中国睡莲科植物种子胚及其营养组织的研究

研究了中国睡莲科的3属3种即芡（Euryale ferox Salisb.）、睡莲（Nymphaea tetragona Georgi）和萍蓬草（Nuphar pumilum (Hoffm.) DC.）的胚、胚乳及外胚乳。它们的胚的共同特点是苗端发育良好,特别是胚芽具2～4枚胚芽叶,而根端滞育。三个种皆既有胚乳,又有外胚乳,但在成熟种子中作为胚的营养组织则胚乳弱育而外胚乳发达。最后对上述特点在系统发生中的意义进行了讨论。     

大耳姬鼠对滇西北18种植物种子的捕食

2004年9月至10月在滇西北高海拔地区对18种植物种子进行了野外被捕食研究。选取高、低两种人为干扰程度的生境；高、低两种种子密度：3粒种子/塑料盘和15粒种子/塑料盘；3种试验设置：排除啮齿动物等大型捕食者、排除蚂蚁等小型捕食者，不作任何处理作为对照。其结果表明，种子捕食者主要为夜间活动的大耳姬鼠（Apodemus latronum）。种子在高人为干扰的生境中被捕食率要显著低于低人为干扰的生境（F_1,430=7.78, P<0.01）；种子在高密度状况下的被捕食率要显著高于低密度状况（F_1,430=13.16, P<0.001）。大耳姬鼠对于不同种类植物种子也有很强的选择性（F_17,414=106.69, P<0.001），如喜好取食华山松（Pinus armandi）、中甸乌头（Aconitum chungdianensis）、豆科一种（Leguminosae sp.）和大头续断（Dipsacus asper）的种子，而不喜好取食高山柏（Sabina squamata）、黄花木（Piptanthus concolor）、栒子（Cotoneaster sp.）和西南鸢尾（Iris bulleyana）的种子。18种植物中，种子大小与其被捕食率高低之间无显著相关性，不同硬度等级的种子与被捕食率也无显著差异（P>0.05）。     

当归根际土对其种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

室内条件下测定了当归根际土水浸液对当归种子萌发、幼苗生长的影响,采用化感作用效应指数（RI）和综合化感效应指数（M）及差异性检验评价了当归根际土的化感效应。结果表明：与蒸馏水和对照土实验组相比,根际土、非根际土水浸液对种子萌发、幼苗生长及4种酶活性均有显著的抑制作用;随着质量浓度的升高,根际土水浸液对当归种子萌发和幼苗生长的综合化感效应在各浓度（0.125～1.000 g·ml^-1）之间差异显著（P<0.05）,而在相同质量浓度条件下,根际土水浸液的综合化感效应较非根际土和对照土明显;当质量浓度均为0.500 g·ml^-1时,根际土、非根际土水浸液对4种酶活性均有明显抑制作用,且二者之间的差异达到显著水平（P<0.05）;3种土壤水浸液供体对当归种子萌发、幼苗生长的抑制强度均表现为根际土>非根际土>对照土,因此推测自毒作用是当归连作障碍的原因之一。     

风箱果有性繁殖研究

对风箱果（Physocarpus amurensis）适宜的采种时期、不同母树种子的成熟差异和幼苗的生长特征进行了研究。结果表明,风箱果种子的最适采种期在7月末,种子成熟后有休眠特性;方差分析表明,不同植株间种子的发芽率和千粒重都达到极显著水平（p<0.01）,并且发芽率与种子重量呈正相关,其相关程度最佳的为幂函数,确定系数是75.75%（p<0.01）;风箱果幼苗类型为子叶出土型,幼苗生物量对根的投资最大,其次是叶,茎的最少,在这3部分生物量投资中,对根和叶的投资比较稳定（其变异系数分别为6.8%和11.03%）,对茎的生物量投资具有较大的变异（其变异系数为21.81%）。基径是衡量风箱果幼苗空间大小的重要数量指标。风箱果构件生物量（根生物量、茎生物量、叶生物量及总生物量）各组分均随基径的增加,呈线性函数形式增长,这表明随着植株的空间扩展,各构件有着相同的物质生产与积累规律。     

