Genetics of seed-coat colour in Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Mansf.

Summary Intervarietal crosses in watermelon, Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Mansf., involving six parents with black (J18-1 and J 75), brown (J56-1 and N.H. Midget), red (Bykovski-199) or light cream (Red Nectar) seed-coat colour were made. Parents, F₁, F₂ and backcross populations were evaluated for their phenotypic expressions with regard to the seed-coat colours involved. Black colour was monogenically dominant over brown light cream and red colour of seed-coat separately or independently. Red colour was dominant over light cream colour of seed-coat by a single pair of genes. The light cream colour was recessive to the brown seed-coat colour of watermelon where a single pair of genes was involved.     

Chemical composition and ultrastructure of broad bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vicia faba</Emphasis> L.) nodule endodermis in comparison to the root endodermis

Ultrastructure and development of apoplastic barriers within indeterminate root nodules formed by Vicia faba L. were examined by light and electron microscopy. The nodule outer cortex is separated from the inner cortex by a heavily suberized nodule endodermis, which matures in submeristematic regions and possesses suberin lamellae. Unsuberized passage cells are present near vascular strands, which are surrounded by a vascular endodermis attached on the inner side of the nodule endodermal cell walls. The vascular endodermis appears immediately below the meristematic apex in developmental state I (Casparian bands), gradually develops suberin lamellae, and attains developmental state II at the base of the nodule. For chemical analysis apoplastic barrier tissues were dissected after enzymatic digestion of non-impregnated tissues. Root epidermal and endodermal cell walls as well as nodule outer cortex could be isolated as pure fractions; nodule endodermal cell walls could not be separated from vascular endodermal cell walls and enclosed xylem vessels. Gas chromatography-flame ionization detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were applied for quantitative and qualitative analysis of suberin and lignin in isolated cell walls of these tissues. The suberin content of isolated endodermal cell walls of nodules was approximately twice that of the root endodermal cell walls. The suberin content of the nodule outer cortex and root epidermal cell walls was less than one-tenth of that of the nodule endodermal cell wall. Substantial amounts of lignin could only be found in the nodule endodermal cell wall fraction. Organic solvent extracts of the isolated tissues revealed long-chain aliphatic acids, steroids, and triterpenoid structures of the lupeol type. Surprisingly, extract from the outer cortex consisted of 89% triterpenoids whereas extracts from all other cell wall isolates contained not more than 16% total triterpenoids. The results of ultrastructural and chemical composition are in good correspondence and underline the important role of the examined tissues as apoplastic barriers.     

The effect of seed size on the development and yield ofVoandzeia subterranea (L.)Thouars. (Bambara groundnut)

Voandzeia subterranea (L.)Thouars (Bambara groundnut) is a drought and poor soil cultivated legume. The seeds vary both in colour and in size. The seed colour ranges from white, cream, ivory to dark brown red or black. The seed weight varies fromabout 0.15 g to 1.20 g. The effect of seed size on the development and yield of the cream coloured cultivar ofV. subterranea was investigated. The three size class of seeds used in the study are small (seeds weighing less than 0.40 g) medium (seeds weighing from 0.40–0.60g) and large (seeds weighing above 0.60g). The results of the investigation show that the number of leaves, pods and seeds, the leaf area, dry weight of plants and the seeds produced increased significantly with increase in the seed size.     

