Evolution of leaf form correlates with tropical-temperate transitions in Viburnum (Adoxaceae)

Strong latitudinal patterns in leaf form are well documented in floristic comparisons and palaeobotanical studies. However, there is little agreement about their functional significance; in fact, it is still unknown to what degree these patterns were generated by repeated evolutionary adaptation. We analysed leaf form in the woody angiosperm clade Viburnum (Adoxaceae) and document evolutionarily correlated shifts in leafing habit, leaf margin morphology, leaf shape and climate. Multiple independent shifts between tropical and temperate forest habitats have repeatedly been accompanied by a change between evergreen, elliptical leaves with entire margins and deciduous, more rounded leaves with toothed or lobed margins. These consistent shifts in Viburnum support repeated evolutionary adaptation as a major determinant of the global correlation between leaf form and mean annual temperature. Our results provide a new theoretical grounding for the inference of past climates using fossil leaf assemblages.     

麻风树叶枯病菌的鉴定

作者于2009年在贵州麻风树栽培基地栽培的麻风树上发现一种叶部新病害,定名为麻风树叶枯病。该病主要危害植株叶片,叶片受害后初期产生椭圆形或不规则病斑,后期病斑连成片,常引起叶片过早脱落。从贵州罗甸麻风树栽培基地采集了16个叶枯病标样,经分离培养获得13个真菌分离物。通过致病性测定,证明菌株PE06为麻风树叶枯病的病原菌。通过形态学观察及其rDNA-ITS序列分析,将贵州麻风树叶枯病的病原菌鉴定为小孢拟盘多毛孢菌Pestalotiopsis microspora,这也是首次在麻风树叶片上发现由该病菌引起的病害。     

Morphological and anatomical evaluation of adult and juvenile leaves of olive plants

The olive tree (Olea europaea L.), like many other woody plants, has a long juvenile period in which the plant is not able to produce flowers. Knowledge of the moment when the plant is capable of flowering is important for breeding programs and also for determining the physiological basis for sexual reproductive behavior, but currently the only indicator of that moment is the actual flowering. In many species, the juvenile-to-adult phase shift includes changes in leaf structure known as heteroblasty, that is, varied form of successive leaves on the same plant. Some differences have been observed between juvenile and adult olive leaves, particularly in size and form, but to our knowledge, no complete systematic study has been carried out. In this research, we measured size, morphology and anatomy for juvenile and adult leaves of olive plants grown from seeds. Differences were found in most of the parameters studied, including leaf size, form, mesophyll thickness, layers of palisade parenchyma and quantity of peltate trichomes, which were generally significant but overlapping between the two leaf types. The most consistent and striking difference was the presence of an organized layer of subepidermal cells only in the abaxial mesophyll of adult leaves. This characteristic could be a simple and effective criterion of phase change in the olive tree.     

Fluted pumpkin,Telfairia occidentalis: West African vegetable crop

Fluted pumpkin, Telfairia occidentalis, is native to West Africa but occurs mostly in its cultivated form in various parts of southern Nigeria.It is widely cultivated for its palatable and nutritious leaves which are used mainly as vegetable. The seeds are also nutritious and rich in an oil which may be used for cooking and soap manufacture. Its taxonomy, morphology and potential uses are discussed in relation to its economic importance as a tropical crop.     

不结球白菜表皮蜡质高温胁迫生理响应

为了明晰高温胁迫下表皮蜡质在不结球白菜生理响应中的保护作用,该研究以不结球白菜有蜡(Q28)和无蜡(Q1202)品种为试验材料,设置高温胁迫组(昼/夜温度为37℃/30℃)和对照组(昼/夜温度为25℃/18℃)处理,观察不同材料叶片表皮细胞形态,比较分析高温胁迫处理下不同时期生理和光合指标变化的差异.结果 表明:(1)...     

A gene fusion at a homeobox locus: alterations in leaf shape and implications for morphological evolution.

