Nuovi reperti di intersessualità nelle Cucurbitacee

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate differences in plant species composition between managed and unmanaged forests, and to assess if these difference give rise to a higher plant diversity in the unmanaged forest. Furthermore our aim is to relate forest structure to differences in plant species composition, identifying the structural attributes more strongly related to the unmanaged forest vegetation. We compared an old-growth forest and a managed highforest in the Abruzzo Lazio and Molise National Park (Central Italy). Plant species composition and diversity, deadwood components and live structure have been analyzed. We used permutational multivariate analysis of variance to test the response of species composition to management factor; furthermore, we compared species richness and beta diversity. Redundancy analysis has been used to relate plant species abundances to structural variables; the importance of dead and living wood components has been compared through variation partitioning. Plant species composition proved to be significantly different in the two sites, and the old-growth stand showed a higher plant diversity. From a structural point of view, we found differences especially in the amount and quality of deadwood, and in the diameter class distribution. These variables are also the most important in determining the old-growth stand plant species composition according to redundancy analysis. Variation partitioning confirmed the greater importance of the deadwood variables. Our results suggest that including deadwood surveys in traditional forest inventories could help in finding forests with both structural and floristic old-growth properties to be considered in conservation programmes. The imitation of natural dynamics, through the creation of gaps avoiding deadwood removal, could be an effective strategy for restoring old-growth conditions, also in terms of plant diversity.     

Attività acetilcolinesterasica nel ganglio ciliare di cane

Summary The authors have studied the histochemical localization of acetylcholinesterase activity in the dog's ciliary ganglion by using the modified Koelle and Friedenwald technique. For better localisation of the structures stained by the histochemical method, some sections were in addition submitted to the Feulgen reaction, stained with Neutral red or impregnated according to the method of Bielschowsky.The results showed that if the pH of the incubating medium was 6,4, the pre- and postganglionic nerve branches as well as the nerve cell bodies react with a mean intensity only; the pericellular capsules, the sheathes formed by the satellite cells round the short processes and round the proximal part of the axone as well as the neurilemma of the nerve fibers between the ganglionic cells react as if they were the site of a very high enzymatic activity.At pH 5,2 of the incubating medium the authors observed the copper sulphide precipitate due to enzymatic activity to form a pattern resembling fibrillar woofs, sheathes, cords and rings of various dimensions; it now seems to be situated close to the ganglionic cell bodies and to the arches of its fenestrations and the precipitations appear to be in intimate contact with the deep side of the satellite cell sheath.The authors believe that the different results obtained in the first case may be explained by admitting that at pH 6,4 a massive staining of the satellite cells' capsules and sheathes may occur as the result of diffusion of the enzyme or of intermediate products from the preganglionic nerve fibers, which are the site of high acetylcholinesterase activity.     

Relitti Mediterranei all'imboccatura di Cavità Ipogee Carsiche

Abstract

Mediterranean relicts at the mouth of karstic caves. — Far away from the mediterranean maquis stretched along the coast of Trieste, we can still find some groups of rank evergreen-oaks with several other mediterranean species.

The survival of these thermophile species is probably due to warm ascensional drafts, coming just in winter from the underneath caves.     

Ricerche Sull'Azione Inibente di Alcune Antiauxine Sull'Attività di Deidedrogenasi Delle Frazioni Solubile E Mitocondriale di Estratti di Tessuti di Piante Superiori

Summary

Inhibiting effect of antiauxins on some dehydrogenare enzyme systems in the soluble and in the particulate fractions of extracts from plant tissues.

The effect of several antiauxins (trans-cinnamic acid, diphenylacetic acid, 2–4 dichloroanisole, b-phenylpropionic acid, maleic hydrazide) on dehydrogenasic systems in enzymic preparations from higher plant tissues (cauliflower, pea, artichocke) has been investigated. Dehydrogenase activity has been determined, in the soluble (glucose-6-phosphate) as well as in the particulate (malic TPN linked, malic DPN linked, succinic dehydrogenases) fraction of the protoplasma, by the tetrazolium (used «in vacuum») and the Thunberg methods. Mitochondrial preparations have been obtained through repeated precipitations at 20.000 × g., in the cold, in 0,5 M sucrose.

All of the antiauxins tested, at concentrations ranging between 60 and 400 p. p. m., clearly inhibited dehydrogenase activity, both in the soluble as in the mitochondrial systems. Inhibition appeared non competitive, and indipendent from coenzyme concentration; it was more evident at lower pH values, and it increased with pretreatment of the enzyme with the antiauxins, in the absence of substrate.

These results are interpreted as an evidence for the capacity of antiauxins to act directly on fundamental metabolic systems, even in absence of auxin.

