Annual cycle of energy allocation to growth and reproduction of yellow perch

Growth (length, weight) of yellow perch Perca flavescens in western and west-central Lake Erie began between June and July, possibly reaching asymptotic size by early winter. Energy density (kJ g⁻¹) of somatic tissue increased markedly from June to September, then declined to low levels by the following spring. Consequently, energy mass (kJ) of somatic tissue increased to September and then declined slowly until March. Ovarian growth began in October, and the size of the ovaries was maximal in April, just before spawning in May. The energy density of ovaries, however, increased to a peak in December, and then declined. The increase in ovary size in the winter, therefore, resulted largely from an allocation of tissue of low energy density. Fecundity and gonad size were correlated with somatic and gonadal energy density. A bioenergetics model was used to describe the monthly allocations of energy to respiration, growth, excretion, and reproduction. Most direct reproductive costs (80%) were incurred from September to December, corresponding to the cycle in the activity of the liver. Energy acquired in the early summer may be critical for determining maturation, fecundity, and egg quality. From 1978 to 1990, <80% of the females from the western and west-central basins of Lake Erie were classed as spent in July.     

Direction change of plant root growth by the impenetrable boundary

Spatial boundary conditions must be considered when utilizing mathematical modeling of plant root growth in the container or along with the imbedding solid obstacle. Using basic root growth principles and the geometry of the boundary surface, a mathematical model can be designed to keep all root elements inside the container or outside the obstacle without passing through the boundary after the minimum deflection of growth direction, and it is based on the minimum friction between root tips and soil and energy saving principles. Such a mathematical method is used to simulate the spatial distribution of root growth and the morphological architecture of the root system near the boundary. The validity of this model is supported by experimental observations that confirm some typical characteristics predicted by the simulations. This model can be widely used in resolving boundary condition complications where water and nutrients are consumed by plants in a spatially limited or heterogeneous resource field.     

植物生长调节剂对银柴胡细胞生长特性的影响

利用细胞悬浮培养技术,研究不同激素对银柴胡细胞生长特性及过氧化氢酶和硝酸还原酶活性的影响。结果表明,第4种激素配比的培养液M₄(MS+6-BA 1.0 mg·L^-1+2,4-D 1.0 mg·L^-1+NAA 1.0 mg·L^-1)的细胞鲜重、干重,细胞数目均明显高于其他处理;M₄处理可有效增强银柴胡细胞硝酸还原酶的活性,提高氮素利用率;M₂(MS+6-BA 1.0mg·L^-1+NAA0.5 mg·L^-1)处理有利于增强银柴胡细胞过氧化氢酶活性。     

Information theory and plant growth substance analysis

Abstract. Reeve & Crozier (1980) have recently proposed a method of evaluating the accuracy of a plant growth substance analysis by using information theory to estimate whether the analysis would distinguish the growth substance from all other components of the sample. In the present article, it is argued that their method requires knowledge of the relevant analytical characteristics of all potential components of the sample, and hence is not applicable to plant extracts. Instead, the identity of a growth substance in a plant extract can only be conclusively established using techniques which yield information on its chemical structure.     

Bacteria with ACC deaminase can promote plant growth and help to feed the world

To feed all of the world's people, it is necessary to sustainably increase agricultural productivity. One way to do this is through the increased use of plant growth-promoting bacteria; recently, scientists have developed a more profound understanding of the mechanisms employed by these bacteria to facilitate plant growth. Here, it is argued that the ability of plant growth-promoting bacteria that produce 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase to lower plant ethylene levels, often a result of various stresses, is a key component in the efficacious functioning of these bacteria. The optimal functioning of these bacteria includes the synergistic interaction between ACC deaminase and both plant and bacterial auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). These bacteria not only directly promote plant growth, they also protect plants against flooding, drought, salt, flower wilting, metals, organic contaminants, and both bacterial and fungal pathogens. While a considerable amount of both basic and applied work remains to be done before ACC deaminase-producing plant growth-promoting bacteria become a mainstay of plant agriculture, the evidence indicates that with the expected shift from chemicals to soil bacteria, the world is on the verge of a major paradigm shift in plant agriculture.     

Episodic whole plant growth patterns in Ligustrum

Episodic growth of Ligustrum japonicum Thunb. plants was determined by measuring total shoot and root fresh weight nondestructively. Episodic growth patterns were apparent in shoot elongation, shoot and root fresh weight as a percent of total fresh weight, shoot and root relative growth rates (RGR_s and RGR_r) and two-dimensional measurements of the root system. Increases in root growth and initiation of lateral root branching were coincident with changes in percent of total fresh weight in the root and RGR_r. The rate of fresh weight gain of roots, shoots and the whole plant increased continuously throughout two experiments and thus episodic growth patterns were not apparent from these values. Alternating episodes of shoot and root growth, which is shown by percent fresh weight allocation and RGR, did not directly correspond to shoot elongation and cessation of elongation. Continuous, nondestructive measurement of total shoot and root growth reveals important changes in growth which may be obscured by other measurement techniques.     

