Temperature regulation of floral buds and floral thermogenicity in Magnolia denudata (Magnoliaceae)

Key message

The gynoecium in M. denudata was thermogenic, and the first peak in the female phase lasted longer than the second peak in the male phase during flowering.

Abstract

The floral biology of Magnolia denudata, including the thermogenesis of floral buds and blooming, were investigated using a portable infrared thermal imaging radiometer and digital infrared thermometer. We found that M. denudata buds have extremely dense trichomes that maintain internal temperatures above external temperatures. The pattern of thermogenesis in M. denudata anthesis consisted of two distinct episodes corresponding to apparent receptivity of the stigmas in the female phase and incipient shedding of pollen in the male phase: one begins in the female phase and lasts about 6 h and another occurs synchronously 24 h later and lasts about 4 h in the male phase. In addition, we found that the temperature was significantly elevated in the inner petals upon flowering, indicating that they may play an important role in producing a warm floral chamber. These results increase our understanding of the strategies used by Magnoliaceae blossoms to maintain an optimal microclimate at low temperatures in the early spring.     

Light conditions inside developing buds affect floral induction

Buds of Pinus sylvestris L. and Picea abies (L.) Karst. were pierced with optical fibres allowing natural light to the vicinity of apical domes. Induction of female strobiles was achieved. Since bud scales absorb more red than far-red light, the treatment may have increased the far-red light absorbing form of phytochrome.Abbreviations Pfr far-red light absorbing form of phytochrome     

In vitro development of angiosperm floral buds and organs

In the last twenty-five years, young inflorescences, floral buds and individual floral organs of a number of species have been cultured in vitro. There is considerable variability in the requirement of plant growth regulators and nutritional factors for flower development of different species. This variability is compounded by the fact that the hormonal and nutritional requirements are different at various stages of organ and floral development. Experimental studies on normal and mutant flowers in vitro have provided insights into some of the regulatory processes in floral organogenesis. The potential use of the in vitro technique in elucidating the various mechanisms in flower development is stressed.     

桃花芽自然休眠期间水孔蛋白基因的转录表达

以10年生大田栽培及3年生盆栽曙光油桃花芽为试材,利用荧光定量PCR测定了油桃休眠及休眠解除期间(2009年9月15日-2010年1月15日)曙光油桃水孔蛋白基因δTIP1、PIP1;1的表达量,以及低温胁迫下的转录表达.结果表明:在油桃休眠及休眠解除期间,曙光油桃PIP1;1的转录水平呈现持续增高趋势,且1月的高水平表达使水分通过液泡膜和细胞质膜流出,减少了芽体水分含量,阻止细胞内冰晶的形成,从而抵御冻害;可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白、脯氨酸含量均达到最高,防止细胞的脱水伤害.低温处理2周后高水平表达说明PIP1;1为冷诱导基因.δTIP1的转录水平在休眠期间呈现波动性变化,至休眠解除时大幅度增高,这可能与休眠解除时,其上调表达被休眠解除信号及植物活性的增强所诱导有关.低温处理2周后,其表达没有升高,说明δTIP1并非冷诱导基因.     

赤霉素对大岩桐花蕾离体培养直接再生花芽的影响（简报）

植物经过一定时期的营养生长(或感受外界信号)后,就能产生成花刺激物。成花刺激物被运输到茎尖,诱导发生一系列的反应。随后其分生组织在一定时期内处于一个相对稳定的状态,即成花决定态。植物成花决定态建立的过程称为成花决定。对成花决定的研究进行了许多年,但是其确切的机理仍不清楚.     

黄瓜花芽启始分化的形态解剖研究

苗龄 6d的黄瓜幼苗 ,在第一节位叶腋处花芽原基开始启动分化。花芽分化时间早、速度快、节位低、同步性好。诱导黄瓜开花的因素可能不是光和夜低温 ,其开花特性类似于自主开花植物     

Subtle proteome differences identified between post-dormant vegetative and floral peach buds

Proper development of deciduous tree species, including peach, is accomplished through an annual growth cycle. Freezing avoidance during winter is necessary for tree survival and is achieved by the enclosure of meristems in floral and vegetative buds. To elucidate the role of developmentally regulated protein networks in bud break, proteins of the two bud-types were extracted and analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Of the 1107 protein spots that were picked, 475 were identified and annotated assembling the peach bud proteome reference map. The majority of these proteins are involved in stress-response, detoxification, defense, carbohydrate metabolism and energy production. The protein profiles of both bud-types bear high similarity, whereas only 11 proteins were differentially expressed. These proteins were mainly involved in carbon-nitrogen homeostasis/metabolism and certain developmental processes to sustain rapid growth of the newly emerging organs. Among these are enzymes that differentially regulate the levels of H(2)O(2) between floral and vegetative buds, potentially promoting sequential bud-break. Distinct Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase (NDPK) variants in floral and vegetative buds were detected suggesting the potential role of NDPKs in H(2)O(2)-mediated signaling for post-dormant bud break. This study provides data towards a better understanding of dormancy release and bud break.     

