Epiphytism and terrestrialization in tropicalHuperzia (Lycopodiaceae)

A gap in the exospore and the presence of a mesospore is found to be a normal part of development in the ten species ofSelaginella we have studied. The early spore wall consists of an exospore and a mesospore forming successively on the plasma membrane of the megaspore protoplast when it is 10–15 µm in diameter. Enlargement of the exospore and mesospore creates a central space, the lumen of the megaspore, around the megaspore protoplast. After that there is a vast enlargement of the exospore and a relatively small enlargement of the mesospore. The exospore splits close to its contact with the mesospore forming a gap over equatorial and distal regions. The gap becomes greatly expanded and becomes filled with lipids, PAS-positive carbohydrates, proteins and is crossed by wicks. Experiments with solutions of different osmolality on fresh megaspores show that the exospore and mesospore are not osmotic barriers. The mesospore appears not to be resistant to acetolysis at the many stages tested but exospore is resistant. Thus the mesospore size and shape is retained by the inner exospore that enveloped the mesospore. At maturation the mesospore undergoes lysis and absorption. At the beginning of germination stages an endospore forms at the inner part of the exospore. This inner part of the exospore, that adhered to and enveloped the mesospore, becomes pressed near to the bulk of the exospore. Until pregermination stages the megaspore protoplast is small (10–20 µm in diameter).     

Stages in development of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Selaginella diffusa</Emphasis> megaspores

In mature megaspores of Selaginella diffusa (C. Presl) Spring the units of the exospore are ordered and become unordered toward the outer and inner surfaces. The exospore surface is coated with silica at maturity. The insertion of the future gap begins in early stages with formation of many minigaps within the inner part of the exospore distally. The mesospore, like the exospore, is resistant to the acetolysis reaction and can, thus, provisionally be considered to consist of sporopollenin. Unit structures within the outer part of the mesospore are unordered, but become ordered in the middle and inner parts. The inner surface of the mesospore appears verrucate. In maturing megaspores, the mesospore is mostly disintegrated and the inner exospore, which encapsulated the mesospore, remains as a somewhat isolated structure, and is again near the outer exospore. There are connecting strands across the gap between the inner surface of the outer exospore and the surface of the inner exospore. There are also spheres on the outer surface of the inner exospore. Electronic Publication     

Stages in development of Selaginella diffusa megaspores

In mature megaspores of Selaginella diffusa (C. Presl) Spring the units of the exospore are ordered and become unordered toward the outer and inner surfaces. The exospore surface is coated with silica at maturity. The insertion of the future gap begins in early stages with formation of many minigaps within the inner part of the exospore distally. The mesospore, like the exospore, is resistant to the acetolysis reaction and can, thus, provisionally be considered to consist of sporopollenin. Unit structures within the outer part of the mesospore are unordered, but become ordered in the middle and inner parts. The inner surface of the mesospore appears verrucate. In maturing megaspores, the mesospore is mostly disintegrated and the inner exospore, which encapsulated the mesospore, remains as a somewhat isolated structure, and is again near the outer exospore. There are connecting strands across the gap between the inner surface of the outer exospore and the surface of the inner exospore. There are also spheres on the outer surface of the inner exospore.     

Ultrastructural analysis of sporoderm development in megaspores ofSelaginella galeottii (Lycophyta)

Structural members within the exospore ofSelaginella galeottii suggestive of those present at maturity are first detectable when the exospore is approximately 5 µm in thickness. Subsequent changes in successively larger sporangia involve a gradual size increase of the component units simultaneously throughout the exospore. Concomitantly, non-membrane bound material present at the inner surface of the tapetum (and the persistent megasporocytes) and throughout the sporangium locule changes from primarily droplets and weftlike material (including beaded wefts) to coarse fibrous material. The taxa which possess this unusual wall pattern cut across presently accepted taxonomic schemes. This is not the case with the other wall ultrastructural types in the genus. The possibility exists that this megaspore wall type defines a separate lineage within the genus which, by virtue of its large megaspores, was able to compete well and radiate to produce a variety of life forms.     

Megaspore development in Selaginella. I. “Wicks”, their presence,ultrastructure, and presumed function

Summary Structures have been found in the locular space between the tapetal cells and megaspores in Selaginella argentea and S. kraussiana that enter the megaspore wall and extend to the plasma membrane of the megaspore cytoplasm. We have called these structures wicks. Unless special fixation procedures are used wicks are either very poorly preserved or not apparent. Wicks appear to be routes for the transport of materials from the tapetum to developing megaspores. The entry of the wicks into the megaspore wall and their passage throughout the wall implies that the megaspore wall of Selaginella is a three-dimensional mesh-work of inter-connecting spaces. Wicks have several macromolecular-sized subunits, and the results of our histochemical reactions indicated the presence of glycoprotein and/or mucopolysaccharide. X-ray microanalysis of the S. convoluta exospore showed that silicon is present in rod-shaped structures between units of the exospore in mature megaspores. Because of the size and form of the structures between the exospore units we consider that they are remnants of wicks stabilized by silicon.Present address:Cátedra de Palinologia, Museo de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/nro., 1900 La Plata, Argentina.     

