Rhythmic Growth Rings of Wood and Their Relationship with the Foliage in Oak Seedlings Grown in a Favourable Environment

The anatomy of wood was studied inQuercus roburL. andQuercussuberL. seedlings exhibiting 3–8 units of extension, eachwith a tier of photosynthesizing leaves in their upper parts,generated as the result of rhythmic shoot growth under favourableconditions. At all the axis levels examined (i.e. the base ofeach of the different units of extension, four other equidistantlevels within the first unit of extension and the upper partof the taproot), the wood displayed rings when treated withWiesner reagents. This indicated cinnamaldehyde groups presentin lignins. No rings appeared when the Maüle reaction wasused for specific detection of syringyl subunits in lignins.A trend towards a periodical arrangement of xylem parenchymabands was also found when sections were treated with I₂/KI.The number of rings coincided with the number of leaf tiersabove the level of measurement, and did not vary inside thefirst unit of extension. Thus, the rings are called rhythmicgrowth rings. In sections of the first and the second unitsof extension, and in the taproot, the area and width of a givenrhythmic growth ring were highly correlated with the total areaof leaves present above the level of measurement at the presumedtime of growth ring formation. Moreover, stem diameter at thebase of the units of extension was highly correlated with theleaf area above. These results indicate that differentiationof xylem, particularly its lignification, varies rhythmicallyin oak seedlings. They imply that wood production is linkedto the photosynthesizing and/or transpiring area of the plant.Thus, during a growth cycle ofQ. roburandQ. suberseedlings,there appears to be integration of the primary metabolic activitieswith the laying down of rhythmic growth rings.Copyright 1998Annals of Botany Company Allometric relationship, juvenile wood, leaf area, lignification, oak seedling, periodic structure,Quercus roburL.,Quercus suberL., rhythmic growth ring, unit of extension.     

Production of a Fungistat and the Role of Fungi during Germination of Digitalis purpurea L.cv. Gloxiniaflora Seeds

The seed coats of Digitalis purpurea L. cv. Gloxiniaflora werecultured for indigenous fungi. Alternaria alternata (Fries)was identified as the sole fungus on seeds freshly harvestedfrom unopened capsules, whereas A. alternata, Rhizopus arrhizus(Fischer), Penicillium sp. and other fungi appeared on storedseeds. The appearance of fungi in seed cultures was seasonal,being more frequent in winter and early spring than in summerand autumn. Alternaria grew well on autoclaved seeds, on dehiscentseed coats, or on seed coats separated from the embryos of ungerminatedseeds. Rhizopus did not grow on these but grew weakly on theculture medium from viable seeds. A. alternata appears to functionas a degradation agent for the seed coat subsequent to germination.Neither fungus was found to be essential to germination of Digitalisseeds. Bioassay of the culture medium from germinating seedsshowed that a fungistat effective against both Alternaria andRhizopus is produced coincident with germination. Based on chromatographicanalysis, the fungistat appears to be a cardenolide. Alternaria alternata (Fries), cardenolides, Digitalis purpurea L. cv, Gloxiniaflora, fungistats, germination, Rhizopus arrhizus (Fischer)     

The Role of Superoxide Dismutase in Regulating the Light Emission of Luminescent Fungi

Luminescent fungi spontaneously emit light during certain stagesof their life cycles. Most of them are luminous during a partof their mycelial stage, but not many of them are luminous whenthey form fruiting bodies. In the case of Panellus stipticus,both the mycelium and the fruiting body can be luminous, andthe emission of light takes place when its luciferin is aerobicallyoxidized in the presence of the superoxide anion (O₂) and acationic surfactant. It is highly likely that the luminescencereactions of all kinds of luminous fungi are basically the sameas that of P. stipticus. In order to determine the factor thatmakes a fungus luminous or non-luminous, we studied the relationsbetween the light emission of fungi at various growth stagesand the contents of luciferin, its precursor, superoxide dismutase(SOD), and catalase, on six species of luminescent fungi: Armillariellamellea, Mycena citricolor, Mycena lux-coeli, Omphlotus olearious,Panellus stipticus, and Pleurotus japonicus. The analysis ofthe data suggested that the fungi generally contain the componentsnecessary for light emission, but also contain very large amountsof SOD which destroy O₂^–. If an appreciable amount ofSOD is distributed at the site of light emission, the luminescencereaction is prevented. For the reaction to take place, it isessential that the SOD activity at the site is sufficientlylow or inhibited, despite the high content of SOD in the wholetissue. Thus, the level of SOD activity at the site of lightemission appears to be a limiting factor in regulating the luminescenceof fungi. Key words: Bioluminescence, chemiluminescence, luminous fungi, superoxide ion, superoxide dismutase     

