Nitrate-reducing capacity of roots and nodules ofAlnus rubra and roots ofPseudotsuga menziesii

Summary Nitrate-reducing capability was demonstrated for root segments of red alder and, at more than twice that rate, for alder nodules. Root segments of Douglas-fir failed to reduce nitrate despite various treatments designed to induce such activity. The reported response of Douglas-fir to nitrate fertilizer may be ascribed either to microbial assimilation of nitrate ions with subsequent liberation of ammonium in the soil or to nitrate assimilation by fungi that form mycorrhizae with Douglas-fir roots.     

Lipids in hairy roots and non-Agrobacterium induced roots of Crambe abyssinica

Hairy root cultures of Crambe abyssinica were obtained through infection of leaves with two wild-type agropine strains of Agrobacterium rhizogenes. The efficiency of transformation was about 16 %. The presence of T-DNA from A. rhizogenes in the hairy roots genome was confirmed by PCR using specific primers for rolB and rolC genes. Selected clones of hairy roots and non-Agrobacterium induced roots from sterile cultures were used for analyses of acyl-lipids. The total amount of acyl-lipids per mg of dry weight was similar in both the non-Agrobacterium induced roots and the hairy roots in good physiological condition, and ranged from 38 to 53 nmol. However, in the clones which showed symptoms of ageing, the lipid content was severely reduced. Also the lipid composition of hairy roots appears to be similar to the composition of non-transformed roots. Polar lipids were the dominant class of lipids in both types of roots (about 75 %). Furthermore, we found diacylglycerols, free fatty acids (FFA), triacylglycerols, sterol esters, and an unidentified lipid class. The dominant fatty acids in the lipids of both types of roots were α-linolenic acid, palmitic acid, and linoleic acid (over 12 % of total FA). Among the lipids of both hairy roots and non-Agrobacterium induced roots of C. abyssinica, an unidentified FA was found (over 16 % of total FAs). The present study is the first example of establishment of hairy roots cultures of C. abyssinica. It also includes the first analysis of the lipids in hairy roots and non-Agrobacterium induced roots of this species.     

Flavonoids from shoots, roots and roots exudates of Brassica alba

Analysis of extracts obtained from shoots, roots and exudates of Brassica alba revealed the presence of 3,5,6,7,8-pentahydroxy-4'-methoxy flavone in shoots, as well as 2',3',4',5',6'-pentahydroxy chalcone and 3,5,6,7,8-pentahydroxy flavone in roots and exudates. Apigenin was also found in the shoots and roots, but not in the root exudates.     

杨树细根及草根的生产力与周转的研究

对北方杨树人工林0－40cm土层中杨树细根和草根（≤2mm）年生物量、分解量、死亡量、生长量和周转率进行观察研究。结果表明,杨树细根的年生物量为2．062t.hm^-2,死根生物量为0．746t.hm^-2,分解量为0．158t.hm^2,生长量为2．351t.hm^－2,周转率为每年1．14次,活草根的年生物量、死根生物量、分解量、生长量和周转率分别0．501、0．035、0．023、0．691t.hm^-2和1．38,同时给出了杨树细根干重损失随分解时间变化的方程：1nx/x0=0.9515e^-0.0014t。     

Auxin binding in roots: A comparison between maize roots and coleoptiles

Auxin binding onto membrane fractions of primary roots of maize seedlings has been demonstrated using naphth-1yl-acetic acid (NAA) and indol-3yl-acetic acid (IAA) as ligands. This binding is compared with the already well characterized interaction between auxins and coleoptile membranes. The results indicate that while kinetic parameters are of the same order for root and coleoptile binding, a number of differences occur with respect to location in cells and relative affinity. The possible significance of the existence of such binding sites in root cells is discussed in relation to auxin action.Abbreviations 4-Cl-PA 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid - EDTA ethylene diamine tetracetic acid - IAA indol-3yl-acetic acid - MCPA 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid - NAA naphth-1yl-acetic acid - 2-NAA naphth-2yl-acetic acid - Tris 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl) propane-1,3 diol - TIBA 2,3,5 triiodobenzoic acid - NPA naphthylphthalamic acid - PCIB 4-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid - PCPP 4-chlorophenoxyisopropionic acid - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid     

Random roots and lineage sorting

Lineage sorting has been suggested as a major force in generating incongruent phylogenetic signal when multiple gene partitions are examined. The degree of lineage sorting can be estimated using the coalescent process and simulation studies have also pointed to a major role for incomplete lineage sorting as a factor in phylogenetic inference. Some recent empirical studies point to an extreme role for this phenomenon with up to 50-60% of all informative genes showing incongruence as a result of lineage sorting. Here, we examine seven large multi-partition genome level data sets over a large range of taxonomic representation. We took the approach of examining outgroup choice and its impact on tree topology, by swapping outgroups into analyses with successively larger genetics distances to the ingroup. Our results indicate a linear relationship of outgroup distance with incongruence in the data sets we examined suggesting a strong random rooting effect. In addition, we attempted to estimate the degree of lineage sorting in several large genome level data sets by examining triads of very closely related taxa. This exercise resulted in much lower estimates of incongruent genes that could be the result of lineage sorting, with an overall estimate of around 10% of the total number of genes in a genome showing incongruence as a result of true lineage sorting. Finally we examined the behavior of likelihood and parsimony approaches on the random rooting phenomenon. Likelihood tends to stabilize incongruence as outgroups get further and further away from the ingroup. In one extreme case, likelihood overcompensates for sequence divergence but increases random rooting causing long branch repulsion.     

