微生态制剂4联活菌片治疗肠结核引起的腹泻的疗效观察

观察４联活菌片治疗肠结核引起的腹泻效果。结果治疗２周后治疗组有效率为９４．１％,对照组有效率为２９．０％（Ｐ＜０．０１）。治疗前与治疗２周后肠道内菌群变化：治疗前治疗组与对照组比较无差异（Ｐ＜０．０５）,两组与正常比较有显著差异（Ｐ＜０．０１）。治疗组治疗前、后比较有显著差异（Ｐ＜０．０１）。对照组治疗前、后比较无显著差异（Ｐ＜０．０５）。治疗后治疗组与对照组比较有显著差异（Ｐ＜０．０１）。治疗后     

脓毒血症大鼠心肌II型磷脂酶A_2活性变化及其调控

观察了脓毒血症大鼠心肌ＩＩ型ＰＬＡ２ 活性、蛋白质含量及其ｍ ＲＮＡ 的变化。结果发现, 脓毒血症早期与晚期心肌ＩＩ型ＰＬＡ２ 活性较对照组分别降低２５ ．０ ％ （Ｐ ＜ ０ ．０５）及增高４７．６ ％ （Ｐ ＜ ０ ．０１）,ＩＩ型ＰＬＡ２ 蛋白质含量分别降低２７．０％ 及增高４８ ．０ ％（ 均Ｐ ＜ ０ ．０１）; 心肌ＩＩ型ＰＬＡ２ ｍ ＲＮＡ合成率与含量呈现类似的双相变化, 在脓毒血症早、晚期ｍＲＮＡ 合成率分别降低４５．０％ 和升高７０．０ ％ （均Ｐ ＜ ０ ．０１）,ｍＲＮＡ含量分别降低３４．１ ％ 和增加１５７ ．０％ （均Ｐ＜ ０ ．０１） 。脓毒血症早、晚期心脏ＩＩ型ＰＬＡ２ ｍ ＲＮＡ半衰期无显著变化（Ｐ ＞ ０．０５） 。实验结果表明大鼠脓毒血症发生过程中心肌ＩＩ型ＰＬＡ２ 活性呈现出先下降后升高的变化, 这一变化受其ｍＲＮＡ 转录水平的调节。     

高原适应过程中大鼠脑内β－内啡肽含量变化的研究

选用成年雄性Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠,由平原（海拔５ｍ,上海）直接运送到高原（２２６１ｍ,西宁和３４６０ｍ,天峻）。以放射免疫分折法研究了大鼠在高原２４ｈ．急性缺氧期和３０ｄ慢性缺氧期中枢脑内β－内啡肽样免疫活性物质（β－ＥＰ）的含量变化。结果表明：１．大鼠在两个不同海拔（２２６１ｍ,３４６０ｍ）环境２４ｈ急性缺氧期与平原对照组相比,脑垂体内β－ＥＰ含量降低非常显著（Ｐ＜０．０１）,纹状体、丘脑、下丘脑、桥－延脑、海马内β－ＥＰ含量均增加非常显著（Ｐ＜０．０１）。２．大鼠在３４６０ｍ高原３０ｄ慢性习服期,垂体及各脑区内β－ＥＰ的含量变化呈时相性：即１—３ｄ均呈进行性增加（Ｐ＜０．０１）：３－１５ｄ呈持续性减少,除中脑、纹状体、丘脑外,均为Ｐ＜０．０１。１５－３０ｄ垂体、丘脑、皮层、纹状体内β－ＥＰ含量仍持续减少（毒体、皮层Ｐ＜０．０１）,桥－延脑、下丘脑、海马趋于回升（Ｐ＜０．０１）,中脑亦趋于回升（Ｐ＞０．０５）。脑内β－ＥＰ的这种变化可能具有十分重要的生物学意义。     

杜仲雌雄株树皮和叶片中氨基酸及其含量的研究

杜仲（ＥｕｃｏｍｍｉａｕｌｍｏｉｄｅｓＯｌｉｖ）是我国特有的雌雄异株植物,具有极高的药用价值、工业价值和观赏价值。主要依靠种子繁殖。为了有计划地进行定性栽培,就需要对幼龄植株进行早期性别鉴定。许多生理指标都可能作为性别鉴定的依据。通过对杜仲中氨基酸含量和组成的分析表明,不同性别植株树皮和叶片中均含有被分析的１７种氨基酸,其中胱氨酸和蛋氨酸在雌雄株间差异明显,雄株树皮和叶片中胱氨酸的含量分别高出雌株７６．９８％和４５．０４％;树皮和叶片中蛋氨酸含量雌株分别高出雄株２０．５０％和１８．７７％。这是否反映了杜仲雌雄的性别差异,值得探讨。必需氨基酸总量在树皮和叶片中均表现为雌株高于雄株,且叶片中必需氨基酸总量高于树皮中的含量。     

