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Abstract
Kernel oil of Brazilian cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) contained measurable amounts of 4 fatty acids, palmitic (7.5%), stearic (4.5%), oleic (73.7%), and linoleic (14.3%) and trace amounts of arachidic and linolenic. The cashew kernels had an average oil content of 45.6%.
Damage by lesser Peachtree borer (LPB) (Synanthedon pictipes Grote & Robinson) and Leucostoma canker that had accumulated during 6 (Orchard A) and 8 (Orchard B) years were compared in peach (Prunus persica L.) and peach-almond [P. amygdalus (Mill.) D. A. Webb] hybrids. Afterward, the main trunk and scaffold limbs of the trees received 10 wounds 26 mm in diameter and a subset of these trees in Orchard A had wounds inoculated with Leucostoma persoonii Hohn. Before wounding, Leucostoma canker infection and LPB infestations that had accumulated for 6 to 8 years on peach-almond hybrids was ≈60% and 98% less than on peach in Orchard A and B, respectively. One month after wounding the trees, no significant differences in Leucostoma canker infection and LPB infestations were found among the peach-almond hybrids, treated or not treated with L. persoonii, or untreated peach. Yet, Leucostoma- treated and untreated peach-almond hybrids had 33% and 25% less Leucostoma canker and LPB, respectively, when compared with Leucostoma- treated peach. Ten months after wounding, peach-almond hybrids treated with L. persoonii still had significantly less Leucostoma canker (60%) and LPB (25%) when compared with Leucostoma- treated peach. Wound gumming and wound closure rates seemed to influence the degree of LPB infestation and Leucostoma canker. Based on these data, peach-almond hybrids could be valuable sources of resistance to LPB and Leucostoma canker.
Abstract
Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) nut neutral lipids, glycolipids and phospholipids were isolated by silicic acid column chromatography. Each lipid class had characteristic fatty acid distributions with phospholipids being higher in palmitic and oleic acids, and glycolipids being higher in lin oleic acid. Comparative esterification methods indicated that cashew apple juice contained significant amounts of free lauric acid. Oleic and linoleic acids occur in almost identical, amounts in cashew nut testa whereas oleic acid predominates in the kernel. Comparison of fatty acid distributions in pulp and peel from red and yellow cultivars of cashew apple at immature and mature stages shows some differences, with notable increases in oleic acid during maturation and decreases in linoleic and linolenic acids.
The pawpaw [Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal] is a native plant found mainly in the southeastern and eastern United States, and its fruit has great potential as a new high-value crop in these regions. Although there are ≈45 named pawpaw cultivars, breeding for improvement of specific traits, such as fruit size and quality, is desirable. Our long-term goal is to utilize molecular marker systems to identify markers that can be used for germplasm diversity analyses and for the construction of a molecular genetic map, where markers are correlated with desirable pawpaw traits. The objective of this study was to identify random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers that segregate in a simple Mendelian fashion in a controlled A. triloba cross. DNA was extracted from young leaves collected from field-planted parents and 20 progeny of the cross 1-7 × 2-54. The DNA extraction method used gave acceptable yields of ≈7 μg·g-1 of leaf tissue. Additionally, sample 260/280 ratios were ≈1.4, which indicated that the DNA was of high enough purity to be subjected to the RAPD methodology. Screening of 10-base oligonucleotide RAPD primers with template DNA from the parents and progeny of the cross has begun. We have identified two markers using Operon primer B-07 at 1.1 and 0.9 kb that segregate in a simple Mendelian fashion in progeny of the 1-7 × 2-54 cross. Other primers and controlled crosses will also be screened.
A nutrient delivery system that may have applicability for growing plants in microgravity is described. The Vacuum-Operated Nutrient Delivery System (VONDS) draws nutrient solution across roots that are under a partial vacuum at ≈91 kPa. Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Blue Lake 274) plants grown on the VONDS had consistently greater leaf area and higher root, stem, leaf, and pod dry weights than plants grown under nonvacuum control conditions. This study demonstrates the potential applicability of the VONDS for growing plants in microgravity for space biology experimentation and/or crop production.
Leaf cuttings from 6-week-old potato plants were planted into the Astroculture flight unit for the STS-73 shuttle flight in Oct. 1995. Tubers developed in the axils of the five leaf cuttings during the 16-days in microgravity. The flight unit had a closed growth chamber maintained at 22°C, 82% relative humidity, 150 μmol·m–2·s–1 photosynthetic photon flux, and with carbon dioxide controlled during the light period to ≈400 μmol·mol–1 and exceeding 4000 μmol·mol–1 during the dark period. A controlled delivery system using a porous tube system in arcillite medium provided water to the cuttings. A camera mounted in the top of the chamber provided video images of the plants at 2-day intervals. The cuttings maintained good vitality for the first 12 days of the flight followed by senescence of the leaves. Tubers 1.5 cm in diameter and weighing 1.7 g were produced. The shape and size of the tubers, the internal cell arrangement, and the size range of the starch grains, were similar on cuttings developed in a control experiment on the ground. Also the concentrations of starch, sucrose, fructose, glucose, and total soluble protein in the cuttings from space were similar to the cuttings developed on the ground. The challenges in scheduling experiments in a space flight and in conducting comparison control experiments on the ground are discussed. Environment control variations associated with cabin pressure changes, venting requirements, and air sampling are reviewed.
