Mode of pollen tube growth in pistils of Ticodendron incognitum (Ticodendraceae,Fagales) and the evolution of chalazogamy

Ticodendron incognitum is the sole species of the Ticodendraceae, which was established as a new family in the Fagales less than 20 years ago. Considering the diverse modes of pollen tube growth observed in other Fagales, we investigated the growth of pollen tubes in the pistil of Ticodendron. At the time of pollination, T. incognitum had four immature ovules in a bilocular ovary, thus exhibiting delayed fertilization, as in other Fagales. During the period when fertilization was delayed, pollen tube growth in the pistil was intermittent, consisting of five steps associated with development of the ovules and embryo sacs. Four cessation sites occurred: in the style, in the tissue of the upper part of the ovary, inside and outside of the funicle and at the chalaza. A single pollen tube eventually reaches a mature embryo sac through the chalaza in one of the four ovules. While both delayed fertilization and intermittent pollen tube growth play a role in male and female gametophyte selection, as in other Fagales, the five‐step process of pollen tube growth through the chalaza (i.e. chalazogamy) is characteristic of lineages of the Casuarinaceae, Ticodendraceae and Betulaceae (the latter with the loss of one step). © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 157 , 621–631.     

福建东山几种木麻黄的物质与能量特征

对福建东山 7种木麻黄 (普通木麻黄、粗枝木麻黄、细枝木麻黄、肥木木麻黄、山神木麻黄、鸡冠木麻黄、滨海木麻黄 )及其距海岸不同远近的普通木麻黄的小枝的物质和能量特征进行了研究。结果表明 :(1)东山 7种木麻黄小枝的灰分含量、干重热值和去灰分热值因种而异 ,灰分含量在 3.0 6 %～ 5 .98%之间 ,干重热值在 19.4 6± 0 .0 7～ 2 0 .82± 0 .15 k J/ g之间 ,去灰分热值在2 0 .5 9± 0 .0 5～ 2 1.4 8± 0 .15 k J/ g之间 ;其中 ,山神木麻黄小枝的灰分含量最低 ,而干重热值和去灰分热值最高 ,符合理想燃料对低灰分含量和高热值的要求 ;木麻黄小枝具有相对较高的热值现象 (特别是山神木麻黄 )是在贫瘠的土壤条件下适应环境的结果 ,在小枝中进行了高能化合物的积累。木麻黄对环境的特殊适应也反映其主动适应环境的能力 ,是植物自身的高能量对物质的一种补偿作用 ;7种木麻黄小枝的干重热值与灰分含量具有显著的线性负相关 (P<0 .0 5 ) ;干重热值与粗脂肪含量具有极显著的线性正相关 (P<0 .0 1) ,而与蛋白质、可溶性糖含量相关性不显著 (P>0 .0 5 ) ;(2 )距海岸不同远近的普通木麻黄小枝的物质与能量特征存在差异 ,灰分含量在 3.5 8%～ 8.75 %之间 ,平均为 6 .0 3% ;干重热值在 2 0 .33± 0 .0 0～ 2 1.6     

旌节花科与省沽油科花粉形态的研究

对旌节花科和省沽油科 4属 13种花粉进行了光镜和扫描电镜的观察 ,其中有些种是第一次观察或报道。这两个科的花粉为近球形到球形 ,3孔沟 (省沽油科银鹊树属TapisciaOliv花粉除外 ,为 3沟 )。它们的花粉大小和外壁纹饰有一定差异。旌节花科花粉相对较小 ,一般为 18～ 2 8 2× 17 5～ 2 6 5 μm ,外壁表面为穴状纹饰。省沽油科花粉较大 ,为 2 8～ 4 0× 2 8 5～4 0 5 μm (银鹊树属花粉只有 13 5～ 17 9× 12 5～ 18μm) ,外壁表面为细网状纹饰。这两个科的花粉特征在某种程度上具有一定的相似性 ,故就孢粉学而言它们具有颇为密切的关系     

Ellagitannins from Tellima grandiflora

Three ellagitannins present in Tellima grandiflora have been isolated and partly identified. Two are 2,3-digallyl-4,6-hexahydroxydiphenoyl -β-d-glucopyranose and 1,2,3-trigallyl-4,6-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-β-d-glucopyranose. The third is complex, with five gallyl and two hexahydroxydiphenyl residues; hydrolysis yielded glucose, gallic acid and ellagic acid.     