缺氧—再给氧刺激培养的脑微血管内皮细胞表达细胞间粘附分子—1

在缺氧－再给氧条件下,观察了体外分离培养的大鼠脑微血管内皮细胞表面粘附分子ＩＣＡＭ－１的表达及中性粒细胞与内皮细胞粘附作用的改变。结果表明,单纯缺氧１０ｈ不引起内皮细胞ＩＣＡＭ－１的上调,再给氧６ｈＩ－ＣＡＭ－１的表达升高（Ｐ＜０．０１）,再给氧１２ｈ表达量增加了１００％（Ｐ＜０．０１）,此时中性粒细胞与内皮细胞的粘附作用也明显增强（Ｐ＜０．０１）。缺氧前用盐酸川芎嗪（２ｍｇ／ｍｌ）预处理内皮细胞可阻断ＩＣＡＭ－１的表达（Ｐ＜０．０１）,同时也可降低ＰＭＮ与内皮细胞的粘附（Ｐ＜０．０５）。结果提示,脑微血管内皮细胞在缺氧－再给氧刺激下可自身调节Ｉ－ＣＡＭ－１的表达,为中性粒细胞与内皮细胞的粘附提供特异的结合位点。     

缺氧对培养的肺动脉内皮细胞血管紧张素Ⅱ分泌的影响

缺氧是否通过影响血管内皮细胞的分泌功能而参与缺氧性肺动脉高压的发生尚不清楚。本实验动态观察了缺氧对培养的新生小牛内皮细胞（ＰＡＥＣ）的血管紧张素Ⅱ（ＡＴⅡ）分泌的影响。结果发现：２．５％Ｏ２缺氧早期（１．５ｈ）,ＰＡＥＣ的ＡＴⅡ分泌增加（Ｐ＜０．０１ｖｓ常氧组）,缺氧后期与常氧组无明显差别;０％Ｏ２缺氧早期（１．５－６ｈ）,ＡＴⅡ分泌明显降低（Ｐ＜０．０１ｖｓ常氧组及２．５％Ｏ２组）,后期ＡＴⅡ分泌明显增高（Ｐ＜０．０１ｖｓ常氧组及２．５％Ｏ２组）;无论缺氧还是常氧条件下,ＮＯ供体ＳＩＮ１显著抑制ＡＴⅡ的分泌（Ｐ＜０．０１）,而内源性ＮＯ抑制剂硝基精氨酸则明显促进ＡＴⅡ分泌（Ｐ＜０．０１）;０％Ｏ２缺氧２４ｈ后,ＰＡＥＣ细胞内ｃＧＭＰ含量明显降低（Ｐ＜０．０５）。上述结果表明缺氧可通过抑制ＰＡＥＣ的内源性ＮＯ产生而促进ＡＴⅡ的分泌,ＰＡＥＣ自分泌的改变可能参与缺氧性肺动脉高压的发生过程。     

幽门螺杆菌对胃粘膜损伤机制的实验研究

实验采用ＨＰ 活菌悬液,制成大鼠ＨＰ 损伤性胃炎模型,以便观察ＨＰ 对胃粘膜的损伤机制。结果表明：实验组与对照组比较,胃粘膜损伤指数增高（Ｐ＜ ０．０５） ,胃壁结合粘液量明显降低（Ｐ＜ ０．０１） ,胃粘膜ＰＧＥ２ 和ＳＳ 的含量降低（Ｐ＜ ０．０１） 。说明幽门螺杆菌对胃粘膜防御系统有明显的损伤作用。     