Compound leaves are seen in many angiosperm genera and are thought to be either fundamentally different from simple leaves or elaborations of simple leaves. The knotted1-like homeobox (knox) genes are known to regulate plant development. When overexpressed in homologous or heterologous species, this family of genes can cause changes in leaf morphology, including excessive leaf compounding in tomato. We describe here an instance of a spontaneously arisen fusion between a gene encoding a metabolic enzyme and a homeodomain protein. We show that the fusion results in overexpression of the homeodomain protein and a change in morphology that approximates the changes caused by overexpression of the same gene under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter in transgenic plants. Exon-shuffling events can account for the modularity of proteins. If the shuffled exons are associated with altered promoters, changes in gene expression patterns can result. Our results show that gene fusions of this nature can cause changes in expression patterns that lead to altered morphology. We suggest that such phenomena may have played a role in the evolution of form.     

The Carbon Isotope Ratios and Centents of Mineral Elements in Leaves of Chinese Medi cinal Plants

Leaf carbon isotope ratios and 13 kinds of mineral elements were measured on 36 species of common Chinese medicinal plants in a subtropical monsoon forest of Ding Hu Shan in Guangdong Province. The δ13C value were from –26.4 to –32.6%, indicating that all of the species belonged the photosynthetic C3 types. The relative lower value of δ13C was observed in the life form of shrubs. The contents of 7 elements (N, P, K, Ca, Na Mg, Si) were dependent upon the species, life form, medicinal function and medicinal part. Herb type medicine and the used medicinal part of leaves or whole plant showed higher levels of above elements than the others. Among the nine groups with different medicinal functions, it was found that more nitrogen was in the leaves of medicinal plants for hemophthisis, hypertension and stomachic troubles, more phosphorus and potassium were in the leaves for cancer and snake bite medicines, but more calcium and magnesium were in the leaves for curing rheumatics. Ferric, aluminium and manganese were the main composition of microelements in leaves. There were higher content of ferric in leaves for hemophthisis medicine, higher zinc in leaves for cold and hypertension medicine, and higer cuprum in leaves of stomachic medicine. It was suggested that the pattern of mineral elements in leaves of Chinese medicinal plants reflected the different properties of absorption and accumulation. Some additional effect due to the high content of certain element might be associated with the main function of that medicine.     

The flora of the early Miocene Brandon Lignite, Vermont, USA. VIII. Caldesia (Alismataceae)

Caldesia, a genus of aquatic monocotyledons, is represented by four living species, which are widely distributed in the temperate and tropical Old World. The genus has an extensive Oligocene through Pleistocene fossil record in Eurasia. We survey the morphology of the extant and fossil fruits of the Alismataceae, and provide a detailed review of the morphology and anatomy of living and fossil Caldesia fruits. The latter exhibit substantial similarity, making the recognition of separate species on the basis of fruit morphology difficult. We erect the new species Caldesia brandoniana from the Early Miocene Brandon Lignite of Vermont primarily on the basis of its geographic isolation; careful revision of all fossil fruiting material of Caldesia might require placement of the Brandon specimens in a more inclusive form species. Together with leaves of Caldesia from the Miocene Clarkia flora of Idaho, this occurrence indicates that Caldesia was in the New World as recently as the Early Miocene.     

Herbivory and the evolution of divaricate plants: Structural defences lost on an offshore island

Many island plants are characterized by unique morphology. For example, the high branching angles and small leaves of divaricate plants are a common feature of the New Zealand flora. The divaricate growth form may be an adaptation to deter browsing by extinct avian herbivores (moa); alternatively aspects of the insular climate may be responsible. However, our understanding of the selective pressures responsible for the high branching angles and small leaves of divaricate plants is incomplete. Here, I tested for differences in traits associated with the divaricate growth form between plants from Chatham Island and the New Zealand mainland. Moa never reached the Chatham Islands and its flora is derived from plants on mainland New Zealand. Therefore, I predicted Chatham Island plants to have lost morphological adaptations that may have deterred moa herbivory. Traits were quantified on 316 individuals in the field, allowing for 12 island‐mainland taxonomic comparisons. Chatham Island plants consistently produced smaller branching angles, larger leaves, shorter internodes and larger stems than related mainland plants. Results are therefore consistent with the hypothesis that selection for small leaves and high angled branching may be relaxed on the Chatham Islands due to an absence of moa. Smaller branching angles and larger leaves may offer a competitive advantage to Chatham Island plants.     

