The Metabolism of the Germinating Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis) Seedling : In Vivo Studies

The metabolism of ¹⁴C-labeled fatty acids and triacylglycerols was followed in intact germinating oil palm seedlings as well as in tissue slices. In the germinating seedling, the shoot contained a normal pattern of membrane fatty acids (mainly C₁₆, C_18:1, C_18:2) but the kernel contained about 68% C₁₂ and C₁₄ fatty acids. Haustorium fatty acids were intermediate between the two. [¹⁴C]Acetate was actively metabolized by shoot and haustorium slices but not so actively by the kernel. Approximately 9% to 17% was converted to water-soluble substances, 4% to 6% to CO₂, and 0.5% to 5.9% to lipids. The fatty acids synthesized in the shoot and haustorium were mainly C₁₆, C₁₈, and C_18:1 fatty acids but in the kernel about 18% to 32% of the ¹⁴C-fatty acids were C₁₂ fatty acids.

[¹⁴C]Lauric acid was absorbed and metabolized by haustorium slices and by the haustorium in intact seedlings; it was partly esterified to triacylglycerols and also converted to water-soluble substances and insoluble tissue material. In contrast, tri-[¹⁴C]laurin was absorbed but not metabolized. The haustorium also absorbed other fatty acids but the longer chain (C₁₆ and C₁₈) fatty acids were not esterified or metabolized further. Preincubation of the haustorium with plant hormones or in the presence of kernel tissue did not alter its inactivity towards tri-[¹⁴C]laurin.

When tri-[¹⁴C]laurin or [¹⁴C]lauric acid were injected into the seed or the shoot, there was no movement or radioactivity to other parts of the seedling. When injected into the shoot, but not into the seed, tri-[¹⁴C] laurin was hydrolyzed and partly metabolized to water-soluble substances.

     

Development and intracellular localization of lipase activity in rapessed (Brassica napus L.) cotyledons

In homogenates of resting rapeseeds no lipase activity (glycerolester hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3) could be detected using a titrimetric assay procedure. Following a 30-h lag-phase after imbibition, lipase activity increased sharply, reaching its maximum at day 4 after sowing. Simultaneously triglyceride content of the cotyledons decreased sharply. At any time during the 11-day period of seedling growth examined, only an alkaline lipase activity with a pH optimum around 9 was present. White light had essentially no effect on the development of lipase activity. However, the disappearance of lipase activity from the cotyledons after fat utilization was found to depend on nitrogen nutrition of the seedlings. The activities of the glyoxysomal enzymes catalase and malate synthetase showed the usual rise and fall patterns with peak activities at day 4 after sowing, independently of the mineral nutrition of the seedlings.About 90% of the lipase activity was associated with a microsomal membrane fraction. Resolution of this fraction by sucrose density gradient centrifugation (62,000 g for 14 h) yielded three distinct membrane fractions. Maximum activities of membrane marker enzymes were recovered from the gradients at following densities: The major portion of microsomal protein and lipase activity at 1.085 kg/l; microsomal malate synthetase and phosphorylcholineglyceride transferase at 1.116 kg/l; NADH-cytochrome c reductase and phosphorylcholinecytidyl transferase at 1.133 kg/l. Evidently in rapeseed cotyledons lipase activity is associated only with a discrete microsomal membrane fraction which sediments differently from membrane fractions of the endoplasmic reticulum.     

Localization of [gamma]-Glutamylcysteine Synthetase and Glutathione Synthetase Activity in Maize Seedlings

