Analysis of UDP-Sugar Content in Cucumber Cotyledons in Relation to Growth Rate

UDP-sugar content in cucumber cotyledons grown with or withoutadded zeatin was measured by a newly established method usinghigh performance liquid chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography.With zeatin the growth rate was twice that of the control, andUDP-sugar content was 1.5-fold that of the control. (Received June 6, 1984; Accepted September 27, 1984)     

Water Content and Respiration Rate of Bean Cotyledons

The course of water uptake and respiration rate rise in cotyledonsof Phaseolus vulgaris is divided into three phases. In the first phase lasting 10–16 hrs. respiration rateis controlled by water content; desiccation and reimbibitioninfluence cotyledon water content and respiration rate alikeand the changes are reversible; low temperature prevents watercontent rising above 50 per cent. and also limits respirationrate; both processes have Q₁₀ near unity. The second phase lasting 3–8 hrs. is characterized bya pause in both water uptake and respiration rate rise. In the third phase respiration rate continues to rise untilthe fifth day, after which it falls steadily until eventuallythe cotyledons absciss. The period of rising respiration isone of metabolic activity, the rise having a high Q₁₀ and beingprevented by low temperature. Desiccation at this stage is irreversible.     

激动素在黄瓜子叶器官分化中的作用

采用在培养初期分阶段供应激动素 (KT)的方法 ,研究了其对黄瓜子叶器官分化的影响 ,并对全程供应和不供应KT下子叶中内源多胺和内源激素的变化进行了动态测定。结果表明 :1)供应KT使不定根分化率下降 ,不影响营养芽的分化 ,而对于花芽分化则是必需的。2 )供应KT使多胺中腐胺 (Put)含量变化最为显著 ,在培养第 2、 6d出现峰值 ,在第 4d呈低谷 ,对照则在第 4d出现峰值。 3)供应KT使培养 2d的子叶中吲哚乙酸 (IAA)和脱落酸(ABA)含量显著降低 ,4d时IAA含量显著升高。据上结果 ,就这些生理变化和花芽分化之间是否存在相关进行了充分讨论。     

The Effect of Light on the Senescence of Detached Cucumber Cotyledons

Measurements of cell constituents of cotyledons of cucumberexcised and kept in the light show differences from those excisedand kept in the dark. These differences are partly resolvedby adding glucose to the water-supply of the cotyledons in thedark suggesting that a lack of photosynthetic products is thecontrolling factor in their senescence. Under other circumstancesdifferent factors are operative suggesting that the first stepin senescence is different under different conditions.     

低温与光对黄瓜幼苗子叶光合电子传递活性的影响

25～30℃和30 μmol m~(-2)s~(-1)光下培养的黄瓜幼苗,在黑暗下经 1～7℃处理24h或5℃处理24～72h,光合电子传递活性受不同程度的抑制;其抑制部位主要在PSⅡ氧化侧;随温度的降低和时间的延长,抑制部位可发展至PSⅡ及之后的电子递体上,但尚未影响PSⅠ的活性。160μmol m~(-2)s~(-1)的光强加重低温对电子传递活性的抑制,光强越高,则加重的程度越高;抑制部位从PSⅡ氧化侧发展至PSⅡ反应中心以及PSⅠ。     

Changes in Free Fatty-acid Content and Respiratory Activity during the Senescence of Cotyledons of Cucumber

During senescence the amount of free fatty acid in the chloroplastdecreases while the level in the tissue as a whole increases.Although this rise is sufficient to bring about an inhibitionof mitochondrial activity during the final stages of senescenceit occurs too late to explain the initial respiratory declinein cucumber cotyledons.     

低温胁迫对黄瓜子叶抗坏血酸过氧化物酶活性和谷胱甘肽含量的影响

低温胁迫下黄瓜幼苗子叶抗坏血酸过氧化物酶活性和GSH含量显著下降,下降幅度随低温胁迫程度增加而递增。不同低温胁迫下酶活性和GSH含量变化与子叶电解质泄漏和MDA的增加呈负相关。幼苗用MV和MDA预处理可加剧由低温引起的抗坏血酸过氧化物酶活性和GSH含量降低,而用苯甲酸钠和α-生育酚预处理则可减轻这种降低,显示出过量的活性氧及其引发的膜脂过氧化产物MDA对抗坏血酸过氧化物酶和GSH均有伤害影响。     

The Yellowing of Attached and Detached Cucumber Cotyledons

Measurements of various constituents and the activities of variousenzymes have been made in attached and detached cotyledons ofCucumis sativus. The complex changes observed suggest that thereis a reproducible pattern. Comparison of results for attachedand detached material shows that, although both become yellow,the other biochemical changes associated with yellowing arenot the same.     

