Single Bud Research Articles

Division Size and Timing Influence Propagation of Four Species of Epimedium L.

Epimedium is a genus of shade tolerant herbaceous perennials and groundcovers that are slow growing and command high prices. This research examined the influence of division size and timing on propagation success and growth of E. pinnatum ssp. colchicum Boiss., E. × rubrum Morren, E. × versicolor `Sulphureum' Morren and E. × youngianum Fisch. To determine an appropriate division size for each species, small (single bud) and large (three bud) divisions were made in mid-June 2002 and 2003. For the timing study, uniform divisions (three to five buds for E. pinnatum ssp. colchicum and E. × versicolor `Sulphureum'; four to seven buds for E. ×rubrum and E. × youngianum) were made in March, late June and late August, when plants were dormant, had just completed foliage expansion, or were summer dormant. Half of the plants were destructively harvested in the fall and half were overwintered and forced in the greenhouse in early spring. By the end of the growing season, plants grown from large divisions were larger than those grown from small divisions and had produced more buds, however, plants from small divisions produced more buds per initial bud than plants from large divisions, demonstrating a faster increase in growing points. For each species, March divisions produced more vegetative growth, buds, buds per initial bud and potential propagules than June and August divisions, by the end of the growing season. However, by the following spring, both March and June divisions had produced plants of similar size and appearance, while plants grown from August divisions were smaller and of lower quality.

A comparative histological study between normal and fasciated shoots of Prunus avium generated in vitro

A combination of Murashige and Skoog’s medium and N6−benzyladenine (BA) at various concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25 and 1.5 mg l−1) was supplied to shoot tips from root cuttings of a 50-year-old wild-cherry tree (Prunus avium). The concentration of BA in the growing medium was a determining factor with respect to the number of proliferated shoots per explant in vitro.Normal and fasciated shoots were generated when BA was present at 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.25 mg l−1 in the medium and the mean numbers of normal shoots per explant were 3.63, 5.37, 8.93 and 7.30 respectively, and those of the fasciated shoots per explant were 0.03, 0.1, 0.47 and 0.4 respectively. Anatomical analysis by confocal microscopy of sections of paraffin-embedded specimens revealed that the cell structure and organization of the cortex and vascular cylinder in the fasciated shoots was similar to that in normal shoots. However, the cross-sectional area of stem of the fasciations was apparently greater than that of the normal shoots. In particular, the volume of vascular tissues, of pith and of some individual parenchyma cells in the cortex and pith was apparently greater in fasciated shoots than in normal shoots. Increases in cytokinesis and morphogenetic activity, such as the development of callus-like regions and the formation of adventitious shoots, were observed in the cortex and pith throughout the fasciations. The fasciated shoots had numerous buds and initiating new shoots at their apices while normal shoots had a single dominant axial bud.

Young and Fast Growing Plants as Better Feeding Material forDeltocephalus vulgaris, a Leafhopper Vector of Sugarcane Grassy Shoot Phytoplasma

Deltocephalus vulgaris Dash & Viraktamath has recently been established as a vector of sugarcane grassy shoot phytoplasma. Germinating (single bud settlings of CoS 95255) under glass house were transplanted in 12” size pots. These were covered with cages of fibreglass sheet. The leafhoppers were released in cages. The increase in population was to the tune of 3–5 times on young settlings of 1–2 weeks, but was lower (0.5 times) on 60 days plants. The young and fast growing tender sprouts with small succulent leaves were better for sucking the juice by leafhopper and also provided nutritionally better feeding material. The mortality of nymphs was lower in 7 days young plants (26%) than 60 days old plants (90%). The transmission trials of sugarcane grassy shoot disease byD. vulgaris Dash & Viraktamath were successful on young tender plants.

