Apomixis and Polyembryony in the Guggul Plant, Commiphora wightii

The present report is a part of our study on the reproductivebiology of a traditional Indian medicinal plant,Commiphora wightii,a source of guggul steroids. Field examination showed a predominantlylarge number of isolated and groups of female individuals. Onlyone andromonoecious and two exclusively male plants were recorded.Female plants set seed irrespective of the presence or absenceof pollen. Hand-pollination experiments and embryological studieshave confirmed the occurrence of non-pseudogamous apomixis,nucellar polyembryony and autonomous endosperm formation forthe first time in this plant, which is presently threatenedby over-exploitation. Commiphora wightii ; autonomous endosperm; guggul; medicinal plant; non-pseudogamous apomixis; nucellar polyembryony     

l-3-(3′-Carboxy-4′-hydroxyphenyl)alanine (3-carboxytyrosine) in seeds of Neonotonia wightii (Glycine wightii) and its possible systematic significance

l-3-(3′-Carboxy-4′-hydroxyphenyl)alanine (3-carboxytyrosine) constitutes 3% of the seeds of Neonotonia wightii (Glycine wightii); it has also been detected in the seeds of 3 species belonging to 2 other genera of the Glycineae. The systematic significance of these findings is discussed.     

Depression of legume growth by liming

Summary Early growth or nodulation of certain species was depressed when a Hawaiian Oxisol was limed at rates above 6 tons/ha (pH 6). In 8 legumes, the depression later gave way to positive response. This was evident in plant weights of Desmodium intortum and Glycine wightii var. Cooper, and in pod weights of Phaseolus vulgaris. A transient depression was observed visually in Desmodium canum, Dolichos axillaris, Glycine wightii var. Tinaroo, and Trifolium subterraneum. In Stylosanthes guyanensis and S. fruticosa, the depression persisted throughout the experiment (6 months). Growth was not depressed in Arachis hypogea, Coronilla varia, Glycine max, Leucaena leucocephala, Medicago sativa, Trifolium repens, or Vigna sinensis. Journal Series No. 1953 of the Hawaii Agr. Exp. Station Journal Series No. 1953 of the Hawaii Agr. Exp. Station     

Development and Structure of Primary Secretory Ducts in the Stem of Commiphora wightii (Burseraceae)

Development of gum-resin ducts, sites of resin synthesis inthe epithelial cells and elimination of resin from the protoplasthave been studied in the stem of Commiphora wightii. Formationof an intercellular space amongst a group of densely stainedprocambial cells signals the initiation of a duct. It widensby anticlinal divisions of the epithelial cells and also bytheir further separation along the radial walls. The numerousplastids with varying morphological shapes have an electrondense matrix. Starch granules present in the amyloplasts showevidences of exocorrosion. Mitochondria in the epithelial cellsof developing and mature ducts have well developed, swollencristae. Osmiophilic material originates in association withthe golgi-derived vesicles at its maturing face. It is alsoobserved in close association with plastids, mitochondria andvacuoles, thereby plausibly involving them in the process ofresin formation. The resinous material is eliminated from thecytoplasm by vesicles enveloped by plasmalemma prior to theirdischarge into the apoplast. Myelin-like multilamellate structuresobserved along the inner tangential wall may aid in the secretionof resin across the wall. Commiphora wightii, primary secretory ducts, epithelial cells, ultrastructure, gum-resin secretion     

A new isoflavone phytoalexin from fungus-inoculated stems of Glycine wightii

6-Isopentenylgenistein 1 (wighteone) has been isolated as a phytoalexin from the fungus-inoculated or CuCl₂-treated stems of Glycine wightii. Plants treated with aqueous CuCl₂, but not those inoculated with the fungus, also accumulated genistein (2) and its 2′-hydroxy derivative (3).     

