaerentes are formed around 6 h after fertilization, whileseptate junctions appear in the ectoderm of 10-h-old embryos. Inwing disks of all stages studied (22–120 h), three types of junctions are found: zonulae adhaereentes, gap junctions, and septate junctions. Gap junctions, which are rare and small at 22 h, increase in number and size during larval development. The other types of junctions are found between all cells of a wing disk throughout development. All types of junctions that are found in normal wing disks are also present in theimaginal disk tissues cultured in vivo for some 15 years and in thevesicles of imaginal disk cells grown in embryonic primary cultures in vitro. However, gap junctions are smaller and in the vesicles less frequent than in wing disks of mature larvae. Thus gap junctions, which allow small molecules to pass between the cells they connect, are present in the early embryo, when the first developmental decisions take place, and in all imaginal disk tissues studied, irrespective of whether or not these are capable of forming normal patterns.

Notes: Summary The lineages of cells on the second-leg basitarsus ofDrosophila melanogaster were analyzed by examining gynandromorphs andMinute mosaics. Bracts lie proximal to bristles on the adult basitarsus, yet bract precursor cells were found to originate lateral to bristle precursor cells. In 6 of the 8 longitudinal rows of bristles on this segment, the bract cells arise ventral to the bristle cells; in the others they arise dorsally. The lateral cell origins are interpreted as reflecting a pattern of lateral cell movements associated with evagination of the leg disc. An unusual discrepancy was observed in the relative frequencies of male vs. female bracts and bristles in gynandromorphs. The discrepancy suggests that there is a cell-autonomous sexual difference in either the time at which cells begin moving during evagination or the speed with which they move. On the basis of the results, it is reasoned that the bristle pattern of the basitarsus does not originate in its final form. Prior to evagination, the bristle cells of each row are apparently closer together than in the final pattern, and the rows are farther apart. Evidence is presented which suggests that the bristle cells of each row may originally be arranged in a jagged line which is later straightened by cell movements. The two locations where the anterior/posterior compartment boundary of the second leg passes through the basitarsus were found to vary relative to the bristle pattern. If this boundary is assumed to be a fixed line of positional values, then the extent of the observed variability — which is estimated to be ± 1 or 2 cell diameters — provides a measure of the precision of patterning around the circumference.

Notes: Summary We have analysed the effect of temperature on both developing and adult eye cell clones homozygous forshi ST139, a temperature-sensitive mutant ofDrosophila melanogaster. The mutant gene, autonomous in its cellular expression, causes structural modifications of ommatidial cells when adult clones of cells are exposed to the restrictive temperature (29°C) for several days. However, the mutant phenotype reverses to normal within 4 days at the permissive temperature (20°C). The results of pulse, shift-up and shift-down experiments show that the temperaturesensitive period for developing compound eye cells is from the late second instar up to the early pupa. Cytodifferentiation of compound eye cells is blocked by restrictive temperature treatment during this period, whereas cell proliferation does not seem to be directly affected. These results are discussed with regard to the other known aspects of the phenotype observed in mutant individuals.

Notes: Summary The differentiation of muscles in primary cultures of cells fromDrosophila melanogaster embryos was investigated. In early cultures, and in the absence of exogenous ecdysone, two main classes of muscle were found. Comparison, by light and electron microscopy, of one of these classes (the “myotube” class) with muscles from third instar larvae shows that this class corresponds to the muscles of the body wall of the larva. When α- or β-ecdysone is added to the cultures, these undergo a number of metamorphic changes. Most of the larval muscles disappear, and two new types of muscle form. Ultrastructural and light microscopic examination of these two types indicates that they correspond to the two classes of skeletal muscle (fibrillar and tubular) found in adult flies.

Notes: Summary The pathway of adult sensory nerves has been analysed in three experimental situations: (i) in flies with grossly abnormal thoracic morphology resulting from X-irradiation early during development, (ii) in flies which had been subjected to surgical operations late in the larval period, (iii) in homoeotic mutants. The results provide experimental support for a simple mechanism in which developing adult axons join the nearest larval nerve and are guided by it up to the central nervous system. In particular, experimental interference with normal development can result in nerves from different segments, or from dorsal and ventral appendages, joining each other and entering the central nervous system together.

Notes: Summary The early morphogenesis of the eye-antennal disc ofDrosophila in response to 20-hydroxy ecdysone involves the curling of the eye anlagen dorsally over the antenna. During this process, the area of the peripodial membrane is substantially reduced. The peripodial membrane is taut at this stage, and if it is cut the curling of the disc cannot continue, and the eye anlagen returns to its original position within one minute of the operation. In contrast, cutting the columnar epithelium between the eye and antennal anlagen does not disrupt curling, but actually facilitates it. During curling, the cells of the peripodial membrane appear healthy, and exhibit basal extensions. We suggest that the curling of the eye is mediated by the conversion of cuboidal peripodial membrane cells into pseudostratified columnar epithelium at the edges of the peripodial membrane. Subsequently, cells of the peripodial membrane secrete first a pupal cuticle, and then an imaginal cuticle.

