Ultrastructure and Radiolabelling of Leaf Cuticles from Ivy (Hedera helixL.) Plantsin vitroand duringex vitroAcclimatization

Cuticle ultrastructure and radiolabelling of isolated cuticlesafter incorporation of [¹⁴C] acetate in foliar discs were investigatedwith ivy plants grownin vitrothenex vitro. Results show an increasein thickness, mass and wax content, between young and expandedleaves, for bothin vitroandex vitrocuticles. The cuticle ofinvitrounexpanded leaves was very thin and only constituted alamellate zone. The ultrastructure ofin vitroyoung and expandedleaf cuticles showed characteristics similar toin situcuticles.The thickness of the lamellate zone remained fairly constantand represented 33% of the cuticle thickness in young leaves,but only 11.4% in expanded leaves. The number of lamellar unitsdecreased from 14 to nine between these two growth stages. Themain difference between young leaves developedin vitroorex vitrowasa thinner lamellate zone forex vitrocuticles. However, theselatter cuticles had an intermediary zone between the lamellateand reticulate zones. The cuticle thickness of expanded leaveswas greater forin vitrocuticles suggesting a temporary decreasein cuticle biosynthesis after transfer of the plant fromin vitrotoexvitro.Results from cuticle radiolabelling show higher radioactivityincorporation in cuticles isolated from leaves developedex vitrocomparedtoin vitro. This radiolabelling was particularly marked forexvitroyoung leaf cuticles and depended on the duration of theexvitrogrowth period revealing a progressive activation of cuticlebiosynthesis in response to new environmental conditions. Hedera helix; ivy leaf cuticle; in vitroplants; electron microscopy; radiolabelling; isolated cuticles     

菰适应湿地环境的解剖和屏障结构特征研究

菰(Zizania latifolia)是一种多年生挺水植物,为了探讨该植物根、茎和叶的解剖结构、组织化学及其质外体屏障的通透性生理。该文利用光学显微镜和荧光显微镜,对菰的根、茎、叶进行了解剖学和组织化学研究。结果表明:(1)菰不定根解剖结构由外而内分别为表皮、外皮层、单层细胞的厚壁机械组织层、皮层、内皮层和维管柱;茎结构由外而内分别为角质层、表皮、周缘厚壁机械组织层、皮层、具维管束的厚壁组织层和髓腔。叶鞘具有表皮和具维管束皮层,叶片具有表皮,叶肉和维管束。(2)不定根具有位于内侧的内皮层及其邻近栓质化细胞和外侧的外皮层组成的屏障结构;茎具内侧厚壁机械组织层,外侧的角质层和周缘厚壁机械组织层组成的屏障结构,屏障结构的细胞壁具凯氏带、木栓质和木质素沉积的组织化学特点,叶表面具有角质层。(3)菰通气组织包括根中通气组织,茎、叶皮层的通气组织和髓腔。(4)菰的屏障结构和解剖结构是其适应湿地环境的重要特征,但其茎周缘厚壁层和厚壁组织层较薄。由此推测,菰适应湿地环境,但在旱生环境中分布有一定的局限性。     

Dispersed cuticles of putative non-vascular plants from the Lower Devonian of Britain

Dispersed cuticles with surface ornamentation recovered from the Lower Old Red Sandstone (Gedinnian) of Hereford and Worcester, England, are described, named and placed in an artificial, morphologically based classification system. Four species of the new genus Cosmochlaina are distinguished on the nature of the ornament. The affinities of the plants covered by such cuticles remain unknown: the cuticles are named to facilitate their use in biogeographic, stratigraphic and evolutionary studies.     

Dispersed cuticles of putative non-vascular plants from the Lower Devonian of Britain

Dispersed cuticles with surface ornamentation recovered from the Lower Old Red Sandstone (Gedinnian) of Hereford and Worcester, England, are described, named and placed in an artificial, morphologically based classification system. Four species of the new genus Cosmochlaina are distinguished on the nature of the ornament. The affinities of the plants covered by such cuticles remain unknown: the cuticles are named to facilitate their use in biogeographic, stratigraphic and evolutionary studies.     

