Ricerche sull'infrastruttura del coleottile di avena: I. — Il fascio vascolare in corso di differenziazione

Abstract

STUDIES ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE OAT COLEOPTILE. I. - THE DEVELOPING XYLEM CELLS. — The writers are engaged with a research program dealing with the morphological changes effected in the cell infrastructure by growth substances. The problem, obviously, requires an intimate knowledge of cell infrastructure of all different tissues of the test used, the oat coleoptile in this case. With this first note, cell infrastructures of the xylem region of the bundle (parenchyma and tracheids) are described, limitedly to the portion 1 mm behind the coleoptile tip, where cell divisions are completely suppressed while cell elongation and differentiation are set on.     

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.     

Effetto di Inibitori Della Sintesi Proteica Sull'aumento di Attività Enzimatiche e sul Risveglio del Metabolismo Nell'Endosperma di Semi di Ricino in Germinazione

Abstract

Effects of inhibitors of protein synthesis on the development of metabolic activity in the endosperm during the germination of castor bean seeds. — The effect of chloramphenicol, streptomycin and actinomycin-C on the increase of the activities of glyceroaldehyde-phosphate dehydrogenase, aldolase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, fructose 1–6 diphosphate-1-phosphatase, phosphomonoesterase, in the endosperm of germinating castor bean seeds was investigated.

In all cases, the protein synthesis inhibitors depressed the activation of the enzymes tested: in particular, actinomycin (50 μg/ml) completely suppressed the increase of the activities.

The development of the rate of oxygen uptake and the conversion of fats to sugars was strongly affected by the inhibitors.

These data suggest that the increase of the activities of several enzymes in the germinating endosperm is dependent on enzyme synthesis rather than on the conversion from the inactive to the active form of the enzymes.     

Gli organizzatori del fellogeno e del sughero in giovani rami di “Pinus Pinea„

Abstract

In Pinns Pinca L. la furniazione del sughero dipende da due organizzatori diversi che presiedono rispettivamente al processo di moltiplicazione e a quello di differenziazione : i fasci resinogeni sottoepidermici rappresentano l'organizzatore del fellogeno, l'epidermide rappresenta l'organizzatore del sughero.     

Differenziazione del Sistema Conduttore in Plantule di „Ephedra Altissima“ DESF

Riassunto

L'A. studia la differenziazione degli elementi legnosi del fascio radicolare ed ipocotilare di Ephedra altissima Desf. e ne deduce conclusioni sulla natura eterogenea del fascio, dal punto di vista sia anatomico che funzionale.     

Ricerche Sul Meristema Apicale della Radice. VII L'attività di Alcuni Enzimi Della Glicolisi,del Ciclo di Krebs e di Quello dei Pentoso Fosfati

Abstract

Studies on root apical meristem. VII. Activities of some enzymes of glycolysis, of the Krebs cycle and of the pentose phosphate cycle. — The enzymes assayed are: aldolase, glyceraldheyde-3-phosphate: NAD oxidoreductase, triosephosphate isomerase, fumarate hydratase, aconitate hydratase, glucose-6-phosphate: NADP oxidoreductase, 6-phosphogluconate: NADP oxidoreductase. The determinations were made on pea roots (Pisum sativum cv. Alaska) which were obtained by germinating seeds on moist vermiculite, in the dark, at 25° C, either for 2 or 7 days. In both cases samples were collected from the meristematic zone (0-2 mm from the apex) and from the extending zone (2-4 mm from the apex). All the enzymes determined are present both in the meristematic and in the extending zone of the root. If referred to a fresh weight basis, their activities are always greater in the meristem; if referred to a dry weight or to a protein basis, the values in the meristematic zone are nearly equal to, or higher than those in the extending zone. With respect to the development of the cell in the root from the meristematic to the vacuolated state, the present results indicate that the change in volume is accompanied by increases is the enzymes tested.     

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.     

Attività Respiratoria Livelli Enzimatici e Tenore in Acqua Durante la Maturazione del Seme di Ricino

Abstract

Respiratory activity, enzyme levels and water contents in the ripening castor beans seed endosperm. — In the endosperm of the developing castor bean seed oxygen uptake, water contents and the « in vitro » measurable activity of various enzymes parallely drop during the terminal strages of ripening. The present investigations shows that also the capacity of water uptake decreases (and that of water loss increases) during ripening.