Notes: Summary The mature labial disc, when implanted into a larva of the same age, undergoes metamorphosis along with the host and produces one lateral half of the medi- and distiproboscis. On the basis of results obtained from transplanted disc halves (including the separate peripodial membrane) a tentative fate map of the labial disc was constructed, which shows most of the presumptive mediproboscis to be located in the dorsal, and most of the presumptive distiproboscis in the ventral part of the disc. The distal protion of the peripodial membrane also contains imaginal anlagen, viz. part of the mediproboscis, prementum, and labellar cap anlagen. The involvement of this part of the peripodial membrane was checked by a careful histological analysis of labial disc development during the first ten hours after prepupation. The results were compared with the situation described forCalliphora imaginal discs. In addition, a detailed morphological analysis was made of the proboscis of the homoeotic mutantproboscipedia (pb). At 27°C,pb changes the distiproboscis into a “telopodite” (leg segments distal to the coxa); the (unchanged) prementum may therefore correspond to the coxa. At 15° C, the tarsus of this homoeotic “telopodite” is replaced to a greater or lesser extent by an arista. The present analysis thus confirms (a) the fundamental morphological correspondence of the medi- and distiproboscis with the labium of other insects, and (b) the fundamental developmental correspondence of the labial, antennal, and leg discs.

Notes: Summary A temperature-sensitive period during early embryogenesis for three stocks carrying thetuh-3 gene suggests that it is a homoeotic mutation involved in the initial determination of the eye-antennal disc rather in maintenance of the determination.

Notes: Summary The morphology of the evaginating female genital disc ofDrosophila melanogaster was examined at different stages of metamorphosis. The observations show that the internal genital organs are derived from the anterior half of the disc and that their morphogenesis is mainly a protrusion of the different primordial areas of the disc epithelium. The external genital and anal derivatives originate from the posterior half of the disc, which undergoes complex rearrangements during metamorphosis. The disc opens along the posterior margin and the dorsal and ventral epithelia evert and thereby completely reverse their anteroposterior orientation. Dramatic elongation has been observed during the formation of the seminal receptacle. The cells of the repressed male genital primordium do not form any recognizable structures and are assumed to be eliminated during metamorphosis.

Notes: Summary The effects of cytidine and cytidine analogs were studied inDrosophila embryonic cell cultures and two wild-type established cell lines, Oregon-R and Schneider line 2. Primary embryonic cultures have been shown to be an excellent system for the study of embryonic development; a number of cell types undergo normal differentiation in vitro. Treatment of these cultures with putative teratogens resulted in an inhibition of muscle and/or neuron differentiation in our study. Treatment of these cells with cytidine and seven other analogs had no effect on neuron and muscle differentiation. The compound 5-azacytidine, when added to primary cell cultures, inhibited normal differentiation at subtoxic doses while inducing the production of three proteins that comigrate with the heat-shock proteins, hsp 23, 22a and 22b. 5-Azacytidine did not stimulate differentiation in Oregon-R or SchneiderDrosophila cell lines. The in vitro blockage of differentiation by 5-azacytidine suggests that it may act as a teratogen.

Notes: Summary In a search for embryonic lethal mutants on the second chromosome ofDrosophila melanogaster, 5764 balanced lines isogenic for an ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS)-treatedcn bw sp chromosome were established. Of these lines, 4217 carried one or more newly induced lethal mutations corresponding to a total of 7600 lethal hits. Eggs were collected from lethal-bearing lines and unhatched embryos from the lines in which 25% or more of the embryos did not hatch (2843 lines) were dechorionated, fixed, cleared and scored under the compound microscope for abnormalities of the larval cuticle. A total of 272 mutants were isolated with phenotypes unequivocally distinguishable from wild-type embryos on the basis of the cuticular pattern. In complementation tests performed between mutants with similar phenotype, 48 loci were identified by more than one allele, the average being 5.4 alleles per locus. Complementation of all other mutants was shown by 13 mutants. Members of the complementation groups were mapped by recombination analysis. No clustering of loci with similar phenotypes was apparent. From the distribution of the allele frequencies and the rate of discovery of new loci, it was estimated that the 61 loci represent the majority of embryonic lethal loci on the second chromosome yielding phenotypes recognizable in the larval cuticle.

