The in vitro dry matter digestibility'(I.V.D.) of the immaure stems of timothy,

A detailed account of symptoms produced by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on susceptible and resistant cultivars of yam {Dioscorea alata) in Solomon Islands is given. A superficial blackening of upper leaf surfaces of some cultivars is unusual and worthy of further study. In pathogenicity tests with isolates of C gloeosporioides from various sources, those that were virulent on D. alata were all from D. alata except one from D. esculema and one from Cucumis sativus but only nine of 30 isolates from D. alata were virulent on this host. Since all four isolates of the yam pathogen tested on D. nummuiaria and D. trifida were virulent, it is inappropriate to retain the epiphet f. sp. alatae proposed by earlier authors. Considerable variation in cultural morphology existed among virulent isolates, the only consistent character being production of dark pigment, although this was also produced by some saprophytic isolates. Most reisolations of C. glveosporioides from lesions resulting from inoculation yielded isolates identical with the original inoculum but also some reisolates had a different morphology.

No abstract

An experimental model for acute hepatic failure in man was obtained in pigs by hepatic devascularization. After operation, liver function was grossly impaired, movements became inco‐ordinated and coma ensued. Most animals died 5½–8½ h after operation. Plasma unesteritied fatty acid and free (but not total) tryptophan concentrations rose markedly after operation and correlated significantly with each other. Brain tryptophan concentration increased and correlated significantly with plasma free tryptophan concentration. Increased tryptophan was found in the four brain regions studied (hypothalamus, thalamus, caudate and cortex) and was associated with raised 5‐hydroxytryptamine turnover as indicated by raised 5‐hydroxyindolylacetic acid concentration. Results are discussed in relation to altered tryptophan metabolism in human hepatic coma and to investigations of the influence of plasma unesterified fatty acid and free tryptophan changes on brain tryptophan metabolism in the rat.