A quantitative variation in the flavonoids and phenolics of some Casuarina species

The flavonoids and phenolics of four Casuarina species were studied. Fourteen glycosides of kaempferol and quercetin, cupressuflavone, condensed and hydrolysable tannins were identified. The results indicate that C. cunninghamiana, C. glauca and C. stricta are closely related while C. equisetifolia differs mainly quantitatively from the other three.     

Molecular Phylogeny of Casuarinaceae Based on rbcL and matK Gene Sequences

rbcL (1310 bp) and matK (1014 bp), using 15 species representing the family. The study included analyses of Ticodendron (Ticodendraceae) and three species of Betulaceae as close relatives, and one species each of Juglandaceae and Myricaceae as outgroups. Analyses based on matK gene sequences, which provided a much better resolution than the analyses based on rbcL gene sequences alone, resulted in a single most parsimonious tree whose topology is almost identical with the strict consensus tree generated by the combined data set of rbcL and matK gene sequences. Results showed that Casuarinaceae are monophyletic, comprising four distinct genera, Allocasuarina, Casuarina, Ceuthostoma and Gymnostoma, which were not recognized until recently. Within the family, Gymnostoma is positioned at the most basal position and sister to the remainder. Within the remainder Ceuthostoma is sister to the Allocasuarina-Casuarina clade. Morphologically the basalmost position of Gymnostoma is supported by plesiomorphies such as exposed stomata in the shallow longitudinal furrows of the branchlets, a basic chromosome number x=8 and the gynoecium composed of two fertile, biovulate carpels. The three other genera, Allocasuarina, Casuarina, and Ceuthostoma, have invisible stomata in the deep longitudinal furrows of the branchlets, a higher basic chromosome number x=9 or 10–14 (unknown in Ceuthostoma), the gynoecium composed of one fertile and one sterile carpel with a single ovule (unknown in Ceuthostoma). The diversity of infructescence morphology found in the latter three genera suggests that they may have evolved in close association with the elaboration of fruit dispersal mechanisms. Received 14 September 2001/ Accepted in revised form 12 October 2001     

Ellagitannins modulate the inflammatory response of human neutrophils ex vivo

BackgroundTannin-rich plant materials are commonly used in the traditional medicine as external anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial agents. Plant extracts containing significant quantities of tannins are often used in the prevention and treatment of oral cavity diseases such as periodontosis or gingivitis. The contribution of pure ellagitannins to the observed anti-inflammatory activity of tannin-rich remedies is still not resolved.PurposeThe aim of the present study the study was to establish if ellagitannins and their precursor – pentagalloylglucose (1) can modulate the inflammatory response of ex-vivo stimulated neutrophils.MethodsHuman neutrophils were isolated from the buffy coats obtained from healthy volunteers. Neutrophils were cultivated with or without tested compounds. The influence of ellagitannins and 1 on the production and release of pro-inflammatory factors such as elastase, reactive oxygen species, interleukin-8, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and metalloproteinase-9 was evaluated using ELISA sets or chemical methods. The effect on surface expression of toll like receptor 4 (TLR-4) and apoptosis was also checked using flow cytometry.ResultsThe results showed that ellgitannins modulate the inflammatory response of human neutrophils by the inhibition of production and release of chosen cytokines and pro-inflammatory enzymes. By the induction of TNF-α ellagitannins enhance neutrophil apoptosis, which is of interest in the case of chronic inflammation within oral cavity. Ellagitannins also decrease the surface expression of TLR-4 in activated neutrophils.ConclusionThe results support the traditional use of tannin-rich products in the prevention and treatment of oral cavity diseases. The present study proves the substantial contribution of ellagitannins to the anti-inflammatory activity of tannin-rich medicinal plant materials.     

