Sodium Accumulation in Pappophorum I. Uptake, Transport and Recirculation

The uptake, transport and accumulation of sodium were comparedin two grasses: Pappophorum pappifervm (Lam.) O. Kuntze, a glycophyteand P. philippianum L. R. Parodi, a facultative halophyte. Atlow salinity levels, (50 mM NaCl) shoots of salt-treated P.pappiferum accumulated lower Na⁺ concentrations than the otherspecies. This difference does not seem to be related to Na⁺uptake, as in short-time experiments (< I h), whole plantsof both species showed similar rates of Na⁺ uptake and transport Sodium recirculation was assessed in split-root experiments.It was similar in control (previously non-salinized) plantsof both species, but in salt-treated plants it was more significantin P. pappiferum. This mechanism, along with increased lossof recently acquired Na⁺, could contribute to keep Na⁺ levelslower in shoots of P. pappiferum than in P. philippianum. Pappophorum, Gramineae, sodium recirculation, salinity     

Salt Glands in the Zoysieae

Salt glands were found in two species of the genus Zoysia ofthe tribe Zoysieae, sub-family Chloridoideae (Poaceae). Glandsprotrude from and are recumbent to the leaf epidermis, and consistof two cells, a basal cell and upper cap cell. Glands were betterdeveloped on the adaxial surfaces. Those on the abaxial surfaceappear to be non-functional. Zoysia matrella, the more salt-tolerantspecies, had a higher density of larger glands, and secretedmore sodium per unit leaf mass, resulting in much lower leafsap osmolalities than those of the more salt-sensitive Z. japonica.The finding of salt glands in the tribe Zoysieae confirms itsrelation to the four other tribes within the sub-family Chloridoideaein which salt glands have previously been reported. Salt glands, Zoysieae, Poaceae, Japanese lawngrass, Zoysia japonica, Manilagrass, Zoysia matrella, sodium chloride, salt tolerance, secretion     

Secretory structures in plants: Lessons from the Plumbaginaceae on their origin,evolution and roles in stress tolerance

The Plumbaginaceae (non-core Caryophyllales) is a family well known for species adapted to a wide range of arid and saline habitats. Of its salt-tolerant species, at least 45 are in the genus Limonium; two in each of Aegialitis, Limoniastrum and Myriolimon, and one each in Psylliostachys, Armeria, Ceratostigma, Goniolimon and Plumbago. All the halophytic members of the family have salt glands and salt glands are also common in the closely related Tamaricaceae and Frankeniaceae. The halophytic species of the three families can secrete a range of ions (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻, HCO₃⁻, SO₄^2-) and other elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn). Salt glands are, however, absent in salt-tolerant members of the sister family Polygonaceae. We describe the structure of the salt glands in the three families and consider whether glands might have arisen as a means to avoid the toxicity of Na⁺ and/or Cl⁻ or to regulate Ca²⁺ concentrations with the leaves. We conclude that the establishment of lineages with salt glands took place after the split between the Polygonaceae and its sister group the Plumbaginaceae.     

Characterization and physical mapping of ribosomal RNA gene families in Plantago

• Background and Aims The organization of rRNA genes incultivated Plantago ovata Forsk. and several of its wild allieswas analysed to gain insight into the phylogenetic relationshipsof these species in the genus which includes some 200 species. • Methods Specific primers were designed to amplify theinternal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) regions from sevenPlantago species and the resulting fragments were cloned andsequenced. Similarly, using specific primers, the 5S rRNA genesfrom these species were amplified and subsequently cloned. Fluorescencein-situ hybridization (FISH) was used for physical mapping of5S and 45S ribosomal RNA genes. • Results The ITS1 region is 19–29 bp longer thanthe ITS2 in different Plantago species. The 5S rRNA gene-repeatingunit varies in length from 289 to 581 bp. Coding regions arehighly conserved across species, but the non-transcribed spacers(NTS) do not match any database sequences. The clone from thecultivated species P. ovata was used for physical mapping ofthese genes by FISH. Four species have one FISH site while threehave two FISH sites. In P. lanceolata and P. rhodosperma, the5S and 45S (18S-5·8S-25S) sites are coupled. • Conclusions Characterization of 5S and 45S rRNA geneshas indicated a possible origin of P. ovata, the only cultivatedspecies of the genus and also the only species with x = 4, froma species belonging to subgenus Psyllium. Based on the studiesreported here, P. ovata is closest to P. arenaria, althoughon the basis of other data the two species have been placedin different subgenera. FISH mapping can be used as an efficienttool to help determine phylogenetic relationships in the genusPlantago and show the interrelationship between P. lanceolataand P. lagopus.     

