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.

A multi-country test of brief reappraisal interventions on emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased negative emotions and decreased positive emotions globally. Left unchecked, these emotional changes might have a wide array of adverse impacts. To reduce negative emotions and increase positive emotions, we tested the effectiveness of reappraisal, an emotion-regulation strategy that modifies how one thinks about a situation. Participants from 87 countries and regions (n = 21,644) were randomly assigned to one of two brief reappraisal interventions (reconstrual or repurposing) or one of two control conditions (active or passive). Results revealed that both reappraisal interventions (vesus both control conditions) consistently reduced negative emotions and increased positive emotions across different measures. Reconstrual and repurposing interventions had similar effects. Importantly, planned exploratory analyses indicated that reappraisal interventions did not reduce intentions to practice preventive health behaviours. The findings demonstrate the viability of creating scalable, low-cost interventions for use around the world

Pomological traits of some selected quince types

This study was carried out in the Pozanti Agricultural Research and Application Centre of the University of Çukurova to determine some qualitative traits of promising quince types which were selected in different regions of Turkey, at Pozanti ecological conditions. Kalecik (0612), Ekmek (2604 and 2609), Cengelköy (2601), Şeker (3403), Limon (0514), Bardacik (3704), Altin Ayva (3401), Tekkes (0156), Istanbul (0518), Yerli (1918) and Eşme (5401 and 5403) were used as plant material. Some pomological traits, amounts of tannins and difficulty of swallow traits of these quince types were determined. According to the results, the largest fruits were obtained from Bardakci, Istanbul, Limon and Seker quince types respectively and the smallest fruits were obtained from Altin Ayva. On the other hand, difficulty of swallow traits were least in Seker, Limon, Tekkes and Eşme (5401) quince types respectively and the highest difficulty of swallow trait was obtained from Cengelköy