Occurrence of triploids in oil palm and their origin.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Oil palms showing exceptional vigour and dubbed as 'giant palms' were identified in some progeny during breeding. A panel of phenotypical traits were studied to characterize these trees. The hypothesis that gigantism and other anomalies might be linked to polyploidy was investigated. METHODS: Twenty sib pairs of palms from different crosses, each comprising a giant and a normal oil palm, were studied by flow cytometry with rice 'Nipponbare' as standard reference. In parallel, palms were assessed in the field using 11 phenotypic traits. A principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to define relationships between these phenotypical traits, and a linear discriminant analysis (LDA) to predict ploidy level and giant classification. Finally, a co-dominant molecular marker study was implemented to highlight the sexual process leading to the formation of 2n gametes. KEY RESULTS: The first group of oil palms presented an oil palm/rice peak ratio of around 4.8 corresponding to diploid oil palms, whereas the second group presented a ratio of around 7, classifying these plants as triploid. The PCA enabled the classification of the plants in three classes: 21 were normal diploid palms; ten were giant diploid palms; while 11 were giant triploid palms. The LDA revealed three predictors for ploidy classification: phyllotaxy, petiole size and circumference of the plant, but surprisingly not height. The molecular study revealed that triploid palms arose from 2n gametes resulting from the second division restitution of meiosis in parents. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms and details the process of sexual polyploidization in oil palm. It also identifies three phenotypical traits to assess the ploidy level of the giant oil palms in the field. In practical terms, our results provide a cheap scientific method to identify polyploid palms in the field.

[Condylomatous lesions of the uterine cervix: their course in 2466 patients]. / Lésions condylomateuses du col utérin: évolution chez 2 466 patientes.

2466 women with cervical condylomatous lesions out of the general consulting (0.7%) have been followed by the authors. The cytological and histological criteria of these lesions and the detection of the viral antigen by immunoperoxidase (positive in only about 50% of the cases), are recalled. The flat condylomas are often associated with dysplasia (CIN I, II, III). The condylomas appear in women before the age of 20. These cases increased in number between the ages of 25 to 30 and stayed high until 35. The number of condylomas associated with CIN II have their maximum between 36 and 38 years of age and decrease afterwards to age 48. The graphic is the same for CIN III. The evolution of these condylomatous lesions studied during 42 months, shows that in 1269 women with condyloma and nuclear atypia, regression occurred in 53 per cent, persistence in 37 per cent and aggravation in 10 per cent of the cases. In 762 women with CIN II, regression appeared in 39 per cent, persistence in 44 per cent and aggravation in 17 per cent of cases. In a group of 764 closely followed women, regression and aggravation in CIN I and II appeared between the 3rd and the 6th months of follow-up. Condyloma associated with CIN III were not observed after the 3rd month. Recurrence appeared however in 55 cases after insufficient ablation. Lastly, the histogenesis of these lesions and the relationship between the viral action and the host are discussed.

[Condylomas, cervical dysplasias and carcinoma of the cervix (author's transl)]. / Condylomes, dysplasies et carcinomes intra-épithéliaux du col utérin.

Because the greater number of viral cervical lesions, the authors recall their cytological and pathological pictures. In 30% of the causes, they have observed relations between flat condylomas and cervical severe dysplasias and carcinoma in situ. But in these last lesions, the cytological characters of the viral infestations are not visuable. The relationship between condyloma and carcinoma in situ is explained by the virus modifications on the germinative cells genoma which enhance great multiplication of these cells and inhibit the epidermoid differentiation. When the virus are not very active, or the host responses sufficient, the cell differentiation and maturation permit the replication of the virus and its appearance in the cytoplasm of the superficial cells. The authors stress on the complete destruction of the viral cervical lesions and the later control of the cervix.