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[en] Earlier studies on genetic variation and genome analysis of Hevea brasiliensis were based primarily on restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). Notwithstanding that the RFLP technique is a powerful tool, the technique is slow, laborious and requires highly polymorphic hybridization probes. The multiplex DAF technique was adopted. Pairs of random 10-mer oligonucleotide primers were tested for their ability to elicit DNA polymorphisms. Preliminary results indicated that the number of amplified products varied with the annealing temperature and the primer pairs. Although it was found that the annealing temperatures had to be varied for different primer pairs in order to achieve satisfactory amplification, all DNA amplification was carried out at a fixed annealing temperature in order to increase the efficiency of screening primer pairs for their ability to reveal comprehensive DNA fingerprints. DNA samples loaded in denaturing buffer and separated through denaturing polyacrylamide gels were found to be more informative than samples loaded in non-denaturing buffer. Staining with silver nitrate was much more sensitive than with ethidium bromide. The DAF marker technique has been developed successfully for Hevea studies. Premilinary investigations with the technique demonstrated that DAF can generate very complex and informative DNA fingerprints and promises to be useful for genetic variability, family relationship and population studies. The technique does not require sophisticated equipment, and is also more robust and reproducible than RAPD. 6 refs

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[en] A series of proof-of-principle studies was initiated to evaluate the soil remediation technology, phytoimmobilization, for application at the TNX Outfall Delta (TNX OD) operable unit. Phytoimmobilization involves two steps. The first step is entitled phytoextraction, and it takes place mostly during the spring and summer. During this step the plants extract contaminants from the sediment into the roots and then translocate the contaminants to the aboveground plant parts. The second step is referred to as sequestration and it takes place largely during the autumn and winter when annual plants senesce or deciduous trees drop their leaves. This step involves the immobilization of the contaminant once it leaches form the fallen leaves into a ''geomat,'' a geotextile embedded with mineral sequestering agents. This final report describes the results to date, including those reported in the status report (Kaplan et al. 2000a), those completed since the report was issued, and the preliminary calculations of the phytoimmobilization effectiveness

[en] Black pod rot disease, caused by Phytophthora palmivora, is an important disease of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) in Nigeria and other cacao producing countries of West Africa and Latin America. A naturally occurring source of genetic resistance to the disease has not been found. This paper completes the report, the first part of which was published in Induced Mutations in Vegetatively Propagated Plants, IAEA, Vienna (1973). The survivors of the irradiated seedlings reported on in this publication were transplanted to the field along with their controls. When the Phytophthora pod disease season began in 1973, all experimental plants along with the controls were sprayed with active and freshly prepared dense sporangial suspension of P. palmivora. Observations on Phytophthora infection were recorded at two-weekly intervals for three months. Results were pooled for each set of experimental plants, after having confirmed that no marked difference appeared among individual plants of each group. Contrary to the observations recorded at the nursery stage, all experimental plants that showed no infection indicated disease infection levels normally characteristic of the F₃ Amazon cultivar of Cacao in Nigeria. Although the nursery and the field data are difficult to reconcile and interpret, it is suggested that probably temporary disease tolerance/resistance, which some irradiated plants showed at the nursery (seedling) stage, was lost as the plants matured, thus suggesting different resistance factor systems for juvenile and mature cacao trees. (author)

[en] Published in summary form only

[en] Dokong (Lansium domesticum Corr.) which belongs to the family Meliaceae is an important fruit trees for the Malaysian fruit industry. Despite the various types that have been identified, the genetic variability is still too narrow for meaningful breeding efforts. Dokong also has long juvenility period and the fruits are pathenocarpically developed. The fruits are often not uniform in size, the tree is prone to bark borers, and the tree architecture needs a lot of pruning for better fruit formation and facilitate easier harvesting. A lot of breeding efforts is needed to improve the genetic characteristics of this species before it can really have an industrial impact. Induced mutation and in vitro culture are two approaches which may be more efficient for genetic improvement. Results of radiosensitivity studies showed that irradiation doses between 50 and 70 Gy is effective enough to induced mutations in seeds. Initial attempts to develop in vitro cultures of Lansium showed that shoot-tips and axillary buds can be cultured to produce plantlets in a medium containing 3 mg/L kinetin and 4 mg/L indoleacetic acid. The procedures can be optimised to develop an efficient micropropagation system. However, attempts to initiate callus cultures have not been successful

[en] Pods of the cocoa cultivar Amelonado and the Amazon T85/799 line were used as material for our experiments. Somatic embryogenesis was induced from cotyledons of unripe zygotic embryos in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 10 μM naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 2 g/L casein hydrolysate. Direct development of asexual embryos on the surfaces of the cotyledons was observed. Somatic embryos also differentiated from callus cells proliferating on cotyledon explants. Plantlets with green cotyledons were obtained on a medium composed of MS, 1 μM zeatin and 0.01 μM NAA. The removal of cotyledons enhanced further plantlet development. (author)

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