Fresh weight, protein, cysteine, [gamma]-glutamylcysteine, glutathione, and the extractable activity of the enzymes of glutathione biosynthesis, [gamma]-glutamylcysteine synthetase (EC 6.3.2.2) and glutathione synthetase (EC 6.3.2.3), were measured in roots, scutella, endosperms, and shoots of 3-, 7-, and 11-d-old maize (Zea mays L. cv LG 9) seedlings. In 3-d-old seedlings, the scutella represented 14% of the seedling fresh weight, containing 43% of total protein and 63 and 55% of the activity of [gamma]-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione synthetase, respectively; in 11-d-old seedlings, the corresponding values were 4.5% for fresh weight, 8.0% for protein content, and 14 and 20% for the enzyme activities. The highest concentrations of thiols were found for cysteine (0.27 mM) in the roots, for glutathione (4.4 mM) in the shoots, and for [gamma]-glutamylcysteine (13 [mu]M) in the scutella of 3-d-old seedlings. The enzyme activities of roots were localized in subcellular fractions after sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Nearly half of the [gamma]-glutamylcysteine synthetase activity was detected in the root proplastids of 4-d-old seedlings, whereas <10% of the glutathione synthetase activity was localized in this organelle. Our results demonstrate the importance of scutella in glutathione synthesis in the early stage of seedling development. Unlike chloroplasts, root plastids show only a small proportion of glutathione synthetase activity.     

Aspects of nitrogen metabolism in the rice seedling

The effects of nitrogen source NO₃⁻ or NH₄⁺ on nitrogen metabolism during the first 2 weeks of germination of the rice seedling (Oryza sativa L., var. IR22) grown in nutrient solution containing 40 μg/ml N were studied. Total, soluble protein, and free amino N levels were higher in the NH₄⁺-grown seedling, particularly during the 1st week of germination. Asparagine accounted for most of the difference in free amino acid level, in both the root and the shoot. Nitrate and nitrite reductase activities were present mainly in the shoot and were higher in the NO₃⁻-grown seedling, whereas the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamine synthetase in the root tended to be lower than that of the NH₄⁺-grown seedling during the 1st week of germination. Glycolate oxidase and catalase activities were present mainly in the shoot. Maximum activity of the above five enzymes occurred 7 to 10 days after germination. Differences in the zymograms of nitrate reductase, glutamate dehydrogenase, and catalase were mainly between shoot and root and not from N source. Nitrite reductase bands were observed only in plants grown in plants grown in NO₃⁻.     

Gluconeogenesis from storage wax in the cotyledons of jojoba seedlings

The cotyledons of jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) seeds contained 50 to 60% of their weight as intracellular wax esters. During germination there was a gradual decrease in the wax content with a concomitant rise in soluble carbohydrates, suggesting that the wax played the role of a food reserve. Thin layer chromatography revealed that both the fatty alcohol and fatty acid were metabolized. The disappearance of wax was matched with an increase of catalase, a marker enzyme of the gluconeogenic process in other fatty seedlings. Subcellular organelles were isolated by sucrose gradient centrifugation from the cotyledons at the peak stage of germination. The enzymes of the β oxidation of fatty acid and of the glyoxylate cycle were localized in the glyoxysomes but not in the mitochondria. The glyoxysomes had specific activities of individual enzymes similar to those of the castor bean glyoxysomes. An active alkaline lipase was detected in the wax bodies at the peak stage of germination but not in the ungerminated seeds. No lipase was detected in glyoxysomes or mitochondria. After the wax in the wax bodies had been extracted with diethyl ether, the organelle membrane was isolated and it still retained the alkaline lipase. The gluconeogenesis from wax in the jojoba seedling appears to be similar, but with modification, to that from triglyceride in other fatty seedlings.     

Activities and subcellular localization of enzymes responsible for lipolysis and gluconeogenesis during the germination of Brassica campestris cv. esculenta seeds

During the growth of turnip seedlings, two new lipases have been demonstrated, one with a maximum activity at pH 4.5 (acid lipase) and the other with a maxima at pH 8.6 (alkaline lipase). Many different enzymes are involved in gluconeogenesis: catalase, isocitrate lyase, malate synthetase, malate dehydrogenase, aconitase, citrate synthetase, fumarase, glycolate oxidase, phosphoenol-pyruvate carboxykinase. All of these show maximum activity coinciding with the stage in which lipid hydrolysis is maximal and when the accumulation of soluble carbohydrates has also reached its peak. The alkaline lipase as found to be located mainly in the spherosomes, whereas the glyoxysomes contained the following main activities: catalase, isocitrate lyase, malate synthetase, malate dehydrogenase and citrate synthetase. Aconitase, together with cytochrome oxidase and fumarase showed their highest activity in the mitochondria, and the presence of malate dehydrogenase, citrate synthetase and glycolate oxidase was also observed in these organelles. In the membrane-bound fraction, the activities of cytochrome reductase, glycolate oxidase and phosphoenol-pyruvate kinase were marked, although the latter enzyme was even more active in the soluble fraction.     

