Comparative Studies on the Metabolic Function of Differentiated Xylem and Living Bark of Wintering Perennials

Metabolic function of differentiated xylem cells of winteringplants was compared with that of living bark. The differentiatedxylem cells generally contained the enzyme activity of the pentosephosphatase cycle, glycolytic pathway and organelles such asNADPH-linked glyoxylate reductase and NADH-linked hydroxypyruvatereductase. They also contained a NADPH-linked glutathione reductase.Thus, it was shown that the required metabolism of the differentiatedxylem cells continued to function in wintering perennials. In contrast, 12 out of 34 samples of the living bark containedvery low levels of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity,and another group of 8 samples exhibited low levels of dehydrogenaseactivity. The remaining 11 samples exhibited various but distinctlevels of enzyme activities. With the exception of Ginkgo biloba L., both the xylem and livingbark of wintering twigs contained almost the same levels ofATP, and both tissues exhibited enzyme activities in sucrosesyntheses. The occurrence of NADPH-linked glyoxylate reductasein xylem tissue indicated that the plastids function in thedifferentiated xylem cells throughout the year. The general occurrence of substantial levels of enzyme activityand ATP in the differentiated xylem cells indicated that thexylem tissues as well as the living bark basically support thestem function in wintering stage of perennials until the timeof the following onset of cambial differentiation. ¹ Contribution No. 2162 from the Institute of Low TemperatureScience, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. (Received August 2, 1982; Accepted September 20, 1982)     

BIOTIN LIBERATION BY THE LICHEN ALGA COCCOMYXA SP. AND BY CHLORELLA PYRENOIDOSA

The unicellular green alga Coccomyxa, a component of the lichenPeltigera aphthosa, liberated about 7.2mµg biotin permg dry weight of cells into the culture medium during a growthperiod of 15–20 days. The corresponding figure for thefree-living alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa was 0.45mµg ofbiotin. Chromatographic analysis indicated that this was freebiotin and not a bound form of the vitamin. The biotin concentrationof rinsed Coccomyxa cells was 1.88mµg per mg dry weightof cells, of which less than 0.01mµg was extractable byhot water. Cells of Chlorella contained 0.16mµg of biotinper mg dry weight, of which 0.11mµg was extractable byhot water. The biotin content of Coccomyxa, which was about12 times that of Chlorella, is thus almost entirely in the boundform. The importance of biotin in the symbiotic interactionsbetween the alga and the fungus in Peltigera is discussed. ¹Present address: University Department of Agriculture, Oxford,England. ²Present address: Institute of Marine Resources, Universityof California, La Jolla, California, U.S.A.     

The Distribution of Nitrate Assimilation Between Root and Shoot in Vicia faba L.

Nitrate assimilation was examined in two cultivars (Banner Winterand Herz Freya) of Vicia faba L. supplied with a range of nitrateconcentrations. The distribution between root and shoot wasassessed. The cultivars showed responses to increased applied nitrateconcentration. Total plant dry weight and carbon content remainedconstant while shoot: root dry weight ratio, total plant nitrogen,total plant leaf area and specific leaf area (SLA) all increased.The proportion of total plant nitrate and nitrate reductase(NR) activity found in the shoot of both cultivars increasedwith applied nitrate concentrations as did NO₃^–: Kjeldahl-Nratios of xylem sap. The cultivars differed in that a greaterproportion of total plant NR activity occurred in the shootof cv. Herz Freya at all applied nitrate concentrations, andits xylem sap NO₃^–: Kjeldahl-N ratio and SLA were consistentlygreater. It is concluded that the distribution of nitrate assimilationbetween root and shoot of V. faba varies both with cultivarand with external nitrate concentration. Vicia faba L., field bean, nitrate assimilation, nitrate reductase, xylem sap analysis     

The Composition of Phloem Exudate and Xylem Sap from Tree Tobacco (Nicotiana glauca Grah.)

