Tomato: a crop species amenable to improvement by cellular and molecular methods

Tomato is a crop plant with a relatively small DNA content per haploid genome and a well developed genetics. Plant regeneration from explants and protoplasts is feasable which led to the development of efficient transformation procedures. In view of the current data, the isolation of useful mutants at the cellular level probably will be of limited value in the genetic improvement of tomato. Protoplast fusion may lead to novel combinations of organelle and nuclear DNA (cybrids), whereas this technique also provides a means of introducing genetic information from alien species into tomato. Important developments have come from molecular approaches. Following the construction of an RFLP map, these RFLP markers can be used in tomato to tag quantitative traits bred in from related species. Both RFLP's and transposons are in the process of being used to clone desired genes for which no gene products are known. Cloned genes can be introduced and potentially improve specific properties of tomato especially those controlled by single genes. Recent results suggest that, in principle, phenotypic mutants can be created for cloned and characterized genes and will prove their value in further improving the cultivated tomato.

Maternalismo, políticas públicas e benemerência no Brasil (1930-1945) Maternalism, state policy, and women's philanthropic activities in Brazil (1930-1945)

Este artigo tem por objetivos: 1. revisitar as propostas das entidades filantrópicas organizadas e administradas por mulheres na primeira metade do século XX; 2. repensar o papel que tiveram na elaboração de programas e no estabelecimento de políticas públicas; 3. chamar a atenção para a necessidade de uma releitura do movimento feminista brasileiro. O encaminhamento destes tópicos será feito a partir da análise do discurso maternalista. A pesquisa baseou-se principalmente na documentação levantada nos arquivos da Cruzada Pró Infância, entidade fundada em 1930, na cidade de São Paulo, e focalizará as propostas referentes à proteção da maternidade feitas pela sua diretora-presidente Pérola Byington, entre 1930-1945.<br>The objectives of this study are: 1. To review the proposals of philanthropic entities, organized and managed by women in the first half of the 20th century; 2. To rethink the role they played elaborating programs and establishing public policies; 3. To call attention to the need of reviewing the Brazilian feminist movement. The guide for these topics will be based on the analysis of the maternalist discourse. The research was based on documents from the archives of the Cruzada Pró Infância (Crusade Pro-Childhood) an entity founded in the city of Sao Paulo in 1930. It will focus on the proposals for maternity protection elaborated by Pérola Byington, its managing director between 1930-1945