CO2 enrichment reduces the relative contribution of latex and latex-related hydrocarbons to biomass in Euphorbia lathyris

The hypothesis that plants grown under elevated CO₂ allocate more carbon to the production of latex and C‐rich secondary compounds whereas nutrient addition counteracts this effect was tested. Two similar experiments were conducted in two different experimental facilities. In both facilities seedlings of Euphorbia lathyris were exposed to factorial combinations of two CO₂ concentrations and two levels of nutrient availability for 2 months. The CO₂ treatments and growth conditions differed substantially between these two experiments but treatment responses to elevated CO₂ and fertilizer addition were remarkably similar, underlining the robustness of our findings. Elevated CO₂ increased biomass to a greater extent in fertilized than in unfertilized plants and reduced the leaf biomass fraction by accelerating leaf senescence. Concentrations of non‐structural carbohydrates (NSC) increased in elevated CO₂. However, this apparent carbon surplus did not feed into the whole plant latex pool. The latex harvest per leaf (?25%) and the concentration of latex‐related hydrocarbons (?20%) even decreased under elevated CO₂ (both experiments P < 0.05). Fertilization reduced NSC concentrations (?25%) but neither affected latex yield per leaf nor the concentration of latex‐related hydrocarbons. It is concluded that latex and related hydrocarbons in CO₂‐enriched plants are a negligible sink for excess carbon irrespective of nutrient status and thus, vigour of growth.     

Impact of early applied upper limb stimulation: The EXPLICIT-stroke programme design

Background  

Main claims of the literature are that functional recovery of the paretic upper limb is mainly defined within the first month post stroke and that rehabilitation services should preferably be applied intensively and in a task-oriented way within this particular time window. EXplaining PLastICITy after stroke (acronym EXPLICIT-stroke) aims to explore the underlying mechanisms of post stroke upper limb recovery. Two randomized single blinded trials form the core of the programme, investigating the effects of early modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (modified CIMT) and EMG-triggered Neuro-Muscular Stimulation (EMG-NMS) in patients with respectively a favourable or poor probability for recovery of dexterity.     

Growth and reproductive responses to elevated CO2 in wild cereals of the northern Negev of Israel

How might wild relatives of modern cereals have responded to past, and how might they respond to future, atmospheric CO₂ enrichment under competitive situations in a dry, low‐nutrient environment? In order to test this, Aegilops and Hordeum species, common in semiarid annual grasslands of the Middle East, were grown in nine model ecosystems (400 kg each) with a natural matrix of highly diverse Negev vegetation established on native soil shipped to Basel, Switzerland. In a simulated, seasonally variable climate of the northern Negev, communities experienced a full life‐cycle in 280 (preindustrial), 440 (immediate future) and 600 ppm of CO₂ (end of the next century). Neither Aegilops (A. kotschyi and A. peregrina), nor Hordeum spontaneum showed a significant biomass response to CO₂ concentrations exceeding 280 ppm The reproductive output remained unaffected or even declined (A. peregrina) under elevated CO₂. Non‐structural carbohydrates in leaf tissues increased and N concentration decreased with increasing CO₂ concentration. N concentration, germination success and seedling development of newly formed grains were either unchanged or reduced in response to high CO₂ treatment of parent plants. In a separate fertilizer × CO₂ trial with A. kotschyi nested in smaller model communities, we found no effect of P addition, but a 2–3‐fold biomass increase by NPK addition compared to the unfertilized control. A significant stimulation of biomass by CO₂ enrichment (+ 44% between 280 and 600 ppm) was obtained only in the NPK treatment. These data suggest that increased CO₂ concentration had little direct effect on growth and reproduction in these ‘wild cereals’ in the recent past, and the same seems to hold for their future, except if N‐rich fertilizer is added.     

Use of fatty acids for the assessment of zooplankton grazing on bacteria, protozoans and microalgae

1. The distribution of fatty acids in different groups of bacteria, ciliated protozoans and microalgae is reviewed emphasizing specific fatty acids like odd-branched fatty acids and ( n -3) polyunsaturated fatty acids.
2. Odd-branched fatty acids and ( n -6) fatty acids appear to be good indicators of zooplankton grazing on bacteria and ciliates when they are detected in microcrustacean triacylglycerols. We give several examples where these fatty acids may be used as markers. The value of ( n -3) fatty acids in describing zooplankton grazing on phytoplankton seems to be low.     

