Mature Character Research Articles

Further studies on the slant test as a measure of the vigour of crisp lettuce seedlot

SUMMARYMeasurements of seed vigour, emergence and maturity characters were made on six seedlots of crisp lettuce cvs Pennlake and Saladin, vigour being determined by the measurement of root length in a slant test.There were significant differences between the root length and transplant weight of different seedlots of each cultivar. Root length was significantly rank‐correlated with transplant dry weight in both cultivars (cv. Pennlake rs= 0·94, N = 6; cv. Saladin rs= 0·83, N = 6) but not with head weight at maturity. Percentage germination was significantly correlated with seed weight and root length. It is suggested that the slant test can be reliably used to indicate early plant vigour.

Relationship of lifetime productivity with mature weight and maturation rate in Red Poll cows

ABSTRACTLifetime maternal records were collected from 116 Red Poll cows born over a 12-year period. Estimates of mature cow weight (A), maturation rate (K) and lifetime maternal performance characters (years in herd, YH; number of calves weaned, NC; total calf weight weaned, TW; total calf weight plus mature cow weight produced, TW + A; average calf weaning weight, AW; calf weight weaned per year in the herd, TWIYH and predicted cow metabolizable energy (ME) required per kg beef produced, MEITW + A) were calculated to study the relationship between cow growth characters and maternal performance. Calf weights were adjusted to a steer basis. Reproductive management practices consisted of breeding heifers to calve as 2-year-olds; cows failing to calve in two successive seasons were culled. Mean mature cow weight was 554 (s.e. 6) kg with a mean maturation rate of 0·059 (s.e. 0·001) per month. The correlation between A and K was −0·69. Means for lifetime maternal characters were: YH, 5·1 (s.e. 0·2); NC, 4·7 (s.e. 0·2); TW, 1187 (s.e. 54) kg; TW + A, 1741 (s.e. 55) kg; AW, 252 (s.e. 1·7) kg; TWIYH, 228 (s.e. 4·5) kg/year; and MEITW + A, 72 (s.e. 1·2) MJ ME per kg beef. The regression of maternal lifetime productivity measures on mature cow weight was quadratic for YH, NC, TW and TW + A with optimal cow weight being 606, 600, 605 and 628 kg, respectively. AW and MEITW + A were positive linear functions of cow mature weight. Regressions of YH, NC, TW, TWIYH and TW + A on K were negative linear functions. AW and MEITW + A were not significantly related to K.

Cross prediction studies on spring barley

The genetical and environmental control of three height characters, two maturity characters and neck length in five barley pair crosses was studied using both F2 triple test cross and model fitting analysis.Significant additive and dominance effects were found for all six characters with some evidence of epistasis for each character. Generally, dominance was incomplete for the height characters but was significantly directional for increased height in those crosses where dwarfing genes were segregating. Variable dominance effects were found for both the maturity characters. Complete dominance was found in three cases, otherwise incomplete dominance was found. Significant directional dominance for earliness was found for both maturity characters in one cross but this was attributed to the presence of a daylength insensitivity factor in one of the parents. Most of the genetic variation for neck length was additive, though some evidence of dominance was found.Broad sense and narrow sense heritability estimates generally were found to be high for the height and maturity characters but low for neck length. It was concluded that early generation selection for height at ear emergence, for final height and for awn emergence was worthwhile. Early generation selection for neck length was not recommended from the results of this study.