Ultrastructural study of spore wall morphogenesis inOphioglossum thermale kom. var.nipponicum (Miyabe et Kudo) nishida

Spore wall morphogenesis ofOphioglossum thermale var.nipponicum was examined by transmission electron microscopy. The spore wall of this species consists of three layers: endospore, exospore, and perispore. The spore wall development begins at the tetrad stage. At first, the outer undulating lamellar layer of the exospore (Lo) is formed on the spore plasma membrane in advance of the inner accumulating lamellar layer (Li) of the exospore. Next, the homogeneous layer of the exospore (H) is deposited on the outer lamellar layer. Both lamellar layers may be derived from spore cytoplasm; and the homogeneous layer, from the tapetum. Then the endospore (EN) is formed. It may be derived from spore cytoplasm. The membranous perispore (PE), derived from the tapetum, covers the exospore surface as the final layer. Though the ornamentation of this species differs distinctly from that ofO. vulgatum, the results mentioned above are fundamentally in accordance with the data obtained fromO. vulgatum (Lugardon, 1971). Therefore, the pattern of spore wall morphogenesis appears to be very stable in the genusOphioglossum.     

Application of confocal microscopy to exospore ultrastructure in megaspores ofSelaginella convoluta andS. marginata

Information pertaining to the arrangement of the rodshaped units that form the exospore ofSelaginella convoluta (Walk. Arn.) Spring andS. marginata (Humb. & Bonpl.) Spring megaspores was obtalned using both a confocal laser scanning microscope and a transmission electron microscope. Units are helically coiled, as we interpret them. The highest levels of fluorescence with confocal microscopy were in the places where the coiled exospore units that contain the fluorochrome dye overlap. These sites of overlap occurred in a close packed (hexagonal or pentagonal) arrangement. A more-or-less circular central nonfluorescent area was contiguous between overlapping exospore units. We conclude that the space between exospore units is a continuous channel (conduit). Each conduit is embraced by five or six helical-units that interdigitate.     

ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDY ON MICROSPORE WALL MORPHOGENESIS IN ISOETES JAPONICA (ISOETACEAE)

Spore wall morphogenesis of the microspore of Isoetes japonica was studied by transmission electron microscopy. The microspore wall consists of four layers: the perispore, outer exospore, inner exospore, and endospore. The perispore consists of electron-dense materials. The exospore is divided into outer and inner sections, with a large gap between the two. The outer exospore appears as an undulating plate consisting of tripartite lamellae with homogeneous sporopollenin. The inner exospore consists of an accumulation of tripartite lamellae on the microspore cell membrane. Immediately after meiosis, the tripartite lamellae of the outer exospore forms around the microspore. The lamellated inner exospore forms next, which adheres to the cell membrane of the microspore. The deposition of homogeneous sporopollenin material on the tripartite lamellae causes the plates of the outer exospore to thicken. Some homogeneous material may also be deposited on the inner exospore. Lastly, the electron-dense perispore is deposited on the outer exospore, and the electron-lucent endospore forms beneath the inner exospore. We conclude that the lamellae of the outer exospore, inner exospore, and endospore are formed and derived, in that order, from the gametophytic microspore cytoplasm. The homogeneous sporopollenin material of the outer exospore and perispore may be derived from the sporophytic tapetal cytoplasm.     

Long-proboscid fly pollination of two orchids in the Cape Drakensberg mountains,South Africa

Large hovering flies with elongated nectar-feeding mouthparts play an important role in the pollination of South African plants. Here we describe and illustrate the pollination of two long-spurred orchids —Disa oreophila H. Bolus subsp.erecta Linder andBrownleea macroceras Sond. — by the long-proboscid flyProsoeca ganglbaueri Lichtwardt (Nemestrinidae).     

Zwei neue Arten der GattungSaponaria (Caryophyllaceae) aus Afghanistan und Pakistan

Saponaria stenopetala sp.n. in Eastern Afghanistan is close toS. pachyphylla Rech. f. andS. subrosularis Rech. f.—The nearest allies ofS. makranica sp.n. from Western Pakistan and Southeastern Iran areS. kermanensis Bornm. andS. floribunda (Kar. & Kir.)Boiss.

Flora Iranicae praecursores 36–37. — Praecursores praecurrentes in Pl. Syst. Evol.139, 313–317 (1982).     

