桉树精油及其活性物质对干鱼害虫白腹皮蠹的熏蒸毒性

为了评估桉树精油和α-蒎烯对白腹皮蠹Dermestes maculatus Degeer的杀虫作用,采用生测方法测定了不同剂量和不同处理时间下,其幼虫和成虫的死亡率。结果表明:用桉树精油及其活性成分α-蒎烯处理白腹皮蠹成虫和幼虫后,可显著影响其死亡率（P＜0.001）。白腹皮蠹的反应因化学物种类、剂量和暴露时间不同而异。当剂量为32 μL/cm³的桉树精油处理白腹皮蠹幼虫72 h后,死亡率可超过90%。同样的剂量对其成虫熏蒸72 h后也表现高毒。在相同的剂量和相同的暴露时间下,α-蒎烯对白腹皮蠹的成虫和幼虫也表现高毒,且成虫的抗性比幼虫强。Probit检验结果表明桉树精油比α-蒎烯更有效。以上结果说明这些天然产物对白腹皮蠹种群的控制是很有用的。     

松油烯-４-醇对粘虫幼虫的生物活性

测定了杀虫植物砂地柏Sabina vulgaris Ant.的精油中主杀虫成分-松油烯-4-醇（terpinen 4.01）对粘虫Mythimna separata Walker幼虫的生物活性。结果表明,松油烯- 4-醇对粘虫主要表现为熏蒸作用,对粘虫3龄幼虫24 h的熏蒸LC₅₀为5.3473 μL/L ;还具一定触杀作用,对粘虫4龄幼虫24 h的LD₅₀为147.8 μg/虫。试虫的中毒症状可明显地分为兴奋、痉挛、麻痹和死亡4个阶段,而麻痹的部分试虫有复苏现象。可明显抑制Na⁺ ,K⁺ATP酶的活性,在兴奋期、痉挛期、麻痹期和复苏期,抑制率介于21.28%～34.92% 之间。离体条件下对Na⁺,K⁺ATP酶的I₅₀为133.75 μg·mL^-1;对AChE活性有一定的影响;对酯酶,在兴奋期,酶活力为对照的7.0%,在麻痹期则为对照的1.33倍,而复苏期试虫的酯酶活力与对照相当。     

一摸香叶精油对致倦库蚊的生物活性及其成分分析

参照“农药登记卫生用杀虫剂的室内药效评价/驱避剂GB/T 17322.10—1998”,研究了一摸香鲜叶的水蒸汽蒸馏精油对致倦库蚊的驱避作用;参照“电热片蚊香的室内药效测定方法GB 13917.5—1992”,测试了该精油对致倦库蚊成蚊的熏杀效果;采用浸液法测试了其对致倦库蚊幼虫及蛹的毒杀活性;并用GC-MS测试分析了其化学成分.结果表明：一摸香叶精油在1.5 mg·cm^-2剂量下对实验室饲养的未吸血致倦库蚊雌成蚊的驱避100%保护时间为(6.54±0.17) h,对成蚊的熏杀24 h LC₅₀值为6.895 μg·cm^-3,对成蚊的熏蒸KT₅₀值为6.46 min (熏蒸剂量为11.850 μg·cm^-3),对Ⅳ龄期幼虫的24 h毒杀LC₅₀值为119.020 μg·ml^-1.精油中共鉴定出17种化合物,占该精油挥发性成分总量的97.4%.说明一摸香叶精油对致倦库蚊具有显著的驱避作用和极强的毒杀活性.     