Dynamics of non-structural carbohydrates in developing leaves, bracts and floral buds of cotton

Development of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) squares (i.e. floral buds with bracts) is fundamental for yield formation. A 2-year field study was conducted to determine dry weight (DW) accumulations of cotton leaves, floral bracts and floral buds, and the changes in concentrations of non-structural carbohydrates (hexoses, sucrose and starch) in these tissues during square ontogeny as affected by fruiting positions within the plant canopy. During square development, DW accumulation of a subtending sympodial leaf and floral bracts followed a sigmoid growth curve with increasing square age, whereas the DW increase of a floral bud followed an exponential curve. Main-stem node (Node 8, 10 or 12) and branch position (proximal vs. distal) within a plant canopy significantly affected DW accumulations of the leaf, bracts and floral bud. Starch was the dominant non-structural carbohydrate in the three tissues, accounting for more than 65% of total non-structural carbohydrates (TNC). Subtending leaf TNC increased as square age increased. The bracts exhibited a smaller change in TNC than leaves. Non-structural carbohydrate concentration was the lowest in 10-day-old floral buds, and had little change during the first 15 days of square development. Within 5 days prior to anthesis, the floral-bud TNC increased dramatically, tripling at the time of floral anthesis compared with 15-day-old floral buds. Square age and fruiting position significantly affected non-structural carbohydrate concentrations of subtending leaves, bracts, and floral buds. The correlation did not exist between final boll retention and non-structural carbohydrate concentrations of floral buds at different fruiting positions under normal growth conditions. The pattern of floral-bud non-structural carbohydrates during square ontogeny suggests that major events in carbohydrate metabolism occur just prior to anthesis.     

Purification and characterization of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from borccoli floral buds.

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) was purified from Brassica oleracea var. italica floral buds to a specific activity of approximately 6 μmol of NADH formed/min/ mg of protein. The PDC had cofactor requirements for NAD⁺, thiamine pyrophosphate, coenzyme A, and a divalent cation (Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, or Mn²⁺). The enzyme catalyzed the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate at a rate threefold faster than 2-oxobutyrate but was inactive toward 2-oxoglutarate. The PDC was competively inhibited by acetyl-CoA against CoA and NADH against NAD⁺. The enzyme was shown to be more sensitive to regulation by NADH than acetyl-CoA.     

Interaction between fatty-acid and starch synthesis in isolated amyloplasts from cauliflower floral buds

The interaction of fatty-acid synthesis with starch synthesis has been studied in intact amyloplasts isolated from floral buds of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.). These amyloplasts perform acetate-dependent fatty acid synthesis at maximum rates only at high external ATP concentrations. Neither pyruvate nor malate inhibit acetate-dependent fatty-acid synthesis. In contrast, acetate is inhibitory to the low pyruvate-dependent fatty acid synthesis. These observations indicate that neither pyruvate nor malate are used as natural precursors of fatty-acid synthesis. In contrast to fatty-acid synthesis, the rate of glucose-6-phosphate-dependent starch synthesis is already saturated in the presence of much lower ATP concentrations. Rising rates of starch synthesis influence negatively the process of acetate-dependent fatty acid synthesis. This inhibition appears to occur under both limiting and saturating concentrations of external ATP, indicating that the rate of ATP uptake is limiting when both biochemical pathways are active. The rate of starch synthesis is modulated specifically by the concentration of 3-phosphoglycerate in the incubation medium. This observation leads to the conclusion that the activity of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase is of primary importance for the control of both, starch and fatty-acid synthesis. Using the modified approach of Kacser and Burns (1973; Symp. Soc. Exp. Biol.27, 65–104) we have quantified the contribution of the rate of starch synthesis to the control of the metabolic flux through fatty-acid synthesis.Abbreviations ADPGlc-PPase ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase - Glc6P glucose-6-phosphate - PGA 3-phosphoglyceric acid     