Pythium root rot (Pythium spp.) is a common disease of greenhouse-grown poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) that can cause serious plant loss or reduction in plant quality. Application of effective chemical fungicides to poinsettia plants has reduced losses due to Pythium; however, development of resistance to these fungicides is a legitimate concern, as well as the environmental implications of using chemical pesticides. In this study, a group of products of biological origin and known biocontrol agents were evaluated for their efficacy to control pythium root rot of poinsettia. These products and organisms were compared to metalaxyl (Ridomil), a fungicide commonly used to reduce losses to Pythium. The results showed that two products based on two different species of Streptomyces, Mycostop and Actino-Iron, were as effective as metalaxyl at reducing the symptoms associated with pythium root rot when artificially inoculated with Pythium ultimum var. ultimum compared to the control plants. Many roots remained functional throughout the duration of the experiments and the overall appearance and number of bracts of commercial quality of the plants were similar for the three treatments mentioned above. In an additional experiment, Mycostop was tested in combination with a single application of metalaxyl either at 3, 7, or 11 weeks after transplanting. Plants inoculated with P. ultimum var. ultimum and treated with metalaxyl either on week 3 or 7 after transplanting in combination with two applications of Mycostop, had greater fresh root weight than those only treated with metalaxyl at week 11 or the chemical control (three applications of metalaxyl). However, there was no significant difference in the number of bracts or the bract diameter between plants treated with metalaxyl at weeks 3 or 7 followed by Mycostop and those plants treated with the fungicide alone. A reduction in the amount of fungicide used to control pythium root rot can be achieved when used in combination with a biocontrol agent without compromising the health of poinsettias.
The pawpaw [Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal.] is a tree fruit native to many areas of the southeastern and mid-western United States. Kentucky State University (KSU) is designated as a satellite repository for Asimina for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). An assessment of the level of genetic diversity in cultivated pawpaw would assist in development of the future germplasm repository collection strategies for cultivar improvement. The objectives of this study were to identify intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers that segregate in a simple Mendelian fashion and to use these markers to assess genetic diversity in 19 pawpaw cultivars. Leaf samples from the 34 progeny of controlled crosses (1-7-1 × 2-54 and reciprocal) and the parents were collected, DNA was extracted, and subjected to the ISSR methodology using the University of British Columbia microsatellite primer set #9. Seven primers yielded 11 Mendelian markers with either a 3:1 or 1:1 ratio that was confirmed by chi-square analysis. Analysis of genetic diversity using 10 of the ISSR markers from 19 pawpaw cultivars revealed a moderate to high level of genetic diversity, with a percent polymorphic loci P = 80 and an expected heterozygosity He = 0.358. These diversity values are higher than those reported for cultivated pawpaw using isozyme or randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, indicating that the ISSR marker methodolgy has a higher level of discrimination in evaluating genetic diversity in pawpaw and/or pawpaw has greater levels of genetic diversity than previously found.
Cultivar and planting site are two factors that often receive minimal attention, but can have a significant impact on the quality of apple (Malus ×domestica) produced. A regional project, NE-183 The Multidisciplinary Evaluation of New Apple Cultivars, was initiated in 1995 to systematically evaluate 20 newer apple cultivars on Malling.9 (M.9) rootstock across 19 sites in North America. This paper describes the effect of cultivar and site on fruit quality and sensory attributes at a number of the planting sites for the 1998 through 2000 growing seasons. Fruit quality attributes measured included fruit weight, length: diameter ratio, soluble solids concentration (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), flesh firmness, red overcolor, and russet. Fruit sensory characteristics rated included crispness, sweetness, and juiciness, based on a unipolar intensity scale (where 1 = least and 5 = most), and acidity, flavor, attractiveness, and desirability based on a bipolar hedonic scale (where 1 = dislike and 5 = like extremely). All fruit quality and sensory variables measured were affected by cultivar. The two-way interaction of cultivar and planting site was significant for all response variables except SSC, TA, russet, crispness, and sweetness ratings. The SSC: TA ratio was strongly correlated with sweetness and acidity sensory rating, but was weakly correlated with flavor rating. The results demonstrate that no one cultivar is ideally suited for all planting sites and no planting site is ideal for maximizing the quality of all apple cultivars.