Quantum Flux Density as a Factor Controlling the Rate of Growth, Carbohydrate Partitioning and Wood Structure of Betula pubescens Seedlings

The ability of Betula pubescens seedlings to acclimate to arange of quantum flux densities is examined, paying particularattention to the quantity, rate and type of wood produced. Betulapubescens seedlings were germinated and grown for 2 months ata quantum flux density of 440 µmol m^–2 s^–1,then transferred to 440, 244 or 89 µmol m^–2 s^–1. Seedlings transferred to reduced fluence rates were able tosurvive and grow. Acclimation was associated with an increasedallocation of carbon to stem elongation and leaf-area production,this occurred at the expense of root storage carbohydrate androot growth. The rate of wood production was shown to be directlyrelated to quantum flux density. Stem wood structure at smallquantum flux density showed an increase in proportion of fibres,while root wood structure in this regime showed a greater proportionof vessels. In general the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase(PAL) showed little significant difference between treatments.The implications of these changes in wood structure are discussedand related to wood production and PAL activity. Betula pubescens Ehrh., birch., shade tolerance, carbohydrate partitioning, relative growth rate, wood structure, phenylalanine-ammonia-lyase     

Change in potassium distribution in a Phaseolus pulvinus during circadian movement of the leaf

Phaseolus moves its leaves upward and downward with circadianperiod. This movement of the leaf results from the differentialchange in the turgor on opposite sides of the pulvinus. Concentrations of K⁺, Na⁺, Mg⁺⁺, and Ca⁺⁺ in the upper and lowerhalves of the pulvinus and the water content of cells on bothsides of it were analyzed in relation to the deformation ofthe pulvinus. The results showed that (1) the pulvinus was deformedby expansion and contraction of the cells on its opposite sides;(2) among the four cations, the K⁺ concentration was markedlyhigh in both halves of the pulvinus; (3) the osmotic pressureof the upper and lower halves were nearly equal during the rhythmicdeformation of the pulvinus; (4) the expansion and contractionof the cells on the opposite sides of the pulvinus have a positivecorrelation only with a change in the K+ concentration expressedin terms of µmoles per mg protein; (5) the concentrationsof other cations such as Na⁺, Mg⁺⁺, Ca⁺⁺, expressed in termsof µmoles per mg protein, did not change during the circadiandeformation of the pulvinus. Thus, the rhythmic K⁺ movementseems to be the basis for pulvinar turgor movements. With respectto the mechanism of K⁺ movement, three possibilities are discussed. (Received November 7, 1975; )     

Ultrastructural Investigation of Tension Wood Fibre in Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr. var. japonica Maxim.

The ultrastructure of the fibre wall in Fraxinus mandshuricaRupr. var. japonica Maxim. was investigated by electron microscopy.The trees had been inclined artificially at an angle of 30°to the vertical at the beginning of the initiation of cambialgrowth in early spring. The secondary walls of tension woodfibres were of the outer (S₁) layer and gelatinous (G) layertype. The microfibrils in the gelatinous (G) layer were orientedas a steep Z-helix relative to the fibre axis with a deviationthat ranged from 0° to 25° but was mainly between 5°and 10°. The cross-sectional surface of tension wood fibresrevealed the relatively strong attachment of the G-layer tothe S₁ layer. The G-layer stained weakly with potassium permanganate.The S₁ layer of tension wood fibres stained less strongly thanthat of the normal and opposite wood fibres. These results indicatethat the tension wood in F. mandshurica var. japonica is nottypical and is somewhat anomalous. The secondary walls of normaland opposite wood fibres were composed of two layers, S₁ andS₂, and lacked an S₃ layer. Microfibrils in the S₃ layer ofjuvenile stems were extremely variable in orientation and weresparsely distributed without forming a layer. By contrast, avery thin S₃ layer was present in the wood fibres of maturestems. The variations in the formation of the S₃ layer in thefibre walls were probably due to the differences in the cambialage of the stems of F. mandshurica Rupr. var. japonica.Copyright1995, 1999 Academic Press Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr. var. japonica Maxim., Japanese ash, tension wood, fibre wall, G-layer, microfibrillar orientation, normal and opposite wood, juvenile stem, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, low accelerating voltage     

