Radial secondary growth and formation of successive cambia and their products in Ipomoea hederifolia L. (Convolvulaceae)

Ipomoea hederifolia stems increase in thickness using a combination of different types of cambial variant, such as the discontinuous concentric rings of cambia, the development of included phloem, the reverse orientation of discontinuous cambial segments, the internal phloem, the formation of secondary xylem and phloem from the internal cambium, and differentiation of cork in the pith. After primary growth, the first ring of cambium arises between the external primary phloem and primary xylem, producing secondary phloem centrifugally and secondary xylem centripetally. The stem becomes lobed, flat, undulating, or irregular in shape as a result of the formation of both discontinuous and continuous concentric rings of cambia. As the formation of secondary xylem is greater in one region than in another, this results in the formation of a grooved stem. Successive cambia formed after the first ring are of two distinct functional types: (1) functionally normal successive cambia that divide to form secondary xylem centripetally and secondary phloem centrifugally, like other dicotyledons that show successive rings, and (2) abnormal cambia with reverse orientation. The former type of successive rings originates from the parenchyma cells located outside the phloem produced by previous cambium. The latter type of cambium develops from the conjunctive tissue located at the base of the secondary xylem formed by functionally normal cambia. This cambium is functionally inverted, producing secondary xylem centrifugally and secondary phloem centripetally. In later secondary growth, xylem parenchyma situated deep inside the secondary xylem undergoes de‐differentiation, and re‐differentiates into included phloem islands in secondary xylem. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 30–40.     

Role of Chrysonilia sitophila in the quality of cork stoppers for sealing wine bottles

The contribution of Chrysonilia sitophila in cork stopper manufacture was studied and a simulation of the industrial processing of cork stoppers was performed. Stoppers cut from slabs where mold development was inhibited were compared with others cut from slabs colonized by C. sitophila alone or with several molds, in terms of physical properties and chemical taints. C. sitophila does not produce 2,4,6-trichloroanisole, guaiacol, or 1-octene-3-ol on cork slabs incubated for 66 days. Since some chlorophenol-related compounds contaminate cork slabs during the production processes, metabolic tests were performed to investigate the capability of molds to produce 2,4,6-trichloroanisole by methylation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. Degradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol by C. sitophila resulted in a very high level of degradation without production of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole. C. sitophila restricted growth of other molds on maturing slabs for at least 30 days. These results show that C. sitophila can be exploited by industrial producers of cork stoppers since it is able to inhibit the development of other molds and it does not produce the compounds responsible for ‘cork-taint’, even in the presence of chlorophenols. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2000) 24, 256–261. Received 28 July 1999/ Accepted in revised form 05 January 2000     

Structure of the vascular cambium of varying age and its derivative tissues in the stem of Ficus rumphii Blume

AJMAL, S. & IQBAL, M., 1992. Structure of the vascular cambium of varying age and its derivative tissues in the stem of Ficus rumphii Blume. The cambial cells of Ficus rumphii and their derivatives vary in size and number with the age of the tree. The fusiform initials, vessel elements, sieve-tube members, xylem fibres and phloem fibres are relatively short in the terminal part of the stem axis, consistently longer down the stem reaching a maximum, and short again in the main trunk. The width of the respective cells shows a similar variation. The ray cell initials increase both in number and size, and form rays of varying dimensions. Uniseriate and biseriate cambial rays are abundant, while multiseriate rays are especially sparse in the young shoot. The proportion of uni- and biseriate rays falls in the lower part of the stem whereas that of multiseriate rays increases. Likewise, short cambial rays are abundant in young branches but their frequency decreases in the trunk region, leading to a rise of the tall ray population. The rays in the phloem and xylem regions reflect a similar variation pattern with certain fluctuations. The overall proportion of the rays increases in the older part of the axis, reaching a maximum tangential area in the trunk. The transectional area of vessel elements remains more or less constant down to the base after an initial increase in the terminal region, while the sieve-tube proportion tends to be constant in the basal region after a consistent gain from the tree top basewards.     