Influência do número de gemas, presença ou ausência de folhas e posição do explante na multiplicação in vitro da batata

Avaliou-se a posição, presença ou ausência de folhas e número de gemas iniciais do explante na multiplicação in vitro da batata. O meio de cultura foi formado pelos sais e vitaminas de MS, acrescido de 100 mg L-1 de mio-inositol, 30 g L-1 de sacarose e 6 g L-1 de ágar. Utilizaram-se diferentes tipos de segmentos nodais (basais e apicais, com e sem folhas, contendo uma, duas e três gemas axilares). Após a inoculação o material foi mantido em sala de crescimento com temperatura de 25±2ºC, fotoperíodo de 16 horas e 19 µE m-2 s-1 de irradiância por 32 dias. Para altura e número médio de brotações regeneradas, os melhores resultados foram obtidos com explantes oriundos da posição basal e com três gemas axilares. A taxa de multiplicação do material em cultivo foi maior nos explantes inoculados inicialmente com uma única gema, independentemente da posição do explante ser basal ou apical e, somente nos explantes basais a presença de folhas proporcionou taxa de multiplicação significativamente superior ao apical. Conclui-se que quando se trabalha com material vegetal heterogêneo, sob condições in vitro, as características iniciais dos explantes podem provocar variações na resposta final, causando erros na estimativa da multiplicação.

Slit and Robo in Kidney Formation

In a remarkably reliable way, appropriate signals during development guide particular groups of cells to produce intricate organs, such as kidneys, but somehow they don't influence other cells that might make supernumerary organs. Grieshammer et al. implicate in such a process the secreted ligand Slit2 and its receptor Robo2, best known for their role in transmitting chemorepellent signals that guide migration of developing neurons in the central nervous system. Normally, each kidney develops from a single bud (the ureteric bud) that grows from a tubelike structure known as the nephric duct. This budding occurs in response to glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) that is secreted from adjacent mesenchymal tissue. However, mice lacking the Slit2 gene showed that kidney development was markedly disrupted, and three or more ureteric buds were often formed. Robo2 knockout animals had similar defects, indicating that failure of Slit-Robo signaling accounted for the problem. When Slit was absent, GDNF was produced in a larger area of the nephrogenic mesenchyme, which appeared to explain the extended formation of multiple buds from the nephric duct. The mechanism by which Slit2-Robo2 signaling restricts GDNF expression remains unclear, but it appears to be distinct from the chemorepellent effects for which the pair is most famous. In experiments with transplanted explants, Grieshammer et al. could find no evidence for migration of the GDNF-producing mesenchymal cells that might be regulated by Slit. U. Grieshammer, L. Ma, A. S. Plump, F. Wang, M. Tessier-Lavigne, G. R. Martin, SLIT2-mediated ROBO2 signaling restricts kidney induction to a single site. Dev. Cell 6 , 709-717 (2004). [Online Journal]

SLIT2-Mediated ROBO2 Signaling Restricts Kidney Induction to a Single Site

Kidney development occurs in a stereotypic position along the body axis. It begins when a single ureteric bud emerges from the nephric duct in response to GDNF secreted by the adjacent nephrogenic mesenchyme. Posterior restriction of Gdnf expression is considered critical for correct positioning of ureteric bud development. Here we show that mouse mutants lacking either SLIT2 or its receptor ROBO2, molecules known primarily for their function in axon guidance and cell migration, develop supernumerary ureteric buds that remain inappropriately connected to the nephric duct, and that the SLIT2/ROBO2 signal is transduced in the nephrogenic mesenchyme. Furthermore, we show that Gdnf expression is inappropriately maintained in anterior nephrogenic mesenchyme in these mutants. Thus our data identify an intercellular signaling system that restricts, directly or indirectly, the extent of the Gdnf expression domain, thereby precisely positioning the site of kidney induction.

A Statistical-Thermodynamic Model of Viral Budding

We present a simple statistical thermodynamic model for budding of viral nucleocapsids at the cell membrane. The membrane is modeled as a flexible lipid bilayer embedding linker (spike) proteins, which serve to anchor and thus wrap the membrane around the viral capsids. The free energy of a single bud is expressed as a sum of the bending energy of its membrane coat, the spike-mediated capsid-membrane adhesion energy, and the line energy associated with the bud's rim, all depending on the extent of wrapping (i.e., bud size), and density of spikes in the curved membrane. This self-energy is incorporated into a simple free energy functional for the many-bud system, allowing for different spike densities, and hence entropy, in the curved (budding) and planar membrane regions, as well as for the configurational entropy of the polydisperse bud population. The equilibrium spike densities in the coexisting, curved and planar, membrane regions are calculated as a function of the membrane bending energy and the spike-mediated adhesion energy, for different spike and nucleocapsid concentrations in the membrane plane, as well as for several values of the bud's rim energy. We show that complete budding (full wrapping of nucleocapsids) can only take place if the adhesion energy exceeds a certain, critical, bending free energy. Whenever budding takes place, the spike density in the mature virions is saturated, i.e., all spike adhesion sites are occupied. The rim energy plays an important role in determining the size distribution of buds. The fraction of fully wrapped buds increases as this energy increases, resulting eventually in an all-or-nothing mechanism, whereby nucleocapsids at the plasma membrane are either fully enveloped or completely naked (just touching the membrane). We also find that at low concentrations all capsids arriving at the membrane get tightly and fully enveloped. Beyond a certain concentration, corresponding approximately to a stoichiometric spike/capsid ratio, newly arriving capsids cannot be fully wrapped; i.e., the budding yield decreases.

