对马耳蕨光合作用对生境光强增加的响应

以林下阴生蕨类植物对马耳蕨为材料,采用盆栽试验比较了全光照和阴棚生境下对马耳蕨对强光的光合响应特征,以探讨其光适应机制.结果显示:(1)与荫棚条件下相比,全光照下对马耳蕨叶片叶绿素a(Chl a)、叶绿素b(Chl b)及叶绿素(a+b)[Chl(a+b)]含量分别显著下降了48.3%、28.2%、40.0%,而其类胡萝卜素(Car)和总黄酮含量分别显著增加了158.3%、93.9%;(2) 全光照下对马耳蕨叶片PSⅡ最大光能转化效率(Fv/Fm)、初始荧光(F0)、PSⅡ潜在活性(Fv/F0)、PSⅡ光能捕获效率(Fv′/Fm′)、光化学淬灭系数(qP)分别比荫棚的下降了3.7%、23.4%、9.5%、2.5%、3.2%;(3)随着光照强度的增加,全光照下对马耳蕨表观电子传递速率(rETR)及热耗散(qN)上升幅度较荫棚显著提高.研究发现,经过一定时期的光适应,通过减少对光能的捕获、降低PSⅡ反应中心活性及光能转化效率、提高光合能力、增强热耗散能力以及增强活性氧的清除能力,阴生植物对马耳蕨的光合作用可适应高光生境;在无水分胁迫条件下,全阳光照不会导致阴生植物对马耳蕨的光合作用发生光损害.     

文心兰浅绿条纹突变体的生理生化及叶绿素荧光特性研究

以文心兰浅绿条纹突变体为材料,分析叶片光合色素含量和组成、叶绿素合成前体物质含量以及叶绿素荧光参数的变化,观察突变体叶绿体超微结构的改变,以探寻其叶色变异的生理基础。结果表明:(1)突变体叶绿素a(Chl a)、叶绿素b(Chl b)、类胡萝卜素(Car)和总叶绿素(Chl)含量分别比叶色正常植株显著降低了37.1%、34.0%、30.8%和36.3%。(2)突变体叶绿素生物合成受阻于胆色素原(PBG)到尿卟啉原Ⅲ(UrogenⅢ)的反应步骤。(3)突变体叶绿体发育存在明显的缺陷,基粒数目及基粒片层的垛叠层数明显减少,嗜锇颗粒及囊泡较多。(4)突变体初始荧光(Fo)比正常植株高39%,最大荧光(Fm)、最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ有效光化学效率(Fv′/Fm′)和PSⅡ实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)均显著低于正常植株,但光化学淬灭系数(qP)和非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ)与正常植株无显著差异。研究结果说明,文心兰叶绿素生物合成受阻和叶绿体结构发育不良,导致叶绿素的含量下降,致使突变体叶片呈现浅绿条纹,光能利用率降低。     

控(微囊)藻鲢、鳙排泄物光能与生长活性

利用叶绿素荧光技术,通过原位培养滤食性鱼类鲢(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)、鳙(Aristichthys nobilis)摄食微囊藻(Microcysis)后的排泄物,研究鲢、鳙滤食对藻类光能及生长活性的影响。结果表明,微囊藻经鲢、鳙滤食后,排泄当天,其叶绿素荧光参数PSⅡ最大光能转化效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ潜在光合活性(Fv/Fo)、PSⅡ实际光能转化效率(Yield)和光合电子传递速率(ETR)显著低于对照组(P0.05),而光化学猝灭(qP)和非光化学猝灭(NPQ)显著高于对照组(P0.05)。随后,微囊藻的光合活性逐渐恢复,鲢、鳙组的Fv/Fm、Fv/Fo、Yield和qP分别在第3天和第5天开始呈上升趋势,至实验结束时显著高于对照组,其中鲢组高于鳙组。而NPQ呈下降趋势,第13 d极显著低于对照组(P0.01)。原位培养期间,鲢、鳙组藻细胞密度和叶绿素a(Chl a)浓度呈增长趋势,且鲢组明显高于鳙组;鳙组藻类游离胞外多糖含量增长幅度高于鲢组。实验结束时,鲢、鳙组浮游藻类总生物量分别为对照组7.78、6.55倍,绿藻(Chlorophyta)和硅藻(Bacillariophyta)相对生物量增加,但微囊藻贡献率达93%以上。相关性分析显示,鲢组藻细胞密度、Chl a浓度和胞外多糖含量与Fv/Fm、Fv/Fo、Yield、ETR、qP均极显著正相关(P0.01),而与NPQ呈极显著负相关(P0.01)。鳙组藻细胞密度、Chl a浓度和胞外多糖含量仅与ETR呈极显著正相关(P0.01),与NPQ呈极显著负相关(P0.01)。可见,鲢、鳙单次滤食未对微囊藻造成生理上的致命损伤,藻类由于超补偿生长,其光合及生长活性在短期恢复并显著增强,有潜在加速水体富营养化可能,鲢、鳙增殖放流以控制蓝藻水华的措施值得商榷。     

