Nectar flow and pollinators' efficiency in two co-occurring species ofCapparis (Capparaceae) in Israel

Two closely related species ofCapparis, C. ovata andC. spinosa, which are exposed to the same pollination environment were studied. The nectar volume and concentration ofC. ovata are higher than inC. spinosa. Both species have similar pollination efficiency, but the relative contribution of each pollinator is different.C. ovata is pollinated mainly hy hawkmoths while the principal pollinators inC. spinosa are bees.     

马槟榔甜蛋白基因（MBL11）的剪切重组和结构分析

马槟榔甜蛋白（mabinlin II）是我国所特有且唯一的植物甜蛋白,在体外至今没有得到具有甜味的基因表达产物。本文采用基因工程手段对基因进行剪切重组,将重组基因构建成植物表达载体转入拟南芥中,通过RT-．PCR检测导入基因的表达,同时采用生物信息学方法对MBL II基因及其重组基因进行分析和甜味检测显示,转基因拟南芥不具有明显的甜味,但RT-PCR的结果显示,MBL II基因及其重组基因可在转基因的拟南芥中表达。根据生物信息学方法分析结果推测,导入拟南芥中的重组马槟榔甜蛋白可能是具有甜味的蛋白。     

Embryo and anther regulation of the mabinlin II sweet protein gene in Capparis masaikai Lévl

Mabinlin II is one of the major sweet proteins stored in the seeds of Capparis masaikai Lévl. Its promoter region (779 bp) located 5′ upstream of the mabinlin II gene has been isolated and named as MBL-779 (GenBank accession number, EU014073). This promoter contains two typical TATA box regions and a series of motifs related to seed-specific promoters, such as ACGT motifs, RY motif, napin motif, and G box. The MBL-779 promoter drove GUS gene to transiently express in the embryos of bean, maize, and rice seeds or to constantly express in the embryos and anthers of the transgenic Arabidopsis. The MBL-779 promoter regulated gene expression from approximately the 12th day and peaked on approximately the 16th day after flowering in Arabidopsis. The −300-bp promoter region is a minimal sequence required to functionally regulate gene expression. The CAATs at −325 to −322 bp and −419 to −416 bp and the region at −485 to −770 bp play a role in the quantitative regulation of gene expression. The RY motif, CATGAC, at −117 to −112 bp and the ACGT within the G box (CACGTG) at −126 to −123 bp positively regulate gene expression. X.-W. Hu and S.-X. Liu have the same contribution as first author.     

Seasonal Changes in Photosynthesis and Stomatal Conductance of Five Plant Species from a Semiarid Ecosystem

In order to determine whether stomatal closure alone regulates photosynthesis during drought under natural conditions, seasonal changes in leaf gas exchange were studied in plants of five species differing in life form and carbon fixation pathway growing in a thorn scrub in Venezuela. The species were: Ipomoea carnea, Jatropha gossypifolia, (C3 deciduous shrubs), Alternanthera crucis (C4 deciduous herb), and Prosopis juliflora and Capparis odoratissima (evergreen phreatophytic trees). Xylem water potential () of all species followed very roughly the precipitation pattern, being more closely governed by soil water content in I. carnea and A. crucis. Maximum rate of photosynthesis, Pmax, decreased with in I. carnea, J. gossypifolia, and A. crucis. In I. carnea and J. gossypifolia stomatal closure was responsible for a 90 % decline in net photosynthetic rate (PN) as decreased from -0.3 to -2.0 MPa, since stomatal conductance (gs) was sensitive to water stress, and stomatal limitation on PN increased with drought. In A. crucis, PN decreased by 90 % at a much lower (-9.3 MPa), and gs was relatively less sensitive to . In P. juliflora and C. odoratissima, Pmax, gs, and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) were independent of soil water content. In the C3 shrubs stomatal closure was apparently the main constraint on photosynthesis during drought, Ci declining with in I. carnea. In the C4 herb, Ci was constant along the range of values, which suggested a coordinated decrease in both gs and mesophyll capacity. In P. juliflora Ci showed a slow decrease with which may have been due to seasonal leaf developmental changes, rather than to soil water availability.     

