In the present study, an electrostatic apparatus for trapping adult tomato leaf miner flies (Liriomyza sativae) emerging from underground pupae at the surface of a seedbed in an organic greenhouse was developed. The apparatus consisted of insulated iron rods arranged in parallel at set intervals and linked to a voltage generator, which supplied a negative charge to the rods, as well as non-insulated grounded iron rods with the same configuration. The two layers of insulated and non-insulated iron rods were arrayed in parallel to form a static electric field between the layers. The electric field created a strong attractive force capable of capturing flies that entered the field. In a greenhouse assay, the apparatus was placed horizontally above a seedbed in a greenhouse and surveyed for its ability to capture adult flies emerging from pupae that were introduced onto the seedbed beneath the apparatus. The results revealed that the apparatus effectively trapped all adult flies that emerged from the pupae and that it functioned stably while continuously operated during the entire period of the experiment. Thus, our novel apparatus is a promising tool for the physical control of adult tomato leaf miners in the insecticide-independent cultivation of greenhouse tomatoes.
Plant regeneration from pepino leaf-explants was investigated in the present study. Rapid formation of shoots was observed when explant-derived callus tissues were incubated on a Murashige-Skoog medium containing 0.05mg/l IAA and 0.5mg/l BAP for a month. Initiation and elongation of normal roots were observed when shoots were transferred to the medium where plant hormones were replaced with 0.3mg/l IAA and 0.01mg/l BAP.
The efficiency of somatic embryogenesis in calli derived from mature seeds was compared with 6 pure lines and 3 hybrid lines of melon (Cucumis melo L. cv. Earl's Favourite). Each of 25 seeds of these melon lines was cut into segments and separately cultured on a rotary shaker in a liquid MS medium containing 4μg/ml 2, 4-D and 0.1μg/ml BAP. Calli were induced at the cut-surface of seeds 3-4 days after incubation, and globular-stage embryos were produced in callus tissues of all melon lines used after 3 weeks of incubation. The highest production of the embryos was observed in the pure line, Fuyu 4. The embryo production was considerably higher in the hybrid line between Fuyu 4 and Natu 1, compared with those of respective pure lines. These somatic embryos were successfully regenerated into intact plants 30 days after transfer to a hormone-free MS medium.
The cell of Fusarium oxysporum was digested with commercial Bacillus chitosanase. The chitosanase produced low molecular weight heterooligosaccharides consisting of GlcN and GlcNAc from the cell wall. A main component of the digestion products was identified as 2-amino-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl- (1-->4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose. The chitosanase appeared to be more effective than Streptomyces griseus chitinase for cell wall digestion. Moreover, maltose was unexpectedly found in the digestion products, indicating that the cell wall contains alpha-1,4-linked glucan chain as a polysaccharide component.
The present study reports a procedure for efficient microinjection of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) into tomato callus cells. The ‘plate-culture system’ was devised for injection and incubation of the cells. In the system, the cells were embedded in the solid medium and cytoplasmic streaming (CS) of the cells was directly observed with the aid of a phase contrast microscope of the injectoscope. The cells which showed the active CS were selected for injection. Success of injection was judged by a maintenance of CS in the cells after the glass pipette inserted was removed. Multiplication of TMV in the injected cells was detected by staining with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated antibody. When the cells were stained soon after TMV injection, fluorescent cells were not detected. However, TMV-injected cells were stained when incubated for 2 days after injection. These results suggest that the present method is suitable for inoculating tomato callus cells with TMV and obtaining a high level of TMV multiplication in injected cells.
'/%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23a' transform='rotate(23.036 .093 25.536)'/%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23a' transform='rotate(45.87 1.273 16.18)'/%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23a' transform='rotate(69.945 .996 12.078)'/%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23a' transform='rotate(20.66 -19.689 31.932)'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)