Oxidation of Indole-3-acetic Acid and Oxindole-3-acetic Acid to 2,3-Dihydro-7-hydroxy-2-oxo-1H Indole-3-acetic Acid-7′-O-β-d-Glucopyranoside in Zea mays Seedlings

Radiolabeled oxindole-3-acetic acid was metabolized by roots, shoots, and caryopses of dark grown Zea mays seedlings to 2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-2-oxo-1H indole-3-acetic acid-7′-O-β-d-glycopyranoside with the simpler name of 7-hydroxyoxindole-3-acetic acid-glucoside. This compound was also formed from labeled indole-3-acetic acid supplied to intact seedlings and root segments. The glucoside of 7-hydroxyoxindole-3-acetic acid was also isolated as an endogenous compound in the caryopses and shoots of 4-day-old seedlings. It accumulates to a level of 4.8 nanomoles per plant in the kernel, more than 10 times the amount of oxindole-3-acetic acid. In the shoot it is present at levels comparable to that of oxindole-3-acetic acid and indole-3-acetic acid (62 picomoles per shoot). We conclude that 7-hydroxyoxindole-3-acetic acid-glucoside is a natural metabolite of indole-3-acetic acid in Z. mays seedlings. From the data presented in this paper and in previous work, we propose the following route as the principal catabolic pathway for indole-3-acetic acid in Zea seedlings: Indole-3-acetic acid → Oxindole-3-acetic acid → 7-Hydroxyoxindole-3-acetic acid → 7-Hydroxyoxindole-3-acetic acid-glucoside.     

Natural seedling recruitment and regeneration in deforested and sand‐filled Mangrove forest at Eagle Island,Niger Delta,Nigeria

Seed recruitment is a major driver of mangrove restoration globally. It is hypothesized that soil condition and channel hydrology can accelerate seedling recruitment and regeneration after a major disturbance. Species abundance, diversity indices, microbial and chemical concentrations in sand‐filled mangrove forest was studied. Eight plots measuring 487.77 m² each were established with ten transects in each plot in a random block design to investigate the effect of soil conditions on seedling growth. A total of 1,886 seedlings were counted. Seedling abundance was significantly different between red (Rizophora racemosa), white (Laguncularia racemosa), and black (Avicennia germinans) mangroves, and nypa palm (nypa fruticans). The most dominant species was black mangrove, and the least dominant species was nypa palm. Muddy soils had the most abundant species (n = 994) followed by sandy (n = 457) and semi‐muddy (435) soils. Furthermore, sandy soils had the highest species diversity (H = 0.896) followed by semi‐muddy (H = 0.876) and muddy (H = 0.583) soils. The soil metal concentration has no correlation with seed abundance and occur in the order Iron > Nitrate > Copper > Cadmium. Soil with high species diversity had high soil microbial population; however, seedling abundance was correlated with soil nutrients and not heavy metals. Small seeds are easily recruited while good soil condition plus existing hydrological connection facilitated natural seedling regeneration in the disturbed mangrove forest.     