When developing seeds at a stage close to ripeness are removed from the fruits and incubated under a condition of easy water availability, both respiration and enzyme activities rapidly rise; while this is not observed for seeds removed from the fruit at an earlier stage of development.

These results are interpreted as indicating that the dehydration of the seed during ripening is both a consequence and a cause of the inactivation of enzyme systems.     

Studî sulla durata del periodo cinetico ed intercinetico in embrioni di pollo incubati a differente temperatura

Zusammenfassung Ich habe mir vorgenommen zu bestimmen, in welchem Maße die Dauer der mitotischen und intermitotischen Perioden beim Hühnerembryo durch die Temperatur der Umgebung beeinflußt wird. Zu diesem Zweck habe ich eine indirekte Methode angewandt. Es wurde die Zahl der Mitosen des Neuralrohrs (bzw. bei älteren Embryonen der ganzen Neuralanlage) bestimmt. Die Zählung erfolgte an Embryonen gleichen Entwicklungsgrades (Hühnerembryonen mit 12, 12–13, 14–15, 18 Urwirbelpaaren), die bei verschiedenen Temperaturen bebrütet worden waren. Von jedem Stadium wurden zwei Embryonen bebrütet, der eine bei 31°–32°, derandere bei 41°–42°, und zwar der erstere doppelt so lange als der zweite. Beide erreichten so denselben Entwicklungsgrad (äußere Form, Zahl der Urwirbel). An den in lückenlose Serien zerlegten Embryonen nabe ich die absolute und relative Zahl der Mitosen im Nervensystem bestimmt; die relative Zahl (mitotischer Koeffizient) ergibt sich aus dem Verhältnis der Zahl der in einem Schnitt enthaltenen Mitosen zu dessen (mittels Planimeter bestimmtem) Flächeninhalt. Aus meinen Bestimmungen ergibt sich, daß die absolute und relative Zahl der Mitosen der bei den verschiedenen Temperaturen gelhaltenen Embryonen verhältnismäßig geringe Differenzen aufweist (bei den Embryonen mit 12 Ursegmentpaaren differiert die relative Zahl zwischen 1,69 und 1,79, bei den Embryonen mit 18 Ursegmentpaaren zwischen 1,34 und 1,42), sie beruhen wahrscheinlich auf individueller Variation.Wenn man erwägt, daß bei den unter niederer Temperatur bebrüteten Embryonen die Entwicklungsdauer das doppelte gegenüber den Kontrolltieren betrug (Koeffizient q₁₀ = 2), so können wir daraus schließen, daß die genannten unbedeutenden Differenzen nicht auf die Temperatur zu beziehen sind. Da aus meinen früheren Untersuchungen hervorgeht, daß die Dauer der Mitosen von in vitro gezüchteten Zellen des Hühnerembryos zeitlich eine Funktion der Temperatur ist, scheint mir der Schluß berechtigt, daß die für die mitotischen und intermitotischen Perioden geltenden Zeiten in gleichem Maße durch die Temperatur der Umgebung verkürzt bzw. verlängert werden.     

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.     

Autecologia di Ulva rigida: 1. Influenza dell'intensità luminosa e della temperatura sulla produzione di ossigeno

Abstract

Autecology of Ulva rigida C. Ag.: 1. Influence of light intensity and temperature on oxygen production. The photosynthetic activity of Ulva rigida, growing in Bari's harbour (Adriatic Sea), has been assessed in the laboratory by measuring oxygen evolution as a function of white light intensities. Tests were performed at four temperatures. The data indicate the remarkable amount of O₂ released in the environment.     

Alghe Bentoniche di Profondità Raccolte Alla Punta S. Pancrazio Nell'Isola di Ischia (Golfo di Napoli)

Abstract

Observations on deep seaweeds (15–50 m) at Punta San Pancrazio, Island of Ischia (Bay of Naples). — Algological research in little known and still well preserved zones of the Bay of Naples have been done to improve our knowledge of underwater flora of the Bay itself and of the southern part of the Tyrrhenian sea. SCUBA diving technique allowed us to detect, namely in the deepest investigated areas, a number of species previously unknown for the Bay of Naples. This research deals only with species found during the summertime, living at depths greater than 15 m.     