玄参的化学成分研究

利用正、反相硅胶以及各种色谱技术进行分离,经理化性质和光谱分析鉴定中药玄参(Scrophularia ningpoensis)有效成分。从玄参(S. ningpoensis)根的乙醇提取物中分离了8个化合物,分别鉴定为14-去氧-12(R)-磺酸基穿心莲内酯（14-deoxy-12(R)-sulfo andrographolide, Ⅷ）、肉桂酸（cinnamic acid,Ⅰ）、对羟基肉桂酸（p-hydroxycinnamic acid,Ⅱ）、丁二酸（succinic acid,Ⅲ）、β-谷甾醇（β-sitosterol, Ⅳ）、胡萝卜甙（daucosteol,Ⅴ）、葡萄糖（gluose,Ⅵ）、熊果酸(ursolic acid,Ⅶ)。Ⅷ为在玄参中首次发现的天然化合物。     

兴安落叶松胚性愈伤组织诱导影响因子的研究

以成熟和未成熟合子胚为外植体,研究影响兴安落叶松（Larix gmelinii）胚性愈伤组织诱导的几种主要因子。结果表明兴安落叶松合子胚带胚乳培养有利于胚性愈伤组织的诱导;内蒙沙地种源成熟合子胚的诱导率显著（p<0.05）高于加格达奇山地种源;冷藏处理可以提高成熟合子胚胚性愈伤组织的诱导率;不同发育时期的未成熟合子胚的诱导率存在显著差别（p<0.05）,其中以子叶初期合子胚（7月5日）诱导率最高;2,4-D对胚性愈伤组织诱导的影响较大,且与BA、KT存在一定的协同作用;S培养基比DCR和MS培养基更有利于胚性愈伤组织的诱导;培养基中琼脂含量为4 g·L^-1时,诱导率较高。     

小苍兰ACC合成酶FhACS1基因的克隆与序列分析

以小苍兰品种“上农金皇后”为研究对象,利用PCR技术和染色体步移技术首次克隆到了ACC合成酶FhACS1基因的全长序列和编码序列。结果表明：FhACS1基因全长为2 576 bp,包含长为433 bp的5′端非编码区序列（5′-UTR）以及长为373 bp的3′端非编码区序列（3′-UTR）;开放读码框（ORF）长度为1 371 bp,推定编码457个氨基酸。分析表明,该基因包含3个内含子和4个外显子。序列分析结果显示,FhACS1推导蛋白具备ACS蛋白的7个保守结构域;在氨基酸水平上,FhACS1与小果芭蕉的同源性最高（85%）;系统进化分析表明,FhACS1与孟宗竹BaACS（BAC56949.1）、水稻OsACS1（AAA33888.1）、小果芭蕉MaACS1（AAQ13435）的亲缘关系最近。在其已知启动子区域,发现有多个对脱落酸、赤霉素、细胞分裂素等激素响应的顺式元件,以及对干旱和低温等逆境胁迫响应的顺式元件。     

日本岛屿山茶种群遗传结构的ISSR分析

为查明日本岛屿山茶种群的生存状况及了解岛屿隔离对山茶种群遗传结构的影响,采用ISSR分子标记,利用筛选的20条引物对日本5个山茶（Camellia japonica）种群的遗传结构进行分析。结果表明：山茶种群的多态位点百分比（PPB）为70.29％,Nei’s基因多样性指数（H_E）为0.281 9,Shannon信息多态性指数（H）为0.409 5,与其它岛屿种群相比遗传多样性水平较高,表明山茶种群的生存状况较好。基因分化系数G_st=0.205 7,种群间具有较高的遗传分化;地理距离与遗传距离具有显著相关性（r=0.821 7,p<0.05）,UPGMA也将同岛种群聚在一起,表明岛屿隔离对山茶种群的遗传分化具有重要影响。借鉴日本岛屿山茶种群的保护经验,建议加强我国岛屿山茶种群的就地保护力度,同时建立山茶种质资源库,促进基因交流。     

