This thesis is an investigation of barrenness and plant-to-plant variability (PPV) in ear development of maize (Zea mays L.). A three-year field experiment was conducted on homogenous plants with similar initial plant size, development and uniform spatial patterns in parental inbred lines CG60, CG102 and their F1 hybrid CG60 × CG102. Physiological processes underlying barrenness were dissected into plant growth through development and dry matter partitioning to the ear at canopy, subpopulation, and primarily, individual plant levels. The growth and development of the ultimately barren individuals were followed from early vegetative stage to physiological maturity (PM) using a non-destructive allometric methodology. Plant-to-plant variability in ear development, related to plant development, was measured destructively from ear initiation to 1 wk after silking and at PM. Results showed that the individual plants exhibited differential responses to their previous growth and development in the two parental inbred lines. No physiological traits in growth and development or dry matter partitioning to the ear during the critical period bracketing silking could characterize individual barren plants. The F1 hybrid was resistant to barrenness even at 160,000 plants ha-1. At 80,000 plants ha-1, the spikelet number per row (SNPR) and spikelet number per ear (SNPE) exhibited less PPV around silking than earlier stages of development. For the three genotypes, PPV in plant morphological traits and ear length was relatively constant throughout development. In addition, the period around the kernel row number (KRN) formation stage was the only time-window that the PPV in stem volume, representing PPV in above-ground plant dry matter (PDM), affected PPV in SNPR and KRN for the three genotypes, with SNPR being more affected. Although the F1 produced greater PDM at silking and 1 wk after silking, it had shorter ear length and less ear dry matter than the two parental inbred lines at the corresponding stages. When the relationships are elucidated among early ear development, plant growth, leaftip development, and dry matter partitioning to the ear, during the vegetative to silking stages and under stress conditions, then the physiological processes underlying barrenness of the tested inbred lines could be further characterized. / Syngenta, the Ontario Research Fund, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

In the present paper, an attempt is made to obtain the potential distribution in the case of two such charges, a source-sink combination, located on the axis of a bore hole drilled through an infinite, homogeneous medium.

The present work consists of two parts: experimental study of natural ventilation in a model room and the flow associated with a source-sink pair. The first part describes the natural ventilation of a model room of size 300mmx 300mm x 300mm with water as the fluid medium. It is insulated by air gaps on the four sides and at the top. A constant heat flux of 3148W/m2 has been maintained on the bottom surface of the room. This ‘room’ is surrounded by a large exterior tank containing water. The changes in temperature of the bottom, the interior and the exterior have been measured using T-type thermocouples. There are three openings each on two opposing sides of the model room. For any experiment, only one opening on each side is kept open. Fluid enters or leaves these openings and the flow is driven entirely by buoyancy forces. Three configurations have been studied: (1) The bottom opening at the inlet side and the top opening at the outlet side are open, (2) the bottom opening at the inlet side and the middle opening at the outlet side are open, and (3) the middle opening at the inlet side and the top opening at the outlet side are open. Shadowgraph technique is used for visualization. The buoyancy causes flow to enter through the bottom opening and leave through the top opening. At the openings, buoyant jets are observed and which have higher or lower relative densities. The buoyant jet at the inlet interacts with the plumes on the heated bottom plate. From these visualizations, it appears that free convection at bottom plate will be affected by the buoyant jets at the openings and the degree to which it is affected depends on the position and size of openings and distance between inlet and outlet. The flow rate due to the natural ventilation depends on the bottom surface heat flux and the height difference between the openings. The temperatures of the floor, the interior and the exterior are calculated using a simple mathematical model (Hunt and Linden [1999]). The mathematical model assumes well mixed conditions within the room and accounts for losses at the openings. The values of temperatures obtained in the experiments are reasonably well predicted by the mathematical model. The second part of the work is concerned with the interaction of a source -sink pair. The source consists of fluid issuing out of a nozzle in the form of a jet and the sink is a pipe that is kept some distance from the source pipe. Such source -sink pairs are observed in many situations including data centers, and collection of fresh water from a large reservoir that has also a discharge of pollutants. The main parameters of the problem are source and sink flow rates, the axial and lateral separations of the source and sink, and the angle between the axes of source and sink. Of concern is the percentage of source fluid that enters the sink as a function of these parameters. The experiments have been carried in a large glass water tank. The source nozzle diameter is 6mm and the sink pipe diameter is either 10mm or 20mm. The horizontal and vertical separations and angles between these source and sink pipes are adjustable. The Reynolds numbers of the source jet is about 3200. Experiments were done with the sink flow rate equal to, lower or higher than the source flow rate. The flow was visualized using KMnO4 dye and planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF). The velocity fields for some cases were obtained using Particle Image Velocitymetry (PIV). To obtain the efficiency (that is percentage of source fluid entering the sink pipe), titration method is used. A small amount of hydrochloric acid (HCL) is added in the jet fluid through the overhead tank and the fluid collected at the sink is titrated with the Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as base and Phenolphthalein as the pH indicator. The main characteristics of the jet, without a sink, were measured using PIV. The velocity profiles, jet widths and volume flow rates at various axial locations were obtained and compared with results reported in the literature for similar Reynolds number jets. For 100%, 70%, 50% and 25% efficiencies or removals and for zero lateral separations, the sink flow rate is about 1.5 times the flow rate predicted on the basis of jet properties at that point in the absence of a sink. The sink flow rate to obtain a certain efficiency increase dramatically with lateral separation; for example, when the lateral separation is about one half jet width, the required sink flow rate to obtain a certain efficiency increases by about five times. The sink diameter and the angle between source and the sink axes don’t influence efficiencies as much as the lateral separation. Data from our all experiments have been consolidated in the form of correlations that can be used for design of appropriate sinks for removal of heat and pollutants.