5-Aminolevulinic Acid Induced Photodynamic Damage of the Photosynthetic Electron Transport Chain of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Cotyledons

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv Poinsette) plants were sprayed with 20 millimolar 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and then incubated in dark for 14 hours. Upon transfer to sunlight (800 watts per square meter) the plants died after 5 hours of exposure due to photosensitization reaction of metalloporphyrins. Due to the photodynamic damage, photosystem II (PSII), photosystem I (PSI), and whole chain reactions were impaired. PSII activity was more susceptible to photodynamic damage than PSI. The variable fluorescence was significantly reduced in ALA-treated plants within 1 hour of exposure to sunlight. At low temperature (77°K), the PSI fluorescence peak height (F₇₃₄) was drastically reduced and blue shifted by 6 nanometers. The photodynamic damage was irreversible; rather, it continued upon dark incubation of ALA-treated cucumber plants exposed to sunlight for 15 minutes. In the latter experiment, continued production of malondialdehyde during dark treatment suggests the degradation of unsaturated membrane lipids.     

The Fine Structure of Senescing Cotyledons of Cucumber

ABSTRACT Changes in fine structure have been followed in mesophyll cellsof attached and detached cucumber cotyledons from maturity at16–20 days to an advanced stage of senescence at 50 days.From about 25 days in the attached cotyledons, the chloroplastthylakoids gradually disappear and large osmiophilic globulesaccumulate in the stroma, which itself is reduced in density.At the same time the ribosomes are lost, first those free inthe ground plasm, followed by those attached to the endoplasmicreticulum (E.R.). The E.R. later vesiculates and breaks down.The mitochondria become smaller and ultimately contain few cristae,but they remain morphologically intact until a very late stage.The tonoplast breaks down from 35 days and the plasma membranefrom 40 days, the latter probably resulting in cell death. The pattern of changes in cotyledons excised at 16 days andsubsequently floated or stood in water is similar to that inattached cotyledons except that the chloroplast breakdown ismore rapid and the ribosome loss is less rapid and complete.Breakdown of the tonoplast is delayed to 40 days and the plasmamembrane remains intact. These observations are discussed in relation to possible senescencemechanisms.     

Inter-organ Control of Greening in Etiolated Cucumber Cotyledons

Inter-organ control of greening in etiolated cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Aonagajibae) cotyledons was investigated. Four- or six-day-old excised or intact etiolated cucumber cotyledons were illuminated under aerobic conditions. Excised cotyledons without hypocotyl hooks produced chlorophyll without a prolonged lag phase and the rate of chlorophyll formation was not depressed if they were illuminated immediately after excision. If the excised cotyledons were incubated in the dark before illumination, chlorophyll accumulation at the end of 6 h of continuous illumination was remarkably lowered as the dark period lengthened, especially in 6-day-old cotyledons. The rapid loss of chlorophyll-forming capacity of excised cotyledons during dark preincubation suggests a stimulatory effect of hypocotyls on the greening in cotyledons. The treatment of excised cotyledons with bleeding sap in the dark for 18 h resulted in the promotion of chlorophyll formation during subsequent continuous illumination. Partial fractionation of bleeding sap with organic solvents and paper chromatography indicates that the active substances showed the same behavior as cytokinins. These facts add weight to the hypothesis that cytokinins from roots flow into cotyledons and stimulate greening.     

Effects of fusicoccin on Fresh Weight and Chlorophyll Levels in Cucumber Cotyledons

Incubation of cucumber cotyledons with fusicoccin increasedtheir fresh weights and chlorophyll levels and this effect wasenhanced by KCl. Addition of fusicoccin to this combinationincreased fresh weights but decreased chlorophyll levels. Thissuggests that the effects of fusiccocin on these two processesare probably mediated via different mechanisms. (Received January 4, 1982; Accepted March 25, 1982)     

The Effect of Shading on the Photosynthetic Rate and Longevity of Grass Leaves

The rate at which the net photosynthesis of grass leaves grownin bright light (119 W m^–2) decreased as they aged wasincreased by severe shading (to 21 W m^–2 or less). However,less severe shading (light intensities of 36 W m^–2 ormore) had no effect. The decrease in photosynthesis was unaffectedby whether the whole plant was shaded or only the leaf whosephotosynthesis was measured. In both shaded and unshaded leaves, photosynthesis measuredin bright light fell faster as the leaf aged than did photosynthesisin dim light. Both mesophyll and stomatal diffusion resistancesrose as the leaf aged but the former rose faster. The chlorophyllcontent fell only towards the end of the life of the leaves.     

Effects of Cytokinin and Light on Polyamines during the Greening Response of Cucumber Cotyledons

The cucumber cotyledon greening test was used as a model systemto study possible relationships between cytokinins and polyaminesduring the greening process. When cytokinin was applied to dark-growncotyledons, large increases in chlorophyll and putrescine levelswere observed. However, inhibition of putrescine biosynthesiswith D-arginine and difluoromethylarginine did not affect chlorophyllproduction, and applied polyamines proved inhibitory to greening.Addition of 50 mM K^$ to the cytokinin treatments increased chlorophyllsynthesis but caused a marked reduction in putrescine levels.These results indicate that the large increase in putrescinecontent that derives from cytokinin treatment of the cotyledonsis not essential for the cytokinin-induced greening response. ¹Present address: Crop Science Department, University of Guelph,Guelph, Ontario, Canada, NIG 2W1.²Present address: Agrogen Biotechnologies Inc., 520W. 6th Ave.,Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V5Z 4H5. (Received June 29, 1987; Accepted October 9, 1987)     