Allocation of Photosynthate to Individual Tubers of Solanum tuberosum L.: III. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GROWTH RATE OF INDIVIDUAL TUBERS, TUBER WEIGHT AND STOLON GROWTH PRIOR TO TUBER INITIATION

Potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.) were grown in water culture.About 14 d after tuber initiation no significant differenceswere found between apical and basal tuber parts in ¹⁴C-uptakeand partitioning into various fractions from ¹⁴C-labelled photosynthate.Thus, the fresh weight of these tubers could be used as a parameterfor the sink size. The ¹⁴C-content per tuber (sink strength)20 h after ¹⁴CO₂-supply to the foliage was significantly correlatedwith the tuber fresh weight. No correlation was found betweenthe ¹⁴C-concentration of the tuber (sink activity; ct. min^–g^– fr. wt.) and tuber fresh weight. Consequently, tuberfresh weight (sink size) per se must have been a factor whichinfluenced sink strength. Stolon parameters characterizing theirgrowth prior to tuber initiation (e.g. stolon volume) and theircapacity for photosynthate transport (diameter, length) weremeasured at the time of tuber initiation. Significant correlationswere found between these stolon parameters and subsequent growthof individual tubers. Anatomical studies on the proportion ofvarious tissues in the cross sectional area of stolons supportthe idea of a negative relation between growth of individualtubers and transport resistance in the phloem of the stolons.It is concluded that in the initial phase of tuber growth, mainlyfactors outside of the tuber determine its growth rate. In laterstages of tuber growth, when the sink strength increases, thecompeting strength of individual tubers for photosynthate isdominated mainly by factors within the tuber itself, such astheir sink size and sink activity. Key words: Potato tuber, sink size, tuber initiation, transport resistance     

Chromium VI Induced Structural and Ultrastructural Changes in Bush Bean Plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The effect of a growth reducing chromium VI concentration (9.6x 10^–5M Cr as Na₂CrO₄) on the structure and ultrastructureof different organs of bush bean plants (Phaseolus vulgarisL.) grown on perlite was studied using light, transmission electronand scanning electron microscopy. The structural and ultrastructuralalterations observed were quite different in the various organsanalysed and did not always stay in direct relation to the averageCr content of the whole organ. The primary toxicity effect seemedto be membrane damage, due to the high oxidation power of CrVI. It is suggested that chromium is retained in vacuoles andcell walls of roots, and that the chromium reaching the leavesmay be principally Cr III and present in cell walls. The alterationsobserved in the upper plant parts seemed principally due toindirect Cr effects on the content of essential mineral nutrients. Phaseolus vulgaris L., bush bean, chromium VI toxicity, structure, ultranstructure, light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy     

Concerted evolution of the cow epsilon 2 and epsilon 4 beta-globin genes

The nucleotide sequences of the cow epsilon 2 and epsilon 4 globin genes were determined. The sequences were 95% identical. These genes arose via a four-gene block duplication that also gave rise to the bovine fetal (gamma) and adult (beta) genes. Their deduced amino acid sequences are unlike any previously reported fetal or adult globins; rather, comparison to other mammalian globin genes indicates that they are embryonic in nature. The sequence data indicate that these two genes have converted each other during evolution. Pairwise comparison to the corresponding goat genes shows greater similarity between paralogues than between more directly related orthologues. This is in direct contrast to the situation between the cow and goat fetal and adult genes. These observations suggest that the frequency of DNA conversion or the fixation of conversion events may vary in different locations of the cow beta-globin cluster.      

A seasonal study of phosphorus deficiency in a eutrophic reservoir

• 1 Seston elemental composition (C, N, P) and the orthophosphate uptake rate constant, k(upt), were measured in the epilimnion of the eutrophic ?ímov Reservoir in the period March-August 1989.
• 2 Seasonal series of log C/P, log N/P and log [k(upt)] values were highly correlated (r² in the range 0.84–0.93), but, based on literature-derived criteria, k(upt) values indicated stronger P deficiency than did the C/P values.
• 3 The results showed moderate to strong phosphorus deficiency in summer, moderate deficiency at the end of the spring peak of phytoplankton, and no deficiency early in the spring or during the spring clear-water period.

     

Synthesis of α-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">D</Emphasis>-Glucose 1,6-Diphosphate in Potentially Prebiotic Conditions

A NOVEL method for the phosphorylation of sugars by orthophosphate in the presence of cyanogen in dilute aqueous neutral or slightly alkaline solutions has been described, suggesting a plausible model of the prebiotic phosphorylation of sugars^1–3. This reaction has now been applied to the synthesis of glucose 1,6-diphosphate, starting either from α-D-glucose 1-phosphate or from D-glucose 6-phosphate. The formation of α-D-glucose 1,6-diphosphate from α-D-glucose 1-phosphate would indicate a possible route for the synthesis of this compound on the primitive Earth. It is known that α-D-glucose 1,6-diphosphate is the coenzyme in the inter-conversion of α-D-glucose 1-phosphate with glucose 6-phosphate catalysed by phosphoglucomutase*. The formation of α-D-glucose 1,6-diphosphate seems to be interesting in view of our model for the chemical evolution of the metabolism of sugars⁵, as it may connect α-D-glucose 1-phosphate with the glycolytic pathway.