Fungal Assciations: I. Synergistic Relation between Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn and Fusarium solani Snyder and Hansen in causing a Potato Tuber Rot

Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solani, and Phoma foveata werechosen for the study of disease caused by these fungi in differentcombinations in potato tubers. An initial Rhizoctonia infection,when followed by a Fusarium infection, gave an extensive rottingwith external pimple-like formations in some cases. This typeof rotting could not be brought about by individual infectionswith either of the two fungi, or jointly by them when Fusariumwas inoculated first. Microscopic observations of infected matureand young potato tubers showed that Rhizoctonia grew intracellularlywhen infected alone, whereas it grew inter- as well as intra-cellularlyin the successive double infection. Fusarium formed more haustorium-likestructures when inoculated alone that when it followed Rhizoctonia.The length of these structures in the double infection was greaterin mature than in young tubers. Atmospheric humidity affectedthe amount of rotting, the shape and colour of the rot, andthe morphology of the fungus in the tissue.     

Types of Rot, Rate of Rotting, and Analysis of Pectic Substances in Apples Rotted by Fungi

The rate at which the fungi grew through apples was determinedin various ways and used to estimate their rate of linear advance.Five fungi were studied;they were Sclerotinia fructigena (firm-browncoloured rot, rapid growth through apples), Botrytis cinerea(soft, light-brown coloured rot, rapid growth through apples),Psyrenochaeta furfuracea (firm to soft rot, variable in colourbut generaly dark, slow growth through apples), Penicilliumexpansion A (soft, white rot, slow growth through apples) andPenicillium expansum B (soft, white rot, medium rate of growththrough apples). S. fructigena which had the highest rate oflinear advance which was about three times that of P. furfuraceawhich had the lowest. Methods for extracting different types of pectic substancesfrom sound and rotted tissues are described, and details aregiven of a rapid and reasonably accurate colorimetric methodof determining the anhydrogalacturonic acid content of theseextracts. The firm-rot fungi reduced the water-insoluble pecticsubstances by 10–20 per cent., but the soft-rot fungicaused much larger changes, up to 70 per cent. being degraded,The firm-rot and soft-rot fungi had different effects on thepectic substances insoluble in dilute acid but soluble in dilutealkali. The soft-rot fungi had little effect on these substances,or reduced their concentration, whereas the firm-rot fungi causedsubstantial increases compared with sound tissue. These resultsare considered in terms of pectic enzyme activity. Analysisof extracts by paper chromatography showed that galacturonicacid, absent from sound tissue, was present in each type ofrotted tissue. Di- and tri-galacturonic acids were present inrots caused by P. expansum, and these rots probably also containedproducts from the break-down of other polysaccharides.     

The Role of Marine Fungi in the Penetration of Calcareous Substances

All publications dealing with fungi described from marine calcareoussubstrates are discussed in this survey of the literature. Originalinvestigations of fungi from lime tubesof teredinids are included.Wood-inhabiting marine fungi, especially in warm waters, growwithin calcareous linings of teredinid burrows. Fruiting structuresof the Ascomycetes, Halosphaeria quadricornuta and Remisporasalina, and the Deuteromycete, Periconia prolifica, form cavitiesin the tube linings, making them brittle and soft. Representativesof Cirrenalia and Humicola sporulate on the surface of calcareouslinings. The fungus, Pharcidia balani, sometimes referred toas a lichen, decomposesshells of barnacles and molluscs. AnotherAscomycete, Lulworlhia kniepii, parasitizes calcareous algae,probably living on the middle lamellae, not on the calcifiedcell walls.     