Dark Metabolism of CO2 during Fibre Elongation of Two Cottons Differing in Fibre Lengths

A study has been made of the dark metabolism of CO₂ by elongatingfibres of Gossypium arboreum L. cv. LD 133 (a short staple type)and Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. LH 372 (a long staple type) atdifferent fibre ages. In both cultivars, phosphoenolpyruvatecarboxylasc, glutamate-oxalacetate transaminase and malate dehydrogenaseshow elevated activities during the period of rapid fibre growthand lowered activity with ageing. Malic enzyme activity increasesas extension growth levels off. Levels of K⁺ and malate riseduring rapid extension growth and fall as the rate of elongationdecreases. The results indicate that malate may act as an osmoticumand a counterion for K⁺ accumulation during rapid expansionof the fibres. Amounts of enzymes, K⁺ and malate are higherin the fibres of the long staple cultivar than the short staple.During the period of active elongation, K⁺/malate ratio is higherin the short staple cultivar. Key words: Gossypium hirsutum, CO₂ metabolism, Fibre extension     

Ionic Fluxes from Pulvinar Cells during the Rapid Movement of Mimosa pudica L.

K^$ and Cl^- contents and the ratio of the fresh weight to dryweight of the abaxial halves of the main pulvini of Mimosa decreasedafter movement, but changes in the adaxial halves were not clear.Another experimental result showed that the solution ejectedfrom the pulvinar cells flowed both toward the stem and thepetiole. These transferred ions and water may flow back to thepulvinar cells during recovery. (Received January 30, 1984; Accepted June 12, 1984)     

Cellular pathway of photosynthate transport in coats of developing seed of Vicia faba L. and Phaseolus vulgaris L. I. Extent of transport through the coat symplast

The extent of post-phloem solute transport through the coatsymplasts of developing seeds of Vicia faba L. and Phaseolusvulgaris L. was evaluated. For Vicia seed coats, the membrane-impermeantfluorochrome, CF, moved radially from the chalazal vein to reachthe chlorenchyma and thin-walled parenchyma transfer cell layers.Thereafter, the fluorochrome moved laterally in these two celllayers around the entire circumference of the seed coat. Transferof CF from the chalazal vein was inhibited by plasmolysis ofattached ‘empty’ seed coats. In contrast, the spreadof phloem imported CF was restricted to the ground parenchymaof Phaseolus seed coats. Fluorochrome loaded into the outermostground parenchyma cell layer was rendered immobile followingplasmolysis of excised seed-coat halves. Phloem-imported [¹⁴C]sucroseand the slowly membrane permeable sugar, L-[¹⁴C]glucose, werepartitioned identically between the vascular and non-vascularregions of intact Vicia seed coats. For ¹⁴C-photosynthates,these partitioning patterns in attached ‘empty’Vicia seed coats were unaffected by PCMBS, but inhibited byplasmolysis. Tissue autoradiographs of intact Phaseolus seedcoats demonstrated that a pulse of ¹⁴C-photosynthate moved fromthe veins to the grounds tissues. In excised Vicia seed coats,preloaded with ¹⁴C-photosynthates, the cellular distributionof residual ¹⁴C-label was unaffected by PCMBS. In contrast,PCMBS caused the ¹⁴C-photosynthate levels to be elevated inthe veins and ground parenchyma relative to the branch parenchymaof Phaseolusseed coat halves. Based on the above findings, itis concluded that the phloem of Vicia seed coats is interconnectedto two major symplastic domains; one comprises the chlorenchyma,the other the thin-walled parenchyma plus thin-walled parenchymatransfer cells. For Phaseolusseed coats, the phloem forms amajor symplastic domain with the ground parenchyma. Key words: Phaseolus vulgaris L, phloem unloading, photosynthate transport, seed coat, symplast, Vicia faba L     