禾谷缢管蚜和麦长管蚜玻璃管药膜法敏感毒力基线的建立

【目的】建立禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi（Linnaeus）和麦长管蚜Sitobion avenae（Fabricius）对常用杀虫剂的相对敏感基线。【方法】从田间采集麦蚜在实验室内饲养30代以上,利用玻璃管药膜法测定其对杀虫剂的敏感度,每条毒力基线为2次以上独立测定数据合并后的计算结果。【结果】用玻璃管药膜法建立了包括新烟碱类、吡啶类、氨基甲酸酯类、有机磷类和拟除虫菊酯类共22个药剂品种对禾谷缢管蚜和麦长管蚜3 h的敏感毒力基线。禾谷缢管蚜对新烟碱类药剂吡虫啉和啶虫脒的LC₅₀值分别为0.02和0.007 μg/cm²;对吡啶类药剂吡蚜酮的LC₅₀值为0.124 μg/cm²;对氨基甲酸酯类药剂丁硫克百威、硫双灭多威、灭多威、抗蚜威、西维因的LC₅₀值为0.0026~0.70 μg/cm²;对有机磷类药剂三唑磷、丙溴磷、氧乐果、乐果、马拉硫磷、辛硫磷、敌敌畏、毒死蜱的LC₅₀值为0.005~0.065 μg/cm²;对拟除虫菊酯类药剂三氟氯氰菊酯、高效氯氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯、联苯菊酯、氰戊菊酯、氯氰菊酯的LC₅₀值为0.033~0.240 μg/cm²。麦长管蚜对新烟碱类药剂吡虫啉和啶虫脒的LC₅₀值分别为0.15和0.12 μg/cm²;对吡啶类药剂吡蚜酮的LC₅₀值为0.41 μg/cm²;对氨基甲酸酯类药剂丁硫克百威、硫双灭多威、灭多威、抗蚜威、西维因的LC50值为0.005~0.76 μg/cm²;对有机磷类药剂三唑磷、丙溴磷、氧乐果、乐果、马拉硫磷、辛硫磷、敌敌畏、毒死蜱的LC₅₀值为0.018~0.36 μg/cm²;对拟除虫菊酯类药剂三氟氯氰菊酯、高效氯氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯、联苯菊酯、氰戊菊酯、氯氰菊酯的LC50值为0.20~2.94 μg/cm²。【结论】建立的两种麦蚜对22种杀虫药剂的相对敏感基线,包括当前所有可能用于防治麦蚜的药剂,可以用于以后麦蚜抗药性监测或其他相关研究的参照;禾谷缢管蚜对药剂的敏感度高于麦长管蚜。     

黄荆中β-石竹烯对棉蚜的毒力和作用机理

为明确泰山野生黄荆Vitex negundo种子中的有效杀虫活性成分、杀虫作用及其毒理机制,本研究采用硅胶柱层析,GC-MS技术和生物活性追踪方法,测定了泰山黄荆种子中的杀虫活性成分;采用生物测定和生化分析法,研究了黄荆中的β-石竹烯和α-蒎烯对棉蚜Aphis gossypii的毒力及作用机制。结果表明：通过三级柱层析从黄荆中分离得到对棉蚜毒力高的馏分β-石竹烯和α-蒎烯,其含量分别达7.68%和5.45%。β-石竹烯和α-蒎烯对棉蚜的触杀毒力都较高,并以β-石竹烯的毒力最高,LD₅₀为0.65×10^-1 μg/头。β-石竹烯和α-蒎烯对棉蚜均具有强烈的忌避作用,处理棉蚜24 h的AFC₅₀分别为0.80×10³和0.89×10³ mg/L,其中也以β-石竹烯的忌避毒力最大。β-石竹烯和α-蒎烯以亚致死剂量处理棉蚜,对其繁殖力、排蜜频率和排蜜量均有显著不利影响。β-石竹烯和α-蒎烯处理棉蚜或离体酶,对乙酰胆碱酯酶、多酚氧化酶、羧酸酯酶和谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶都有明显抑制作用。结果显示β-石竹烯和α-蒎烯是黄荆种子提取物中的重要杀虫活性成分,并且其致毒机制存在多样性,开发应用价值大。     

黄荆提取物对蚜虫的毒力及其与吡虫啉的联合毒力

采用浸渍法测定了黄荆二氯甲烷种子提取物、吡虫啉和氧乐果对苹果黄蚜、棉蚜和桃蚜的毒力,利用毛细管点滴法测定了黄荆二氯甲烷种子提取物与吡虫啉混配对棉蚜的联合毒力,采用皿内选择法测定了黄荆二氯甲烷种子提取物和吡虫啉等药剂对桃蚜的驱避效应.结果表明：黄荆二氯甲烷种子提取物对苹果黄蚜、棉蚜和桃蚜的LC₅₀分别为334.59、362.79和2685.80 mg·L^-1,对苹果黄蚜和棉蚜的杀虫毒力较高.黄荆二氯甲烷种子提取物与吡虫啉按1000 ∶1混用,其共毒系数可达177.45,增效作用显著.黄荆二氯甲烷种子提取物和吡虫啉对桃蚜均有明显的驱避活性,处理后24和48 h 对桃蚜的驱避率分别达55.75%、39.44 %和69.89%、65.43%.噻虫嗪和啶虫脒也有一定驱避活性,处理后24和48 h对桃蚜的驱避率达16.52%～33.68%.     

