Studies on the Roots of Musa acuminata cv. Gros Michel: 1. The Anatomy and Development of Main Roots

The anatomy of the adventitious roots of Musa acuminata cv.Gros Michel is described. Interesting anatomical features arethe occurrence of lysigenous lacunae in the cortex and the presenceof very large metaxylem vessels and internal phloem strandsin the stele. The organization of the root meristem is consideredin terms of present concepts. Histological preparations andautoradiographs suggest the existence of an area of relativequiescence in the meristem. The use of modified histogen terminologyin describing the apex is recommended. The development of thetissue systems is also described with emphasis on the differentiationof the vascular tissue.     

Growth and Development of the Banana Plant: I. The Growing Regions of the Vegetative Shoot

This is a study of the vegetative growth of the banana plant,with special reference to the structure of the shoot apex, theorigin of the leaf primordia and buds, and the growth of theleaf base into the pseudostem. The various regions in whichintercalary growth contributes to the vegetative plant bodyare described. The anatomical structures observed are illustratedby photomicrographs. Binucleate cells are conspicuous in theleaf bases and in cells produced by intercalary men-stems. Theformation of the air chambers which are characteristic of themature leaf and of the septa, which are formed as persistentsheets of cells which bound these chambers, is described. Thecell divisions which build the septa, and also those which causethe eccentric growth of the midrib are noted, and their proximityto adjacent vascular strands is stressed. Other marginal meristemsbuild the lamina of the leaf. The function of the central apicalmeristem of the shoot is not to create a massive axis whichgrows in length, for this vegetative function is taken overby the lateral organs, the growth of which greatly overshadowsthat in the main axis. However, as the vegetative shoot growsolder, its central mass of meristem does become progressivelylarger. Cell divisions in this central area are sparse, thoughsufficient to increase its bulk slowly, while the main organ-buildingand cell-multiplying functions are delegated to the lateralorgans. This condition changes on flowering when a massive,true, erect stem forms. Axillary buds do not occur in the vegetativeshoot, but adventitious buds appear in an anomalous situation.The vegetative shoot behaves as though there is an extremelystrong apical dominance, which suppresses all buds and growthin the axis itself. But an elusive question is the mechanismwhich stimulates, or controls, the behaviour of so many dividingcells, distributed so widely, through so many discrete areasof cell division or intercalary meristematic activity. The frequentproximity of vascular strands, as probable sources of both nutrientsand stimuli to cell division, is suggestive here.     

贡蕉胚性细胞悬浮系的建立和植株再生

鲜食蕉品种的高度不育性和多倍性制约了用传统育种方法培育生产实践中所需的新品种 ,建立稳定的胚性细胞悬浮系是香蕉生物技术育种的前提。以目前国内尚未建立该体系的鲜食蕉品种贡蕉 (AA)未成熟雄花序的第 1～ 15位花梳为外植体 ,对胚性细胞悬浮系的建立和植株再生体系进行了优化。结果表明 ,5～ 6个月的培养后可获得分生小球体和浅黄色、松散易碎的胚性愈伤组织。 9μmol/L 2,4 D对外植体愈伤组织的诱导效果最好 ,诱导率为 40.96 % ,胚性愈伤组织诱导率可达7.45 % ,其中5.79%的胚性愈伤组织来源于第 6～12号位置的花梳。胚性愈伤组织悬浮培养后 ,通过 3个月的筛选和继代培养 ,可得到均质的胚性细胞悬浮系。该培养体系合适继代周期为 15d ,继代时合适的起始接种量为每 30mL培养基加 2mLPCVECS。培养 6个月的胚性细胞在体细胞胚诱导培养基中培养15d后可见到白色半透明体细胞胚的发生 ,体细胞胚诱导率为 2 80× 10³个 mLPCV。成熟体细胞胚的萌发率为 17 2 8% ,其中发育成正常的再生植株的百分率为 14 16 %。     

Plant regeneration from embryogenic suspension cultures of Musa acuminata cv. Mas (AA)

Embryogenic callus was established using immature male flower of Musa acuminata cv. Mas. After 5–6 months of culture, embryogenic callus was obtained at 21.75±11.9 from 750 immature male flower clusters with translucent somatic embryos proliferated from the whitish friable callus. It was observed that flower clusters ranging from 4 to 11 responded to form embryogenic callus and out of which 3–10 somatic embryos were formed per flower cluster. Embryogenic callus were obtained at a percentage of 10.00±0.3 on M1 medium initially supplemented with 18 M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) for 3 months and subsequently transferred to the same media with reduced 2,4-D (9 M) for the next 2–3 months. Embryos developed into translucent spheres and slightly torpedo shaped embryos in suspension cultures. Plantlets were obtained on medium M4 supplemented with 0.8M BA, at an average regeneration rate of 13.00±0.58.     