Disputats. Universität Hohenheim, 2002. / Haves kun i elektronisk udg.

A cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum spp.), por acumular sacarose em altas concentrações tem sido o foco de diversas pesquisas bioquímicas e fisiológicas. A relação entre a atividade fotossintética do tecido fonte da folha e o acúmulo de sacarose no órgão dreno, o colmo, ainda não é bem compreendida. Em estudos prévios observou-se que a atividade fotossintética declina durante a maturação do colmo em cultivares comerciais. As folhas de cana-de-açúcar aparentam possuir a capacidade de aumentar o fornecimento de açúcares para o colmo sob condições de aumento da demanda. E ainda, em plantas superiores, o açúcar tem um importante papel no controle do crescimento e desenvolvimento, no entanto, as vias de sinalização e seus correspondentes mecanismos moleculares e metabólicos, ainda estão sendo decifrados. Porém, as informações a respeito da regulação por açúcares são escassas em cana-de-açúcar. Assim, para compreender os mecanismos relacionados ao acúmulo de sacarose e os mecanismos metabólicos de sinalização de açúcares e análogos, realizou-se ensaios de sinalização exógena de açúcares, acompanhando as alterações do transcriptôma e metabolôma, de modo a relacionar essas informações para obtermos uma visão de biologia sistêmica. A partir deste estudo foi possível identificar relações entre a sinalização de açúcares e seus homólogos, o desenvolvimento da cana-de-açúcar e as diversas vias em que estes podem atuar, tais como; glicólise, transportadores de açúcares, genes sinalizadores, metabolismo de sacarose e trealose. No que se refere ao desenvolvimento da planta, notou-se diferenças temporais na maneira pela qual os açúcares são reconhecidos, podendo estar relacionado às alterações de papel da folha (dreno-fonte) ao longo do desenvolvimento. Observou-se uma sensibilidade maior aos 12 meses, do que aos 4 meses, tanto para a ação dos açúcares quanto para o efeito osmótico, em que houveram maiores alterações no perfil de expressão gênica e na quantidade de metabólitos diferenciais. No entanto, as respostas de alterações de expressão e concentração de metabólitos aparentam ser opostas. E ainda, a concentração ótima de açúcar para desencadear uma sinalização positiva, deve ser posteriormente investigada. / Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), due the capacity of sucrose accumulation in high concentrations has been the focus in diverse biochemical and physiological studies. The relationship between leaf photosynthesis and sugar accumulation in the sink organ, the culm, is still not fully understood. In previous studies it has been observed that photosynthesis declines during culm maturation in commercial cultivars. Sugarcane leaves appears to posess the capacity to increase the sugars supply at the culm under increased conditions demand. In higher plants, sugar has an important role controlling growth and development, however, the signaling networks and their molecular and metabolic components are still not fully understood. To understand the mechanisms related to sugar accumulation and the metabolic mechanisms of sugar signaling, exogenous sugar signaling assays were performed. Followed by transcriptomics and metabolomics analyzes using a systems biology approach. Through this study it was possible to identify the relationship between the sugars and homologues signaling, the sugarcane development and the diverse pathways where they can act, such as glicolysis, sugar transporters, signaling genes, sucrose and trehalose metabolism. At the plant development, it was possible to notice time differences on the way the sugars were recognized, what can be related to the changing leaf roles, (sink-source) through the development. Also a higher sensitivity at 12 months than 4 months, as for the sugar signaling action or as the osmotic effect was observed, which presented higher expression profile and metabolic amount alteration. However the gene expression and metabolic responses seems to be opposite. Still, an optimal sugar concentration to develop a positive signaling should be forward investigated.