Palaeosmunda Emended and Two New Species

The genus Palaeosmunda was established by R. E. Gould in 1970 based upon some Late Permian Osmundaceous trunks with well-developed leaf gaps and rhomboidal sclerotic ring within petiolar base seen in cross section. As he thinks that the latter character is more important than the former, this genus could not be assigned to any subfamily of Osmundaceae. However, the leaf gap is one of the most important characters in the structure of the fern stem, so the author suggests that this genus should be assigned to subfamily Osmundoideae and its diagnosis must be emended as follows: The genus Palaeosmunda is represented by some rhizomes (or trunks), roots and leaf bases of ferns which structurally are preserved, resembling Osmundacaulis but which can’t be assigned to any group of this genus. Stem containing an ectophloic dictyoxylic siphonostele; if tracheids present in the pith, they being multiseriate scalariform pitted; pith or cortex sometimes contain ing groups of secretory cells or sclerenchyma; number of leaf traces seen in a tran sverse section of cortex more than 30; leaf traces adaxially curvature, rarely oblong shaped; petiolar bases with or without stipular expansion, containing a C-shaped vascular strand; root diarch. Type species——Palaeosmunda williamsii. According to this diagnosis some primitive osmundaceous species with the leaf gaps, which have already found in Upper Permian and Lower Triassic, could be assigned to this genus. Two of them are P. williamsii Gould and P. playfordii Gould, and Osmundacaulis beardmorensis, which was from Lower Triassic of Antarctica in 1978, should be assigned to the genus Palaeosmunda. In this paper two osmundaceous new species: P. primitiva and P. plenasioides were found in the coal balls of Upper Permian age from Wangjiazhai of Shuicheng of Guizhou Province, China. P. primitiva is represented by two trunks; stem about 4 cm in diameter; stele actophloic dictyoxylic siphonostele; pith cavity about 3—4 mm in diameter, contianing parenchyma and tracheids; xylem cylinder thin, less than 10 tracheids in radial thickness, dissected by leaf gaps. Inner cortex about 1.5 cm thick, mainly parenchymatous, but sometimes containing a few sclerenchymatous; number of leaf traces seen in a transverse section about 50—60; leaf traces departing at 35—45º,open C-shaped at point of departure, gradually becoming shallow C-shaped or V-shaped in different parts; protoxylem in base of leaf traces single, endarch; when leaf traces pass through inner cortex, protoxylem biturcating. Petiole bases without stipular expansion, probablyloosely embracing the stem; xylem strand of potiole trace shallow C-shaped, surrounded by selerenchyma; sclerotic ring round, connected with single sclerenchyma mass in the concavity of the petiole trace. Root arising singly from leaf trace, diarch, with inner and outer cortex. P. plenasioides is represented by a rhizome; stem more than 4 cm in diameter; stele actophloic dictyoxylic siphonostele; xylem cylider with about 20 tracheids in radial thickness, dissected by leaf gaps; xylem bundle U-, O-, or crosier- (i.e. query-) shaped; pith and inner cortex parenchymatous, with many groups of secretory cells; leaf trace C-shaped, its base containing two endarch protoxylem groups; root diareh,with inner and outer cortex, arising singly from leaf trace or its base.     

Effect of Pyroquilon, an Inhibitor of Melanin Synthesis, on Sporulation and Secondary Infection of Magnaporthe grisea

The effect of pyroquilon. an inhibitor of meianin synthesis. on the sporulation and secondary infection of Magnaporthe grisea spores was investigated. Spore formation of M. grisea was significantly inhibited on the pyroquilon-containing medium. but mycelial growth was not impaired. Moreover, although the colour of the spore suspension obtained from control medium without pyroquilon was black, the suspension prepared from spores which had grown on the pyroquilon-containing medium was red-brown. The cell walls of the spores consisted of two layers. the outer of which was highly electron-dense and saw-like in cross section, regardless of treatment. Both the outer and the inner layers of the cell walls of spores which had grown on pyroquilon-containing medium were thin compared with those of control spores. When M. grisea spores which had formed on the pyroquilon-containing medium were inoculated onto rice leaf sheaths, red brown appressoria were formed. Compared with the control, appressorial penetration and hyphal growth in the host cells were inhibited. The inhibitory effect pyroquilon exerted upon the infection behavior of M. grisea spores was dependent on the dose of the chemical.     