Changes in the Pattern of Cell Division in the Shoot and Root Meristems of Lolium perenne during the Transition from Vegetative to Floral Growth

For Lolium perenne cv. Cropper, a system which resulted in 100%flowering comprised 90 short days (SD) at 4 ?C (vernalization)and 30 SD at 18 ?C followed by 8 long days (LD). The mitoticindex and G1 and G2 percentages were measured in the shoot androot apices of plants following 2, 5 or 8 LD and in SD controlssampled at the beginning and end of induction. Identical measurementswere made in plants given 48 SD at 18 ?C followed by 2, 5 or8 LD; plants remained vegetative in response to this treatmentlacking vernalization. Significant increases in both mitoticindex and meristem size occurred in the shoot apex in LD followingthe vernalizing, but not the non-vernalizing, treatment. A clusterof mitoses in the apical dome of the shoot apex was unique tothe vernalized plants given 5 or 8 LD. However, an increasein root meristem size occurred regardless of vernalization,but a significant increase in the mitotic index was limitedto vernalized plants given 5 or 8 LD. Whilst the vernalization-LDtreatment resulted in an increase in the G2 percentage in theshoot apex following 2, 5 or 8 LD, no such alteration was observedin the root meristem. Thus, the changes to the cell cycle whichcorrelated with flowering were increased mitotic indices andG2 percentages in the shoot apex at each sampling time and increasedmitotic indices in the root apex following 5 and 8 LD. Key words: Cell division, flowering, Lolium perenne L.     

Early Increase in the Mitotic Index in the Shoot Apex of Lolium temulentum cv. Ceres During the Floral Transition

Six-week-old Lolium temulentum cv. Ceres plants were inducedto flower by a single long day (Day 1). Cell proliferation wasanalysed in the apex during the period extending from Day 1to Day 3. A stimulation of mitotic and DNA synthetic activitieswas observed in the apical summit at 8 h of the photoextensionperiod of the LD, i.e. before any apparent movement of the floralstimulus out of the leaves and well in advance of apex evocation. Key words: Cell cycle, flowering, Lolium, shoot apex     

Molecular cloning and expression of five glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes from Banana (Musa acuminata L. AAA group, cv. Cavendish)

Key message

Three tau class MaGSTs responded to abiotic stress, MaGSTF1 and MaGSTL1 responded to signaling molecules, they may play an important role in the growth of banana plantlet.

Abstract

Glutathione S-transferases (GST) are multifunctional detoxification enzymes that participate in a variety of cellular processes, including stress responses. In this study, we report the molecular characteristics of five GST genes (MaGSTU1, MaGSTU2, MaGSTU3, MaGSTF1 and MaGSTL1) cloned from banana (Musa acuminate L. AAA group, cv. Cavendish) using a RACE-PCR-based strategy. The predicted molecular masses of these GSTs range from 23.4 to 27.7 kDa and their pIs are acidic. At the amino acid level, they share high sequence similarity with GSTs in the banana DH-Pahang (AA group) genome. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the deduced amino acid sequences of MaGSTs also have high similarity to GSTs of other plant species. Expression analysis by semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed that these genes are differentially expressed in various tissues. In addition, their expression is regulated by various stress conditions, including exposure to signaling molecules, cold, salinity, drought and Fusarium oxysporum f specialis(f. Sp) cubense Tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4) infection. The expression of the tau class MaGSTs (MaGSTU1, MaGSTU2 and MaGSTU3) mainly responded to cold, salinity and drought while MaGSTF1 and MaGSTL1 expressions were upregulated by signaling molecules. Our findings suggest that MaGSTs play a key role in both development and abiotic stress responses.     

A Catastrophe Model for the Switch from Vegetative to Reproductive Growth in the Shoot Apex

A mathematical model is constructed to describe the morphopneticswitch that occurs when a vegetative plant apex becomes reproductive.The cusp equation from catastrophe theory is modified, and isused to relate primordial size at initiation to apex size. Theresulting equation may be viewed as an equation of state definingthe allowed organizational modes of the shoot apex. The modelsimulates the growth of the apex from the vetative stage toearly reproductive growth, and makes reasonable predictionsabout apex size and growth rate, primordial sizes, and the lengthsof the plastochron. flowering, mathematical model, catastrophe theory, shoot apex     

Development During Vegetative Growth in the Apical Region of the Shoot of Lupinus albus

This investigation was designed to show the nature of the developmentin terms of cell numbers and of rates of division that proceedsin the terminal region of the shoot during the vegetative phasein Lupinus albus. Data are assembled that show that with eachsuccessive plastochron in the dome the number of cells increasesand the rate of division decreases; in the first internode againthe number of cells increases and the rate of division decreases,and in the first primordium both the number of cells and therate of division decrease. The data also show that with thetransition from one plastochron to the next the rate of divisionin any particular intemnode or primordium decreases. It is asignificant feature that all the changes in the system can becharacterized through constant numerical factors. The significanceof the results is discussed.     

