Mitotic cycle time and DNA content in annual and perennialMicroseridinae (Compositae,Cichoriaceae)

Within eight annual and perennialMicroseridinae species studied, the duration of the mitotic cycle is positively correlated with the nuclear DNA content, cycle time (hrs) = 7.3 + 0.32 × pg DNA/nucleus. Within the generaAgoseris andMicroseris, the annuals have lower DNA contents and more rapid mitotic cycle times than do the perennials. This relationship is predicted by the nucleotypic theory ofBennett. Annual species ofPyrrhopappus have relatively high DNA contents and a proportionately longer mitotic cycle time, but contrary to that expected by the nucleotypic theory as originally proposed have the fastest growth rate and shortest generation time observed in theMicroseridinae. This rapid developmental rate is discussed, nucleotypically, however, by analyzing relationships between DNA content, mitotic cycle time, and cell size.     

Four additive genes determining pappus part numbers inMicroseris annual hybrid C34 (Asteraceae/Lactuceae)

Microseris strain C34 is a hybrid between the Chilean speciesM. pygmaea (10 pappus parts) and the CalifornianM. bigelovii (5 pappus parts). The F1 specimen had from 5 to 10 pappus parts per achene with an average of 6. F2, F3 and F4 plants derived from this hybrid by spontaneous selfing show segregation for the average number of pappus parts. Four segregating unlinked genes could be demonstrated, each with an allele determining 5 pappus parts from thebigelovii parent, one with an allele determining 10 pappus parts, three with null alleles from thepygmaea parent. The expected average pappus part number is the arithmetic mean of the 5- and 10-determining factors. Considerable environmental and developmental influences, both random noise and systematic shifts, could be demonstrated to influence the phenotypic expression. The parallel hybrid strain B87 has two 10-alleles rather than one in itspygmaea genome. The evolution of the pappus part genes ofM. pygmaea from those of abigelovii-like ancestor seems to demand the concerted (non-independent) mutation of at least two genes.     

Variability of the inflorescence ofMicroseris laciniata (Compositae: Cichorieae)

Quantitative characters of the flowering head of a garden population ofMicroseris laciniata were scored during the second, third, and fourth season of growth. Number of achenes per head, number of phyllaries per head and the average number of pappus parts per achene in single heads show significant plant to plant variation. Achenes per head and pappus parts per achene were scored in identical plants in two subsequent seasons. The number of pappus parts per achene varies freely between five and ten. This contrasts with annual species ofMicroseris in which either five or ten pappus parts are found, depending on the species. In spite of a clear plant-specific average of pappus parts, both high and low pappus part determination can be demonstrated in all specimens. The number of pappus parts depends on the position of an achene on the receptacle, marginal achenes usually having fewer pappus parts than central ones. This gradient is not closely correlated with the position of an achene on the genetic spiral.     

Evolution of male sterility mechanisms in gynodioecious and dioecious species ofCirsium (Cynareae,Compositae)

The genusCirsium comprises both gynodioecious and dioecious species. The observation of microsporogenesis in female plants ofC. montanum, C. oleraceum, C. palustre andC. spinosissimum shows that the male sterility is due to a degeneration of the tapetum. This degeneration occurs more or less early according to the species and, in the light of these results, a scheme of evolution in the male sterility mechanism is proposed. Furthermore, the male sterility mechanism inC. montanum is very similar to that previously found in female plants of the dioecious speciesC. arvense. This fact enhances the possibility of evolution of the dioecy ofC. arvense from the gynodioecy found in other species. According to these results, a general scheme of evolution of sexes in the genusCirsium is proposed.     

Crossing experiments of lettuce cultivars and species (Lactuca sect.Lactuca,Compositae)

The degree of relationships withinLactuca sativa and three wild relativesL. serriola, L. saligna, andL. virosa was studied by observing the performance, vigour and fertility of the F 1 hybrids obtained from crosses made in and between the four species. The crosses ofL. saligna ×L. virosa and the reciprocal crosses produced no hybrids.L. saligna andL. virosa are the least related of the four species.L. sativa ×L. serriola and the reciprocal crosses were successful and produced fertile hybrids These two species are genetically very closely related.L. saligna is known to produce, as a female parent, hybrids withL. sativa andL. serriola. Now the reciprocal cross was successful for the first time, so the unability to obtain hybrids in the past was based on the choice of accessions and not caused by unilateral incompatibility.L. virosa ×L. sativa and the reciprocal combination produced hybrids. The combinationL. serriola ×L. virosa produced hybrids with very limited fertility. In contrast to earlier reports (sterile hybrids) one combination of the reciprocal cross too produced hybrids with very limited fertility.—Some of theL. saligna ×L. sativa (and reciprocal) hybrids were found to look strikingly likeL. serriola. This adds evidence for the descent ofL. serriola andL. sativa:L. saligna also made part of the ancestral complex of the cultivated lettuce.     