喀斯特地区莎叶兰的解剖构造及其环境适应性

以广西西北部雅长兰科植物保护区的莎叶兰( Cymbidium cyperifolium)为对象,采用石蜡切片法对莎叶兰叶片和根的解剖构造及其对喀斯特环境的适应性进行了研究。结果表明：(1)莎叶兰叶片的上表皮覆盖有较厚的角质层,气孔均分布于下表皮,且凸出表皮细胞之上;各表皮性状在叶片不同部位存在显著差异,叶片下部的气孔密度、气孔指数和气孔长度最大,表皮细胞密度以叶片上部的最大;叶片属于等面叶,叶肉无栅栏组织和海绵组织的分化;叶脉为明显的平行脉,且粗细交互分布;(2)莎叶兰根的横切面包括根被、皮层、中柱3部分,其中根被细胞排列紧密,为生活细胞;皮层由薄壁细胞组成;根部维管束属于辐射维管束,14原型。菌根粗壮,稀根毛,共生真菌主要分布于根被及皮层中,菌丝体通过根被薄壁细胞间隙及内、外皮层的通道细胞进行侵染。(3)莎叶兰叶片和根的结构不仅有湿生植物特征,如叶片相对较薄、气孔少且凸出表皮细胞、冠/根比值大等;还有旱生植物的特征,如叶片角质层较厚、机械组织发达、细胞结构紧密、具含晶细胞,肉质根具根被,内、外皮层细胞壁明显增厚等。这些结构是莎叶兰对当地缺水、干湿季明显、分布于林下多石砾土壤的生长环境的一种高度适应性表现。     

Anatomy of Stigmaria asiatica Jongmans et Gothan from the Asselian (lowermost Permian) of Wuda Coalfield,Inner Mongolia,North China

Stigmaria asiatica Jongmans et Gothan is a common species from the Permo-Carboniferous of East Asia. It is characterized by a relatively slender rhizomorph and represents the underground rooting system of lowland arborescent lycopsids. This species from the Wuda Coalfield (Asselian, lower Permian) represents the recovery taxon dominating the subsequent peat-forming vegetation after a volcanic eruption destroyed the previous flora, termed the Wuda Tuff Flora (Chinese “vegetational Pompeii”). It is characterized by novel downward axes, probably for access to deeper groundwater. Here, the anatomy of S. asiatica, including that of the axes and rootlets, is reported in detail for the first time. The axis contains stelar tissues, including pith, primary and secondary xylem, and phloem, and both primary and secondary cortical tissues. The primary cortex is tripartite and is divided into inner, middle, and outer zones. Secondary cortex is produced in the interior of the outer cortex splitting the outer cortex into inner and outer portions. The homogeneous pith and mesarch primary xylem maturation of S. asiatica are different from previously recorded species of Stigmaria Brongniart. Rootlets are composed of a central monarch vascular bundle surrounded by inner cortex and a ring of outer cortex. A vacant region is present between the inner and outer cortices. In some cases, connectives between the inner and outer cortices are present. According to the presented statistical analysis, it is proposed that rootlets of S. asiatica were highly branched, with at least for 7 bifurcations. Rootlets, together with the downward penetrating rhizomorph, helped to both anchor the plant and search for and absorb deep groundwater.     

Quantitative and qualitative changes in primary and secondary stem organization of Aristolochia macrophylla during ontogeny: functional growth analysis and experiments

The anatomy of young and old stems of Aristolochia macrophylla has been investigated for a better understanding of how secondary growth processes cause changes in the stem anatomy of a lianescent plant. In A. macrophylla, following an increase in volume of secondary vascular tissues, the cortical tissues are deformed and the outer sclerenchymatous cylinder ruptures. Morphometric measurements prove that the inner zone of the cortical parenchymatous tissue is compressed prior to the rupture of the outer sclerenchymatous cylinder. After the rupture has occurred, the radial width of the inner primary cortex slightly increases again. This could be caused by strain relaxation, suggesting that the inner primary cortex mechanically behaves similarly to cellular technical foam rubbers. Two different experiments were undertaken to test the outer cortical cylinders mechanically. The outer cortical cylinders comprise the outer sclerenchymatous cortical tissue and a collenchymatous sheath underneath the epidermis and the epidermis. In a first experiment, transverse compression loads were applied to the outside of the cortical cylinders causing ovalization of the cylinder until failure. This experiment allowed the Young's Modulus of the outer cortical cylinders to be determined. In a second set of experiments, radial hydraulic pressure was applied to the inside of the cortical cylinders, mimicking the mechanical effects of internal growth processes. The increase of the internal pressure finally led to rupture of the cortical cylinders. The circumferential stresses acting on the inner surface of the cortical cylinders were calculated. These data allow quantitative estimates of the radial and circumferential pressures effected by vascular secondary growth processes during ontogeny in A. macrophylla stems. The experimental results further indicate that the outer sclerenchymatous cylinder is the main contributor to mechanical stability of young A. macrophylla stems.     

