PHOTOPERIOD EFFECTS ON 2N POLLEN PRODUCTION, RESPONSE TO ANTHER CULTURE, AND NET PHOTOSYNTHESIS OF A DIPLANDROUS CLONE OF SOLANUM PHUREJA

Flow-cytometric analysis of pollen samples obtained from Solanum phureja, clone PP5, grown under 10, 14, and 18 hour photoperiods at the Southeastern Plant Environment Laboratories of North Carolina State University yielded two populations of pollen based on size parameters. These populations corresponded to pollen separation based on propidium iodide staining of DNA. Anther culture response from plants grown under 14 and 18 hour photo periods for 8, I 0, 12, and 14 weeks was greatest from 8 week old plants grown under a 14 hour photoperiod. Net photosynthesis was significantly higher for plants grown under a 10 hour photoperiod than for plants grown under either a 14, or 18 hour photoperiod. A significant positive correlation was found between net photosynthesis and tuber yield. Results suggest that vegetative growth is increased under short photoperiods, floral development is favored under long photoperiods, and androgenesis is greatest from young plants grown under an intermediate photoperiod

Variability for Critical Photoperiod for Tuberization and Tuber Yield Among Monoploid, Anther-derived Genotypes of Solanum phureja

Monoploid genotypes (2n = x = 12), derived by anther culture of a diplandrous (2n pollen-producing) clone of Solanum phureja Juz. & Buk., a South American diploid potato species, were examined for their use in germplasm development. Nine monoploid genotypes and the anther-donor genotype were grown in three chambers (10-, 14-, and 18-hr daylengths) to examine the effect of photoperiod on tuber yield and to determine the variability for critical photoperiod for tuberization. Significant differences were found among the monoploid genotypes for tuber weight and tuber number. Longer photoperiod treatments decreased and delayed tuberization. Axillary tuber formation from single-node cuttings was used to estimate the onset of tuber induction and demonstrated variability among monoploid genotypes for critical photoperiod for tuberization

PHOTOPERIOD EFFECTS ON 2N POLLEN PRODUCTION, RESPONSE TO ANTHER CULTURE, AND NET PHOTOSYNTHESIS OF A DIPLANDROUS CLONE OF SOLANUM PHUREJA

Flow-cytometric analysis of pollen samples obtained from Solanum phureja, clone PP5, grown under 10, 14, and 18 hour photoperiods at the Southeastern Plant Environment Laboratories of North Carolina State University yielded two populations of pollen based on size parameters. These populations corresponded to pollen separation based on propidium iodide staining of DNA. Anther culture response from plants grown under 14 and 18 hour photo periods for 8, I 0, 12, and 14 weeks was greatest from 8 week old plants grown under a 14 hour photoperiod. Net photosynthesis was significantly higher for plants grown under a 10 hour photoperiod than for plants grown under either a 14, or 18 hour photoperiod. A significant positive correlation was found between net photosynthesis and tuber yield. Results suggest that vegetative growth is increased under short photoperiods, floral development is favored under long photoperiods, and androgenesis is greatest from young plants grown under an intermediate photoperiod

AGC 226067: A possible interacting low-mass system

We present Arecibo, GBT, VLA and WIYN/pODI observations of the ALFALFA source AGC 226067. Originally identified as an ultra-compact high velocity cloud and candidate Local Group galaxy, AGC 226067 is spatially and kinematically coincident with the Virgo cluster, and the identification by multiple groups of an optical counterpart with no resolved stars supports the interpretation that this systems lies at the Virgo distance (D=17 Mpc). The combined observations reveal that the system consists of multiple components: a central HI source associated with the optical counterpart (AGC 226067), a smaller HI-only component (AGC 229490), a second optical component (AGC 229491), and extended low surface brightness HI. Only ~1/4 of the single-dish HI emission is associated with AGC 226067; as a result, we find M_HI/L_g ~ 6 Msun/Lsun, which is lower than previous work. At D=17 Mpc, AGC 226067 has an HI mass of 1.5 x 10^7 Msun and L_g = 2.4 x 10^6 Lsun, AGC 229490 (the HI-only component) has M_HI = 3.6 x 10^6 Msun, and AGC 229491 (the second optical component) has L_g = 3.6 x 10^5 Lsun. The nature of this system of three sources is uncertain: AGC 226067 and AGC 229490 may be connected by an HI bridge, and AGC 229490 and AGC 229491 are separated by only 0.5'. The current data do not resolve the HI in AGC 229490 and its origin is unclear. We discuss possible scenarios for this system of objects: an interacting system of dwarf galaxies, accretion of material onto AGC 226067, or stripping of material from AGC 226067.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A. 6 pages, 4 figure

Polarized radio emission over the southern Galactic plane at 2.4 GHz

Polarimetric results from the Parkes 2.4-GHz survey of the southern Galactic plane are presented. These take the form of a series of images, detailing the polarized intensity and vector position angles over the survey area. The observations were made using the 64-m Parkes radio telescope, and cover the Galactic plane within the region 238°≤l≤5°, with a latitude range of at least |b|≤5°, with some coverage to b = +7° and b = -8°. The resolution of the images is 10.4 arcmin. The rms noise of the polarized intensity images is 11 mJy beam area-1 (5.3 mK), and the rms variation in the vector position angles is of the order of several dgrees. The images show many polarized structures, over a wide range of intensities and angular sizes. Bright, extended regions of polarized emission (of the order of 5° across) are detected, including the Vela supernova remnant and a large 'cap' structure appearing to the north of Sgr A. A quasi-uniform 'background' component of faint, patchy emission is seen over the length of the survey. This faint component appears to originate over a range of distances, out to greater than 5 kpc, and shows considerable structure in the orientations of the polarization vectors. Several bright H II complexes are seen to exhibit bipolar, depolarizing 'plumes', several degrees in length, which are interpreted as outflows of low-density thermal material (with densities in the range 1-10 cm-3)

Development of large radii half-wave plates for CMB satellite missions

The successful European Space Agency (ESA) Planck mission has mapped the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) temperature anisotropy with unprecedented accuracy. However, Planck was not designed to detect the polarised components of the CMB with comparable precision. The BICEP2 collaboration has recently reported the first detection of the B-mode polarisation. ESA is funding the development of critical enabling technologies associated with B-mode polarisation detection, one of these being large diameter half-wave plates. We compare different polarisation modulators and discuss their respective trade-offs in terms of manufacturing, RF performance and thermo-mechanical properties. We then select the most appropriate solution for future satellite missions, optimized for the detection of B-modes.Comment: 16 page