Comparative lime requirements of tropical and temperate legumes

Summary In a field trial using a continuous function design, calcium carbonate was applied to a nitrogen deficient Hawaiian Oxisol at rates which increased along the plant row from 0 to 22 tons/ha, producing a gradient in soil pH from 4.7 to 7.1. Inoculated legumes representing 18 species were grown.Lime response curves showed no distinct general difference between tropical and temperate legumes. Within each group, individual species varied. Responsiveness rankings of species varied depending on criterion of response.The species ranked as follows according to the amount of lime needed for 90% of the maximum attained yield: Coronilla varia (16 tons/ha) > Leucaena leucocephala (11) > Phaseolus vulgaris, Medicago sativa (9–10) > Glycine max var. Kanrich (7) > Glycine wightii var. Cooper, Lotus corniculatus (6) > Glycine wightii var. Tinaroo, Trifolium repens, Trifolium subterraneum (5) > Desmodium canum, Dolichos axillaris, Glycine max var. Kahala (4) > Arachis hypogea, Desmodium intortum, Vigna sinensis (1–2) > Stylosanthes fruticosa, Stylosanthes guyanensis (0.1).The species ranked as follows according to the magnitude of yield increase due to lime: C. varia (20-fold increase) > T. repens (9-fold) > L. leucocephala, D. axillaris, M. sativa (6-fold) > G. wightii var. Tinaroo (5-fold) > P. vulgaris (4-fold) > G. wightii var. Cooper, L. corniculatus (3-fold) > D. canum, D. intortum, T. subterraneum (2-fold) > A. hypogea, G. max, S. fruticosa, S. guyanensis, V. sinensis (30–50%).Improved calcium availability could account for plant responses to lime rates over 3 to 4 tons/ha. Only 4 tons CaCO₃ sufficed to raise soil pH to 6 and depress solution aluminum and manganese to low concentrations, but 6 tons were needed to raise soluble calcium to 1 meq/l and 20 tons to raise it to 3 meq/l.Journal series No. 1953 of the Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station.Department of Soils and Plant Nutrition, University of California, Davis.Department of Agronomy and Soil Science, University of Hawaii, Honolulu.     

Morphological Description of Transgenic Soybean Chimeras Created by the Delivery, Integration and Expression of Foreign DNA Using Electric Discharge Particle Acceleration

Transgenic soybean (Glycine max L.) plants derived from electricdischarge particle acceleration experiments exhibited varyingdegrees of chimerism which was followed by the expression ofthe introduced ß-glucuronidase (gus) gene. Degreesof chimerism in transgenic plants were established by determiningexpression of the gus gene observed as blue spots, streaks orsectors in stem and leaf tissues in in vitro grown plantletsand greenhouse plants. Clonal plants were also obtained. Presenceof the gene was confirmed by Southern blot analysis. These studiespermitted the reconstruction of a partial picture for the developmentof the soybean plant. Glycine max L. cv. Williams 82, soybean, transformation, ß-glucuronidase, chimeric plant phenotypes, development     

Pollen-stigma Interaction in the Leguminosae: Constituents of the Stylar Fluid and Stigma Secretion of Trifolium pratense L.

The style of T. pratense is hollow, and the canal contains awatery secretion which forms the medium through which the pollentubes grow after penetrating the stigma head. In self-incompatiblegenotypes, incompatible pollen germinates freely and the tubespenetrate the stigma, but they are arrested in the canal afterpassing an inflated zone (entasis) proximal to the stigma head.The stylar fluid contains sucrose, glucose and traces of galactoseand arabinose, as well as a range of proteins. Comparison ofthe proteins in the stigma eluate and stylar fluid by microgradientgel electrophoresis shows that the spectra are broadly similar;but in addition to various minor differences, two major glycoproteinsare present in the stigma secretion which are absent from thestyle, while one in the stylar fluid is not represented in thestigma. Six esterase isoenzymes are present in the stylar fluid,and three of these also in the stigma eluate; there are alsodifferences in acid phosphatase isoenzymes. Leguminosae, Trifolium pratense L., pollen-stigma interaction, self-incompatibility, stigma eluate secretion, stylar secretion     

Growth Analysis of Soybean Seedlings During the Lifespan of the Cotyledons

Patterns of seedling growth of Glycine max in light and darknesswere compared during the period from germination to cotyledonabscission. Fitted growth curves and the derived functions,relative growth rate, unit leaf rate, leaf area ratio and specificleaf area, were used to assess the relative importance in seedlinggrowth of cotyledon storage reserves, cotyledon photosynthesisand leaf photosynthesis. The cotyledons are of an intermediatetype with a predominant storage and a minimal photosyntheticfunction. Cotyledon reserves support seedling growth until theprimary leaves expand, after which growth depends on leaf photosynthesis. Glycine max (L.) Merr., soybean, cotyledons, growth analysis, seedling development     