NaCl 胁迫对盐芥和拟南芥光合作用的影响

本研究检测了与盐芥(Ghellungiella halophila)和拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)光合作用相关的叶绿素、净光合速率(photosynthetic rate, Pn)、气孔导度(stomatal conductance, Gs)、胞间隙CO2浓度以及叶绿素荧光参数等指标, 观察到随着NaCl浓度逐渐增加, 盐芥的叶绿素a/b值(Chl a/Chl b)、类胡萝卜素/总叶绿素值(Car/Chl)显著高于拟南芥, 且二比值变化幅度较小并保持较高水平。盐胁迫下拟南芥净光合速率下降、气孔导度下降和胞间CO2浓度减小。气孔因素是引起拟南芥光合能力下降的主要因素。叶绿素荧光参数的变化表明, 50-200 mmol.L-1 NaCl降低拟南芥叶绿体对光能的吸收能力, 而且降低叶绿体的光化学活性, 使电子传递速率和光能转化效率大幅度下降,造成光能转化为化学能的过程受阻,进一步加剧了光合放氧和碳同化能力的降低。而50-200 mmol.L-1 NaCl 胁迫没有使盐芥的光合作用受到不良影响。     

NaCI胁迫对盐芥和拟南芥光合作用的影响

本研究检测了与盐芥(Ghellungiella halophila)和拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)光合作用相关的叶绿素、净光合速率(photosynthetic rate,Pn)、气孔导度(stomatal conductance,Gs)、胞间隙CO2浓度以及叶绿素荧光参数等指标,观察到随着NaCl浓度逐渐增加,盐芥的叶绿素a／b值(Chl a／Chl b)、类胡萝卜素／总叶绿素值(Car／Chl)显著高于拟南芥,且二比值变化幅度较小并保持较高水平。盐胁迫下拟南芥净光合速率下降、气孔导度下降和胞间CO2浓度减小。气孔因素是引起拟南芥光合能力下降的主要因素。叶绿素荧光参数的变化表明,50-200 mmol·L-1NaCl降低拟南芥叶绿体对光能的吸收能力,而且降低叶绿体的光化学活性,使电子传递速率和光能转化效率大幅度下降,造成光能转化为化学能的过程受阻,进一步加剧了光合放氧和碳同化能力的降低。而50-200 mmol·L-1NaCl胁迫没有使盐芥的光合作用受到不良影响。     

披针叶茴香叶绿素荧光参数对不同光环境的响应

以天目山披针叶茴香(Illicium lanceolatum)4年生栽培幼苗为对象,经不同光环境(自然全光照,50%光照和20%光照)处理后,采用雅欣理1611植物效率仪测试,并进行光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)快速叶绿素荧光诱导动力学分析(JIP-test),以探讨其光适应机制,为高莽草酸含量植株高效栽培技术提供理论依据。结果显示:(1)随着遮光程度增加,披针叶茴香叶片叶绿素a(Chl a)、叶绿素b(Chl b)和总叶绿素含量(Chl(a+b))呈上升趋势,均与全光照存在显著差异;Chl a/Chl b值分别降低了22.92%和31.56%,均与全光照差异极显著。(2)随遮光程度增强,PSⅡ最大光能转换效率(Fv/Fm)降低,50%和20%光照处理的Fv/Fm值分别比全光照下降了1.34%和2.79%,且20%光照处理与全光照差异显著。(3)随遮光程度增强,50%光照和20%光照处理叶片单位面积光合机构含有的反应中心数目(RC/CSo)分别比全光照减少了2.94%和13.63%,单位反应中心以热能形式耗散的能量(DIo/RC)分别增加了2.2%和62.9%。研究表明,50%光照处理下披针叶茴香叶片用于光合电子传递的能量占吸收光能的比例变化不显著,而在20%光照处理则显著降低,即50%遮光环境有利于披针叶茴香提高光能利用效率,促进其生长和增加生物量积累。     

