The aim of this thesis is to investigate the discourse function of connectives in Chinese narratives. It is found that connectives , being a kind of cohesive ties , operate at different levels of discourse as boundary markers. The present study also points out that the occurrences of Chinese connectives are governed by semantic relatedness and discourse structure of the connected discourse units. Chinese connectives are classified on the basis of their meanings into four categories. In describing the positions of the four types of connectives in discourse , the author asserts that Chinese discourse is hierarchically composed of recursive micro-structures and macro-structures , with units occuring at a lower level exhibiting tighter connection. The four categories of connectives occur in discourse to link units at different levels. Additives , with the meaning of “in addition” , generally occur within topic chain to link micro-structures. Causals, which serve to connect expressions bearing causal relations , are mostly used at the connections of micro-structures and less frequently to link macro-structures. Adversatives, which mean "contrast" or "contrariness" , occur at the connections of macrostructures where discourse usually shifts to a different view point. Temporals , indicating temporal sequence , may be used either to link micro-structural expressions of events or actions or to mark shifts of the temporal settings at macro-structural level. The above findings are verified with a quantitive analysis of topic continuity which is proposed to be the indicator of semantic relatedness. The quantative analysis reveals that additives are associated with high topic continuity , and causals , adversatives and temporals are related to low continuity. The thesis also includes an experiment on empirical validity of the findings. The results of the test show that the conclusion proposed in this study adequately describes the native speakers ' competence in using Chinese connectives to organize discourse.

Este projeto objetivou desenvolver um marcador molecular ligado ao gene de resistência a Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), em vista da necessidade de aprimorar os métodos de melhoramento de plantas para atender crescentes demandas de produtividade. O outro objetivo deste trabalho foi a avaliação de uma população segregante F2 e de retrocruzamento (RC1F1) a Meloidogyne incognita raça 3, oriunda do cruzamento das cultivares comerciais Coker 176 (C176) e Coker 371 Gold (C371G). Para o desenvolvimento do marcador ligado ao gene de resistência a TMV, o gene N, foram desenvolvidos iniciadores específicos para regiões conservadas (TIR, NBS e LRR) deste gene com base em sua seqüência. Estes iniciadores foram utilizados para amplificar um marcador cuja ligação ao referido gene foi confirmada em 200 indivíduos de população segregante F2 oriunda do cruzamento entre uma linhagem resistente (Coker176) e outra suscetível ao vírus (Kentucky326). A proporção entre o número de plantas resistentes e suscetíveis (154:46) não diferiu estatisticamente daquela esperada no caso de segregação de um gene dominante de resistência, que seria de 3:1. Os resultados indicaram que o marcador e o gene estão proximamente ligados segundo taxa de recombinação, que foi de 1%. Na avaliação da hereditariedade a M.incognita utilizou-se 141 indivíduos da população segregante F2 oriunda do cruzamento entre uma linhagem resistente (Coker176) e suscetível (Coker 371G) e 138 indivíduos de RC1F1 ([C176 X C371G] X C371G). Os resultados obtidos entre a proporção entre o número de plantas resistentes e suscetíveis da população F2 (102:39) e da RC1F1 (67:71) não diferiu estatisticamente daquela esperada no caso de segregação de um gene dominante de resistência. / The aim of this study is to develop a molecular marker linked to the resistant gene to Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) considering the necessity to improve plant breeding to meet growing demands of productivity. The other goal of this study is to evaluate the mode of inheritance of an F2 segregating population and backcross (BCF1) population of Meloidogyne incognita race 3 originated from cross breeding between commercial cultivars Coker 176 and Coker 371 Gold. For the development of the marker linked to the TMV resistant gene, the N gene, specific primers of this gene were developed for conserved regions (TIR, NBS and LRR) based on their sequence. These primers were used to amplify a marker whose connection with the aforementioned gene was confirmed in 200 individuals in a segregating F2 population originated from the cross breeding between a resistant cultivar (Coker176) and another cultivar which is susceptible to the virus (Kentucky326). The proportion between the number of resistant and susceptible plants (154:46) did not statistically differ from the one expected in the segregation of one dominant resistance, which would be a 3:1 segregation ratio. The results indicated that the marker and the gene are narrowly linked according to recombination ratio 1%. In the heredity evaluation of resistance to M.incognita 141 plants of the segregating F2 population originated from the cross breeding of a resistant (Coker176) and susceptible cultivar (Coker 371G) and 138 plants of backcross BC1F1 ([C176 X C371G) X C3371G) were used. The outcome of the proportion between the number of resistant and susceptible plants of segregating F2 (102:39) and BC1F1 population (67:71) were not statistically different from the ones expected for a monogenic dominant resistance.