The composition of xylem sap and exudate from stem incisionsof Nicotiana glauca Grah. was compared in detail. Exudationfrom stem incisions occurred over a 5 min period in certainplants, enabling collection of 5–30 µl of sap. Therate of exudation showed an exponential decline. Exudate hada high dry matter content (170–196 mg ml^–1) andhigh sugar (sucrose) levels. Xylem sap had a low pH (5.8) andexudate a pH of 7.9. Glutamine dominated the amino compoundsin xylem sap and exudate, and K⁺ was the major cation. Totalamino compounds in stem exudate reached 10.8 mg ml^–1 whereasxylem sap contained much lower levels (0.28 mg ml^–1).All mineral elements and amino compounds with the exceptionof calcium were more concentrated in stem exudate than in xylemsap. Sucrose was labelled heavily in stem exudate following pulsingof an adjacent leaf with ¹⁴CO₂. A concentration gradient ofsugar (2.1 bar m^–1) was recorded for stems. Levels ofsucrose, amino compounds and K⁺ ions in stem exudate showeda diurnal periodicity. Each commodity reached maximum concentrationat or near noon and minimum concentration about dawn. The evidencesuggests that exudate from stem incisions of N. glauca is arepresentative sample of solutes translocated in the phloem. Nicotiana glauca Grah., phloem sap, xylem sap, sucrose, amino compounds, mineral ions     

DISTRIBUTION AND PRODUCTION OF THREE HYDROBIA SPECIES (GASTROPODA: HYDROBIIDAE) IN A SHALLOW COASTAL LAGOON IN THE BAY OF CADIZ, SPAIN

The abundance, life span, growth and production of the mud snailsHydrobia minoricensis, H. ulvae and H. ventrosa in a semi-naturallagoon system were studied by taking monthly samples at threesites during 1991 and 1992. The most abundant species, H. minoricensisoccurred at mean densities of 12834 to 26264 snails m^–2(10.7 to 25.8g dry weigh m^–2), depending on the site.The least abundant species, H. ulvae, occurred at mean densitiesof 185 to 353 snails m^–2 (3.2 to 2.2g dry weight m^–2).The numerical abundance and biomass of the three Hydrobia specieswere positively related to the biomass of benthic macroalgae(P<0.01). Although H. ulvae egg capsules were recorded throughoutthe year, newly hatched snailsof this species were not observed,in contrast to the other two species. The early spring and summercohorts of H. minoricensis and H. ventrosa seemed to be themost numerous. The average life spans of these two species wereestimated to be about 18 and 13 months respectively. Annualproduction estimates for the whole lagoon system were 29.0 (6.3),5.5 (0.8) and 5.2 (1.0)g dry weight (ash-free dry weight) m^–2yr^–1 for H. minoricensis, H. ulvae and H. ventrosa respectively.The annual P/B ratio was about 2 for H. minoricensis and H.ventrosa. (Received 5 July 1994; accepted 5 October 1994)     

Studies in Sieve-tube Exudation through Aphid Mouth-parts II. The Effects of Pressure Gradients in the Wood and Metabolic Inhibitors

Exudation was studied from the mouth-parts of the willow aphidTuberolachnus salignus (Gmelin) inserted in the phloem of isolated15 -cm. stem segments of Salix viminalis. By supplying waterunder pressure to the cut surface of the wood at one end ofa segment and allowing it to run freely from the other, a pressuregradient could be set up in the xylem. By closing the free end,the pressure in the xylem could be raised uniformly. This lasttreatment caused the rate of exudation to increase. This effectof pressure could be balanced by an equivalent osmoticum introducedinto the xylem. The increase was therefore due to the DPD inthe xylem rather than any intrinsic effect of pressure. The effect of a pressure gradient (4 atm. applied) dependedon the position of the mouth-parts in relation to the gradient.If they were near the low-pressure end, exudation from themincreased. If they were near the high-pressure end, exudationdecreased. In neither case was the total carbohydrate or totalnitrogen concentration of the exudate changed. When longer segments were used (e.g. 41 cm.) the effect of asimilar pressure (4 atm.) was greater than with 15-cm. segmentsalthough the point of application of the pressure was more remotefrom the mouth-parts. When the wood at the midpoint of a segmentwas severed leaving a narrow bridge of bark joining the twohalves, raising the pressure in the xylem of one half led toan increased exudation from mouth-parts situated in the otherhalf. Thus the effect of pressure was transmitted along thephloem since there was no rise in xylem pressure in the halfsegment bearing the mouth-parts. 10^-4 M. dinitrophenol applied to a bark abrasion a few centimetresaway from mouth-parts, reduced exudation. Applied to the cambialsurface, exudation was reduced by 0.1 per cent, phloridzin andstopped completely by 10^-4 M. dinitrophenol and 10^-6 M. potassiumcyanide. Inhibitors had no effect on the concentration of theexudate. No simple interpretation of the effects of pressure gradientsis possible, but it is suggested they give qualified supportto the Munch hypothesis.     

