ALBERT

Notes: Sapphirine, coexisting with quartz, is an indicator mineral for ultrahigh-temperature metamorphism in aluminous rock compositions. Here a new activity-composition model for sapphirine is combined with the internally consistent thermodynamic dataset used by THERMOCALC, for calculations primarily in K2O-FeO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O (KFMASH). A discrepancy between published experimentally derived FMAS grids and our calculations is understood with reference to H2O. Published FMAS grids effectively represent constant aH2O sections, thereby limiting their detailed use for the interpretation of mineral reaction textures in compositions with differing H2O.For the calculated KFMASH univariant reaction grid, sapphirine + quartz assemblages occur at P–T in excess of 6–7 kbar and 1005 °C. Sapphirine compositions and composition ranges are consistent with natural examples. However, as many univariant equilibria are typically not ‘seen’ by a specific bulk composition, the univariant reaction grid may reveal little about the detailed topology of multi-variant equilibria, and therefore is of limited use for interpreting the P–T evolution of mineral assemblages and reaction sequences. Calculated pseudosections, which quantify bulk composition and multi-variant equilibria, predict experimentally determined KFMASH mineral assemblages with consistent topology, and also indicate that sapphirine stabilizes at increasingly higher pressure and temperature as XMg increases. Although coexisting sapphirine and quartz can occur in relatively iron-rich rocks if the bulk chemistry is sufficiently aluminous, the P–T window of stability shrinks with decreasing XMg. An array of mineral assemblages and mineral reaction sequences from natural sapphirine + quartz and other rocks from Enderby Land, Antarctica, are reproducible with calculated pseudosections. That consistent phase diagram calculations involving sapphirine can be performed allows for a more thorough assessment of the metamorphic evolution of high-temperature granulite facies terranes than was previously possible. The establishment of a a-x model for sapphirine provides the basis for expansion to larger, more geologically realistic chemical systems (e.g. involving Fe3+).

Notes: Resistance to pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV) pathotype P-1 in peas is conferred by sbm1 with recessive inheritance. PSbMV is an economically important pathogen with world-wide distribution that causes significant losses in pea yield and reduces seed and produce quality. The sbm1 gene was previously mapped to linkage group VI on molecular linkage maps of the pea genome. To improve plant breeders’ ability to develop varieties resistant to PSbMV, two random amplified polymorphic DNA markers (G05_2537 and L01_910) and one restriction fragment length polymorphism (P446) linked to sbm1 have been identified. The genomic sequences for these markers have been characterized and the information used to develop three simple polymerase chain reaction-based STS (sequence tagged site) assays. Linkage analysis in two F2 populations showed that the most tightly linked of these three STS loci (sG05_2537) is approximately 4 cM from sbm1. Characterization of a collection of resistant and susceptible germplasm demonstrated a strong correlation between STS alleles and sbm1 alleles, indicating the utility of these markers for marker-assisted selection in breeding programmes using a range of germplasm sources.

Notes: Sunflower downy mildew (SDM) caused by Plasmopara halstedii, is a major disease of sunflower. Eleven resistance genes have been identified, but allelic relationships among these genes are not clear. This study examined the inheritance and allelic relationships of genes conferring resistance to SDM races 1, 2 and 3 (virulence phenotypes 100, 300 and 700, respectively) and confirmed a twelfth resistance gene. Three USDA Plant Introductions, AMES 3235, PI 497250, and PI 497938, and three released lines, RHA 266, RHA 274 and DM-2 were studied. RHA 266 has only the Pl1 gene for race 1 resistance. Digenic inheritance of resistance was found in AMES 3235, PI 497250, and RHA 274. These lines have the Pl1 and Pl12 genes, conferring resistance to race 1, and the Pl2 and Pl11 genes, conferring resistance to race 2. DM-2 and PI 497938 have Pl12 (but not Pl1 for resistance to race 1, the Pl12 gene (but not the Pl2) for resistance to race 2, and Pl5 for resistance to race 3. These resistance genes will serve as a foundation for future gene designations and genetic diversity studies of resistance to SDM.

Notes: This study examined the linkage between xylem vulnerability, stomatal response to leaf water potential (ΨL), and loss of leaf turgor in eight species of seasonally dry tropical forest trees. In order to maximize the potential variation in these traits species that exhibit a range of leaf habits and phenologies were selected. It was found that in all species stomatal conductance was responsive to ΨL over a narrow range of water potentials, and that ΨL inducing 50% stomatal closure was correlated with both the ΨL inducing a 20% loss of xylem hydraulic conductivity and leaf water potential at turgor loss in all species. In contrast, there was no correlation between the water potential causing a 50% loss of conductivity in the stem xylem, and the water potential at stomatal closure (ΨSC) amongst species. It was concluded that although both leaf and xylem characters are correlated with the response of stomata to ΨL, there is considerable flexibility in this linkage. The range of responses is discussed in terms of the differing leaf-loss strategies exhibited by these species.

Notes: The root response to changes in nitrogen availability was examined in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plants grown on vertically oriented Petri plates with nutrient media containing either 10 or 0.5 mm KNO3 supplemented with 5 mm glutamine were analysed for changes in root architecture, morphology and nitrogen status compared to plants grown on 0.5 mm KNO3. Fourteen-day-old 10 mm KNO3-grown plants displayed a decrease in number, length and density of lateral roots, had the highest tissue NO3– content, but no change in amino acid composition. Lateral root development was arrested at a stage after the initiation of primordia but prior to emergence. In contrast, plants grown on 0.5 mm KNO3 supplemented with glutamine had a slightly higher number and density of lateral root primordia and lateral roots, lower root NO3– content, and higher tissue glutamine content. A macro-array containing 126 putative A. thaliana transcriptional factor expressed sequence tags was used to screen for regulatory genes with expression correlated to the root plasticity response. Genes for a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) and a LIM transcription factor were identified and via Northern analysis it was confirmed that their expression is preferentially observed in the roots and correlated to the root response to nitrate availability.

Notes: The process of gonadal sex differentiation in 338 Atlantic halibut Hippoglossus hippoglossus larvae, ranging in size from 10 mm Ls to 230 mm LF, is described histologically. Gonadal sex differentiation occurred by 38.0 mm LF, which coincided with the weaned, post-metamorphic, settled stage in the life cycle. This was a gradual process that coincided with other organogenesis in the developing larvae.

Notes: The diversity and density of small, benthic reef fishes were estimated using visual census and enclosed rotenone stations. Visual census underestimated the number of species present and the density of common species by up to 91%.