大菜粉蝶根虫瘟霉菌株转染小菜蛾后侵染力变化及其与寄主血淋巴酚氧化酶活性的关系

源于大菜粉蝶Pieris brassicae的根虫瘟霉Zoophthora radicans菌株R₀通过反复转染小菜蛾Plutella xylostella而分别获得转染菌株R₁、R₃和R₅。用这些菌株对小菜蛾2龄幼虫进行生物测定,发现菌株对寄主的侵染力有随转染次数增加而增强的趋势。接种后第1～6 天,R₀的LC₂₀（孢子数/mm²）分别为14.7、14.5、9.0、7.1、6.0和5.5;R₁的LC₂₀分别为9.6、5.0、4.2、3.6、3.1和3.0;R₃的LC₂₀分别为4.6、2.9、2.8、2.5、2.4和2.2; R₅的LC₂₀分别为5.2、3.7、3.2、2.8、2.6和2.6,接种后同一天菌株 R₃的LC₂₀值最小即侵染力最强。各菌株感染小菜蛾幼虫后可显著激活寄主血淋巴中的酚氧化酶活性,但R₁、R₃和R₅对酚氧化酶的激活程度显著低于原始菌株R₀。各菌株对小菜蛾的侵染力强弱指标log₁₀ (LC₂₀)与其侵染后寄主血淋巴酚氧化酶活性呈明显正相关（0.852<0.95）,表明R0在对新寄主转染过程中逐渐获得了逃避或克服新寄主免疫防御的能力,从而增强对新寄主的侵染力。     

球形芽孢杆菌对致倦库蚊的后致死作用

研究了球形芽孢杆菌Bacillus sphaericus C3-41菌株对致倦库蚊Culex quinquefasciatus幼虫的毒力及其后致死作用。生物测定表明,该菌株对目标蚊幼虫具有很高的毒力,其丙酮粉剂对3～4龄幼虫48 h的半致死浓度(LC₅₀)为(6.92±0.22) μg/L。用不同亚致死浓度处理2～3龄致倦库蚊幼虫,存活幼虫在后期发育中存在明显的延续死亡和损伤现象,经LC₃₀、LC₅₀、LC₇₀、LC₉₀和LC₉₈剂量的C3.41粉剂处理的致倦库蚊羽化前的总死亡率分别为84%、91%、95%、97%和100%,同时存活的幼虫、蛹和成蚊的发育和行为也受到一定的影响。这种后致死作用随处理浓度的升高而增强,可能同球形芽孢杆菌毒素蛋白对处理期间蚊幼虫中肠上皮细胞造成的损伤相关。     

两种室内生物测定方法评价杀虫剂对绿盲蝽的相对毒力

随着Bt棉在我国的广泛种植, 绿盲蝽Lygocoris lucorum Meyer-Dür的危害日益加重。化学防治作为棉田盲蝽综合治理的重要策略, 仍是其主要的防治手段。本研究主要用闪烁管药膜法和点滴法两种测定方法评价了传统杀虫剂、新型杀虫剂等30种杀虫剂对绿盲蝽成虫的急性触杀毒力, 其中多种杀虫剂是首次使用两种生测方法同时进行毒力测定。结果表明：有机氯类、有机磷类、氨基甲酸酯类和拟除虫菊酯类等传统杀虫剂对绿盲蝽成虫具有较高的触杀活性。8种对绿盲蝽成虫具有较高毒力的药剂, 其中5种为传统杀虫剂, 分别为马拉硫磷、毒死蜱、联苯菊酯、灭多威和硫丹。新型吡咯类杀虫剂对绿盲蝽表现出较高毒力, 以氟虫腈的毒力最高, 两种生测方法测定的LC₅₀分别为0.13 μg·mL^-1 和 0.15 μg·mL^-1。而昆虫生长调节剂、抗生素类及植物源杀虫剂对绿盲蝽成虫没有明显的触杀活性。     