药用植物刺山柑不同部位细菌群落结构及其多样性

【目的】研究传统药用植物刺山柑（Capparis spinosa L.）不同部位细菌群落结构、物种组成和多样性特征,为药用植物微生物资源的开发及微生物与宿主互作提供理论依据。【方法】本研究以刺山柑地上部植物组织（果实、茎）和地下部土壤（根际土壤、非根际土壤）为研究材料,采用高通量测序技术分析刺山柑不同部位细菌的16S rRNA基因多样性,比较其细菌群落结构和物种组成特征。【结果】刺山柑4种样本共获得的3 649个操作分类单元（operational taxonomic unit,OTU）,属于34门、88纲、248目、464科和1 051属。土壤样本的细菌多样性大于植物组织,细菌群落多样性以根际土壤、非根际土壤、茎和果实的顺序逐渐降低,果实内生细菌群落多样性始终最低,显著低于根际土壤。不同部位相对丰度较高的细菌门如下：植物组织中以变形菌门为主,根际土壤中为变形菌门和放线菌门,非根际土中为厚壁菌门和放线菌门。无色杆菌属（Achromobacter）、欧文氏菌属（Erwinia）、肠球菌属（Enterococcus）、微小杆菌属（Exiguobacterium）、乳杆菌属（Lactobacillus）和克雷伯氏菌属（Klebsiella）主要存在于刺山柑植物组织中。游动球菌属（Planomicrobium）、库克菌属（Kocuria）、类芽孢杆菌属（Paenibacillus）、链霉菌属（Streptomyces）、微枝形杆菌属（Microvirga）和节杆菌属（Arthrobacter）主要分布于土壤中。β多样性分析结果表明,刺山柑植物组织和土壤的细菌群落结构具有显著差异,同类型样本的细菌群落结构相似。【结论】刺山柑土壤样本中细菌群落的多样性和丰富度均高于植物组织,刺山柑不同部位的细菌群落组成不同。本研究对刺山柑不同部位细菌群落结构进行了初步分析,鉴定了各部位细菌群落中的核心菌群,为以后挖掘刺山柑的功能研究和利用提供了准确的微生物信息。     

In vitro propagation of caper (Capparis spinosa L.)

Summary A twenty fold multiplication per twenty days of caper was achieved by culturing nodal shoot segments in the presence of BAP (4 μM) plus IAA (0.3 μM) and GA₃ (0.3 μM). The use of a modified MS medium facilitated this response. Plantlet regeneration was induced on single shoots taken from proliferating clusters subcultured for 20 days on a reduced BAP (2 μM) without auxin and gibberellin Higher rooting responses (70%) were obtained after a 20-day incubation period in darkness on solid half-strength MS1 medium plus IAA (30 μM), followed by a subsequent 20 day culture period on half-strength MSI basal medium. Proliferation was mainly due to axillary shoot-bud development as revealed by histological studies. The extensive meristematic activities observed indicated the enormous morphological potential of this species.     

Intraspecific variation and evolutionary trends in Capparis spinosa L. (Capparaceae)

 In order to investigate the variability of the polymorphic Capparis spinosa L., a comparative study was carried out in Sicily on subsp. spinosa and subsp. rupestris. Autecology, phenology, quantitative morphology, plant architecture and leaf development of several populations were examined. These data reveal a parapatric distribution of the two subspecies and support their present taxonomic treatment. Subsp. spinosa is widespread on clay soils and shows remarkable intrapopulational variation. It is characterized by shortened reproductive and vegetative periods, high shoot growth rate, winter-desiccating shoot system and stipular thorns. Subsp. rupestris, less variable and linked with carbonatic and volcanic outcrops, shows prolonged phenological patterns, slow growth rate, woody habit and caducous stipules. A noteworthy phenotypic convergence with subsp. rupestris was observed in individuals of subsp. spinosa growing in rocky habitats. The evolutionary trends of Capparis spinosa in the Mediterranean region are discussed. Received March 29, 2000 Accepted April 6, 2001     

Phenological growth stages of caper plant (Capparis spinosa L.) according to the Biologische Bundesanstalt,Bundessortenamt and CHemical scale

Capparis spinosa is an evergreen perennial shrub known from ancient times. During the last years it has been intensively studied because of its multiple uses. The phenological growth stages of caper plant were described using the BBCH scale (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and CHemical industry). The decimal code established nine principal growth stages using a two‐digit numerical system, and every major stage was in turn subdivided into secondary growth stages.     

Correlation between environmental factors, chemical composition, and antioxidative properties of caper species growing wild in Calabria (South Italy)

Twenty samples of two caper species were collected from various natural habitats of Calabria (South Italy). A sample program was designed in order to cover all taxa and morphotypes present in the studied area, trying to correlate ecological conditions, phytochemical content, and biological activities. These species were characterized through the detection, isolation, and capillary GC-GC/MS quantitative evaluation of chemical markers (phytosterols and vitamin E). The antioxidant activity of MeOH caper extracts was assayed using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene bleaching tests. The chemical investigation showed a different composition according to the species and the populations. The best free radical (DPPH) scavenging activity was exerted by Capparis orientalis sample C4 (collected near Copanello village, granodiorite sea cliff) and Capparis sicula ssp. sicula sample C5 (collected near Tarsia village, clay soil). Sample C2 (Galatrella Valley, clay soil) showed the highest inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation with more efficacy than propyl gallate, the reference drug.     

青藏高原地区刺山柑解剖特征研究

采用石蜡切片法对分布于海拔4 000 m的西藏札达的刺山柑解剖结构进行研究,进一步探讨青藏高原植物独特生理结构及其与环境的适应性。结果表明刺山柑具有适应高山荒漠草原环境的典型结构特征: 次生根周皮发达,具有较厚的木栓层和发达的次生木质部;茎具表皮毛和角质层,皮层较厚,厚角组织发达,髓较小;叶具角质层,气孔密集,栅栏组织多层,为双栅型等面叶;花冠较大,白色花瓣,适于虫媒传粉;侧膜胎座,子房多室,胚珠多数,花粉外壁较厚,具较强的抗腐蚀及抗酸碱性能。刺山柑形成上述结构特征是青藏高原特殊综合生态环境长期作用的结果。同时也是刺山柑对高原环境的高度适应。