Flowering,fruiting and seed germination in Chilean rain forest myrtaceae: ecological and phylogenetic constraints

Phenological studies in plant communities have generally focused on taxonomically heterogeneous species assemblages, and have only occasionally examined the evolutionary and ecological constraints on the phenological patterns of species within a single family or a genus. Here, we determine relative importance of phylogenetic versus other constraints on the flowering and fruiting periods of 12 species and the germination ecology of 10 species of Myrtaceae sympatric to the temperate rainforest of Isla Grande de Chiloé (42 °Cs 30 S), in southern Chile.We found that, for most species in the family Myrtaceae, flowering was strongly aggregated in January and February. Although this pattern is consistent with the expectation of the 'facilitation' hypothesis (i.e., interspecific overlaps are maximized to attract pollinators), available evidence suggests that pollinators, mainly hymenopterans and dipterans, do not limit fruit production in these species of Myrtaceae in the temperate rainforest. In contrast to flowering, fruiting occurred all-year-round, showing greater segregation in time among the species. According to the their temporal patterns of fruit ripening, two functional groups were defined within the Myrtaceae: those that ripen their fruits immediately after flowering (species in the subtribe Myrtinae) and those in which green fruit develops slowly for several months before ripening (subtribe Myrciinae). Seed germination in the field occurred mainly between August and October. Lab assays showed that the species of Myrtaceae, subtribe Myrtinae, exhibited a long seed dormancy (>40 days), while the seeds of species in the subtribe Myrciinae often germinated within one week after harvesting. The analysis of the phenology of reproductive events in the species of Myrtaceae in this rainforest suggests that: (1) flowering periods patterns are constrained mainly by phylogenetic inertia at the family level, and (2) differences in fruiting patterns and dormancy periods are determined mainly by fruit and seed size, which in turn are associated primarily with phylogenetic closeness within the family, and secondarily with the activity of vertebrate seed dispersers.     

Sterols of roots and nitrogen-fixing root nodules of some non-leguminous species

Sterols of both roots and nodules of three species of Alnus were found to consist only of sitosterol, whereas Casuarina cunninghamiana contained substantial amounts of campesterol, stigmasterol and sitosterol. In all four cases more sterol was extracted from nodules than from roots.     

Incidence of two virulence factors (aerobactin and mucoid phenotype) among 190 clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae producing extended-spectrum β-lactamase

Because outbreaks of multiple-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases were recently observed in French hospitals, the presence of virulence factors was examined for (i) phenotype by bioassay for aerobactin production and by culture for the mucoid phenotype, and (ii) genotype using intragenic probes of respectively 2-kb BglII and 235-bp BamHI-BglII fragments and dot-blotting among 190 unreplicated K. pneumoniae clinical isolates issued from 25 French hospitals and producing different types of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (TEM-related enzymes: TEM-3, TEM-4, CAZ-1, CAZ-2, TEM-8, or SHV-related enzymes: SHV-2, SHV-3, SHV-4). Only 3.7% and 7% of K. pneumoniae isolates produced aerobactin and mucoid phenotypes respectively, unrelated to type of beta-lactamase. Only 2% had both factors. No discordance was reported according to the detection method tested. The low prevalence of such virulence factors seems to indicate they were not involved in dissemination of nosocomial K. pneumoniae isolates producing an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase.     