四氯乙烯和镉对草鱼的单一与联合毒性效应

以静水生物测试法研究了四氯乙烯和重金属镉对草鱼的单一与联合毒性,同时采用Marking相加指数法对二者的联合毒性进行了评价.单一毒性试验表明:四氯乙烯对草鱼24、48、72和96 h的半数致死浓度(LC₅₀)分别为49.12、41.68、36.37和34.30 mg·L^-1;镉对草鱼24、48、72和96h的LC₅₀分别为45.58、34.81、28.63和24.05mg·L^-1;二者对草鱼均有毒性,而且为高毒,镉的毒性大于四氯乙烯.联合毒性试验表明:二者毒性比为1∶1,暴露时间为24、48、72和96 h时四氯乙烯和镉的LC₅₀分别为24.63、12.54、9.88和7.08 mg·L^-1以及17.11、8.71、6.87和4.92 mg·L^-1,相加指数AI(additive index)分别为0.14、0.81、0.95和1.43,联合作用结果为协同效应,并且随着时间的增加,协同作用增强;二者浓度比为1∶1, 暴露时间为24、48 、72和96 h时四氯乙烯和镉的LC₅₀分别为17.00、11.18、10.61和9.19 mg·L^-1,AI分别为0.39、0.70、0.51和0.54,联合作用为协同作用.     

CO2浓度升高对茴香植株生长、精油含量和组分的影响

 采用每日定时向密封人工气候室补充CO₂的方法,研究了3种CO₂浓度（平均浓度分 别为287.11、532.88和780.46 μmol·mol^-1）对茴香 (Foeniculum vulgare)生长、精油含量和组分的影响。结果表明：随着CO₂浓度的升高,茴香的株高、花序数、花序鲜重、花序干重、全株干重 和植株的干物率均有所上升;植株可溶性糖和全碳含量不断升高,而全氮和蛋白氮含量不断减少;叶色素含量呈下降趋势,叶绿素a/b比的差异 不显著;植株精油含量（分别为1.26、1.45和1.57 ml·(100 g) ^-1 DW）和单株精油产量（分别为0.019、 0.023和0.033 ml）均随之升高。从茴 香植株的精油中鉴定出22种成分,用不同浓度的CO₂处理,精油的成分种类没有差异,成分相对含量却有差别,差异达到极显著水平的有：醎蒎 烯、鈅蒎烯、月桂烯、对聚伞花素、反式葑醇乙酸酯和顺式茴香脑;含量差异达到显著水平的有：香桧烯、水芹烯、罗勒烯、鉥萜品烯、3,4- 二甲基-2,4,6_三烯、爱草脑、葑醇乙酸酯、古巴烯、 金合欢烯和吉玛烯。茴香精油的主要成分反式茴香脑的含量（分别为55.94%、57.20%和 59.5 5%）随着CO₂浓度的升高而升高,而柠檬烯含量（29.60%、30.24%和26.12%）表现出相反的趋势,二者在不同的CO₂浓度处理之间差异均不 显著。     

Long-term Respiratory Cost of Maintenance and Growth of Field-grown Young Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa)

Respiration rate of the entire above-ground parts of field-grown8-year-old hinoki cypress [Chamaecyparis obtusa(Sieb. et Zucc.)Endl.] was measured at monthly intervals over a 5-year period,to evaluate the trend in proportion of maintenance and growthcomponents of respiration with stand development. Representativesample trees were selected for respiration measurements. Theannual respiration rates of individual sample trees were combinedand partitioned into maintenance and growth components by regressingspecific respiration rate on mean relative growth rate. Maintenanceand growth respiration coefficients generated in this way were5.2 mol CO₂kg^-1year^-1and 39 mol  CO₂kg^-1, which are equivalentto 14.3 mg C kg^-1C h^-1(at mean annual air temperature of 15.1°C) and 0.94 kg C kg^-1C. Considering the maintenance andgrowth respiration coefficients, and phytomass and phytomassincrement of individual trees in the stand, the maintenanceand growth respiration rates of the stand were estimated. Theproportion of the maintenance respiration increased, whereasthat of the growth respiration decreased with stand development,due to decreasing relative growth rate.Copyright 1997 Annalsof Botany Company Chamaecyparis obtusa; growth respiration coefficient; hinoki; maintenance respiration coefficient; stand respiration     