Population-level dynamics are affected by temporal variation in individual vital rates of survival and reproduction, which are in turn influenced by habitat-specific processes. Variation in habitat quality within a population’s range can drive movement of individuals between different areas, and so there may be a relationship between variation in vital rates and spatial heterogeneity in population growth (λ). I investigated this relationship for the feral horses (Equus ferus caballus) of Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, from 2008−2010. The horses (n = 484 in September 2010) form a closed population that is free from human interference and predation. I analyzed annual population growth using age-structured projection matrix models parameterized with survival and fertility data collected from almost every female (98.7% of females). I found some evidence of temporal variation in growth during the two years I studied the population (λ2008−2009 = 1.065, λ2009−2010 = 1.117). Age structure appears to have converged to a stable age distribution, suggesting this growth rate has been sustained in the years leading up to the end of my study. Variation in vital rates of adult fertility and foal survival made the largest contribution to annual variation in population growth. Future growth is predicted to be most influenced by proportional changes in adult survival, which remained relatively unchanged between 2008 and 2010. The population can be stratified into three spatially distinct subunits found across a west−east longitudinal gradient of water resources (access to permanent ponds vs. ephemeral water sources and holes dug in sand). I assessed the existence of source-sink dynamics to determine if individual movements between subunits could explain spatial heterogeneity in population growth. I found that spatial heterogeneity in growth appears to be most influenced by immigration and emigration events between subunits. Evidence suggests that current growth of the overall Sable Island horse population is made possible by individual emigration from more productive into less productive subunits; in particular, a source presented in the west of the island where permanent water ponds are located.

Kyoto University (京都大学) / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第19051号 / 農博第2129号 / 新制||農||1033 / 32002 / 京都大学大学院農学研究科農学専攻 / (主査)教授 白岩 立彦, 教授 奥本 裕, 准教授 中﨑 鉄也 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当

The natural instability of hydrothermal vents creates variable environmental conditions among habitat patches. Habitat differences correspond to phenotypic variation in Ridgeia piscesae, the only ‘vent tubeworm’ on the spreading ridges of the Northeast Pacific. Ridgeia piscesae that occupy high fluid flux habitats have rapid growth rates and high reproductive output compared to tubeworms in habitats with low rates of venting fluid delivery. As recruitment occurs in all settings, worms in the “optimal habitat” may act as source populations for all habitat types. Ridgeia piscesae is a foundation species in the Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents Marine Protected Area of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. The objective of this thesis was to assess fine scale population structure in Ridgeia piscesae within the Endeavour vent system using genetic data. Population structure was assessed by analysis of the mitochondrial COI gene in 498 individuals collected from three vent sites of the Juan de Fuca Ridge; Middle Valley (n=26), Endeavour Segment (n=444) and Axial Volcano (n=28). Genotyping using microsatellite markers was attempted but all loci developed for closely related tubeworm species failed to amplify microsatellites in Ridgeia piscesae. Sequence analysis identified 32 mitochondrial COI haplotypes; one dominant haplotype (68%), three common haplotypes (4%-7%) and the remainder were rare (<2%). Axial Volcano was differentiated from Middle Valley and Endeavour. Within Endeavour, genetic sub-structuring of Ridgeia piscesae occurred among vent fields (Clam Bed, Main Endeavour and Mothra) and habitat types < 10 km apart. Patterns of genetic variation and coalescent based models suggested that gene flow among vent fields moved in a north to south direction in individuals from high flux habitat but from south to north in individuals from low flux habitat. Tubeworms from low flux habitat had more nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes than those from high flux habitats. Estimates of the number of immigrants per generation moving from high flux to low flux subpopulations was four times higher than in the reverse direction. The effective population size was estimated to be three times greater in high flux habitat when the generation times for individuals from each habitat type were considered. Demographic tests for population equilibrium identified a recent and rapidly expanding metapopulation at Endeavour. Models of gene flow in Ridgeia piscesae reflected the general oceanographic circulation described at Endeavour. Genetic data illustrate that dispersing larvae exploit the bi-directional currents created through plume driven circulation within the Endeavour axial valley and suggest that adult position on or near chimneys may influence larval dispersal trajectories upon release. Building on known ecological and biological features, this study also showed that Ridgeia piscesae from limited and ephemeral high flux habitat act as sources to the overall metapopulation and that asymmetrical migration and habitat stability sustain high genetic diversity in low flux sinks. The overall metapopulation at Endeavour experiences frequent extinction and recolonization events, differences in individual reproductive success, and source-sink dynamics that decrease the overall effective size and genetic diversity within the population. These factors have important implications for the conservation of a foundation species. / Graduate / 0307 / 0329 / 0369 / lcpuetz@uvic.ca

A cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum spp.), por acumular sacarose em altas concentrações tem sido o foco de diversas pesquisas bioquímicas e fisiológicas. A relação entre a atividade fotossintética do tecido fonte da folha e o acúmulo de sacarose no órgão dreno, o colmo, ainda não é bem compreendida. Em estudos prévios observou-se que a atividade fotossintética declina durante a maturação do colmo em cultivares comerciais. As folhas de cana-de-açúcar aparentam possuir a capacidade de aumentar o fornecimento de açúcares para o colmo sob condições de aumento da demanda. E ainda, em plantas superiores, o açúcar tem um importante papel no controle do crescimento e desenvolvimento, no entanto, as vias de sinalização e seus correspondentes mecanismos moleculares e metabólicos, ainda estão sendo decifrados. Porém, as informações a respeito da regulação por açúcares são escassas em cana-de-açúcar. Assim, para compreender os mecanismos relacionados ao acúmulo de sacarose e os mecanismos metabólicos de sinalização de açúcares e análogos, realizou-se ensaios de sinalização exógena de açúcares, acompanhando as alterações do transcriptôma e metabolôma, de modo a relacionar essas informações para obtermos uma visão de biologia sistêmica. A partir deste estudo foi possível identificar relações entre a sinalização de açúcares e seus homólogos, o desenvolvimento da cana-de-açúcar e as diversas vias em que estes podem atuar, tais como; glicólise, transportadores de açúcares, genes sinalizadores, metabolismo de sacarose e trealose. No que se refere ao desenvolvimento da planta, notou-se diferenças temporais na maneira pela qual os açúcares são reconhecidos, podendo estar relacionado às alterações de papel da folha (dreno-fonte) ao longo do desenvolvimento. Observou-se uma sensibilidade maior aos 12 meses, do que aos 4 meses, tanto para a ação dos açúcares quanto para o efeito osmótico, em que houveram maiores alterações no perfil de expressão gênica e na quantidade de metabólitos diferenciais. No entanto, as respostas de alterações de expressão e concentração de metabólitos aparentam ser opostas. E ainda, a concentração ótima de açúcar para desencadear uma sinalização positiva, deve ser posteriormente investigada. / Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), due the capacity of sucrose accumulation in high concentrations has been the focus in diverse biochemical and physiological studies. The relationship between leaf photosynthesis and sugar accumulation in the sink organ, the culm, is still not fully understood. In previous studies it has been observed that photosynthesis declines during culm maturation in commercial cultivars. Sugarcane leaves appears to posess the capacity to increase the sugars supply at the culm under increased conditions demand. In higher plants, sugar has an important role controlling growth and development, however, the signaling networks and their molecular and metabolic components are still not fully understood. To understand the mechanisms related to sugar accumulation and the metabolic mechanisms of sugar signaling, exogenous sugar signaling assays were performed. Followed by transcriptomics and metabolomics analyzes using a systems biology approach. Through this study it was possible to identify the relationship between the sugars and homologues signaling, the sugarcane development and the diverse pathways where they can act, such as glicolysis, sugar transporters, signaling genes, sucrose and trehalose metabolism. At the plant development, it was possible to notice time differences on the way the sugars were recognized, what can be related to the changing leaf roles, (sink-source) through the development. Also a higher sensitivity at 12 months than 4 months, as for the sugar signaling action or as the osmotic effect was observed, which presented higher expression profile and metabolic amount alteration. However the gene expression and metabolic responses seems to be opposite. Still, an optimal sugar concentration to develop a positive signaling should be forward investigated.

