Stolbur phytoplasma transmission to maize by Reptalus panzeri and the disease cycle of maize redness in Serbia.

Maize redness (MR), induced by stolbur phytoplasma ('Candidatus Phytoplasma solani', subgroup 16SrXII-A), is characterized by midrib, leaf, and stalk reddening and abnormal ear development. MR has been reported from Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria for 50 years, and recent epiphytotics reduced yields by 40 to 90% in South Banat District, Serbia. Potential vectors including leafhoppers and planthoppers in the order Hemiptera, suborder Auchenorrhyncha, were surveyed in MR-affected and low-MR-incidence fields, and 33 different species were identified. Only Reptalus panzeri populations displayed characteristics of a major MR vector. More R. panzeri individuals were present in MR-affected versus low-MR fields, higher populations were observed in maize plots than in field border areas, and peak population levels preceded the appearance of MR in late July. Stolbur phytoplasma was detected in 17% of R. panzeri adults using nested polymerase chain reaction but not in any other insects tested. Higher populations of R. panzeri nymphs were found on maize, Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense), and wheat (Triticum aestivum) roots. Stolbur phytoplasma was detected in roots of these three plant species, as well as in R. panzeri L(3) and L(5) nymphs. When stolbur phytoplasma-infected R. panzeri L(3) nymphs were introduced into insect-free mesh cages containing healthy maize and wheat plants, 89 and 7%, respectively, became infected. These results suggest that the MR disease cycle in South Banat involves mid-July transmission of stolbur phytoplasma to maize by infected adult R. panzeri. The adult R. panzeri lay eggs on infected maize roots, and nymphs living on these roots acquire the phytoplasma from infected maize. The nymphs overwinter on the roots of wheat planted into maize fields in the autumn, allowing emergence of phytoplasma-infected vectors the following July.

Interaction of Ht and Partial Resistance to Exserohilum turcicum in Maize.

Components of northern leaf blight resistance in maize due to race-specific resistance controlled by the Ht gene, partial resistance derived from inbred H99, and a combination of the two kinds of resistance, were studied subsequent to inoculation with Exserohilum turcicum race O. Lesion types, number of lesions (lesion number), percent leaf area affected (severity), and area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) based on lesion number and severity were assessed in field studies conducted at two locations in Uganda and one location in Ohio in 1993. Lesion types observed were consistent for genotypes across locations. In general, significant differences among genotypes for data based on lesion number and severity were consistent for AUDPC based on lesion number and severity, respectively, at all locations. In Ohio, both Ht and partial resistance were effective in limiting disease development. In Uganda, susceptible inbreds (A619, A635, and B73) generally had higher severity than genotypes with partial resistance (H99, Mo17, and Babungo 3). However, there was a difference in response among genotypes depending on disease intensity at each location. Ht resistance and moderate partial resistance did not greatly affect lesion number at the higher disease intensity location, compared with the susceptible inbreds, but at the lower disease intensity location genotypes with partial resistance had fewer lesions than susceptible inbreds or the Ht conversions of the susceptible inbreds. At both plot locations, genotypes with partial resistance had lower severity than the susceptible inbreds or Ht conversions of the susceptible inbreds. Hybrids derived from crossing H99 with genotypes with moderate levels of partial resistance (Mo17 and Babungo 3) did not have significantly lower lesion numbers than hybrids of susceptible inbreds crossed with H99, but severity was significantly lower on these hybrids at the high disease intensity location. Results indicate that the level of partial resistance in H99 would be as effective in controlling northern leaf blight as using Ht resistance, or a combination of Ht resistance and moderate levels of partial resistance as found in Mo17.

Intron-mediated enhancement of gene expression in maize (Zea mays L.) and bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.).

We report a strength comparison of a large variety of monocot and dicot intron-containing fragments inserted in the 5' untranslated leader, between the CaMV 35S promoter and the uidA gene (coding for the ß-glucuronidase: GUS). Relative strengths of the intron-containing fragments were evaluated by comparing transient GUS expression after particle bombardment in embryogenic maize and bluegrass suspension cultures. Our results confirm a dramatic dependence on the presence of an intron for chimeric gene expression in both species. On average, the maize first intron of ubi1 provided the highest enhancement of gene expression in maize and bluegrass (71- and 26-fold enhancement, respectively). Half of the introns tested affected gene expression differently in bluegrass and maize. This suggests that the intron-mediated enhancement of gene expression generally obtained with maize may not be fully applicable to all monocots. We also report enhancement of gene expression (92-fold) in a monocot species by a dicot intron (chsA intron).