A second marker enzyme in the genetics of pappus part numbers inMicroseris hybrid B87 (Asteraceae,Lactuceae)

CrossingMicroseris pygmaea (10 pappus parts) withM. bigelovii (5 pappus parts) results in hybrids with variable pappus part numbers between 5 and 10. Previous work has shown that a system of four additively acting genes determines the average pappus part numbers of these hybrids. In hybrid B87 two genes have a 10-determining and a 5-determining allele each, two others a 5-determining and a null (inactive or missing) allele. Genetic linkage of one of the latter with the enzyme geneEsterase-1 and the leaf shape genespatulate leaves has been demonstrated. Here we demonstrate linkage between one of the two 10-determining genes and the enzyme locusEsterase- Y/B. The genotypes in the pappus part system of many specimens can now be fully determined. This is a major advance for the analysis of the evolution of this additive polygenic system.Genetics of Pappus Part Numbers inMicroseris Hybrid B87, II.—Part I:Bachmann & al. 1981.     

Studies in the embryology ofHeliantheae (Compositae)

The embryology ofLagascea mollis, Zinnia angustifolia andGalinsoga parviflora has been studied. The anther archesporium is hypodermal and consists of a single row of 6–8 cells, there are two layers below the epidermis of the anther and a periplasmodial tapetum. Ripe pollen grains are tricolpate and 3-celled. The ovary contains a single ovule, but in a few cases ofGalinsoga parviflora two ovules have been found. The female archesporium is unicellular, but sometimes more than one archesporial cell occurs inLagascea mollis andZinnia angustifolia. The embryo sac development is of the Polygonum type, the synergids are hooked, antipodal cells show great variation. The endosperm development is cellular inGalinsoga parviflora and peripheral layer persists in the mature seed. The embryo development conforms to the Senecio variation of the Asterad type. The pericarp structure and cmbryological features support the disputed systematic position ofLagascea withinHeliantheae. Part of a Ph.D. thesis, accepted at Andhra University.     

Revision ofDoniophyton (Compositae, Barnadesioideae)

This revision describes, illustrates and documents morphological variation inDoniophyton (Compositae, Barnadesioideae), restricted to Argentina and Chile. Two species are recognized,D. anomalum andD. weddellii (sp. nova), possessing distinct morphological and chromosomal features, elevational tolerances, and nearly allopatric distributions.Doniophyton weddellii occurs primarily in central to northern Andean Chile and Argentina from 1900–4000 m a. s. l.;D. anomalum is found principally in centralwestern Argentina and south into Patagonia at 0–1800 m a. s. l. Close relationship exists withChuquiraga of subfam.Barnadesioideae. It is hypothesized thatDoniophyton evolved out ofChuquiraga in the high central Andes between Chile and Argentina. It is suggested thatD. weddellii differentiated first, correlating with an aneuploid chromosomal decrease from n = 27 (inChuquiraga) to n = 25. Further evolution and chromosomal decrease to n = 24 resulted inD. anomalum, with accompanying migration into southern Andes and Patagonia. Nomenclatural changes result from examination of protologues and type specimens:Doniophyton anomalum replaces the commonly used nameD. patagonicum, and a new species,D. weddellii, is described for the taxon masquerading under the routinely used superfluous nameD. andicola. This paper is dedicated with admiration and respect to emer. Univ.-Prof. DrFriedrich Ehrendorfer, one of the world's outstanding plant systematists, and a leading scientist and administrator of the Institute of Botany of the University of Vienna     

Karyotypes,C-banding and nucleolar numbers inGuizotia (Compositae)

Karyotypes, constitutive heterochromatin and nucleolar numbers of five recognized taxa and two systematically new populations ofGuizotia have been studied using Giemsa or aceto-orcein staining, C-banding and silver nitrate staining. All accessions have 2n = 30 chromosomes, but satellite chromosome number and nucleolar number varied from four to eight. Centromere positions varied from predominantly median to submedian and subterminal in different materials. The satellites and an interstitial region in the short arm of one chromosome pair were C-banded in all materials. Telomeric and centromeric C-bands were also observed. The material could be classified into three groups, indicating possible phylogenetic relationships.     

Karyology of theScorzonera (Compositae) species from the Iberian Peninsula

A karyological study of 15 taxa ofScorzonera L. from the Iberian Peninsula has been made. The chromosome numbers found inS. hispanica var.pinnatifida, S. baetica, S. reverchonii, S. angustifolia, S. laciniata var.calcitrapifolia and var.subulata (2n = 14) are new. Diploid cytotypes with 2n = 14 and 2n = 12 prevail, andS. hispanica var.crispatula is the only taxon which exhibits autopolyploidy (2n = 14, 28). x = 7 is considered to be the base chromosome number within the genus, with x = 6 being derived from it by translocation. This and detailed karyotype analyses allow to group the Iberian Peninsula species ofScorzonera into three groups.     