Chemotaxonomy of some problematic palaeozoic plants

Chemical data are given on the remains of nine fossil genera ranging from Precambrian to Carboniferous in age (Chuaria, Sporangites, Taeniocrada, Orestovia, Parka, Protosalvinia, Spongiophyton, Solenites, Botryococcus). It is suggested that such chemical data are useful additional criteria in making taxonomic assignments in palaeontology. Analyses indicate a high level of organic chemical diversity, although the original composition has evidently been altered by temperature and pressure over a long period of time. The labile chemical constituents are retained within a more chemically inert carbon matrix, which shows a progressive alteration of the ratios of C, N, O and H with respect relative age, similar to that seen in the coalification process.The chemical composition of Sporangites specimens is more suggestive of an animal rather than a plant affinity; it is here suggested that this genus represents in part the remains of some animal egg test. Hydrolytic products of Solenites and Taeniocrada indicate the presence of aliphatic hydroxy acids suggesting the presence of cutin and suberin. The chemical compositions of Orestovia, Parka, Protosalvinia, Spongiophyton and Botryococcus are interpreted as being consistent with an algal rather than a vascular plant affinity. Evidence for extreme diagenesis of the acritarch-like Chuaria greatly limits chemotaxonomic consideration. The possible role of thermal and biotic-thermal degradation patterns seen in palaeochemistry is discussed.     

植物角质层生物学特性及水分渗透性研究进展

植物角质层作为植物体与外界环境的第一道保护屏障, 其最主要的功能是防止植物体过度失水。揭示植物角质层的生物学功能及其原理将为现代农业的发展以及仿生材料的开发应用提供科学指导。该文综述了植物角质层的生物学特性及其与水分渗透性关系的研究进展, 并展望了角质层水分渗透研究的应用前景。     

中国植物化石角质层研究综述

总结近30年来中国大陆植物化石角质层研究的进展,介绍角质层分析的3个主要研究方向:植物化石表皮微细构造研究、植物化石气孔参数与大气CO2和气候变化研究以及植物化石角质层地球化学特征研究.举出众多典型实例,提出植物化石角质层分析的研究展望.     

构树雌雄株叶片解剖结构特征的比较研究

为了研究雌雄异株植物构树（Broussonetia papyrifera（L.） Vent.）的性别差异,以其叶片为材料,采用石蜡切片法,对其主要解剖结构特征进行观察和比较。结果显示：（1）构树雌、雄株叶片解剖结构组成一致,均由表皮、叶肉组织和叶脉3部分组成。其上、下表皮均由一层细胞构成,具有较厚的角质层及丰富的表皮毛,叶肉中栅栏组织高度发达,此外,维管系统在叶中所占比例很大;（2）构树雌、雄株叶片细胞大小及厚度在各类型组织间存在一定差异,雄株叶片上表皮厚度、栅栏组织厚度、主脉维管束木质部厚度及维管束厚度均显著大于雌株叶片,且在栅海比、组织结构紧密度、组织结构疏松度和主脉维管束木质部面积占维管束的比例等方面也与雌株有极显著差异。研究结果表明构树叶片的解剖结构不仅具有旱生植物叶片的典型特征,而且还表现出明显的性别差异,这可能与构树雌、雄株的生殖分配有关。     

Ultrastructural studies of fossil plant cuticles: Ticoa harrisii from the early Cretaceous of Argentina

ARCHANGELSKY, S., TAYLOR, T. N. & KURMANN, M. H., 1985. Ultrastructural studies of fossil plant cuticles: Ticoa harrisii from the early Cretaceous of Argentina. The fine structure of fossil plant cuticles of Cretaceous age demonstrates well preserved layers that are topographically equivalent to those in some extant plants. Cuticle stratification on specialized structures (stomatal apparatus and trichomes) is presented, together with an account of the fine structure of both the upper and lower cuticular membrane. Levels of cuticle stratification are compared with those of extant plants.     

植物角质膜研究进展

植物的角质膜是植物与外界环境的交界面, 有利于植物减少蒸腾、抵抗紫外伤害和防止病虫害等。植物与外部环境相互作用的过程中, 其角质膜会构建自身的防御系统, 如通过自身结构、成分的改变及产生次生代谢产物来减轻外界不利环境因子的胁迫。因此, 植物角质膜与环境之间的密切关系对于植物生长有着重要意义。该文综述了植物角质膜的结构、成分、形成、功能及其与次生代谢和环境的关系, 同时对研究中存在的问题进行了讨论并展望了相关领域的研究前景。     

Cuticle Ultrastructure of Hemicycliophora arenaria,Aphelenchus avenae,Hirschmanniella gracilis and Hirschmanniella belli