泡桐维管形成层及木质部区的转录组分析

采用Illumina HiSeqTM2500高通量测序技术,获得泡桐维管形成层及木质部区组织转录组的109021918条clean reads(16.35 Gb)。将clean reads从头组装得到104432个单基因簇(Unigene),平均长度662 nt。将组装得到的Unigenes与公共数据库进行序列比对,分别有40789(Nr:39.05%)、31675(NT:30.33%)、15539(COG:14.87%)、29168(GO:27.93%)、16316(KEGG:15.62%)、30499(SwissProt:29.20%)以及28828(Pfam:27.6%)个Unigenes获得功能注释。通过与GO数据库的比对分析,注释的29168个Unigenes归于生物过程、细胞组分及分子功能三大类的55个功能组;15539条Unigenes注释到COG数据库,被分为25个类别中;基于KEGG数据库可将16316个Unigenes归于130个代谢途径。此外,在泡桐的维管形成层及木质部区转录组中共检测出16118个简单序列重复(SSR)位点。为进一步挖掘泡桐重要功能基因提供了大量数据。     

Somatic embryogenesis in leaf callus from a mature Quercus suber L. Tree

Summary Somatic embryos were obtained from a 60-yr-old Quercus suber L. tree. Leaf explants were cultivated on Murashige and Skoog medium with 30 gl⁻¹ sucrose, 3 gl⁻¹ gelrite, pH adjusted to 5.8, and different growth regulator combinations. Callus induction took place at 24±1°C in the dark during the first 3 wk. After 3 mo, calluses that showed embryogenic structures were transferred to the same medium without growth regulators. Somatic embryogenesis was only observed in calluses induced on E3 medium (supplemented with 4.5 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 9.0 μM zeatin). On average, 7.5% of the initial explants formed embryogenic calluses in this medium. Somatic embryo proliferation was high due to secondary embryogenesis. On average, 10% of the somatic embryos germinated and 40% of these germinated embryos converted into plants. Plants were elongated on the same medium without growth regulators and acclimated to greenhouse conditions.     

适于研究形成层活动的不脱蜡苏木精—番红染色法

描述了一种适用于研究形成层浩大活动的石蜡切片法,材料用加甘油的ＦＡＡ固定液固定,用代氏或哈氏苏木精番红对不胶蜡的切片同时染色、同样条件下分色,脱蜡后直接封片。此法快速有效,所制切片的重量不亚于、甚至更铖于常规染色法,制片可以长期保存而不退色．     

Suberins of Malus pumila stem and root corks

The suberin contents of the isolated superficial cork layers of Malus pumila stems and root ranged from 15 to 35% of the dry weight. The qualitative composition of the aliphatic monomers obtained after alkaline depolymerization of the extractive-free corks was similar but some quantitative differences were found according to cultivar and age of the cork layer. 1-Alkanols (mainly 22:0, 24:0 and 26:0), alkanoic acids (mainly 22:0 and 24:0), α, ω-alkanedioic acids (mainly 16:0, 18:1 (9) and 18:0) and ω-hydroxyalkanoic acids (mainly 18:1 (9) and 22:0) were major constituents of all the samples examined and together they comprised 40–50% of the total monomeric mixture. The remainder was composed mainly of 9,10-epoxy-18-hydroxy-and 9,10,18-trihydroxyoctadecanoic acids. The corresponding dibasic acids, 9,10-epoxy- and 9,10-dihydroxyoctadecane-1,18-dioic, were minor components as were C₁₆ and C₁₈ dihydroxyalkanoic acids (mainly 10,16-dihydroxyhexadecanoic and 10,18-dihydroxyoctadecanoic acids, respectively). The root suberin dittered from that of the stem in containing larger amounts of 9,10-epoxy- 18-hydroxyoctadecanoic and 18-hydroxyoctadec-9-enoic acids.     