Notes: Summary EMS induced temperature-sensitivelethal (2) giant larva, 1(2)gl, alleles were isolated by screening against a knownl(2)gl allele. Analysis of the lethal phase of thel(2)gl ts-deficiency heterozygotes demonstrated: (1) the majority of thel(2)gl tslarvae survive to late third instar, (2) at 29°C the majority of thel(2)gl tslarvae failed to pupate and only rarely did they differentiate adult cuticular structures, (3) at 15°C the majority of the larvae pupated and frequently differentiated adult cuticular structures. Examination of the imaginal discs ofl(2)gl tslarvae reared at 29°C revealed the presence of morphologically abnormal wing, haltere and leg imaginal discs. No morphologically abnormal discs were found in thel(2)gl tslarvae reared at 15°C. Studies on both the histology and the developmental capacity of the morphologically normal and abnormall(2)gl tsdiscs were performed. The morphologically normal discs are histologically normal and produce a full complement of adult cuticular structures. However, the morphologically abnormal discs contained both regions that maintained the normal monolayer epithelium and regions that had lost the normal tissue architecture. The implants obtained when the morphologically abnormal discs are injected into metamorphosing larvae contained only a limited number of the normal complement of adult structures and usually only structures found in the ventral wing hinge region were recovered. In addition, the “metamorphosed” morphologically abnormal discs contained undifferentiated tissue that gave rise to transplantable neoplasms when cultured in adults. The results of the studies on the pathology of thel(2)gl tslarvae are discussed with respect to the role of thel(2)gl tsfunction during normal development, the autonomy of the neoplastic development of thel(2)gl tstissues, and similarities between neoplastic development inDrosophila and mammals.

Notes: Summary The development of the adult abdomen ofDrosophila melanogaster was analyzed by histology, microcautery, and genetic strategies. Eight nests of diploid histoblasts were identified in the newly hatched larva among the polytene epidermal cells of each abdominal segment: pairs of anterior dorsal, posterior dorsal, and ventral histoblast nests and a pair of spiracular anlagen. The histoblasts do not divide during larval life but begin dividing rapidly 3 h after pupariation, doubling every 3.6 h. Initially they remain confined to their original area, but 15 h after pupariation the nests enlarge, and histoblasts replace adjacent epidermis cell by cell. The histoblasts cover half the abdomen by 28 h after pupariation and the rest by 36 h. Polytene epidermal cells of the intersegmental margin are replaced last. Cautery of the anterior dorsal nest caused deletion of the whole corresponding hemitergite, whereas cautery of the posterior dorsal nest caused the deletion of the macrochaetae of the posterior of the hemitergite. Cautery of the ventral nest deleted the hemisternite and the pleura, whereas cautery of the spiracular anlagen deleted the spiracle. Results of cautery also revealed that no macrochaetae formed on the tergite in the absence of adjacent microchaetae. Clonal analysis revealed that there were no clonal restrictions within a hemitergite at pupariation. Cautery of polytene epidermal cells other than those of the intersegmental margin failed to affect tergite development. However, cautery of polytene epidermal cells of the intersegmental margin adjacent to either dorsal histoblast nest caused mirror-image duplications of the anterior or posterior of the hemitergite in 10% of the hemitergites. Forty percent of the damaged presumptive hemitergites formed complete hemitergites, indicating extensive pattern regulation and regeneration. Pattern duplication and regeneration were accounted for in terms of intercalation and a model of epimorphic pattern regulation (French et al., 1976). Histoblasts in adjacent segments normally develop independently, but if they are enabled to interact by deleting the polytene epidermal cells of the intersegmental margin, they undergo intercalation which results in duplication or regeneration. The possible role of the intersegmental margin cells of insects in development was analyzed.

Notes: Summary We transplanted pole cells betweenDrosophila melanogaster, D. mauritiana andD. ananassae to investigate the ability of germ cells to develop in the gonad of a heterospecific host, and to study the interaction between somatic follicle cells and the cells of the germ line in producing the species-specific chorion. FemaleD. mauritiana germ cells in aD. melanogaster ovary produced functional eggs with normal development potential. The same is true for the reciprocal combination. FemaleD. ananassae pole cells in aD. melanogaster host only developed to a very early stage and degenerated afterwards. None of the interspecific combinations of male pole cells led to functional sperm. We could not determine at what stage the transplanted male pole cells were arrested. The cooperation of follicle cells and the oocyte-nurse cell complex in producing the chorion was studied using the germ-line-dependent mutationfs(1) K10 ofD. melanogaster, which causes fused respiratory appendages and an abnormal chorion morphology. Wild-type femaleD. mauritiana germ cells in a mutantfs(1) K10 D. melanogaster ovary led to the production of wild-type eggs withD. melanogaster-specific, short respiratory appendages. On the other hand,D. melanogaster fs(1) K10 germ cells in aD. mauritiana ovary induced the formation of eggs with mutant fused appendages which were, however, typicallyD. mauritiana in length. When.D. mauritiana pole cells developed in aD. melanogaster ovary, the chorion exhibited a new imprint pattern that differs from both species-specific patterns.