Ultrathin sections of all parasitic stages of Hemicycliophora arenaria revealed two major divisions in the body covering. The outermost was a seven-layered sheath and the innermost a five-layered cuticle comprising three zones; an outer trilaminate cortex, a fibrillar matrix and a striated basal layer. The body covering of the nonparasitic males also exhibited two major divisions: the outer, a relatively thin four-layered sheath and the inner, a six-layered cuticle consisting of three zones; an outer trilaminate cortex, a two-layered matrix and a striated basal layer. The cuticles of all stages of Aphelenchus avenae were similar, consisting of five layers divisible into three zones; an outer trilaminate cortex, a fibrillar matrix and a striated basal layer. Hirschmanniella gracilis and H. belli cuticles were also similar in all stages examined, consisting of six layers divisible into three zones; an outer trilaminate cortex, a two-layered matrix and a striated basal layer.     

我国荒漠不同生态类型植物的旱生结构

本文研究了我国荒漠15种不同类型植物的解剖结构。结果表明,超旱生和旱生植物具有典型的旱生结构,尤以超旱生植物明显,例如沙冬青、梭梭。 旱生结构的基本特征是：叶片及角质层厚,具表皮毛、腺毛、瘤状或乳状突起,气孔下陷,栅栏组织及贮水组织发达,构成等面叶及肉质叶,具含晶细胞和粘液细胞;维管束鞘、维管束帽及纤维细胞的存在,增强了植株的坚固性。中生植物叶片及角质层较薄：气孔平置或拱起,栅栏组织及海绵组织同等发育,胞间隙大,为背腹叶,这是典型的中生结构。     

Studies on plant cuticle

The cuticles of plants of the Saxifragaceae, Rosaceae and Leguminosae are compared by chemical methods. Wide differences occur in the deposits of surface wax and cuticular membrane even within species of one genus. The relative proportions of four hydroxy-fatty acids in the cutin acids of plants of the families are assessed and the value of cutin analysis as a taxonomic criterion is discussed.     

Plant response to drought stress simulated by ABA application: Changes in chemical composition of cuticular waxes

Plant cuticles form the interface between epidermal plant cells and the atmosphere. The cuticle creates an effective barrier against water loss, bacterial and fungal infection and also protects plant tissue from UV radiation. It is composed of the cutin matrix and embedded soluble lipids also called waxes. Chemical composition of cuticular waxes and physiological properties of cuticles are affected by internal regulatory mechanisms and environmental conditions (e.g. drought, light, and humidity). Here, we tested the effect of drought stress simulation by the exogenous application of abscisic acid (ABA) on cuticular wax amount and composition. ABA-treated plants and control plants differed in total aboveground biomass, leaf area, stomatal density and aperture, and carbon isotope composition. They did not differ in total wax amount per area but there were peculiar differences in the abundance of particular components. ABA-treated plants contained significantly higher proportions of aliphatic components characterized by chain length larger than C₂₆, compared to control plants. This trend was consistent both between and within different functional groups of wax components. This can lead to a higher hydrophobicity of the cuticular transpiration barrier and thus decrease cuticular water loss in ABA-treated plants. At both ABA-treated and control plants alcohols with chain length C₂₄ and C₂₆ were predominant. Such a shift towards wax compounds having a higher average chain length under drought conditions can be interpreted as an adaptive response of plants towards drought stress.     

金线莲与台湾金线莲显微结构比较

通过石蜡切片和表皮制片观察比较金线莲Anoectochilus roxburghii和台湾金线莲A.formosanus根、茎、叶的显微结构特征。结果表明,金线莲与台湾金线莲显微结构的主要区别在于根皮层厚度、维管束数目、叶构造、叶脉颜色、表皮乳头细胞的形状和气孔密度,这些特征可作为金线莲物种的显微鉴别依据。     

Root-synthesized cytokinin in Arabidopsis is distributed in the shoot by the transpiration stream

To clarify how root-synthesized cytokinins (CKs) are transported to young shoot organs, CK distribution patterns were analysed in free-CK-responsive ARR5::GUS transformants of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. together with free plus bound CKs using specific CK monoclonal antibodies. Plants were subjected to two different growth conditions, completely protected from any air movement, or exposed to gentle wind 3 h before harvesting. In wind-protected plants the strongest ARR5::GUS expression was found in the root cap statocytes, spreading upwards in the vascular cylinder. This pattern in roots was congruent with that found by CK immunolocalization. Shoots of wind-protected plants displayed either no or only low ARR5::GUS expression in the stem vascular bundles, nodal ramifications, and the bases of flower buds; shoot vascular bundles showed patterns of acropetally decreasing staining and the apical parts of buds and leaves were free from ARR5::GUS expression. In wind-exposed plants ARR5::GUS expression was considerably increased in shoots, also in basal-to-apical decreasing gradients. Immunolabelled shoots showed differential staining, with the strongest label in the vascular bundles of stems, leaves, and buds. The fact of the apparent absence of free CK in the buds of wind-protected plants and the typical upward decreasing gradients of free and conjugated CKs suggest that the bulk of the CK is synthesized in the root cap, exported through the xylem and accumulates at sites of highest transpiration where cuticles do not yet exist or do not protect against water loss.     

