Effects of Compression and Aeration on Wood Formation in Lennea grandis Eng.

At the fifth internode, where a cambial ring was just formed,pressure was applied to the twig surface by girdling it witha rubber tube. This blocked also aeration of the surface. Inthe presence of the compact pith within, the pressure producedthicker wood with a low frequency of pores, in comparison tonormal wood at that region. When the pith was replaced by vaselinethe pressure, without a resistance from the centre, produceda very thin wood with long vessel elements and more abundantrays. Blocking of aeration from outside, without pressure, producedmore abundant vessels. Aeration from the pith region produceda narrower wood zone. Absence of pith (replaced by vaseline)resulted in a wider zone of wood with narrower and shorter vesselmembers.     

Composition analysis of tropical white oyster mushroom (Pleurotus citrinopileatus)

The protein content of the mushroom (Pleurotus citrinopileatus) was determined at different stages of its growth cycle and compared with that of the tropical oyster mushroom Pleurotus sajor-caju. In both species, maximum protein content was obtained at the bud stage but fell thereafter. All essential amino acids were present in adequate amounts, as were K, P, Fe, Ca, Na, Mg and Mn. The heavy metals, Cu and Zn, were present but in very low concentrations, much below the tolerance limit of human beings.     

The Morphology of Protonema and Bud Formation in the Bryales

The development of protonema from spore in aseptic culture wasfollowed in species representing 14 genera and 7 orders of theBryales. In no case could a distinction be made between sharplydefined ‘chloronema’ and ‘caulonema’stages. In all species, with the exception of the anomalous Cinclidotusfontinaloides, the protonema developed a markedly heterotrichoushabit, with prostrate filaments of relatively unlimited growthand erect filaments of more restricted development. The twotypes of filament were usually distinct in cellular characteristicsas well as in the direction of growth. In some cultures a thirdtype of filament grew downwards into the medium. Shoot buds were found to occupy diverse positions in differentspecies, but the commonest position was near the base of a primaryfilament of the erect branch system. Shoot buds were formedas readily in artificial light of sufficient intensity as innatural daylight.     

A Shift in Morphogenetic Pattern in Citrus Callus Tissue During Prolonged Culture

Stem-callus type-B tissue of Citrus grandis was obtained fromtype-A mother tissue in prolonged culture. When both types weregrown in the same medium containing zeatin + NAA, two differentmorphogenetic patterns were produced by them. In this medium,the type-B tissue formed numerous greenish globular bodies,which on subculturing in the same medium gave rise to a compact-nodular,greenish and slowgrowing tissue, subsequently differentiatingnumerous embryoids, whereas the type-A tissue formed numerousshoot-buds. Thus, during prolonged culture of stem-callus tissuea shift occurred in the morphogenetic pattern, i.e., from shoot-buddifferentiation to embryogenesis, which could be evoked underthe identical culture conditions.