模拟增温对杉木幼树生长和光合特性的影响

为阐明杉木生长特征及光合能力对未来全球变暖的响应方式,通过在福建省三明市森林生态系统与全球变化研究站陈大观测点内开展的土壤增温(电缆加热,+4℃)实验,研究了增温条件下杉木幼树生长(树高、地径)特征及光合作用参数的变化,并对土壤有效氮(N)、叶片N含量、叶绿素含量(Chl)及非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)指标进行了测定。结果表明:1)在增温条件下,杉木幼树净光合速率(P_n)和水分利用效率(WUE)显著增加,分别增加了71.4%、51.3%,增温后杉木叶片能维持较高的气孔导度(G_s)、蒸腾速率(T_r)和胞间二氧化碳浓度(C_i)。2)增温促进土壤有机氮矿化作用,使土壤中可供植物吸收利用的有效N含量显著增加,从而引起杉木叶片N含量显著提高。而N作为叶绿素的重要组成物质,增温后,叶片N含量显著提高,最终导致杉木幼树叶片Chl a、Chl b及Chl总量显著增加,增加比例分别为76.3%、55.8%、68.7%,Chl a/b值亦呈增加趋势。3)增温对杉木幼树生长及叶片NSC含量并无显著影响。综上所述,增温通过改变杉木叶片气孔导度敏感性以及促进杉木叶片Chl含量合成,增加叶片对CO_2的吸收以及光能捕获能力,进而提高光合效率。同时,增温引起的根系高温可能大幅度提高杉木呼吸强度,加剧对杉木叶片碳水化合物的消耗过程,使其NSC含量无显著变化,从而导致杉木幼树生长无显著差异。     

遮阴对闽楠一年生和三年生幼树叶绿素荧光特性及能量分配的影响

为探讨闽楠幼树对不同光环境的光合生理响应,本研究分析了不同光照条件(全光和88.3%遮光率)对闽楠1年生和3年生幼树叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧光参数、捕光色素分子内禀特性和光能分配的影响。结果表明:88.3%遮光率条件下生长的闽楠1年生和3年生幼树叶绿素a、叶绿素b、类葫芦卜素含量均显著大于全光照。遮阴导致闽楠1、3年生幼树初始荧光(Fo)、PSII最大光化学量子产量(Fv/Fm)和PSII有效光化学量子产量(Fv'/Fm')增加,光化学淬灭系数(qP)和非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ)下降。88.3%遮光率条件下生长的闽楠1年生和3年生幼树捕光色素分子有效光能吸收截面(σik')和天线热耗散(D)显著低于全光照,处于最低激发态的捕光色素分子数(Nk)和非光化学能量耗散(E)高于全光照。在全光照或88.3%遮光率条件下,闽楠1年生幼树叶绿素含量、类葫芦卜素含量、Fv/Fm、Fv'/Fm'、NPQ与3年生幼树无显著差异。在全光照条件下,闽楠1年生幼树qP、电子传递速率(ETR)、σik'、光化学耗散(P)显著小于3年生幼树,Nk和E高于3年生幼树。这说明闽楠1年生和3年生幼树适宜在遮阴条件下生长,全光照条件下会产生光抑制,闽楠3年生幼树对高光环境的抗性较1年生幼树强。     