Este projeto objetivou desenvolver um marcador molecular ligado ao gene de resistência a Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), em vista da necessidade de aprimorar os métodos de melhoramento de plantas para atender crescentes demandas de produtividade. O outro objetivo deste trabalho foi a avaliação de uma população segregante F2 e de retrocruzamento (RC1F1) a Meloidogyne incognita raça 3, oriunda do cruzamento das cultivares comerciais Coker 176 (C176) e Coker 371 Gold (C371G). Para o desenvolvimento do marcador ligado ao gene de resistência a TMV, o gene N, foram desenvolvidos iniciadores específicos para regiões conservadas (TIR, NBS e LRR) deste gene com base em sua seqüência. Estes iniciadores foram utilizados para amplificar um marcador cuja ligação ao referido gene foi confirmada em 200 indivíduos de população segregante F2 oriunda do cruzamento entre uma linhagem resistente (Coker176) e outra suscetível ao vírus (Kentucky326). A proporção entre o número de plantas resistentes e suscetíveis (154:46) não diferiu estatisticamente daquela esperada no caso de segregação de um gene dominante de resistência, que seria de 3:1. Os resultados indicaram que o marcador e o gene estão proximamente ligados segundo taxa de recombinação, que foi de 1%. Na avaliação da hereditariedade a M.incognita utilizou-se 141 indivíduos da população segregante F2 oriunda do cruzamento entre uma linhagem resistente (Coker176) e suscetível (Coker 371G) e 138 indivíduos de RC1F1 ([C176 X C371G] X C371G). Os resultados obtidos entre a proporção entre o número de plantas resistentes e suscetíveis da população F2 (102:39) e da RC1F1 (67:71) não diferiu estatisticamente daquela esperada no caso de segregação de um gene dominante de resistência. / The aim of this study is to develop a molecular marker linked to the resistant gene to Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) considering the necessity to improve plant breeding to meet growing demands of productivity. The other goal of this study is to evaluate the mode of inheritance of an F2 segregating population and backcross (BCF1) population of Meloidogyne incognita race 3 originated from cross breeding between commercial cultivars Coker 176 and Coker 371 Gold. For the development of the marker linked to the TMV resistant gene, the N gene, specific primers of this gene were developed for conserved regions (TIR, NBS and LRR) based on their sequence. These primers were used to amplify a marker whose connection with the aforementioned gene was confirmed in 200 individuals in a segregating F2 population originated from the cross breeding between a resistant cultivar (Coker176) and another cultivar which is susceptible to the virus (Kentucky326). The proportion between the number of resistant and susceptible plants (154:46) did not statistically differ from the one expected in the segregation of one dominant resistance, which would be a 3:1 segregation ratio. The results indicated that the marker and the gene are narrowly linked according to recombination ratio 1%. In the heredity evaluation of resistance to M.incognita 141 plants of the segregating F2 population originated from the cross breeding of a resistant (Coker176) and susceptible cultivar (Coker 371G) and 138 plants of backcross BC1F1 ([C176 X C371G) X C3371G) were used. The outcome of the proportion between the number of resistant and susceptible plants of segregating F2 (102:39) and BC1F1 population (67:71) were not statistically different from the ones expected for a monogenic dominant resistance.