Photophysiology of turion germination in Spirodela polyrhiza (L.) Schleiden. X. Role of nitrate in the phytochrome-mediated response

It was shown previously that light-dependent germination of turions of Spirodela polyrhiza (Lemnaceae) is mediated by the photoreceptor phytochrome [Appenroth & Augsten (1990) Photochemistry and Photobiology 52, 61–65]. In the present study, we found that this photoresponse depends on nitrate in the surrounding medium both during after-ripening (under natural conditions occurring in winter) and during germination after light-induction (in spring). The action of nitrate in the germination response is neither related to the induction of nitrate reductase nor to the rate of uptake of ¹⁵NO₃^?. Moreover, two-factor analysis (phytochrome, nitrate) revealed a multiplicative coaction, i.e. independent action of both factors in mediation of germination. The notion that nitrate is a nutritional prerequisite in phytochrome-mediated germination of turions, is supported by the following facts: (1) Nitrate-requirement during germination was strongly increased by nitrate starvation during after-ripening prior to germination. (2) Ammonium could substitute for nitrate. (3) Nitrate uptake by the turions was unaffected by phytochrome and very pronounced even at low concentrations (0.07 mol m^?3) in the medium. With regard to the phytochrome-induced chain of events, it is concluded that nitrate is a prerequisite during a specific developmental phase. Nitrate is not a regulatory element within the chain. In an ecological sense, however, nitrate contents of the aquatic system regulate the germination of turions.     

紫外辐射对菹草成株表型可塑性及石芽的影响

菹草衰亡的原因一直是水体生态修复的研究热点,已有的研究认为强光照是促进菹草衰亡的关键因素,强光照中对动植物有害波段主要为UV-B波段,为此分别将菹草成株置于50、100、150、200μW/cm2剂量的UV-B辐射下,每日持续辐射6h(9:00—15:00),对照组接受的UV-B剂量为0,仅接受UV-A和光合有效辐射,监测菹草生长、形态状况、石芽形成及萌发等指标。结果表明,高剂量UV-B辐射能促进菹草成株的衰亡进程,即使暴露在低剂量UV-B辐射条件下,植株仍然衰亡;植株株高、节间距、叶面积、单株鲜重都受到UV-B辐射的抑制,且随UV-B辐射剂量增加,各项指标明显下降;UV-B辐射对菹草成株形成的石芽数量无显著影响,但形成的石芽随辐射剂量增加变态率增高,长度增加,宽度减少,石芽重量减轻,下一个生长季萌发率降低,萌发出二苗的比率降低,萌发苗各项生长指标随辐射剂量增加逐渐降低。因此,春末夏初UV-B辐射增强可能是导致菹草大批衰亡的重要原因。     

Influence of salinity and high temperature on turion formation in the duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza

The influence of NaCl (salinity; 0-5 ‰) and higher temperature (heat stress; 32 °C) on yield of turion formation has been tested in the duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza for the first time. Turion formation was more sensitive to both stressors than the growth of the vegetative fronds: (1) the concentration of NaCl which produces half-maximal inhibition was lower for turion formation than for growth by the factor of five. (2) At 32 °C turion formation was completely blocked whereas growth rates decreased by only 20% as compared with 28 °C.     

Abscisic-acid-induced turion formation in Spirodela polyrrhiza L. I. Production and development of the turion

Abstract The production, growth, and development of the abscisic-acid-induced turion (a small dormant bud) of Spirodela polyrrhiza were investigated. Addition of ABA to a culture of S. polyrrhiza resulted in growth inhibition at concentrations as low as 10⁻⁶molm⁻³, growth being completely arrested at 10⁻² mol m. Over a single order of magnitude range around I0⁻⁴molm⁻³, ABA also induced the production of turions. The range of turion-producing concentrations of ABA was found to be much narrower than previously reported, turion production having a clearly defined threshold, optimum, and upper limit. The possibility that growth inhibition and turion formation are integrally linked aspects of a single response is discussed. Only primordia ≤0.7 mm long at the time of ABA addition could be induced to develop into turions and the events leading to turion formation were found to be reversible up to 72 h in ABA . It is concluded that in terms of turion formation there is a sensitivity window to abscisic acid lasting some 4–20h in the normal developmental life of frond cells. Providing cells experience the appropriate signal in this sensitivity window they initiate a new programme which eventually leads to turion formation. Microscopical analysis showed that the cells within this sensitivity window were still actively dividing. It is suggested that the developmental switch-over to rapid cell expansion and separation marks the end of this ABA sensitivity window.