The Influence of NO-3 and NH+4 Nutrition on the Gas Exchange Characteristics of the Roots of Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Maize (Zea mays) Plants

Respiratory oxygen consumption by roots was 1·4- and1·6-fold larger in NH⁺₄-fed than in NO^-₃-fed wheat (Triticumaestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) plants respectively. Higherroot oxygen consumption in NH⁺₄-fed plants than in NO^-₃-fedplants was associated with higher total nitrogen contents inNH⁺4-fed plants. Root oxygen consumption was, however, not correlatedwith growth rates or shoot:root ratios. Carbon dioxide releasewas 1·4- and 1·2-fold larger in NO⁺3-fed thanin NH⁺₄-fed wheat and maize plants respectively. Differencesin oxygen and carbon dioxide gas exchange rates resulted inthe gas exchange quotients of NH^-₄-fed plants (wheat, 0·5;maize, 0·6) being greatly reduced compared with thoseof NO^-₃-fed plants (wheat, 1·0; maize, 1·1). Measuredrates of HCO^-₃ assimilation by PEPc in roots were considerablylarger in 4 mM NH⁺₄-fed than in 4 NO^-₃ plants (wheat, 2·6-fold;maize, 8·3-fold). These differences were, however, insufficientto account for the observed differences in root carbon dioxideflux and it is probable that HCO^-₃ uptake is also importantin determining carbon dioxide fluxes. Thus reduced root extension in NH⁺₄-fed compared with NO^-₃-fedwheat plants could not be ascribed to differences in carbondioxide losses from roots.Copyright 1993, 1999 Academic Press Triticum aestivum, wheat, Zea mays, maize assimilation, ammonium assimilation, root respiration     

七种抑制剂对两种白蚁谷胱甘肽S-转移酶活性抑制作用的比较

利用分光光度酶动力学方法,确定了白蚁谷胱甘肽S-转移酶（GSTs）的最适反应条件,并进一步研究了7种抑制剂对黑翅土白蚁Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki)和黑胸散白蚁Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder GSTs活性的体外影响。结果表明：白蚁GSTs测定的最适反应条件为pH 6.5,温度25℃,最适反应时间2 min。黑翅土白蚁GSTs的米氏常数(K_mCDNB和K_mGSH)分别为0.11±0.02 mmol/L和0.81±0.16 mmol/L,最大反应速度(V_maxCDNB和V_maxGSH)分别为425.92±19.67 nmol/(min·mg)和534.86±39.05 nmol/(min·mg)。黑胸散白蚁GSTs的米氏常数(K_mCDNB和K_mGSH)分别为0.12±0.03 mmol/L和1.03±0.31 mmol/L,最大反应速度(V_maxCDNB和V_maxGSH)分别为544.39±37.19 nmol/(min·mg)和715.45±83.68 nmol/(min·mg)。浓度为2×10^-5 mol/L时,槲皮素和辛硫磷对黑胸散白蚁GSTs活性的抑制作用要强于黑翅土白蚁,对黑胸散白蚁GSTs活性的抑制作用分别为62.28％和44.89％,对黑翅土白蚁GSTs活性的抑制作用分别为54.96％和28.36％。高效氯氰菊酯、甲氰菊酯、啶虫脒和单宁酸对黑翅土白蚁GSTs活性的抑制作用要强于黑胸散白蚁,对黑翅土白蚁GSTs活性的抑制作用分别为39.43％,72.07％,52.24％和82.19％;对黑胸散白蚁GSTs活性的抑制作用分别为14.96％,40.23％,39.96％和57.80％。阿维菌素对黑翅土白蚁和黑胸散白蚁GSTs活性的抑制作用没有显著差异,对黑翅土白蚁和黑胸散白蚁GSTs活性的抑制作用分别为76.21％和76.88％。这表明两种白蚁对药剂的敏感性完全不同。实验结果还表明,在3.2×10^-8～2×10^-5 mol/L内,上述植物次生物质和杀虫剂对两种白蚁GSTs活性的抑制率存在明显的剂量-效应关系。     

