The Distribution of Silicon Deposits in the Roots of Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench. and Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.

The occurrence of silica in relation to meristematic zones andthe thickening of the endodermis in the roots of Molinia caerulea(L.) Moench. and Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. has been investigatedby means of the electron-probe microanalyser and the scanningelectron microscope. In proximal regions of mature roots ofM. caerulea, the central strengthening tissue of the stele,the vessel walls, the endodermis and the sub-epidermal sclerenchymaare areas of heavy accumulation. The distal regions of suchroots are relatively free of silicon and show little thickeningof the inner tangential walls of the endodermis or of the cellsof the strengthening tissues. The thickening of these elementsis shown to be associated with their location and the age ofthe root. In the proximal regions of S. bicolor, silicon is detected andlargely confined to the inner tangential walls of the endodermiswhich display some thickening. In addition, discrete and evenly-distributeddeposits varying in size partly fill the lumen of this layer.Some cells exhibit a number of smaller protrusions. High magnificationsof these lumen deposits show a distinct granular structure incontrast to the very uniform pattern of the wall deposits. The results are compared with deposits in grass leaves and inflorescencebracts and in woody perennials. The presence of silicon in additionto suberin, lignin and polyphenols in the thickened endodermalwall is also discussed in relation to the recognized functionof the endodermis.     

Development and reproduction of the foxglove aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on invasive swallow-worts (Vincetoxicum spp.)

The foxglove aphid, Aulacorthum solani (Kaltenbach), recently was documented using the invasive species pale and black swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum rossicum (Kleopow) Barbar. and V. nigrum (L.) Moench, respectively) as host plants. Because these are new host plant records for this polyphagous species, we investigated foxglove aphid development and reproduction on pale and black swallow-wort relative to a known crop host, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), at a 25:20°C thermophase and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. Almost no such data have been previously reported for a noneconomic host plant. Larval development and survival, as well as adult reproductive development and fecundity, were similar between the two swallow-wort species and potato. Adult aphids lived significantly longer on pale swallow-wort than the other two host plants, but this extended longevity encompassed the postreproductive stage. Foxglove aphid population parameters were therefore similar among the three plant species as well as most previous reports on crop plants. Pale and black swallow-wort appear to be suitable secondary hosts for foxglove aphid; other factors possibly limit aphid abundance on these two plant species in the field.     

Development of basal endosperm transfer cells in Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench and its relationship with caryopsis growth

During sorghum caryopsis development, endosperm epidermal cells near the basal main vascular bundle are specialized by depositing wall ingrowths, differentiating into basal endosperm transfer cells (BETCs). All the BETCs together compose the basal endosperm transfer layer (BETL). BETCs are the first cell type to become histologically differentiated during endosperm development. The initiation and subsequent development of BETCs shows the pattern of temporal and spatial gradient. The developmental process of BETL can be divided into four stages: initiation, differentiation, functional, and apoptosis stage. A placental sac full of nutrient solutions would emerge, enlarge, and eventually disappear between the outmost layer of BETL and nucellar cells during caryopsis development. BETCs have dense cytoplasm rich in mitochondria, lamellar rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, and their secretory vesicles. They show a series of typical characteristics of senescence such as nuclei distortion and subcellular organelle deterioration during their specialization. BETCs probably play an active role in nutrient transfer into the starchy endosperm and embryo. The occurrence, development, and apoptosis of BETCs are in close relation to the caryopsis growth and maturation especially the enrichment of endosperm and the growth of embryo. The timing when BETL is fully developed, composed of three to four layers in radial direction and 70 to 80 rows in tangential direction, consists with the timing when average daily gain of caryopsis dry weight reaches its maximum. It is conceivable that measures that delay the senescence and death of BETCs would help to increase the crop yield.     

Effect of Post-infection Application of Fungicides on the Apple Scab Pathogen, Venturia inaequalis (Cke.) Wint.

The Ergosterol-biosynthesis inhibiting (EBI) fungicides had a prolonged inhibitory effect on the growth and sporulation of the fungus, Venturia inaequalis thereby preventing development of typical apple scab symptoms. Atypical lesions in the form of chlorotic or reddish brown flecks had reduced viable sporulation with deleterious effect on subcuticular hyphae when fungicide was applied beyond 144 h but before 170h after inoculation. Myclobutanil (45μg a.i./ml) had the maximum inhibitory effect on sporulation and colony growth while bitertanol (187.50 μg a.i./ml) showed only a temporary inhibition of fungal growth and sporulation. Ultra-structural studies also exhibited different levels of fungitoxicity by different fungicides when applied 144 h after inoculation.     

Endodermal Silicification in Mature, Nodal Roots of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.

Nodal roots of mature, soil-grown specimens of Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench. were investigated for their Si content by meansof the electron-probe microanalyser and the scanning electronmicroscope. No consistent accumulation of Si occurred other than in theendodermis. Indication of a lower Si content in the old as comparedto the younger nodal roots was obtained. The solid silica depositsoccurred as domeshaped silica aggregates confined to the innertangential wall. Comparisons with the similar deposits of youngseminal roots are made. It is argued that the endodermal deposits represent a specializedaspect of silicification and contrasting hypotheses to accountfor it are proposed, one involving physico-chemical factors,the other, protoplasmic control.     

The Effect of Temperature, Light and Leaf Age on the Frequency of Appressoria Formation and Infection with Uromyces phaseoli (Pers.) Wint.