HYDROCARBON HABITAT OF THE COOPER/EROMANGA BASIN, AUSTRALIA

The Cooper Basin is a complex intracratonic basin containing a Permian-Triassic succession which is uncomformably overlain by Jurassic-Cretaceous sediments of the Eromanga Basin. Abundant inertinite-rich humic source rocks in the Permian coal measures sequence have sourced some 3TCF recoverable gas and 300 million barrels recoverable natural gas liquids and oil found to date in Permian sandstones. Locally developed vitrinitic and exinite-rich humic source rocks in the Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous section have, together with Permian source rocks, contributed to a further 60 million barrels of recoverable oil found in fluvial Jurassic-Cretaceous sandstones.Maturity trends vary across the basin in response to a complex thermal history, resulting in a present-day geothermal gradient which ranges from 3.0°C/100 m to 6.0°C/100 m. Permian source rocks are generally mature to postmature for oil generation, and oil/condensate-prone and dry gas-prone kitchens exist in separate depositional troughs. Jurassic source rocks generally range from immature to mature but are postmature in the central Nappamerri Trough. The Nappamerri Trough is considered to have been the most prolific Jurassic oil kitchen because of the mature character of the crudes found in Jurassic reservoirs around its flanks.Outside the central Nappamerri Trough, maturation modelling studies show that most hydrocarbon generation followed rapid subsidence during the Cenomanian. Most syndepositional Permian structures are favourably located in time and space to receive this hydrocarbon charge. Late formed structures (Mid-Late Tertiary) are less favourably situated and are rarely filled to spill point.The high CO2 contents of the Permian gas (up to 50 percent) may be related to maturation of the humic Permian source rocks and thermal degradation of Permian crudes. However, the high δ13C of the CO2 (av. −6.9 percent) suggests some mixing with CO2 derived from thermal breakdown of carbonates within both the prospective sequence and economic basement.

Inheritance and Association of Flower, Ovule, Seed, Pod, and Maturity Characters in Dry Edible Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)1

Abstract The accessions, PI 255960 (P1) (purple flowers, colored seed, curved pod tip, large seed) and G-19007 (P2) (white flowers, straight pod tip, white seed) of Phaseolus vulgaris L., both late maturing with many ovules and seeds per pod, were crossed with each other and with 2 early maturing, white flowered, white seeded, straight pod tip, low ovule number/pod parents, ‘Great Northern (GN) Emerson’ (P3) and ‘GN UI#59’ (P4). P1 and P2 appeared to possess the same genes for high ovule number/pod. The continuous distributions of ovule number/pod, seed number/pod, and seed weight in the F2 generations of the other crosses indicated quantitative inheritance. However, segregation data in their F3 generations suggested that ovule number/pod may be determined by additive action of the alleles of a single major gene. Moderately high broad sense heritability estimates were obtained for these traits. Purple flower color and seed-coat color were controlled by 2 different complementary dominant genes. Striped pod color and curved pod tip shape (Ct) were each controlled by different single dominant genes. Days to flowering was controlled by a single completely dominant gene; pod maturity was controlled by a single incompletely dominant gene for lateness. Linkage occurred between genes for flower color and pod color pattern, flower color and pod tip shape, and flower color and maturity. High seed number/pod was associated with purple flowers, colored seeds, and late maturity in the F2 of P3 × P1. Late maturity and high seed number/pod were also associated in the F2 of P4×P1, P3× P2 and P4 × P2. Moderately large negative correlations were found between number of seeds/pod and seed weight in all crosses involving P1 and P2. High ovule number/pod was associated with indeterminate growth habit and moderately late flowering in the F2 progeny from the indeterminate cultivar ‘G.N. Nebr. # 1’, crossed with a determinate isoline. No association between seed weight & seed-coat color was observed in the F2 of P3 × P1, and P4 × P1, but there was association between large seed and both late maturity and flower color.

Developmental consequences of two-row and six-row ear type in spring barley: 1. Genetical analysis and comparison of mature plant characters

SummaryMature plant characters and yield components were measured on a two-row (Proctor) and a six-row (Clermont) spring barley variety, the F1of the cross between them, and the first back-cross to each parent.Whereas shoot dry weight in the F1significantly exceeded the mid-parental value, and chaff dry weight, stem length and weight per grain showed positive heterosis, grain yield did not exceed the mid-parental value and number of grains per plant showed negative heterosis.A scaling test showed that an additive-dominance model fitted the data in all cases except possibly for dry weight per grain, where the χ2test approached significance.The partial dominance of the two-row allele (V) for grains set per rachis node exhibited in the mature ears of theF1was not apparent at anthesis when all the lateral florets were found to have large, apparently normal stamens. However, the ratio of median to lateral grains set over all main shoot ears of theF1was 1:0·21 with an average of six lateral grains per ear.The results presented indicate that the factors determining total dry-matter production and grain yield are inherited in such a way that the restriction upon grain yield in theF1is due not to a deficiency of dry matter but to a limited capacity of the plant to store dry matter in the form of grain. This may indicate some developmental interdependence in the expression of yield component characters.