Training-induced alterations of carbohydrate metabolism in women: women respond differently from men

We examined the hypothesis that glucose flux wasdirectly related to relative exercise intensity both beforeand after a 12-wk cycle ergometer training program [5days/wk, 1-h duration, 75% peakO₂ consumption(O_{2 peak})] inhealthy female subjects (n = 17; age23.8 ± 2.0 yr). Two pretraining trials (45 and 65% of O_{2 peak})and two posttraining trials [same absolute workload (65% of oldO_{2 peak})and same relative workload (65% of new O_{2 peak})] wereperformed on nine subjects by using a primed-continuous infusion of[1-¹³C]- and[6,6-²H]glucose.Eight additional subjects were studied by using[6,6-²H]glucose.Subjects were studied postabsorption for 90 min of rest and 1 h ofcycling exercise. After training, subjects increased O_{2 peak} by 25.2 ± 2.4%. Pretraining, the intensity effect on glucose kinetics wasevident between 45 and 65% ofO_{2 peak} with rates ofappearance (R_a: 4.52 ± 0.25 vs. 5.53 ± 0.33 mg · kg¹ · min¹),disappearance (R_d: 4.46 ± 0.25 vs. 5.54 ± 0.33 mg · kg¹ · min¹),and oxidation (R_ox: 2.45 ± 0.16 vs. 4.35 ± 0.26 mg · kg¹ · min¹)of glucose being significantly greater(P  0.05) in the 65% thanin the 45% trial. Training reducedR_a (4.7 ± 0.30 mg · kg¹ · min¹),R_d (4.69 ± 0.20 mg · kg¹ · min¹),and R_ox (3.54 ± 0.50 mg · kg¹ · min¹)at the same absolute workload (P  0.05). When subjects were tested at the same relative workload,R_a,R_d, andR_ox were not significantlydifferent after training. However, at both workloads after training,there was a significant decrease in total carbohydrate oxidation asdetermined by the respiratory exchange ratio. These results show thefollowing in young women: 1)glucose use is directly related to exercise intensity;2) training decreasesglucose flux for a given power output;3) when expressed asrelative exercise intensity, training does not affect the magnitude ofblood glucose flux during exercise; but4) training does reduce totalcarbohydrate oxidation.

     

C4荒漠植物猪毛菜与木本猪毛菜的叶片解剖结构及光合生理特征

 为了比较C₄荒漠植物猪毛菜(Salsola collina)和木本猪毛菜(S. arbuscula)的抗旱结构和适应环境的光合作用特征, 在二者混生的群落中, 选择代表性植株, 采集叶片进行叶片解剖结构分析, 在自然条件下测定了二者叶片的气体交换参数。研究结果表明：猪毛菜叶片具表皮毛, 具有更发达的薄壁贮水组织;木本猪毛菜叶片具有更厚的角质层, 表皮下有1层下皮细胞, 其栅栏组织细胞较长, 排列更紧密。猪毛菜的净光合速率明显高于木本猪毛菜, 日平均值分别为21.5和15.7 μmol CO₂·m^–2·s^–1。猪毛菜的蒸腾速率也明显高于木本猪毛菜, 日平均值分别为14.9和10.2 mmol·m^–2·s^–1。猪毛菜和木本猪毛菜的水分利用效率的日平均值分别为1.39和1.53 μmol CO₂·mmol^–1 H₂O, 特别是在14:00时分别为1.61和2.30 μmol CO₂·mmol^–1 H₂O, 木本猪毛菜高出猪毛菜约42%。猪毛菜的光补偿点低于木本猪毛菜, 而光饱和点和光量子效率较高, 具有更低的CO₂补偿点。这表明：二者的旱生结构不同, 木本猪毛菜具有更显著的荒漠植物特征;在适于二者混生的环境下, 猪毛菜比木本猪毛菜的光合能力更强, 而木本猪毛菜的水分利用效率更高。     