缘管浒苔和浒苔对海水盐度胁迫的生理响应

为探讨大型海藻对盐度的生理响应及其适应机制,以缘管浒苔和浒苔为试验材料,研究了不同盐度的稀释或浓缩海水处理10 d对浒苔属植物鲜质量(FM)、相对生长速率(RGR)、相对电导率(REC)、叶绿素含量(Chl)、类胡萝卜素含量(Car)、色素比值(Chl a/Chl b、Chl/Car)、叶绿素荧光参数和渗透调节能力(OAA)的影响.结果表明:与对照相比,10％ ～ 200％海水处理均明显促进两浒苔属品种的FM和RGR,缘管浒苔和浒苔分别在100％和50％海水处理下的FM和RGR达到最大值;300％海水处理显著抑制两浒苔生长,缘管浒苔受抑制程度较大;缘管浒苔的生物量仅在50％、100％海水处理下呈现正增长,浒苔生物量在10％、50％、100％、200％海水处理下均呈现正增长.10％海水处理下,两浒苔的Chl、Car、Chl a/Chl b显著上升,且随海水盐度的增加,呈现先增后降,缘管浒苔和浒苔的Chl、Car、Chl a/Chl b分别在100％、50％海水处理下达到最大值.随盐度的增加,叶绿素荧光参数PSⅡ最大光能转化效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ实际光能转化效率(Yield)、最大相对电子传递速率(rETRmax)、光能利用效率(α)和半饱和光强(Ik)都显示与Chl相同的变化趋势.10％ ～ 300％海水处理下,浒苔属均表现出一定的OAA,缘管浒苔在100％海水处理下,OAA达到最大值,浒苔在50％海水处理下,OAA达到最大值.两浒苔的生长指标除与Chl/Car无明显的相关性,与REC呈极显著负相关,与Chl、Car、Chl a/Chl b、Fv/Fm、Yield、rETRmax、α、Ik、OAA呈极显著正相关.100％和50％海水处理分别对缘管浒苔和浒苔的生长最适宜,浒苔生长适应盐度的范围比缘管浒苔宽.REC、Chl、Car、Chl a/Chl b、Fv/Fm、Yield、rETRmmax、α、Ik和OAA均可以作为浒苔属植物生长盐适应性的评价指标.     

酸枣生理生化特性对干旱胁迫的响应

以3年生酸枣为试材,通过盆栽控水试验法研究干旱胁迫条件下酸枣生理生化特性的响应规律.结果表明:随着干旱胁迫梯度的加大、干旱时间的延长,酸枣叶中可溶性糖、游离脯氨酸(PRO)、超氧阴离子自由基及抗坏血酸(AsA)含量累积,呈现持续上升的变化趋势;重度干旱下可溶性糖积累量高于CK 171.74％,且差异显著(P＜0.05);超氧阴离子自由基含量增加了5.77倍(P＜0.05),对细胞膜的氧化损伤加剧;PRO含量在重度干旱时最高,达到1 733.23 μg/g,是CK组的12.68倍(P＜0.01);抗坏血酸含量最高为813.10mg/100g.FW,增加了158.07％(P＜0.01).可溶性蛋白含量呈现先上升后下降的变化趋势,在中度干旱时含量最高9.99 mg/g,增加了2.11倍(P＜0.05);叶绿素a(Chl a)、叶绿素b(Chl b)及叶绿素总量呈下降的变化趋势,Chl a降低了31.08％ (P ＜0.05),Chl b降低了37.99％ (P ＜0.01),叶绿素总量降低了33.68％(P＜0.05);干旱对Chl a、Chl b的影响程度不同,导致Chl a/Chl b变化异常;类胡萝卜素含量在干旱胁迫前期上升,增加了37.72％,后期下降,降低了18.94％ (P ＜0.05).     

Characterization of SSEA-1 glycolipids from the brain of a patient with fucosidosis

Neutral glycolipids from the brain of a patient with Fucosidosis were analyzed and two complex glycolipids containing five and eight sugars were isolated from the cortical grey matter. These two glycolipids reacted with antibodies recognizing the SSEA-1 [Le^x(X)] carbohydrate determinant. SSEA-1 glycolipids are normally expressed in human embryonic brain but are found in only small amounts in postnatal human brain. The accumulation of the two SSEA-1 glycolipids in Fucosidosis brain thus represents a defect which affects the normal developmentally regulated decrease in postnatal, expression of these glycolipids, and may be a contributing factor in the abnormal brain development associated with the disease. Chemical characterization of the two isolated glycolipids by gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric analyses has identified the two glycolipids as lacto-N-fucopentaosylceramide (III) and difucosyl-neolactonorhexaosylceramide.Abbreviations DCl direct chemical ionization - FAB tastatiom bombardment - GC gas chromatography - GSLs glycosphingolipids - MS mass spectrometry - SSEA-1 stage specific embryonic antigen-1 - TLC thin layer chromatographys     