Nitrogen Uptake and Plant Growth II. An Empirical Model of Vegetative Growth and Partitioning

An empirical model of vegetative plant growth is presented.The model is based on experimental data on Polygonum cuspidatum,which showed (1) that the partitioning of dry matter and nitrogenamong organs was linearly related to the nitrogen concentrationof the whole plant and (2) that leaf thickness was negativelycorrelated with leaf nitrogen concentration. The model properlydescribes the behaviour of plants. Steady-state solutions ofthe model give the relative growth rate, specific leaf weight,and partitioning of dry matter and nitrogen among organs withthe net assimilation rate and the specific absorption rate asenvironmental variables. The effect of nitrogen removal on drymatter and nitrogen partitioning was examined as non-steady-statedynamic solutions of the model. The model predicted not onlyreduced leaf growth and enhanced root growth but also a fluxof nitrogen from the leaf to the root, which agreed with theexperimental results. Mathematical model, partitioning of dry matter and nitrogen, plant nitrogen, relative growth rate, shoot: root ratio, specific leaf weight     

Genetic Diversity of the Wild Banana Musa acuminata Colla in Malaysia as Evidenced by AFLP

Musa acuminata Colla (Musaceae), the wild progenitor of thecultivated banana, is highly variable in Malaysia and presentsseveral unresolved nomenclatural problems. AFLP was employedto distinguish among three subspecies of Musa acuminata(subsp.truncata and subsp. malaccensis from peninsular Malaysia andsubsp. microcarpa from Borneo) and to examine whether subsp.truncata is a distinct taxon. Eight primer combinations revealedmolecular markers specific for each of the three taxa. UPGMAcluster analysis showed the three taxa were distinct. Subspeciesmalaccensis which is endemic in peninsular Malaysia and subsp.microcarpa which is endemic in Borneo were found to be moresimilar to each other in their DNA patterns than they are tosubsp. truncata, which is endemic to peninsular Malaysia. Sincesubsp. truncata is genetically separate from subsp. malaccensisand subsp.microcarpa , it cannot be regarded as synonymous witheither of these subspecies. This paper sheds light on the nomenclatureof the three subspecies of Musa acuminata. Copyright 2001 Annalsof Botany Company Musa acuminata Colla, truncata, malaccensis, microcarpa, Musaceae, wild banana, genetic diversity, AFLP, DNA fingerprinting     

Growth and Development of the Banana Plant Gross Leaf Emergence

The banana leaf must pass through a prolonged growth periodwhile totally within the pseudostem and with the lamina in aninvolved double coil. During this time the blade makes mostof its growth, completing the last fourth of the expansion asit emerges. In this same latter period it accomplishes almosttwo-thirds of its elongating growth. The first few leaves of a single plant are essentially bladeless.Thereafter the size of the lamina increases in both dimensionswith each succeeding leaf tending to exceed its predecessor.A diurnal/nocturnal cycle is evident in both Costa Rica andHonduras and maximal elongation coincides with the highest temperaturein the daylight hours. Control of elongation is elegant witheach leaf developing at a rate governed by those ahead of it.An assessment is made of the stomatal occurrence over the surfaceof the blade.     

The Complete Chloroplast Genome of Banana (Musa acuminata,Zingiberales): Insight into Plastid Monocotyledon Evolution

Background

Banana (genus Musa) is a crop of major economic importance worldwide. It is a monocotyledonous member of the Zingiberales, a sister group of the widely studied Poales. Most cultivated bananas are natural Musa inter-(sub-)specific triploid hybrids. A Musa acuminata reference nuclear genome sequence was recently produced based on sequencing of genomic DNA enriched in nucleus.

Methodology/Principal Findings

The Musa acuminata chloroplast genome was assembled with chloroplast reads extracted from whole-genome-shotgun sequence data. The Musa chloroplast genome is a circular molecule of 169,972 bp with a quadripartite structure containing two single copy regions, a Large Single Copy region (LSC, 88,338 bp) and a Small Single Copy region (SSC, 10,768 bp) separated by Inverted Repeat regions (IRs, 35,433 bp). Two forms of the chloroplast genome relative to the orientation of SSC versus LSC were found. The Musa chloroplast genome shows an extreme IR expansion at the IR/SSC boundary relative to the most common structures found in angiosperms. This expansion consists of the integration of three additional complete genes (rps15, ndhH and ycf1) and part of the ndhA gene. No such expansion has been observed in monocots so far. Simple Sequence Repeats were identified in the Musa chloroplast genome and a new set of Musa chloroplastic markers was designed.

