Distribution of cell wall components in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Sphagnum</Emphasis> hyaline cells and in liverwort and hornwort elaters

Spiral secondary walls are found in hyaline cells of Sphagnum, in the elaters of most liverworts, and in elaters of the hornwort Megaceros. Recent studies on these cells suggest that cytoskeletal and ultrastructural processes involved in cell differentiation and secondary wall formation are similar in bryophytes and vascular plant tracheary elements. To examine differences in wall structure, primary and secondary wall constituents of the hyaline cells of Sphagnum novo-zelandicum and elaters of the liverwort Radula buccinifera and the hornwort Megaceros gracilis were analyzed by immunohistochemical and chemical methods. Anti-arabinogalactan–protein antibodies, JIM8 and JIM13, labeled the central fibrillar secondary wall layer of Megaceros elaters and the walls of Sphagnum leaf cells, but did not label the walls of Radula elaters. The CCRC-M7 antibody, which detects an arabinosylated (16)-linked -galactan epitope, exclusively labeled hyaline cells in Sphagnum leaves and the secondary walls of Radula elaters. Anti-pectin antibodies, LM5 and JIM5, labeled the primary wall in Megaceros elaters. LM5 also labeled the central layer of the secondary wall but only during formation. In Radula elaters, JIM5 and another anti-pectin antibody, JIM7, labeled the primary wall. The distribution of arabinogalactan–proteins and pectic polysaccharides restricted to specific wall types and stages of development provides evidence for the developmental and functional regulation of cell wall composition in bryophytes. Monosaccharide-linkage analysis of Sphagnum leaf cell walls suggests they contain polysaccharides similar to those of higher plants. The most abundant linkage was 4-Glc, typical of cellulose, but there was also evidence for xyloglucans, 4-linked mannans, 4-linked xylans and rhamnogalacturonan-type polysaccharides.Abbreviations AGP Arabinogalactan–protein - Araf Arabinofuranose - Fucp Fucopyranose - GalAp Galacturonopyranose - Galp Galactopyranose - GlcAp Glucuronopyranose - HGA Homogalacturonan - Manp Mannopyranose - RG Rhamnogalacturonan - Rhap Rhamnopyranose - XG Xyloglucan - Xylp Xylopyranose     

Accumulation,localisation, and toxic effects of cadmium in the liverwort Lunularia cruciata

Summary. Accumulation, tissue and intracellular localisation, and toxic effects of cadmium were investigated in the liverwort Lunularia cruciata. The results of analyses carried out by atomic absorption spectrometry on single plants showed that the cadmium accumulation was dose- and time-dependent. Cadmium localisation was assessed by X-ray scanning electron microscopy microanalysis in gemmalings and in the different tissues of the thallus and by X-ray transmission electron microscopy microanalysis at the cellular level. The metal preferentially accumulated in the hyaline parenchyma and at the base of the gemma cups. Inside the cell, cadmium accumulated in the vacuoles and the cell wall. Metal accumulation was accompanied by a concomitant increase in sulphur content within the vacuoles of stressed cells. Gel-permeation chromatography showed that most of the cadmium was associated with a low-molecular-mass fraction eluting at a ratio of elution volume to void volume corresponding to that of phytochelatins. The excess of sulphur deposited in the vacuoles may well have been caused by the stress-induced synthesis of phytochelatins. At the ultrastructural level, sublethal concentrations of cadmium caused alterations of the fine structure of the cells, inducing marked alterations of the chloroplast structure. Cadmium also induced a dose-dependent inhibition of apical thallus growth and gemma germination.Correspondence and reprints: Department of Plant Biology, University Federico 11, via Foria 223, 80132 Naples, Italy.     

Two RpoT genes of Physcomitrella patens encode phage-type RNA polymerases with dual targeting to mitochondria and plastids

Angiosperms possess a small family of phage-type RNA polymerase genes that arose by gene duplication from an ancestral gene encoding the mitochondrial RNA polymerase. We have isolated and sequenced the genes and cDNAs encoding two phage-type RNA polymerases, PpRpoT1 and PpRpoT2, from the moss Physcomitrella patens. PpRpoT1 comprises 19 exons and 18 introns, PpRpoT2 contains two additional introns. The N-terminal transit peptides of both polymerases are shown to confer dual-targeting of green fluorescent protein fusions to mitochondria and plastids. In vitro translation of the cDNAs revealed initiation of translation at two in-frame AUG start codons. Translation from the first methionine gives rise to a plastid-targeted polymerase, whereas initiation from the second methionine results in exclusively mitochondrial-targeted protein. Thus, dual-targeting of Physcomitrella RpoT is caused by and might be regulated by multiple translational starts. In phylogenetic analyses, the Physcomitrella RpoT polymerases form a sister group to all other phage-type polymerases of land plants. The two genes result from a gene duplication event that occurred independently from the one which led to the organellar polymerases with mitochondrial or plastid targeting properties in angiosperms. Yet, according to their conserved exon-intron structures they are representatives of the molecular evolutionary line leading to the RpoT genes of higher land plants.     