冠层位置对5种阔叶树叶片解剖结构与氮含量的影响

不同树冠位置的叶片为了达到功能的最大化,形成了不同的结构与功能的特征。然而,在相同的环境条件下,不同树种之间叶片对环境的反应是否存在一致规律,我们仍然缺乏了解。本研究采用石蜡切片和化学分析方法,对东北林区5个常见阔叶树种（蒙古栎、白桦、水曲柳、胡桃楸和黄波罗）不同树冠位置叶片的形态（叶厚度）、解剖（气孔密度、保卫细胞长度、栅栏和海绵组织厚度）和氮（N）含量特征进行了研究。结果表明：叶片的特征在种间和种内不同树冠位置均存在明显差异,并存在较强的规律性。在种内,5个树种的叶片和栅栏组织厚度均是上层外部最大,而保卫细胞和海绵组织的变化不明显,N含量的变异与树种有关。叶片所处的树冠高度和暴露程度对叶片的结构与N含量变异有重要影响。树种之间,蒙古栎的气孔密度最大,叶片厚度和海绵组织厚度最小,保卫细胞最短,黄波罗恰恰相反。结果表明,为了更好地执行整个树冠的功能,不同树种叶片均出现了与冠层位置有关的结构特征适应。     

Rare symptoms and conidial variation in Septoria lycopersici in Zambia

Surveys during the rainy season of 1996 showed that Septoria lycopersici developed two different types of leaf spots on tomatoes grown in kitchen gardens at the University of Zambia Campus and in nearby gardens. The two types of spots could be easily distinguished on the basis of their external morphology. One type, designated as T1, began as dark brown spots of less than 1 mm diameter. Upon increase in size, the spots differentiated into a dark brown outer ring and a grey centre, reaching a maximum diameter of 5 mm. Spots of this type are common and have been described in reports on Septoria leaf spot disease. A second type of spot found in our survey was designated as T2. This Septoria spot was greyish brown with several concentric rings of shrunken leaf tissue. The type T2 spots were larger and did not differentiate into two parts as in T1. The T2 spot diameter was 4–12 mm. The conidia showed differences in curvature, and significantly length, between T1 and T2. The study has shown that S. lycopersici in Zambia is variable. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Bimodal colour pattern of individual Pinus halepensis Mill. seeds: a new type of crypsis

Variation in seed traits is a well‐known phenomenon affecting plant ecology and evolution. Here we describe, for the first time, a bimodal colour pattern of individual seeds, proposing an adaptive explanation, using Pinus halepensis as a model. Pinus halepensis disperses its seeds either by wind on hot dry days, from regular cones, or after fires, mainly from serotinous cones. Post‐dispersal seeds are exposed to strong predation by passerine birds, making crypsis important for seed survival. Individual seeds from non‐serotinous cones have a bimodal colour pattern: one side is light brown and the other black, exposing only one colour when lying on the ground. Serotinous cones from most trees have seeds with similar bimodal colour patterns, whereas seeds from serotinous cones of some trees are light brown on both sides. The dark side provides the seed with better crypsis on dark soils, whereas the light‐brown side is better adapted to light‐coloured soils, and mainly to light‐grey ash‐covered soil, which is the natural post‐fire regeneration niche of P. halepensis. The relative reflection curves of the black and brown seed colours differ, and their calculated relative chromatic distance is 5: meaning that seed‐predating passerine birds see them differently, and probably prefer seeds that present a higher contrast against the soil background. We propose that such a bimodal colour pattern of individual seeds is probably an overlooked general phenomenon mainly linked to seed dispersal in post‐fire and other heterogeneous environments. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 109 , 271–278.     

