Rapid cooling triggers forisome dispersion just before phloem transport stops

Phloem transport stops transiently within dicot stems that are cooled rapidly, but the cause remains unknown. Now it is known that (1) rapid cooling depolarizes cell membranes giving a transient increase in cytoplasmic Ca²⁺, and (2) a rise of free calcium triggers dispersion of forisomes, which then occlude sieve elements (SEs) of fabacean plants. Therefore, we compared the effects of rapid chilling on SE electrophysiology, phloem transport and forisomes in Vicia faba. Forisomes dispersed after rapid cooling with a delay that was longer for slower cooling rates. Phloem transport stopped about 20 s after forisome dispersion, and then transport resumed and forisomes re‐condensed within similar time frames. Transport interruption and forisome dispersion showed parallel behaviour – a cooling rate‐dependent response, transience and desensitization. Chilling induced both a fast and a slow depolarization of SE membranes, the electrical signature suggesting strongly that the cause of forisome dispersion was the transient promotion of SE free calcium. This apparent block of SEs by dispersed forisomes may be assisted by other Ca²⁺‐dependent sealing proteins that are present in all dicots.     

Determination of phylogenetic relationships between some wild wheat species using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers

This study reports the molecular characterization, polymorphism, and phylogenetic relationships of Triticum aestivum , T. dicoccoides , T. urartu , and T. monococcum ssp. boeoticum , obtained from different locations in Anatolia, using 33 primer combinations to generate amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) patterns in 31 individual plant samples. The objectives of this work were to estimate the phylogenetic relationships between these species and to investigate the genetic distance as a result of ecological and climatic factors. The origin of the A genome of polyploid wheats is also discussed. Eight hundred and seventy-five AFLP fragments had polymorphic loci, 133 of which were unique to T. monococcum ssp. boeoticum , 66 were unique to T. urartu , and 141 were unique to T. dicoccoides . Analysis using the program POPGENE showed polymorphism levels of T. monococcum ssp. boeoticum , T. urartu , and T. dicoccoides of 42.63, 32.34, and 27.71%, respectively. No correlation between genetic distance and ecological or climatic factors was recorded in this study. Our results support the hypothesis that T. urartu is a diploid ancestor of T. dicoccoides and T. aestivum .  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 153 , 67–72.     

The phloem, a miracle of ingenuity

This review deals with aspects of the cellular and molecular biology of the sieve element/companion cell complex, the functional unit of sieve tubes in angiosperms. It includes the following issues: (a) evolution of the sieve elements; (b) the specific structural outfit of sieve elements and its functional significance; (c) modes of cellular and molecular interaction between sieve element and companion cell; (d) plasmodesmal trafficking between sieve element and companion cell as the basis for macromolecular long‐distance signalling in the phloem; (e) diversity of sieve element/companion cell complexes in the respective phloem zones (collection phloem, transport phloem, release phloem); (f) deployment of carriers, pumps and channels on the plasma membrane of sieve element/companion cell complexes in various phloem zones; and (g) implications of the molecular‐cellular equipment of sieve element/companion cells complexes for mass flow of water and solutes in a whole‐plant frame.     

Thermal tolerance and recovery behaviour of Thorectes lusitanicus (Coleoptera,Geotrupidae)

1. Population differences in physiological responses are examined in Thorectes lusitanicus, an endemic Iberian dung beetle species, by submitting individuals of different populations to the same experimental and acclimation conditions. 2. An infrared thermography protocol was used, consisting of three assays: start of activity, cold response, and heat response. Individuals of 12 populations were studied and the comparative explanatory capacities of several environmental factors in relation to the observed inter‐population differences were examined. 3. The heating rate from chill coma to the beginning of activity was the variable with the highest discrimination power among the studied populations, accounting for 94% of the observed variance. Regarding the heat response, only six of the 16 thermal variables reached significance (inter‐population differences accounted for 52–74% in these six thermal parameters). 4. From the three considered environmental factors (Mediterranean climate, land cover, and trophic characteristics) only land cover characteristics remain statistically significant, affecting the cold response of individuals. 5. Thorectes lusitanicus is a species characterised by a high diversity of thermotolerance and recovery traits across populations with a low degree of association with broad environmental factors. Finally, it is suggested that the apterous character of this species could be a determinant factor explaining the high diversity of ecophysiological traits related to thermal stress tolerance and the recovery time.     