Characterization and efficacy of Muscodor cinnamomi in promoting plant growth and controlling Rhizoctonia root rot in tomatoes

Muscodor cinnamomi was selected and investigated for its in vitro ability to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) to solubilize different toxic metal (Ca, Co, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn)-containing insoluble minerals and tolerance to metals, herbicides and an insecticide. The results indicated that this fungus is able to produce IAA (45.36 ± 2.40 μg ml⁻¹) in liquid media. This phytohormone stimulated coleoptile elongation, and increased seed germination and root elongation of tested plants. The metal tolerance and solubilizing ability depended on the type of insoluble minerals. M. cinnamomi showed the highest growth tolerance on Ca-containing media at 150 mM, followed by Zn-containing media at 100 mM and Cd-containing media at 10 mM. This fungus tolerated the three herbicides (2,4-d-dimethylammonium, glyphosate and paraquat dichloride) and an insecticide (methomyl) at the recommended dosages for field application. Moreover, M. cinnamomi completely controlled Rhizoctonia solani AG-2 root rot in tomato plants, and increased root length, shoot dry weight and root dry weight. This is the first report of in vitro IAA production, solubilization of insoluble metal minerals, and tolerance to herbicides, an insecticide and metals as well as the plant growth promoting ability of M. cinnamomi.     

Terpenoid lactones as plant growth regulators

Plant growth regulating activity of dehydrocostus lactone possessing an α-methylene-γ-lactone moiety has been compared with its two derived C-16 lactones, in which a trisubstituted double bond and a cyclopropane ring are conjugated with the lactone carbonyl. The results show that the two latter compounds are slightly more active than dehydrocostus lactone.     

Maximum axial and radial growth pressures of plant roots

Summary The axial root growth force exerted by seedlings of pea (Pisum sativum cv. Greenfeast), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum cv. Sicot 3) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus cv. Hysun) was measured. Effects of different seedling age and different batches of seeds on axial root growth pressure were investigated. Mean values of the maximum axial root growth pressure (P_a) estimated from the maximum axial root growth force (F_max) and root diameter were 497, 289, and 238 kPa respectively for pea, cotton and sunflower seedlings of same size. P_a and F_max were significantly influenced by seedling age and for pea seedlings of same age they varied with the seed batch. A new technique was developed for estimating radial root growth pressure and was tested on pea seedlings. Each pea root was confined both in the axial and radial directions in a cylindrical chalk sample at a constant water potential. The roots exerted radial stress which caused tensile failure in a proportion of the chalks. The measurement of tensile strength of duplicate chalks enabled estimation of the maximum radial pressures exerted by the roots. The maximum axial and radial root growth pressures were of comparable magnitude.     

General proof of the validity of a new tensor equation of plant growth

Plant cell/organ growth may be partly described by a local tensor equation. We provide a mathematical proof that the Lockhart (global) equation is the diagonal component of this tensor equation.     

Maximum axial growth pressures of the lateral roots of pea and eucalypt

Although lateral roots may contribute significantly towards growth and nourishment of plants, the mechanics of their elongation behaviour in strong soils is not well known. The aim of this study is to report maximum axial growth pressures (p) and maximum elongation rates (E) of the lateral roots of an annual herbaceous plant (pea) and a woody perennial (eucalypt). As such measurements have not been reported previously, measurements of P and E for lateral roots were compared with the primary roots of pea for which reports are widespread. Values of P were estimated from the measured maximum values of axial force and root diameter on single, intact roots of seedlings in the laboratory. Additional measurements of both P and E were made for the lateral roots of pea when the growth of the remaining root axes was stopped (with removal of tips) to determine the overall effects of root-growth-inhibition on P and E of single roots.Values of P and E for lateral roots of pea were significantly greater than those for the lateral roots of eucalypt. Although root diameter for the primary roots of pea were similar to those for the lateral roots of eucalypt, the former exerted nearly twice as much pressure as the latter. The lateral roots of pea elongated significantly slower than the primary roots; however, P of lateral roots was significantly lower than the primary roots when elongation of all other roots was inhibited during the measurements. Production and/or development of lateral roots increased when elongation of the remaining roots (both primary and lateral roots) of pea seedlings was restricted due to the removal of root tips and exposure of one of the lateral roots to high strength. In general, maximum axial force exerted by primary and lateral roots was similar for roots of <1 mm diameter. However, primary roots exerted greater maximum axial force than the lateral roots when root diameter was >1 mm. As axial pressure of lateral roots was independent of root diameter, thickening of root tips is less likely to assist penetration of lateral roots in strong soils.     