Sexual Dimorphism and Maturity Characteristics of Three Species of Desmognathus (Amphibia, Urodela, Plethodontidae)

A study of the taxonomic status of Desmognathus we/teri and a comparison with D. fuscus and D. monticola yielded information concerning inter- and intraspecific relationships of selected characteristics to size. Many of ed tthese relationships have not been previously studied, while studies of others have yielded confusing or conflicting results. Female D. fuscus show convoluted oviducts and yolk deposition in ovarian ova when about 10 mm SVL smaller than female D. monticola or D. we/teri. Although exact concordance, within individuals or populations, does not occur, the patterns also show that D. fuscus males attain the adult condition for eight maturity characters approximately 10 mm SVL smaller than those of the other two species. The eight characters studied include the number of testis lobes, presence of sperm in the vasa deferentia, pigmentation and convolution of the vasa deferentia, a papillose vent lining, mental gland development, the presence of enlarged premaxillary teeth, and the number of vomerine teeth. The number of costal folds between adpressed limbs is similar in recently transformed individuals of both sexes and becomes greater for females at increasing sizes (SVL) in D. fuscus and D. welteri; no significant difference exists for D. monticola. The number of costal folds between adpressed limbs, at almost any body size, increases in the sequence monticola-welteri-fuuss. The numbers of upper jaw teeth increase with size and adult females have more teeth than adult males in all three species. The numbers of vomerine teeth remain essentially the same in females and decrease in males with increasing size. Males lose a few dentary teeth with increasing size, females gain these teeth with increasing size. For all three types of teeth, the sequence fuscus-welteri-monticola is one of increasing tooth numbers for any given size or sex. Some possible explanations or mechanisms are discussed.

Inheritace of Plant Height in Cotton. II. Diallel Analyses Among Six Semidwarf Strains1

Semidwarf cultivars of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) have been developed to meet the requirements of narrow‐row, high‐population cotton production. Six semidwarf stocks, the diallel set of F1 hybrids among those stocks, and a “normal‐height” stock were used to compare plant height and crop maturity characters among the semidwarf stocks and the normal‐height stock and to evaluate the inheritance of those characters among the semidwarf stocks. The characters studied were plant height, mainstem and fruiting‐branch internode length, number of mainstem nodes, node of the first fruiting branch, and mean maturity date. Diallel analyses were used to estimate genetic and environmental components. Comparisons between the normal‐height and the semidwarf stocks showed that the semidwarf stocks were gen. erally shorter in plant height, had shorter mainstem and fruiting‐branch internodes, initiated their fruiting branches at a lower mainstem node, and were earlier in crop maturity than the normal‐height stock. Diallel analyses indicated that the genetic variation for the plant height and maturity traits among the semidwarf stocks was primarily additive, with a small, although significant, dominance component associated with all the traits except number of mainstem nodes. Heritability was relatively low for plant height and mainstem internode length, intermediate for number of mainstem nodes and node of the first fruiting branch, and. high for fruiting‐branch internode length and mean maturity date.

Inter-character relationships and heterosis observed in opaque-2 maize crosses and in their normal analogues

Hybrids obtained from two series of diallel crosses made between six o 2 converted inbred lines on the one hand and their normal analogues on the other were compared for twenty-five characters including yield and several of the yield components, including the parents. Observations on simple inter-character correlation coefficients presented here have shown that the majority of the correlations at the o 2 level are of the same order as at the normal level. A number of correlations of the o 2 type are inferior to those of their normal analogues, whereas a few are favoured by the o 2 gene including the correlation of grain yield with kernels per row. A measure of heterosis for each hybrid over its mid-parent also demonstrated that the o 2 types show poorer heterosis in more cases than do their normal counterparts. Still, in nearly 40 percent of the cases the o 2 hybrids were found to be more heterotic than their normal analogues, particularly for the various maturity characters and several of the yield components. Thus, the possibility of improvement exists in breeding maize with the opaque-2 gene.