Notes: Summary Here we propose a fate map of theDrosophila blastoderm based on reconstructions of increasingly aged embryos and on results of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injections in early gastrula cells. Boundaries of blastoderm anlagen have been extrapolated from size, form and location of the corresponding larval primordia, once these primordia become distinguishable at later embryonic stages.

Notes: Summary The influence of muscle development on thorax morphogenesis has been investigated inDrosophila melanogaster. The development of an indirect flight muscle, the dorsal longitudinal muscle (DLM), has been thought to be responsible for the formation of the distinct thoracic curvature. Using aDrosophila mutant (sr/Df(3)sr) in which the DLM is completely missing, we have shown that a normally curved thorax still is produced. Such results indicate that an external structure (epidermis) is capable of developing wholly independent of an absent internal structure (muscle).

Notes: Summary In this paper we describe the aggregation of cells from embryo-derived cell lines ofDrosophila, measured by examining the ability of single cells to adhere to one another when suspended in culture medium and swirled on a rotary shaker. Using this method we demonstrated the presence of receptors for Concanavalin A, soybean agglutinin, and possibly wheat germ agglutinin on the surface of Schneider's line-2 cells. Our work provides basic descriptive and background information for further studies onDrosophila cells, including those isolated from imaginal discs.

Notes: Summary Electrophoresis of myosin extracts from larvae and adult tissues ofDrosophila melanogaster under non-dissociating conditions indicate that two of the bands seen are myosins. They stain for Ca2+ ATPase activity and when cut and re-run under dissociating conditions are found to contain a myosin heavy chain that co-migrates with rabbit skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain. One of the forms of myosin seen is found primarily in extracts from the leg. The other is common to the adult fibrillar flight muscles and the larval body wall muscles. The electrophoretic evidence for two myosin types is strengthened by the histochemical demonstration of two myofibrillar ATPases on the basis of their lability to acid or alkali preincubation. The myofibrillar ATPase in the leg and the Tergal Depressor of the Trochanter (TDT) are shown to be relatively acid labile and alkali stable. The larval body wall muscles and the adult fibrillar flight muscles have an ATPase which is acid stable and alkali labile. This distribution of the two myofibrillar ATPase coincides with that predicted by electrophoresis of extracts from whole tissue and also locates the two myosins to specific muscle types.

Notes: Summary Embryos of Drosophila melanogaster were irradiated in the presumptive head region with a UV-laser microbeam of 20 μm diameter at two developmental stages, the cellular blastoderm and the extended germ band. The ensuing defects were scored in the cuticle pattern of the head of the first-instar larva, which is described in detail in this paper. The defects caused by irradiating germ band embryos when morphologically recognisable lobes appear in the head region were used to establish the segmental origin of various head structures. This information enabled us to translate the spatial distribution of blastoderm defects into a fate map of segment anlagen. The gnathal segments derive from a region of the blastoderm between 60% and 70% egg length (EL) dorsally and 60% and 80% ventrally. The area anterior to the mandibular anlage and posterior to the stomodaeum is occupied by the small anlagen of the intercalary and antennal segments ventrally and dorsally, respectively. The labrum, which originates from a paired anlage dorsally at 90% EL, is separated from the remaining head segments by an area for which we did not observe cuticle defects following blastoderm irradiation, presumably because those cells give rise to the brain. The dorsal and lateral parts of the cephalo-pharyngeal skeleton appear to be the only cuticle derivatives of the non-segmental acron. These structures derive from a dorso-lateral area just behind the putative brain anlage and may overlap the latter. In addition to the segment anlagen, the regions of the presumptive dorsal pouch, anterior lobe and post-oral epithelium, whose morphogenetic movements during head involution result in the characteristic acephalic appearance of the larva, have been projected onto the blastoderm fate map. The results suggest that initially the head of the Drosophila embryo does not differ substantially from the generalised insect head as judged by comparison of fate map and segmental organisation.

Notes: Summary A comparison of the morphogenetic maps of the notum anlage of Drosophila melanogaster derived from the gynandromorph data and mosaics induced by somatic crossing-over during the first instar larval stage revealed that practically no major morphogenetic movements occur in the development of the anlage between the blastoderm and first instar larval stages and the adult stage. By comparing the morphogenetic map derived from gynandromorphs and the fate map derived from data on the transplantation of fragments of the mature wing imaginal disc, it was observed that no major morphogenetic movements occur in the notum anlage between the stages of the allocation of the disc and the mature disc. The results are consistent with the observations of other authors concerning the larval development of eye-antenna, wing and leg discs.