Lipase Activities in Castor Bean Endosperm during Germination

Two lipases were found in extracts from castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) endosperm. One, with optimal activity at pH 5.0 (acid lipase), was present in dry seeds and displayed high activity during the first 2 days of germination. The second, with an alkaline pH optimum (alkaline lipase), was particularly active during days 3 to 5. When total homogenates of endosperm were fractionated into fat layer, supernatant, and particulate fractions, the acid lipase was recovered in the fat layer, and the alkaline lipase was located primarily in the particulate fraction. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation showed that the alkaline lipase was located mainly in glyoxysomes, with some 30% of the activity in the endoplasmic reticulum. When glyoxysomes were broken by osmotic shock and exposed to KCl, which solubilizes most of the enzymes, the alkaline lipase remained particulate and was recovered with the glyoxysomal “ghosts” at equilibrium density 1.21 g/cm³ on the sucrose gradient. Association of the lipase with the gly-oxysomal membrane was supported by the responses to detergents and to butanol. The alkaline lipase hydrolyzed only monosubstituted glycerols. The roles of the two lipases in lipid utilization during germination of castor bean are discussed.     

Biosynthesis of Indoleacetic Acid from Tryptophan-C in Cell-free Extracts of Pea Shoot Tips

A 2-step, 1-dimensional thin-layer chromatographic procedure for isolating indoleacetic acid (IAA) was developed and utilized in investigations of the biosynthesis of IAA from tryptophan-¹⁴C in cell-free extracts of pea (Pisum sativum L.) shoot tips. Identification of a ¹⁴C-product as IAA was by (a) co-chromatography of authentic IAA and ¹⁴C-product on thin-layer chromatography, and (b) gas-liquid and thin-layer chromatography of authentic and presumptive IAA methyl esters. Dialysis of enzyme extracts and addition of α-ketoglutaric acid and pyridoxal phosphate to reaction mixtures resulted in approximately 2- to 3-fold increases in net yields of IAA over yields in non-dialyzed reaction mixtures which did not contain additives essential to a transaminase reaction of tryptophan. Addition of thiamine pyrophosphate to reaction mixtures further enhanced net biosynthesis of IAA. It is concluded that the formation of indolepyruvic acid and its subsequent decarboxylation probably are sequential reactions in the major pathway of IAA biosynthesis from tryptophan in cell-free extracts of Pisum shoot tips. Comparison of maximum net IAA biosynthesis in extracts of shoot tips of etiolated and light-grown dwarf and tall pea seedlings revealed an order, on a unit protein N basis, of: light-grown tall > light-grown dwarf > etiolated tall etiolated dwarf. It is concluded that the different rates of stem elongation among etiolated and light-grown dwarf and tall pea seedlings are correlated, in general, with differences in net IAA biosynthesis and sensitivity of the tissues to IAA.     

Herbicide clomazone does not inhibit in vitro geranylgeranyl synthesis from mevalonate

Clomazone reduced the chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medik.), and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) seedlings. The order of species sensitivity was velvetleaf > spinach > barley > soybean. Clomazone (100 micromolar) did not affect the in vitro activities of spinach isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase or prenyl transferase. Clomazone also did not affect the synthesis of isopentenyl pyrophosphate from mevalonic acid. Thus, clomazone had no direct in vitro effect on the synthesis of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate from mevalonic acid. Greening seedlings of both soybean and velvetleaf metabolized clomazone. No qualitative differences in the metabolites were detected between soybean and velvetleaf. Thus, differential metabolism of clomazone to a toxic chemical that inhibits terpenoid synthesis is unlikely. Clomazone has either a mode of action not yet identified or a metabolite that is selective in that it is much more active in sensitive than tolerant species.     

Purification and initial characterization of lipase from the scutella of corn seedlings

The lipase from the scutella of corn (Zea mays) MO-17 seedlings was purified 272-fold to apparent homogeneity as evidenced by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and double immunodiffusion. The procedure involved isolation of the lipid bodies, extraction with diethyl ether, DE-52 ion exchange chromatography, and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The enzyme had an approximate molecular weight of 270,000 daltons after sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and 65,000 daltons after sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The lipase contained no cysteine and its molecular weight in sodium dodecyl sulfate was not reduced by β-mercaptoethanol. The amino acid composition as well as a biphasic partition using Triton X-114 revealed the enzyme to be a hydrophobic protein. Rabbit γ-globulin containing antibodies raised against the purified lipase formed one precipitin line with the lipase in a double diffusion test, and precipitated all the lipase activity from a solution.     