β-淀粉样蛋白31-35片段对海马神经元分离膜片Ca~(2 )激活大电导钾通道的抑制

为了确定β－淀粉样蛋白（ＡβＰ）在影响神经元电生理特性并导致神经毒作用时的最短活性序列，实验采用膜片钳技术，在急性分离的大鼠海马ＣＡＩ区锥体细胞的“内面向外”式膜片上，观察了ＡβＰＲ的３１－３５和２５－３５片段对Ｃａ２＋激活大电导钾（ＢＫ）通道活动的影响。结果显示，浴液中给予 ５μｍｏｌ／Ｌ的ＡβＰ ３１－３５后，ＢＫ通道的平均开放概率（Ｐｏ）和开放频率在１～３ｍｉｎ内分别减少了８５．８％（Ｐ＜０．０１）和７２．１％（Ｐ＜０．０１）；平均开放时间减少了４１．１％（Ｐ＜０．０１）；平均电流幅度则无明显改变（Ｐ＞０．０５）；给子同样摩尔浓度的ＡβＰ　２５－３５后，ＢＫ通道平均Ｐｏ减少了８５．５％（Ｐ＜０．０１），平均开放时间减少了５１．４％，（Ｐ＜０．０５）。结果提示，两种ＡβＰ片段对海马神经元ＢＫ通道具有抑制作用，这可能与ＡβＰ的神经毒性作用有关；ＡβＰ３１－３５片段可能是ＡβＰ分子中影响细胞电生理特性的最小活性序列。     

芦笋雌性特异性片段的克隆和分析(简报)

芦笋(Asparagus officinalis L.)又名石刁柏、龙须菜,系雌雄异株宿根性植物,是重要的经济作物之一。芦笋的性染色体为一对同形的L5染色体,雌性的性染色体为XX,雄性的性染色体为XY。性别决定的多态性是由位于一对L5性染色体上的一个显性基因M决定的[1-3],雌株基因型为隐性纯合子mm,雄株为显性纯合子MM(又称超雄株)或杂合子Mm。在生产上,由于雄株比雌株高产25%以上[4],并具有极强的抗病性和生命力,故雄株特别是超雄株则倍受生产者的青睐,但芦笋雌雄鉴定只有等到种植的第二年待植株开花时才能进行,这就严重影响了芦笋的有目的种植和经济效…     

饥饿对七星瓢虫捕食作用的影响

通过不同饥饿程度七星瓢虫雌、雄成虫对麦二叉蚜捕食作用的研究,得出：①饥饿不能改变七星瓢虫雌、雄成虫捕食作用的功能反应类型;②七星瓢虫雌、雄成虫间在各种饥饿条件下的捕食量差异均不显著;③七星瓢虫雌、雄成虫对麦二叉蚜的捕食量（Ｎａ）随着时间（ｔ）的变化,其模型分别是Ｎａ＝９０／１＋ｅ０．９４５３４－０．１５７４５ｔ和Ｎａ＝９０／１＋ｅ０．８７２８５－０．１２９８５ｔ;④七星瓢虫雌、雄成虫之间在２４ｈ内的捕食速度（Ｖ）差异不显著,其与时间段（ｘ）关系的模型分别为Ｖ＝８．３５５９ｘ－１．２４６０和Ｖ＝４．３４８７ｘ－０．５９６４。     

MORPHOLOGY,VASCULAR ANATOMY AND EMBRYOLOGY OF PISTILLATE AND STAMINATE FLOWERS OF ASPARAGUS OFFICINALIS

Flowers of three pistillate (female), two heterogametic staminate (male) and two homogametic male genotypes of Asparagus officinalis L. were compared for morphology and vascular anatomy of the flower and for embryological development to the stage of mature ovules and pollen. Flowers are liliaceous, the staminate with rudimentary pistils and the pistillate with collapsed anthers. The uncomplicated vascular pattern differs between staminate and pistillate flowers only in the size and degree of maturation of bundles to stamens and carpels. Longer styles appear to be correlated with a greater extent of ovule development in ovaries of staminate flowers. Microsporogenesis in males is normal with wall development corresponding to the Monocotyledonous type. The tapetum is glandular and binucleate, cytokinesis successive, the tetrads isobilateral or occasionally decussate, and the mature pollen grain two-celled. A pair of heteromorphic, possibly sex, chromosomes was observed in heterogametic male plants. Anther development is initially the same in pistillate flowers, but the tapetum degenerates precociously followed by collapse of microspore mother cells. In pistillate flowers the ovules are hemitropous, bitegmic, and slightly crassinucellate. Megasporogenesis-megagametogenesis conforms to the Polygonum type. In staminate flowers ovule development is like that in pistillate flowers until degeneration starts in nucellar and integumentary cells at the chalazal end. Ovules in both homogametic male genotypes rarely complete meiosis, while in the heterogametic males it is normally completed with about one ovule in 20 flowers forming a mature megagametophyte. Since manipulation of sex expression in Asparagus could be important in developing inbred male and female lines for breeding purposes, those aspects of the morphological and embryological observations presented which might be useful in planning experiments to induce sex changes are discussed briefly.     