PCR-based RFLP analysis of an intergenic spacer region in cpDNA of some wild wheat species

Wheat is one of the basic food materials for humans and other animals. Continuing studies into breeding new species, which are suitable for agriculture, are based on the contention that the restricting factors are the effects of the nuclear genes. Such focusing of studies on the nuclear genome leads to restriction on the information on organelle DNAs, although cytoplasmic genetic factors are effective on the morphological, physiological and reproductive features of plants. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFLP) of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) has become a powerful tool for studying phylogenetic relationships. In this study, seven wheat species, belonging to Aegilops and Triticum , were studied. An intergenic spacer region of cpDNA was digested by six different restriction endonuclease enzymes, and fragments so obtained were investigated using the agarose gel electrophoresis technique. Discussion on the phylogenetic relationships among Triticum and Aegilops species is based on the resultant data.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 305–310.     

Different pathways are involved in the early development of the transient oral apparatus in anuran tadpoles (Anura: Leiuperidae)

The oral apparatus of anuran tadpoles is a unique structure composed of soft and keratinized parts surrounding the mouth. Among the many variations, a common oral apparatus involves a dorsal gap in the marginal papillae, keratinized jaw sheaths, and two upper and three lower rows of labial teeth. In Leiuperidae, besides this generalized morphology, four configurations are distinguished by the arrangement of the lower marginal papillae and the number of lower tooth rows. Study of the early oral ontogeny in 12 species representing these five configurations shows variations in the development of the lower marginal papillae and the third lower labial tooth row. Similar configurations may result from similar pathways (e.g. Physalaemus cuvieri group and Pseudopaludicola falcipes) or different pathways (e.g. generalized oral discs of Pleurodema and Physalaemus). Different oral configurations may result from overlapping trajectories ending at different stages (e.g. Physalaemus riograndensis and Ph. biligonigerus) or different trajectories (e.g. Ph. henselii and Ph. gracilis). Further studies are needed to interpret the role that heterochrony has played in evolutionary change within this family. The unsuspected variation occurring in this transient structure highlights its evolutionary potential and might be insightful in studies of anuran phylogenies that are largely based on adult characters. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 104 , 330–345.     

Cell-cell communication in the leaves of Commelina cyanea and other plants

Abstract. The fluorescent probes 6–carboxyfluorescein and lucifer yellow CH which do not pass the plasmalemma have been used to examine cell-to-cell communication in the leaf of Commelina cyanea. Dye movement from cell-to-cell occurs in epidermal, spongy and palisade mesophyll, and vascular cells. Dye movement between these tissues was also found. Hence, the epidermis, spongy and palisade mesophyll cells, and vascular tissue are all linked in a continuous symplast. However, dye injected into the epidermal cells rarely moves into guard cells, indicating that these cells are relatively isolated from the surrounding cells. In the same way, guard cells in Vicia faba and the C₄ grass Anthephora pubescens also appeared to be isolated from epidermal cells. Thus guard cell isolation from cell-to-cell communication appears to be a common phenomenon. Hence, the ion fluxes required for guard cell function must occur via the apoplast.     

Preferential Accumulation by Mesophyll Cells at Low and by Veins at High Exogenous Amino Acid and Sugar Concentrations in Commelina benghalensis L. Leaves

The contribution to solute uptake by mesophyll cells and veinsin leaf discs, was assessed through a study of uptake in relationto concentration for ¹⁴C-labelled substrates (sucrose, glucose,arginine, proline, valine and -aminoisobutyric acid) using isolatedmesophyll cells and stripped leaf discs of Commelina benghalensisL. Uptake per unit fresh weight was higher in mesophyll cellsthan in discs at low substrate concentrations (lower than about0·5 mol m^–3). At higher concentrations, uptakeby discs exceeded that by mesophyll cells except for glucoseuptake which was higher in mesophyll cells over the whole concentrationrange. The profiles of uptake versus concentration displayedbiphasic kinetics in mesophyll cells and discs. Comparison ofthe uptake characteristics obtained by iterative fitting confirmedthat the high-affinity systems of uptake prevail in the mesophyllcells, whereas the low-affinity systems are dominant in theveins. The results provide good evidence that, supplementaryto direct vein loading, a pathway via the mesophyll contributesstrongly to the photosynthate loading by veins in stripped discs. Key words: Commelina benghalensis L., amino acid uptake, mesophyll, minor veins, phloem loading, sugar uptake