The frequency of appressoria formation is reduced by changed conditions of infection such as adult leaves, higher temperature, or continuous light during penetration. In correlation with the reduced number of appressoria, the infection frequency decreases too. The behaviour of growing germ tubes on the plant surfaces did not show any indication of the fungus being led to the stomates by leaf surface structures. Obviously a recognition signal proceeds from the stomates sometimes helping the fungus to get into the leaf. Probably the gas exchange through the stomates is involved. Carbon dioxide, produced by the leaves in the dark, can build up pH-gradients towards the stomates as the inoculated leaves are covered with a water film.     

杨梅果实发育进程中的碳水化合物代谢

以‘乌紫’和‘荸荠’两个杨梅品种为试材,测定了干鲜重、糖含量、可滴定酸含量、蔗糖和己糖代谢相关酶活性的动态变化。结果表明,杨梅果实的干鲜重、含糖量的快速增长和可滴定酸含量的快速下降均发生在果实发育后期。成熟‘乌紫’杨梅果实的蔗糖含量约占总糖的2／3以上,而‘荸荠’杨梅仅为总糖的49％。‘荸荠’杨梅的转化酶和蔗糖合酶分解活性随着果实发育呈上升趋势,‘乌紫’杨梅的则变化不大。两个品种的蔗糖磷酸合酶活性随着果实发育呈上升趋势,但蔗糖合酶合成活性到果实发育中期后下降。两个品种的己糖激酶活性变化相似,但果糖激酶活性的变化趋势不同。     

Nucleic Acid Content in Leafblight disease of Brassica oleracea var. botrytis caused by Alternaria brassicicola (Schw.) Wiltshire

The effect of Alternaria brassicicola (Schw.) Wiltshire infection on the changes of nucleic acids of Brassica oleracea var. botrytis was studied. An increase in vocal nucleid adds (57%), DNA (44%) and RNA (150 %) in infected leaves was found. The increase in RNA content was due to an increase of all the four nucleotide contents. Guanylic acid increased significantly more than the other three nucleotides. The increase in G/C ratio was also due to an increase in guanylic acid.     

Endodermal Silicon Deposits and Their Linear Distribution in Developing Roots of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.

Seedlings of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. were cultured in nutrientsolution containing 100 p.p.m. SiO₂. Over periods up to 14 days,the progressive accumulation of Si deposits was recorded bymeans of the electron-probe microanalyser and the scanning electronmicroscope along the seminal root length. An acropetal, linear gradient of Si deposits developed in theendodermis, beginning at the proximal end of the root after1 day, and subsequently extended distally until after 7 days,the total silicified endodermal zone occupied the proximal 75per cent of the root length, a value which remained relativelyconstant thereafter, in spite of root extension. No Si was detectedbelow this zone towards the apex. This result is believed tobe related directly to the asynchronous gradient of cell maturationexhibited by the endodermis behind the apex, and specificallyto the degree of wall development therein. Opaline silica was deposited only in the endodermis, initiallyon the inner tangential wall (ITW) surface after only 1 day,as spherical masses of coalesced, primary particles for whichthe term ‘silica aggregate’ is proposed. A thinlayer of silica over the wall surface was formed as a secondaryphase. The aggregates reached mature size after approximately7 days. Conditions favourable to the inception of silica depositionare discussed including the significance of the chemical compositionof the aggregates, and the importance of the degree of cellulosicthickening, as well as the surface characteristics, of the ITW.     

Effect of Number of Photoperiodic Cycles on Flowering and Fruiting in Early and Late Varieties of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.)

Early and late varieties of the short day plant, Abelmoschusesculentus (L.) Moench. (= Hibiscus esculentus L.), were subjectedto various numbers of short days (SD; 10 h natural daylight)before transfer to 16 h long days. Short day treatments werestarted at the time of cotyledon release following seed germination,and their effects on the induction and development of flowersand fruits were recorded. While early okra required 6 SD cyclesfor the induction of flowering in all plants, late okra required14. However, both varieties needed more than 20 SD cycles forflower opening; flower buds produced by plants given fewer SDcycles abscinded with little or no development. In both varieties,the number of flower buds produced on each plant increased asthe number of short day cycles was increased from 5 to 20; flowerbuds were initiated at more axillary bud sites on the main stem.Three fruits were formed on each plant of both varieties subjectedto more than 30 SD cycles but, while the last formed fruit abscindedwithout development, the other two developed and became filledwith seeds. However, the greatest yield in fruit dry weightwas from plants kept under SD throughout and also in late okraplants given 55 SD. In general, the total number of seeds perplant increased as a larger number of SD cycles were imposed.     

疏叶骆驼刺〔Alhagi sparsifolia(B.Keller et Shap.)Shap.〕的物候学分析

对吐鲁番沙漠植物园中自然分布的疏叶骆驼刺〔Alhagisparsifolia (B .KelleretShap .)Shap .〕的物候进行了 5a连续的观测 ,编绘了物候图谱。运用主成分分析方法 ,对影响疏叶骆驼刺物候的温度和光照因子进行了分析 ,揭示出与其主要物候期关系最为密切的气象因子 ,表明不同的物候期 ,诱导物候表现的主导因子不同 :诱导疏叶骆驼刺萌动期的主要气象因子为旬均最高温、旬均最低温和累计日照时数 ;诱导开花期的主要气象因子为≥ 5℃积温、花期平均日照长度和盛期旬均温 ;诱导果熟期最主要的环境因子有始熟旬均温、累积日照时数和全熟旬均温。