Diel fragrance pattern correlates with olfactory preferences of diurnal and nocturnal flower visitors in Salix caprea (Salicaceae)

Floral scent, often a complex mixture of several volatile organic compounds (VOCs), has generally been interpreted as an adaptation to attract pollinators. However, not many studies have analysed which VOCs are functionally relevant for the reproductive success of a plant. Here, we show that, in Salix caprea (Salicaceae), temporal changes in floral scent emission during the day and night attract two different types of flower visitor: bees during the day and moths during the evening and night. We analysed the contribution of the two flower visitor groups to the reproductive success of the plant. The differences in scent emitted during the peak activity times of flower visitors (day versus night) were quantified and the response of 13 diurnal/nocturnal pollinator taxa to the floral scents was tested using gas chromatographic and electroantennographic techniques. Many of the c. 40 identified scent compounds were physiologically active, and bees and moths responded to nearly identical sets of compounds, although the response strengths differed. In bioassays, bees preferred the most abundant 1,4‐dimethoxybenzene over lilac aldehyde, a compound with increased emission at night, whereas moths preferred lilac aldehyde over 1,4‐dimethoxybenzene. Pollination by wind plus nocturnal pollinators (mainly moths) or by wind alone contributed less to seed set than pollination by wind plus diurnal pollinators (mainly bees). This suggests that the emission of scent during the night and attracting moths have no significant effect on reproductive success. It is possible that the emission of lilac aldehydes and other compounds at night is s result of phylogenetic constraints. Future studies should investigate whether moths may produce a marginal fitness gain in some years and/or some populations. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 175 , 624–640.     

The lateral cervical nucleus in the cat

Summary Profiles of 14 neurons all sectioned through the nucleolar plane and 87 isolated dendritic profiles have been analyzed with respect to the surface area covered by boutons and astroglial processes. This analysis has revealed two different types of neurons within the lateral cervical nucleus (LCN) of the cat. The cell types also differ in other ultrastructural respects. One type, which probably consists of projection neurons, is characterized by a rather large size, a relatively small nucleus, numerous mitochondria, well developed granular and agranular endoplasmic reticulum. The cell membrane of these cells shows somatic spines and the perikaryon is covered with boutons to a mean extent of 42%. The other cell type, which probably is internuncial, is smaller, has a proportionally larger nucleus, few mitochondria and a poorly developed granular and agranular endoplasmic reticulum. These cells show no somatic spines and the perikaryal membrane is covered with boutons to an extent of about 10%. Also the bouton populations contacting the two cell types differ from one another. The proportion of internuncial neurons within the LCN has been estimated to about 8%. The internuncial neurons seem to have no preferential localization.The primary dendrites of the projection neurons have a bouton covering of about 48%. No proportional differences in covering could be revealed between different sizes of dendrites.The results are discussed in relation to what is known about the anatomical and physiological organization of the LCN, and also compared with the results obtained in other similar investigations on other parts of the central nervous system.The author is grateful to fil.kand. Göran Engholm for his help with the statistical considerations.This work was supported by grants from Anders Otto Swärds Stiftelse, Stiftelsen Lars Hiertas minne, Åhlén och Holms stiftelse, Åke Wibergs stiftelse and the Swedish Medical Research Council (Project No B70-12X-2710).     

Behavioral response of female Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) to different plant part extracts of African marigold Tagetes erecta (L.)

The flowering stage of African marigold Tagetes erecta (L.) was the most preferred for oviposition by Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner). The lower sides of leaf margins received more eggs compared to buds, stem tip and flowers. Olfactometer studies revealed that more female moths were attracted towards the flower extracts, followed by leaf, bud and stem tip extracts of African marigold. The thin layer chromatography analysis of these extracts showed a blend of compounds including careen, ocimene, methyl benzoate, phenyl acetaldehyde and phenyl ethanol. Attempts have been made to correlate insect behavior with the presence of these compounds.     

Hormonal factors controlling the initiation and development of lateral roots

As the first part of a comprehensive study of the hormonal control of lateral root initiation and development, the effect of surgical treatments such as removal of the root tip, one or more cotyledons, the young epicotyl, or combination of these treatments, on the induction and emergence of lateral roots on the primary root of pea seedlings has been examined. Results show that removal of the root tip leads to a rapid but transitory increase in the number of lateral primordia, the largest number arising in the most apical segment of decapitated roots suggesting the accumulation of acropetally moving promoter substances in this region. The cotyledons appear to be the main source of promoter substances for both the induction and emergence of lateral roots, although one or more promoters also appear to be produced in the epicotyl. The data further indicate that the root tip is possibly the source of a substance which moves basipetally and interacts with acropetally moving promoters to regulate the zone for lateral primordia initiation; the root tip also appears to be the source of a powerful inhibitor of lateral root emergence.     