Xylem Cavitation in Nodes and Internodes of Whole Chorisia insignis H.B. et K. Plants Subjected to Water Stress: Relations Between Xylem Conduit Size and Cavitation

Measurements of cavitation occurring in xylem conduits of differentstem parts in whole Chorisia insignis H.B. et. K. plants subjectedto water stress are reported. Pre-stressed plants were shownto undergo cavitation over 10 times greater than watered ones.The most vulnerable parts of plants were one-year-old twigswhere cavitation reached a peak of over 50 acoustic emissions(AE) min^–1 while in two-year-old twigs AE min^–1were about one half this value. Stem zones were found wherecavitation was typically very low even during water stress:these were one-year-old nodes and junctions where branches meet.Measurements of the inside diameters of xylem conduits and distributionof conduit ends in stem parts where AE were detected, showedthat nodes have a significantly larger percentage of narrowxylem conduits than internodes. Similar ‘constricted zones’were found injunctions with respect to two-year-old twigs. Hereabout 50 per cent of the xylem conduits were as narrow as 20to 50 µm in diameter. The distribution of xylem conduitends show about 3 per cent of them ending in the nodes and 1per cent in the internodes of one-year-old twigs. About 11.6per cent of xylem conduits end in the junctions and about ahalf in two-year-old internodes. Our data would give furtherexperimental evidence to the functional concept of ‘plantsegmentation’ into zones (internodes) more efficient inwater conduction, i.e. with wider xylem conduits but more vulnerableto cavitation and others (nodes and junctions) with oppositecharacteristics. Chorisia insignis, acoustic emissions, water stress, nodes, internodes, xylem conduit size, vessel ends     

Haustorium-related Uptake and Metabolism of Host Xylem Solutes by the Root Hemiparasitic ShrubSantalum acuminatum(R. Br.) A. DC. (Santalaceae)

Solute composition of root xylem sap of common native hostsof quandong (Santalum acuminatum) was compared with that ofcorresponding xylem sap and ethanolic extracts of endophytictissues of haustoria of the hemiparasite. Each host transporteda characteristic set of organic nitrogenous solutes, but littleor no nitrate, and the data indicated only limited direct flowof amino compounds between xylem streams of hosts and parasite.Proline predominated in the haustorium and xylem ofSantalum,but was at negligible levels in the xylem of most hosts. Sucrose,fructose, glucose, malate and citrate were at high levels inall saps, and fructose especially prominent inSantalum. Chloride,sulphate and phosphate were the principal inorganic anions ofthe xylem. Based on C:N ratios of xylem and dry matter ofSantalumandassuming a 70% or more dependence on the host for N, it wasestimated thatSantalumwould gain approximately one third ofits C requirement for dry matter production heterotrophicallyfrom the xylem of its hosts. Infiltration of xylem of haustoria-bearingroot segments of a major host (Acacia rostellifera) with a rangeof¹⁵N labelled substrates resulted in 40–80% of the¹⁵Nof endophytes of the attached haustoria being received as proline.Nitrate reductase activity was induced in haustoria followinghost xylem feeding of nitrate. The study concludes that haustoriaofSantalumact as a major site of synthesis and export of prolineand might therefore play an important role in osmotic adjustmentof the parasite and its related acquisition of water from hosts. Root hemiparasite; Santalum acuminatum; ¹⁵N labelled substrates; xylem transport; proline; osmoregulation     

Coordinate and Noncoordinate Changes in Enzyme Activities in Pentose Phosphate Cycle in Poplar: A Control of Enzyme Activities in Differentiated Xylem