Notes: Summary Polyclonal antibodies (anti-P116 and anti-P93) specific for two different hormone-dependent cell surface glycoproteins (P116 and P93) from Drosophila S3 cells have been produced. Anti-P116 and anti-P93 each immunoprecipitate substantially more of P116 and P93, respectively, from extracts of iodinated hormone-treated S3 cells compared to controls. Both antigens are present in control and 20-hydroxyecdysone treated imaginal discs, although apparent increases in antigen content are associated with hormone treatment. Immunofluorescent staining of whole discs with anti-P116 and anti-P93 reveals increased amounts of both antigens at the surface of hormone-treated discs compared to controls. Both antibodies were used to characterize the expression of their respective antigens during embryonic development, and both antibodies were found to recognize in embryos a third developmentally-regulated antigen with a relative mobility of approximately 220000. Our results indicate, at least in the case of P116 and P93, that 20-hydroxyecdysone-dependent cell surface antigens in imaginal discs may be regulated both by increasing the amounts of constitutively present proteins, and possibly through biochemical modifications, altering the localization of these proteins from a cytoplasmic to a cell surface domain.

Notes: Summary The phenotype of rotund (rn) null alleles is described, and compared to wild type. The mutants are expressed zygotically and cause position specific defects in certain imaginal discs (antenna, legs, wing, haltere and proboscis) and their corresponding adult derivatives. In the discs, specific folds are absent in rn mutants compared to wild type. Clonal analysis shows that the rn + gene is partially autonomous in its expression in cells destined to form certain distal parts of the adult appendages. The results are consistent with the idea that the rn + gene is required for normal morphogenesis of specific distal parts of the adult appendages.

Notes: Summary The pattern of cell proliferation and cell movements inDrosophila embryogenesis has been analysed with the aim of constructing a blastoderm fate map. Post-blastoderm cell proliferation starts at gastrulation and ends around the stage of germ band shortening. Three mitotic waves affect the embryonic cells according to a constant spatio-temporal pattern. For any of these waves mitotic activity starts at well-defined loci, which have been called mitotic centres. During the first and second mitotic waves all cells undergo mitosis, except for those of the amnioserosa, which do not proliferate at all. The third wave spares most of the ectodermal cells. Neuroblasts, progenitors of epidermal sensilla and germ line cells show their own, different pattern of proliferation.

Notes: Summary The spl mutation of the N gene causes, among other phenotypic traits, the lack of a few ommatidia, roughness and a general reduction in the size of the compound eye; these defects are drastically enhanced by the dominant mutation E(spl) D. We have studied cellular and developmental aspects of the phenotypic interaction between spl and E(spl) D. We found that the initial clustering of photoreceptor cells is affected in eye imaginal discs of spl larvae causing the defects visible in the adult eye. The degree of disorganization of the spl/Y; E(spl) D/ + eye disc is much higher, only a few photoreceptor cells are able to group with representatives of the other cell types and differentiate normally. BrdU incorporation shows that the proliferation pattern of the spl/Y; E(spl) D/ + disc cells during the third instar is normal. Abundant cell death occurs posteriorly in the mutant discs, which accounts for their small size. Finally, we found that in the eye imaginal disc the transcription of m8, the E(spl) gene, responsible for the enhancement of the spl phenotype caused by the E(spl) D mutation, is restricted to the morphogenetic furrow, where the ommatidial cells start grouping with each other to take on their future developmental fates; the m8 transcription rate is highly increased in E(spl) D eye discs. All these observations indicate that the assembly of the ommatidial cells is affected in the spl/Y; E(spl) D/ + disc and that the other abnormalities are morphogenetic consequences of the defective cell grouping.

Notes: Summary In this paper experiments concerning some aspects of the development of pole cells and midgut progenitors in Drosophila are reported. Cells were labelled by injecting horseradish-peroxidase (HRP) in embryos before pole bud formation and transplanted at different stages into unlabelled embryos, where the transplanted cells developed together with the unlabelled cells of the host. The hosts were then fixed and stained at different ages in order to demonstrate the presence of HRP in the progenies of transplanted cells. The main conlusions of the study are as follows. The gonads are the only organ to the formation of which pole cells normally contribute; those pole cells which do not participate in the formation of the gonads are finally eliminated or degenerate. Since the number of primordial germ cells in the gonads is the same irrespective of the number of pole cells present in the embryo, an (unknown) mechanism must exist regulating the final number of pole cells in each of the gonads. After their formation and before reaching the gonads, pole cells have been found to divide only up to two times. With respect to the midgut progenitors, the cells of both anlagen have been found to be committed to develop into midgut, although they behave as equivalent in that they do not apparently distinguish between the anterior and posterior anlage. Midgut progenitors have been found to divide a maximum of three times and to produce two different types of cells, epithelial cells of the midgut wall and spindle-like cells located internally in the gut.

