The pathways of amino acid oxidation during germination of mustard seeds (Sinapis alba)

During the germination of Sinapis alba seed, alanine and some other amino acids were oxidized via the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), although the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) was also operative and may account for ca 50% of glucose oxidation. The relative operation of the PPP and the TCA cycle was influenced by changes in the concentrations of glutamic acid and glycine.     

Comparative headspace analysis of cabbage plants damaged by two species ofPieris caterpillars: consequences for in-flight host location byCotesia parasitoids

Headspace composition, collected from intact cabbage plants and cabbage plants infested with eitherPieris brassicae L. orP. rapae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) first instar larvae, was determined by GC-MS. Twenty-one volatiles were identified in the headspace of intact plants. Twenty-two volatiles were identified in the headspace of plants infested byP. brassicae larvae, 2 of which, Z-3-hexenyl butyrate and Z-3-hexenyl isovalerate, were not detected in the headspace of either intact orP. rapae damaged plants. In the headspace of the latter, 21 compounds were identified, all of which which were also produced by intact plants. No significant quantitative differences were found between headspace composition of the plants damaged by one or the other caterpillar species. Major differences between intact and caterpillar-damaged plants in contribution to the headspace profile were revealed for hexyl acetate, Z-3-hexenyl acetate, myrcene, sabinene and 1,8-cineole. The larval endoparasitoidCotesia glomerata L. was attracted by the volatiles emanating fromB. oleracea damaged byP. brassicae first instar larvae.C. rubecula L., a specialized larval endoparasitoids ofP. rapae, was attracted by the volatiles released from theB. oleracea-P. rapae plant-host complex. This shows that cabbage plants kept under the conditions of headspace collection produce attractive volatiles for both parasitoids.     

阴山荠属一新种兼论该属的演化和地理起源问题

本文描述了阴山荠屑一新种——鄂西阴山荠Yinshania exiensis Y.H.Zhang。新种隶阴山荠系,但形态特征介于阴山荠系的察隅阴山荠和密毛系的叉毛阴山荠之间,分布在鄂西一带。阴山荠属属下系统有2组2系,在研究了本属主要性状特征的演化方向后,本文认为阴山荠组是较原始的一群,小果组是较进化的一群。四川西部及其邻近地区是本属的近代分布区中心或分化中心,本属也可能是从该地区分化起源的。     

A comparison of the chemical flavour composition of some brussels sprouts cultivars grown at different crop spacings

Variations in the chemical flavour composition of six cultivars of Brussels sprout were determined for plants grown at three different crop spacings (30, 45 and 60 cm from nearest neighbours). Appreciable variations in the chemical composition of the flavour extracts were observed and it was possible to distinguish the better flavoured cultivars in all cases. In general, flavour strength increased the closer together the plants were grown. The results indicate a crude yet simple method for the production of Brussels sprouts of varying flavour and flavour strength.     

Cucurbitacin E and I in Iberis amara: Feeding inhibitors for Phyllotreta nemorum

Cucurbitacin E and cucurbitacin I have been isolated from green parts of Iberis amara and identified by TLC, UV and MS. It is shown that cucurbitacins act as feeding inhibitors for the flea beetle Phyllotreta nemorum. The most potent feeding inhibitors in green parts of I. amara towards P. nemorum are cucurbitacin E and I, and the concentrations of these compounds in the plant are found to be high enough to prevent feeding of the flea beetle.     

Benzylglucosinolate degradation in heat-treated Lepidium sativum seeds and detection of a thiocyanate-forming factor

Lepidium sativum seeds were dry heated at 125° for varying periods, and also for 30 min at various temperatures. Autolysates were then analysed for benzylglucosinolate degradation products. Whilst heating for 4 hr 20 min at 125° was sufficient to prevent formation of benzyl thiocyanate, just over 7.5 hr at 125° was required before benzyl isothiocyanate also ceased to be produced. This indicates the presence of a discrete, thiocyanate-forming factor in L. sativum seeds, separate from thioglucosidase. After 7.5 hr at 125°, benzyl cyanide continued to be formed, proving that it can be obtained (in relatively small amounts) directly from the glucosinolate even without the influence of any thioglucosidase. In general, isothiocyanate was the more favoured product of glucosinolate degradation following heat treatment of seeds, until the point of thioglucosidase inactivation was approached when nitrile formation took over. It is suggested that the thiocyanate-forming factor is an isomerase causing Z-E isomerization of the glucosinolate aglucone, but that only those glucosinolates capable of forming particularly stable cations are then able to undergo E-aglucone rearrangement to thiocyanate.     

Identification of 3-O-[2-O-(β-D-xylopyranosyl)-β-D-galactopyranosyl] flavonoids in horseradish leaves acting as feeding stimulants for a flea beetle

The concentration of flavonol glycosides in leaves of Armoracia rusticana harvested at various times during the growing season has been determined. Quantitatively dominating were 3 - O - [2 - O - (β - D - xylopyranosyl) - β - D - galactopyranosyl] - quercetin and 3 - O - [2 - O - (β - D - xylopyranosyl) - β - D -galactopyranosyl] - kaempferol. The latter was present in highest concentration in leaves throughout the growing season, the highest concentration being found in spring. This compound had the highest feeding stimulatory effect towards the flea beetle Phyllotreta armoraciae. The glycosides are new natural products which have been identified by use of enzymatic and spectroscopic methods, including ¹³C NMR.     

Effects of short chain fatty acids on radicle emergence and root growth in lettuce

Abstract. Short chain fatty acids inhibit both radicle emergence and root growth in lettuce. The transition from ineffectual to inhibitory levels occurs abruptly. Root growth is more sensitive to lower concentrations than radicle emergence and is invariant with chain length. The effect of short chain alcohols on radicle emergence is similar to that of short chain acids, but their comparatively severe inhibition of root growth varies with chain length. Alkanes of the same chain lengths have no noticeable effect. Respiration is not altered by a representative short chain fatty acid (heptanoic). Lettuce seeds are sensitized to phytochrome-absorbed light by short chain fatty acids as found by Berrie and co-workers.     

Analysis of Tag1-like elements in Arabidopsis thaliana and their distribution in other plants.

Analysis of genomic DNA of Arabidopsis Columbia (Col.) ecotype using a transposon Tag1-specific primer showed the presence of Tag1 homologues which was confirmed by Southern hybridization with a Tag1 probe. Further analysis showed that the homologue, 0.75 kb in length, had inverted repeats at both ends, 8-bp duplicated sequences at the site at which it is located and about 80% homology with Tag1, and was randomly distributed in the Arabidopsis genome. Based on these results, we concluded that these elements are non-autonomous variants of Tag1 and we termed this element sTag1. Using the polymerase chain reaction fragment hybridization technique, we found the distribution of such homologues in other plant species.