Development and function ofAzospirillum-inoculated roots

Summary The surface distribution ofAzospirillum on inoculated roots of maize and wheat is generally similar to that of other members of the rhizoplane microflora. During the first three days, colonization takes place mainly on the root elongation zone, on the base of root hairs and, to a lesser extent, on the surface of young root hairs.Azospirillum has been found in cortical tissues, in regions of lateral root emergence, along the inner cortex, inside xylem vessels and between pith cells. Inoculation of several cultivars of wheat, corn, sorghum and setaria with several strains ofAzospirillum caused morphological changes in root starting immediately after germination. Root length and surface area were differentially affected according to bacterial age and inoculum level. During the first three weeks after germination, the number of root hairs, root hair branches and lateral roots was increased by inoculation, but there was no change in root weight. Root biomass increased at later stages. Cross-sections of inoculated corn and wheat root showed an irregular arrangement of cells in the outer layers of the cortex. These effects on plant morphology may be due to the production of plant growth-promoting substances by the colonizing bacteria or by the plant as a reaction to colonization. Pectic enzymes may also be involved. Morphological changes had a physiological effect on inoculated roots. Specific activities of oxidative enzymes, and lipid and suberin content, were lower in extracts of inoculated roots than in uninoculated controls. This suggests that inoculated roots have a larger proportion of younger roots. The rate of NO^– ₃, K⁺ and H₂PO^– ₄ uptake was greater in inoculated seedlinds. In the field, dry matter, N, P and K accumulated at faster rates, and water content was higher inAzospirillum-inoculated corn, sorghum, wheat and setaria. The above improvements in root development and function lead in many cases to higher crop yield.     

Psoralen production in hairy roots and adventitious roots cultures of Psoralea coryfolia

Psoralea corylifolia is an endangered plant producing various compounds of medical importance. Adventitious roots and hairy roots were induced in cultures prepared from hypocotyl explants. Psoralen content was evaluated in both root types grown either in suspension cultures or on agar solidified medium. Psoralen content was ~3 mg g⁻¹ DW in suspension grown hairy roots being higher than in solid grown hairy roots and in solid and suspension-grown adventitious roots.     

Shoot regeneration capacity from roots and transgenic hairy roots of tomato cultivars and wild related species

The organogenetic competence of roots and Agrobacterium rhizogenes-induced hairy roots of twelve Lycopersicon genotypes was investigated. Both roots and hairy roots of L. peruvianum, L. chilense, L. hirsutum and two L. peruvianum-derived genotypes regenerated shoots after 2–4 weeks of incubation on zeatin-contained medium. Anatomical analysis showed that shoot regeneration in roots could be direct or indirect, depending on the genotype considered. Hairy roots showed considerable differences in their morphogenetic responses, when compared to the corresponding non-transgenic roots. The differences observed may reflect the influence of the introduced rol genes on hormonal metabolism/sensitivity. Hairy root-derived T0 plants had shortened internodes, wrinkled leaves and abundant root initiation, and most produced flowers and fruits with viable seeds. The hairy root syndrome was detected early in germinating T1 seedlings as a strong reduction in the hypocotyl length. Our data point to the possibility of the use of A. rhizogenes, combined with regenerating Lycopersicon genotypes, in a very simple protocol, based on genetic capacity instead of special procedures for regeneration, to produce transgenic tomato plants expressing rol genes, as well as, genes present in binary vectors. Furthermore, the regeneration differences observed in each Lycopersicon genotype and in transgenic materials expressing rol genes open the possibility for their use in the analysis of both the biochemical and the genetic background of organogenetic competence. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Elongation by primary lateral roots and adventitious roots during conditions of hypoxia and high ethylene concentrations

Soil flooding results in unusually low oxygen concentrations and high ethylene concentrations in the roots of plants. This gas composition had a strongly negative effect on root elongation of two Rumex species. The effect of low oxygen concentrations was less severe when roots contained aerenchymatous tissues, such as in R. palustris Sm. R. thyrsiflorus Fingerh., which has little root porosity, was much more affected. Ethylene had an even stronger effect on root elongation than hypoxia, since very small concentrations (0.1 cm³ m^?3) reduced root extension in the two species, and higher concentrations inhibited elongation more severely than did anoxia in the culture medium. Thus, ethylene contributes strongly to the negative effects of flooding on root growth. An exception may be the highly aerenchymatous, adventitious roots of R. palustris. Aerenchyma in these roots provides a low-resistance diffusion pathway for both endogenously produced ethylene and shoot-derived oxygen. This paper shows that extension by roots of R. palustris in flooded soil depends almost completely on this shoot-derived oxygen, and that aerenchyma prevents accumulation of growth-inhibiting levels of ethylene in the root.     

Beneficial interactions between micro-organisms and roots

Microbial activity in the rhizosphere can have positive and negative effects on plants. Some of the beneficial processes act by minimizing the negative effects or by modifying the cropping environment to enhance productivity. Processes that are considered here include the provision of nitrogen, phosphorus and iron to the plant, the biocontrol of diseases and deleterious organisms and the stabilization of soil structures. The use of genetic engineering techniques in studying these processes and generating novel strains which may enhance them is discussed, along with the possible consequences of the release of organisms into the environment.     

Neuroethology, its roots and future

Scholars in a particular scientific field should be familiar with its historical roots. Such knowledge will put their own research into a historical perspective, and, in addition, will allow them to assess current strengths and weaknesses in their particular area of research. To keep an exciting field like neuroethology alive and close to fast moving scientific frontiers, it is necessary to constantly adapt and broaden its approaches to newly emerging ideas from other fields, and to quickly incorporate new methodologies. The following article tries to expose some of the roots of neuroethology, and, in addition, will present some evidence as to why the authors think this field needs a broader definition than that formulated in the past. Doing so after the 5th International Congress of Neuroethology in San Diego in August 1998 seems to the authors the most appropriate time. Accepted: 17 June 1999