A Comparison of the Seasonal Rates of Dry Matter Production of Three Coniferous Species with Contrasting Patterns of Growth

Seasonal rates of growth and dry-matter production were examinedin second-year seedlings of Larix leptolepis, Pinus contorta,and Pinus radiata grown in an unheated glasshouse. The deciduousLarix had a higher rate of production of dry matter than eitherof the two species of Pinus until the time of leaf fall, andthis was accompanied by a greater height and diameter increment.However, between the time of leaf fall in Larix and the endof the growing season, the species of Pinus increased in dryweight by more than 25 per cent, and in consequence Larix, becauseof its deciduous habit, lost much of the advantage of its fastgrowth-rate. Comparison of the two pine species showed thatP. radiata, while making nearly 3.5 times as much height incrementas P. contorta, had only a 45 per cent higher dry weight thanthat species at the end of the experiment. The dry-weight differenceswere due to differences in relative growth-rate (RGR). The RGR differences between the two pine species resulted fromdifferences in net assimilation rate (NAR) rather than differencesin the ratio of photosynthetic to non-photosynthetic tissue,and P. radiata gained most of its dry-weight advantage duringthe two months of October and November. It seems possible thatthe higher NAR of P. radiata at this time was a reflection ofthe difference in growth habit between the two pine species,and possible mechanisms by which growth may have affected NARin this experiment are briefly considered.     

Salt Tolerance in the Triticeae: Solute Accumulation and Distribution in an Amphidiploid derived from Triticum aestivum cv. Chinese Spring and Thinopyrum bessarabicum

An amphidiploid derived by colchicine treatment of a hybridbetween Triticum aestivum cv Chinese Spring and Thinopyrum bessarabicumwas found to be more salt tolerant than the wheat cultivarsChinese Spring, Kharchia and Ciano 79 in terms of survival andgrain yield at 250 mol m^–3 NaCl. Tolerance was relatedto the ability of the amphidiploid to exclude Na and Cl fromthe shoots, and particularly from the young leaves, developinginflorescence and grain. There was no relationship between thesalt tolerance of the different species and varieties testedand changes in the concentrations of other solutes. The amphidiploiddid not inherit the high glycinebetaine concentrations characteristicof the wheatgrass parent. Amphidiploids produced from crossesbetween Thinopyrum species and wheat may be useful as stress-resistantnew crops. Key words: Salt stress, solute accumulation, Thinopyrum, Triticum     

Ion Fluxes Across the Transfusion Zone of Secreting Limonium Salt Glands Determined from Secretion Rates, Transfusion Zone Areas and Plasmodesmatal Frequencies

Faraday, C. D., Quinton, P. M. and Thomson, W. W. 1986. Ionfluxes across the transfusion zone of secreting Limonium saltglands determined from secretion rates, transfusion zone areasand plasmodesmatal frequencies.—J. exp. Bot. 37: 482–494. The epidermal salt-secreting glands of Limonium (Plumbaginaceae)are enclosed in a cuticular envelope. Ions and metabolites enterthe glands from the mesophyll through gaps in the cuticularenvelope, the transfusion zones. Net influxes of ions acrossthe transfusion zone were calculated from measurements of secretionrates and transfusion zone areas. When leaves of L. pereziiF. T. Hubb. were treated with 300 mol m^–3 NaCl, transfusionzone influxes of Na⁺ K⁺, Ca⁺⁺ and Cl^– as high as 7?0?10^–5,1.7?10^–5, 5?8?10^–7 and 8.5?10^–5 mol m^–2s^–1 respectively, were calculated. Assuming a transmembranepathway, these fluxes would be some of the highest reportedfor ions in plant cells. Key words: Salt glands, ion fluxes, ultrastructure     

