Phosphorylase activity in relation to starch synthesis in developing Hordeum distichum grain

Activity, control and primer requirements of starch phosphorylase in developing barley endosperm were investigated. Phosphorylase was detected in endosperm extracts from 3 days after anthesis. Unprimed activity was predominant between 2 and 10 days after anthesis, when it constituted 70–80% of total activity, but this proportion declined rapidly as the grain developed. The existence of at least 2 isoenzymes was indicated by studies of pH dependence and phosphate inhibition, and was further supported by acrylamide gel electrophoresis and column chromatography using DEAE-cellulose. The two isoenzymes which ere possibly both glyco proteins, appear in barley endosperm soon after anthesis. One appears capable of unprimed activity, and may be associated with the initiation of a-1,2 glucans, which then serve as primers for starch synthetase. This disappears by 13–15 days after anthesis. The other isoenzyme is capable of some unprimed activity but undergoes modification between 15 and 20 days after anthesis, resulting in the loss of unprimed activity. The relevance of the results to initiation of starch synthesis and to starch synthetase in amyloplasts is discussed.     

An improved clearing method for GUS assay inArabidopsis endosperm and seeds

Precise cellular localization of the GUS stain is notoriously difficult inArabidopsis seeds. Here we report an improved protocol for the clearing of seeds after GUS staining. Incubation in ethanol-acetic acid (EtAc) and Hoyer’s medium allows reliable cellular localization of the GUS, even in seeds from late developmental stages. This method also leads to the staining of nucleoli in the endosperm and embryo, facilitating nuclear counts in endosperm development. An erratum to this article is available at .     

马尾松胚乳愈伤组织发生的初步研究

为获取马尾松(Pinus massoniana)单倍体材料，建立其胚乳组织培养体系，对马尾松胚乳不同的消毒方法进行筛选，并分析不同基本培养基、生长调节剂配比和热激处理对愈伤诱导的影响。结果表明，胚乳的最佳消毒方式为75%酒精处理30 s+2% NaClO消毒15 min，外植体污染率为0，死亡率仅为15.56%；生长素可促进愈伤诱导且是必需的；细胞分裂素浸泡种子可代替培养基中的细胞分裂素，并能取得比较好的胚乳愈伤诱导效果，1.0 mg·mL-1 6-BA浸泡30 min处理的效果最佳，在培养基WPM+NAA 2.0 mg·L-1+2,4-D 1.0 mg·L-1+蔗糖30 g·L-1+琼脂7 g·L-1中，愈伤诱导率高达87.78%；培养基DCR+NAA 2.0 mg·L-1+6-BA 1.0 mg·L-1+蔗糖30 g·L-1+琼脂7 g·L-1的胚乳愈伤诱导率最高(68.75%)；热激处理可提高胚乳愈伤的诱导率和质量，以相对湿度85%下45 ℃热激10 min最佳，总愈伤诱导率为66.25%，成团愈伤诱导率达8.75%；增殖培养以培养基WPM+NAA 0.1 mg·L-1+6-BA 2.0 mg·L-1+蔗糖30 g·L-1+琼脂7 g·L-1最佳，增殖率达83.33%。     

The endosperm development and the variations of structures of embryo sacs: unravelling the low fecundity of Zephyranthes candida (Amaryllidaceae)

To unravel a low fecundity in Zephyranthes candida (Lindl.) Herb., the development of the endosperm was studied using conventional paraplast section technique. The results show that the endosperm develops normally and comprises four major stages viz. syncytial, cellularization, differentiation and maturation. Both proliferation of antipodal cells and their close contact with the primary endosperm nucleus were observed, which should favor transportation of nutrients and accelerate development of embryo and endosperm. In Z. candida, at least four events of nuclear migration occurred during the course of embryogenesis and endosperm development. The 12.7% structurally and functionally abnormal ovules, along with the 22.3% collapsed and aborted ovules observed accounts for the low fecundity to some extent.