The Nature of the Resistance of Oats to the Take-all Fungus: II. INHIBITION OF GROWTH AND RESPIRATION OF OPHIOBOLUS GRAMINIS SACC. AND OTHER FUNGI BY A CONSTITUENT OF OAT SAP

Growth of Ophiobohu gramimt and of O. gramims var. avenae isinhibited by concentrations of 3·3-4·0µg./ml.,and respiration by concentrations of 55µg./nil. of a partiallypurified substance from oat-leaf sap. The two varieties appearto be equally sensitive. The filtrate of boiled sap is inhibitorybut here dilution of the sap permits better growth of isolatesof var. avenae. Sap from oat roots is inhibitory to O.graminisonly, and fractionation of the sap shows that the inhibitorcan be masked by a growth stimulant. Inhibition of growth andrespiration can be reduced by glutathione and ascorbic acid,particularly if the inhibitor and reducing agent are previouslyincubated together for a few hours, suggesting that the inhibitoris inactivated on reduction. The capacity of var. avenae toovercome inhibition in the favourable medium provided by thecrude sap more readily than can the type variety is suggestedas the cause of the slight differential activity of the filtrateof leaf sap and the full differential activity of the root sap.Susceptibility of oats to var. avenae would thus be due to conditionsenabling the fungus to overcome toxicity rather than to an absenceof toxicity. Activity of the inhibitor against growth and respiration ofa number of fungi and a few other organisms has been tested.Bacteria and oat and barley roots are not affected but abouthalf of the fungi tested are inhibited although none is as sensitiveas O. gramims. No members of the fungi imperfecti tested aresensitive.     

Studies on Endogenous Bacteria in Potato Tubers Infected by Phytophthora erythroseptica Pethybr

Infection of potato tubers by the soft-rotting fungi Phytophthoraerythroseptica and Pythium debaryanum resulted in multiplicationof endogenous tuber bacteria. This effect was not evident afterinfection by dryrotting fungi. Some of the bacteria isolatedproduced pectolytic and hemicellulolytic enzymes in vitro andwere themselves capable under certain conditions of degradingtuber tissue.     

纵坑切梢小蠹对云南松蛀害研究

在昆明地区,纵坑切梢小蠹Tomicus piniperda L.表现出枝梢聚集、树干蛀害等重要的行为学特征,形成三种基本蛀害模式。横坑切梢小蠹、蓝色伴生真菌参与了纵坑切梢小蠹危害过程,并在其中发挥积极作用。上述因素的综合影响,加强了纵坑切梢小蠹对云南松Pinus yunnanensis寄主树木的危害能力。     

Movement of Ions and Electrogenesis in Microorganisms

The relationship between movement of ions and the electricalproperties of microorganisms (algae, fungi, and bacteria) arereviewed, with particular emphasis on the giant alga, Nitella,and the fungus, Neurospora. The hypothesis is presented thatthere are two basically different components to the membranepotential of both organisms: (1) one arising from the diffusionof sodium, potassium, and hydrogen ions down their chemicalgradients, and (2) one associated with the utilization of energyand the active efflux of hydrogen ions, and attributed to an"electrogenic H⁺ pump." Numerous discrepancies between the measuredelectrical properties of the algae or fungi and the predictionsof ordinary ion-diffusion theory can be accounted for by suchan H⁺ pump, and its existence is further supported by a fewindirect experiments on the bacteria.     

Development of a Model to Predict the Effect of Temperature and Moisture on Fungal Spore Longevity

A model was developed to quantify the effect of temperatureand moisture content on the longevity of conidia of the entomopathogenicfungusMetarhizium flavoviride . This model incorporated a negativesemi-logarithmic relation between longevity and temperatureand a negative logarithmic relation between longevity and moisturecontent. Replacing the latter with a negative semi-logarithmicrelation between longevity and the equilibrium relative humidityof the conidia was also effective. The latter model was appliedsuccessfully to observations on the survival of conidia of afurther four entomopathogenic fungi (Metarhizium anisopliae,Beauveria bassiana ,Beauveria brongniartii, andPaecilomycesfarinosus ) and ascospores, conidia or uredospores of four phytopathogenicfungi (Alternaria porri ,Helminthosporium oryzae ,Uromyces appendiculatus, andSclerotinia sclerotiorum ) across a wide range of differenttemperatures and relative humidities. The sensitivity of sporelongevity to both temperature and equilibrium relative humidity,and the upper and lower relative humidity limits to the applicationof the model, varied considerably between entomopathogenic andphytopathogenic fungi, among species within each group, andamong different strains within certain species. Metarhizium flavoviride W. Gams & J. Roszypal; entomopathogenic fungi; phytopathogenic fungi; spore survival; storage environment; conidia; uredospore; ascospore     