Notes: Summary The stereotyped segmental and dorso-ventral organization of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) of Drosophila embryos allows the identification of all the neurons in the body wall. Distinct classes of neurons are distinguishable according to their location, the targets they innervate, the particular shape of their dendrites and their cell size. Those neurons innervating external sensory structures (es) and chordotonal organs (ch) have single dendrites and have been previously described (Ghysen et al. 1986; Dambly-Chaudiere and Ghysen 1986; Campos-Ortega and Hartenstein 1985). We describe here the identity and morphological features of three other classes of neurons in the body segments which have multiple dendrites (md neurons): 1) neurons that give rise to elaborate dendritic arborisations (da neurons); 2) neurons that have bipolar dendrites (bd neurons); 3) neurons that arborize around particular tracheal branches (td neurons). The thoracic hemisegment (T2 and T3) contains 13 da, one bd, one td, 21 es and four ch neurons; the abdominal hemisegment (A1 to A7) contains 14 da, three bd, three td, 15 es and eight ch neurons. The arrangement of the segmented peripheral neurons is highly invariant and provides a favorable assay system for the genetic analysis of neurodevelopment.

Notes: Summary Unevaginated and evaginated Drosophila imaginal discs were surface-labeled with 125I. Relative labeling was greater in eleven peptides and lower in three peptides of evaginated discs compared to unevaginated discs. These results are compared to the effects of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-HOE) on metabolic labeling of membrane proteins fractionated from imaginal discs, and on cell surface labeling of a hormone-responsive Drosophila tissue culture line. A group of 35S-methionine labeled membrane fraction peptides whose metabolic labeling is 20-HOE dependent have isoelectric points and apparent molecular weights very similar to those of a group of proteins only labeled in iodinated evaginated discs, supporting the conclusion that these are hormone-dependent, cell surface proteins (Rickoll and Fristrom 1983). Based upon two-dimensional gel electrophoretic and immunological criteria three of the proteins showing increased labeling in evaginated discs are related to three proteins induced by 20-HOE in tissue culture cells. Two different subsets of radiolabeled peptides were observed in the imaginal discs based upon detergent solubility. Some of the proteins which are soluble in NP-40 plus urea but insoluble in NP-40 alone may be localized in the basal lamina of the imaginal discs, a structure which labels heavily with 125I and is lacking in tissue culture cells. In discs, the majority of hormone-dependent changes in radiolabeled peptides were seen in the fraction solubilized by NP-40 and urea with a sulfhydryl reducing agent, while in tissue culture cells, the majority of differences is seen in the fraction solubilized by NP-40 only. We speculate that these proteins may be involved in similar processes, e.g., cell rearrangement, that occur during both disc morphogenesis and 20-HOE induced aggregation in tissue culture cells.

Notes: Summary Arginine kinase (AK) is present throughout the life cycle of Drosophila melanogaster, but there is a sharp, transient peak of AK activity during the prepupal period and a second period of elevated activity at the time of eclosion of the adult. Imaginal discs show the greatest increase in AK activity at the prepupal stage of those tissues assayed. The prepupal peak is not seen when the temperature-sensitive ecdysoneless mutant ecd-1 is shifted to 29° C at mid-third instar larval stage. The peak in activity reappears when ecd-1 is either shifted back to 20° C after 60 h at 29° C or is fed 20-hydroxyecdysone. At the restrictive temperature, imaginal discs from ecd-1 larvae progressively lose AK activity, whereas discs from 20-hydroxyecdysone-fed larvae have a marked increase in AK activity at stage P3 of the prepupal period. These data suggest that the prepupal peak is regulated by the hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone.

Notes: Summary We have devised a protocol for the cloning of our cell lines, and have demonstrated that a cloned line may contain cells of widely differing morphology — epithelial, fibroblast-like, and lamellocyte-like. These different morphologies must therefore represent diversity in the microenvironment of the culture rather than diversity in the cellular origin of the line.

Notes: Summary The development of a leg segment of the fruitflyDrosophila melanogaster was analyzed in order to determine whether the orderliness of the segment's bristle pattern originates via waves of cellular interactions, such as those that organize the retina. Fly development was perturbed at specific times by either teratogenic agents (gamma rays, heat shock, or the drug mitomycin C) or temperature-sensitive mutations (l(1)63, l(1) Notchts1, orl(1) shibire ts1 ), and the resulting abnormalities (e.g., missing or extra structures) were mapped within the pattern area. If bristles develop in a linear sequence across the pattern, then they should show sensitivity to perturbations in the same order, and wavefronts of cuticular defects should result. Contrary to this prediction, the maps reveal no evidence for any directional waves of sensitivity. Nevertheless, other clues were uncovered as to the nature and timing of patterning events. Chemosensory bristles show earlier sensitivities than mechanosensory bristles, and longer bristles precede shorter ones. The types and sequence of cuticular abnormalities imply the following stages of bristle pattern development: (1) scattered inception of bristle mother cells, each surrounded by an inhibitory field, (2) alignment of the mother cells into rows, (3) differential mitoses, (4) assignment of cuticular fates to the mitotic progeny, (5) polytenization of the bristle cells, (6) fine-tuning adjustments in bristle spacing, and (7) signalling from bristle cells to adjacent epidermal cells, inducing them to form “bracts”.