Imaging the distribution of the stable isotopes of nitrogen 14N and 15N in biological samples by "secondary-ion emission microscopy"

Thanks to the "secondary-ion emission microscope" (CAMECA IMS 300), we have been able to image the distribution of the stable isotopes of nitrogen 14N and 15N in sections of plant roots (spatial resolution better than 1 micron), as well as to estimate the relative concentrations of these isotopes. The plants used (Lupinus spec.) originated from seeds with natural (i.e., 14N) nitrogen and had been fed for a few days with [15N]-nitrate before sampling. We have found in root sections of 6-day-old plants (prepared at 5 mm from the root tip) a clear-cut regionalization of the distribution of 15N between the vascular cylinder and the cortex. The latter contained approximately 5% 15N (of total nitrogen), whereas the relative concentration of the heavy isotope in the vascular cylinder was significantly lower. The observed concentration difference is probably due to the Casparian strip, which is a barrier for the apoplastic diffusion of solutes from the cortex to the vascular cylinder.     

The cuticles of some Angiosperm leaves and fruits

The cuticles of twenty-four species from a wide range of mono- and di-cotyledonous plants were examined by chemical methods. The cuticles differ markedly in the amount and composition of the surface wax, in the thickness of the cuticular membrane, and in the content and composition of the cutin of the membrane. Fruits usually have heavier wax deposits and much thicker membranes than leaves. No direct relationship exists between surface waxiness and thickness of the membrane. Alkanes and primary alcohols are prominent in many of the surface waxes; triterpenoids occur less frequently. The cutin content of the membrane varies considerably; a delicate membrane tends to have a low content of cutin in which fatty acids are prevalent, and a well-developed membrane a higher content of cutin more rich in hydroxy-fatty acids. 10,16-Dihydroxyhexadecanoic acid is often an important constituent of cutin; 9,10,18-trihydroxyoctadecanoic acid is most prominent in the cutin of thicker membranes. The possible influence of the variations in cutin acids upon the structure of cutin and the taxonomic implications of wax and cutin composition are discussed.     

Trilobite cuticle thickness in relation to palaeoenvironment

100 thickness measurements from thin sections of cephala or pygidia of early Ordovician trilobites occurring across an onshore to offshore environmental gradient show that progressively greater maximum cuticle thickness was characteristic of increasingly inshore sites. There is a 40-fold difference between the thinnest and thickest cuticles, and exclusively thin cuticles are confined to the offshore Olenid Biofacies. Variability in cuticle thickness increases offshore to onshore. Environmental control is shown to be more influential on cuticle thickness than is the overall length of the trilobite: some comparatively large trilobites having thin cuticles and small trilobites thick cuticles. The environmental factors which might be responsible for the pattern are briefly discussed. The thin cuticles dominating the offshore Olenid Biofacies were probably appropriate for dysaerobic conditions. Thick cuticles in the most inshore biofacies may have offered protection against predators and turbulence, but the additional presence there of trilobites with thinner cuticles is considered to reflect the greater heterogeneity of the epeiric habitat.     

The Biology of Rotylenchulus macrodoratus

Rotylenchulus macrodoratus completed its embryogenic development in about 16-19 days at 18-32 C. On olive seedlings the life-cycle from egg to egg was completed in 45-55 days. The first molt occurred in the egg while the other three were superimposed, with retention of successive larval cuticles. Only immature vermiform and swollen egg-laying females were found attached to olive roots. Eggs are laid in a gelatinous matrix on the root surface. The maximum number of eggs seen was 55. Males were not parasitic. Dianthus barbatus, Parietaria officinalis, and Eriobotrya japonica were found to be hosts of the parasite. Observed in all infested hosts was an uninucleate giant cell that expanded from the endodermis toward the center of the stele in primary roots, and from the secondary vascular tissue toward the periphery of the cortex in secondary roots.