Studies of pollen maturation in cotton: the storage reserve accumulation phase

Summary This study follows the maturation of the pollen grain of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), particularly the development of the vegetative cytoplasm and the various storage products formed. CTEM, HVEM, stereoscopy, and cyto-histochemistry were used to examine the events occurring during the 9 days before anthesis. Starch began to accumulate in plastids at anthesis minus 9 days and reached a peak concentration shortly before anthesis; lipid deposition followed a similar pattern, but started at 6 days before anthesis. Lipid bodies were always seen closely oppressed to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Dictyosomes appear active during the entire 9 days; first producing vesicles involved in the formation of the intine and, later, producing vesicles stored in the pollen grain. The dictyosome vesicles appear to contain polysaccharides and concentrate in layers around the lipid bodies. Ribosomes increase in number from 6 days before anthesis and are particularly numerous in the mature pollen. From anthesis minus 6 days until anthesis, the ER cisternae become increasingly inflated and, in the hours immediately before pollen release, form pockets filled with lipid bodies and dictysosome vesicles. The mature pollen has a core region filled with ER pockets and a peripheral cytoplasm in which such pockets are generally lacking.This research was supported in part by NSF Grant BMS575-22-23 and Grant N.RR-00592 from the Division of Research Resources, National Institutes of Health     

Ultrastructure of Endosperm Protein Bodies in Developing Rice Grains Differing in Protein Content

Ultrastructural aspects of the development of protein bodies(aleurone grains) in endosperm of grains of two rices differingin protein content are described. Formation of rough endoplasmicreticulum complexes prior to protein deposition was observedonly in the higher protein grain. From 8 days after floweringthree types of protein body were observed, one of which wasrestricted to the peripheral endosperm (sub-aleurone) layers.The higher protein grain had a greater number of protein bodiesand rough endoplasmic reticulum in the endosperm cells thanthe lower protein grain. Increase in total protein with maturitywas the result of increased number of protein bodies ratherthan increase in size; the protein bodies were concentratedin the peripheral endosperm layers.     

不同施肥水平对不同品种小麦籽粒蛋白质和地上器官游离氨基酸含量的影响

研究了小麦不同品种开花后各地上器官游离氨基酸含量的变化动态及其与籽粒蛋白质含量的关系,以及氮素营养的调节作用。结果表明,小麦叶片和颖壳十穗轴游离氨基酸含量均在开花后持续增加,至花后14d达到最大值,之后开始下降。茎和叶鞘游离氨基酸含量则在开花后上升较缓慢,至花后21d达最大值。籽粒游离氨基酸含量一般在开花后就持续降低。各地上器官游离氨基酸含量与成熟期籽粒蛋白质含量均呈显著或极显著正相关,说明源器宫中游离氨基酸供应充足,有利于籽粒蛋白质积累。增施氮肥能够提高各地上器官中的游离氨基酸含量,进而促进籽粒蛋白质的合成,提高籽粒蛋白质含量。品种之间籽粒蛋白质含量的差异,是由各地上营养器官向籽粒运输氨基酸的综合作用所造成的。     

小麦籽粒蛋白质组分的生态变异及与植株氮转化的关系研究

小麦籽粒蛋白质和蛋白质组分含量决定了小麦面团流变学特性和加工品质、籽粒蛋白质组分的形成与植株氮素吸收利用密切相关,且蛋白质组分的合成有一定的顺序性。对不同生态区的小麦籽粒蛋白质组分合成进行了研究。结果表明,蛋白质及组分含量存在明显的基因型差异,徐州点蛋白质和谷蛋白含量显著大于南京点;花期氮素积累量和花后氮素转运量徐州点显著大于南京点,而花后氮同化量南京点显著大于徐州点;清蛋白、醇溶蛋白和谷蛋白含量与籽粒蛋白质含量呈显著正相关,与花后植株氮素转运量呈显著正相关。不同生态点小麦花后发育速率模式基本一致,但南京点发育进程迟于徐州点;在籽粒形成期和灌浆后期,南京点的发育速率较快,降低了清蛋白和谷蛋白的合成,导致南京点籽粒蛋白质含量降低。     

