The reversal of conventional sex roles was enigmatic to Darwin, who suggested that it may evolve when sex ratios are female biased [1]. Here we present direct evidence confirming Darwin's hypothesis. We investigated mating system evolution in a sex-role-reversed beetle (Megabruchidius dorsalis) using experimental evolution under manipulated sex ratios and food regimes. In female-biased populati...

Three peroxidase (POD) cDNAs were isolated from dehydration-treated fibrous roots of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) plant via the screening of a cDNA library, and their expressions were assessed to characterize functions of each POD in relation to environmental stress. Three PODs were divided into two groups, designated the basic PODs (swpb4, swpb5) and the anionic PODs (swpa7), on the basis of ...

The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana was re-isolated from surface sterilized pieces of the cocoa pod outer section and peduncle, two and three months after flowers of greenhouse cocoa plants were hand-pollinated and sprayed with a 1x107 mL-1 suspension of B. bassiana conidia. The colonization frequency of B. bassiana on cocoa pods was 0.8% and 1.3% two and three months post-spraying o...

This diversity in an interface partially demonstrates the difficulty in connecting these devices to computers. Since each device is unique, even someone skilled in electronic design may have a tough time controlling them with or connecting them to a computer. If none of the methods provided is appropriate for the designer or end application, decisions must be made as to which method to use, and...

objective(s):previous studies demonstrated a functional similarity between vertebrate and honey bee nervous systems. the aim of the present study was to compare the effects of heroin and iranian street kerack, a combination of heroin and caffeine, on sensory threshold and locomotor activity in honey bees. materials and methods: all drugs were given orally to honey bees 30 min before each experi...

In order to elucidate the effect of sowing date on oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) yield and yield components, three varieties including Tower, Rafal and Global were sown from November 7 to December 22, 1998-99 in four dates with 15day intervals in Dezful region. A split-plot design based on randomized complete blocks with four replications was used in which levels of sowing dates and cultivar...

This study presents the feeding values of leaves, seeds and seeds-removed pods of Moringa stenopetala for ruminants as evaluated by in vitro gas production technique. Feed samples were analyzed for proximate nutrients using official methods. Each feed samples (200 mg) were incubated in buffered rumen fluid for 96 h and fermentation characteristics were estimated using established in vitro gas p...

Studies of mating and reproductive behavior have contributed much to our understanding of various animals' ecological success. The desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, is an important agricultural pest. However, knowledge of locust courtship and precopulatory behavior is surprisingly limited. Here we provide a comprehensive study of the precopulatory behavior of both sexes of the desert locust...

Pollen of acacias is transported by insects as polyads, composite pollen grains. The polyad has enough pollen grains to fertilize all ovules within a flower and hence all seed within a pod may be full sibs. Isozyme markers were used to test this hypothesis in two populations of Acacia melanoxylon R.Br. The proportions of fruit pods with multiple paternity detected in two populations were 0.08 a...