Activities of glucose 6-phosphate and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenases,transketolase and transaldolase in twigs of Populus gelricawere measured throughout a year. In the living bark, activitiesof the four enzymes of the pentose phosphate cycle changed atabout the same time in the life cycle of the plant. In the differentiatingxylem cells there also occurred a simultaneous change in thefour enzyme activities. After differentiation of cambium toxylem, the high levels of the four enzyme activities fell graduallyand reached minimum levels by early September. In early September,the former two dehydrogenase activities began to rise again,while the latter two transferase activities continued to decrease.The elevated levels of the two dehydrogenases in the differentiatedxylem remained unchanged in the non-growing period of the lifecycle of the plant. Such a changing pattern of enzyme activitiesin the life cycle suggested that the pentose phosphate cyclein the differentiated xylem is interrupted in part at the stepof transketolase reaction, which results in an increased supplyof pentoses and NADPH. Moreover, these characteristic changesin the enzyme activities in the xylem are correlated with thechanges in the fine structures of the cells. ¹ Contribution No. 2272 from the Institute of Low TemperatureScience, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan (Received June 26, 1981; Accepted September 28, 1981)     

Distribution of Nitrogen during Growth of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The accumulation, distribution and redistribution of dry matterand nitrogen is described for Helianthus annuus L. cv. Hysun21 grown on 6 mM urea in glasshouse culture. Seed dry matterand nitrogen were transferred to seedlings with net efficienciesof 40 and 86 per cent respectively. At flowering, the stem hadmost of the plant's dry matter and the leaves most of its nitrogen.About 35 per cent of the plant's nitrogen accumulated afterthree-row anthesis. The amount of protein in vegetative parts,especially leaves, declined after flowering. Concentrationsof free amino compounds also decreased during growth. Matureseeds had 38 per cent of the total plant dry weight and 68 percent of the total nitrogen. Seeds acquired 33 per cent of theirdry matter and nitrogen from redistribution from above-groundplant parts. The stem was most important for storage of carbohydrate,leaves the most important for nitrogen. Over 50 per cent ofthe nitrogen in the stem and leaves was redistributed. Plantsthat received 6 mM nitrate accumulated more dry matter thanurea-grown plants. Seeds from nitrate-grown plants were heavier(58 mg) than those of urea-grown plants (46 mg), and their percentageoil was greater (50 and 41 respectively). The amount of nitrogenper seed was the same. Little or no urea was detected in xylem sap of plants suppliedwith 5 mM urea, but it was detected in sap of plants which received25 mM. Concentrations of urea and amino compounds in the sapdecreased up the stem. Plants supplied with nitrate had mostof the nitrogen in xylem sap as NO₂^–, suggesting littlenitrate reduction in roots. Plants grown on 6 mM nitrate andchanged to high levels of urea-nitrogen for 14 days still hadhigh levels of nitrate; little nitrate remained in plants receivinglow levels of urea. When urea is applied in irrigation waterto field-grown sunflower, the nitrogen is subsequently takenup as nitrate due to rapid nitrogen transformations in the soil. Helianthus annuus L., sunflower, urea, nitrate, nitrogen transport, xylem sap, nitrogen accumulation nitrogen distribution     

Respiration-Dependent Membrane Hyperpolarization in Tonoplast-Free Cells of Nitella axilliformis

Cells of Nitella axilliformis were made tonoplast-free by intracellularperfusion of media containing ethyleneglycol-bis-(ß-aminoethylether)N,N'-tetraaceticacid (EGTA). When the perfusion medium contained ADP as wellas ATP, the membrane hyperpolarized in darkness in a mannersimilar to light-induced hyperpolarization. This light-independenthyperpolarization seems to be due to activation of the electrogenicion pump in the plasma membrane because the hyperpolarized valueof the membrane potential was more negative than the equilibriumpotential for K^$, the most negative ion equilibrium potentialin Nitella. The hyperpolarization was inhibited by the respiratory chaininhibitors NaCN (1 mM), antimycin A (10 µM) and rotenone(10 µM). NaCN slightly decreased the ATP concentrationin the cell perfused with medium containing 1 mM ATP and 1 mMADP; but, even after treatment with NaCN, the cell had about80% of the ATP value for the control. ^* This study is dedicated to the late Professor J. Ashida. (Received June 24, 1982; Accepted October 15, 1982)     