旌节花科及其相关类群的分支分析

选取生长习性、植物形态、木材解剖、花的形态结构、花粉特征以及胚胎学和染色体数目等共72个性状,采用最大简约法（Maximum Parsimony,MP)对旌节花科及其相关类群五桠果科、猕猴桃科、山茶科、金莲木科和省沽油科等进行分支分析。并用靴带检验法（Bootstrap)计算内部分支的支持率。分支图表明,旌节花科与省沽油科组成姊妹群,靴带支持率为79％,表明旌节花科与省沽油科具有最为密切的关系。旌节花科与猕猴桃科的关系次之,旌节花科和省沽油科与猕猴桃科关系的靴带支持率为58％。然后是山茶科。而旌节花科与金莲木科和五桠果科的关系则依次疏远。这与我们在孢粉学和胚胎学研究中所得的结论在某些方面是基本一致的。与Nandi等人用形态学数据和分子数据分析得到的结论也比较吻合,他们的结论也认为旌节花科与省沽油科具有比较密切的关系。只是他们把五桠果科和金莲木科摆在更近的位置,而山茶科和猕猴桃科则放在较疏远的位置上。     

Serology and systematics of the Ebenales and the Theales

The systematic position ofthe Ebenaceae, Sapotaceae, Styracaceae, Ochnaceae, Stachyuraceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Clusiaceae and Hypericaceae has been investigated using serological comparisons of sets of antigenic determinants. The results show that the Sytracaceae and Sapotaceae are undoubtedly more closely associated with the Actinidiaeceae and Theaceae, respectively, than with each other. We found no corresponding determinants betnween antigen systems from the Ebenaceae and systems from any other family whose relations to this family have been proposed. As discovered previously, investigations of antigen systems from the Ochnaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Stachyuraceae, Clusiaceae and Hypericaceae are against the idea of a natural order “Theales” in which these families, or at least some of them, are combined with the Theaceae and Actinidiaceae. This paper completes our previous investigations which largely support a superorder Ericanae sensu Ehrendorfer and Takhtajan. We propose to include the Actinidiaceae and Theaceae in this superorder, assigning them a central position laong with the Sapotaceae and Sytracaeae on one side and the Primulales and Ericales on the other. Another most interesting finding is that there are corresponding determinants between antigen systems from the members of the Ericanae and representatives of the Polemoniaceae and Loasaceae.     

Localization of oleuropeyl glucose esters and a flavanone to secretory cavities of myrtaceae

We report the widespread occurrence of structurally diverse oleuropeyl glucose esters, including the new diester eucaglobulin B, localized specifically to the essential oil secretory cavities of myrtaceous species. Clear taxonomic patterns in the composition of cavity extracts within the genus Eucalyptus are shown with species from subgenus Symphyomyrtus dominated by oleuropeyl glucose esters and species from subgenus Eucalyptus dominated instead by the flavanone, pinocembrin. We also examined the intra-species occurrence of oleuropeyl glucose esters by quantifying the abundant constituents cuniloside B and froggattiside A in trees from two populations of Eucalyptus polybractea R.T. Baker. All trees contained both compounds, which were positively correlated with total essential oil concentration. This apparent ubiquity of oleuropeyl glucose esters at both intra- and inter-specific levels in Eucalyptus is indicative of important physiological or ecological functions. The significance of their prevalence and the sequestration of these esters and also pinocembrin to the extracellular domain of secretory cavities is discussed in light of their potential biological activities and our findings that they are spatially segregated to the exterior of cavity lumina. The localization of oleuropeyl glucose esters to a specific and isolatable tissue type has the potential to aid in future elucidation of function and biosynthesis.     

旌节花科植物上的二个小煤炱科新种

本文报道了寄生在旌节花科植物上的二个小煤炱科新种。它们是(1)旌节花附丝壳(Appendiculella stachyuri Y.X.Hu et B.Song sp.nov.);(2)旌节花小光壳炱(Asteridie-lla stachyuri Y.S.Ouyang et B.Song sp.nov.)。旌节花科分布于东亚,是小煤炱菌寄主的世界新记录。新种有拉丁文和汉文描述。模式标本存放在广东省微生物研究所(GDIM)。     