花前渍水预处理对花后渍水逆境下扬麦9号籽粒产量和品质的影响

以扬麦9号为材料,研究花前渍水预处理对花后渍水逆境下小麦籽粒产量和品质的影响。结果表明,与未进行渍水预处理相比,花前渍水预处理提高了小麦植株对花后渍害的抗性,生物产量、收获指数和千粒重显著提高,进而显著提高了籽粒产量;花前渍水预处理显著提高花后氮素积累量及其对籽粒氮素的贡献率,降低了花前贮藏氮素运转量及其对籽粒氮素的贡献率,进而引起籽粒球蛋白含量提高,但显著降低了清蛋白、醇溶蛋白、谷蛋白和全蛋白质含量、以及干湿面筋含量和沉降值;花前渍水预处理还提高了籽粒直链淀粉和总淀粉含量和降落值,降低了支/直链淀粉比,显著提高了面粉峰值粘度、低谷粘度、崩解值、最终粘度、回冷值和峰值时间,但对糊化温度无显著影响。     

Effects of crop thinning and reduced grain numbers per ear on grain size in two winter wheat varieties given different amounts of nitrogen

To study the importance for final grain size in wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.) of assimilate supply and the storage capacity of the grain, two field experiments were done. In 1976 nitrogen was applied in the range from none to 180 kg ha^-1, part of the crop was thinned, and the top halves of some ears of the short variety Hobbit and of the tall variety Maris Huntsman were removed soon after anthesis. In 1977 ears of Maris Huntsman were halved 5 days after anthesis or at 30 days after anthesis when grain volume was maximum. Thinning the crop from 360 to 180 ear-bearing shoots m^-2 30 days before anthesis increased the number of grains per ear, except in the absence of nitrogen fertiliser, but did not increase grain size, grain dry weight per ear or total dry weight per culm. Removing the upper half of ears of Hobbit 5 days after anthesis increased dry weight per grain, but when this treatment was applied to Maris Huntsman either 5 days after anthesis in 1976 and 1977, or when grain volume was maximal in 1977, the grains failed to increase in dry weight. Non-grain dry weight of both varieties was increased by halving the ear. In both varieties the maximum volume of grains in halved ears was larger than in intact ears. Grain dry weight increased relatively less than volume after halving the ear of Hobbit, and the decrease in volume up to maturity was greater in halved than intact ears of both varieties. The larger grain volume in halved ears of Maris Huntsman in 1977 was associated with more endosperm cells.     

Metabolism of free sugars in relation to starch synthesis in the developing Sorghum vulgare grain

Accumulation of starch at expense of its free-sugar precursors was studied in the developing grains of the ‘SL-44’variety of Sorghum vulgare Pers. The content of starch gradually increased with the maturation of the grain and this increase was relatively fast until 18 days after anthesis. The daily rate of starch accumulation was at a maximum 15 days after anthesis. The content of total free sugars, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars other than sucrose, total and non-sucrosyl fructose, and glucose also increased, reaching maximum values at 18 days after anthesis. Sucrose content gradually increased with a concomitant decrease in the activity of invertase, and sucrose was the major non-reducing sugar in the matured grains. Detached heads incubated in labelled sugars indicated that, compared to sucrose and fructose. ¹⁴C was more efficiently incorporated from glucose into grain starch, which was maximally synthesized at the mid-milky stage of grain development. Exogenous supply of NAD⁺ plus ATP stimulated the in vivo incorporation of ¹⁴C from sucrose to starch. The decline in the rate of starch accumulation did not synchronise with that of protein synthesis.     

Spatial distribution of proteins and metabolites in developing wheat grain and their differential regulatory response during the grain filling process

Grain filling and grain development are essential biological processes in the plant’s life cycle, eventually contributing to the final seed yield and quality in all cereal crops. Studies of how the different wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain components contribute to the overall development of the seed are very scarce. We performed a proteomics and metabolomics analysis in four different developing components of the wheat grain (seed coat, embryo, endosperm, and cavity fluid) to characterize molecular processes during early and late grain development. In-gel shotgun proteomics analysis at 12, 15, 20, and 26 days after anthesis (DAA) revealed 15 484 identified and quantified proteins, out of which 410 differentially expressed proteins were identified in the seed coat, 815 in the embryo, 372 in the endosperm, and 492 in the cavity fluid. The abundance of selected protein candidates revealed spatially and temporally resolved protein functions associated with development and grain filling. Multiple wheat protein isoforms involved in starch synthesis such as sucrose synthases, starch phosphorylase, granule-bound and soluble starch synthase, pyruvate phosphate dikinase, 14-3-3 proteins as well as sugar precursors undergo a major tissue-dependent change in abundance during wheat grain development suggesting an intimate interplay of starch biosynthesis control. Different isoforms of the protein disulfide isomerase family as well as glutamine levels, both involved in the glutenin macropolymer pattern, showed distinct spatial and temporal abundance, revealing their specific role as indicators of wheat gluten quality. Proteins binned into the functional category of cell growth/division and protein synthesis/degradation were more abundant in the early stages (12 and 15 DAA). At the metabolome level all tissues and especially the cavity fluid showed highly distinct metabolite profiles. The tissue-specific data are integrated with biochemical networks to generate a comprehensive map of molecular processes during grain filling and developmental processes.     