Gene expression in Eucalyptus branch wood with marked variation in cellulose microfibril orientation and lacking G-layers

In response to gravitational stresses, angiosperm trees form tension wood in the upper sides of branches and leaning stems in which cellulose content is higher, microfibrils are typically aligned closely with the fibre axis and the fibres often have a thick inner gelatinous cell wall layer (G-layer). Gene expression was studied in Eucalyptus nitens branches oriented at 45 degrees using microarrays containing 4900 xylem cDNAs, and wood fibre characteristics revealed by X-ray diffraction, chemical and histochemical methods. Xylem fibres in tension wood (upper branch) had a low microfibril angle, contained few fibres with G-layers and had higher cellulose and decreased Klason lignin compared with lower branch wood. Expression of two closely related fasciclin-like arabinogalactan proteins and a beta-tubulin was inversely correlated with microfibril angle in upper and lower xylem from branches. Structural and chemical modifications throughout the secondary cell walls of fibres sufficient to resist tension forces in branches can occur in the absence of G-layer enriched fibres and some important genes involved in responses to gravitational stress in eucalypt xylem are identified.     

C4荒漠植物猪毛菜与木本猪毛菜的叶片解剖结构及光合生理特征

 为了比较C₄荒漠植物猪毛菜(Salsola collina)和木本猪毛菜(S. arbuscula)的抗旱结构和适应环境的光合作用特征, 在二者混生的群落中, 选择代表性植株, 采集叶片进行叶片解剖结构分析, 在自然条件下测定了二者叶片的气体交换参数。研究结果表明：猪毛菜叶片具表皮毛, 具有更发达的薄壁贮水组织;木本猪毛菜叶片具有更厚的角质层, 表皮下有1层下皮细胞, 其栅栏组织细胞较长, 排列更紧密。猪毛菜的净光合速率明显高于木本猪毛菜, 日平均值分别为21.5和15.7 μmol CO₂·m^–2·s^–1。猪毛菜的蒸腾速率也明显高于木本猪毛菜, 日平均值分别为14.9和10.2 mmol·m^–2·s^–1。猪毛菜和木本猪毛菜的水分利用效率的日平均值分别为1.39和1.53 μmol CO₂·mmol^–1 H₂O, 特别是在14:00时分别为1.61和2.30 μmol CO₂·mmol^–1 H₂O, 木本猪毛菜高出猪毛菜约42%。猪毛菜的光补偿点低于木本猪毛菜, 而光饱和点和光量子效率较高, 具有更低的CO₂补偿点。这表明：二者的旱生结构不同, 木本猪毛菜具有更显著的荒漠植物特征;在适于二者混生的环境下, 猪毛菜比木本猪毛菜的光合能力更强, 而木本猪毛菜的水分利用效率更高。     

Distribution of Radioactivity from Exogenously Supplied [1-14C]Indol-3-yl-acetic Acid and [3, 4-3H (N)] Gibberellin A, in Geotropically-stimulated Picea abies (L.) Karst. Roots

