ALBERT

Notes: Abstract The meaning of optimality and economy in phylogenetics and evolutionary biology is discussed. It can be shown that the prevailing concepts of optimality and economy are equivocal as they are not based on strict theoretical positions and as they have a variable meaning in different theoretical contexts. The ideas of optimality and economy can be considered to be identical with the expectation of a relatively simple order in a particular field of study. Although there exists no way of inferring one or several methods of solving scientific problems from the presupposed idea of economy and optimality, a lack of motivation for scientific investigations would result if the concepts of economy and optimality in nature were dropped. By reference to several examples, it is shown that the concepts of optimality and economy are only useful against the background of indispensable theories. If there is a shift from one theory to another, a restriction on the use of these concepts is necessary. Optimality and economy in the sense of operations research in engineering or economical sciences depend on the principle of minimum costs. Both theoretical concepts: technical efficiency in relation to the energy required to run a machine and profit maximation in an economical framework must be shown to be realistic assumptions. In the field of biology processes of optimization and economization are normally discussed under two different views: a. The concept of economy is used in cases of functional adaptation when the organism makes good use of the building material which is available to fulfill one (or more) functions. The theoretical background must be seen in the energy-consuming aspect of the organism. b. In evolutionary change and phylogeny ‘economization’ and ‘optimization’ are deduced from the evolutionary theory, and evolution is shown to produce a special kind of biological economy in biological systems (Bock & von Wahlert, 1965). The ‘Okonomie-Prinzip’ or ‘Lesrichtungskriterium’ points out the arguments needed to state a phylogenetic theory and to construct a dendrogram (Peters & Gutmann, 1971). In every phylogenetic theory concerning the adaptational change in the evolving biological system an explanation for the function of all stages is required. Only those statements should be accepted as phylogenetic theories which are characterized by the demonstration of the process of economization in the functional relations of the evolving organism. The process of adaptation can be determined by the improved chance of some mutants to propagate their genetical information. In this process all functional systems in their interrelations — i.a. mutual dependence — and their relation with the environment add their functional efficiency to the information to be delivered to their progeny, because the more economical biological system in a certain environment will have a better chance to produce offspring. This outcome is affirmed by natural selection which works on all levels of the evolving biological systems (Gutmann & Peters 1973). Nevertheless a judgment about adaptation cannot be taken as a scale of measurement in the phylogenetic process. The conditions in the organism itself and in the environment or in the organic system alone can change in so profound a manner that the marginal conditions of the earlier stages of the process of adaptation are not the same as in the derived ones. During phylogenetic change of the evolving organism the selective strains are also continuously changing. As a consequence no state or invariant concept of economy can cover the different stages of the phylogenetic process. The pragmatical meaning of the theoretical consideration is substantiated by the example of the hydrostatic skeleton theory in which the chordates are derived from metameric worms with a fluid skeleton. Herrn Professor Dr. P. Dullemeijer sind die Verfasser für kritische Lektüre und wertovolle Hinweise zu Dank verpflichtet.

Notes: Abstract A modified procedure for the purification of TSWV is described which consists of differential centrifugation, treatment with antiserum against sap from healthyN. rustica and density-gradient centrifugation in sucrose gradients. Centrifugation in the zonal-rotor proved efficient for processing large amounts of infected leaves. Antisera to purified TSWV were produced in rabbits. These sera reacted with healthyN. rustica sap. This reaction could be abolished by absorption with either healthyN. rustica sap or polysaccharides purified fromN. rustica. Unabsorbed sera reacted with the major TSWV structural proteins following their electrophoretic separation in polyacrylamide-gels. The positions of the precipitin lines corresponded with those of the structural proteins visualized by staining. The intensity of these lines was greatly diminished after absorption of the antisera with either healthyN. rustica sap or polysaccharides. It was concluded that the reaction of TSWV antiserum with the structural proteins is partly due to host-derived polysaccharides covalently bound to the virus proteins.

Notes: Abstract Analysis on polyacrylamide gels of the soluble protein fraction of cucumber cotyledons infected with tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) revealed a stimulated protein component, designated as protein E1. The amount of protein E1 was related to the size and number of local lesions produced on the inoculated cotyledons. Protein E1 stained positive for carbohydrate and could be partly purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G 100. The molecular weight was estimated to be approximately 22000 d. Protein E1 seems to be serologically unrelated to any of the structural proteins of TSWV. Following inoculation of cucumber cotyledons with the yellow strain of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), a protein with identical mobility on 7.5 and 10% polycrylamide gels to protein E1 was detected. These proteins are probably identical and their accumulation is a result of the infection process. There was a close correspondence between the amount of protein E1 and the severity of symptom expression. A protein with a mobility differing slightly from protein E1 occurred in the soluble protein fraction ofNicotiana rustica after infection with either TSWV or tobacco mosaic virus.

Notes: Abstract Plants of four species obtained from various sources were raised and compared for their suitability as test plants for a number of viruses. The species comprisedChenopodium amaranticolor (local lesion host of red clover mottle virus),Nicotiana glutinosa (local lesion host of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)),N. rustica (systemic host of TMV, cucumber mosaic virus and tomato spotted wilt virus) andN. tabacum ‘White Burley’ (systemic host of TMV). Some sources proved to be more attractive as test plants or experimental hosts because of, e.g., production of more local lesions per unit of leaf area (C. amaranticolor andN. glutinosa), distinctness of lesions (C. amaranticolor), development of more pronounced systemic symptoms (N. rustica andN. tabacum ‘White Burley’), better growth characteristics (particularlyC. amaranticolor andN. rustica), smoother leaves being easier to rub (N. glutinosa) or more and bigger leaf formation (particularlyN. rustica). The implications for the interpretation of host range studies and the quest for propagation and assays hosts are discussed.

Notes: The low stability (both to evaporative concentration and to storage) of polymers terminated with aminooxomethanesulfonate groups (carbamoyl sulfonates) has been investigated. This low stability was induced by spontaneous changes in solution pH. These changes were produced by one of the two alternative reactions: loss of SO2 which caused an increase in pH, and oxidation of the free bisulfite which decreased the pH. In this work, excess hydrogen peroxide was found to be the best stabilizer of poly(carbamoyl sulfonates). The optimum stability of poly(carbamoyl sulfonate) solutions was found to occur at pH 2-3 in aqueous ethanol.