Leaves may function as temperature sensors in the heterophylly of Rorippa aquatica (Brassicaceae)

Many plants show heterophylly, which is variation in leaf form within a plant owing to environmental change. The molecular mechanisms underlying heterophylly have recently been investigated in several plant species. However, little is known about how plants exhibiting heterophylly sense environmental cues. Here, we used Rorippa aquatica (Brassicaceae), which shows heterophylly, to investigate whether a single leaf can sense and transit changes in ambient temperature. The morphology of newly developed leaves after single-leaf warming treatment was significantly different from that of mock-treated control leaves, suggesting that leaves are sensing organs that mediate the responses to changes in ambient temperature in R. aquatica.     

中国29种和泰国1种卷柏科植物的叶形态学研究及其分类学意义

利用光学显微镜和体视显微镜对卷柏科Selaginellaceae中国产29种和泰国产1种植物的叶形态进行了宏观和微观观察。结果表明卷柏科植物在叶形态学方面表现出较高的一致性。(1)叶多为二形, 罕为一形, 无叶柄, 叶二形者侧叶多大于中叶, 外展或斜上, 中叶贴生于腹面茎上, 交互覆瓦状排成4列, 叶一形者则在茎上作螺旋状排列。(2)侧叶与中叶上表皮细胞形态相似, 近等径方形或长方形, 垂周壁平直、弓形或波状; 侧叶与中叶下表皮细胞形态也相似, 长方形或长条形, 垂周壁波状。(3)气孔类型为无规则型或放射型, 气孔多分布于中叶上表皮和侧叶下表皮中脉处。研究发现, 叶外形、叶表皮细胞形态及气孔分布特征等为中国卷柏科植物种间分类提供了重要的参考依据。 研究的有关种类可以依据下面这些特征进行分类: (1)叶为一形叶或二形; (2)叶在枝上着生为螺旋状或成对交互排列; (3)叶表皮细胞垂周壁为平直、弓形、深波状或浅波状; (4)叶上、下表皮细胞同形或异形; (5)气孔为无规则型或放射型; 以及(6)气孔在中叶和侧叶的上、下表皮上的分布等特征。     

LEAF DIMORPHISM IN POPULUS TRICHOCARPA

Critchfield , William B. (Pacific SW Forest & Range Expt. Sta., Berkeley, Calif.) Leaf dimorphism in Populus trichocarpa. Amer. Jour. Bot. 47 (8) : 699–711. Illus. 1960.—In Populus trichocarpa and other species of Populus, each tree bears 2 kinds of leaves, referred to here as “early” and “late” leaves. Both leaf types are present on all long shoots. They differ in many features of external morphology, including petiole length, size and occurrence of marginal glands, venation, and stomatal distribution. This type of foliar dimorphism has its origins in a pronounced difference in leaf ontogeny. The early leaves originate in the developing bud and overwinter as embryonic leaves. The first late leaves are also present in the winter bud, but as arrested primordia, and succeeding late leaves are initiated at the tip of the growing shoot and develop uninterruptedly to maturity during the growing season. A similar correlation between leaf form and the circumstances of leaf ontogeny appears to be a common feature of many other instances of heterophylly. The expansion of the pre-formed early leaves is almost completed by late spring, when the first late leaves begin to grow rapidly. The formation of late leaves may then continue until late in the season. The rapid elongation of the stem does not begin until the first late leaves expand. Elongation is restricted to shoots producing late leaves. Consequently, the early leaves are confined to short shoots and the base of long shoots; adventitious shoots and the upper part of long shoots bear only late leaves. Certain other woody plants with long and short shoots also exhibit a restriction of elongation to those shoots on which a second set of leaves is produced.     