美味猕猴桃原生质体再生植株细胞遗传学研究 Ⅱ.性别性状变异和小孢子发生及其发育命运

对美味猕猴桃同一雌株叶原生质体再生植株进行了形态学、细胞学以及育性特性的比较研究,确认该体细胞无性系性别性状发生变异。其中60％雄性再生植株退化的雌蕊仍保留不同程度的雌性化特征,但雌性全不育;小孢子则能发育成有功能的雄配子体,但有一定的功能缺陷。再生雌株中P1组群性状特征与母株相似;P2组群花发育畸形,导致雌性不育或育性极差。细胞学研究表明,小孢子母细胞减数分裂时染色体异常行为对小孢子发生的影响不能决定其性别类型;雌株类型小孢子败育过程有受基因调控的细胞学特征。认为雌株和雄株小孢子的发育受控于不同的基因体系,具性别的特异性。再生植株性别性状发生变异可能是性别控制基因或染色体发生结构性变异所致。母株染色体上累积的结构性变异与该遗传基础具易变性密切有关。     

The role of growth regulators in the differentiation of walnut buds (Juglans regia L.)

The character of endogenous regulators in walnut buds was followed by means of bioassays in the course of vegetation. It was ascertained that a rise in the level of gibberellin-like substances precedes the sprouting of buds. The origination of new buds in the axil of young leaves is accompanied by a fall in the level of auxins, by a low gibberellin content and by the presence of inhibitors. In this situation the primordia of staminate catkins are diferentiated in the basal buds. The vegetative buds which are formed in the axils of further leaves, stop developing because of the accumulating inhibitors. Towards the close of vegetation the primordia of pistillate flowers originate in terminal buds and their differentiation is accompanied by a substantial rise in the level of auxin-like substances, while some of the inhibitors keep asserting themselves. On the basis of these findings we have tested the possibility of affecting the differentiation of staminate primordia and of vegetative buds by the exogenous application of selected regulators. Spraying young leaves with IAA and MH solutions will increase the number of vegetative buds in the twigs. A later spray of other twigs by TIBA and GA₃ solutions will increase the number of staminate buds.     

Resource partitioning to male and female flowers of Spinacia oleracea L. in relation to whole-plant monocarpic senescence

Male plants of spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) senesce following flowering. It has been suggested that nutrient drain by male flowers is insufficient to trigger senescence. The partitioning of radiolabelled photosynthate between vegetative and reproductive tissue was compared in male (staminate) versus female (pistillate) plants. After the start of flowering staminate plants senesce 3 weeks earlier than pistillate plants. Soon after the start of flowering, staminate plants allocated several times as much photosynthate to flowering structures as did pistillate plants. The buds of staminate flowers with developing pollen had the greatest draw of photosynthate. When the staminate plants begin to show senescence 68% of fixed C was allocated to the staminate reproductive structures. In the pistillate plants, export to the developing fruits and young flowers remained near 10% until mid-reproductive development, when it increased to 40%, declining to 27% as the plants started to senesce. These differences were also present on a sink-mass corrected basis. Flowers on staminate spinach plants develop faster than pistillate flowers and have a greater draw of photosynthate than do pistillate flowers and fruits, although for a shorter period. Pistillate plants also produce more leaf area within the inflorescence to sustain the developing fruits. The (14)C in the staminate flowers declined due to respiration, especially during pollen maturation; no such loss occurred in pistillate reproductive structures. The partitioning to the reproductive structures correlates with the greater production of floral versus vegetative tissue in staminate plants and their more rapid senescence. As at senescence the leaves still had adequate carbohydrate, the resources are clearly phloem-transported compounds other than carbohydrates. The extent of the resource redistribution to reproductive structures and away from the development of new vegetative sinks, starting very early in the reproductive phase, is sufficient to account for the triggering of senescence in the rest of the plant.     