Isolation and Partial Characterization of a Seed Lectin from Tepary Bean that Delays Bruchid Beetle Development.

Four isolectin forms of a seed lectin from mature seed of tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) were isolated using solubility fractionation, affinity chromatography, and high performance liquid chromatography. The subunits are polypeptides with an apparent molecular mass of 30,000 daltons. The 30 kilodalton subunits are produced starting approximately 13 days after flowering and subsequently comprise a major fraction of the proteins found in the mature seed. The amino terminus of each isolectin fraction was determined to be highly homologous with that of the subunits of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The tepary isolectin cross-reacts with both erythroagglutinating and leucoagglutinating subunits of PHA antibodies, although differential cross-reactivity was noted. A seed protein fraction enriched in tepary bean lectin was found to be toxic to bean bruchid beetles (Acanthoscelides obtectus), when incorporated into their diets at incremental concentrations from (1-5% w/w) above that of PHA concentrations in mature seeds of the susceptible common bean variety "Red Kidney."

Evaluation of bond strength of six porcelain repair systems.

The shear bond strength of six porcelain repair systems was evaluated in vitro at 48 hours and 3 months. Water storage and thermocycling significantly lowered the mean shear bond strength for all kits tested. However, at the end of 3 months Scotchprime resin had the highest mean bond strength. With current products, porcelain repair remains an interim clinical procedure.

Echocardiographic evaluation of the Valsalva Maneuver in healthy subjects and patients with and without heart failure.

The Valsalva maneuver was evaluated by echocardiography in three groups: A) 10 normal volunteers, B) 10 patients with no history of heart failure and normal ejection fractions, and C) 10 patients with heart failure and depressed ejection fractions. Groups A and B had a significant fall in left ventricular internal dimensions and calculated stroke volume by end strain which returned rapidly to baseline in recovery without significant overshoot. Arterial pressure showed a signoidal strain pattern with a normal overshoot in early recovery in all group B patients. In group C ventricular dimensions did not diminish during strain; arterial pressures showed a "square wave" pressure elevation during strain without an overshoot in recovery. Echocardiography allows a new approach to evaluate further the left ventricular response to the Valsalva maneuver. Patients with severely depressed ejection fractions, unlike those with normal ventricular function, are unable to alter stroke output in response to acutely increased intrathoracic pressure. A square wave pressure response is a likely consequence of a fixed stroke output during the strain maneuver.

The influence of left ventricular stroke volume on aortic root motion: an echocardiographic study.

Aortic root motion was studied in 24 normal volunteers at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver, isometric exercise, and amyl nitrite inhalation. In addition root motion was correlated with the stroke volumes determined at cardiac catheterization in 24 patients. The root has distinct systolic movement, the amplitude and duration of which were easily measured both at rest and during the interventions. At rest,the mean (+/-1 SE) systolic amplitude of the anterior aortic wall was 11.2 +/- 0.5 mm and that of the posterior wall 9.5 +/- 0.3 mm. During the strain phase of the Valsalva maneuver anterior wall amplitude fell to 8.2 +/- 0.4 mm and the posterior wall to 7.3 +/- 0.5 mm (P less than 0.001). With release, anterior wall amplitude rebounded to 12.5 +/- 0.8 mm and the posterior wall to 10.8 +/- o.5 mm, values greater than control (P less than 0.01). With isometric exercise there was no change in amplitude compared to rest; however, amyl nitrite caused an increase in the anterior wall to 13.5 +/-0.8 mm and posterior wall to 11.9 +/-0.6 mm (P less than 0.01). In the patient group the amplitude of posterior wall motion correlated weakly with cardiac index (r = 0.63) and stronger with stroke index (r = 0.78). This study quantifies the echocardiographic pattern of normal aortic root motion. The findings indicate that the aortic root motion is an index of stroke volume; they further suggest that root motion is acutely sensitive to variations in stroke volume since its amplitude changed in accord with the documented effects of the employed maneuvers on stroke volume.