Effect of UV-Irradiation on Total Protein and Nucleic Acids in Alternaria alternata and Fusarium solani

UV-A^* irradiation caused increases in total protein in Fusariumsolani, while its effect on Alternaria alternata was variable,and not as clear-cut as in F. solani. On the other hand, UV-Birradiation stimulated protein production in both fungi. UV-Airradiation showed an inhibitory effect on total DNA in bothfungi, while the effect on RNA was stimulatory in F. solanibut had no effect on A. alternata. Short fluences of UV-B inhibitedDNA production to some extent in both fungi, however longerfluences increased DNA content especially in F. solani. Theeffect of UV-B on RNA production was inhibitory in F. solanibut not in A. alternata. A. alternata is much more resistantto UV-irradiation than is F. solani, and increases in proteinin the former after UV-irradiation suggests that protein mayplay a part in protection against the harmful effect of UV-irradiation. UV-A, UV-B, fluence, protein, nucleic acids, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium solani     

Further Observations on Fungi Inhabiting Pine Stumps

Growth-rates, both on malt agar and in stump wood, of earlystump colonizers such as Fomes annosus, Pemophora gigantea,Stereum sanguinolentum, and Leptographium lundbergii are higherthan those of later-colonizing agarics. The initial invasionof stump roots usually proceeds via the stump body by fungiwhich infect the cut surface. Although stumps may dry out appreciably shortly after felling,in later stages of decay the moisture content of the wood oftenincreases considerably. Stump decomposition is associated witha succession of decay fungi, the ‘Peniophora’, ‘Hypholoma’,and ‘Tricholoma’ stages being distinguished. Severalphycomycetes and fungi imperfecti colonize decayed, but notfresh, stump wood. P. gigantea is shown to be a vigorous competitor of F. annosusfor initial colonization of stumps: it may also replace F.annosus in stumps. Gliocladium viride and Trichoderma viridecompete with wood-rotting basidiomycetes and sometimes replacethem in very decayed wood.     

Selective inhibition of antimycin A-insensitive respiration in Ustilago maydis and Ceratocystis ulmi

Sporidia of Ustilago maydis and conidia of Ceratocystis ulmipossess an antimycin A and azide-tolerant electron transportpathway which apparently diverts electrons to O₂ from some pointon the substrate side of the antimycin A block. The alternatepathway (induced by 0.5 µg/ml antimycin A or 5x10^–4M sodium azide) supports a respiratory rate 1.5–2 timesthat of the normal system, but has a terminal oxidase with alower than normal affinity for O₂. A similarly high respiratoryrate in U. maydis is supported by the normal pathway when uncoupledby 4 µg/ml of 4,5-dichloro-2-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole,but a high affinity for O₂ in this case indicates that the normalterminal oxidase is utilized. Respiration by the normal pathway in both fungi is only slightlyor moderately inhibited by 1.5x10^–3 M benzohydroxamicacid (BHAM) and 5x10^–4 M 8-hydroxyquinoline. The alternatepathway in U. maydis, however, is inhibited as much as 84 and92% respectively by these two compounds, while alternate respirationin C. ulmi can be inhibited as much as 86 and 76% respectively.BHAM, 8-hydroxyquinoline, 2-pyridinethiol-1-oxide, a,a'-dipyridyl,carboxin, and diphenylamine inhibit alternate respiration ata site on the alternate pathway which is not part of the normalelectron transport system. Antimycin A and azide-insensitiverespiration found in U. maydis and C. ulmi closely resemblesinhibitor insensitivity noted in several fungi and some higherplants. Such an alternate respiratory pathway may be an earlystep in the evolution of oxidative phosphorylation. (Received June 27, 1972; )     