Preformation and distribution of staminate and pistillate flowers in growth units of Nothofagus alpina and N. obliqua (Nothofagaceae)

Background and Aims

The distribution and differentiation times of flowers in monoecious wind-pollinated plants are fundamental for the understanding of their mating patterns and evolution. Two closely related South American Nothofagus species were compared with regard to the differentiation times and positions of staminate and pistillate flowers along their parent growth units (GUs) by quantitative means.

Methods

Two samples of GUs that had extended in the 2004–2005 growing season were taken in 2005 and 2006 from trees in the Lanín National Park, Patagonia, Argentina. For the first sample, axillary buds of the parent GUs were dissected and the leaf, bud and flower primordia of these buds were identified. The second sample included all branches derived from the parent GUs in the 2005–2006 growing season.

Key Results

Both species developed flowering GUs with staminate and/or pistillate flowers; GUs with both flower types were the most common. The position of staminate flowers along GUs was similar between species and close to the proximal end of the GUs. Pistillate flowers were developed more distally along the GUs in N. alpina than in N. obliqua. In N. alpina, the nodes bearing staminate and pistillate flowers were separated by one to several nodes with axillary buds, something not observed in N. obliqua. Markovian models supported this between-species difference. Flowering GUs, including all of their leaves and flowers were entirely preformed in the winter buds.

Conclusions

Staminate and pistillate flowers of N. alpina and N. obliqua are differentiated at precise locations on GUs in the growing season preceding that of their antheses. The differences between N. alpina and N. obliqua (and other South American Nothofagus species) regarding flower distribution might relate to the time of anthesis of each flower type and, in turn, to the probabilities of self-pollination at the GU level.Key words: Branch, bud, growth unit, Markovian models, Nothofagus alpina, N. obliqua, Patagonian forests, pistillate flower, preformation, staminate flower     

Adventitious staminate flower formation in gibberellin treated gynoecious cucumber plants

Single gibberellin (A₄₊₇) treatments induced the appearanceof staminate floral buds in several consecutive nodes on themain stem of genetically female cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.).The staminate buds appeared next to pistillate buds which showedvarious degrees of degeneration. Similarly, repeated GA treatmentsinduced the appearance of staminate flowers in otherwise strictlyhermaphrodite plants, next to bisexual flowers. However, thebisexual buds, unlike the pistillate ones, did not show anydeleterious effects of the GA treatment. Therefore, it is inferredthat the hormonally induced staminate buds did not develop bysexual reversion of would-be pistillate or bisexual buds, butrather, represent adventitious buds which, in normally grownfemale or hermaphrodite plants, never develop. It thus seemsthat predetermined pistillate or bisexual buds do not changeinto staminate ones, while change in the reverse direction hasbeen demonstrated in the past (at least for the gynoecious ones). The effectiveness of the GA treatment in the gynoecious plantsshowed an acropetal gradient both within the affected region,as well as along the main stem. Autoradiographic histologicalexaminations showed that the course of development of the inducedstaminate floral bud did not differ from that of normally developingbuds. (Received June 16, 1977; )     

Subandrodioecy and male fitness in Sagittaria lancifolia subsp. lancifolia (Alismataceae)

Sagittaria lancifolia subsp. lancifolia is described as cosexual (monoecious), but the study population consisted of 84% cosexuals that typically had 35% pistillate buds and 16% predominant males that typically had 0-2% pistillate buds. Hand-pollinations showed that pistillate flowers required pollination to set seed, and pollen from both male and cosexual plants was potent. No gender switching was seen in the field or greenhouse. From 24 experimental crosses, 890 offspring were grown to maturity. Among these, all offspring of cosexual sires were cosexual, but approximately half the offspring of male sires were male, implying that maleness was inherited as a single, dominant allele. These results indicate that S. lancifolia is subandrodioecious, a very rare breeding system. It is rare, in part because its maintenance requires a large male-fitness differential between male and cosexual plants. In the study population, this condition was met by the differential survival of staminate buds on male racemes. Larvae of the weevil Listronotus appendiculatus killed many staminate buds. They did so in a vertical gradient, with buds lower on racemes safer. Male plants have replaced pistillate with staminate buds at these safer positions and thereby enjoy disproportionally higher male fitness.     