The distribution of exogenously-supplied radioactive labelledindol-3-yl-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellin A₁ (GA₁) in geotropicallystimulated roots of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.)has been demonstrated. Seedlings were positioned with theirroot tips in 2.1 x 10^–6 M [¹⁴C]IAA or 1.3 x 10^–8m ³H-GA₁ for 4 and 20 h, respectively. After geotropic stimulationfor 90 min in the horizontal position the root tips were cutlongitudinally in 50 µm thick sections, using a freeze-microtome.The radioactivity in the ¹⁴C-IAA treated roots occurred in higherconcentration in the lower than in the upper halves (ratio 1.25:1). A similar trend was observed in the [³H]GA₁-treated rootswhere the ratio lower: upper halves was 2.04: 1. The ratio ofradioactivity in right and left halves of vertical roots wasapproximately the same in roots supplied with [¹⁴C]IAA and [³H]GA₁(1.09: 1). The supplied radioactive compounds were analysed chromatographicallyafter extraction in methanol of 6 mm apical root segments. Onlya small fraction (7–8 per cent) of the supplied [¹⁴C]IAAwas revealed unchanged in the segments. The major part of thechromatographed, labelled compound has not been identified,but on basis of its R_F value it is suggested that it may beindol-3-acetyl-aspartic acid (IAAasp). The chromatographic analysis of the [³H]GA,-treated segmentsshowed that only small fractions of this gibberellin has beenconverted to other compounds. These results have been discussed and correlated with knowledgeof plant growth regulators and their participation in root geotropism. Picea abies, spruce, geotropism, gibberellin A₁, indol-3-yl-acetic acid, growth regulators, redistribution in roots     

Microclimate, Canopy Structure and Photosynthesis in Canopies of Three Contrasting Temperate Forage Grasses: I. Canopy Structure and Growth

The crop growth rates and structures of three temperate foragegrasses Lolium perenne cv. S24, L. perenne cv. Reveille andFestuca arundinacea cv. S170, were examined in the field duringa summer growth period. The growth rates of the varieties wereremarkably similar at 7 g DM m^–2 day^–1. The angularstructures of the varieties were different and they varied duringthe experiment. However, these differences did not seem to affectcrop growth rates. Nevertheless, a decrease in the efficiencyof light energy conversion of approximately 24 per cent wasobserved after a change to a more prostrate form of canopy dueto lodging. There appeared to be an inverse relationship betweenthe number of tillers per unit ground area and the weight ofan individual stem. There were large numbers of relatively lighttillers in S24 whereas S1 70 had fewer but heavier tillers.Furthermore, S24 had many small leaves per unit ground areacompared with SI70 which had fewer longer leaves per groundarea and a slower rate of leaf appearance. There were diurnalchanges in the rates of leaf extension for all the varieties.The mean daily extension rates declined as the canopies developed.     

Trifluralin and root growth

Trifluralin inhibited root elongation and induced root tip swellingof Zea mays and Triticum aeslivum. Time-course experiments showedthese effects occurred within 6 hr of treatment. As the rootstreated with trifluralin enlarged, there was a concomitant increasein root growth inhibition. Bioassays were devised to quantitativelymeasure the radial enlargement of trifluralin-treated roots.Histological observations indicated that swollen root tissuewas growing in a non-polar manner. The root swelling effectof trifluralin was inhibited 70% by the reducing agent, 2,3-dimercaptopropanol.Trifluralin had no effect on SH content of root tip proteinof Z.mays. ¹ Published with the approval of the Director of die West VirginiaAgricultural Experiment Station as Scientific paper No. 1177. ² Present address: Department of Biology, Mercyhurst College,Erie, Pennsylvania 16501, U.S.A. (Received March 19, 1971; )     

Study of tension wood in the artificially inclined seedlings of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Koelreuteria henryi</Emphasis> Dummer and its biomechanical function of negative gravitropism

Key message

Stem reorientation is critical to tree survival. With anatomical observation and strain measurement, the tension wood formation and biomechanical behavior were studied to gain insights into tree uprighting process.

Abstract

Tension wood plays a role in maintaining the mechanical stability of angiosperm trees. Both biological and physical aspects of tension wood are essential in understanding the mechanism of trunk or branch reorientation. In this study, we worked on both tension wood formation and its biomechanical function in artificially inclined 2-year-old Koelreuteria henryi seedlings. The tension wood formation and reorientation process of the trunk last for about 3 months. With pinning method, we confirmed that at the beginning of inclination the cambial zone including the vascular cambium and the developing normal wood fibers on the upper side of the inclined trunk perceives the onset of mechanical change and starts to produce G-fibers that generate a strong contractile released growth strain (RGS) for gravitropic correction. Stronger contractile RGS and more tension wood were found at the trunk base than at the half-height, suggesting that the trunk base plays a key role in trunk uprighting of K. henryi seedlings. The eccentric cambial growth in the tension wood side increases the efficiency of gravitropic correction and the compressive strains measured in the opposite wood of some inclined seedlings also help the upright movement.