La septoriose (pathogène Zymoseptoria tritici) est la plus importante maladie foliaire des cultures de blé en Europe. Les méthodes de lutte comprennent la résistance variétale, les stratégies d’évitement de la maladie et le recours aux fongicides. Cependant, ces stratégies n’assurent pas une protection complète des cultures de blé. La tolérance à la septoriose est une approche complémentaire qui vise justement à maintenir le rendement en présence de symptômes. La tolérance à la septoriose dépend de traits physiologiques de la plante et d’équilibres source/puits : la demande des puits (croissance des grains) doit être satisfaite malgré une disponibilité réduite des sources (capacité photosynthétique réduite par les symptômes foliaires). La surface verte du couvert, la sénescence et les composantes du rendement sont des traits potentiels de tolérance intéressants qui ont été étudiés lors de ce projet. Une étude de datamining, une expérience en serre et deux expériences au champ ont été menées pour fournir des informations complémentaires sur les mécanismes de tolérance à la septoriose. Les effets des interactions génotype × environnement sur les traits de tolérance ont été étudiés pour deux saisons × cinq localisations × neuf cultivars. La nutrition azotée et le métabolisme de quatre lignées double-haploïdes (DH, contrastées du point de vue de leur tolérance à la septoriose) ont été examinés dans une expérience en conditions contrôlées à l'UMR ECOSYS (INRA, AgroParisTech Grignon, France). Les bilans source/puits de six lignées DH contrastant pour la tolérance ont également été examinés en fonction de leurs réponses à un traitement d'égrainage, appliqué dans une expérience au champ à Hereford (Royaume-Uni). Enfin, une expérience au champ avec deux stratégies fongicides (contrôle total des maladies / lutte contre les maladies non-ciblées) a permis d’étudier la tolérance à la septoriose de six cultivars modernes (Leicestershire, Royaume-Uni). L'objectif principal était de vérifier les traits potentiels de tolérance à la septoriose sur des cultivars actuellement commercialisés. Des traits potentiels de tolérance à la septoriose ont été identifiés tels que la date d’épiaison, le faible degré de limitation des puits par les sources lors de la phase de remplissage du grain des couverts sains, la distribution verticale des surfaces foliaires favorisant des feuilles supérieures relativement grandes. Les résultats ont montré que ces caractères pourraient être sélectionnables, sans compromis avec le rendement potentiel. Enfin, le projet a également discuté du besoin de méthodes alternatives de quantification de la tolérance du blé à la septoriose, ainsi que de l'importance des variations environnementales qui doivent être prises en compte pour étudier les variations génétiques de la tolérance, mais qui pourraient également être utilisées pour identifier des environnements tolérants. / The Septoria tritici blotch disease (STB, pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici) is the most damaging foliar infection of wheat crops in Europe. Disease management strategies include cultivar resistance, disease escape strategy and fungicides. However, these strategies have failed to provide a complete protection of wheat crops. The STB tolerance is a complementary approach which aims to maintain yield in the presence of the symptoms. The tolerance of STB relies on plant physiology and source/sink balance: the sink demand (the grain growth) must be satisfied in spite of reduced source availability (photosynthetic capacity as affected by the STB symptoms on the leaves). The green canopy area, the senescence timing and the grain yield components are interesting potential sources of tolerance that were studied in this project. A data-mining study, one glasshouse experiment and two field experiments were carried out providing complementary insights on STB tolerance mechanisms. The genotype × environment interaction effects on tolerance traits were investigated for two seasons × five locations × nine cultivars datasets. The nitrogen nutrition and metabolism of four doubled-haploid (DH) lines contrasting for STB tolerance were examined in a controlled-glasshouse experiment at UMR ECOSYS (INRA,AgroParisTech) Grignon, France. The source/sink balance of six DH lines contrasting for STB tolerance was also examined according to their responses to a spikelet removal treatment, applied in a field experiment in Hereford, UK. Finally, a field experiment with two fungicide regimes (full disease control and non-target (STB) disease control) probed the STB tolerance of six modern UK winter wheat cultivars in Leicestershire, UK. The main objective was to verify identified potential STB tolerance traits in commercial cultivars. Putative STB tolerance traits have been identified such as the early heading date, the low degree of grain-source limitation of healthy crops during the grain filling phase, the vertical canopy distribution favouring a relatively larger flag-leaf. Results showed these traits might be selectable in wheat breeding without a trade-off with the potential yield. Finally, the project also discussed the need for alternative STB tolerance quantification methods, as well as the importance of environmental variations which have to be taken into account to study genetic variation in tolerance, but which could also be used to discriminate tolerant environment.