Modulation of taste peripheral signal through interpapillar inhibition in hamsters

Single taste buds from fungiform papillae were iontophoretically stimulated with chemicals filling glass microelectrodes while a single unit was recorded in the taste pore of a neighbor papilla. High signal-to-noise ratio responses were observed in the recorded papilla as antidromic action potentials. These responses were possibly modulated by the simultaneous stimulation of another adjacent papilla. A decrease in the frequency of firing and/or both decrementing spikes were observed during such dual papillae stimulations. These inhibitory effects were not modified by the section of the chordo-lingual nerve, suggesting the tongue is able to process the gustatory information thanks to interpapillar negative feedback, prior to transmitting the signal to the central nervous system. Branched chorda tympani fibers can account for responses observed for single papillae stimulations; inhibitions and decrementing spikes may suggest the contribution of another mechanism of interaction between two different single fibers.

Reaction of potatoes to calcium and phosphate levels as affected by wind

In an attempt to increase the number of mini tubers produced per potato plant, the effect of calcium and phosphorus nutrition was investigated. It is believed that high phosphorus (P) and low calcium (Ca) levels stimulate tuberization. Three nutrient solution treatments were used in this study; a well-balanced control, a Ca-poor solution and a nutrient solution with a relatively high level of P. These were applied at pH levels of 6.0 and 4.6, growing ‘Van der plank’ potatoes under greenhouse conditions. Air from the ventilation system entered the greenhouse from a basement, moving upwards at the sides. Two pots were used as a split plot experimental unit, one pot at the windy side and the other next to it at the wind-protected inside. Three replications were used. Single buds, removed from seed tuber tissue were used to produce homogeneous plants, raised in seedling trays, filled with a vermiculite/pine-bark mix as medium. After two weeks, the single stemmed plants were transplanted into Mitcherlich pots, filled with five litres of sterilised river sand. Standard disease and pest control measures were applied and the potatoes were harvested 54 days after transplanting. The low Ca treatment did not significantly affect total tuber mass, tuber numbers or tuber dry matter percentage, not even at the low pH level. The lack of Ca reaction may be due to the fact that the pH in the root zone increased since an ammonium-free nutrient solution was used or due to the mild growing conditions. In contrast to the reported increased number of tubers when P was applied to soil at extremely high levels, addition of P beyond the optimum level reduced the number of tubers per plant but significantly increased tuber size. Of interest was the fact that foliage and tuber yields were significantly reduced by wind at the high P nutrient levels with no effect at the low Ca level.

Effect of methyl jasmonate on sugarcane seedlings

Sugarcane seedlings derived from single bud setts of CoLk 8102 were exposed to methyl jasmonate (1,2.5 and 5 ppm). Enzyme activities of catalase, peroxidase, Superoxide dismutase, nitrate reductase, isoenzyme analysis of Superoxide dismutase, proline and soluble protein content were determined after one month. The activities of catalase, Superoxide dismutase, nitrate reductase were lower at 1 ppm compared to control but at 5 ppm these were comparable to the control. The activity of peroxidase was higher than control under all MeJA treatments. The treatment with 2.5 and 5 ppm MeJA increased the number of isoenzymes of Superoxide dismutase in a dose dependent manner while 1 ppm MeJA treated ones had lesser number of isoenzymes as compared to control. Proline content was lower at 1 ppm but increased at 5 ppm. The reduction in enzymes activities at 1 ppm MeJA and increase at 5 ppm MeJA suggest methyl jasmonate regulated expression of these enzymes in sugarcane. These results suggest existence of the methyl jasmonate signalling pathway in sugarcane.