Elucidation of Structure of Lipid A from the Marine Gram-Negative Bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis ATCC 14393T

The chemical structure of lipid A, from the marine -proteobacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis 14393, a main product of lipopolysaccharide hydrolysis (1% AcOH), was determined using chemical methods and NMR spectroscopy. The lipid A was shown to be -1,6-glucosaminobiose 1,4-diphosphate acylated with two (R)-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid residues at C3 and C3 and amidated with one (R)-3-hydroxydodecanoyl and one (R)-3-dodecanoyloxydodecanoyl residue at N2 and N2, respectively.     

The evolution of the Hox cluster: insights from outgroups

Two burgeoning research trends are helping to reconstruct the evolution of the Hox cluster with greater detail and clarity. First, Hox genes are being studied in a broader phylogenetic sampling of taxa: the past year has witnessed important new data from teleost fishes, onychophorans, myriapods, polychaetes, glossiphoniid leeches, ribbon worms, and sea anemones. Second, commonly accepted notions of animal relationships are being challenged by alternative phylogenetic hypotheses that are causing us to rethink the evolutionary relationships of important metazoan lineages, especially arthropods, annelids, nematodes, and platyhelminthes.     

Phylogeny of cardinalfishes (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Apogonidae) and the evolution of visceral bioluminescence

The cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) are a diverse clade of small, mostly reef-dwelling fishes, for which a variety of morphological data have not yielded a consistent phylogeny. We use DNA sequence to hypothesize phylogenetic relationships within Apogonidae and among apogonids and other acanthomorph families, to examine patterns of evolution including the distribution of a visceral bioluminescence system. In conformance with previous studies, Apogonidae is placed in a clade with Pempheridae, Kurtidae, Leiognathidae, and Gobioidei. The apogonid genus Pseudamia is recovered outside the remainder of the family, not as sister to the superficially similar genus Gymnapogon. Species sampled from the Caribbean and Western Atlantic (Phaeoptyx, Astrapogon, and some Apogon species) form a clade, as do the larger-bodied Glossamia and Cheilodipterus. Incidence of visceral bioluminescence is found scattered throughout the phylogeny, independently for each group in which it is present. Examination of the fine structure of the visceral bioluminescence system through histology shows that light organs exhibit a range of morphologies, with some composed of complex masses of tubules (Siphamia, Pempheris, Parapriacanthus) and others lacking tubules but containing chambers formed by folds of the visceral epithelium (Acropoma, Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia). Light organs in Siphamia, Acropoma, Pempheris and Parapriacanthus are distinct from but connected to the gut; those in Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia are simply portions of the intestinal tract, and are little differentiated from the surrounding tissues. The presence or absence of symbiotic luminescent bacteria does not correlate with light organ structure; the tubular light organs of Siphamia and chambered tubes of Acropoma house bacteria, those in Pempheridae and the other Apogonidae do not.     

Structural Peculiarities of Na+,K+-ATPase Isozymes from the Calf Brain

Functionally active preparations of Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase isozymes from calf brain that contain catalytic subunits of three types (1, 2, and 3) were obtained using two approaches: a selective removal of contaminating proteins by the Jorgensen method and a selective solubilization of the enzyme with subsequent reconstitution of their membrane structure by the Esmann method. The ouabain inhibition constants were determined for the isozymes. The real isozyme composition of the Na⁺ pump from the grey matter containing glial cells and the brain stem containing neurons was determined. The plasma membranes of glial cells were shown to contain mainly Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase of the 11 type and minor amounts of isozymes of the 22(1) and the 31(2) type. The axolemma contains 21 and 31 isozymes. A carbohydrate analysis indicated that 11 enzyme preparations from the brain grey matter substantially differ from the renal enzymes of the same composition in the glycosylation of the 1 isoform. An enhanced sensitivity of the 3 catalytic subunit of Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase from neurons to endogenous proteolysis was found. A point of specific proteolysis in the amino acid sequence PNDNR⁴⁹² Y⁴⁹³ was localized (residue numbering is that of the human 3 subunit). This sequence corresponds to one of the regions of the greatest variability in 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-subunits, but at the same time, it is characteristic of the 3 isoforms of various species. The presence of the 3 isoform of tubulin (cytoskeletal protein) was found for the first time in the high-molecular-mass Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase 31 isozyme complex isolated from the axolemma of brain stem neurons, and its binding to the 3 catalytic subunit was shown.     