Agrobacterium rhizogenes Mediated Transformation of the Wild Soybeans Glycine canescens and G. clandestine: Production of Transgenic Plants of G. canescens

Six accessions of Glycine canescens and four of G. clandestinawere evaluated for their response to inoculation with Agrobacteriumrhizogenes strain LBA 9402. The response was accession-dependent,with 9% to 70% of the seedlings producing roots following infectionof the hypocotyl. Excised cotyledons were less responsive thanhypocotyls. Roots exhibited plagiotropic and negatively geotropicgrowth in culture on hormone-free agar medium; those of G. canescensproduced shoots on B5 based medium containing 10 mg dm^–3BAP and 0.05 mg dm^–3 IBA. Cultured roots and regeneratedshoots synthesized opines. DNA sequences homologous to thoseof pRi TL and TR-DNA were present in a clonally propagated regeneratedplant of G. canescens. Key words: Agrobacterium rhizogenes, Glycine canescens, G. clandestina, transformed roots, transgenic plants     

Glutamine Synthetase Activity and Foliar Nitrogen Volatilization in Response to Temperature and Inhibitor Chemicals

In soyabeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), glutamine synthetase(GS) activity was greater at 28 °C than at 35 °C. Thereverse was true for foliar-N loss. In field-grown plants at29 °C, the GS activity was higher and foliar-N loss waslower in soyabeans than in Amaranthus palmeri (S.) Wats. Methioninesulphoximine, a GS inhibitor, and 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine,a glutamate synthase inhibitor, significantly increased foliar-Nloss from soyabeans. The data suggest that conditions conduciveto decreased GS or glutamate synthase activity may result inincreased foliar-N loss. Palmer amaranth, Amaranthus palmeri, soyabean, Glycine max, methionine sulphoximine, 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine     

Germination and Early Growth of Plants Studied Using Neutron Radiography

Seed swelling, germination, root extension, lateral root initiationand shoot growth were studied in soils of different water contents,using non-destructive, serial neutron radiography. Seeds fromthree varieties of soya beans (Glycine max L.) and one varietyeach of maize (Zea mays L.) and vetch (Vicia sativa L.) wereused. The seeds germinated when they had increased in size bya certain amount, if germination is taken as the time when theradicle first appears. The rate at which roots and shoots extendalso depend on soil water content. Glycine max L., Vicia sativa L., Zea mays L., Soya bean vetch, maize, seed germination, root extension, lateral root initiation, neutron radiography     

Pollen-pistil Interaction in a Non-pseudogamous Apomict,Commiphora wightii

Structural and cytochemical details of the pistil and the interactionof pollen and pistil were studied in a non-pseudogamous apomict,Commiphorawightii.The anthers in the male and bisexual flowers producefunctional pollen grains. The stigma is of the wet and papillatetype. The style is typically solid with two strands of transmittingtissue that traverse the entire length of the style. There isa marked reduction in the area occupied by the transmittingtissue from the stigma to the base of the style. The cells ofthe transmitting tissue are isodiametric in transverse as wellas longitudinal section and do not form longitudinal files ofelongated cells as reported for other taxa. Proteins could notbe localized in the intercellular matrix. Although pollen grainsgerminate on the stigma, pollen tubes do not grow beyond theproximal one third of the style. Changed orientation of thecells of the transmitting tissue and absence of proteins inthe intercellular matrix could account for the failure of thepistil to support pollen growth.Copyright 1998 Annals of BotanyCompany Guggul, pollen-pistil interaction, non-pseudogamous apomict,Commiphora wightii, transmitting tissue     

Soyabean Stem In Vivo Nitrate Reductase Activity

Stem from three- and four-week-old Soyabean [Glycine max (L.)Merr. cv. Tracy] plants reduced from 0.3 to 0.7 µmol nitrateh^–l g^–l f. wt. Leaf activity was 4.7–7.6 µmolnitrate h^–l g^–l f. wt. Outer stem was two to fourtimes more active at reducing nitrate than was inner stem. Plantnitrate nutrition had a strong effect upon the ratio of activitypresent in stem and leaf. More nitrate increased the proportionpresent in leaves. Glycine max L., soyabean, nitrate assimilation, nitrogen metabolism, Rhizobium japonicum     