强筋与弱筋小麦籽粒蛋白质组分与加工品质对灌浆期弱光的响应

选用强筋小麦品种济麦20和弱筋小麦品种山农1391,在大田试验条件下,分别于籽粒灌浆前期(花后6—9 d)、中期(花后16—19 d)和后期(花后26—29 d)对小麦进行弱光照处理,研究了籽粒产量、蛋白质组分及加工品质的变化。灌浆期弱光显著降低小麦籽粒产量,灌浆中期对济麦20和灌浆后期对山农1391的产量降幅最大。弱光处理后,籽粒氮素积累量及氮素收获指数减少。但弱光使籽粒蛋白质含量显著升高,其中灌浆中期弱光升幅最大,原因可能是由于其粒重降低造成的。弱光对可溶性谷蛋白无显著影响,但增加不溶性谷蛋白含量,使谷蛋白聚合指数显著升高,面团形成时间和稳定时间亦升高,籽粒灌浆中、后期弱光对上述指标的影响较前期大。灌浆期短暂的弱光照对改善强筋小麦粉质仪参数有利,但使弱筋小麦变劣;并均伴随籽粒产量的显著降低这一不利影响。     

LABILE SEX EXPRESSION IN ANDROMONOECIOUS SOLANUM HIRTUM: FLORAL DEVELOPMENT AND SEX DETERMINATION

Sex expression (the proportions of hermaphrodite and staminate flowers produced) of the andromonoecious species Solatium hirtum is labile, and this lability of whole plant sex expression is due to labile sex expression of individual floral buds. In this paper I examine the developmental processes that underlie the differences in floral sex expression of hermaphrodite and staminate flowers of Solarium hirtum, focusing particularly on the processes responsible for the observed lability of floral sex expression. Differences in bud growth rate and relative growth of floral organs in these buds are evident at about the time of megasporocyte meiosis (11–12 days before anthesis). However, gynoecial sterility in staminate buds does not occur until just 6–7 days before anthesis. At this time, abnormalities in ovule development occur in staminate buds: the ovules begin to appear necrotic, the integumentary tapetum collapses, and the megagametophytes of many ovules cease normal development. These observations are consistent with the predictions of labile floral development.     

薏苡胚乳发育及营养物质积累的研究

薏苡 ( Coix lacryma- jobi)授粉后 2 d,游离核胚乳已转变为细胞胚乳。授粉后 3d,中央细胞被胚乳细胞充满。起初 ,全部胚乳细胞均进行分裂 ,一定时期后 ,细胞分裂主要发生在胚乳周边区。授粉后 1 0 d,表皮停止平周分裂变为糊粉层 ,内方的数层形成层状细胞行平周分裂直到颖果接近成熟。胚乳内部生长则依赖于细胞体积扩大。胚乳基部 (颖果基部的胚乳 )形成了数层传递细胞。授粉后 9d,淀粉积累。授粉后 1 0 d,糊粉层及其内方数层细胞产生了脂体 ,后者的脂体以后又消失。授粉后 1 3、1 5 d,糊粉层细胞的液泡积累蛋白质。授粉后 2 0 d,液泡变为糊粉粒。授粉后 1 5 d淀粉胚乳细胞产生蛋白质体 ,营养物质积累持续到颖果成熟。还观察了胚和胚乳发育的对应关系。     

花后灌溉对小麦籽粒贮藏蛋白聚合程度和面团流变学特性的影响

为了明确灌溉麦黄水引起的小麦(Triticum aestivum)面团流变学特性劣变与籽粒贮藏蛋白聚合程度变化之间的关系, 在防雨池栽条件下, 以‘济麦20’为供试品种, 设置花后不灌水(W0), 花后灌1水(花后14 d, W1)和花后灌2水(花后14 d和花后28 d, W2) 3个处理, 分析了花后灌水对籽粒产量、贮藏蛋白聚合程度相关参数及其面团流变学特性的影响。研究结果表明, 籽粒产量、面团形成时间和稳定时间均以花后灌1水时达到最优, 再增加一次灌水(麦黄水), 导致面团形成时间和稳定时间显著缩短, 筋力变弱。同时观察到谷蛋白聚合指数和谷蛋白大聚合体平均粒径也因灌麦黄水而显著降低。回归分析表明, 灌麦黄水条件下谷蛋白大聚合体粒径变小是导致面团流变学特性变差和筋力变弱的主要原因。     