Taxonomic status of the species of the green algal genusNeochloris

Komárek has recently reviewed the various species assigned to the green algal genusNeochloris Starr (Chlorococcales, Chlorococcaceae) and removed those with uninucleate vegetative cells to a new genus,Ettlia. Watanabe & Floyd, unaware ofKomárek's work, also reviewed the species ofNeochloris and distributed them among three genera—Neochloris, Chlorococcopsis gen. nov., andParietochloris gen. nov.—on the basis of details of the covering of the zoospore and the arrangement of the basal bodies of the flagellar apparatus. This paper reconciles these two treatments and makes additional recommendations at the ranks of genus, family, order, and class.     

N-andO-glycosylation of glycoprotein C synthesized by Herpes simplex virus type 1-infected ricin resistant cells

The progeny of Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) grown in ricin-resistant 14 cells (Ric^R14) lackingN-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I was released in the extracellular medium at a very low rate. By using a monoclonal antibody immobilized on Sepharose we purified from HSV-1-infected Ric^R14 cells a viral glycoprotein (gC), which carries bothN-andO-linked oligosaccharides. Glycopeptides obtained from [³H]mannoselabeled gC by Pronase digestion were entirely susceptible to endo--N-acetylglucosaminidase H, and the major oligosaccharide released was Man₄GlcNAc. The accumulation of this high-mannose species was related to the enzymic defect of the host cells and to the long retention of the viral glycoprotein within the cells. The extent ofO-glycosylation evaluated in [¹⁴C]glucosamine-labeled gC from Ric^R14 cells as compared to that of gC from wild type cells did not appear to be significantly modified.Abbreviations Con A concanavalin A - BHK cells baby hamster kidney cells - HSV Herpes simplex virus     

A molecular phylogeny of Hebeloma species from Europe

In order to widen the scope of existing phylogenies of the ectomycorrhizal agaric genus Hebeloma a total of 53 new rDNA ITS sequences from that genus was generated, augmented by sequences retrieved from GenBank, and analysed using Bayesian, strict consensus and neighbour joining methods. The lignicolous Hebelomina neerlandica, Gymnopilus penetrans, and two species of Galerina served as outgroup taxa. Anamika indica, as well as representatives of the genera Hymenogaster and Naucoria, were included to test the monophyly of Hebeloma, which is confirmed by the results. Hebeloma, Naucoria, Hymenogaster and Anamika indica cluster in a strongly supported monophyletic hebelomatoid clade. All trees largely reflect the current infrageneric classification within Hebeloma, and divide the genus into mostly well-supported monophyletic groups surrounding H. crustuliniforme, H. velutipes, H. sacchariolens, H. sinapizans, and H. radicosum, with H. sarcophyllum being shown at an independent position; however this is not well supported. The section Indusiata divides with strong support into three groups, the position of the pleurocystidiate Hebeloma cistophilum suggests the possible existence of a third subsection within sect. Indusiata. Subsection Sacchariolentia is raised to the rank of section.     

Systematic significance of mature embryo of bamboos

The mature embryo of seven species belonging to five genera of Indian bamboos is described. In all these the basic pattern of embryo organisation is same: the scutellar and coleoptilar bundles are not separated by an internode, the epiblast is absent, the lower portion of the scutellum and the coleorhiza are separated by a cleft and the margins of embryonic leaves overlap. The features unique to fleshy fruited bamboos are: presence of a massive scutellum, the juxtaposition of plumule and radicle and the occurrence of a bud in the axil of the coleoptile. The fleshy fruit bearing bamboos should be classified into one group, the tribeMelocanneae. Evidence is provided to recognise additional groups in the subfamilyBambusoideae.