芡个体发育早期的研究

本文研究了芡个体发育的早期, 即心形胚至种苗。心形胚至成熟胚表现为:苗端先发育, 根端弱育;胚芽叶节上的节生根原基先发育, 根端无明显分化。种子胚至种苗表现为:种子萌发时, 下胚轴末端产生多细胞分枝下胚轴毛;种苗形成中, 节生根先发育, 胚根后发育, 且长达1mm左右即停止生长。这些器官发育顺序上的特点在被子植物中是很特殊的, 应该是系统发生上的原始性状。下胚轴毛是水生或湿生被子植物比较普遍的性状, 是区分下胚轴与胚根的指示性状。     

开花期加拿大一枝黄花水浸提液对3种作物种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

测定了入侵杂草加拿大一枝黄花（Solidago canadensis）开花期的茎、叶和花序水浸提液对辣椒(Capsicum annuum)、番茄(Lycoperiscum esculetum)、长梗白菜(Brassica chinensis var. communis)种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响。结果表明：（1）处于开花期的加拿大一枝黄花存在明显的化感作用,在25 mg·mL^-1时,对3种作物种子苗生长有促进作用,浸提液高于50 mg·mL^-1时,作物种子的萌发率和生长受到抑制,这种抑制作用随处理液浓度的提高而增强,在100 mg·mL^-1浓度处理下,甚至使作物种子失去活力;（2）加拿大一枝黄花叶和花序的水浸提液对种子萌发和生长的影响要大于其茎的浸提液;（3）在3种作物中,长梗白菜种子对加拿大一枝黄花水浸提液的敏感性最高。     

大花睡莲种子至种苗的发育形态学研究

为了探索睡莲目与泽泻目个体发育早期的共性,追踪观察了大花睡莲种子至种苗的发育过程。结果发现：种子胚苗端发育先于根端;萌发时首先出现下胚轴,继而末端膨大产生下胚轴毛,最后胚根分化;初生根短命;节生根后发生但较粗壮,浮水叶开始产生时根茎第一节以下部分随即烂掉;种苗的各器官中均有发达的通气组织等基本上与芡、泽泻和黑藻相似。     

不同培养基上白芨的种子萌发与幼苗形态发生

对无菌条件下白芨种子在不同培养基上的萌发及其幼苗形态发生进行了研究.结果表明:在白芨种子萌发过程中,种胚先转绿,然后在种胚远离残余胚柄的一端突破种皮,形成原球茎.在原球茎顶端分化出叶原基,并逐渐发育成叶片.在原球茎下部表面存在透明的毛状物,推测这些毛状物与幼根根毛是同功的.白芨种子萌发最适培养基为1/2 g·L-1 +1.0 mMS NAA.添加低浓度的外源细胞分裂素(6-BA或KT)与NAA组合均严重抑制种子的萌发,种子萌发率较低,形成的圆球茎较小,原球茎分化出的小苗也较细弱.白芨生根壮苗最适培养基为1/2 g·L-1 NAA+2.0 g·L-1活性炭+1.0 mg·L-1 +1.0 mMS GA3.生根壮苗培养基中加入活性炭和GA3有利于根的生长和壮苗,且植株长势健壮.炼苗基质为腐殖土和蛭石(1∶1),成活率可达90%以上.     

