Characterization of a gametoclonal variant controlling virus resistance in tobacco.

Potato virus Y (PVY), susceptible tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cultivar, McNair 944, was subjected to in vitro anther culture to determine if genetic variability for virus resistance could be induced among resulting haploids. Five hundred and forty-five haploids were produced and inoculated with a highly necrotic strain (NN) of PVY. One haploid plant survived, even though it was infected with the virus. Selfed progenies of a chromosome-doubled plant of this variant, designated NC 602, proved to be highly resistant to the necrotic effects of the virus. An investigation into the genetic nature of this variant showed the resistance mechanism to be controlled by a single gene exhibiting incomplete dominance. Cytoplasmic and maternal effects were not involved in the disease resistance reaction. The variant was challenged with ten additional strains of PVY from an international collection, and it proved to be resistant to three (VAM-B, MM, and Spanish) strains. NC 602 was evaluated for five agronomic traits and concentrations of total alkaloids as nicotine and reducing sugars in cured leaf. The gametoclonal variant differed from McNair 944 only for cured leaf yield, where an 18.4% reduction was measured.

Killing and preserving nematodes in soil samples with chemicals and microwave energy.

Three basic procedures for treating nematode-bearing soil samples for international shipment or from areas under quarantine were tested for their killing effect and recovery of nematodes by sugar flotation for diagnostic and advisory purposes. These were: fumigation with methyl bromide followed by storage at -15 C; microwave treatment (2450 MHz, 630 w, 2-5 min) followed by addition of FAA + picric acid or 5% Formalin; and adding chemical preservatives (FAA + picric acid, 5% Formalin, NAN, and 2-phenoxyethanol) directly to the soil. Larvae of Heterodera glycines in eggs within cysts were stimulated to hatch by 2-rain exposure to microwaves, and an exposure of 5 rain was required to kill them. Soil type and moisture significantly affected microwave effectiveness. Direct saturation of soil samples with preservative chemical solutions (FAA + picric acid or 5% Formalin) was most effective, and often increased the number of nematodes recovered. The high concentration (2%) of NaN a required for soil sterilization is too hazardous for routine work. NaN, therefore, is not recommended for this purpose.