     

Wood properties and chemical composition of the eccentric growth branch of Viburnum odoratissimum var. awabuki

To clarify the wood properties and chemical composition of branches of Viburnum odoratissimum produced by unusual eccentric growth, we investigated growth strain (GS), basic density (D _b), microfibril angle (MFA), elastic moduli (E _L and E _L/D _b), creep deformation, cellulose crystalline features, and lignin structure in upper and lower sides of the branches, and considered the correlations among these factors. In most measuring positions, the distribution of GS showed that higher tensile GS was in the upper side and compressive GS was in the lower side of the branch, which combines GS features of reaction wood. However, the generation of GS in the lower side was different from that in compression wood, because E _L/D _b and MFA had a negative correlation. The creep compliance curves show that the upper-side wood had low rigidity and high viscosity, whereas the lower-side wood had large rigidity and low viscosity. Relative creep had a negative relation with MFA in the upper side, which is unusual. The cellulose crystalline features showed no obvious difference between both sides of the branch; however, the lignin with less β-O-4 proportion and less S units but more G units seemed to exist in the lower side because of a decreased syringyl/guaiacyl (S/G) molar ratio. This suggests that cell wall could be reinforced by lignin resulting in lower viscosity in the lower side of the branch. Additionally, the S/G ratio showed a relatively high correlation with GS in the lower side. These results suggest that lignin structure plays an important role in adapting to environmental changes during eccentric growth for V. odoratissimum.     

Effects of rotifers and ciliates on the growth and survival of Daphnia

Daphnia can suppress ciliates and rotifers through predationand interference competition, but it is not known whether thisproduces any direct benefit to Daphnia. We conducted survivorshipand cohort lifetable experiments to determine whether Daphniacan utilize ciliates and rotifers as food. Three species ofoligotrich ciliates (Halteria grandinella, Strobilidium gyransand Strobilidiumvelox) and one rotifer (Keratella cochlearis)were used. Lifetable experiments were conducted with a basallevel of algae (Cryptomonas sp.), plus either ciliates or rotifers,while survivorship experiments had only the rotifers or ciliates.Densities of 30 H.grandinella ml^–1, 50 S.gyrans ml^–1and 15 S.velox ml^–1 enhanced Daphnia pulex's populationgrowth rate 35–50% over controls with only algae. TenS.gyrans ml^–1 did not produce a significant change inDaphnia's growth rate. Densities of 100 and 300 K.cochlearis^–1 increased Daphnia population growth rates by II and10%, respectively. Both 10 and 50 S.gyrans ml^–1 enhancedDaphnia's survivorship compared to starved controls, but neither100 nor 300 K.cochlearis l^–1 enhanced its survivorship.The amount of enhancement of Daphnia growth rates by rotifersand ciliates is roughly proportional to the death rates imposedby Daphnia. The death rate imposed by Daphnia on rotifers isa function of both algal density and Daphnia size. Per unitbiomass, neither ciliates nor Keratella appear to be as nutritiousfor Daphnia as is Cryptomonas.     

Distribution of Calcium, Potassium and Phosphorus in Helianthus annuus Hypocotyls and Zea mays Coleoptiles in Relation to Tropic Stimuli and Curvatures