Identification of Escherichia coli Mismatch-specific Uracil DNA Glycosylase as a Robust Xanthine DNA Glycosylase

The gene for the mismatch-specific uracil DNA glycosylase (MUG) was identified in the Escherichia coli genome as a sequence homolog of the human thymine DNA glycosylase with activity against mismatched uracil base pairs. Examination of cell extracts led us to detect a previously unknown xanthine DNA glycosylase (XDG) activity in E. coli. DNA glycosylase assays with purified enzymes indicated the novel XDG activity is attributable to MUG. Here, we report a biochemical characterization of xanthine DNA glycosylase activity in MUG. The wild type MUG possesses more robust activity against xanthine than uracil and is active against all xanthine-containing DNA (C/X, T/X, G/X, A/X and single-stranded X). Analysis of potentials of mean force indicates that the double-stranded xanthine base pairs have a relatively narrow energetic difference in base flipping, whereas the tendency for uracil base flipping follows the order of C/U > G/U > T/U > A/U. Site-directed mutagenesis performed on conserved motifs revealed that Asn-140 and Ser-23 are important determinants for XDG activity in E. coli MUG. Molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulations reveal distinct hydrogen-bonding patterns in the active site of E. coli MUG that account for the specificity differences between E. coli MUG and human thymine DNA glycosylase as well as that between the wild type MUG and the Asn-140 and Ser-23 mutants. This study underscores the role of the favorable binding interactions in modulating the specificity of DNA glycosylases.     

Application of a Novel Alkali-Tolerant Thermostable DyP-Type Peroxidase from Saccharomonospora viridis DSM 43017 in Biobleaching of Eucalyptus Kraft Pulp

Saccharomonospora viridis is a thermophilic actinomycete that may have biotechnological applications because of its dye decolorizing activity, though the enzymatic oxidative system responsible for this activity remains elusive. Bioinformatic analysis revealed a DyP-type peroxidase gene in the genome of S. viridis DSM 43017 with sequence similarity to peroxidase from dye-decolorizing microbes. This gene, svidyp, consists of 1,215 bp encoding a polypeptide of 404 amino acids. The gene encoding SviDyP was cloned, heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, and then purified. The recombinant protein could efficiently decolorize several triarylmethane dyes, anthraquinonic and azo dyes under neutral to alkaline conditions. The optimum pH and temperature for SviDyP was pH 7.0 and 70°C, respectively. Compared with other DyP-type peroxidases, SviDyP was more active at high temperatures, retaining>63% of its maximum activity at 50–80°C. It also showed broad pH adaptability (>35% activity at pH 4.0–9.0) and alkali-tolerance (>80% activity after incubation at pH 5–10 for 1 h at 37°C), and was highly thermostable (>60% activity after incubation at 70°C for 2 h at pH 7.0). SviDyP had an accelerated action during the biobleaching of eucalyptus kraft pulp, resulting in a 21.8% reduction in kappa number and an increase of 2.98% (ISO) in brightness. These favorable properties make SviDyP peroxidase a promising enzyme for use in the pulp and paper industries.     

Asymmetric Distribution of Glucose and Indole-3-Acetyl-myo-Inositol in Geostimulated Zea mays Seedlings

Indole-3-acetyl-myo-inositol occurs in both the kernel and vegetative shoot of germinating Zea mays seedlings. The effect of a gravitational stimulus on the transport of [³H]-5-indole-3-acetyl-myo-inositol and [U-¹⁴C]-d-glucose from the kernel to the seedling shoot was studied. Both labeled glucose and labeled indole-3-acetyl-myo-inositol become asymmetrically distributed in the mesocotyl cortex of the shoot with more radioactivity occurring in the bottom half of a horizontally placed seedling. Asymmetric distribution of [³H]indole-3-acetic acid, derived from the applied [³H]indole-3-acetyl-myo-inositol, occurred more rapidly than distribution of total ³H-radioactivity. These findings demonstrate that the gravitational stimulus can induce an asymmetric distribution of substances being transported from kernel to shoot. They also indicate that, in addition to the transport asymmetry, gravity affects the steady state amount of indole-3-acetic acid derived from indole-3-acetyl-myo-inositol.     