Voltage-gated channels involved in taste responses and characterizing taste bud cells in mouse soft palates

Taste bud cells (TBCs) on soft palates differ from those on tongues in innervation and chemosensitivity. We investigated voltage-gated channels involved in the taste responses of TBCs on mouse soft palates under in-situ tight-seal voltage/current-clamp conditions. Under the cell-attached mode, TBCs spontaneously fired action currents, which were blocked by application of 1 μM TTX to TBC basolateral membranes. Firing frequencies increased in response to taste substances applied to TBC receptor membranes. Under the whole-cell clamp mode, as expected, TBCs produced various voltage-gated currents such as TTX-sensitive Na + currents ( I Na), outward currents ( I out) including TEA-sensitive and insensitive currents, inward rectifier K + currents ( I ir), and Ca 2+ currents including T-type, P/Q-type, and L-type Ca 2+ currents. We classified TBCs into three types based on the magnitude of their voltage-gated Na + currents and membrane capacitance. HEX type (60% of TBCs examined) was significantly larger in Na + current magnitude and smaller in membrane capacitance than LEX type (23%). NEX type (17%) had no Na + currents. HEX type was equally distributed within single taste buds, while LEX type was centrally distributed, and NEX type was peripherally distributed. There were correlations between these electrophysiological cell types and morphological cell types determined by three-dimensional reconstruction. The present results show that soft palate taste buds contain TBCs with different electrophysiological properties, and suggest that their co-operation is required in taste transduction.

In vitro plantlet regeneration of Schinopsis balansae (Anacardiaceae)

A protocol for the in vitro regeneration of rooted plants from nodal single bud segments of 10-year-old Schinopsis balansae trees was developed. Nodal segments were harvested from actively growing shoots of plants grown from seeds and maintained in pots under greenhouse conditions, and from epicormic shoots obtained by forced flushing of branches. Culture of nodal segments on nutrient medium containing the mineral salts and vitamins of Murashige and Skoog medium at 1/4 strength (1/4 MS), supplemented with 100 mg l−1 ascorbic acid, 3% sucrose, and 5–15 μM 6-benzyladenine resulted in regeneration of multiple shoots. Rooting of regenerated shoots was observed in 1/4 MS medium with vermiculite as the substrate and supplemented with 7.5 μM indolbutyric acid.

Description of Larval Cynoglossus Zanzibarensis (Teleostei: Cynoglossidae) from the Tsitsikamma Coast, South Africa

The early development and the temporal distribution of Cynoglossus zanzibarensis larvae are described, based on specimens collected along the Tsitsikamma coast, South Africa. The yolk sac is evident in larvae of up to 3.4 mm body length (BL). There are 46–57 (6−9 + 37−50) myomeres and the gut extends to 37, 36 and 31% BL in preflexion, flexion and postflexion larvae respectively. Flexion is initiated by 5.6 mm BL and is complete in all larvae >7.8 mm BL. Two elongate dorsal fin rays are visible by 3.5 mm BL, and a single medial pelvic fin bud appears by 6.2 mm BL. Eye migration is initiated in larvae >7.0 mm BL and complete by 11.6 mm BL. Pigment is concentrated over the ventral and lateral gut area, as well as along the dorsal and ventral trunk and tail surfaces. Lateral tail pigment becomes heavier in postflexion larvae. The larvae of C. zanzibarensis are compared with previously described tonguefish species, including the congeneric C. capensis, which has fewer dorsal and anal fin rays (D103–110, A81–88 compared with D116–124, A92–103), 2–4 elongate dorsal rays compared with 2 and a larger size at flexion (9.9 mm BL compared with 6.6 mm BL).

Cyclical Generation and Degeneration of Organs in a Colonial Urochordate Involves Crosstalk between Old and New: A Model for Development and Regeneration