麻疯树雌雄花中MADS-BOX基因的表达分析

麻疯树(Jatropha curcas)种子含油率高,种子中的油类物质可作为生物柴油被开发和利用,是极具潜力的生物质能源树种之一。麻疯树雌雄异花,在自然条件下雄花数量通常远远大于雌花,这大大限制了种子和油的产量,因此开展麻疯树性别分化与花发育分子机理的研究具有重要意义。该研究选取10个麻疯树的MADS-BOX基因(JcAGL1,JcAGL6,JcAGL9,JcAGL11,JcAGL15,JcAGL61-3,JcAGL62-1,JcAGL62-6,JcAGL62-7,JcAGL80-2),提取麻疯树早期发育各个阶段的雌雄花总RNA,并反转录成cDNA,采用实时荧光定量方法,探索早期发育不同阶段的麻疯树雌雄花目的基因的表达情况。结果表明:目的基因在发育起始的雌雄花中的表达具有差异,比如JcAGL6和JcAGL15在雄花中表达量要高于雌花,而JcAGL1,JcAGL9和JcAGL11在雌花中的表达量要高于雄花,这说明花原基中目的基因表达会直接或间接决定性别分化的方向;在之后的发育过程中,目的基因的表达情况在雌雄花中有所不同:随着花的发育,目的基因在雌雄花中的表达量变化存在差别,这反应出麻疯树雌雄花发育中目的基因表达模式上的差异;另外,也能看出在此过程中各个目的基因又发挥着不同的功能。该研究结果为进一步探究麻疯树雌雄花发育相关基因的表达提供了理论依据,为了解麻疯树性别分化和花发育的分子机理奠定了基础。     

Pollen movement to flowering canopies of pistillate individuals of three rain forest tree species in tropical Australia

This study measured the quantities of effective pollen vectors and their pollen loads arriving at the canopies of dioecious tropical rain forest trees in north-east Queensland. Population flowering synchrony, effective pollinator populations and pollen loads transferred between staminate and pistillate trees were compared among three insect-pollinated tree species. All three were visited by a wide range of insects, 75% of which (mostly 3–6 mm long) carried conspecific pollen. Fewer than 8% of individual insects were found to be carrying single-species pollen exclusively and none could be described as specialist pollen foragers. The introduced honeybee carried greater quantities of pollen than any native species but was not necessarily a reliable pollinator. The brief flowering periods in Neolitsea dealbata (3–4 weeks) and Litsea leefeana (4–5 weeks) populations were synchronized among individuals. Flowering in the Diospyros pentamera population extended over 15 weeks and most individuals were in flower for most of this period. Staminate trees began flowering earlier, produced more flowers and attracted relatively more insects than did pistillate trees, suggesting a density-dependent response of pollinators to flowering performance. Pollen was trapped in greater quantities on insects at staminate trees than at pistillate trees. Insect numbers increased at peak flowering periods and Diptera were the most abundant flower visitors. Anthophilous Coleoptera were more numerous at staminate than at pistillate trees in all three tree species populations. Larger quantities of pollen were mobilized during peak flowering times although the greatest quantities were transferred to pistillate canopies towards the end of the population flowering periods. Diptera carried pollen more often to pistillate N. dealbata and L. leefeana trees than did other groups whereas Coleoptera carried pollen more often to pistillate D. pentamera trees. The two contrasting flowering performances in the three tree species are discussed with reference to mechanisms that facilitate pollen transfer between staminate and pistillate trees.     

Early inflorescence and floral development in Cocos nucifera L. (Arecaceae: Arecoideae)

Palms are generally characterized by a large structure with a massive crown that creates difficulties in anatomical studies. The flowering behaviour of palm species may be a useful indicator of phylogenetic relationships and therefore evolutionary events. This paper presents a detailed histological study of reproductive development in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), from initiation up to maturation of staminate and pistillate flowers. Reproductive development in coconut consists of a sequence of individual events that span more than two years. Floral morphogenesis is the longest event, taking about one year, while sex determination is a rapid process that occurs within one month. The inflorescence consists of different ultimate floral structural components. Pistillate flowers are borne in floral triads that are flanked by two functional staminate flowers. The staminate flowers are born in floral diads towards the base of the rachilla followed by solitary flowers in the middle to top of the rachilla. Three primary phases were identified in reproductive development, namely, transition of axillary bud into inflorescence bud, formation of floral buds, and sexualisation of individual flower buds. All developmental events with respect to stage or time of occurrence were determined.