Taxonomic status of the species of the green algal genusNeochloris

Komárek has recently reviewed the various species assigned to the green algal genusNeochloris Starr (Chlorococcales, Chlorococcaceae) and removed those with uninucleate vegetative cells to a new genus,Ettlia. Watanabe & Floyd, unaware ofKomárek's work, also reviewed the species ofNeochloris and distributed them among three genera—Neochloris, Chlorococcopsis gen. nov., andParietochloris gen. nov.—on the basis of details of the covering of the zoospore and the arrangement of the basal bodies of the flagellar apparatus. This paper reconciles these two treatments and makes additional recommendations at the ranks of genus, family, order, and class.     

Gloeomonas oderChlamydomonas? Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen anGloeomonas simulans

The fine structure ofGloeomonas simulans Fott (1957) was studied electron microscopically to ascertain whether it belongs to the genusChlamydomonas rather than toGloeomonas. Most cytoplasmic elements and the cell wall do not differ from otherChlamydomonadaceae but its flagellar rootlet system is unique: Each of the two flagella has an accessory basal body; its basis is accompanied by two inner and two outer bands which are connected distally (one inner and one outer band on each side) resp. proximally (the two outer bands); the latter form a long (up to 3–5 µm) connecting band between the two flagellar bases. The nucleus contains fibrillar bundels.—The unique flagellar rootlet system seems to provide a better basis for the generic classification ofGloeomonas than the position of the contractile vacuoles or the size of the apical papilla, and strongly suggests the exclusion ofG. simulans fromChlamydomonas.

Zweiter Beitrag einer vonEttl (1965a) begonnenen Publikationsreihe.     

Pollen morphology ofSonchus and related genera,and a general discussion

The pollen morphology of the taxa belonging to the generaAetheorhiza Cass.,Launaea Cass.,Reichardia Roth andSonchus L. in the Iberian Peninsula has been studied with light and electron microscopy. The pollen is 3(-4)-zonocolporate and echinolophate (without polar lacunae, but in general with prelacunae), with equatorial ridges and 15–20 lacunae: 3–4 poral, 6–8 abporal and 6–8 paraporal. Small to medium size, P × E = 19–36 × 23–42 µm; sometimes two different sizes have been found. Exine 3–9 µm thick and ornamentation microreticulate and echinate. The results clearly show the relationships between genera. Moreno-Socías, E., Mejías, J. A., Díez, M. J., 1994: Morfología polínica deLactuceae (Asteraceae) en la Península Ibérica, I.Lactuca y géneros relacionados. — Acta Bot. Malacitana.19: 103–113.     

Omphalotaceae fam. nov. undPaxillaceae,ein chemotaxonomischer Vergleich zweier Pilzfamilien derBoletales

TheOmphalotaceae fam. nov., which include the generaOmphalotus andLampteromyces, are defined on the basis of characteristic sesquiterpenes and of their ability to cause white-rot. Anatomical and morphological features of the representatives of these genera support the creation of this new family. The occurrence of pigments, typical of theBoletales, and of cyanophilous spores, indicate membership of theOmphalotaceae in the orderBoletales. Relationships to the other families of this order — especially to thePaxillaceae — are discussed. The possible functional significance of fungal metabolites is considered.

Herrn Prof. Dr.J. Poelt zur Vollendung seines 60. Lebensjahres gewidmet.—Veränderte Fassung eines Vortrages auf der Tagung der Deutschen Botanischen Gesellschaft, Wien, September 1984.     

Structure of wall layers in Selaginella kraussiana microspores (Lycophyta)

A similarity was found in both construction and ultrastructure between the two exospore layers in microspores of Selaginella kraussiana. The exospore is made up of two different kinds of rods. One of the kinds of rods are large, 100–150 nm in width, while the other are tubular rods 10–15 nm in diameter. The large rods are wider at the base of the spines than in the upper part, possibly due to flattening or compression. Both the outer and the inner exospores have a stranded surface that is very pronounced in the microspores of this species. Fibrous strands persisting the scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope (TEM) fixations were observed on the spore surface proximally and through perforations (exospore channel openings). This net of fibres penetrates and fills the space of the cavities within large channels through the outer and inner exospore and within the gap. According to our interpretation, these strands would be produced by the tapetum and are probably related to the nourishment of the developing microspores. Contrast varies in TEM sections after cytochemical stains, but this appears to be due to transitory substances, e.g. carbohydrates, rather than to be a substantial difference in basic composition between inner and outer exospore layers.     