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN INITIAL SEED WEIGHT AND MATURE PLANT CHARACTERS IN SPRING WHEAT

For each of the three spring wheat cultivars, Pembina, Thatcher, and Manitou, the weight of approximately 900 seeds from 30 randomly selected heads was recorded. These seeds were grown to maturity in the field and mature plant characters associated with yield were recorded. Simple and partial correlation coefficients as well as multiple regression formulae were calculated for all traits. The size of the individual seeds planted was shown to account for 2.5 to 4.5% of the observed variations in yield and other mature plant characters, including the number of heads produced per plant. Head number was the most important component of yield.

Occurrence of Coregonus artedii and C. zenithicus in Barrow Lake, Alberta

The variation in size at maturity and meristic characters of ciscoes inhabiting lakes in northern Alberta has made the assignment of specific names tenuous. Study of populations of Coregonus artedii and C. zenithicus in a small lake revealed that these two species can be effectively separated by gill-raker counts. A comparison with three other populations of C. artedii suggests that gill-raker counts will effectively distinguish these species in other northern Alberta lakes.

Genetical studies in the genusSorghum

The mode of inheritance of one seedling character and nine mature plant characters has been worked out in detail in the different interspecific crosses in the genusSorghum. The majority of the factor pairs exhibited simple inheritance. However, clear evidence for breakdown of dominance in different genetic backgrounds and data for the presence of ‘modifier gene complexes’ has also been obtained. The implication of these results to the genetic evolution of the variousSorghums species, is critically discussed. Further, the bearing of loci found duplicate with respect to various qualitative characters, has also been considered in relation to the polyploid origin ofArundinacea Sorghums. The genetics of the two new variants have been studied and the taxonomic importance of such anomalies is brought out.

Evaluation of Eight Inbred Lines of Maize (Zea mays L.)1

The general combining ability of eight maize inbred lines was determinedb y meanso f testcrosses with an openpollinated variety and two single crosses. The inbred lines also were grown to observe their usefulness in predicting the perfor~nance of hybrid combinations. Twenty eight possible single crosses amongth e eight inbred lines, excluding the reciprocals, were grown to predict the performance of double crosses. Of the possible 210 double crosses, 28 were randomlys elected and grownt o compare their performance with that predicted from the single crosses by Jenkins' method (b).The lines were rated similarly by the three testers for mosta gronomictr aits studied. Anyo ne of the three testers could be used for evaluating the lines for general combining ability. The correlations between the testcrosses and the inbred lines were low for grain yield and shelling percentage but they were of sufficiently high magnitude for maturity characters, plant and ear height, and ear length to have predictive value in hybrid development. Positive significant correlations were obtained between the observed performance of double crosses and that predicted from single crosses by Jenkins' method (b) for all characters studied.

GENETIC STUDIES ON SOWING-TO-HEADING AND HEADING-TO-RIPENING PERIODS IN BARLEY AND THEIR RELATION TO YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS

Introduction T h e present study may be considered as supplementary to a previous work (Johnson and Alcsel, 1959), the materials and methods used being in part the same. T h e main characters here dealt with for the first time are the sowingto-heading and heading-to-ripening periods. T h e objective was to study the inheritance of these characters and their relation to the previously studied genetic behavior of yield and its components. Because of differences in dates and rates of seeding only the data on F2 generation (1958) of the 10-parent diallel cross were analysed. Materials and Methods T h e materials and methods of the present study were in part previously reported (Johnson and Alael, 1959). T h e nailles and numerical designations of the parents of 10-parent diallel cross (F: 1958) now considered are: 1. O.A.C. 21 6. Beecher 2. Hannchen 7. Sanalta 3. Proctor 8. Herta 4. Fjola 9. Velvoil 11 5. Plains 10. Huslcy Numbers 2, 3, 7 and 8 are two-rowed and 1, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10 are six-rowed varieties. Heading dates were recorded \~.11en approximately 75% of tillers had headed. Dates of ripening were recorded when approximately 75% of the spilces and peduncles had lost all traces of green colour. As will be shown later, dominance is present for both maturity characters; therefore, F, records nude 011 the basis of 75% expression (3 do11;nant: 1 recessive) may be roughly equivalent to Fl expression (dominant). T h e analysis of the 10-parent (twoand six-rowed varieties) and of the 6-parent (exclusively six-rowed) diallel crosscs was based on Hayman (1954). T h e single array analysis for the con~binations, P I x (PI) [where P I is the recurrent parent, (P,) the set of non-recurrent parents, i = 1,2 .... ... n, j = 1,2 -------n, and j + i except for the corresponding recurrent parent included in the (Pj) set and in the offspring array as a self] is based on the following error equations: 4 Var. (cl) + r \Jar. (e,) T a r . xi, = E L , 4 Var. (d ) + Var. ( e , ) Var. TI, = E L , 2 \Jar. ( d ) + 2 Cov. (d,h) + r/n Var. (e,) Cov. s,, x, = E , , 2 Var. (d) + 2 Cov. (d,h) + l /nVar . ( e , ) Cov. F,, = E , , Var. (d ) + 2 ~ o v . ( c I , ~ ) + Var. ( h ) + r/n \Tar. (e,) + r/n (n-1) Var. (e,) T a r . x, = E S , Var. (d) + 2 Cov. (d,h) + Var. ( h ) + l / n Var. (e,) + l / n (n-1) Var. (e,) Var. F, = €6,