The lack of specificity and the characteristics of the inhibiting action of antiauxins on dehydrogenase systems suggest that they could act through the inactivation of some chemical group of general diffusion and importance among the enzymes of the class here investigated; very probably, of -SH groups.     

Variazioni di attività della clorogenico ossidasi e di altri enzimi interessati all'ossidoriduzione del TPN durante l'attivazione di fettine di tubero di patata

Abstract

CHANGES IN THE ACTIVITY OF CHLOROGENIC ACID OXIDASE AND OTHER ENZYMES INVOLVED IN OXIDATION AND REDUCTION OF TPN IN AGEING POTATO TUBER SLICES. — The activation of respiration, and in particular of the pentose phosphate pathway, during incubation of potato tuber slices could depend on the increase of activity of oxidative enzymes mediating electron transfer from Gl. 6-P to oxygen.

The present report deals with the activity changes, in the first period of incubation, of the following enzymes: Gl. 6-P-dehydrogenase, TPNH-glutathione reductase, gluta-thione-dehydroascorbate reductase, chlorogenic acid oxidase and a TPNH diaphorase utilizing tetrazolium salts as electron acceptors.

The activity of all of these enzymes, with the exception of TPNH diaphorase, was found to bs, at all stages of incubation, in large excess respect that required to account for the estimated contribution of the pentose phosphate pathway to respiration.

Gl. 6-P dehydrogenase, glutathione reductase and chlorogenic oxidase activities markedly incresed during incubation; but their increase appeared to be clearly delayed (of some hours) respect that of oxygen uptake. This seems to indicate that the increase in activity of these anzymes is rather a consequence than a cause of the respiratory activation.

TPNH diaphorase showed a very low activity in the fresh slices, and it increased quite significantly already in the very first period (5 hours) of incubation. This behaviour suggests the possibility that this enzyme could limit TPNH oxidation, and thus the pentose phosphate pathway activity, and that its activation could be correlated with that of oxidative metabolism in the ageing slices. Further investigation of this hypothesis requires the identification of the natural electron acceptor of this enzyme.     

Osservazioni sulla sessualità di ceratonia siliqua L.

Summary

In Ceratonia Siliqua the development of the female gametophyte is of the normal monomegasporial, eightnucleated type. The albumen is nuclear. The microspore tetrads divide simultaneously.     

Impiego delle sezioni di coleoptile di alcune varietà italiane di frumento nel dosaggio biologico di sostanze promotrici ed inibitrici della crescita

Abstract

Growth response of coleoptile sections from four Italian cultivars of wheat to some growth regulators.—The following Italian wheat varieties were used to obtain the coleoptile sections used throughout the experiments: Funo, S. Pastore, Abbondanza, Generoso.

The growth substances tested were Indolacetic acid (IAA), Abscisic acid (ABA), Kinetin and Gibberellic acid.

The colcoptile response of each variety was tested with three different concentrations for each growth regulator in combination with two sucrose concentrations and three different pH levels.

The experiments indicated that the coleoptiles from the variety « Funo » react linearly to incresing IAA and ABA concentration resulting the best one to be used in this bioassay.     

Aumento di viscosità del succo delle uova di Bombyx mori in seguito a riscaldamento

Riassunto Il succo di uova di Bombyx mori, riscaldate a 50° C per mezz'ora, all'inizio della svernatura, mostra un cospicuo aumento di viscosità rispetto al controllo. Dopo circa due mesi le uova riscaldate forniscono succo ancora notevolmente più viscoso del controllo. L'esame dei dati viscosimetrici mostra che durante questo tempo vi è stata una regolazione viscosa, ma imperfetta, che si può stimare con approssimazione del 43,17%. Anche ammettendo che si giunga ad avere una regolazione completa, è- da supporre che l'ambiente anomalo, in cui per un tempo così lungo viene a trovarsi l'embrione, non sia senza effetto su di questo e possa indurre sul futuro organisme somazioni o vere mutazioni.

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Zusammenfassung Preßsaft von Eiern von Bombyx mori, bis auf 50° für eine halbe Stunde lang erwärmt, zeigt eine entschieden größere Viskosität als der von Kontrolleiern. Ungefähr 2 Monate lang bleibt diese Viskosität gleich, trotzdem schlüpfen die Eier zu 100%. Die erhöhte Viskosität entsteht wahrscheinlich durch Dishydratation der Eier oder durch Veränderungen in der Micellärstruktur der proteischen Komplexe.Diese erhöhte irreversible Viskosität erlaubt in jedem Fall die normale Entwicklung der Eier.Es erscheint möglich, daß eine irreversible Änderung eines chemischphysischen Charakters des Cytoplasmas, wie die beschriebene, der Grund einer Mutation sein kann, indem sie auf die Chromosomen wirkt und das Cytoplasma, in welchem die Chromosomen arbeiten, verändert.