Hormonal regulation of tuber induction in radish (Raphanus sativus). Role of ethylene

When young radish ( Raphanus sativus L. cv, Novired RS) plants were exposed to low levels of ethylene, the fresh weight and dry weight of the tubers significantly increased. This was mainly because ethylene reduced the percentage of plants that hardly or not at all formed a tuber. Decaptated seedling cultured in vitro, were supplied with several plant growth regulators in order to determine a possible correlation between the induction of radial growth and the biosynthesis of ethylene in the hypocotyl. Indole-3-acetic acid, or in combination with 6-benzylaminopurine, induced growth of the hypocotyl and markedly enhanced ethylene biosynthesis. However, the application of a precursor and an inhibitor of ethylene biosynthesis revealed that there is no direct causal relationship between radial growth and ethylene evolution. It is suggested that ethylene favoured tuber growth in intact plants by changing the partitioning of assimilates in the plant, rather than by the induction of cambial activity.     

Overexpression of two cambium-abundant Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) α-expansin genes ClEXPA1 and ClEXPA2 affect growth and development in transgenic tobacco and increase the amount of cellulose in stem cell walls

Expansins are unique plant cell wall proteins that possess the ability to induce immediately cell wall extension in vitro and cell expansion in vivo. To investigate the biological functions of expansins that are abundant in wood-forming tissues, we cloned two expansin genes from the differentiating xylem of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook). Phylogenetic reconstruction indicated that they belong to α-expansin (EXPA), named ClEXPA1 and ClEXPA2. Expression pattern analysis demonstrated that they are preferentially expressed in the cambium region. Overexpression of ClEXPA1 and ClEXPA2 in tobacco plants yielded pleiotropic phenotypes of plant height, stem diameter, leaf number and seed pod. The height and diameter growth of the 35S(pro) :ClEXPA1 and 35S(pro) :ClEXPA2 transgenic plants were increased drastically, exhibiting an enlargement of pith parenchyma cell size. Isolated cell walls of ClEXPA1 and ClEXPA2 overexpressors contained 30%-50% higher cellulose contents than the wild type, accompanied by a thickening of the cell walls in the xylem region. Both ClEXPA1 and ClEXPA2 are involved in plant growth and development, with a partially functional overlap. Expansins are not only able to induce cell expansion in different tissues/organs in vivo, but they also can act as a potential activator during secondary wall formation by directly or indirectly affecting cellulose metabolism, probably in a cell type-dependent manner.     

喜树原形成层到形成层转化的研究

观察了枣树茎中原形成层到形成层的转化过程。距茎端0．5mm处,节间开始伸长之前,横切面上4—5个原形成束及束间的分生组织组成原形成层环。径向切面观,原形成层环呈现出较均一的结构。随着节间开始伸长,由于原形成层细胞发生假横向分裂,出现了长短两类细胞,长细胞多数端壁倾斜,短细胞多数端壁平截。以后,长细胞发育为纺缍状原始细胞,短细胞发育为射线原始细胞,部分射线原始细胞可以伸长井侵入生长而转化为纺缍状原始细胞。在节间伸长将停止时,此种转化基本完成。喜树为非叠生形成层,纺缍状原始细胞和射线原始细胞都有多核现象发生。     

构树形成层活动中内源IAA的变化及其结合蛋白的研究

构树(Broussonetiapapyrifera(L.)Vent.)形成层活动周期中用酶联免疫吸附法测定了形成层区域的内源IAA浓度的变化,并用自行发展的免疫荧光检测方法测定了由此处生活细胞制得的原生质体中IAA结合蛋白的分布。结果表明,形成层旺盛形成未成熟木质部和未成熟韧皮部时期,内源IAA急剧增加,当这些细胞分化成熟时IAA浓度降低,并维持在一定范围内。IAA结合蛋白主要分布于质膜、胞质、核膜及核质中     

Pine root structure and its potential significance for root function

Actively growing roots of pouch-grown Pinus banksiana Lamb. are known to have three anatomically distinct zones, i.e., white, condensed tannin, and cork (in order of increasing distance from the root tip). Roots of pouch and pot-grown Pinus taeda L., and field-grown P. banksiana also develop these three zones. The terminal region of a dormant root resembles the condensed tannin zone, with the addition of a suberized metacutis partially surrounding the apical meristem. White roots are anatomically suited for efficient ion uptake due to the presence of a living cortex. The condensed tannin zones of both growing and dormant roots have a dead cortex but retain passage cells in their endodermal layers, through which some ion uptake could occur. The effect of the maturation from white to condensed tannin zone on water uptake is difficult to predict, but some uptake would occur through the endodermal passage cells. In the young cork zone, no ion and little water absorption should occur. The discrepancies between results of separate anatomical and physiological investigations of tree roots need to be resolved by correlative studies incorporating both approaches in individual experiments. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