Thioredoxin and germinating barley: targets and protein redox changes

The endosperm and embryo of barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) grain were investigated to relate thioredoxin h and disulfide changes to germination and seedling development. The disulfide proteins of both tissues were found to undergo reduction following imbibition. Reduction reached a peak 1 day earlier in the embryo than in the endosperm, day 1 vs. day 2. The profile in both cases resembled those observed with wheat and rice, i.e., the reduction of the storage proteins increased initially and then declined during the period of seedling growth. The extent of the increase in reduction observed with barley endosperm was, however, less pronounced than with the other cereals. Also, unlike wheat and rice, the storage proteins of the endosperm were highly reduced in the dry seed and the sulfhydryl content of glutelins showed no appreciable change during this period. The relative abundance of thioredoxin h during germination and early seedling growth differed in the embryo and endosperm: a progressive decrease in the endosperm (as seen with wheat) vs. an increase in the embryo. Thioredoxin h was found in the major seed tissues in characteristic forms. Three forms were found in the scutellum and aleurone, whereas two, which may represent isoforms, were identified in the root and the shoot. Using a recently developed strategy based on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, several proteins were identified as specific targets for thioredoxin in the embryo following oxidation with H(2)O(2), among them barley embryo globulin 1, peroxiredoxin and acidic ribosomal protein P(3). The results confirm earlier findings with the endosperm of other cereals and extend the importance of thioredoxin-linked redox change to the germinating embryo for functions that potentially include dormancy, protection against reactive oxygen species, translation and the mobilization of storage proteins.     

Seed and early plantlet structure of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica

Seeds from mature fruits of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica deposited in the intertidal zone by sea surface currents revealed an advanced state of embryo development. The fruit dehisces by three longitudinal openings, which originate from the base or point of fruit attachment. Within the fruit the seed is positioned with its radical end at the fruit base, and the apical or plumular end protected until the seed is completely released. Structural observations of the collected mature seeds suggest the possible onset of germination. The mature seed is characterized by an enlarged hypocotyl with abundant starch reserves, a well-defined vascular system with a predominant central vascular strand to mobilize those reserves, a well-developed plumule, and root system initials, which will assure anchorage to the sea floor. Thus, within the dispersal unit, the future plant organs and growing points are well established and the carbohydrate-rich endosperm will assure the availability of sufficient nutrient supplies for short-term development of the seedling.     

Evolution and ecology of seed internal morphology in relation to germination characteristics in Amaranthaceae

Background and AimsInternal seed morphological traits such as embryo characteristics and nutritive tissue can vary considerably within a plant lineage. These traits play a prominent role in germination processes and the success of seedling establishment, and are therefore under high selective pressure, especially in environments hostile to seedlings, such as arid, saline or highly dynamic habitats. We investigated the relationships of seed internal morphology and germination characteristics of 84 species of Amaranthaceae s.l., a family with numerous lineages that have adapted to stressful growing conditions.MethodsWe used seed cross-sections to assess embryo type and the ratios of embryo to seed surface and radicle to cotyledon length. Furthermore, seed mass, mean time to germination, habitat preferences and further plant traits such as C₃ or C₄ photosynthesis and life form were compiled for each species. Data were analysed using phylogenetic comparative methods.Key resultsWe found embryo type (λ = 1), log seed mass (λ = 0.86) and the ratio of embryo to seed size (λ = 0.78) to be evolutionarily stable, with an annular embryo as ancestral in the family. Linked to shifts to the three derived embryos types (spiral, horseshoe-shaped and curved) is an increase in the ratio of root to cotyledon length and a reduction of nutritive tissue. We observed stabilizing selection towards seeds with relatively large embryos with longer radicles and less nutritive tissue that are able to germinate faster, especially in lineages with C₄ photosynthesis and/or salt tolerance.ConclusionsWe conclude that the evolutionary shift of nutrient storage from perisperm to embryo provides an ecological advantage in extreme environments, because it enables faster germination and seedling establishment. Furthermore, the evolutionary shift towards a higher ratio of root to cotyledon length especially in small-seeded Amaranthaceae growing in saline habitats can provide an ecological advantage for fast seedling establishment.     