Botryllus schlosseri is a colonial marine urochordate in which all adult organisms (called zooids) in a colony die synchronously by apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cyclical fashion. During this death phase called takeover, cell corpses within the dying organism are engulfed by circulating phagocytic cells. The “old” zooids and their organs are resorbed within 24–36 h (programmed cell removal). This process coincides temporally with the growth of asexually derived primary buds, that harbor a small number of undifferentiated cells, into mature zooids containing functional organs and tissues with the same body plan as adult zooids from which they budded. Within these colonies, all zooids share a ramifying network of extracorporeal blood vessels embedded in a gelatinous tunic. The underlying mechanisms regulating programmed cell death and programmed cell removal in this organism are unknown. In this study, we extirpated buds or zooids from B. schlosseri colonies in order to investigate the interplay that exists between buds, zooids, and the vascular system during takeover. Our findings indicate that, in the complete absence of buds (budectomy), organs from adult zooids underwent programmed cell death but were markedly impaired in their ability to be resorbed despite engulfment of zooid-derived cell corpses by phagocytes. However, when buds were removed from only half of the flower-shaped systems of zooids in a colony (hemibudectomy), the budectomized zooids were completely resorbed within 36–48 h following onset of programmed cell death. Furthermore, if hemibudectomies were carried out by using small colonies, leaving only a single functional bud, zooids from the old generation were also resorbed, albeit delayed to 48–60 h following onset of programmed cell death. This bud eventually reached functional maturity, but grew significantly larger in size than any control zooid, and exhibited hyperplasia. This finding strongly suggested that components of the dying zooid viscera could be reutilized by the developing buds, possibly as part of a colony-wide recycling mechanism. In order to test this hypothesis, zooids were surgically removed (zooidectomy) at the onset of takeover, and bud growth was quantitatively determined. In these zooidectomized colonies, bud growth was severely curtailed. In most solitary, long-lived animals, organs and tissues are maintained by processes of continual death and removal of aging cells counterbalanced by regeneration with stem and progenitor cells. In the colonial tunicate B. schlosseri, the same kinds of processes ensure the longevity of the colony (an animal) by cycles of death and regeneration of its constituent zooids (also animals).

Peperite as a record of early-stage phreatomagmatic fragmentation processes: an example from the Hopi Buttes volcanic field, Navajo Nation, Arizona, USA

Peperite is the product of near-surface magma–wet sediment mingling. Some peperites are inferred to record ‘frozen’ coarse mixing-stage fuel–coolant interactions (FCIs), and hence can be used in attempts to determine specific parameters related to phreatomagmatic fragmentation, such as water/magma mass ratios, confining pressures, and vent-region hydrology. Two lamprophyric dikes in the Miocene–Pliocene Hopi Buttes volcanic field, Arizona, contain ellipsoidal regions of dilation (buds) associated with peperite. These peperite-rimmed zones occur within identifiable stratigraphic horizons, and at known depths beneath the elevation of the local pre-eruptive surface. The presence of both fluidal and blocky juvenile clasts, combined with physical aspects of the sediment–lamprophyre contacts, suggest that coarse mixing-stage FCI was a potential fragmentation mechanism within these systems. Confining pressures calculated for sites of single buds range from 0.6 to 1.0 MPa. Average inferred water–magma ratios within peperite bodies at the time they formed vary from 0.09 to 0.16, consistent with experimental values for water–melt mixing ratios necessary for explosive heat transfer. A number of factors may have inhibited further explosive activity in these peperite-forming mixing events, including anisotropic saturation of the host sediment, low confining pressures and water/melt ratios, and damped explosive interactions resulting from increased density, viscosity, and surface tension of sediment–water coolants. Nevertheless, these deposits record localized thermohydraulic interactions between magma and wet sediment, and provide valuable information about the geometry and mixing ratios present during peperite formation.

1C1100 マウス単一味蕾における味細胞応答の記録(14.化学受容,一般演題,日本生物物理学会第40回年会)

1C1100 マウス単一味蕾における味細胞応答の記録(14.化学受容,一般演題,日本生物物理学会第40回年会)

A new distinctive species of pagurid hermit crab (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura) from Japan

A new species of pagurid hermit crab, Pagurus decimbranchiae, is described and illustrated based on 20 specimens collected from shallow waters of the Pacific coast of Japan ranging from Boso Peninsula to Tanegashima Island. It is quite distinctive in having the rudimentary arthrobranch on the third maxilliped represented by a single bud, however close morphological similarity is found between the new species and P. moluccensis Haig and Ball. Comparisons are also made among other species, including P. boriaustraliensis Morgan, P. sp. cf. boriaustraliensis sensu Rahayu and Komai (2000) and the members of the P. anachoretus group. The present generic assignment of the new species should be considered provisional, as more extensive study is needed to investigate phylogenetic relationships of the new species and the other species of Pagurus.