L'ipotesi dell'effetto del campo geomagnetico e la variabilità tra le ripetizioni in prove di germinazione ed accrescimento in Triticum

Abstract

The geomagnetic field effect hypothesis and the variability among replications in germination and growth tests in Triticum. – During previous eperiments on germination and growth of Triticum, we have often found many cases of heteroscedasticity and of statistically significant differences among contemporary replications (i.e. germinators). In such experiments all the caryopses were oriented in the same way inside the germinators, whilst the germinators were randomly set inside the thermostats: therefore the seeds of different germinators might result differently oriented. Some researchers report that seeds differently oriented according to the lines of force of the geomagnetic field, may respond with different germination, growth rates and growth directions of shoots and roots (magnetotropism). The present investigation was designed to ascertain if these effects might be responsible of the variability among the contemporary replications. The different caryopses orientation within laboratory geomagnetic field, does not give evidence of any effect on germination, growth rate and direction. The caryopses show no germination sensibility neither related to different age, light and temperature conditions, neither to different cultivars, neither to varying orientation from the geomagnetic North every 15° and to varying time of ? preorientation ? in dry conditions. Differences between the variability of randomly and North oriented subsamples are not observed. No statistically significant differences are observed among shoots and roots lenghts of seedlings from differently oriented caryopses neither in different environmental conditions, nor as function of the orientation (24 angles of 15°), nor after different preorientations, nor after repeating the test on 608 subsamples (12.000 seedlings). Therefore the variability among contemporary replications is not imputable to the geomagnetic field. The variability and the distributions structure analysis suggest that both the heteroscedasticity and the significant differences among the replications may be due to an interaction among the caryopses inside the germinators through the substrate. This is probably related to the cultivar characteristics. We emphasize that an accurate evaluation of the variability is particularly necessary in germination and growth tests.     

Sulle capacità di sviluppo della placca midollare in condizioni di espianto

Zusammenfassung Durch Anwendung der Explantationsmethode vonMangold wird der Rumpfschwanzteil der Medullarplatte in vitro explantiert, um die Evolutionsfähigkeiten der isolierten Medullaranlage und die Entwicklungskorrelationen zwischen dem Chorda-Mesodermkomplex und der Morphohistogenese des Rückenmarks zu studieren.Es wird vor allem festgestellt, daß der Neuralstrang, der sich aus der explantierten Neuralplatte bildet, auch ohne Mitwirkung der Chorda oder irgendeines Stützorgans verlängerungsfähig ist.Von großer Bedeutung für die Morphohistogenese des Neuralstranges scheint die Chorda zu sein, und gewissermaßen auch das Mesoderm.Fehlt das Mesoderm, so schmelzen die Ganglien zu einer einzigen Masse zusammen, ventral zum Neuralstrang; die Struktur des Neuralstranges erleidet aber dadurch keine Veränderung.Fehlt die Chorda dagegen, so treten sehr wichtige Veränderungen im Neuralstrang ein, d. h. übermäßige große der Neuralröhre oder mehrfache Röhrenbildung, Zerstörung der Zellen- und Fasernanordnung, Neuroblastenabsonderung aus dem Rumpfteil des Neuralstranges.Wenn aber, auch bei fehlender Chorda, der Neuralstrang von Mesodermmassen begleitet wird, ist seine Struktur viel regelmäßiger.Es scheint also, daß das Mesoderm, außer die Wirkung auf die Zerteilung der Ganglienanlagen, auch gewissermaßen die ausgebliebene Wirkung der Chorda ersetzen kann.     