Conclusion

The complete sequence of M. acuminata ssp malaccensis chloroplast we reported here is the first one for the Zingiberales order. As such it provides new insight in the evolution of the chloroplast of monocotyledons. In particular, it reinforces that IR/SSC expansion has occurred independently several times within monocotyledons. The discovery of new polymorphic markers within Musa chloroplast opens new perspectives to better understand the origin of cultivated triploid bananas.     

Plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis from immature and mature zygotic embryos of Musa acuminata ssp. burmannica

A simple and efficient protocol has been developed for in vitro regeneration of M. acuminata ssp. burmannica (AA) plants. Somatic embryos were produced when immature and mature zygotic embryo explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with plant growth regulators 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid; (2,4-D), picloram or benzyl adenine and indole acetic acid. In general, immature embryos responded better than mature embryos. Callus proliferation was highest in medium supplemented with 2,4-D (4.5???M). Subsequent transfer of callus to fresh medium produced rapidly proliferating embryogenic calli. Embryogenic calli were maintained in complete darkness for 15?d followed by cycles of 8?h dark and 16?h light, under white fluorescent lamps with a light intensity of 3,000?lm/m² and at temperature of 28?±?2°C. Regeneration of embryogenic calli into plantlets was higher for immature embryos (76.6%) than for mature embryos (50.6%). This plant regeneration protocol using mature or immature zygotic embryos, via somatic embryogenesis, has significant potential to improve germination efficiencies of hybrid progenies used in conventional breeding strategies. Furthermore, tests on seed storage showed that seed viability rapidly decline after harvesting and was negligible after 9?mo of storage. This indicates using freshly harvested seeds as explant material is necessary for maximizing the tissue culture response.     

人为干扰对小果野芭蕉群落生物量及多样性的影响

采用标准木法和回归分析法（乔木层）研究了小果野芭蕉群落在演替吕不同的压力条件下生物量和多样性的变化,结果显示,小果野芭蕉的侵入在正常情况下对群落生物量的影响并不显著,但由于人为干扰,可以明显地降低群落生物量。人为干扰是小果野芭焦群落长期保持在一个种群数量较大,物种多样性指较低和重要值较大的状态。轮歇丢荒地小果野芭蕉的侵入和迅速发展,是群落恢复演替过程中一种正常的途径。因此保持小果野芭蕉群落不受人为干扰是使其沿正常演替途径恢复的一种可行方法。     

利用超低温保存方法脱除香蕉束顶病毒的研究

香蕉束顶病毒(BBTV)是香蕉生产中的严重病害之一,主要通过感病材料和香蕉交脉蚜等昆虫进行传播,目前尚无有效防治方法.本研究以感染BBTV的巴西蕉(Musa AAA Cavendish)为材料,研究了感染BBTV的巴西蕉离体再生和超低温保存技术条件,表明离体茎尖在MS+6-BA 4 0 mg/L+NAA 0 4 mg/L的培养基上分化不定芽较好;采用玻璃化法超低温保存技术保存带有BBTV的香蕉茎尖,再生后植株BBTV脱除率达到60 6%,而常规的茎尖培养对BBTV的脱除率仅为26 7%.     

Somatic embryogenesis in banana (Musa acuminata AAA cv. Grand Naine): effect of explant and culture conditions

An improved, rapid, reproducible, and simple protocol has been developed for somatic embryogenesis in banana cv. ‘Grand Naine’ using explants derived from actively growing multiple shoot cultures. Many restrictive factors remain in banana embryogenesis such as long duration, unpredictability, and a high degree of genotype dependence. In the present study, we used split shoot tips from 4-wk-old cultures as explants. Somatic embryos were induced in 15 d directly in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different combinations of 0–8.28 μM picloram and 0.22–4.44 μM 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) without callus formation. Maximum embryo induction (100%) occurred when 4.14 μM picloram and 0.22 μM BA were used. Conversion of somatic embryos into plantlets occurred sporadically (2–3%) in MS medium containing α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA; 0.53–2.68 μM) together with BA (2.22–44.39 μM), or thidiazuron (4.54 μM) plus glutamine (200 mg/L). This protocol is far superior to those already reported for fast and high frequency induction of somatic embryo. In liquid agitated culture, individual embryos separated easily and produced a large number of secondary embryos within 10 d which, upon transfer to filter paper overlaid on MS liquid medium supplemented with 4.44 μM BA, resulted in conversion (3%) into plantlets.