Aluminate-Induced Changes in Morphology and Ultrastructure of Thinopyrum Roots

The effects of aluminate [Al(OH)_4$$$] on the morphology andultrastructure of root cells were studied in the salt-tolerantgrasses Thinopyrum bessarabicum (Savul. and Rayss) A. Lve (2) and Thinopyrum junceum (L.) A. Lve (6) by light and transmissionelectron microscopy. Seedlings were grown in nutrient solutioncontaining 1 mol m^–3 [Al] and 5 mol m^–3 Na₂CO₃ atpH 100. Light microscopy revealed that root tips of [Al]-treated plantsdisplayed bending. Many cells of the cortex in the elongatingregion contained a fibrillar/granular material which renderedthem densely staining. Radial (anticlinal) walls of the epidermalcells were either cleft apart of unusually thickened. Amyloplastsof the central root cap cells contained fewer starch grains,while their distribution was disturbed. Electron microscopy showed that the most serious effects of[Al] toxicity occurred at the cell walls of the epidermal androot cap cells, as they lost their fibrillar fine structureand contained an amorphous electron-dense material distributedall over the wall section. Electron-opaque droplets were encounteredat the plasma membrane region of epidermal cells, while theelectron-dense material observed in the vacuoles of cortex cellscould be aluminate which had accumulated there. Thus, despitethe presence of a barrier to aluminate uptake, some [Al] doesenter the symplast. However, the cytoplasm of many epidermalcells displayed a normal fine structure and contained the usualsubcellular components. Dictyosomes, in particular, were abundantand surrounded by many vesicles denoting an active state. Theseobservations stress the role of cell walls as the major [Al]pool and of the plasma membrane as the ultimate barrier thatprotects the cytoplasm. Results are further discussed in relation to the findings inother plant species and it is concluded that, although aluminateis less toxic than Al³⁺, it causes morphological, structuraland, presumably, functional damage-to the roots of the speciesinvestigated. Key words: Thinopyrum, aluminate toxicity, cell walls, root bending     

The Zambezi River in Moçambique

SUMMARY. Surveys of the physico-chemical status of the River Zambezi in Moçambique were conducted between April 1973 and May 1974, to characterize the river prior to the closure of the Cabora Bassa Dam and to provide baseline data from which future changes in the river ecosystem can be followed. The temperature of the river water increases by about 3°C from Lake Kariba to the sea, and with an average pH of 7.8 the water is slightly more alkaline than Kariba Dam water. The river is well oxygenated with no sign of hydrogen sulphide. Transparency is generally very low and changes are mainly determined by the floods of local tributaries. The overall average total alkalinity is 55 mg 1^?1 CaCO₃, with no regular seasonal variation, average concentrations of chloride and sulphate are respectively, 5.4 mg 1^?1 Cl^? and 5.3 mg 1^?1 SO^2-₄. They increase under both the influence of the ionically rich Shire River and the sea; the latter due to vertical mixing. Total hardness and calcium hardness behave in a similar way, while conductivity and silica concentrations increase slightly until the Zambezi—Shire confluence, at which point, conductivity increases by 25% to an average peak value of 153 μS cm^?1, and silica decreases by 15% to a minimum average value of 15.5 mg 1^?1 SiO₂. Ammonia and nitrate concentrations show a clear seasonal variation, with respectively, minimum dry season and maximum wet season average values of about 0.05 mg 1^?1 and 0.3 mg 1^?1. The overall average concentration of nitrite is 0.004 mg 1^?1. Orthophosphate in the river is mostly affected by Lake Kariba, though other sources are also of some importance. Maximum average concentrations of about 0.4 mg 1^?1 PO^3-₄ were recorded during the dry season after the overturn of Lake Kariba. The concentration of dissolved metals is mainly determined by the outflow of Kariba and by the Shire River, with only K and Mg apparently affected by the outflow from Lake Kafue. It is concluded that the water quality of the Middle Zambezi is mainly determined by the Kariba Dam, with the Kafue Dam playing a minor role. At the time of the pre-impoundment survey, the main impact on water quality of the Lower Zambezi came from the Shire River. With the addition of yet another large reservoir on the Zambezi, in the form of Cabora Bassa, together with the appreciable effect of tributary rivers on the lake, and the likely increased impact of the Shire River on the now more regulated river, the quality of the Lower Zambezi is expected to alter considerably, with concomitant ecological changes.     

Genome relationships between octoploid and decaploid Thinopyrutn ponticum

MOUSTAKAS, M., 1993. Genome relationships between octoploid and decaploid Thinopyrum ponticum . The genomic relationships between octoploid and decaploid Thinopyrum ponticum were determined by computer-aided karyotype analysis. All the chromosome pairs of the octoploid race can be matched with those of the decaploid chromosome race. Four chromosome pairs that were recognized as marker chromosomes in octoploid and decaploid T. ponticum were almost identical. It is suggested that the two chromosome races of T. ponticum are segmental allopolyploids with genome designations J^jJ^jJ^eJ^e and J^jJ^jJ^jJ^eJ^e. Genome designations Jand J^e represent the same genome but with structural differentiation. Phylogenetic relationships between Thinopyrum species may be indicated by the presence or absence and type of marker chromosomes in the different species.     

Seed Protein Electrophoresis in Agropyron junceum (L.) P.B. Complex

Agropyron striatulum (Elymus striatulus Run.) 2n = 14, A. rechingeriRun. 2n = 28, A. junceum (L.) P.B. subsp. boreoatlanticum simonetet Guinochet (A. junceiforme Löve and Löve) 2n = 28,A. junceum (L.) P.B. subsp. mediterraneum Simonet (A. junceum(L.) P.B.) 2n = 42 and A. diae (Elymus diae Run.) 2n = 56 werestudied by isoelectric focusing of seed soluble proteins. The electrophoretic phenotypes obtained from the five materialsshowed a striking degree of similarity. The typical proteinprofile was recognized to consist of 40 bands. No qualitativeprotein phenotypic differences were found and all observed variationconcerned the intensities of some particular bands. The data of the present study combined with cytological informationprovided by other workers indicate that in the composition ofthe polyploid taxa another genome besides that of the diploidA. striatulum is not likely to participate. Consequently thepolyploid taxa of A. junceum (L.) P.B. complex can be characterizedas segmental allopolyploids with the same basic genome moreor less modified at different ploidy levels. Agropyron junceum (L.) P.B. complex, seed storage proteins, protein profile, isoelectric focusing, genomic constitution, segmental allopolyploids