Chromosome banding patterns in Lettuce species (Lactuca sect.Lactuca,Compositae)

Chromosome banding patterns obtained with C- and N- banding, and AgNO₃ staining were studied in somatic metaphase complements of fourLactuca species.L. sativa andL. serriola have almost identical chromosome morphology, andL. saligna differs only slightly from them, butL. virosa is quite distinct from the other species. A gross comparison of the banded karyotypes suggests a closer relationship ofL. saligna toL. sativa/serriola than toL. virosa. Our data agree with the results of previous crossing experiments in these species but conflict partly with recent RFLP data which indicate a closer phenetic relationship ofL. saligna toL. virosa than toL. sativa/serriola. Such a discrepancy may be explained assuming that domestication ofL. sativa/serriola resulted in an increased selection pressure on unique DNA sequences as demonstrated by the RFLP data. Differential evolution of specific heterochromatin classes (and presumably of highly repetitive DNA classes), as revealed by chromosome banding techniques was not linked to domestication. Thus the disparity in conclusions about relationship (in terms of genetic similarity) as based on the different experimental approaches reflects a non-parallel evolution of highly repetitive vs. unique DNA classes.     

11 S seed storage proteins fromHelianthus species (Compositae): Biochemical,size and charge heterogeneity

The seeds of 19 sunflower species were compared on the basis of their protein contents and the relative proportions of their protein fractions. The globulin content varied from 50% to about 70% and the albumin content from 18% to 35% according to the species. The level of intermediateMr polypeptides showed a great variability (9.6 to 24.3%). Comparative studies onMr polymorphism were carried out by means of sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of non reduced and/or reduced samples using both mono- and bidimensional procedures. Polypeptide constituents of helianthinin were compared including both number and molecular size (cultivatedH. annuus was used as a standard). Studies focused on differences observed between the major two (Mr 38 000), (Mr 32 000) and (Mr 25 500), (21 000) polypeptides families constituting the main A, B, and C subunits. and polypeptides analyses permit to discriminate easilyH. petiolaris from the other species. Charge polymorphism was studied using isoelectric focusing (IEF) and IEF-PAGE in mono and bidimensional procedures in the presence or absence of 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME). Only a specific ₄ polypeptide enables an easy discrimination betweenH. petiolaris and all the other species. Detailed nomenclature of the , and , polypeptides constituting the different helianthinin globulin subunits is given via the results of pI andMr analyses. Monodimensional IEF patterns of the more basic albumins (pI > 8.0) appear to provide a more valuable approach to identifying specific protein markers.     

Acht neue Arten der GattungAnthemis (Compositae) aus Persien

The following species are described as new:Anthemis mazandaranica in N. and NW. Iran is allied toA. coelopoda; A. moghanica in NW. Iran is close toA. candidissima andA. sintenisii; A. atropatana also in NW. Iran is similar toA. hyalina; A. gracilis in W. Iran is close toA. plebeia; A. bushehrica in SW. Iran is similar toA. susiana; andA. rhodocentra in S. and E. Iran and in Pakistan is akin toA. austro-iranica, A. gayana, andA. kandaharica.

Anschrift des Herausgebers: Hofrat Univ.-Prof. Dr.Karl Heinz Rechinger, Beckgasse 22, A-1130 Wien, Österreich.     

Phyletic and evolutionary relationships ofBrachyscome lineariloba (Compositae)

A comparison of karyotypes ofBrachyscome breviscapis (2n = 8),B. lineariloba cytodemes E (2n = 10), B (2n = 12) and C (2n = 16) suggests that these species have a homoelogous basic set of four chromosome pairs, two large pairs and two small, and that theB. lineariloba cytodemes E, B and C are related toB. breviscapis by successive additions of small chromosomes. A pronounced asynchrony of chromosome condensation between these large and small chromosomes has been observed. In the artificial hybrids betweenB. dichromosomatica (2n = 4) ×B. breviscapis, and theB. lineariloba cytodemes, theB. dichromosomatica chromosomes are similar in size and condensation behaviour to the small chromosomes ofB. breviscapis and ofB. lineariloba cytodemes E, B and C. Meiotic pairing in these hybrids also demonstrates the strong affinities between these chromosomes. It is suggested thatB. breviscapis may be of amphidiploid origin between a species with two large early condensing chromosome pairs and another,B. dichromosomatica-like species with two small late condensing pairs. It seems most likely that the additional small and late condensing chromosomes inB. lineariloba cytodemes E, B and C are derived from theB. dichromosomatica-like parent, and that each addition increases vigour, fecundity and drought tolerance, allowing these cytodemes to colonize more open and arid environments. Transmission of the univalents in the quasidiploidB. lineariloba cytodeme E was verified as being via the pollen, and not via the embryo sacs.The cytology ofBrachyscome lineariloba (Compositae, Asteroidae), 10.     