Notes: Summary The arrangement of bristles on a leg segment of the fruitflyDrosophila melanogaster was studied in various mutants that have abnormal numbers of bristles on this segment. Eighteen mutations at six different genetic loci were analyzed, plus five double or triple mutant combinations. Recessive mutations at theachaete-scute locus were found to affect distinct groups of bristles:achaete mutations remove mechanosensory bristles, whereasscute mutations remove mainly chemosensory bristles. Mechanosensory bristles remain uniformly spaced along the longitudinal axis unless their number decreases below a certain threshold, suggesting that spacing is controlled by cell interactions that cannot function when bristle cells are too far apart. Above a certain threshold, bristle spacing and alignment both become irregular, perhaps due to excessive force from these same interactions. Chemosensory bristles occupy definite positions that are virtually unaffected by removal of individual bristles from the array. Extra chemosensory bristles develop only near the six normal sites. At two of the six sites the multiple bristles tend to exhibit uniform longitudinal spacing — a property confined to mechanosensory bristles in wild-type flies. To explain the various mutant phenotypes the following scheme is proposed, with different mutations directly or indirectly affecting each step: (1) spots and stripes are demarcated within the pattern area, (2) one bristle cell normally arises within each spot, multiple bristle cells within each stripe, (3) incipient bristle cells inhibit neighboring cells from becoming bristle cells, and (4) the bristle cells within each stripe become aligned to form rows and then repel one another to generate uniform spacing.

Notes: Abstract Extracellular matrix and membrane proteins and their correct secretion probably are key elements in morphogenesis and differentiation in Drosophila. In this study, we have analysed the effects of monensin, a Na+-H+-ionophore which blocks normal secretion, applied during cellular blastoderm formation on further development. Normal cell morphology and intercellular contacts are lost and the extracellular matrix becomes disorganized. Gastrulation is blocked and abnormal foldings can be observed. Cuticle phenotypes showed different degrees of ventral, dorsal, head and posterior defects. The results are discussed in the context of what is known about membrane and extracellular matrix proteins in Drosophila.

Notes: Abstract Glial cells are of significant importance for central nervous system development and function. In insects, knowledge of the types and development of CNS glia is rather low. This is especially true for postembryonic glial development. Using bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and enhancer trap lines we identified a reproducible spatial and temporal pattern of DNA replicating cells in the abdominal larval CNS (A3-7 neuromeres) ofDrosophila melanogaster. These cells correspond to embryonically established glial cells in that region. Except for a specific subfraction, these cells apparently do not divide during larval life. Similar patterns were found in two otherDrosophila species,D. virilis andD. hydei.

Notes: Abstract The Drosophila proneural genes specify neuronal determination among cells within the ectoderm. Here we address the question of whether proneural genes also affect the specification of glia, the most abundant cell type in the nervous system. We provide evidence that the proneural gene daughterless is essential for the formation of two major classes of PNS glia. In contrast, the proneural genes in the achaete-scute complex have no detectable effect on the specification and differentiation of these PNS glia and certain CNS glia. We also show that, as with neuronal development, glial determination is restricted by the neurogenic genes neuralized, Delta, and the genes of the Enhancer of split complex. Finally, we demonstrate that prospero, a gene involved in neuronal differentiation, also affects glial development. These results demonstrate extensive overlap in the genetic control of glial and neuronal development.

Notes: Abstract We describe the development of 20 sensory organs in the embryonic Drosophila head, which give rise to 7 sensory nerves of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), and 4 ganglia of the stomatogastric nervous system (SNS). Using these neural elements and the optic lobes as well as expression domains of the segment polarity gene engrailed in the wild-type head of Drosophila embryos as markers we examined the phenotype of different mutants which lack various and distinct portions of the embryonic head. In the mutants, distinct neural elements and engrailed expression domains, serving as segmental markers, are deleted. These mutants also affect the optic lobes to various degrees. Our results suggest that the optic lobes are of segmental origin and that they derive from the ocular segment anteriorly adjacent to the antennal segment of the developing head.

Notes: Abstract  E(spl) bHLH genes are targets of the Notch pathway: they are transcriptionally activated in response to the Notch signal. Yet, during imaginal development, additional regulatory factors appear to modulate transcription resulting in different expression patterns. During early embryogenesis all E(spl) bHLH genes are expressed in roughly the same domain, namely the neurogenic ectoderm. Within this region these seven genes show a highly dynamic, yet distinct transcriptional activity. Our analysis further detected tissue specific expression of some E(spl) genes at later embryonic stages. Prominent differences were observed in the dorsolateral and procephalic neuroectodermal regions as well as in the mesoderm. These observations indicate that other factors in addition to the Notch signal participate in the regulation of the individual E(spl) genes not only in imaginal tissues but also during neuroblast specification and other cell fate determination events in the embryo.