Alpha-Mannosidase II Isoenzyme in the Peribacteroid Space of Glycine max Root Nodules

Kinnback, A., Mellor, R. B. and Werner, D. 1987. Alpha-mannosidaseII isoenzyme in the peribacteroid space of Glycine max rootnodules.—J. exp. Bot. 38: 1373–1377. Three isoenzymes of alpha-mannosidase from soybean tissue wereseparated by isoelectric focussing. The vacuomal isoenzymesI and II accounted typically for over 90% of the activity inextracts from roots whether or not they were infected with Bradyrhizobiumjaponicum, tissue culture and effective nodules. Ineffectivenodules, on the other hand, contained up to 62% of the typicallyextracellular located isoenzyme III. The compartment betweenthe symbiotic partners (the peribacteroid space) contained onlyisoenzyme II. The bearing of isoenzyme distribution upon modelsof peribacteroid membrane biogenesis is discussed. Key words: Aipha-mannosidase, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Glycine max, membrane flow/recycling, peribacteroid space, symbiosis     

Acetylcholine and Red-light Influence on Ethylene Evolution from Soyabean Leaf Tissues

Acetylcholine (Ach) and red light inhibited ethylene evolutionfrom excised green soyabean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) leaf discs.Neostigmine, an Ach-esterase inhibitor, mimicked this effectwhile atropine, an Ach antagonist, increased ethylene evolution.Acetylcholine and red light partially overcame the atropine-inducedresponse. The results were interpreted as an influence of acetylcholineupon the ethylene formation process. Glycine max, ethylene inhibition, leaf discs     

Ion Distribution Across the Cortex of Soybean Nodules: Possible Involvement in Control of Oxygen Diffusion

X-ray microanalysis was used to study ion distribution in nodulesof soybean [Glycine max (L.)] cv. Clarke formed with two strainsof Bradyrhizobium japonicum ; RCR3407 and RCR3442. Previousstudies have shown that the oxygen diffusion barrier in nodulesof the RCR3442 symbiosis has slower responses to acetylene andincreased external oxygen than those of the RCR3407 symbiosisand this variation is correlated with differences in glycoproteincontent. X-ray maps and cross-cortical cell counts of nodulesformed by either strain show very similar zonal distributionsof Mg, K, S and Ca across the cortex. Levels of K appear tobe similar but levels of Mg, S and Ca seem to be lower in nodulesof the RCR3442 symbiosis. These results suggest that the contentand distribution of Mg, S and Ca reflect an involvement in theoperation of the cortical diffusion barrier.Copyright 1994,1999 Academic Press Glycine max, X-ray microanalysis, nodules, oxygen diffusion, ion distribution, Mg, Ca, K, S     

Variation in the Durations of the Photoperiod-sensitive and Photoperiod-insensitive Phases of Post-first Flowering Development in Maturity Isolines of Soyabean [Glycine max(L.) Merrill] 'Clark'

Plants of eight isolines of soyabean [Glycine max(L.) Merrill],comprising all combinations of two alleles at the three lociE₁/e₁,E₂/e₂andE₃/e₃inthe cultivar ‘Clark’ background, were transferredafter different periods following first flowering from longdays (LD, 14 h d^-1) to short days (SD, 12 h d^-1) andvice versaina reciprocal-transfer experiment in a plastic house maintainedat 30/24 °C (day/night). Photoperiod (0.10>P>0.05),transfer time (P<0.001),>isoline (P<0.001), and theirinteractions (P<0.001) all affected flowering duration, i.e.the period from first flowering until the appearance of thelast flower. The flowering duration comprised two distinct phases:a photoperiod-sensitive phase beginning at first flowering,and a subsequent photoperiod-insensitive phase. The durationof the photoperiod-sensitive phase varied much more among theisolines in LD than in SD. Only the dominant alleleE₁increasedthe sensitivity of the photoperiod-sensitive phase of floweringduration to photoperiod singly, but positive epistatic effectswere detected betweenE₁andE₂,E₁andE₃, and especially among allthree dominant alleles. The increases in flowering durationresulting from the combined effects of gene and environment(i.e. photoperiod) were associated with considerable increasesin biomass and seed yield at harvest maturity.Copyright 1998Annals of Botany Company. Glycine max(L.) Merrill, soyabean, maturity genes, flowering, photoperiod, reciprocal transfer, yield.