Effects of culture conditions on development in continuous light of floral buds in Lemna perpusilla 6746

Effects of temperature on the subsequent development in continuouslight of floral buds formed after a single short-day cycle inLemna perpusilla 6746, a short-day plant, were studied usingfronds selected in relation to the order of emergence. The floralbuds developed to stage 1 regardless of the temperature duringthe following CL. The rate of development, however, was slowerat lower temperature. The minimum number of days in CL neededfor the abortion of once formed floral buds increased with adecrease in temperature, accompanied by an increase in the frondplastochron. Furthermore, when the frond plastochron was alteredby manipulation of the environmental conditions, i.e., lightintensity or medium strength, the minimum number of days inCL required for the abortion of the floral buds also changed.These results suggest that the development pattern of floralbuds in this plant is highly correlated with the frond plastochron. (Received September 20, 1977; )     

In vitro culture of young floral buds of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum mill.)

Young floral buds of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), with sepal primordia only, were cultured successfully in a liquid medium containing Murashige and Skoog's salts, White's vitamins and glycine, 3% (w/v) sucrose and benzylaminopurine (BAP). In 5 weeks, 60–70% of the cultured buds showed normal flower development through to anthesis, and a full complement of floral organs was produced. In the anthers, microsporogenesis occured and microspores and pollen grains were formed. The gynoecium was differentiated into an ovary, style and a stigma, and the ovary contained many ovules, some of which had developing embryo sacs. The floral organs grown in vitro were, however, smaller in size than those produced in vivo. In the control medium, i.e. without BAP, the floral buds produced petal and stamen primordia only and they too showed limited growth. The data presented shows the importance of cytokinins in the initiation and development of organs in the excised floral buds.     

Phytochrome-mediated light regulation of nitrate reductase expression in squash cotyledons

In etiolated squash (Cucurbita maxima L.) cotyledons, nitrate-inducible NADH:nitrate reductase activity and protein were increased in darkness by red light pulses with red/far-red photoreversibility. Continuous far-red light also led to increased levels of nitrate reductase activity and protein. Poly(A)+RNA, which hybridizes to squash nitrate reductase cDNA, was also increased by light treatments. Thus, we found that after nitrate triggering, nitrate reductase expression appears to be regulated by light via phytochrome.     

Frost dehardening and rehardening of floral buds of deciduous azaleas are influenced by genotypic biogeography

Temperate-zone woody perennials may resist cold dehardening and reharden effectively after unseasonably warm winter conditions to avoid frost damage. Few controlled experiments have examined dehardening kinetics or the impact of dehardening on rehardening capacity after cold temperatures return. We used nine genotypes of deciduous azalea from eight known provenances to study the influence of biogeographical origin on floral bud dehardening and rehardening after controlled dehardening. Buds cold acclimated in the field were placed in warm conditions to stimulate dehardening. Visual assays were conducted periodically over 11 days of dehardening to evaluate survival of immature florets at subfreezing temperatures. A rehardening regime was applied to three genotypes after 1, 3, 5, and 8 days of dehardening. Dehydrin abundance after dehardening and rehardening was estimated for selected genotypes. Floral buds from warmer-climate azaleas Rhododendron canescens, Rhododendron prunifolium, and Rhododendron viscosum variety serrulatum exhibited lower mid-winter hardiness than did the colder-climate azaleas Rhododendron calendulaceum, Rhododendron canadense, Rhododendron prinophyllum, and Rhododendron viscosum variety montanum. The dehardening rates of the “low dehardening-resistant” R. canadense, R. canescens, and R. viscosum var. serrulatum were at least twice the rates of “high dehardening resistant” Rhododendron arborescens, Rhododendron atlanticum, R. calendulaceum, R. prinophyllum, R. prunifolium, and R. viscosum var. montanum throughout the time-course. Genotypes originating in colder and warmer climates did not always exhibit high and low dehardening-resistance, respectively. Dehardening was associated with declining levels of dehydrins in R. prinophyllum and the two R. viscosum varieties. All tested genotypes rehardened in response to cold even after 8 days of dehardening. The high-altitude variety of R. viscosum had substantially larger rehardening-capacity than the low-altitude variety. Rehardening was associated with increasing levels of dehydrins in both R. viscosum varieties. Mid-winter hardiness ≥26.0 °C, dehardening rates ≤1.0 °C day⁻¹, a capacity to reharden, and the ability to accumulate dehydrins could all be important winter survival strategies for genotypes originating in colder climates.