Some genetic implications of maternal effects—an hypothesis of mammalian growth

In a cross-breeding experiment involving all types of matings among Friesian, Ayrshire and Jersey cattle, the effect of maternal size has been investigated, based on various comparisons of reciprocal crosses, using data on weight and body size from birth to 2 years of age. Among the thirteen characters analysed, there was a close relationship at I month old between the relative maturity of the characters and the relative extent of their maternal effects. This relationship showed that the more mature characters were the least affected by the maternal environment. Cross-bred calves out of a mother of the larger breed were larger at birth than the reciprocal crosses but in all cases this difference disappeared during the first year's growth.The early expression of the offspring's genotype for body size depended on whether prenatal growth had been favoured or restricted by the maternal environment within limits. Maternal retardation of growth resulted in neonatal phenotypes closely related to their genetic ranking for mature body size, whereas early expression of the genotype is obscured by lavish prenatal conditions.A mammalian growth model is presented and the results are interpreted in terms of this model. The explanation assumes that temporary advantage is taken, during growth, of variations in the environment, when the latter exceeds a minimal level demanded by the genotype for stable development to normal mature size. This supply and demand hypothesis of growth is discussed in terms of its implications for genetic selection of different types of body characters. The main conclusion is that an understanding of the early environment, particularly the maternal one, may permit selection for some adult characteristics to be carried out at an early age.

Granulosa cell tumor of the ovary and coincident carcinoma of the uterus

Granulosa cell tumor of the ovary and coincident carcinoma of the uterus

Effect of day length upon the vegetative growth, maturity, and tuber characters of the Irish potato

1. Studies concerning the effect of length of day were made on vegetative growth, maturity, and yield and smoothness of tubers of the Irish potato when grown under field and controlled conditions. 2. With field and controlled experiments, plantings under short days showed less vegetative growth, matured earlier, and the potatoes were generally smoother. The opposite effects were obtained under long-day conditions; the plants were very vegetative, matured later, tubers had deeper eyes, and were more irregular in shape, although, the total yields were higher. 3. Seedlings representing several family lines were studied and the resulting segregations could be classified as either long or short-day plants. The parental combinations had a marked influence on whether the resulting seedlings would fall into the long or short-day group.

Early Emotions and Early Reactions as Related to Mature Character

Early Emotions and Early Reactions as Related to Mature Character

Drainage features of central New York

Description INTRODUCTORY Location of the area .—The region described in this paper is in southern central New York, along and near the divide between the Saint Lawrence and Susquehanna drainage systems. Most of the facts were obtained in studies leading to the preparation of the Watkins Glen Folio (see plate 37) of the United States Geological Survey, which includes the Ithaca, Watkins, Elmira, and Waverly topographic sheets; but some of the facts were discovered in the studies on the quadrangle east of the Watkins Glen. General topography .*—The area under discussion is a part of the dissected Allegheny plateau, with uplands of mature form, deeply trenched by valleys of less mature character, whose sides are often too steep for farming and in some cases even precipices. In ruggedness of topography there is a difference from south to north, the northern portion being both evener and smoother than the southern. The uplands reach . . .