Within-tree spatial variation in the leaf monoterpenes of Sequoia sempervirens

Location within a tree was analyzed as a source of variation in Sequoia sempervirens leaf monoterpenes. No differences were found for quantitative composition or total yield/dry wt among lower, middle and upper canopy positions. The awlshaped, spirally arranged leaves of vigorous upper shoots showed small quantitative compositional differences, but not differences in total yield. The intermediate leaf form of young sprouts had the most different monoterpene quantitative composition and about three times the total yield of the above two leaf forms. Analysis of a clonal ring of 17 adult trees resulted in coefficients of variation similar to those for samples collected from different canopy levels of the same shoot. Results revealed the sources and magnitudes of experimental error in comparative studies of this species' leaf monoterpenes, and did not support the concept that somatic mutation provides an important source of variation in a large, long-lived organism such as coast redwood.     

Use of fluorescent microscopy in defining a small ligule-like ovuliferous scale of a permineralized taxodiaceous cone from the upper cretaceous of Hokkaido,Japan

Fluorescent microscopy was proved to be effective for structural identification of permineralized plant tissues in calcite nodules from the Upper Cretaceous of Hokkaido, Japan. A minute, scale-like projection on the bract of a fossil Taxodiaceous cone is identified as a true ovuliferous scale because it is bordered with a continuous epidermis that exhibits prominent fluorescence. The presence of the ovuliferous scale suggests that the fossil is aTaiwania archetype.     

Evolution of taxodiaceous Cupressaceae (Coniferopsida)

The evolution of taxodiaceous Cupressaceae has been discussed controversially, because phylogenetic analyses using non-molecular data show major differences to molecular analyses. To solve this problem, we used non-molecular data with a high probability of homology. With these type of data, we could show for the first time in taxodiaceous Cupressaceae that phylogenetic trees of molecular and non-molecular data share the same topology. Investigation of female cone development also contributes to better understanding of morphology and anatomy in taxodiaceous Cupressaceae. Additional developmental, fossil and cone configuration data support the topology constructed by using the molecular and non-molecular data.     

秃杉中萜类和酚类化学成分

从秃杉(Taiwania flousiana Gaussen)的根皮中分离鉴定了6个三萜类化合物、1个二萜类化合物、1个倍半萜类化合物和9个酚类化合物,其中两个为新化合物,分别鉴定为 (24S)-3b-methoxy-5a-lanost-9(11)-ene-7b, 24,25-triol(1) 和senecrassidiol-9-O-b-D-glucopyranoside (8),化合物1命名为taiwaniatriol。通过波谱学方法确定了这些化合物的结构。     

Hepatoprotective phytocompounds from Cryptomeria japonica are potent modulators of inflammatory mediators

Cryptomeria japonica is an important plantation conifer tree in Asia. This study aimed to characterize the anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities of the phytocompounds from C. japonica wood on LPS- or TPA-induced activation of proinflammatory mediators and CCl(4)-induced acute liver injury in mice. A CJH7-2 fraction was purified from C. japonica extracts following bioactivity-guided fractionation, and it exhibited significant activities on inhibition of NO production and iNOS expression as well as up-regulating HO-1 expression in LPS-stimulated macrophages. CJH7-2 also potently inhibits COX-2 enzymatic activity (IC(50)=5 microg/mL) and TPA-induced COX-2 protein expression in mouse skin (1mg/200 microL/site). CJH7-2 (10 mg/kg BW) can prevent CCl(4)-induced liver injury and aminotransferases activities in mice. Chemical fingerprinting analysis showed that terpenes are the major bioactive compounds in the CJH7-2 fraction. This is the first study to demonstrate that chemical constituents from the wood extract of C. japonica possess anti-inflammatory activities in vitro and in vivo that may play a role in hepatoprotection.     

Biochemical Systematics of Gymnosperms (4)—Seed Protein Peptides and Needle Peroxidases of Taxodiaceae

An analysis of seed protein peptides by using SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, indicates that all members in Taxodiaxeae share three peptides with molecular weights of 24, 32 and 10 kilodaltons. Generally, seeds of this family contain 2 to 4 major peptides, and their molecular weights are distributed in two regions: 24-26 K and 29-36 K respectively. The quantity of these major peptides is near or even more than 50% of seed total protein content. This kind of protein profiles is similar to that of Taxaceae and Cephalotaxaceae rather than to that of Pinaceae. On the other hand, a considerable difference was observed in peptides with higher molecular weights. Among different species within a genus, no difference has been found both in their seed protein profiles and in their needle peroxidases. Based on the data cited here, it seems that the relationships among most genera of Taxodiaceae are not so closed as the rela-tionship among following genera: Sequoia, Sequoiadendron and Taxodium.     

杉科植物的系统发育分析

本文以形态学为依据,参考其他学科的研究成果,用分支分类方法并结合表征分类方法探讨了杉科植物的系统演化关系,提出了新的分类系统。在分支分类中,金松科被选作外类群。主要根据外类群比较原则、化石原则和一般的演化规律,确定了性状的祖征和衍征,采用最大同步法、综合分析法、演化极端结合法及最小平行进化法共四种方法进行分支分析,选择最简约的分支图作为本文讨论基础。在表征分类中,选取59个性状,利用距离系数和类平均法,对金松属和杉科各属进行了聚类运算,得出表征图。综合两种分析结果,主要结论如下:(1)属间关系:柳杉属是现存杉科植物中最原始的类群。水松属和落羽杉属关系密切,二者与柳杉属近缘。巨杉属和北美红杉属关系密切,是中级进化水平的类群。水杉属与巨杉属和北美红杉属的亲缘关系相对较近。杉木属、密叶杉属和台湾杉属关系密切,是杉科植物中的高级进化类群,其中又以台湾杉属演化水平最高。(2)系统排列:支持金松科的成立,将杉科分成5族,即柳杉族(仅含柳杉属)、落羽杉族(含水松属、落羽杉属)、北美红杉族(含巨杉属、北美红杉属)、水杉族(仅含水杉属)和杉木族(含杉木属、密叶杉属及台湾杉属)。     

水杉属和红杉属化石叶表皮鉴定参照系的特殊性

杉科植物的许多属种在小枝的形态和叶片排列上相似,而杉科植物的化石标本多保存为枝叶形式。表皮的特征作为压型化石枝叶标本细胞信息的重要来源,甚至是惟一来源。一直作为杉科植物化石分类鉴定的主要依据。水杉和北美红杉分别是水杉属和红杉属植物化石的惟一现存最近亲缘种,以往关于北美红杉的气孔分布和排列等方面的报道存在分歧,根据作者的研究,北美红杉的表皮特征变异幅度非常广。水杉的气孔分布也与以往报道有差异。利用表皮的特征鉴定杉科植物化石时;不同的处理方法和处理时间,角质层的完整程度和观察数量等均可以影响植物表皮特征的正确获取。