Sul grado di accestimento delle piante di grano colpite dalla “Carie„

Abstract

We numerically analysed 154 relevés of Potentillo chrysocraspedae–Festucetum airoidis in order to review the compositional variability of these grasslands, the main eco-floristic gradients and the representativeness of the lectotype. Apart from 30 small-sized clusters composed of singular or transitional relevés (outliers), three distinctive groups of 77, 19 and 12 communities were finally retained and denominated as typical (TP), closed (CL) and open (OP) facies, as they were significantly different in terms of total species cover. The three facies are well separated but do not form distinctive clusters in the non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination space. Juncus trifidus and Agrostis rupestris are the best differential species of OP and TP, respectively, whereas the best discriminator of CL is the higher cover of F. airoides. There are no significant differences between the three facies regarding altitude. The floristic structure of CL indicates poorer but moister soils compared with the other facies. CL may represent either a post-disturbance, recovery phase following sheep overgrazing and intensive trampling, or a late seral stage. OP gathers communities that are little disturbed and mainly occur on ridges and upper, sunny slopes. Although well distinguished floristically, TP is weakly defined in terms of homotoneity and complexity of the core species assemblage. The most representative relevé of TP is poorer in character species than the relevé lectotype (5 versus 12), the latter being classified as an outlier in terms of normal specific assemblage. Such patterns may reflect the spatio-temporal heterogeneity in alpine grasslands due to uncontrolled, intensive grazing and stochastic natural disturbances.     

Effetto del « water stress » su semi germinanti di Haplopappus gracilis (Nutt.) Gray pretrattati con gibberellina e fusicoccina

Abstract

Water stress effects on germinating seeds of Haplopappus gracilis (Nutt.) Gray pretreated with gibberellin and fusicoccin.—Achenes of Haplopappus gracilis, deprived of their coats, were germinated for various times, dried and then rehydrated. After this procedure many seeds were not able to resume regular germination and to overcome the water stress.

After having examined the morphological changes consequent to the water stress treatments we have checked if, as suggested by some Authors, there was a correlation between the resumption of DNA synthesis in the apical meristems of the rootlets and irreversible drought sensitivity.

To this purpose, embryos were pre-imbibed in water and in solutions of gibberellin (GA₃), which in Haplopappus promotes resumption of DNA synthesis, and fusicoccin (FC) which strongly stimulates germination and embryo elongation, without altering the pattern of DNA synthesis.

Our data show that embryos pre-imbibed in water or GA₃ and then dried, do not show any difference in their ability to resume germination, while embryos pre-hydrated in FC are always damaged more precociously and more severely by the dehydration treatments.

These results suggest that, since fusicoccin promotes embryo elongation through an activation of cell membranes, the physiological condition of these may be more critical for resumption of growth after the water stress than DNA replication activity.     

Germinazione «In Vitro» di Carpospore di Petroglossum Nicaeense (Duby) Schotter

Abstract

In vitro development of carpospores of Petroglossum nicaeense (Duby) Schotter. This paper describes the germination of carpospores of P. nicaeense (Phyllophoraceae) and the development on glass of new tetrasporophytes to the size of 3–4 mm. Different patterns of development are observed: 1) formation of one or two rizoidal filaments which give rise to an adhesive disc; 2) formation of a morula, of limited growth, and of rizoidal filaments which then originate adhesive discs; 3) formation of a morula which originates a single frond, and formation of filaments that do not form adhesive discs. Eventually, the discs give rise to one or more outgrowths that develop into erect fronds. These fronds reach a 4 mm length 3 months after germination.     

Comportamento Alla Germinazione e Mutabilità Cromosomica Spontanea in Triticum Durum Desf. Durante I Primi Due Anni di Vita del Seme

Abstract

Germination and spontaneous chromosome mutations in Triticum durum Desf. during the first two years of storage of the seed. — Spontaneous chromosome aberrations were recently observed in the meristem of radicles of seedlings raised from seeds (caryopses) of Triticum durum cv. Cappelli erop 1966. Germination and frequency of chromosomal aberrations, starting from the ripening of the caryopses to the end of the second year of their storage at room temperature were investigated. Cytological analysis and germination tests were accomplished at monthly intervals. It was shown that: 1) soon after ripening, the germination process was very slow, but chromosomal damage was high; 2) at the end of the dormancy period the percentage of aberrant anaphases and of chromatid breaks fell to a «minimum». This low chromosomal damage lasted for almost the whole of the two years of storage; 3) the nuclear damage was esclusively of chromatide type. This result and fact that the cytological damage is decreasing with time, are interpreted as evidence that the mutagenic agent(s) responsible is (are) more active during the germination period than during the quiescence of the embryo.