Plant–plant interactions change during succession on nurse logs in a northern temperate rainforest

Plant–plant interactions change through succession from facilitative to competitive. At early stages of succession, early‐colonizing plants can increase the survival and reproductive output of other plants by ameliorating disturbance and stressful conditions. At later stages of succession, plant interactions are more competitive as plants put more energy toward growth and reproduction. In northern temperate rainforests, gap dynamics result in tree falls that facilitate tree regeneration (nurse logs) and bryophyte succession. How bryophyte‐tree seedling interactions vary through log succession remains unclear. We examined the relationships of tree seedlings, bryophyte community composition, bryophyte depth, and percent canopy cover in 166 1.0 m² plots on nurse logs and the forest floor in the Hoh rainforest in Washington, USA, to test the hypothesis that bryophyte‐tree seedling interactions change from facilitative to competitive as the log decays. Tree seedling density was highest on young logs with early‐colonizing bryophyte species (e.g., Rhizomnium glabrescens) and lowest on decayed logs with Hylocomium splendens, a long‐lived moss that reaches depths >20 cm. As a result, bryophyte depth increased with nurse log decay and was negatively associated with tree seedling density. Tree seedling density was 4.6× higher on nurse logs than on the forest floor, which was likely due to competitive exclusion by forest floor plants, such as H. splendens. Nurse logs had 17 species of bryophytes while the forest floor had six, indicating that nurse logs contribute to maintaining bryophyte diversity. Nurse logs enable both tree seedlings and smaller bryophyte species to avoid competition with forest floor plants, including the dominant bryophyte, H. splendens. H. splendens is likely a widespread driver of plant community structure given its dominance in northern temperate forests. Our findings indicate that plant–plant interactions shift with succession on nurse logs from facilitative to competitive and, thus, influence forest community structure and dynamics.     

病毒唑对大花蕙兰CyMV及ORSV脱毒效果初探

在大花蕙兰茎尖培养中结合病毒唑处理,探讨对建兰花叶病毒(CyMV)和齿兰环斑病毒(ORSV)的脱除效果。结果表明,病毒唑添加到培养基中,处理茎尖2周,脱毒效果低于经病毒唑处理3个月后的幼苗,经病毒唑处理幼苗再结合茎尖培养脱毒效果最好。病毒唑处理对大花蕙兰CyMV的脱除效果优于对ORSV的脱除效果。     

Influence of Environmental Factors,Cultural Practices,and Herbicide Application on Seed Germination and Emergence Ecology of Ischaemum rugosum Salisb

Ischaemum rugosum Salisb. (Saramolla grass) is a noxious weed of rice that is difficult to control by chemical or mechanical means once established. A study was conducted to determine the effect of light, temperature, salt, drought, flooding, rice residue mulch, burial depth, and pre-emergence herbicides on seed germination and emergence of I. rugosum. Germination was stimulated by light and inhibited under complete darkness. Optimum temperature for germination was 30/20°C (97.5% germination). Germination reduced from 31 to 3.5% when the osmotic potential of the growing medium decreased from -0.1 to -0.6 MPa and no germination occurred at -0.8 MPa. Germination was 18 and 0.5% at 50 and 100 mM NaCl concentrations, respectively, but was completely inhibited at 150 mM or higher. Residue application at 1–6 t ha^-1 reduced weed emergence by 35–88% and shoot biomass by 55–95%. The efficacy of pre-emergence herbicides increased with increasing application rates and decreased with increasing rice residue mulching. The efficacy of herbicides was in the order of oxadiazon> pendimethalin> pretilachlor. At 6 t ha^-1, all herbicides, regardless of rates, did not differ from the control treatment. I. rugosum seeds buried at 2 cm or deeper did not emerge; however, they emerged by 4.5 and 0.5% at 0.5 and 1 cm depths, respectively, compared to the 39% germination for soil surface seeding. Flooding at 4 DAS or earlier reduced seedling emergence and shoot biomass while flooding at 8 DAS reduced only seedling emergence. The depth and timing of flooding independently reduced root biomass. Flooding at 4 and 6 cm depths reduced the root biomass. Relative to flooding on the day of sowing, flooding at 8 DAS increased root biomass by 89%. Similarly, flooding on the day of sowing and at 2 DAS reduced the root–shoot biomass ratio. Under the no-flood treatment, increasing rates of pretilachlor from 0.075 to 0.3 kg ai ha^-1 reduced weed emergence by 61–79%. At the flooding depth of 2–4 cm, pretilachlor reduced weed emergence and shoot and root biomass, but the differences across rates were non-significant. Information generated in this study will be helpful in developing integrated weed management strategies for managing this weed.     