Plastid-dividing Rings in Ferns

Plastid-dividing rings (PDs) are described for the first timein the ferns Ophioglossum, Gleichenia, Hymenophyllum, Trichomanes,Athyrium, Dryopteris, Ceratopteris and Pteridium. They are foundin the constricted isthmuses of undifferentiated plastids, amyloplasts,amylochloroplasts and chloroplasts in gametophytes and in arange of sporophytic tissues including apices, differentiatingleaf mesophyll and vascular parenchyma from roots, stems andleaves. Fern PDs comprise two concentric structures; a densegranular ring 60-100 nm wide adhering to the stromal face ofthe constriction and a smaller cytoplasmic annulus only 20-40nm wide. The diameters of the PD-containing constrictions, particularlythose in vascular parenchyma, where the outer component is usuallylacking, are extremely uniform (means of 177-188 nm in differentspecies and tissues) and closely in line with those in angiosperms.PDs in ferns differ from those previously described in othergroups of lands plants in that they are far more persistentand in multilobed plastids one is present at each constriction.The occurrence of multiple PDs in the giant plastids found inup to 30% of vascular parenchyma cells may be associated withorganelle fusion rather than division.Copyright 1993, 1999 AcademicPress Chloroplast division, division cycle, ferns, plastid-dividing rings, pteridophytes, transmission electron microscopy     

Studies on the Growth of Basidiomycetes in Soil

Fructifications of basidiomycetes have been collected at LakenheathWarren, and thirty-nine species have been obtained from fivegrassland soils. The different soils have been found to havedifferent species growing upon them and most species occur onthe alkaline-slightly acid grasslands. Highly acid grasslandat Lakenheath has a poor fungus flora. Studies have been made of the regions in the soil in which themycelia of certain of these basidiomycetes occur, and attemptshave been made to isolate these fungi from soil. Some specieshave been found to inhabit the litter zone rather than the minerallayers of the soil. A few form extensive rhizomorph systemswhich may penetrate deeply into the soil. A few species of ringfungi, such as Marasmius oreades, Psalliota arvensis, and Tricholomanudum, have been found to possess a well-defined mycelial zonein the soil, from which the fungus could be isolated. Profile studies have shown that the mycelial zones of thesespecies contain a restricted population of microfungi, bothfewer species and fewer colonies, as compared with the normalsoil around. Ascomycetes, such as Arachniotus, Chaetomium, Gymnoascus,and Penicillium, have been isolated more frequently from mycelialzones than from normal soil.     

The assembly of the FtsZ ring at the mid-chloroplast division site depends on a balance between the activities of AtMinE1 and ARC11/AtMinD1

Chloroplast division comprises a sequence of events that facilitatesymmetric binary fission and that involve prokaryotic-like stromaldivision factors such as tubulin-like GTPase FtsZ and the divisionsite regulator MinD. In Arabidopsis, a nuclear-encoded prokaryoticMinE homolog, AtMinE1, has been characterized in terms of itseffects on a dividing or terminal chloroplast state in a limitedseries of leaf tissues. However, the relationship between AtMinE1expression and chloroplast phenotype remains to be fully elucidated.Here, we demonstrate that a T-DNA insertion mutation in AtMinE1results in a severe inhibition of chloroplast division, producingmotile dots and short filaments of FtsZ. In AtMinE1 sense (overexpressor)plants, dividing chloroplasts possess either single or multipleFtsZ rings located at random intervals and showing constrictiondepth, mainly along the chloroplast polarity axis. The AtMinE1sense plants displayed equivalent chloroplast phenotypes toarc11, a loss-of-function mutant of AtMinD1 which forms replicatingmini-chloroplasts. Furthermore, a certain population of FtsZrings formed within developing chloroplasts failed to initiateor progress the membrane constriction of chloroplasts and consequentiallyto complete chloroplast fission in both AtMinE1 sense and arc11/atminD1plants. Our present data thus demonstrate that the chloroplastdivision site placement involves a balance between the opposingactivities of AtMinE1 and AtMinD1, which acts to prevent FtsZring formation anywhere outside of the mid-chloroplast. In addition,the imbalance caused by an AtMinE1 dominance causes multiple,non-synchronous division events at the single chloroplast level,as well as division arrest, which becomes apparent as the chloroplastsmature, in spite of the presence of FtsZ rings.     