毛榛复合体（桦木科）多变量形态学研究及分类学处理

Corylus mandshurica Maxim. & Rupr. 和 C. sieboldiana Blume 在中国和俄罗斯一直被处理为独立的种。本文对来自不同标本室的这两个种的腊叶标本及野外采集的大量叶片进行了形态学分析,以确定形态分化是否足够成为建立种的依据。对采自中国、韩国和日本覆盖两个种分布区的153份标本的18个形态学性状进行了统计,以构建数据矩阵用于主成分分析。结果表明,包含C. sieboldiana 复合体的数据单位（entities）在所有的形态学性状上均呈现出广泛的重叠区域。叶片和果实性状分析结果表明类群间缺乏分异性。基于形态学性状不足以把 C. mandshurica 从C. sieboldiana 中分离出去,并给予种的等级,也就是说这两个类群在形态上没有完全分化,而且它们的分布区也是相连的。 因此,应该把C. mandshurica作为C. sieboldiana 的种下分类群处理。C. sieboldiana在韩国南部和日本的具短总苞的植物常常被处理为独立的种或变种,但实际上应该作为C. sieboldiana 内的变型处理,因为总苞性状高度变异,即使在同一个体上也是如此。     

Approaches to the identification of angiosperm leaf remains

During the past 125 years the history of early angiosperms, interpreted through the fossil leaf record has been largely an exercise in paleofloristic studies, ignoring evolution. Imprecise identifications of ancient leaves “matched” to extant genera and families have been used as the basis for reconstructions of paleocommunities and paleoclimates. However, as the result of careful morphological studies of leaf form, venation and cuticular features new insights into the evolution of angiosperms are now available. In this paper considerations are given to the usefulness and shortcomings of leaf form, venation and cuticular analysis as diagnostic tools of plant identification. Many techniques for the study of the morphology of modern and fossil leaves are included in this paper as well as tables outlining features of leaf venation and the epidermis. Careful morphological studies of leaf form (such as the venation and epidermal characters emphasized in this paper) will provide better understanding of the relationships of living angiosperms and transform the fossil leaf record into useful data that can be used to study the evolution of the angiosperms.     

A multivariate morphometric study on Corylus sieboldiana

Previous taxonomic treatments in Russia and China have considered Corylus mandshurica and C. sieboldiana to be distinct as independent species. A morphometric analysis was conducted to determine if the morphological differentiation from these taxa warrants specific taxonomic recognition with a large sample of field-collected leaves as well as specimens from several herbaria of northeastern Asia. One hundred and fifty two individuals representing Chinese, Korean, and Japanese geographic ranges of the species were scored for 18 morphological characters and the data matrix was used for principal components analysis. The entities that comprise C. sieboldiana complex exhibit widely overlapping ranges in all morphological attributes. The leaf and fruit data may reflect a lack of divergence between taxa. Therefore, we do not regard these to be sufficient for taxonomic splitting of C. mandshurica from C. sieboldiana to warrant the designation of the rank of a species based on morphology. The two taxa were not morphologically well differentiated and their ranges of distribution come together. Therefore, C. mandshurica should be recognized as an infraspecific taxon of C. sieboldiana. C. sieboldiana with short involucres in southern Korea and Japan is often treated as an independent species （C. hallaisanensis） or a variety (C. sieboldiana var. brevirostris), but should be only recognized as a form of C. sieboldiana because this involucral character is highly variable even within the same individual.     

Growth and regeneration of waxes on the leaves of Eucalyptus

Summary The relationships of wax morphology to wax chemistry and the effects of light intensity on wax development were investigated using rubbing techniques to produce nearly wax free cuticular surfaces. Wax regeneration took place rapidly on leaves which were in their exponential stage of expansion, but only slowly on those that had fully expanded. The pattern of wax development suggested that tube waxes originate as flat plates that fuse along one edge to form a hollow structure.     