Effect of land configurations, establishment techniques and sources of nutrients on Suru sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) under Konkan conditions of Maharashtra

Field experiment was conducted during suru (Saccharum officinarum L.) season (January) of 201417 to inves- tigate the effect of land configurations, establishment techniques and sources of nutrients on suru sugarcane (Sac- charum officinarum L.) under Konkan condition, at Agronomy Farm, College of Agriculture, Dapoli, Maharashtra. Weather during both the years was favourable and suitable for cultivation of sugarcane. The experiment was laid out in strip-split plot design comprising of 36 treatment combinations replicated thrice. Horizontal strips consisted of three land configurations. The vertical strips consisted of four establishment techniques with three sources of nutrients. Horizontal strips consisted of land configurations, viz. ridges and furrow (C ), broad bed furrow (C ) and 1 2 flat bed (C ). Vertical strips consisted of establishment techniques, viz. Planting two bud sets in field (M ), planting 3 1 single bud settlings raised in soil + FYM in 1:1 proportion (M ), planting single bud settlings raised in soil + 2 cocopeat in 1:1 proportion (M ) and planting single bud settlings raised in soil + vermicompost in 1:1 proportion 3 (M ) while sources of nutrients, viz. application of 100% RDF through straight fertilizers (F ), application of 75% 4 1 RDF through Modified Konkan Annapurna briquettes 2:1:1 (F ) and application of 50% RDF through modified 2 Konkan Annapurna briquettes 2:1:1 (F ). From the 3 years investigation, it is concluded that for obtaining higher 3 yield and net returns from sugarcane in lateritic soils of Konkan region, it should be grown by paired row planting on ridges and furrows with drip irrigation by using single bud settling raised in soil + FYM in 1:1 proportion and should be fertilized with recommended dose of fertilizers (250:125:125 kg NPK/ha) through straight fertilizers.

RT-PCR Based Detection of Rupestris stem pitting associated virus Within Field-Grown Grapevines Throughout the Year.

The presence of Rupestris stem pitting associated virus (RSPaV) can go unnoticed since symptoms appear only if additional viruses are present. Detection by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is possible; however, this assay could be unreliable if the tissue that is being tested has detection-interfering compounds, or if the virus has a low titer. This paper reports on (i) use of a recently developed extraction method and internal control to determine which tissues from field-grown grapevines yield extracts that are reliable for virus detection by RT-PCR, and (ii) a survey for RSPaV of different tissues from the Vitis vinifera varieties Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Gamay, as well as from the rootstocks 3309 and Riparia, which were harvested in Ontario, Canada, at different times of the year. Amplifiable extracts were obtained from virtually all bud, shoot tip, seed, and cane samples tested. Detectable amounts of RSPaV were generally found in all tissues of infected plants except young buds collected in the summer. A combination of three single buds from dormant canes, less time-consuming than the preparation of cane shavings, was a reliable source for RSPaV detection.

Neural networks distinguish between taste qualities based on receptor cell population responses.

Response features of taste receptor cell action potentials were examined using an artificial neural network to determine whether they contain information about taste quality. Using the loose patch technique to record from hamster taste buds in vivo we recorded population responses of single fungiform papillae to NaCl (100 mM), sucrose (200 mM) and the synthetic sweetener NC-00274-01 (NC-01) (200 microM). Features of each response describing both burst and inter-burst characteristics were then presented to an artificial neural network for pairwise classification of taste stimuli. Responses to NaCl could be distinguished from those to both NC-01 and sucrose with accuracies of up to 86%. In contrast, pairwise comparisons between sucrose and NC-01 were not successful, scoring at chance (50%). Also, comparisons between two different concentrations of NaCl, 0.01 and 0.005 M, scored at chance. Pairwise comparisons using only those features that relate to the inter-burst behavior of the response (i.e. bursting rate) did not hinder the performance of the neural network as both sweeteners versus NaCl received scores of 75--85%. Comparisons using features corresponding to each individual burst scored poorly, receiving scores only slightly above chance. We then compared the sweeteners with varying concentrations of NaCl (0.1, 0.01, 0.005 and 0.001 M) using only those features corresponding to bursting rate within a 1 s time window. The neural network was capable of distinguishing between NaCl and NC-01 at all concentrations tested; while comparisons between NaCl and sucrose received high scores at all concentrations except 0.001 M. These results show that two different taste qualities can be distinguished from each other based solely on the bursting rates of action potentials in single taste buds and that this distinction is independent of stimulation intensity down to 0.001 M NaCl. These data suggest that action potentials in taste receptor cells may play a role in taste quality coding.