A comparison of methods for evaluating seed quality in carrots (Daucus carota)

Comparisons of embryo length, ISTA (International Seed Testing Association), cold (10 ^oC), controlled-deterioration, and slope tests for estimating seedling size variability and percentage seedling emergence were made using eighteen stocks of carrot seeds. The coefficient of variation (C.V.) of seedling weight was closely correlated with the C.V. of embryo length (r = 0–87 D.F., 16) and also with the C.V. of root length from the slope test (r = 0–63 D.F., 16). Poorer estimates of percentage seedling emergence were obtained from the cold test in all three sowings (correlation coefficients were between 0–65 and 0–70 D.F., 16) compared with the ISTA, controlled deterioration, and slope tests. For these three tests the correlation coefficients varied between 0–80 and 0–87 (D.F., 16) for all sowings. The embryo test is a rapid (1 man hour per seed lot) and accurate method of assessing potential variability between seed lots. The slope test could provide a less labour demanding method of assessing potential variability than the embryo length test though the results would not be available immediately. However, the slope test could also provide as good an estimate of seedling emergence in the field as the ISTA or controlled-deterioration tests.     

Polyembryony increases embryo and seedling mortality but also enhances seed individual survival in Handroanthus species (Bignoniaceae)

Polyembryony seems to be advantageous to mother plants in detriment of their siblings which face competition since the beginning of seed development. This competition may limit the turnover of embryos into seedlings and their survival ability. We analysed polyembryony frequency and embryo to seedling turnover in three Handroanthus species with sporophytic apomixis. We tested if the embryo number per seed affected seed and embryo morphometry, seedling survival ability and seed individual survival (i.e. survival of at least one seedling per seed). The number of embryos per seed was compared with seedling number at different developmental stages. All 14 populations showed high frequencies of polyembryonic seeds (21–91%). As the number of embryos per seed increased (up to eight embryos/seed), there was a reduction of mean embryo mass, area, seedling length, individual seedling survival ability, and embryo to seedling turnover. There was also an increase in embryo morphological anomalies. However, enhanced seed individual survival was also observed. Thus, the high frequency of polyembryonic seeds and the increase in seed individual survival support the idea that polyembryony represents an alternative reproductive mechanism which can favours these species.     

Gene expression patterns in the maize caryopsis: clues to decisions in embryo and endosperm development.

We will describe gene expression patterns in the maize caryopsis, which provide clues to developmental decisions and questions in the embryo and endosperm. The emphasis will be on the development of the root/shoot axis, which is the main achievement of plant embryogenesis. Data obtained in the vegetative seedling are included as far as they may be relevant to the elaboration of the shoot/root axis. Development of the embryo will be briefly compared to endosperm as both seed compartment exhibit pronounced differences.     

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.) Seed Vigour: Imbibition Effects

By means of a machine vision facility, the process of water-imbibitionin a small seeded brassica species was recorded as the visibleincrease in seed volume. Dry cauliflower seed (Brassica oleracea)showed an immediate rapid phase of imbibition upon the additionof water. This initial phase was associated with the reductionin seedling root growth resulting from the imbibition of coldwater, and the rate of uptake of water at 20?C was negativelycorrelated with subsequent seedling growth. Damage to the testaof dry seed resulted in an increased rate of imbibition anda corresponding decrease in seedling root growth measured onslant boards. This showed that the intact testa of cauliflowerseed is capable of acting as a barrier to water influx and thata high rate of water uptake is damaging to the embryo. Testadamage reduced percentage soil emergence of seeds, as did raisingthe soil moisture content during the imbibition period by wateringimmediately after sowing. Both these treatments were believedto increase imbibition rate. Conditions which encouraged a lowrate of water uptake also improved the rate and uniformity ofemergence. Correlation of mean imbibition rates (measured ina laboratory test) with soil-emergence indicated that the sensitivityto imbibition damage varied between seed lots and interactedwith the absolute rate of water influx to determine the finalpercentage emergence. This factor prevented reliable predictionof seedling performance from the ranked-order of measured imbibitionrates. The significance of these findings to the seed productionand modular transplant raising industries is discussed. Key words: Machine vision, imbibition rate, testa, soil moisture, vigour