Mitochondria Change Dynamics and Morphology during Grapevine Leaf Senescence

Leaf senescence is the last stage of development of an organ and is aimed to its ordered disassembly and nutrient reallocation. Whereas chlorophyll gradually degrades during senescence in leaves, mitochondria need to maintain active to sustain the energy demands of senescing cells. Here we analysed the motility and morphology of mitochondria in different stages of senescence in leaves of grapevine (Vitis vinifera), by stably expressing a GFP (green fluorescent protein) reporter targeted to these organelles. Results show that mitochondria were less dynamic and markedly changed morphology during senescence, passing from the elongated, branched structures found in mature leaves to enlarged and sparse organelles in senescent leaves. Progression of senescence in leaves was not synchronous, since changes in mitochondria from stomata were delayed. Mitochondrial morphology was also analysed in grapevine cell cultures. Mitochondria from cells at the end of their growth curve resembled those from senescing leaves, suggesting that cell cultures might represent a useful model system for senescence. Additionally, senescence-associated mitochondrial changes were observed in plants treated with high concentrations of cytokinins. Overall, morphology and dynamics of mitochondria might represent a reliable senescence marker for plant cells.     

MORPHOLOGY AND VASCULATURE OF THE LEAF OF POTATO (SOLANUM TUBEROSUM)

The leaf and stem of the potato plant (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Russet Burbank) were studied by light microscopy to determine their morphology and vasculature; scanning electron microscopy provided supplemental information on the leaf's morphology. The morphology of the basal leaves of the potato shoot is quite variable, ranging from simple to pinnately compound. The upper leaves of the shoot are more uniform, being odd pinnate with three major pairs of lateral leaflets and a number of folioles. The primary vascular system of the stem is comprised of six bundles, three large and three small ones. The three large bundles form a highly interconnected system through a repeated series of branchings and arch-producing mergers. Two of the three large bundles give rise to short, lateral leaf traces at each node. Each of the small bundles in the stem is actually a median leaf trace which extends three internodes before diverging into a leaf. The three leaf traces enter the petiole through a single gap; thus the nodel anatomy is three-trace unilacunar. Upon entering the petiole, each of the laterals splits into an upper and a lower lateral. Whereas the upper laterals diverge entirely into the first pair of leaflets, the lower laterals feed all of the lateral leaflets through a series of bifurcations. Prior to their entering the terminal leaflet, the lower laterals converge on the median bundle to form a single vascular crescent which progresses acropetally into the terminal leaflet as the midvein, or primary vein. In the midrib, portions of the midvein diverge outward and continue as secondaries to the margin on either side of the lamina. Near the tip of the terminal leaflet, the midvein consists of a single vascular bundle which is a continuation of the median bundle. Six to seven orders of veins occur in the terminal leaflet.     

烟草叶片衰老期过程中的蛋白质组学分析

大田烟叶生产过程中因打顶打叉的处理,改变了烟叶正常的衰老模式。为研究这一特殊的衰老机制,我们自旺长期开始,对‘云烟87’不同发育阶段烟株的中部叶片,进行形态观测、生理生化分析及蛋白质组学检测。结果显示：随着烟叶的逐渐成熟和衰老,烟草的叶色逐渐变黄,叶片逐渐变短、变窄,厚度减少;解剖结构清晰看到栅栏组织和海绵组织从最初的整齐排列到逐渐排列紊乱,组织细胞间轮廓不明显,细胞间隙明显增大;亚显微观测表明,淀粉粒在叶绿体中逐渐积累,类囊体片层结构被挤散,叶绿体膜被撑破。生理与生化分析表明衰老过程伴随着光合作用速率下降,光合色素降解加速,呼吸代谢的增加,这可能与衰老叶片中叶绿体逐渐崩塌和细胞膜透性增加相一致。iTRAQ标记方法共检测到不同发育阶段432个差异表达蛋白质,其中注释到308个与多种生命过程相关。蛋白差异富集分析表明,烟草叶片衰老过程中与光合作用等合成代谢相关蛋白多下调表达,而逆境反应及呼吸作用等分解代谢相关蛋白多上调表达。