Estimating the Proportion of Degradable Dry Weight of Kikuyu from Rates of Lamina Senescence

The proportion of degradable dry weight in lamina of kikuyu,was estimated from an analysis of the rate of lamina senescencein dense swards when senescence was initiated by shading. Itwas assumed that laminae in the dark remained green until allenergy reserves, including degradable structural dry weight,were exhausted and then laminae died. The specific maintenancerespiration rate defined the rate of energy use. The estimatedproportion of degradable dry weight increased from 0.10 at 15°C to 0.18 at 30 °C, with corresponding specific maintenancerespiration rates of 10.9 and 37.0 mg d. wt (g d. wt)^–1d^–1 respectively. Similar results were obtained when maintenancerespiration was expressed per unit weight of protein. Degradable dry weight, senescence, respiration, kikuyu, temperature, Pennisetum     

Seed Water Relations and the Regulation of the Duration of Seed Growth in Soybean

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] seeds and cotyledons weregrown in an in vitro culture system to investigate the relationshipsbetween cell expansion (net water uptake by the seed) and drymatter accumulation. Seeds or cotyledons grown in a completenutrient medium containing 200 mol m^–3 sucrose continueddry matter accumulation for up to 16 d after in planta seedsreached physiological maturity (maximum seed dry weight). Seedor cotyledon water content increased throughout the cultureperiod and the water concentration remained above 600 g kg^–1fresh weight. These data indicate that the cessation of seeddry matter accumulation is controlled by the physiological environmentof the seed and is not a pre-determined seed characteristic.Adding 600 mol m^–3 mannitol to the medium caused a decreasein seed water content and concentration. Seeds in this mediumstopped accumulating dry matter at a water concentration ofapproximately 550 g kg^–1. The data suggest that dry matteraccumulation by soybean seeds can continue only as long as thereis a net uptake of water to drive cell expansion. In the absenceof a net water uptake, continued dry matter accumulation causesdesiccation which triggers maturation. Key words: Glycine max (L.) Merrill, solution culture, duration of seed growth, water content, dry matter accumulation     

Light-induced ATP Formation from Acetyl Phosphate and ADP by Broken Spinach Chloroplasts

Spinach chloroplasts catalyzed ATP formation from acetyl phosphateand ADP when exposed to light. No ATP formation was detectablein the dark. In the absence of ADP, chloroplasts did not hydrolyzeacetyl phosphate in the light or dark. Neither high-energy phosphatessuch as creatine phosphate and phosphoenol pyruvate nor inhibitorsof photophosphorylation competitive with P_i, such as ß-naphthylmonophosphate, phenyl phosphate and pyridoxal 5-phosphate, couldsubstitute for acetyl phosphate as a P_i donor. The apparentK_m values for acetyl phosphate and P_i were 0.81 mM and 0.25mM, respectively. The maximal rate of ATP formation with acetylphosphate and P_i were 331 and 521 µmol ATP formed mg chl^–1hr^–1, respectively. The optimum pH value for acetyl phosphate-dependentATP formation was about 8.0. NH₄Cl, dicyclohexylcarbodiimideand triphenyltin chloride inhibited the acetyl phosphate-dependentATP formation. Acid-base transition also could induce subsequentATP formation from acetyl phosphate and ADP. These results suggestthat the acetyl phosphate-dependent ATP formation requires theformation and the utilization of a proton-motive force as ordinaryphotophosphorylation does. ¹ This work was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid for ScientificResearch from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture,Japan to H. S. Part of this work was reported at the 1981 AnnualMeeting of the Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists (Sapporo,May 8, 1981). (Received August 25, 1981; Accepted November 1, 1981)     

The Growth and Development of Simulated Swards of Perennial Ryegrass: I. Leaf Growth and Dry Weight Change as Related to the Ceiling Yield of a Seedling Sward