Fertilization with nitrogen and phosphorus increases abundance of non-native species in Hawaiian montane forests

Weexamined the effects of fertilization on the diversity, abundance, and cover ofthe understory plant community of two montane wet forests in Hawaii. One siteoccupies a young substrate, where aboveground tree growth is limited bynitrogen(N), while the other site is on an older substrate, where aboveground treegrowth is limited by phosphorus (P). Both sites contained an on-going,long-termfactorial fertilization experiment in which plots were fertilized semi-annuallywith N, P, or N and P in combination. In each fertilization treatment, wemeasured density of species 0.5 m tall and percent cover ofspecies <0.5 m tall. Fertilization with N reducedspeciesrichness at the young, N-limited site, but none of the nutrient additionsaltered species richness at the older, P-limited site. Species diversity andevenness were not affected by fertilization at either site. At the site withlowN availability, plots fertilized with NP had higher densities of the non-nativeginger Hedychium gardnerianum, and at the site with lowP-availability, densities of the exotic shrub Rubusargutuswere higher in P- and NP-fertilized plots. Other effects included declines inmoss cover with fertilization at both sites, and reduced abundance of nativeseedlings in response to N and NP addition at the N-limited site. Continuedlong-term fertilization could lead to greater dominance of non-native speciesbyencouraging their growth at the expense of native species, which may sufferdecreased recruitment as fertilization and increased abundance of thenon-nativespecies may reduce suitable substrates for seedling establishment.     

The bryophyte association Solorino saccatae–Distichietum capillacei Reimers 1940 on the Mediterranean mountains: A tool for evaluating natural and conservative environments

This study focuses on Solorino saccatae–Distichietum capillacei, a terri-saxicolous bryophyte association belonging to the alliance Distichion capillacei of the class Ctenidietea mollusci. With this research, we extend the Mediterranean distribution area including eastern Sicily, southern Italy, Albania and Macedonia. The results of the research demonstrate that this association is linked to natural, lasting and conservative habitat of which it can be considered a good bioindicator. This is revealed by the bryovegetational analysis, based on biological and ecological parameters (life form, life strategy and hemerobic gradient), which can be interpreted to provide useful information about the environmental quality.     

六盘水娘娘山国家湿地公园的苔藓植物区系特点

为了解娘娘山国家湿地公园苔藓植物区系特点,对苔藓植物的物种组成和中国特有种的迁移特点进行了研究.结果表明,湿地公园共有苔藓植物51科106属266种(含12变种),易危苔藓植物2种.苔藓植物区系可划分为17种类型,以北温带分布(17.37％)占优势,其次是热带亚洲分布(14.83％).属于热带(73种.R)区系类型的物...     

武汉市城区苔藓植物多样性和分布及与环境因子的关系

对武汉市7个中心城区和部分远郊城区共26个样点73个样地的苔藓群落进行调查,采集苔藓植物样本共431份。经鉴定调查区内共有苔藓植物20科35属91种,其中狭叶小羽藓（Haplocladium angustifolium（Hampe et C.Muell.）Broth.）和钝叶绢藓（Entodon obtusatus Broth.）等为优势种,分布于其中的24个样点。多样性指数分析结果显示,位于青龙山国家森林公园的α多样性Patrick和Shannon-Wiener指数最高,说明该样点苔藓植物群落的复杂程度高,群落所含信息量大。Patrick指数与环境因子的Pearson相关性分析结果显示,土壤含水率和与主要干道距离是显著影响地面生苔藓植物多样性的环境因子,而显著影响树附生苔藓植物多样性的环境因子仅与距主要干道距离相关。用典范对应分析法（CCA）研究26个样点中苔藓植物的盖度与主要环境因子的关系,结果发现人为干扰程度、草本盖度、与城市主要干道的距离等对地面生和树附生苔藓植物的分布都有显著影响。其中地面生苔藓植物的分布受人为干扰和草本盖度影响最为显著;而树附生苔藓植物的分布受附生树干胸径及与主要干道距离影响最为显著。研究结果表明武汉市区苔藓植物的多样性和分布受人为干扰较大,树附生苔藓对汽车尾气等因素更为敏感。     

Hilpertia tibetica J.Kou,X.-M.Shao & C.Feng (Pottiaceae), a new species from Tibet,China

A new species, Hilpertia tibetica J.Kou, X.-M.Shao & C.Feng from Chara Mountain, Dagzê County, Tibet, China, is described and illustrated. It is similar to Hilpertia velenovskyi (Schiffn.) R.H.Zander, but its erect to erecto-patent leaves when moist, the quadrate to short-rectangular, strongly bulging ventral epidermal cells forming a bulliform ridge on the adaxial surface of the costa, not or slightly thickened superficial abaxial laminal cell walls, the annulus consisting of 2–3 rows of rectangular to elongate cells, much smaller spores and yellow-orange laminal KOH colour reaction, readily separate it from the latter. This new species is compared with closely related species and its ecology is discussed.