Licht- und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen von Entwicklungsstadien der FlechteEndocarpon pusillum unter Kulturbedingungen

The lichenEndocarpon pusillum Hedw. was cultivated under laboratory conditions on agar, silica gel and soil substrate. Selected developmental stages of the life cycle (germination, contact between the symbionts, cortex, squamule and perithecia development) were studied by light and scanning electron microscope.—It could be shown that the spores had no rigid spore walls with germination colpies and the spore cells which are in contact with the substrate were formed directly into germination tubes.— Further studies showed that the initial contact between the components was thigmotropic and both the form and the gelatinous matrix around the algal cells play an important role in this process. — The development of the cortex occurs under reduced moisture conditions resulting in a reduced algal reproduction. The thickness of the cortex was dependent on light intensity during cultivation. The cortex originated from hyphae, which developed beyond the algal layer and were combined to a tight network.—Fruiting bodies with spores and hymenial algae were only formed in cultures on soil substrate.

Frau Prof. Dr.Elisabeth Tschermak-Woess zu ihrem 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Penicillin derivatives induce chemical structure-dependent root development,and application for plant transformation

We investigated five penicillin derivatives that are popularly used for transformation experiments with Agrobacterium rhizogenes—penicillin G, carbenicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin and cephalexin—for their effects on the growth and morphology of Beta vulgaris, Capsicum annuum and Glehnia littoralis roots. Attention was given to the relationship between their chemical structures and functions. Ampicillin was found to stimulate root elongation but inhibit root branching, whereas carbenicillin inhibited root elongation but promoted root branching. Root cultures were also exposed to hydrolyzed products of these antibiotics—i.e. phenylmalonic acid (PM), phenylglycine and 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA): PM inhibited root elongation the most, while root elongation was supported best by 6-APA. These results indicate that both the side chains and the major component of penicillin derivatives affect root development and that the nature of the side chains is responsible for the responses. Ampicillin but not carbenicillin was used in subsequent experiments described herein to eliminate bacteria and to support root growth of transformants of the recalcitrant plants.Abbreviations Amox: Amoxicillin - Amp: Ampicillin - 6-APA: 6-Aminopenicillanic acid - Carb: Carbenicillin - Ceph: Cephalexin - HG: d(–)-2-p-Hydroxyphenylglycine - PA: Phenylacetic acid - PenG: Penicillin G - PG: d(–)--Phenylglycine - PM: Phenylmalonic acid Communicated by L.C. Fowke     

Fünf neue Arten der GattungAnthemis (Compositae) aus Iraq und Afghanistan

Five new species ofAnthemis sect.Anthemis from the Flora Iranica region are described:A. gillettii (subsect.Anthemis) from NW. Iraq and adjacent Iran is allied toA. damascena.—A. kurdica (subsect.Anthemis) also grows in Iraqi Kurdistan.—A. hamrinensis (subsect.Rascheyana; akin toA. plebeia) is distributed in the Jabal Hamrin region at the extreme outer margin of the Zagros chains.—A. kandaharica (subsect.Anthemis) andA. freitagii (subsect.Rascheyana) are distributed in Afghanistan.

Anschrift des Herausgebers: Hofrat Univ.-Prof. Dr.Karl Heinz Rechinger, Beckgasse 22, A-1130 Wien, Österreich.     

紫萁孢子囊发育中多糖和脂滴的细胞化学观察

采用光镜、透射电镜和细胞化学技术,对紫萁孢子囊发育过程中孢壁的超微结构和孢子囊内多糖和脂滴的分布及其动态变化进行研究,以探讨紫萁孢子囊发育过程中多糖和脂滴的代谢特征,为蕨类孢子发生的研究提供基础资料。结果表明:(1)紫萁孢子囊由1层囊壁细胞、2层绒毡层和产孢组织构成。(2)紫萁孢子壁由发达而分2层的外壁(外壁内层和外壁外层)和薄的不连续的周壁构成,由外壁形成棒状纹饰的轮廓;孢子外壁内层由多糖类物质构成,外壁外层和周壁均含有脂类物质。(3)在紫萁孢原细胞中观察到少量脂滴;随着紫萁孢壁的形成,囊壁细胞中淀粉粒的大小逐渐变小、数目先增加后减少,它们转运到内层绒毡层原生质团并转化为孢粉素前体物质,再穿过原生质团内膜表面进入囊腔,成为孢粉素团块或以小球形式填加到孢子表面形成孢壁。(4)紫萁孢子囊将多糖类营养物质转化为脂类,以脂滴的形式储藏在孢子中。     

Six new species ofGagea (Liliaceae) from the Flora Iranica area

Six new species are described:Gagea anonyma, G. Staintonii, G. siphonantha, G. Grey-Wilsonii, G. chloroneura. All belong to subgen.Platyspermum (Boiss.)Miscz. Florae Iranicae praecursores63–68. — Praecursores praecurrentes: Pl. Syst. Evol.151, 281–293 (1986).