Ontogeny of intruding non-periplasmodial tapetum in the wild chicory,Cichorium intybus (Compositae)

The tapetal development ofCichorium intybus L. is investigated using LM and TEM and discussed in relation to the development in other species. During the second meiotic division the tapetal cells become binucleate and lose their cell walls. They intrude the loculus at the time of microspore release from the meiotic callose walls, which means that a locular cavity is never present in this species. During pollen development they tightly junct the exine, especially near the tips of the spines. During the two-celled pollen grain stage they degenerate and most of their content turns into pollenkitt. Until anther dehiscence they keep their individuality, which means that these intruding tapetal cells never fuse to form a periplasmodium. The ultrastructural cytoplasmatic changes during this development are discussed in relation to possible functions.     

Evolutionary implications of herbivory onVernonia (Compositae)

A field insect feeding experiment was conducted with two species ofVernonia which produce the sesquiterpene lactone glaucolide-A, one species which does not contain this bitter compound, and two F₁ hybrid combinations. Also, naturalVernonia populations were observed over a two year period for their degree of herbivory. Contrary to the pattern observed in laboratory feeding preference tests,Vernonia flaccidifolia, the species lacking sesquiterpene lactones, was consistently fed upon less by insects than wereV. gigantea andV. glauca. Even though glaucolide-A appears to adequately protect some Vernonias against herbivores, especially mammals,Vernonia flaccidifolia has lost this compound. ApparentlyV. flaccidifolia has evolved an alternative defensive mechanism which is more effective against insects but less effective against mammalian herbivores.     

A functional interpretation ofLactuceae (Compositae) pollen

Pollen morphology and ultrastructure inLactuceae pollen is considered in relation to the accomodation of volume changes, pollination biology and exine-held substances. Echinate pollen grains, such as those ofCatananche, are shown to accomodate volume changes by folding along the colpi and possibly by volume changes in the cavea. The different patterns of echinolophate pollen respond in different ways. Folding along the colpi is important inScorzonera andTragopogon and to a limited extent inCichorium andEpilasia whilst inScolymus the colpi are almost immobilized. Movements of the lacunar floors take over the harmomegathic function to compensate for lack of colpus mobility. Bulging of the intine at the apertures and changes in the size of the cavea may account for part of the volume change accomodated in any pollen type. Echinolophate pollen is interpreted as being a superior means of regulating volume changes with the most economical and mechanically efficient use of wall material which has evolved independently in several tribes ofCompositae.     

Numerical analyses of karyotypic diversity in the genusEupatorium (Compositae,Eupatorieae)

Somatic metaphase karyotypes were analyzed for 22 diploid species ofEupatorium. The karyotypic comparisons were made using two indices: minimal chromosomal distance (MCD), measuring overall dissimilarities, and chromosomal identity (CI), measuring number of morphologically identical chromosomes between species. The resulting phenograms from these indices are largely compatible. The 22 species cluster into four groups in the phenogram using MCD, and the grouping corresponds well with morphology or geographic distribution into the three N. American groupsEutrochium, Uncasia, Traganthes, and the E. Asian group. These results suggest that karyotypes in perennialEupatorium have been considerably conservative and changed not through large chromosomal mutations but through small chromosomal mutations gradually fixed.     

Pollination biology of annual and perennialLeonotis species (Lamiaceae)

The pollination syndromes ofLeonotis (Pers.)R. Br. are discussed. Ornithophily accounts for most of the nutlets set in perennialLeonotis species but in the annual species [L. nepetifolia (L.)R. Br.] autogamy prevails.Leonotis species are predominantly pollinated by a variety of sunbirds, although bees are also involved. Nectar is sucrose-dominant in perennial species but hexose-dominant in the annual.     

Genetic determination of pappus part number in the annual hybridMicroseris B 87 (Asteraceae—Lactuceae)

The ChileanMicroseris pygmaea has a ten-part paleaceous pappus while the CalifornianM. bigelovii has five pappus parts on each achene. Hybrids between the two species have between five and ten pappus parts with averages below 7.5. Hybrid B 87 has an F 1 average value of 6.7 pappus parts. 140 F 2 plants were raised from this hybrid, and 12 F 3 families were obtained by selfing from F 2 plants. One larger F 4 family has been raised. Pappus part number in all of these is still canalized between 5 and 10. Variation within these limits is genetically determined by a quantitatively acting polygenic system. Modeling of this system suggests that a minimum of four, but probably not many more, genes are involved. This opens the possibility of a complete genetic analysis of the system.