Reproductive Biology of Plantago: Shift from Cross- to Self-pollination

The breeding systems of an obligate outbreeder (Plantago lanceolata)and an obligate inbreeder (P. patagonica) were compared. Outbreedingin the former and inbreeding in the latter species is achievedby self-incompatibility and preanthesis cleistogamy, respectively.The difference in breeding system is accompanied by a differencein the pollen output, pollen to ovule ratio, stigma and anthersize, and seed weight. P. ovata, a third species known onlyin cultivated form, is intermediate. This species has two typesof plants, some of which are protogynous and others where stigmareceptivity and anther dehiscence synchronize. Although thedifferences between the two intraspecific variants are not large,they nevertheless suggest that the species is in evolutionaryflux. Domestication is known to have modified the breeding systemin many crop plants and there is evidence that, in P. ovata,a start in this direction has already been made. Plantago lanceolata, P. ovata, P. patagonica, protogyny, anther, stigma, pollen to ovule ratio     

Isozyme Evidence for Natural Hybridization in Phlomis (Lamiaceae): Hybrid Origin of the RareP.xmargaritae

Phlomisxmargaritae is a rare and sterile hybrid taxon foundin a single endangered population in southern Spain. It waspreviously described as a morphologically intermediate hybrid,putatively between Phlomis purpurea and P. composita. The presentstudy used allozymes as molecular markers to assess the hybrididentity ofP.xmargaritae . Ten putative loci from seven enzymesystems were resolved: five were monomorphic and fixed acrossall taxa studied and the rest (Aat-1, Aat-2, 6-Pgdh-2, Pgi andPgm) were polymorphic in at least one taxon. The two parentaltaxa are fixed for different alleles at 6-Pgdh-2 and show distinctallelic frequency differences for four other loci. Phlomisxmargaritaedisplays fixed heterozygous phenotypes for four of the fivepolymorphic loci, these being composed of combinations of thealleles found in the parental taxa. No unique alleles were detectedin P.xmargaritae. We conclude that this taxon is of hybrid originand confirm the identity of the parental taxa involved. It isfurther suggested that this population is composed of individualsthat are recent F₁hybrids that have not undergone backcrossingor introgression. Global conservation measures are necessaryfor the whole hybrid system in this location since further continuousassessment could reveal the evolutionary input of hybridizationin Phlomis.Copyright 2000 Annals of Botany Company Endangered species, genetic diversity, isozyme variation, hybrid species, Phlomisxmargaritae, plant conservation, population genetics, Lamiaceae, Spain.     

Comparative Growth Behaviour and Leaf Nutrient Status of Native Trees Planted on Mine Spoil With and Without Nutrient Amendment

The effect of nutrient amendment on growth of nine indigenoustree species planted on coal mine spoil was studied. Greatergrowth in fertilized plots was accompanied by greater foliarN and P concentrations in all species. The response to fertilizationvaried among species and was greater in non-leguminous thanin leguminous species. Furthermore, leguminous species exhibitedhigher growth rates compared to non-leguminous species. Thelog-transformed height-diameter relationships were significantfor all tree species and treatments. Acacia catechu, Dalbergiasissoo, Gmelina arborea and Azadirachta indica fitted the elasticsimilarity model of tree growth; whereas Pongamia pinnata andPhyllanthus emblica followed the constant stress model. Tectonagrandis was the only species which fitted the geometric similaritymodel. In Albizia lebbeck and Terminalia bellirica, the b -values(the gradients of the log-transformed height to diameter relationships)were considerably lower (<0.5), and these two species didnot fit any model of tree growth. In several cases, the b -valueswere considerably influenced by nutrient amendment. The log-transformedcrown mass and trunk mass relationships were significant forall treatments and species. The slope of the crown mass:trunkmass relationship was near unity in A. indica, D. sissoo, G.arborea, P. emblica, P. pinnata, T. grandis, and T. bellirica.However, in A. catechu and A. lebbeck, this slope was well belowunity suggesting a greater allocation to non-photosynthetictissue. Fertilizer amendment resulted in a heavier crown relativeto trunk in A. indica, T. grandis and T. bellirica. Copyright2001 Annals of Botany Company Diameter increment, fertilizer application, foliar N, foliar P, height increment, tree growth, volume increment     