贺兰山地区植被冠层物候与树干形成层物候的关系

基于贺兰山地区98棵油松树轮样本的宽度数据、植被归一化指数(NDVI)数据以及土地覆被数据,采用VS-oscilloscope模型模拟的油松径向生长过程,研究植被冠层与树干形成层物候之间的联系.结果表明:林地冠层与油松形成层生长结束期(EOS)显著相关,且高于草地与形成层之间的相关.油松生长开始期(SOS)和EOS分别...     

Effect of fungal colonization on mechanical performance of cork

The industrialization of traditional processes relies on the scientific ability to understand the empirical evidence associated with traditional knowledge. Cork manufacturing includes one operation known as stabilization, where humid cork slabs are extensively colonized by fungi. The implications of fungal growth on the chemical quality of cork through the analysis of putative fungal metabolites have already been investigated. However, the effect of fungal growth on the mechanical properties of cork remains unexplored. This study investigated the effect of cork colonization on the integrity of the cork cell walls and their mechanical performance. Fungal colonization of cork by Chrysonilia sitophila, Mucor plumbeus Penicillium glabrum, P. olsonii, and Trichoderma longibrachiatum was investigated by microscopy. Growth occurred primarily on the surface of the cork pieces, but mycelium extended deeper into the cork layers, mostly via lenticular channels and by hyphal penetration of the cork cell wall.In this first report on cork decay in which specific correlation between fungal colonization and mechanical proprieties of the cork has been investigated, all colonizing fungi except C. sitophila, reduced cork strength, markedly altering its viscoelastic behaviour and reducing its Young's modulus.     

Advancement in studies of tree growth and ecophysiology incorporating micro-sampling approach

The recently developed micro-sampling approach has been widely used to extract micro-tree-cores at weekly intervals to monitor the process of stem cambial activity and xylem formation. Compared with the traditional dendrochronology, the micro-sampling approach enables us to better understand the inherent physiological processes in tree growth and their relationships with the environment at a more precise level. This review article aims to: 1) summarize the progresses in the micro-sampling approach-based studies published over recent years and its potential applications, and 2) elucidate the relationships between primary growth and secondary growth and the response mechanisms of radial growth of trees to global change (global warming, drought, and carbon and nitrogen fertilization effects) based on information from literature. It is anticipated that this review will assist with predicting productivity and carbon sink potential of forests, and help policy-makers with sustainable forest management decisions.     

A new method for the improvement of data production in phytochemical analysis

Introduction – The use of the average analytical signal for the construction of curves by the least squares method (LSM) over the standard addition method (SAM) is widespread. It would be advantageous, however, to find a way to avoid intermediary averages, which are known to be the cause of significant increases in standard deviations (SD). Objective – To develop a protocol that uses all gathered data to create curves by LSM over SAM. To use Excel^® for the estimation of y = mx + b and R² rather than using LSM equations for the SD of m, x and b. Methodology – The level of lead (II) in the bark (cork) of Quercus suber Linnaeus was determined using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). Three current samples were taken for each of the four standard additions. These signals were combined for adjustment by LSM. The results were compared with those obtained after averaging the current for each addition, and the expression of uncertainty in the measurements determined. Results – The new method shows an expanded uncertainty of ± 0.3321 μg/g (nearly 1.42%). The difference between the results obtained by the new and the old method is 0.01 μg/g (23.41 and 23.40 μg/g). The limit of detection changed approximately from 4.8 to 4 μg/g and the relative SD approximately from 9 to 6%. Conclusion – The absence of intermediary averages in curves improved the determination of lead (II) in cork by DPASV. Estimation of SD only with LSM equations produced results that were significantly worse. The changes are large enough to transform an apparently internally non‐validated procedure (repeatability for precision) into an internally validated procedure. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.