Lipid Composition and the Role of the Haustorium in the Young Seedling of the West African Oil Palm, Elaeis guineensis Jacq.

The lipid and fatty acid composition of the haustorium of thedeveloping seedling of the West African oil palm, Elaeis guineensisJacq. has been studied using the combined techniques of thin-layerand gas-liquid chromatography. In addition to triglycerides,which represented over 75 per cent of the total lipids, therewere present small quantities of free fatty acids, diglyceridesand polar lipids. The two glycolipids, monogalactosyl and digalactosyldiglycerides, formed the bulk of the polar lipids with smallamounts of phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl inositol. In general, the fatty acid pattern of the haustorium was intermediatebetween that of the palm kernel oil and the palm fruit mesocarp,and resembled to a great extent the fatty acids of the kerneltesta. It is suggested, from the presence of the biological membranelipids and lipolytic enzymes, that the main function of thehaustorium is that of food mobilization and transport for theyoung plant.     

Rapid release of protease inhibitors from soybeans: immunochemical quantitation and parallels with lectins

Specific antisera were prepared against the Bowman-Birk trypsin inhibitor and four other trypsin inhibitors of low molecular weight isolated from soybeans (Glycine max L. cv. Tracy). These antisera were used to detect the presence and amount of the inhibitors in: (a) seeds and protein extracts of soybean meal; (b) seedlings; and (c) the water surrounding the seeds and roots of seedlings. Lectin activities in seeds, seedlings, and water were also determined at the same time as the protease inhibitor activities. By competitive inhibition of immunoprecipitation, the combined five low molecular weight protease inhibitors were found to constitute the following percentages of proteins (w/w): 6.3% in defatted soybean meal; 8.1% of the protein extracted from the meal by a buffer of pH 8.6; 8.3, 14.7, 15.2, 16.1, 17.2, and 18.9% of the protein in a lyophilisate of water in which seeds were incubated for 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 hours, respectively; 8.2% in a lyophilisate of water in which roots of seedlings grew for 20 days; 1.5% in cotyledons; and less than 0.1% in epicotyls, hypocotyls, and roots of 12-day-old seedlings. Hemagglutination activities, expressed as the lowest amount of protein required to give a positive agglutination of 0.2 ml of 2% rabbit red blood cells, were as follows: purified soybean lectin, 0.08 μg; lyophilisate of water in which seeds were incubated for 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 hours, 10, 2.5, 5, 5, and 2.5 μg, respectively; lyophilisate of water in which roots grew for 20 days, 5 μg; 12-day-old cotyledons, roots, epicotyls, and hypocotyls, 12.5, 100, >1,000, and >500 μg, respectively. The results indicate that a large amount of protease inhibitors as well as lectins are released from seeds during the first 8 hours of imbibition. Neither lima bean trypsin inhibitor (mol wt, 10,000) nor Kunitz soybean trypsin inhibitor (mol wt, 21,500) showed competitive inhibition in tests with antisera against low molecular weight soybean protease inhibitors.