Soil structure and plant growth: Impact of bulk density and biopores

Compacted soils are not uniformly hard; they usually contain structural cracks and biopores, the continuous large pores that are formed by soil fauna and by roots of previous crops. Roots growing in compacted soils can traverse otherwise impenetrable soil by using biopores and cracks and thus gain access to a larger reservoir of water and nutrients. Experiments were conducted in a growth chamber to determine the plant response to a range of uniform soil densities, and the effect of artificial and naturally-formed biopores. Barley plants grew best at an intermediate bulk density, which presumably represented a compromise between soil which was soft enough to allow good root development but sufficiently compact to give good root-soil contact. Artificial 3.2 mm diameter biopores made in hard soil gave roots access to the full depth of the pot and were occupied by roots more frequently than expected by chance alone. This resulted in increased plant growth in experiments where the soil was allowed to dry. Our experiments suggest that large biopores were not a favourable environment for roots in wet soil; barley plants grew better in pots containing a network of narrow biopores made by lucerne and ryegrass roots, responded positively to biopores being filled with peat, and some pea radicles died in biopores. A theoretical analysis of water uptake gave little support to the hypothesis that water supply to the leaves was limiting in either very hard or very soft soil. The net effect of biopores to the plant would be the benefits of securing extra water and nutrients from depth, offset by problems related to poor root-soil contact in the biopore and impeded laterals in the compacted biopore walls.     

The mistletoe lectin I--phloretamide structure reveals a new function of plant lectins

The X-ray structure at 2.7 Å resolution of the complex between the European mistletoe lectin I (Viscum album, ML-I) and the plant growth hormone, 3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-propionic acid amide (phloretamide, PA) from xylem sap has revealed the binding of PA at the so far undescribed hydrophobic cavity located between the two subunits of this ribosome-inhibiting protein. No such cavity is observed in related lectins. The binding of PA is achieved through interactions with the non-conserved residues Val228A, Leu230A, Arg388B, and the C-terminal Pro510B. It is conceivable that binding of PA to ML-I is part of a defence mechanism of the parasite against the host, whereby the parasite prevents the growth hormone of the host from interfering with its own regulatory system. The specific binding of PA to ML-I indicates that heterodimeric RIPs are multifunctional proteins whose functions in the cell have not yet been fully recognized and analyzed.     

Isolation and identification of a plant growth promotive substance from mixture of essential plant oils

The PCS (commercial products by Field Science Co, Japan, used for air fresheners) was analyzed for the presence of bioactive constituents and their role as root growth promoters. Chromatographic separation of the methanolic solution of PCS resulted in the isolation of an promoting active substance, which was identified using GC-mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy as 1,2-propanediol (CH₃CH(OH)CH₂OH). Lettuce seedling growth bioassay as test plant revealed that 1,2-propanediol can act as potent root growth promoter; enhancing the growth of lettuce seedling radicle at a concentration 0.01 ppm. The concentration of 1,2-propanediol in PCS mixture was estimated as 4 g/l. These studies suggest that 1,2-propanediol might play an important role in the plant growth promoting activity of PCS.     

A method for the study of fungal growth inhibition by plant proteins

A bioassay is described for the study of inhibitory activity of plant proteins on fungal growth. Fungal spores were germinated in liquid growth medium and pipetted into wells of a microtitre plate. Fungal growth was followed spectrophotometrically. The bioassay was tested using crude protein extracts from plant tissues known to have high activities of chitinase and beta-1,3-glucanase, and with purified enzymes. Crude protein preparations and combinations of the purified enzymes produced a temporary reduction of growth but no permanent growth inhibition.     

Grouping fails to affect the growth and energy budget of a cyprinid, Phoxinus phoxinus (L.)

The effects of grouping on the growth and some components of the energy budget of the minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus (L.), were tested in the laboratory. No effects of grouping were detected on absorption efficiency, the proportion of food energy lost in nitrogenous excretion, maximum rate of food consumption and conversion efficiency. Grouping had no significant effect on either specific growth rate or the dry matter content of individual fish.     

The maximum axial growth pressure of roots of spring and autumn cultivars of lupin

The maximum axial growth pressure of roots of Lupinus albus cv Lublanc and Lupinus albus cv Lunoble (spring and autumn-sown cultivars respectively) were measured. The mean values were not significantly different with an overall mean value of 645 kPa. This value is not unusually large for plant roots and is surprising because lupins are known for their ability to penetrate strong soils. The autumn cultivar had a significantly greater maximum elongation rate under zero mechanical impedance than the spring cultivar. The impeded diameters were also larger in the autumn cultivars.