Notes: Abstract  During early brain development in Drosophila a highly stereotyped pattern of axonal scaffolds evolves by precise pioneering and selective fasciculation of neural fibers in the newly formed brain neuromeres. Using an axonal marker, Fasciclin II, we show that the activities of the extradenticle (exd) and homothorax (hth) genes are essential to this axonal patterning in the embryonic brain. Both genes are expressed in the developing brain neurons, including many of the tract founder cluster cells. Consistent with their expression profiles, mutations of exd and hth strongly perturb the primary axonal scaffolds. Furthermore, we show that mutations of exd and hth result in profound patterning defects of the developing brain at the molecular level including stimulation of the orthodenticle gene and suppression of the empty spiracles and cervical homeotic genes. In addition, expression of a Drosophila Pax6 gene, eyeless, is significantly suppressed in the mutants except for the most anterior region. These results reveal that, in addition to their homeotic regulatory functions in trunk development, exd and hth have important roles in patterning the developing brain through coordinately regulating various nuclear regulatory genes, and imply molecular commonalities between the developmental mechanisms of the brain and trunk segments, which were conventionally considered to be largely independent.

Notes: 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.

Notes: Summary A regulatory element tightly linked to theGpdh locus inDrosophila melanogaster has been isolated from a natural population. Flies homozygous for second chromosomes bearing the element,H31, have half the GPDH activity of normal homozygotes. Heterozygotes betweenH31 andF orS alleles exhibit dominance in GPDH activity. Heterozygotes betweenH31, F orS andDf(2L) GdhA have half the diploid level. The contribution of theS allele to the activity inS/H31 heterozygotes is more than four times that ofH31. The regulatory element distinguishingH31 is tightly linked to theGpdh + locus.

Notes: Summary A comparison of pupation-temperature range was made in the laboratory on a temperature gradient (3–38°C) using 12 species ofDrosophila representing four species groups and four different ecological backgrounds (temperate-montane forest:virilis group; desert;repleta group; cosmopolitan:melanogaster group; tropical forest:willistoni group). Within groups, differences are found which usually reflect species' distributions. Comparisons of species' mating-, oviposition- and pupation-temperature ranges reveal that pupation most-often occurs at temperatures beyond those for mating and oviposition. Each species reflects a different combination of temperature effects. Individual species have different temperature-limits for mating, oviposition and pupation. Temperatures permissive for one response are not predictive of limits on other responses. Among species, temperature can affect a particular response differently. Within groups, species differences can be at high and/or low temperatures for any response, and temperature effects among closely related species can manifest themselves in one, or any combination of responses. One cannot predict which responses will be most and least limited, or at which end of the temperature scale a response will be most limited. Among groups,common, but notabsolute temperature ranges generally correspond to the geographic distributions and ecological backgrounds of the species triads. The evaluation of temperature effects on species, based on a single activity, may not be adequate for predicting adaptive strategies.

Notes: Summary Cell survival and photoreactivation of 254 nm ultraviolet (UV) light damage in a wild typeDrosophila cell line was assayed by colony formation in liquid medium. Fo, Fq, and extrapolation number for the exponential portion of survival curves are 21 J/m2, 3.6 J/m2, and 1.5 for non-photoreactivated cells and 110 J/m2, 11.2 J/m2, and 1.3 for those exposed to photoreactivating light. Maximal photoreactivation occurs at the 100 J/m2 region of the curve. At 10 and 50% survival, 75–80% of the UV damage was photoreactivable.

Notes: Summary The in vitro absorption of calcium from the duodenum was significantly less in a group of rats fed on a wheat diet than in a group fed a wheat and Bengal gram (70∶30) diet.

Notes: Abstract Effects of the essential oils (EOs) extracted from eleven aromatic plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family (common in the Greek flora) were examined upon three different developmental stages ofDrosophila auraria. All of the EOs examined exhibited insecticidal effects, either by preventing egg hatching, or by causing the death of larvae and adult flies. In several cases, malformation and/or prohibition of puparium formation was also observed.

Notes: Abstract A collagen gene (Dcg1) was characterized in Drosophila melanogaster and shown to encode a peptide related to vertebrate basement membrane type IV collagen chains. To study the function of type IV collagen during Drosophila development, we transformed flies with a partially truncated Dcg1 gene under the control of a heat-shock promotor. This construct induced synthesis of shortened pro-α chains which associated with normal ones and thereby caused degradation of the shortened and normal pro-α chains through a process called “pro-collagen suicide”. A large proportion of embryos expressing the transgene developed a phenotype exhibiting absence or partial retraction of the germ band with defects in nerve cord condensation and dorsal closure. Together these results indicated that, during embryogenesis, type IV collagen was an essential guiding factor for cell-matrix interactions in morphogenetic events.