The leaf growth, tiller production, light interception, anddry weight increase of a simulated sward of S24 perennial ryegrass(Lolium perenne) were followed during the development of thesward from a collection of two-leaved seedlings to a closedcanopy with an LAI of 23, of which 15 consisted of green leaflaminae. The dry weight of live shoots increased exponentiallyat first, but then entered a long linear phase of increase.This was equivalent to a crop growth rate of 200 Kg ha^–1day^–1 and a conversion efficiency of radiant energy (400–700nm) of 7.2 per cent. Towards the end of the growth period therate of increase of live shoots declined rapidly to zero anda ceiling yield was reached equivalent to 10 metric tons ha^–1.Leaf growth continued at a high rate, but was equalled by therate of leaf death, so that the weight of live leaf tissue remainedconstant. By this time the swards had achieved a stable tillerpopulation (about 1 cm^–1), each tiller bore a constantnumber of live leaves (about three), and the length of eachnewly expanded leaf equalled the length of the old leaf it replaced(about 70 cm). The swards were grown in Perlite so that in theabsence of soil fauna dead leaves accumulated at the base ofthe sward where, after 12 weeks, they accounted for 19 per centof the total weight of dry matter produced.     

Xylem fluxes of fixed N through nodules of the legume Acacia littorea and haustoria of an associated N-dependent root hemiparasite Olax phyllanthi

Nodulated 1-1.5-year-old plants of Acacia littorea grown inminus nitrogen culture were each partnered with a single seedlingof the root hemiparasite Olax phyllanthi. Partitioning of fixedN between plant organs of the host and parasite was studiedfor the period 4–8 months after introducing the parasite.N fluxes through nodules of Acacia and xylem-tapping haustoriaof Olax were compared using measured xylem flows of fixed Nand anatomical information for the two organs. N₂ fixation duringthe study interval (635 µg N g FW nodules^–1 d^–1)corresponded to a xylem loading flux of 0.20 µg N mm^–2d^–1 across the secretory membranes of the pencycle parenchymaof the nodule vascular strands. A much higher flux of N (4891µg mm^–2 d^–1) exited through xylem at the junctionof nodule and root. The corresponding flux of N from host xylemacross absorptive membranes of the endophyte parenchyma of Olaxhaustorium was 1.15 µg N mm^–1 d^–1, six timesthe loading flux in nodules. The exit flux from haustorium toparasite rootlet was 20.0 pg N mm^–1 d^–1, 200-foldless than that passing through xylem elements of the nodule.Fluxes of individual amino compounds in xylem of nodule andhaustorium were assessed on a molar and N basis. N flux valuesare related to data for transpiration and partitioning of Cand N of the association recorded in a companion paper. Key words: Olax phyllanthi, host-parasite relationships, N flux, Acacia, N₂ fixation     

The Effects of Light Intensity and External Potassium Level on Root/Shoot Ratio and Rates of Potassium Uptake in Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Loliun perenne L. (cv.S. 23) was grown on vermiculite in winterin a heated greenhouse for 8 weeks under factorial combinationsof two potassium regimes (nominally 6 parts/10⁶ and 156 parts/10⁶in Hewitt's solution) and three densities of artificially supplementedvisible radiation flux (36.1, 7.3, and 2.2 W m^–2). Growthand potassium uptake were studied through the calculation ofvarious growth functions from fitted curves. There was little effect of potassium treatment but the experimentalmaterial responded markedly to light. Leaf-area ratio in thethree treatments showed extreme plasticity in increasing from2–3 x 10^–2 through 6 x 10^–2 to 8–9 x10^–2 m² g^–1 as light intensity decreased. Correspondingdecreases in unit leaf rate, however, caused over-all reductionsin relative growth rate. Specific absorption rates for potassium (A_K, dry-weight basis)were strongly reduced at the lower light intensities but alsodisplayed complex ontogenetic drifts. Values of the allometricconstant, k (the ratio of root and shoot relative growth rates),decreased from c. 0.7 at 36.1 W m^–2 through c. 0.3 at7.3 W m^–2 to a value not significantly different fromzero (P < 0.05) at 2.2 W m^–2. In material grown under the two higher light intensities a constantinverse relationship was found between the mass ratio of rootand shoot and the corresponding activity ratio. The resultsconform to this model: Mass ratio = –0.001+45.0 (1/activityratio) where activity ratio is expressed as specific absorptionrate for potassium (in µg g root^–1 h^–1)/unitshoot rate (rate of increase of whole-plant dry weight per unitshoot dry weight, in mg g shoot^–1 h^–1). The implicationsof this relationship are discussed.     