黄瓜幼苗子叶在低温下的光抑制及其恢复

用PAM脉冲调制荧光仪测定叶绿素荧光的变化研究了黄瓜幼苗子叶在PFD为50和100μmolm-2s-1,温度为4、7、10、15℃下的光抑制及其恢复。结果表明,黄瓜幼苗子叶Fv／Fm随着温度的下降和PFD的增加而下降,并且增加等量的PFD在4℃下比在10℃下引起更大的Fv／Fm下降。在黑暗条件下光抑制有轻微恢复,但完士恢复必需光照,且恢复起始时的光照十分重要。DTT可部分抑制叶绿素荧光Fo和Fm的猝灭,且15℃下比在4℃下抑制效果更大。CAP能强烈地加剧光抑制并几乎完全抑制恢复,且10℃下比在4℃下对光抑制的加剧作用更大。冷锻炼提高了黄瓜幼苗抵抗低温先抑制的能力,而CAP对冷锻炼苗比未锻炼苗的低温光抑制具有更大的加剧作用。     

Effects of Sucrose on Petiolar Carbohydrate Accumulation and Photosynthesis in Excised Sinapis Cotyledons

Petioles of Sinapis cotyledons cultured in 6x10^–2 M sucrosein the light increased 28-fold in total carbohydrate contentover a 7-d period compared with an 8-fold increase in petiolesof cotyledons cultured on water. The starch and reducing sugarfractions were the major components of this accumulation. Labelledsucrose applied to the petiole base moved quickly up the petioleand into the main veins of the lamina. Some basipetal redistributionoccurred subsequently and after 24 h radioactivity accumulatedstrongly at the petiole base. Culture in sucrose reduced basalaccumulation and increased acropetal movement of the label. Fixation of ¹⁴CO₂ by petioles remained constant when cotyledonswere cultured in water, whereas in sucrose, fixation fell by50 per cent during the first 2 d. The pattern of inhibitionof fixation matched the pattern of sucrose distribution in thepetiole. Petiolar chlorophyll content remained constant in controlsbut fell rapidly after 4 d culture in sucrose. The results are discussed in relation to the role of petiolarcarbohydrate accumulation in the regulation of CO₂ fixation,primordium development, and senescence in this system.     

Changes in the Content of Starch and Activities of some Enzymes of Carbohydrate Metabolism in Cotyledons of Germinating Seeds of Voandzeia subterranea

During the germination of the seeds of Voandzeia subterraneaL. Thouars, the content of starch in the cotyledons fell progressively.There was a substantial increase in amylase activity duringthe first 4 d. The activity of starch phosphorylase increasedafter 6 d when there was a rapid decline in amylase activity.The activities of hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase,and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase increased, suggesting thepresence of an active phosphogluconate pathway in the cotyledons.     

Delay of Senescence of Detached Cucumber Cotyledons by Triadimefon

Changes in contents of reactive oxygen species (O₂ ⁻ and H₂O₂) and non-enzymatic antioxidants, activities of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation were investigated during senescence of detached cucumber cotyledons dipped in water (control) and 20 mg dm⁻³ triadimefon (TDM). O₂ ⁻ and H₂O₂ accumulation and lipid peroxidation were observed during senescence of cucumber cotyledons, which coincided with a drop in the contents of carotenoids (Car) and ascorbic acid (AsA), and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and an increase in the activity of peroxidase (POD). However, TDM could significantly inhibit the accumulation of O₂ ⁻ and H₂O₂, and lipid peroxidation by preventing the decrease of CAT, APX, Car and AsA and the increase of POD, while TDM had little effect on SOD activity during the senescence. Therefore we can draw a conclusion that TDM protects the membrane system and retards the senescence of detached cucumber cotyledons. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Inhibition of Pigment Biosynthesis in Cucumber Cotyledons by Isoxaflutole

Isoxaflutole [5-cyclopropyl-4-(2-methylsulphonyl-4-trifluromethylbenzoyl)isoxazole] is a new preemergence herbicide for broad-spectrum weed control in maize. The effect of isoxaflutole on chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoid (Car) biosynthesis was investigated in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cotyledons. Etiolated tissue was incubated with 5 mM isoxaflutole for 24 h and irradiated (60 mol m^-2 s^-1). The irradiation for 3 h did not reduce Chl a, Chl b, and Car contents, but after a 28-h irradiation the contents of Chl a and Car decreased by 35 and 15 %, respectively, and the content of Chl b increased by 24 %. Increasing the concentration of isoxaflutole beyond 5 mM resulted in reduction of Chl a (71 %), Chl b (20 %), and Car (31 %) contents. Similarly, increase in irradiance from 60 to 180 mol m^-2 s^-1 resulted in larger reduction of Chl and Car contents. Exogenously supplied 5-aminolevulinic acid did not reverse the isoxaflutole-inhibited Chl synthesis, whereas an exogenously supplied homogentisic acid lactone reversed the inhibition of pigment synthesis due to isoxaflutole.