NITROGEN METABOLISM IN WHITE POTATO TUBER TISSUE INFECTED WITH FUNGI. CHANGES IN THE ALCOHOL-SOLUBLE AND -INSOLUBLE NITROGEN FRACTIONS

An increase of the ratio insoluble N/soluble N in potato tubertissue (var. Bintje) infected with Gibberella saubinetii orCerato-cystis fimbriata and incubated at 25° could onlybe demonstrated in samples cut from the area invaded by thefungi. In the non-infected controls some increase was foundin tissue close to the cut surface due to wound-reaction. The fungi hardly penetrated tuber tissue of var. Koopmans Blauwe,while tubers of var. Alpha were rather susceptible. Tissue ofvar. Bintje turned out to be rather resistant. Incubation at30° or 33° resulted in a more limited penetration bythe fungi. No relation exists between the value of the ratioinsoluble N/soluble N or the protein content of the host tissue,and the grade of resistance to the infection. Again, an increaseof insoluble N could only be observed in mycelium-containingsamples. The mycelia of both fungi had a ratio insoluble N/soluble Nwhich was much higher than the ratio of normal potato tissue.It was possible to explain the increase of the ratio in invadedtissue on the basis of the presence of hyphal substances. No evidence was obtained for a synthesis by the host tissueof insoluble nitrogenous compounds prior to, or concomitantwith, the increase of respiration rate after infection. To whatextent a wound-reaction played a role in the infected tuberparts is uncertain. The possibility of a simultaneous synthesisand breakdown of proteins after infection without a rise ininsoluble nitrogen is discussed. (Received February 3, 1966; )     

Observations on the Biology of Fomes annosus, with Particular Reference to East Anglian Pine Plantations: II. Spore Production, Stump Infection, and Saprophytic Activity in Stumps

F. annosus produces conidia abundantly in culture but rarelyunder natural conditions. Sporophorea are formed on stumps anddying trees throughout the year provided that the humidity issufficiently high. Spore discharge in the plantations may occurat any time of year, but slowa down or ceases during very dryweather. It takes place at low temperatures, ceasing only whensporophores freeze. In the laboratory, F. annosus basidiospores germinate in relativehumidity exceeding 92 per cent. on freshly cut, unsterilizedpine wood. Viability is lost rapidly in light at temperaturesabove 15°C. Under humid conditions F. annosus spores will infect freshlycut pine stumps. There is evidence that spores of F. annosus washed down intosoil remain viable for at least a short period and that stumpscovered with soil are infected from this source. F. annosusspores can infect stumps for only a few weeks after felling,colonization after a longer interval probably beingprevdntedby competing fungi. In stumps inoculated with a mixed suspensionof F. annosus and Peniophora gigantea spores, Fomes at firstcolonized the wood but was soon replaced by P. gigantea. Otheraspects of competition are discussed. The incidence of natural infection in stumps and the factorsaffecting it are discussed Growth rates of F. annosus on malt agar and in lengths of pineroot are given. The fungus grows in stump roots at about 1 m.per year, and so closely approaches adjacent trees within ayear of thinning the plantation: In large stumps, F. annosusmay survive 15 or even 30 years after felling. Data are givenwhich suggest that the infective capacity of stumps containingF. annosus is greater in alkaline than in acid mils, while replacementby other fungi is slower. Competition of F. annosus with other fungi during colonizationof stumps is discussed. The parasite can grow along roots alreadyoccupied by certain fungi but not along roots containing others.The probable course of succession in stumps rotted by F. annousis described.     

Laccase and Tyrosinase in some Wood-rotting Fungi

Several species of wood-rotting fungi have been examined forphenol oxidases. Polystictus sanguineus, a white rot, produceslaccase, secreting it into the medium. This enzyme has beenstudied and partly purified. Phellinus cryptarum, another whiterot, shows varied production of phenol oxidase according tothe medium used for growth. Laccase only is produced on maltmedium, whereas laccase and tyrosinase result after growth ona glucose and salt medium. Lentinus lepideus, a brown rot, producestyrosinase on several media and this enzyme appears to be entirelyintracellular.