The Priming of Potato Plants Induced by Brassinosteroids Reduces Oxidative Stress and Increases Salt Tolerance

This is the first study to show that brief pretreatment of potato plants with two brassinosteroids differing in structure causes in plants the ability to react to delayed salt stress by accumulation of compounds with antioxidant activity and by increased salt tolerance.

[Medical terminology. Blepharorhaphy]

Ophthalmic literature currently lacks definiteness in classifying surgeries aimed at eyelid closure. In Western countries the term tarsorrhaphy is most commonly used, while in Russia another term - blepharorhaphy - is widely accepted. The latter seems more appropriate as the sutures are passed through all palpebral layers, not just the cartilage. It has also been suggested that temporary blepharorhaphy, which implies that we use only sutures to bring the eyelids together, and therefore, the procedure cannot be permanent, should be called simple blepharorhaphy. As to a procedure (temporary or permanent), of which the goal is ankyloblepharon, it is recommended to be called ankylosing blepharorhaphy, instead of permanent.

CONCLUSION

Blepharorhaphy is a more appropriate name for eyelid closure surgery than tarsorrhaphy. Blepharorhaphy can be simple or ankylosing and only the latter can be either temporary or permanent. The authors suggest reconsidering classification of this type of surgical procedures.

[En face' optical coherence tomography guided focal navigated laser photocoagulation]

Aim - to prove the feasibility of focal navigated laser photocoagulation (LP) for central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) that relies only on the data provided by optical coherence tomography (OCT) without considering fluorescein angiography (FA).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Two patients with CSC were treated with focal navigated LP (NAVILAS laser system) basing on macular OCT findings (RTVue 100). Before the procedure, FA was not performed.

RESULTS

In both cases the leaking point was recognized by a solitary focal detachment of the pigment epithelium in 'en face' OCT scans. OCT images were then imported into the laser photocoagulator unit and superimposed on the basic image of the fundus, thus, enabling accurate focal LP. In both cases the serous retinal detachment resolved completely within 9-14 days.

CONCLUSION

In some CSC patients, 'en face' OCT data allow focal navigated laser photocoagulation without prior fluorescein angiography.

[Dry eye syndrome in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma]

AIM

to determine the frequency and severity of dry eye syndrome (DES) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients that are newly diagnosed or already receiving beta blocker instillation therapy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 127 patients (190 eyes) with POAG were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 55 newly diagnosed patients (88 eyes), group 2-72 POAG patients (102 eyes) instilling timolol 0.5% twice daily into the affected eye. The control group included 20 patients (40 eyes) aged 60-88 years (73.6 ± 9.2 years on average) with early age-related cataract.

RESULTS

DES was found in 69 POAG patients (79%) who was just starting their topical hypotensive therapy and 85 of those (84%) under treatment (p = 0.39).

CONCLUSIONS

One should take into account when prescribing ocular hypotensive therapy that newly diagnosed POAG patients usually already suffer from a dry eye. The use of topical beta blockers that contain preservatives exacerbates dry eye signs and symptoms in these patients.

Genetic analysis and molecular mapping of a wheat gene conferring tolerance to the greenbug (Schizaphis graminum Rondani)

The greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), is one of the major pests of wheat worldwide. The efficient utilization of wheat genes expressing resistance to greenbug infestation is highly dependent on a clear understanding of their relationships. The use of such genes will be further facilitated through the use of molecular markers linked to resistance genes. The present study involved several F(2) wheat populations derived from crosses between susceptible cultivars and resistant germplasm carrying different greenbug resistance genes. These populations were used to characterize the inheritance of a wheat gene ( Gbz) conferring tolerance to greenbug biotype I, to identify molecular markers linked to Gbz, and to investigate the relationship between Gbz and Gb3, a previously identified greenbug resistance gene. Our results indicated that Gbz is inherited as a single dominant gene. Microsatellite marker Xwmc157 is completely linked to Gbz, and Xbarc53 and Xgdm46 flank Gbz at distances of 5.1 and 9.5 cM, respectively. Selection of Gbz using marker Xwmc157 alone gives breeders 100% selection accuracy. Gbz may be placed in the distal region of the long arm of the wheat chromosome 7D. The results of allelism tests indicated that Gbz is either allelic or tightly linked to Gb3.

Identification and high-density mapping of gene-rich regions in chromosome group 5 of wheat

The distribution of genes and recombination in the wheat genome was studied by comparing physical maps with the genetic linkage maps. The physical maps were generated by mapping 80 DNA and two phenotypic markers on an array of 65 deletion lines for homoeologous group 5 chromosomes. The genetic maps were constructed for chromosome 5B in wheat and 5D in Triticum tauschii. No marker mapped in the proximal 20% chromosome region surrounding the centromere. More than 60% of the long arm markers were present in three major clusters that physically encompassed < 18% of the arm. Because 48% of the markers were cDNA clones and the distributions of the cDNA and genomic clones were similar, the marker distribution may represent the distribution of genes. The gene clusters were identified and allocated to very small chromosome regions because of a higher number of deletions in their surrounding regions. The recombination was suppressed in the centromeric regions and mainly occurred in the gene-rich regions. The bp/cM estimates varied from 118 kb for gene-rich regions to 22 Mb for gene-poor regions. The wheat genes present in these clusters are, therefore, amenable to molecular manipulations parallel to the plants with smaller genomes like rice.