Allocation of Organ Biomass in Perfect and Imperfect Flowers

Perianth M_P, gynoecium M_G, and androecium M_A dry-weight biomass(in g) of 39 species of perfect flowers was measured. Thesedata were pooled with published data from an additional 51 speciesand used to determine size-dependent variations in (M_G and M_A)in terms of the hypothesis that the quotient of M_G and M_A exceeds1·0 for out-breeding (xenogamous) species and less than1·0 for in-breeding (autogamous) species. Ordinary leastsquare regression of the pooled data (n = 90) showed M_G = 0·118M^0·916_P (r² = 0·884) and M_A = 0·186 M^0·975_P(r² = 0·865), indicating that the biomass of the gynoeciumproportionally decrease as floral size increases. The exponentsof these regressions indicate that the ratio of gynoecial toandroecial biomass decreased with increasing floral size suchthat comparatively small flowers (M_P < 0·0021 g) hadM_G/M_A > 1·0 (predicted for 'out-breeders') while comparativelylarger flowers (M_P > 0·0021 g) had M_G /M_A < 1·0(predicted for 'in-breeders'). Thus, on average, the type ofbreeding system was a size-dependent phenomenon. To test whether the biomass of a floral organ-type is a legitimateindicator of gender reproductive effort, the biomass (in g)of stamen filaments M_m and anther sacs M_AS of 39 species wasdetermined. Least square regression of these data showed M_AS= 0·188 M^0·854_fil (r² = 0·967), indicatingthat species with larger stamen filaments, on the average, boreproportionally smaller anther sacs and thereby cautioning againstthe uncritical use of the allocation of biomass to floral organ-typeas a strict gauge of gender-function investment. To determine whether the loss of one gender-function resultsin proportional reallocation of biomass to the remaining gender-function,the size-dependency of androecial and gynoecial biomass wasdetermined for a total of 33 perfect and imperfect flowers ofCucumis melo. Regression of the data obtained from perfect flowersyielded M_A = 0·402 M^1·47_P (r² = 0·898)and M_G = 4·63 M^1·36_P (r² = 0·842). SinceM_G/M_A M^0·11_P , the biomass allocation to the gynoeciumrelative to the androecium decreased with increasing floralsize. This result was consistent with the broad interpecificcomparison based on 90 species with perfect flowers . Regressionof the data for imperfect flowers yielded M_A = 0·151M^1·02_P (r² = 0·675) and M_G = 4·68 M^1·47_P(r² = 0·996), indicating a near allometric relation forthe androecium and a strong positive anisometry for the gynoecium.Thus, for flowers of comparable size, a loss of female genderobtains a modest to significant again in androecial biomasswhereas the loss of male gender yields only a slight increasein gynoecial biomass. Collectively, the results of these studies indicate that biomassallocation patterns are size-dependent phenomena whose complexitieshave been largely ignored in the literature.Copyright 1993,1999 Academic Press Allometry, floral biomass, reproduction     

Relationship between photosynthetic carbon metabolism and essential oil biogenesis in peppermint under Mn-stress

Changes in growth and yield parameters, and ¹⁴CO₂ and (U-¹⁴C)sucrose incorporation into the primary metabolic pool, and essentialoil have been investigated under Mn-deficiency and subsequentrecovery in Mentha piperita, grown in solution culture. UnderMn-deficiency, CO₂ exchange rate, total chlorophyll, total assimilatoryarea, plant dry weight, and essential oil yield were significantlyreduced, whereas chlorophyll a/b ratio, leaf area ratio andleaf stem ratio significantly increased. In leaves of Mn-deficientplants, ¹⁴CO₂ incorporation into the primary metabolic pool(ethanol-soluble and -insoluble) and essential oil were significantlylower, whereas (U-¹⁴C) sucrose incorporation into these componentswas significantly higher as compared to the control. Among theprimary metabolites, the label was maximum in sugars, followedby organic acids and amino acids. A higher label in these metaboliteswas, in general, observed in stems of Mn-deficient plants ascompared to the control. Mn-deficient plants supplied with completenutrient medium for 3 weeks exhibited partial recovery in growthand yield parameters, and essential oil biogenesis. Thus, underMn-deficiency and subsequent recovery, the levels of primaryphotosynthetic metabolites and their partitioning between leafand stem significantly influence essential oil biogenesis. Key words: Mentha piperita, Mn-stress, ¹⁴CO₂ and [U-¹⁴C] sucrose incorporation, oil accumulation, primary photosynthetic metabolites