Immunocytochemical localization of callose in the germinated pollen ofCamellia japonica

Summary A polyclonal antibody against -1,3-glucan, callose, extracted from the pollen tube wall ofCamellia japonica was raised in mice and, using it as a probe, the localization of callose in the germinated pollen was studied. By confocal laser scanning microscopy, callose was found in the tip region of the pollen tube and the tube wall; the immuno-fluorescence in the tube wall was less toward the base of the tube. In contrast, the tip region did not fluoresce although the whole of the tube wall did strongly with aniline blue, the specific dye for callose. Immuno-electron microscopy showed that callose was also found in Golgi vesicles which concentrated in the tip region of the pollen tube, the inner layer of the tube wall, callose plugs, and Golgi vesicles in the pollen grain. Immuno-gold labeling was often detected on the fibrous structures in Golgi vesicles and callose plugs. Based on these results, the participation of Golgi vesicles in the formation of the tube wall and callose plugs was discussed.Abbreviation TBS Tris-buffered saline - Tris Tris(hydroxy-methyl)-aminomethane - PBS phosphate-buffered saline - BSA bovine serum albumin - ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay - CLSM confocal laser scanning microscopy - DP degree of polymerization     

The actin microfilament network within elongating pollen tubes of the gymnospermPicea abies (Norway spruce)

Summary Actin microfilaments form a dense network within pollen tubes of the gymnosperm Norway spruce (Picea abies). Microfilaments emanate from within the pollen grain and form long, branching arrays passing through the aperture and down the length of the pollen tube to the tip. Pollen tubes are densely packed with large amyloplasts, which are surrounded by branching microfilament bundles. The vegetative nucleus is suspended within the elongating pollen tube within a complex array of microfilaments oriented both parallel to and perpendicular with the growing axis. Microfilament bundles branch out along the nuclear surface, and some filaments terminate on or emanate from the surface. Microfilaments in the pollen tube tip form a 6 m thick, dense, uniform layer beneath the plasma membrane. This layer ensheathes an actin depleted core which contains cytoplasm and organelles, including small amyloplasts, and extends back 36 m from the tip. Behind the core region, the distinct actin layer is absent as microfilaments are present throughout the pollen tube. Organelle zonation is not always maintained in these conifer pollen tubes. Large amyloplasts will fill the pollen tube up to the growing tip, while the distinct layer of microfilaments and cytoplasm beneath the plasma membrane is maintained. The distinctive microfilament arrangement in the pollen tube tips of this conifer is similar to that seen in tip growth in fungi, ferns and mosses, but has not been reported previously in seed plants.     

Two new loci for hybrid sterility in cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Female gamete abortion in Indica-Japonica crosses of rice was earlier identified to be due to an allelic interaction at the S-5 locus on chromosome 6. Recently, in other crosses of rice, similar allelic interactions were found at loci designated as S-7 and S-8, located on chromosomes 7 and 6 respectively. All of them are independent of each other. At the S-5 locus, Indica and Japonica rice have S-5 ⁱ and S-5 ^j alleles respectively and Javanicas, such as Ketan Nangka, have a neutral allele S-5 ⁿ .The S-5 ⁱ /S-5 ^j genotype is semi-sterile due to partial abortion of female gametes carrying S-5 ^j , but both the S-5 ⁿ /S-5 ⁱ and S-5 ⁿ /S-5 ^j genotypes are fertile. The S-5 ⁿ allele is thus a wide-compatibility gene (WCG), and parents homozygous for this allele are called wide-compatible varieties (WCV). Such parents when crossed with Indica or Japonica varieties do not show F₁ hybrid sterility. Wide-compatible parents have been used to overcome sterility barriers in crosses between Indica and Japonica rice. However, a Javanica variety, Ketan Nangka (WCV), showed typical hybrid sterility when crossed to the Indian varieties N22 and Jaya. Further, Dular, another WCV from India, showed typical hybrid sterility when crossed to an IRRI line, IR2061-628-1-6-4-3(IR2061-628). By genetic analyses using isozyme markers, a new locus causing hybrid sterility in crosses between Ketan Nangka and the Indicas was located near isozyme loci Est-1 and Mal-1 on chromosome 4, and was designated as S-9. Another new locus for hybrid sterility in the crosses between Dular and the IR2061-628 was identified and was found linked to four isozyme loci, Sdh-1, Pox-2, Acp-1 and Acp-2, on chromosome 12. It was designated as S-15. On the basis of allelic interactions causing female-gamete abortion, two alleles were found at S-9, S-9 ^kn in Ketan Nangka and S-9 ⁱ in N22 and Jaya. In the heterozygote, S-9 ^kn /S-9 ⁱ , which was semisterile, female gametes carrying S-9 ^kn were aborted. The hybrid of Dular and IR2061-628, with a genetic constitution of S-15 ^Du /S-15 ⁱ , was semi-sterile and the female gametes carrying S-15 ^Du were aborted. A Japonica tester variety, Akihikari, and an Indica variety, IR36, were found to have neutral alleles, S-9 nand S-15 n, at these loci, in addition to S-7 nand at S-7. The accumulation of three neutral alleles into a breeding line should help solve the hybrid sterility problem in wide crosses of rice.     

Reproductive and neonatal outcomes in captive bred baboons (Papio hamadryas)

Abstract: Baboons are widely used in biomedical research. Although it is widely held that Papio hamadryas breed well in captivity, each established colony has a different reproductive success often hypothesised to be due to husbandry practices. The National Baboon Colony in Australia is a unique colony that houses Papio hamadryas to mimic that structure seen in the wild. In this article; we have analysed their reproductive parameters and neonatal outcomes. The success of the colony husbandry practices was demonstrated by lack of maternal mortality, low foetal morbidity, and known maternal and paternal linage.     

根据孢粉资料推论长江三角洲地区1200年以来的环境变迁

根据长江三角洲地区全新世９个具代表性钻孔的孢粉分析结果讨论了本区约自１２０００年以来的环境变迁。孢粉序列表明：本区约在距今１２０００年前就已发育了亚热带性质的落叶常绿阔叶林,约在９０００—５０００ａＢ．Ｐ．常绿阔叶林获得大发展。孢粉序列良好地记录了古季风盛衰的历史,表现在：１２０００—１０８００ａＢ．Ｐ．较温湿,东南季风强度加强;１０８００（或１１０００－１００００（或１０３００）ａＢ．Ｐ．偏闵干,东南季风强度减弱,对应于新仙女木期;约自１００００ａ．Ｐ．起,气候好转,气温明显上升,东南季风强度再次增强,约在９０００—５０００ａＢ．Ｐ．温暖湿润,为东南季风强盛期。此外．还讨论了约在距今１１０００年前的海侵,全新世下限和哥德堡事件的年代问题,并确定哥德堡事件的年限为１１０００—１０００ａＢ。Ｐ。     

鹅掌楸属植物的多糖壁前体和花粉管的生长

本文观察描述了中国鹅掌楸（Ｌｉｒｉｏｄｅｎｄｒｏｎｃｈｉｎｅｎｓｅ）和北美鹅掌楸（Ｌ．ｔｕｌｉｐｉｆｅｒａ）花粉在异已柱头萌发和花粉管生长期间多糖壁前体的发生、形态结构和生理功能．１、多糖壁前体在形态上有Ｐ－粒子（Ｐｏｌｙｓａｃｃｈａｒｉｄｅｐａｒｔｉｃｌｅｓ）,被膜小泡（ｃｏａｔｅｄｖｅｓｉｃｌｅ）和小泡（ｖｅｓｉｃｌｅ）三种。２、Ｐ－粒子于单核花粉期已经发生,至花粉管延伸期为发生高峰。多糖壁前体是在高尔基体,内质网和线粒体的相继、连续作用下,由淀粉质体、蛋白体和脂滴降解形成．３、Ｐ－粒子的形态随不同发育时期而变化,早期为成群的电子透明小泡,或为蛋白质束缚的挤压成多面体形,后期为内含颗粒或微纤丝的无被膜粒子或具刺被膜粒子。４、Ｐ－粒子移至管端．或融合或单个通过周质内质网（ＣＥＲ）,释放内容物参与管端壁的形成,被膜小池和小泡移至花粉管次顶端区向质膜外分泌,参与花粉管壁内层的形成,或移至管端,提供膜片。最后讨论了亲和性与超微结构特征的关系．     

南京紫金山现代植被表土孢粉的初步研究

 选择南京紫金山现代植被进行植被调查和表土孢粉分析。结合中国东部不同气候带下的几个地点表土孢粉分析,把孢粉百分含量、孢粉组合及孢粉优势种、标志种与植被的各项参数进行对比,找出植被与孢粉之间的关系。为恢复古植被、古生态和古气候提供科学依据。     

Subunits of forming pollen exine and Ubisch bodies as seen in freeze substitutedLedebouria socialis Roth (Hyacinthaceae)

Summary High-pressure freezing/freeze substitution/TEM was employed to investigate anthers of the monocotyledonous angiospermLedebouria socialis Roth (Hyacinthaceae) during early tetrad stage. The initials of the outer sporopollenous pollen wall stratum (=sexine) and of the homologous tapetal products (=Ubisch bodies) are composed of highly regular subunits: clustered globules with a constant diameter of approximately 28 nm. The clusters develop within diffuse accumulations of electron-dense material. This process, interpreted as sporopollenin polymerization, does not necessarily depend on the presence of membrane-bound enzymes. Immunogold labeling with JIM 5 and JIM 7 antibodies revealed that the primexine as well as the dissolving tapetal cell walls, the sites of sexine and Ubisch body formation, respectively, contain un-esterified and methyl-esterified pectins.Abbreviations E-PTA ethanolic phosphotungstic acid - PA periodic acid - UA/Pb uranyl acetate/lead     

Sporophytic response to pollen selection for Alachlor tolerance in maize

In order to assess the efficiency of male gametophytic selection (MGS) for crop improvement, pollen selection for tolerance to herbicide was applied in maize. The experiment was designed to test the parallel reactivity to Alachlor of pollen and plants grown in controlled conditions or in the field, the response to pollen selection in the sporophytic progeny, the response to a second cycle of MGS, and the transmission of the selected trait to the following generations. The results demonstrated that pollen assay can be used to predict Alachlor tolerance under field conditions and to monitor the response to selection. A positive response to selection applied to pollen in the sporophytic progeny was obtained in diverse genetic backgrounds, indicating that the technique can be generally included in standard breeding programs; the analysis of the data produced in a second selection cycle indicated that the selected trait is maintained in the next generation.     

Phenology and anatomy of the reproductive phase of Abies pinsapo Boiss. (Pinaceae)

Phenology and anatomy of the reproductive phase of Abies pinsapo were studied. Male cones and female cones were differentiated in the autumn, and the dormant microsporangia contained pollen mother cells (PMCs) in the premeiotic stage. The male cones broke dormancy at the end of February when the pollen mother cells began meiosis. Pollen grains were shed at the five-celled stage at the end of April-early May. The female cones broke dormancy in mid-April. Anthesis took place at the end of April. No micropylar-pollination droplet was observed. After pollination the female cones developed quickly. The most important loss of cones occurred during the pollination period. The number of archegonia varied from one to three but two was most common. Fertilization took place at the end of June. The embryos developed during the summer, and seeds were dispersed in autumn. The results are discussed in relation to other conifers.