The SECURE project – Stem canker of oilseed rape: : molecular methods and mathematical modelling to deploy durable resistance

N Evans et al, "The SECURE Project - Stem Canker of oilseed rape: Molecular methods and mathematical modeling to deploy durable resistance", in Vol 4 of the Proceedings of the 12th International Rapeseed Congress : Sustainable Development in Cruciferous Oilseed Crops Production, Wuhan, China, March 26 - 30, 2007. The proceedings are available online at: http://gcirc.org/intranet/irc-proceedings/12th-irc-wuhan-china-2007-vol-4.htmlModelling done during the SECURE project has demonstrated the dynamic nature of the interaction between phoma stem canker (Leptosphaeria maculans), the oilseed rape host (Brassica napus) and the environment. Experiments done with near-isogenic lines of L. maculans to investigate pathogen fitness support field data that suggest a positive effect of the avirulence allele AvrLm4 on pathogen fitness, and that the loss of this allele renders isolates less competitive under field conditions on cultivars without the resistance gene Rlm4. The highlight of molecular work was the cloning of AvrLm1 and AvrLm6. L. maculans is now one of the few fungal species for which two avirulence loci have been cloned. Subsequent research focused on understanding the function of AvrLm1 and AvrLm6 and on the analysis of sequences of virulent isolates to understand molecular evolution towards virulence. Isolates of L. maculans transformed with GFP and/or DsRed were used to follow growth of the fungus in B. napus near-isogenic-lines (NIL) with or without MX (Rlm6) resistance under different temperature and wetness conditions. The results greatly enhanced our knowledge of the infection process and the rate and extent of in planta growth on different cultivars. Conclusions from work to model durability of resistance have been tested under field conditions through a series of experiments to compare durability of resistance conferred by the major resistance gene Rlm6 alone in a susceptible background (EurolMX) or in a resistant background (DarmorMX) under recurrent selection over 4 growing seasons. A major priority of the project was knowledge transfer of results and recommendations to target audiences such as plant breeding companies and extension services. CETIOM developed a “diversification scheme” that encourages French growers to make an informed choice about the cultivars that are grown within the rotation based on the resistance genes carried by the individual cultivars. Use of such schemes, in association with survey data on the population structure of L. maculans at both national and European scales will provide opportunities for breeders and the industry to manage available B. napus resistance more effectively.Non peer reviewe

Changes of the ferritic structure of corrosion resistant steel during warm forming

W artykule omówiono wyniki badań strukturalnych stali X3CrTi17 po obróbce plastycznej na ciepło. Zależność wielkości naprężeń uplastyczniających od temperatury odkształcania stali X3CrTi17 wyznaczono podczas spęczania próbek Rastiegajewa. Zaobserwowano, że podczas odkształcania plastycznego w badanych materiałach zachodzą procesy dynamicznej odbudowy struktury. Otrzymane wyniki pozwalają skutecznie przewidywać końcową strukturę i właściwości wyrobów ze stali typu X3CrTi17, odpornej na korozję, po obróbce plastycznej na ciepło.The dependence of the yield stress on the temperature of X3CrTi17 steel deformation has been determined while upsetting Rastegaev samples. It has been found that during plastic deformation, processes of dynamic structure rebuilding take place in the examined materials. The results obtained allow to forsee the final structure and properties of products made of X3CrTi17 type steels resistant to corrosion after warm forming

Martensitic corrosion resistant steels subjected to warm forming

Zależność wielkości naprężeń uplastyczniających od temperatury odkształcania stali X20Cr13 i X40Cr13 wyznaczono podczas spęczania próbek Rastiegajeva. Stwierdzono wyraźne obniżenie oporu plastycznego w temperaturze 800 20 C. W badanych materiałach obserwowano zachodzące podczas odkształcania plastycznego procesy dynamicznej odbudowy struktury. Otrzymane wyniki pozwalają skutecznie przewidywać końcową strukturę i właściwości wyrobów ze stali odpornych na korozję po obróbce plastycznej na ciepło.Yield stress versus deformation temperature for X20Cr and X40Cr13 steels have been determined during upsetting of Rastigaiev samples. Distinct decrease in resistance plastic deformation have been found in the range of 800 20 C. Dynamic reconstruction of microstructure was observed during plastic deformation of steels. The results obtained in this study permit to predict the final microstructure and properties of products manufactured from warm deformed corrosion resistive steels

Formation and Properties of the Ta-Y2O3, Ta-ZrO2, and Ta-TaC Nanocomposites

The nanocrystalline tantalum-ceramic composites were made using mechanical alloying followed by pulse plasma sintering (PPS). The tantalum acts as a matrix, to which the ceramic reinforced phase in the concentration of 5, 10, 20, and 40 wt.% was introduced. Oxides (Y2O3 and ZrO2) and carbides (TaC) were used as the ceramic phase. The mechanical alloying results in the formation of nanocrystalline grains. The subsequent hot pressing in the mode of PPS results in the consolidation of powders and formation of bulk nanocomposites. All the bulk composites have the average grain size from 40 nm to 100 nm, whereas, for comparison, the bulk nanocrystalline pure tantalum has the average grain size of approximately 170 nm. The ceramic phase refines the grain size in the Ta nanocomposites. The mechanical properties were studied using the nanoindentation tests. The nanocomposites exhibit uniform load-displacement curves indicating good integrity and homogeneity of the samples. Out of the investigated components, the Ta-10 wt.% TaC one has the highest hardness and a very high Young’s modulus (1398 HV and 336 GPa, resp.). For the Ta-oxide composites, Ta-20 wt.% Y2O3 has the highest mechanical properties (1165 HV hardness and 231 GPa Young’s modulus)

Profiling isoflavone conjugates in different organs of Lupinus exaltatus Zucc

The profiles of isoflavone conjugates in extracts obtained from different parts of Lupinus exaltatus Zucc. grown in Mexico were compared using HPLC-UV and HPLC-ESI/MSn. Collision-induced dissociation-MSn experiments were performed using an ion trap analyser during HPLC-ESI/MS analyses. Nineteen isoflavone conjugates were identified in samples obtained from air-dried roots, leaves, stems and inflorescences of lupin plants. It was possible to determine the structures of the studied compounds on the basis of the MS recorded. The compounds identified were di- and mono-glucosides of genistein and 2′-hydroxygenistein with a different pattern of C- and O-glycosylation. Some glucosides were acylated with malonic acid. It was not possible to establish the glycosylation sites on the basis of MS alone; however, it was possible to differentiate isoflavone C- and O-glucosides. The highest levels of isoflavones and their conjugates were detected in roots and the lowest in stems. Free aglycones were identified in roots and inflorescences but they were not found in stems and leaves. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd