The importance of the ratio UV-B/photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) during leaf development as determining factor of plant sensitivity to increased UV-B irradiance: effects on growth, gas exchange and pigmentation of bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Label)

To evaluate the effect of different naturally occurring irradiation conditions on the sensitivity of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Label) to increased UV-B levels, plants were grown under six different light treatments. In the control series (at ambient levels of UV-B), UV-B and visible light were decreased in parallel, resulting in three different total irradiation treatments with the same UV-B/PAR ratio. A second series with a 15% increase in UV-B irradiation at each PAR level was used to investigate the effect of UV-B under the varying total irradiance levels. The different total irradiance levels resulted in large differences in total dry weight, specific leaf weight, photosynthesis-light response and pigment concentrations. Nevertheless, the 15% increase in UV-B resulted in equal reductions in total dry weight (from 24.5 to 34.3%) and effective photosynthesis for all light levels. The accumulation of protective pigments in the primary bean leaves was strongly correlated to the total irradiance level (200% increase from the lowest to the highest light level), but was not influenced by increasing UV-B levels. As the UV-B/PAR ratio outside increases with decreasing total irradiance (when induced by cloud cover) this implies that low radiation levels are potentially dangerous to some plants, even though the UV-B levels may seem negligible.     

薰衣草细胞悬浮培养体系的优化

采用正交设计方法对影响薰衣草悬浮细胞生长的因素进行了优化研究,筛选了最有利于薰衣草悬浮细胞生长的培养条件:含有0.025mg/L2,4-D、0.5mg/L6-BA、40g/L蔗糖的B5培养基和120r/min的转速,在此条件下培养15天,悬浮活细胞密度可达到4.4×105个/ml;经过3个月的培养,悬浮细胞的分化率可达到90%以上。通过分析薰衣草细胞对残糖的消耗规律,探讨了蔗糖浓度影响活细胞密度的原因。     

Biorational management tactics to select against triazine-resistant Amaranthus hybridus: a field trial

1. The individual and joint effectiveness of two biorational tactics (crop interference and exploitation of negative cross-resistance to certain herbicides) in the management of triazine-resistant Amaranthus hybridus L. (smooth pigweed) were estimated. Biorational tactics exploit biological idiosyncracies of resistant (R) genotypes to maximize fitness cost(s) of resistance. We quantified selection against triazine resistance by relative performance comparisons between lines having comparable nuclear genomes but either resistant or susceptible cytoplasm. Increasing soybean density by reducing row spacing (from 76 cm to 25 cm) did not significantly increase the fitness cost of resistance.
2. Low doses of bentazon (100 and 300 g active ingredient ha^–1) did strongly increase the cost of resistance. Over 2 years, the mean relative performance of R genotypes in bentazon treatments was 0·40, compared to 0·60 in the absence of bentazon. Therefore, use of bentazon in soybean production has the potential to delay evolution of triazine resistance in maize–soybean rotations using triazines.
3. There was no consistent indication that increased soybean density and bentazon herbicide could act synergistically to increase costs of triazine resistance in Amaranthus hybridus . Nor were differences in response to biorational tactics evident between the two populations of origin (Maryland and Virginia, USA) from which experimental lines were derived.
4. Effects of the biorational tactics differed markedly between years, highlighting that resistance management depending primarily on these tactics would have widely variable results. Use of such tactics is likely to be most effective in the context of diversified weed management.     

Ethylene-associated phase change from juvenile to mature phenotype of daylily (Hemerocallis) in vitro

Hemerocallis plantlets maintained in vitro for extended periods of time in tightly closed culture vessels frequently show a phenotype, albeit on a miniaturized scale, typical of more mature, field-grown plants. The positive relationship of elevated ethylene in the headspace of such vessels to the phase shift from juvenile to mature form is established. Rigorous restriction in air exchange with the external environment by means of silicone grease seals hastens the phase change and improves uniformity of response. Although some plantlets may take longer to accumulate enough ethylene in sealed jars to undergo change, added ethylene and ethylene-releasing agents promote it. Ethylene adsorbants (e.g. mercuric perchlorate) block the shift of juvenile to mature form. Critical ambient ethylene level for the shift is ca 1 μl l⁻¹. Levels up to 1000 μl l⁻¹ do not hasten the response but are not toxic. The phase change is fully reversible when air exchange permits ethylene to drop below 1 μl l⁻¹. At least 1 μl l⁻¹ ethylene is required to sustain the mature phenotype. The ethylene synthesis inhibitor aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) prevents the phase change, while the ethylene biosynthesis intermediate 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid (ACC) improves it. KOH, as a CO₂ absorbant, does not prevent the phase change. Histology sections demonstrate subtle changes in the form of shoot tips of plantlets undergoing phase change.     

Studies on Sporopollenin Biosynthesis in Tulipa Anthers

Investigations were carried out to clarify sporopollenin biosynthesis. Tracer experiments were focussed on the incorporation of specifically labeled ¹⁴C-phenylalanine into sporopollenin. In addition, the incorporation of further ¹⁴C-labeled substances, such as glucose, acetate, malonic acid, mevalonate and tyrosine, was investigated. The sporopollenin fraction was isolated and purified by a gentle method including extractions by different solvents, incubations with hydrolyzing enzymes and fractionated saponifications. During the purification procedure the whereabouts of the initially applied radioactivity was followed. After each step the remaining as well as the released radioactivity was determined. Saponification of samples labeled after application of phenylalanine yielded p-coumaric acid and p-coumaric acid methyl ester as labeled products. In comparison with the other substances applied, the highest incorporation rates were obtained with phenylalanine, regardless of the position of labeling. After degradation of the sporopollenin sample labeled with ring-¹⁴C-phenylalanine, p-hydroxybenzoic acid was detected as the main labeled product. These results unequivocally show that an integral incorporation of the aromatic ring system occurred. Tracer experiments were carried out at different stages of development. Their results show that, although the incorporation rates of ¹⁴C-phenylalanine into sporopollenin differ, the substantial incorporation of this substance is not bound to defined stages of development.