Genetic studies of the Syrian hamster

A new mutant allele of the Syrian hamster is described. It is inherited as an autosomal recessive and is probably an homologue of the gene for brown pigment, a mutational step which is known to occur in a number of rodent species. In animals homozygous for the mutant allele, all the normal black eumelanin is changed to brown. The new coat colour engendered in this manner is described in detail. The brown allele has been tested for linkage against the genes cream and ruby-eye but the results were negative.     

9种芦荟属植物叶的结构和芦荟素含量的比较研究

9种芦荟属植物叶的比较解剖研究结果表明,它们都具有明显的旱生叶的结构特征,其维管束的韧皮部内都有大型薄壁细胞,但其表皮角质膜的厚度,表面纹饰,气孔上,下腔的形状和大小,同化组织 导 ,细胞分化情况,维管束的大小,分布密度和其大型薄壁细胞占维管束的比例,中央贮水组织占叶横切面的比例等特征,在各种间存在差异,且性状稳定,可以作为该属内种间分类的解剖学指标,植物化学分析结果表明,9种植物叶内蒽醌类物质的主要种类和含量不同,其含量高,低与叶内维管束密度,大型薄壁细胞占维管束的比例以及同化组织的厚度密度切相关,从而为芦荟属植物选育商业用良种提供了植物解剖学依据。     

Comparative anatomy of the young stem,node, and leaf of Bonnetiaceae,including observations on a foliar endodermis

A comprehensive study of the nodal and leaf anatomy of Bonnetiaceae was completed in order to provide evidence for evaluation in relation to systematics. Nodal anatomy is trilacunar, three-trace or unilacunar, one-trace. Basic leaf anatomical features of the family include: complete or incomplete medullated vascular cylinder in petiole; paracytic mature stomata with encircling ridges; large mucilaginous cells in the adaxial surface of mesophyll; periclinal divisions in upper surface layers; and discrete patches of phloem within the vascular bundles. Especially noteworthy is the presence in some genera of foliar vascular bundles enveloped by a sheath composed of two concentric regions, i.e., an inner region consisting of multiple layers of fibers and an outer specialized endodermis composed of thin-walled cells with Casparian strips. Leaves are variable with respect to lamina and cuticle thickness, relative amount and number of palisade and spongy layers, venation of lamina, and the presence or absence of sclereids and crystals in the mesophyll. A major feature in the evolution of Bonnetiaceae is development of a highly divergent, essentially parallel, leaf venation that is superficially similar to that of some monocotyledons and apparently unique among dicotyledons. Foliar anatomy provides important characters for the recognition of subgroups within Bonnetiaceae and is consistent with the segregation of Bonnetiaceae from Theaceae.     

ITOPSIDEMA,A NEW GENUS OF THE OSMUNDACEAE FROM THE TRIASSIC OF ARIZONA

Daugherty , Lyman H. (San Jose State College, San Jose, Calif.) Itopsidema, a new genus of the Osmundaceae from the Triassic of Arizona. Amer. Jour. Bot 47(9): 771–777. Illus. 1960.—Itopsidema vancleavei, a new genus and species of the family Osmundaceae, is described. The specimen consists of several segments of an arborescent stem obtained from the Upper Triassic of the Petrified Forest National Monument near Holbrook, Arizona. The surfaces on 2 of the segments are covered by adventitious roots and the remaining segments are covered by leaf bases. The fronds are spirally arranged and have an 8/21 phyllotaxy. The cortex of the stem, which contains numerous leaf traces and adventitious roots, consists of parenchyma with cell walls of medium thickness. The leaf traces are oblong to crescent-shaped in the inner cortex and horseshoe-shaped in the outer cortex. The base of the petiole contains a single, large vascular bundle and is covered by multicelled, glandular spines. The adventitious roots originate on the abaxial side of the leaf traces in the region of the inner cortex. The center of the stem is occupied by an ectophloic, mesarch siphonostele without leaf gaps. The pith is composed of firm-walled parenchyma cells which have isolated tracheids with reticulate pitting scattered among them. These tracheids are so rare the pith cannot be considered a “mixed pith.” The relationship and morphological significance of Itopsidema with respect to other members of the Osmundaceae are briefly discussed.     