The zoeal stages and megalopa of Portunus rubromarginatus (Lanchester) (Decapoda: Portnnidae), reared in the laboratory

The present state of knowledge concerning Portunus larvae isreviewed, and the three zoeal and the megalopa stages of P.rubromarginatus are described and figured. Details of appendagesetation are tabulated. This species is unusual amongst knownPortunus spp. in having only three zoeal stages and, like otherPortunus spp. but in contrast with other Portuninae, it has4 + 4, or 4 + 1 + 4, setae on the posterior telson border. When compared with larvae of the five other Indo-West PacificPortunus species whose larvae are known P. rubromarginatus zoeaeare readily distinguished from all, except P. hastatoides, usingthe key features given by Kurata (1975). Comparison was madebetween first zoeae of these two species, and also of P. pelagicusand P. sanguinolentus, using larvae reared by the authors. Itwas found telson characters alone allow distinction betweenlarvae of these four species. These characters are tabulated. P. rubromarginatus megalopae differ from those known for congenitorsin having a large spine on the uchium of the first pereiopod,but not on the carpus, and in having relatively very small sternalcornuae. Several of these features disagree with those previously thoughtto characterise larval Portuninae or Portunus species.     

中国萤火虫云南窗萤荧光素酶cDNA的克隆表达和序列分析(英文）

从一种来自中国日行性萤火虫（云南窗萤）发光器官mRNA中克隆、测序并表达了有功能的荧光素酶。云南窗萤荧光素酶的cDNA序列有1 647个碱基,编码548个氨基酸残基。从推测得到的氨基酸序列的比对分析得出：云南窗萤的荧光素酶与来自Lampyris noctiluca, L. turkestanicus和Nyctophila cf. caucasica三种萤火虫的荧光素酶有97.8%的序列一致性。从推测得出的氨基酸序列进行系统发育分析,其结果表明：云南窗萤和Lampyris+Nyctophila聚在一起, 与同属的发光强夜行性的萤火虫不形成的单系。云南窗萤荧光素酶在大肠杆菌中表达的条带大约70 kDa,并且在有荧光素存在时发出黄绿色荧光。对荧光素酶的结构模拟和分析表明,云南窗萤荧光素酶基因的氨基端和羧基端结构域之间的裂沟处存在这5个多肽环,这正是从其他荧光素酶推测得到的催化荧光反应时的底物结合位点。云南窗萤和窗萤属的其他3种萤火虫的荧光素酶相比,有13个不同氨基酸位点,位于模拟分子结构的表面。对于这些多肽环、不同氨基酸残基和晶体结构的进一步研究有利于解释日行和夜行性萤火虫荧光素酶的差异。     

Phylogeography of four frog species in forest fragments of northeastern Brazil--a preliminary study

I contrast mitochondrial DNA genealogies based on 612 bp ofthe cytochrome b gene across four co-distributed species offrogs in Northeastern Brazil. They are Hyla albomarginata, Hylabranneri, Proceratophrys boiei, and Scinax nebulosus. Sampleswere collected from the core or edge of six rainforest remnantsin the states of Pernambuco and Alagoas. Three fragments arelocated within the humid Atlantic Forest morphoclimatic domain(municipalities of Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Ibateguara, andJaqueira), two are located in the transition zone between theAtlantic Forest domain and the semi-arid Caatinga (Caruaru andTimbaúba), and one is found within the Caatinga (Brejoda Madre de Deus). Results show that local patterns and levelsof genetic diversity are influenced by taxon-specific habitatrequirements. Populations of the montane, closed-canopy speciesP. boiei show strong geographical structure, reflecting barriersto gene flow that predate human-driven habitat destruction.Species occurring along forest edges, such as H. albomarginataand S. nebulosus, show genetic patterns similar to those ofP. boiei, but lower levels of genetic divergence. The more generalistHyla branneri shows no geographic pattern. The data are in agreementwith distribution and fossil data gathered for other groupsof organisms, suggesting that mesic forests occupied the currentlyarid Caatinga in the recent past.     