Sink Activity Estimation by Sink Size and Dry Matter Increase During the Ripening Stage of Barley (Hordeum vu/gare) and Rice (Oryza sativa)

During the ripening stage of barley and rice, the sink activitywas defined as the dry matter increase per units sink size,leaf area and time, as follows: NAR = A.SinkW+NAR', where NAR is the net assimilation rate (g d.wt dm^–2d^–1);A is the sink activity [g d.wt g^–1d.wt (ear) dm^–2d^–1]; Sink W is ear wt per plant at heading (g d.wt);and NAR' is net assimilation rate excluding the assimilate ofsink organ (g d.wt dm^–2 d^–1). Plant material with 16 combinations of mutually different sink(ear) and source (leaf) size were produced at heading for eachcrop: parts of each leaf and ear were removed to produce fourgrades in barley, and also a part of each leaf was removed producingfour grades for four rice varieties showing different ear size.NAR and NAR' were determined during 26 and 21 d in barley andrice after heading, respectively. Sink activity (A), representedas the assimilation rate induced by the sink organ, was estimatedfrom the relationship between SinkW and NAR using the previousequation. The sink activity was significantly higher in ricewith a value of 0–0.028 g d.wt g^–1 d.wt (ear) dm^–2d^–1 vs. 0–0.0017 in barley, suggesting that therelative role of leaves for grain filling is considerably higherin rice than in barley. The sink activity obtained in the studymight be introduced into a model to predict the yields of barleyand rice. Hordeum vulgare L, barley, Oryza saliva L, rice, dry matter, NAR, sink, source, sink activity, model     

Ion Exchange in Sphagnum and its Relation to Bog Ecology

In Sphagnum cuspidatum unesterified polyuronic acids form 12per cent. of the dry weight; in S. acutifolium 25 per cent,of the dry weight. A good correlation has been found for Sphagnabetween the content of unesterified polyuronic acid and thecation exchange ability, and between cation exchange abilityand height of normal habitat above the water table. Anion exchangeability in Sphagna is less than 0.0026 m.eq./g. D.W. comparedwith about 1.2 m.eq./g. D.W. for cations at pH values above7. In natural conditions the exchange sites are, however, onlypartly dissociated. The production of new plant material ina bog dependent on rainwater for nutrients can be sufficientto maintain the pH below 4.5, but on average in England onlyof the order of 2 per cent, of the monovalent cations otherthan H⁺ could be retained in exchangeable form. A greater proportionof polyvalent cations could be retained. The kinetics of cation exchange are consistent with a heterogeneousexchange phase containing regions of high charge density andregions with lower charge density. At equilibrium the proportionsof different cations in the exchange phase are largely explicableby a Donnan distribution, but there are notable exceptions.Two estimates based on Donnan distribution suggest that withlow external pH and/or low cation concentration the apparentconcentration of exchange sites may be 2-3 eq./l., falling withrise in pH and/or increase in cation concentration to 0-9-1-5 eq./l. The apparent dissociation coefficient also variesin these conditions from 2 x 10^–2 to 1 x 10^–4.     

A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF A CERASTODERMA -- NEPHTHYS COMMUNITY IN THE LIMFJORD, DENMARK, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO PRODUCTION OF CERASTODERMA EDULE

Cerastoderma edule is the dominant member of a non-random Cerastoderma—Nephthyscommunity, occupying a physically, homogeneous, submerged sandbankin the Limfjord, Denmark. C. edule is patchily distributed withinthis community, growth rates showing a clear density-dependence.Individual production is about 35%lower in high density patchesthan outside them; at low density annual individual flesh dryweight increment is 295 mg. Seasonal variation in water, ash,lipid, protein and glycogen contents is studied, and a sizedependent(= density-dependent) relationship is shown to exist for someparameters. Population production, estimated by a new graphicalmethod, and taking into account gametic and shell protein production,attains 150 g dry flesh weight, m^–2.yr^–1 at meanpopulation density rising to 250 g dry flesh weight. m^–2.yr^–1in the high density patches. ¹Present address: Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Abt.Zellbiochemie, Universitat Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, 2000Hamburg 20 (Received 10 March 1980;