Contributions to the systematic position of Hydrolea (Hydroleaceae) based on floral development

In the flower of Hydrolea palustris, unusually orientated with one sepal abaxially, organogenesis starts in following sequence: five sepals (2/5 sequence), five simultaneously initiated alternating petals, five episepalous stamens, two (seldom three) carpels forming a coenocarpous septate gynoecium. The two carpels are orientated rather in the diagonal floral plane than in the median one. Petal primordia fuse very late by forming interprimordial bridges (late sympetaly!). Many ovules develop on considerably widened placentas. On the very basis of the superior ovary a five-humped nectary disk is formed.Within Solanales (APG II 2003) late sympetaly, an intrastaminal disk and a 2-carpellate, septate, superior ovary are found in Hydroleaceae, Convolvulaceae, and Solanaceae. Enlarged axile placentas characterize Hydrolea, Solanaceae, and Sphenocleaceae but Sphenocleaceae differ considerably by early sympetaly. Montiniaceae differ by having a choripetalous corolla. Nearly diagonal orientation of the carpels seems to relate Hydrolea close to Solanaceae, but the orientation of the calyx is different.     

Calcium Ions Promote Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1) Aggregation into Non-fibrillar Amyloid: A LINK TO TOXIC EFFECTS OF CALCIUM OVERLOAD IN AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS)?*

Imbalance in metal ion homeostasis is a hallmark in neurodegenerative conditions involving protein deposition, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is no exception. In particular, Ca²⁺ dysregulation has been shown to correlate with superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) aggregation in a cellular model of ALS. Here we present evidence that SOD1 aggregation is enhanced and modulated by Ca²⁺. We show that at physiological pH, Ca²⁺ induces conformational changes that increase SOD1 β-sheet content, as probed by far UV CD and attenuated total reflectance-FTIR, and enhances SOD1 hydrophobicity, as probed by ANS fluorescence emission. Moreover, dynamic light scattering analysis showed that Ca²⁺ boosts the onset of SOD1 aggregation. In agreement, Ca²⁺ decreases SOD1 critical concentration and nucleation time during aggregation kinetics, as evidenced by thioflavin T fluorescence emission. Attenuated total reflectance FTIR analysis showed that Ca²⁺ induced aggregates consisting preferentially of antiparallel β-sheets, thus suggesting a modulation effect on the aggregation pathway. Transmission electron microscopy and analysis with conformational anti-fibril and anti-oligomer antibodies showed that oligomers and amyloidogenic aggregates constitute the prevalent morphology of Ca²⁺-induced aggregates, thus indicating that Ca²⁺ diverts SOD1 aggregation from fibrils toward amorphous aggregates. Interestingly, the same heterogeneity of conformations is found in ALS-derived protein inclusions. We thus hypothesize that transient variations and dysregulation of cellular Ca²⁺ levels contribute to the formation of SOD1 aggregates in ALS patients. In this scenario, Ca²⁺ may be considered as a pathogenic effector in the formation of ALS proteinaceous inclusions.     

Dipole source localization by the mottled sculpin II. The role of lateral line excitation patterns

Extracellular, single unit recording techniques were used to measure the responses of posterior lateral line nerve fibers to a 50-Hz dipole source that slowly changed its location along the length of the fish. The flow-field equations for a dipole source were used to model the pressure gradient pattern and thus, the expected excitation pattern along a linear array of lateral line receptor organs for different source locations. Finally, excitation patterns were similarly modeled along the left and right side of the fish's head for actual steps taken by sculpin in approach pathways to the 50-Hz dipole source. Spatial histograms of posterior lateral line nerve fiber responses to different locations of the dipole source could be predicted from pressure gradient patterns modeled from the flow-field equations, confirming that the modeling approach applied to behavioral results was a good predictor of excitation patterns likely to be encoded by the lateral line periphery. An examination of how modeled excitation patterns changed from one position to the next in typical approach pathways and how patterns differed between positions from which successful and unsuccessful strikes were launched suggests that approach and strike strategies can indeed be explained by the information available in excitation patterns. In particular, changes in the spatial distribution of pressure gradient directions (polarities), available only when the source is lateral (as opposed to directly in front of the fish), appear to enhance the ability of sculpin to determine source distance. Without such information, misses are more likely to occur and successful strikes are more likely to be launched from short distances only. Accepted: 23 October 1996     

Immunocytochemical localization of enkephalin in the lateral septum of the guinea-pig brain

By the use of antisera to met-enkephalin and leu-enkephalin, enkephalin-containing structures were visualized in the lateral septum of the guinea-pig brain. The present results do not reveal immunoreactive perikarya in this area. The immunostaining is exclusively located in numerous nerve fibers and endings mostly encompassing neuronal perikarya, which accounts for the fact that at the light-microscopic level cellular somata appear to be immunostained. The immunoreactive terminals and fibers contain granules approximately 110 nm in diameter and synaptic vesicles. The origin and the functional role of these numerous enkephalin terminals remain to be established.