Studies have been made of the distribution of ⁴⁵Ca, ⁴²K, totalK⁺ and ³²P between the concave and convex sides of segmentsof hypocotyl of Helianthus annuus and coleoptiles of Zea maysduring curvatures induced by gravity, unilateral illuminationor unilateral applications of indol-3yl acetic acid (IAA). Theelements were fed to the roots of seedlings for a 3–4h pretreatment period. Distributions in segments in intact seedlingswere compared with those in explanted segments deprived of acontinuing supply of the element concerned in order to separatepossible differential transport of the element from the rootsfrom any real movement across the organ from side to side. Withall three treatments, and in both explants and intact plants,⁴⁵Ca concentrations (on both fwt and dwt bases) were higheron the convex side. There was evidence of differential transportto the two sides and also of a direct movement across the parenchymafrom one side to the other. In organs where curvature was inhibitedby low temperatures (4 °C in geotropic experiments) or bythe antitropistic agent, N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid, no concentrationdifferences arose between the two sides. After the tropic stimulithe onset of the concentration differences preceded the onsetof curvature significantly, indicating that those differenceswere not caused by differential growth of the organ. The diuretic,mersalyl, applied unilaterally produced differences in elementconcentration of the same order and kind as similar treatmentwith IAA, but caused no growth curvatures. It is concluded that the movement of elements in tropicallycurving tissues, although apparently obligately-linked withcurvature, is not the result of that curvature or its cause,but is in some as yet undefined way an outcome of auxin gradientsin the tissue.     

Greater initial adaptations to submaximal muscle lengthening than maximal shortening

Hortobágyi, Tibor, Jason Barrier, David Beard, JohnBraspennincx, Peter Koens, Paul Devita, Line Dempsey, and Jean Lambert. Greater initial adaptations to submaximal muscle lengthening thanmaximal shortening. J. Appl. Physiol.81(4): 1677-1682, 1996.The purpose of this study was tocompare the short-term strength and neural adaptations to eccentric andconcentric training at equal force levels. Forty-two sedentary women(age = 21.5 yr) were ranked based on the initial quadriceps strengthscore, and trios of subjects were randomly assigned to either aneccentric (n = 14), a concentric (n = 14), or a nonexercising controlgroup (n = 14). Training involved atotal of 824 eccentric or concentric quadriceps actions at 1.05 rad ^· s¹administered in four sets of 6-10 repetitions, four times per weekfor 6 wk. Before and after training, all subjects were tested forunilateral maximal isometric and eccentric and concentric actions at1.05 rad ^· s¹and for a 40-repetition eccentric and concentric fatigue series of theleft and right quadriceps. Surface electromyographic activity of thevastus lateralis and medialis was monitored during testing. Concentrictraining increased concentric (36%, P < 0.05), isometric (18%, P < 0.05), and eccentric strength (13%), and eccentric training increasedeccentric (42%, P < 0.05),isometric (30%, P < 0.05), andconcentric (13%) strength. Eccentric training improved eccentric andisometric strength more (P < 0.05)than did concentric training. The electromyographic adaptations weregreater with eccentric training. Cross-education was 6%, and neithertraining mode modified fatigability. The data suggest that training ofthe quadriceps muscle with submaximal eccentric actions brings aboutgreater strength adaptations faster than does training withmaximal-level concentric actions in women. This greater adaptation islikely to be mediated by both mechanical and neural factors.

     

Natural and Experimentally Induced Dispersion of Aggregate Rays in Shoots of Quercus ithaburensis Decne. and Q. calliprinos Webb

There are two types of sites where aggregate rays in Quercusithaburensis Decne. and Q. calliprinos Webb do not occur naturallyin the tree: branch junctions and small ridges of wood. Partialgirdling of Quercus trunks resulted in the dispersion of aggregaterays which diffused into numerous simple rays. The breakup ofaggregate rays following partial girdling is not a typical woundresponse since wounding is known to stimulate ray enlargement.The disaggregation of the huge rays reflects changes in therelationship between axial and radial signal flows. Aggregate rays, Quercus ithaburensis Decne., Quercus calliprinos Webb, ray differentiation, wood formation, xylem anatomy     

Leaf Ecology of Pre-reproductive Ontogenetic Stages of the Palm TreeEuterpe edulisMart. (Arecaceae)