Aeropalynology of Australian native arboreal species in Brisbane, Australia

The influence of meteorological parameters on airborne pollen of Australian native arboreal species was investigated in the sub-tropical city of Brisbane, Australia over the five-year period, June 1994–May 1999. Australian native arboreal pollen (ANAP), shed by taxa belonging to the families Cupressaceae, Casuarinaceae and Myrtaceae accounts for 18.4% of the total annual pollen count and is distributed in the atmosphere during the entire year with maximum loads restricted to the months May through November. Daily counts within the range 11–100 grains m^–3 occurred over short intervals each year and were recorded on 100 days during the five-year sampling period. Total seasonal ANAP concentrations varied each year, with highest annual values measured for the family Cupressaceae, for which greater seasonal frequencies were shown to be related to pre-seasonal precipitation (r ² = 0.76, p = 0.05). Seasonal start dates were near consistent for the Cupressaceae and Casuarinaceae. Myrtaceae start dates were variable and established to be directly related to lower average pre-seasonal maximum temperature (r ² = 0.78, p = 0.04). Associations between daily ANAP loads and weather parameters showed that densities of airborne Cupressaceae and Casuarinaceae pollen were negatively correlated with maximum temperature (p < 0.0001), minimum temperature (p < 0.0001) and precipitation (p < 0.05), whereas associations with daily Myrtaceae pollen counts were not statistically significant. This is the first study to be conducted in Australia that has assessed the relationships between weather parameters and the airborne distribution of pollen emitted by Australian native arboreal species. Pollen shed by Australian native Cupressaceae, Casuarinaceae and Myrtaceae species are considered to be important aeroallergens overseas, however their significance as a sensitising source in Australia remains unclear and requires further investigation.     

木麻黄科植物共生基因遗传转化研究进展

木麻黄科(Casuarmceae)植物是世界热带和亚热带地区的造林先锋树种,它能与Frankia放线菌共生形成固氮根瘤,使其具有能够适应各种恶劣环境的优良特性.对木麻黄科植物的共生基因遗传转化研究方法和进展进行了综述,并对今后木麻黄科植物共生基因研究进行了探讨和展望.     

Host-Frankia specificity within the Casuarinaceae

Summary Fifteen species from three genera of the Casuarinaceae were inoculated with suspensions ofFrankia prepared from single nodule-lobes collected from different species and genera within the Casuarinaceae. Host-endophyte specificity was expressed mainly at the generic level. There was marked cross-inoculation within Casuarina and little nodulation ofCasuarina species from Allocasuarina sources with the exception of 3 sources ofFrankia fromA. torulosa which showed a high tendency to nodulateCasuarina species. Few sources from Casuarina nodulated species of Allocasuarina and while cross-inoculation within Allocasuarina was frequent it was less marked than within Casuarina. SomeFrankia inocula had wider host ranges than others, nodulating outside the genus or series of origin. It was not possible to determine if these apparent wider ranges in host spectra reflected genotypic differences betweenFrankia or were associated with the presence of more than oneFrankia strain in some inocula.     

Puccinia psidii infecting cultivated Eucalyptus and native myrtaceae in Uruguay

Eucalyptus or guava rust caused by Puccinia psidii is a serious disease of Eucalyptus and other Myrtaceae. In Uruguay, it has been previously found on Eucalyptus globulus and Psidium brasiliensis. Almost nothing is known regarding the occurrence of this pathogen on other Eucalyptus species or native Myrtaceae in that country. In this study, we determined the presence of P. psidii on Eucalyptus species and native Myrtaceae trees in Uruguay and evaluated the pathogenicity of specimens from native myrtaceous hosts on E. globulus and E. grandis. Phylogenetic analyses based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA operon were used to confirm pathogen identity. Comparisons of ITS sequences confirmed the identity of P. psidii on Eucalyptus globulus, E. grandis, Myrcianthes pungens, and Myrrhinium atropurpureum var. octandrum. This is the first report of P. psidii on M. atropurpureum var. octandrum. Pathogenicity tests showed that isolates from native Myrtaceae could infect both Eucalyptus species tested, indicating a strong biological relationship between both introduced and native Myrtaceae. This study supplies relevant field data, morphological information, molecular phylogenetic analyses and infection studies that contribute to a better understanding of an important and little studied pathogen.