不同土壤环境下黑果枸杞茎、叶形态结构比较

应用石蜡切片法对不同土壤环境下黑果枸杞的叶片和茎的形态结构进行了比较,以期为黑果枸杞在天津地区引种提供理论依据。对叶片和茎的表皮、栅栏组织、维管束、皮层、韧皮部等指标进行了测量。结果表明：黑果枸杞在天津不同土壤环境下生长状况良好。生长在碱性粘土中的黑果枸杞叶片呈长披针形,茎表皮和维管束最发达;生长在沙壤土中的黑果枸杞叶片也呈长披针形,但角质层最厚,茎的皮层最发达;长在红棕土中的黑果枸杞叶片则呈近长椭圆形且叶片较厚,叶表皮气孔密度最大,表皮最厚,叶肉的栅栏和海绵组织最发达,叶柄维管束最大,茎最粗,韧皮部最发达,髓最大。因此,生长在不同土壤环境下的黑果枸杞植株的茎、叶片的形态结构差异明显。     

AUREALCAULIS CROSSII GEN. ET SP. NOV., AN ARBORESCENT,OSMUNDACEOUS TRUNK FROM THE FORT UNION FORMATION (PALEOCENE), WYOMING

Aurealcaulis crossii gen. et sp. nov., is based on permineralized trunks of an osmundaceous tree fern from the Paleocene Fort Union Formation from near Bitter Creek Station of southwestern Wyoming. This new species is characterized by centripetal (exarch) development of its xylem strands which form part of the leaf traces. Most of the leaf traces depart the stele as two segments that fuse into a single C-shaped petiole vascular strand outside of the outer cortex. Stipular expansions of the petiole bases of this species lack sclerenchyma, and roots arise from the lateral edges of leaf traces in the inner cortex. The family Osmundaceae and subfamily Osmundoideae are slightly emended to accept genera assignable to this family and subfamily with exarch protoxylem in their steles. Foliage similar to Osmunda greenlandica (Heer) Brown, which is possibly the leaf form of A. crossii, occurred next to an axis of this species which was in growth position. This axis was anchored in a lignite suggesting that this species grew under swampy conditions. Aurealcaulis crossii is the first arborescent member of the Osmundaceae of Tertiary age and the second arborescent form in this family reported from the Northern Hemisphere.     

油茶叶肿病子房瘿体和叶片瘿体的形态结构特征观察

采用光学显微镜观察了油茶叶肿病子房瘿体和叶片瘿体的形态特征和组织结构特点。结果表明:(1)油茶叶肿病瘿体是油茶的幼嫩子房和幼叶被细丽外担菌感染后所导致的组织增生而成的,细丽外担菌分布于成熟子房瘿体的外表面和叶片瘿体的表面。(2)子房瘿体由受感染的雌蕊子房增殖而来,成熟后表皮层脱落。(3)子房壁分两层,外层子房壁肉质肥厚,主要由大型薄壁细胞构成,是食用的主要部分,内层子房壁为较薄的心皮层,内外两层子房壁之间具有较大的空隙;心皮内有胚珠,胚珠着生在中轴胎座上,胚珠内部中空而没有育性。(4)叶片瘿体为受感染的幼嫩叶片增殖所致,由大型薄壁细胞构成,瘿体表面具表皮层,成熟后表皮脱落。(5)在正常叶片与叶片瘿体的过渡区内有维管束相通,瘿体侧的厚度比正常叶片厚度增加3～4倍,细胞体积增大5～10倍,但瘿体细胞内无叶绿体。     

金线莲与台湾金线莲显微结构比较

通过石蜡切片和表皮制片观察比较金线莲Anoectochilus roxburghii和台湾金线莲A.formosanus根、茎、叶的显微结构特征。结果表明,金线莲与台湾金线莲显微结构的主要区别在于根皮层厚度、维管束数目、叶构造、叶脉颜色、表皮乳头细胞的形状和气孔密度,这些特征可作为金线莲物种的显微鉴别依据。