We studied leaves of 208 seedlings (S), infants (I) and juveniles(J) ofEuterpe edulis,randomly selected from plants in 1 ha ofswampy forest in SE Brazil. Each new leaf began extending afterthe complete development of the preceding leaf. The sequencesteps of leaf growth were emergence, linear growth while closed,opening of segments and logarithmic growth of the petiole. Averageleaf production rate (2.21 leaves per plant year^-1) did notvary among ontogenetic stages, conforming to a plastochronicrhythm. Average linear growth rate of the closed leaf was directlyrelated to average area of the open lamina. Herbivores attacked33.0% of all leaves giving rise to up to 10% loss of area andincluded damping-off-inducing suckers (7.1%), ordinary suckers(9.8%), chewers (5.4%), miners (2.7%) and multiple attacks (8.0%).These attacks varied among stages (S=22.4%, I=38.1%, J=33.3%),as did leaf mortality rates (S=26.5%, I=14.3% and J=0.0%). Unknownfactors were the main cause of leaf mortality (S=14.3%, I=7.1%).Not losing a leaf while a seedling and attaining a minimum leafarea in the infant stage were critical events for survival.Plants gained leaf area by not losing leaves while a seedling,by producing larger leaves with greater growth rates, and byaccumulating leaves with longer lifespans. The petiole can simulatean energetically cheaper branch, delimit a vital space aroundthe stem, favourably position the leaf lamina and substituteprovisionally for stem growth in height.Copyright 1999 Annalsof Botany Company Arecaceae,Euterpe edulis, herbivory, leaf ecology, leaf growth, leaf production, semideciduous forest, southeastern Brazil.     

Gibberellin-induced formation of tension wood in angiosperm trees

After gibberellin had been applied to the vertical stems of four species of angiosperm trees for approximately 2 months, we observed eccentric radial growth that was due to the enhanced growth rings on the sides of stems to which gibberellin had been applied. Moreover, the application of gibberellin resulted in the formation of wood fibers in which the thickness of inner layers of cell walls was enhanced. These thickened inner layers of cell walls were unlignified or only slightly lignified. In addition, cellulose microfibrils on the innermost surface of these thickened inner layers of cell walls were oriented parallel or nearly parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fibers. Such thickened inner layers of cell walls had features similar to those of gelatinous layers in the wood fibers of tension wood, which are referred to as gelatinous fibers. Our anatomical and histochemical investigations indicate that the application of gibberellin can induce the formation of tension wood on vertical stems of angiosperm trees in the absence of gravitational stimulus.     

Anatomy and lignin distribution in reaction phloem fibres of several Japanese hardwoods

Background and Aims Although tension wood formation and the structure of gelatinous fibres (G-fibres) have been widely investigated, studies of the influence of the reaction phenomenon on phloem fibres have been few and incomplete in comparison with those of xylem wood fibres. This study was undertaken to clarify the influence of stem inclination on phloem fibres using several Japanese hardwood species that produce different G-fibre types in tension wood. Methods Eight hardwood species were inclined at 30-45° at the beginning of April. Specimens were collected in July and December. The cell-wall structure and lignin distribution of phloem fibres on both the tension and opposite sides were compared by light microscopy, ultraviolet microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy after staining with acriflavine, and transmission electron microscopy after staining with potassium permanganate. Key Results Three types of changes were found in tension-side phloem fibres: (1) increases in the proportion of the syringyl unit in lignin in the S(1) and S(2) layers and compound middle lamella (Cercidiphyllum japonicum), (2) formation of unlignified gelatinous layers (Melia azedarach and Acer rufinerve) and (3) increases in the number of layers (n) in the multi-layered structure of S(1) + S(2) + n (G + L) (Mallotus japonicus). Other species showed no obvious change in cell-wall structure or lignin distribution. Conclusions Phloem fibres of the tree species examined in our study showed three types of changes in lignin distribution and cell-wall structure. The reaction phenomenon may vary with tree species and may not be closely related to G-fibre type in tension wood.