Flowering Responses of Contrasting Ecotypes of Poa annua and their Putative Ancestors Poa infirma andPoa supina

Flowering responses of two Australian and six Norwegian populationsof Poa annua and their putative ancestors P. infirma and P.supina were studied in controlled environments. The two Australianpopulations originating from suburban parks in Canberra hadopposite daylength flowering responses across the range of temperaturestested (9–21 °C), one being a quantitative short-day(SD) plant with no response to vernalization, the other a quantitativelong-day (LD) plant with a quantitative vernalization requirement(winter annual type). Variation in earliness of flowering withinthe former population was shown to be genetically determined,and testing of selfed progenies indicated that the populationis an aggregate of several largely homozygous lines with divergentflowering responses. Two lowland populations from southern Norwaywere both quantitative LD plants with no vernalization response,while two alpine snowbed populations from southern Norway andtwo high-latitude, subarctic populations from northern Norwaywere quantitative SD plants with an obligatory plant vernalizationor SD requirement for flowering. Two populations of P. supinaexhibited the same flowering responses as the alpine and high-latitudepopulations of P. annua with an obligatory plant vernalizationor SD requirement for flowering. A combination of SD and lowtemperature (9–12 °C) for 8–10 weeks was optimalfor induction and inflorescence initiation. On the other hand,P. infirma was found to be an early-flowering quantitative SDplant which flowered freely across the range of temperatures(9–21 °C) as a typical summer annual. The experimentsdemonstrate that virtually any kind of photoperiodic and vernalizationresponses can be found among populations of P. annua. Theseversatile flowering responses reflect the contrasting floweringresponses of P. supina and P. infirma, and add strong supportto the hypothesis that P. annua has originated from these species.Copyright 2001 Annals of Botany Company Adaptation, evolution, flowering, Poa annua, P. infirma, P. supina, photoperiod, vernalization     

Dispersal and prepupation behavior of Chilean sympatric Drosophila species that breed in the same site in nature

We investigated dispersal patterns of Drosophila larvae searchingfor pupation sites over three substrates to determine the roleof spatial heterogeneity and presence of other species on prepupationbehavior. We used D. melanogaster, D. hydei, and D. pavani whoseparents emerged from apples collected in one orchard. Each speciesshowed different preferences for substrates on which to pupate,particularly in the presence of another Drosophila species.Larval locomotion rate and turning behavior in D. melanogaster,D. hydei, and D. pavani were modified depending this upon thetype of substrate (agar and sand) on which the larvae crawled.These two behaviors are involved in dispersal and aggregationof pupae. Distance between pupae of the same species decreaseswhen larvae of another species pupate on the same substrate.Aggregated distributions over the substrates lead to patcheswith few or no individuals. These could serve as pupation sitesfor other Drosophila species that, in nature, also emerge fromsmall breeding sites.     

Do the polyunsaturated aldehydes produced by Phaeocystis pouchetii (Hariot) Lagerheim influence diatom growth during the spring bloom in Northern Norway?

The marine bloom-forming phytoplankter Phaeocystis pouchetii(Prymnesiophyceae) is known to produce and release the cytotoxic,ß,,-unsaturated aldehyde 2-trans-4-trans-decadienal(DD), known to inhibit mitotic cell divisions in several differentcell types. The possible allelopathic effects of DD on monoculturesof three common diatoms from the coastal waters of northernNorway were assessed. The results showed that division ratesfor all three diatom species (Skeletonema costatum, Chaetocerossocialis and Thalassiosira antarctica) decreased as concentrationof DD increased. Furthermore field data from the spring bloomin Vestfjorden (2000 and 2001) were analysed to examine whetherthe presence of P. pouchetii influences other species adversely.Our data revealed no significant adverse effect of P. pouchetiion diatom presence since diatom diversity generally was positivelycorrelated to P. pouchetii biomass. The year with the lowestamounts of P. pouchetii had the lowest diversities, and thediatom species composition and abundance was comparable to situationswhere P. pouchetii was either absent or present in minute amounts.At some instances low diversity co-occurred with large fractionsof P. pouchetii, but since this were at the strongest verticalmixing we believe this to be a result of physical control. P.pouchetii and S. costatum were the most frequently co-occurringspecies, and since they are both known producers of polyunsaturatedaldehydes we cannot exclude the possibility that the presenceof DD released from P. pouchetii induced by heavy grazing mightinfluence the growth of other phytoplankton species.     