Studies on Endosperm Development and Deposition of Storage Reserves in Coix lacryma-jobi

The transition from free nuclear to cellular endosperm of Coix lacryma-jobi was eompleted 2 days after pollination. By 3 days after pollination the central cell was filled with endosperm cells. At first all cells of endosperm underwent division, later cell division was limited mainly in the peripheral region. 10 days after pollination the epidermal layer ceased its periclinal division and became the aleurone layer. Cell division persisted in the subepidermal 'cambium-like layers until the caryopsis nearly matured. Ceils of the inner region of endosperm became enlarged. Several layers of transfer cells were formed at the basal part of the endosperm. Starch grains appeared in endosperm cells on the 9th day after pollination. 10 days after pollination, lipid bodies occurred in the aleurone layer and the underlying layers. 13 and 15 days after pollination, the small vacuoles of aleurone cells contained protein and 20 days after pollenation they became aleurone grains. By 15 days after pollination pro tein bodies were formed in starch endosperm. Storage reserve deposition continued until the grain ripened. A correlation between endosperm and emoryo development was also observed.     

烯效唑干拌种对小麦氮素积累和运转及籽粒蛋白质品质的影响

通过田间试验,研究了不同烯效唑干拌种剂量对3个不同筋力小麦品种植株氮素积累、运转和籽粒蛋白质品质的影响,结果表明,基因型、环境及烯效唑处理对小麦品质的影响效应依次减小,且均达到了极显著水平,但三者的互作效应较小。烯效唑处理后提高了不同生态点下不同小麦品种籽粒蛋白质含量和产量,处理后的面筋含量和沉淀值增加,面团形成时间和稳定时间延长;干拌种增加了开花期各营养器官中的氮素含量和单株氮素积累量,花后氮素总转移量、总转移率及其对籽粒氮的贡献率极显著提高,且处理后旗叶中可溶性蛋白质含量在花后15 d内均显著高于对照;对籽粒中氮含量而言,烯效唑处理后提高了灌浆初期籽粒中的非蛋白氮含量,花后5—20 d内均高于对照,灌浆期间籽粒蛋白氮含量均高于对照,因而处理后的粗蛋白质含量变化动态特点为谷底高、回升快。研究认为,烯效唑处理如同基因、环境一样独立影响小麦籽粒品质,而烯效唑处理后提高了开花初期旗叶中的可溶性蛋白质含量和花前营养器官中氮素含量及花后氮素转运量,可能是其提高籽粒非蛋白氮含量、促进籽粒蛋白质含量增加和蛋白质质量提高的重要原因之一,烯效唑干拌种对小麦籽粒蛋白质品质的改善具有广适性。     

The relationship of starch metabolism to grain size in wheat

The present investigation was aimed at determining the levels of important enzymes of starch metabolism at different stages of grain development in wheats differing in final grain size and starch content per grain, to ascertain whether these enzymes have some relationship with grain size and/or starch content. Active starch synthesis in these varieties started from 14 days onward and continued till 35 days after anthesis. Invertase was active only during initial stages of grain development. Sucrose-UDP-glucosyltransferase had maximum activity at the 14 and/or 21 day stage and was present throughout the period of grain development. UDP- and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylases and amylase were most active during the period of active starch synthesis and at the same time tended to parallel grain size and starch content at different stages of grain development.     

施氮量对测墒补灌小麦冠层不同层次光截获和干物质分布的影响

以大穗型小麦品种‘山农23’为材料,在大田拔节期和开花期土壤相对含水量分别补灌至70%和65%的条件下,设置4个施氮水平0 (N₀)、180 (N₁)、240 (N₂)和300 kg·hm^-2 (N₃),研究施氮量对小麦冠层不同层次光合有效辐射(PAR)截获和干物质分布的影响.结果表明: N₂处理开花期群体总茎数、开花后10、20和30 d的叶面积指数、开花后20 d冠层上层和中层及冠层总的PAR截获率和截获量显著高于N₀和N₁,施氮量增加至N₃,上述指标无显著增加.N₂处理成熟期各层次营养器官干物质积累量显著高于N₀和N₁,籽粒干物质积累量和植株总干物质积累量比N₀分别高36.7%和35.4%,比N₁分别高9.5%和10.2%,与N₃处理无显著差异.各层次营养器官干物质积累量、籽粒干物质积累量和植株总干物质积累量与上层和中层PAR截获率呈显著正相关,与下层PAR截获率无显著相关;各层次营养器官干物质积累量与籽粒干物质积累量均呈显著正相关.施氮量为240 kg·hm^-2的N₂处理是本试验条件下的最优处理.