Reassessment of the Systematic Status of Miamira Bergh, 1875 and Orodoris Bergh, 1875 (Nudibranchia: Chromodorididae) in Light of Phylogenetic Analysis

The external morphology and anatomy of the opisthobranch gastropodsMiamira sinuata (van Hasselt, 1824) and Orodoris miamiranaBergh, 1875, the type species of the genera Miamira Bergh, 1875and Orodoris Bergh, 1875, and their phylogenetic relationshipsare studied. The phylogeny obtained supports the placement ofM. sinuata and O. miamirana in the genus Ceratosoma J. E. Gray, 1850.Therefore, Miamira and Orodoris become synonyms of the seniorvalid name Ceratosoma. In addition, the family name MiamiridaeBergh, 1891, based on Miamira, is newly recognized as a synonymof Chromodorididae Bergh, 1891. Ceratosoma sinuata and C. miamirana are more closely relatedto the highly derived Ceratosoma alleni than to other membersof the genus. C. miamirana appears to present reversal to theplesiomorphic state in the body shape and has secondarily lostits mantle glands. (Received 5 January 1998; accepted 23 April 1998)     

An Experimental Investigation into the Response of Some New Zealand Sand Dune Species to Salt Spray

The tolerance to salt spray of 29 species, mainly from New Zealandsand dunes, was investigated. Plants were grown in water culturein a glasshouse and subjected to overhead salt spraying at intervals.Growth rates in many species were reduced by salt spray buta significant decrease occurred only in six native herbs. However,many species showed sensitivity in leaf necrosis. Tolerant speciesincluded Scirpoides nodosa, Elymus farctus and Desmoschoenusspiralis. Ammophila arenaria, tolerant of spray as an adult,was less so when younger. There was little correlation between tolerance to salt sprayand tolerance to root salinity. Some species were tolerant toboth, e.g. S. nodosa and E. farctus, and some intolerant toboth, e.g. Wahlenbergia congesta. One species, Lupinus arboreus,was glycophytic in respect to root salt but tolerant of aerialsalt. Other species, such as Senecio elegans L. and Austrofestucalittoralis, were intolerant of salt spray but tolerant of mediumroot salinities. For some species salt spray tolerance correlated well with fielddistribution, e.g. D. spiralis and Bromus diandrus. However,some species present in semi-fixed dunes close to the sea havemuch lower tolerance than would be expected from their fieldsituation, e.g. W. congesta. This apparent inconsistency couldbe explained by the ameliorating high rainfall on the West Coast,or protection by ridges. One environmental variable alone, suchas salt spray, could not explain the field distribution formany species. Salt spray, growth rate, live leaf area, New Zealand, dune species, root salinity     

Annual cycle of tintinnids in Admiralty Bay with an emphasis on seasonal variability in Cymatocylis affinis/convallaria lorica morphology

In water samples collected from the middle of Admiralty Bay(King George Island 62°08'S 58°25'W) between February1990 and January 1991, 17 Tintinnina species were noted. TotalTintinnina numbers in summer were very high (up to 5000 cellsm^–3), but species diversity was low, consisting mainlyof Cymatocylis affnislconvallaria, forma convallaria. Duringaustral winter, cell numbers were very low, but species compositionwas diverse. Cymatocylis affnislconvallaria, forma affinis,and C.affmis/convallaria, forma convallaria, the polymorphicforms of one species C.affinis/convallaria, appear to be interchangeableduring the year. The transition from one form to the other occursin the spring and autumn. The typical Tintinnina polymorphismcan be attributed to the prevailing environmental conditions.