Sunspots drive seagrasses

Seagrasses are underwater flowering plants that form an important marine habitat worldwide. They respond to watershed and climate influences and are considered a good indicator of environmental health. Investigations into seagrass photosynthesis, response to high irradiance and UV light are providing new insights into controls on plant production. We show that the size and density of the intertidal seagrass directly relates to sunspot activity. The influence of sunspot activity has been largely overlooked in plants and never examined in seagrasses. The correlation between seagrass canopy height and the number of sunspots was highly significant, with height decreasing steadily as sunspots increase and recover only after a substantial decline in sunspot activity. The density of seagrass shoots correlated positively with sunspots until, at high sunspot numbers (>110 per month), plant density dropped and then rebounded. High sunspot activity inhibits the production and alters the meadow structure of tropical intertidal seagrass habitats.     

EFFECTS OF FIXATIVES ON THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF PHYSODES IN VEGETATIVE CELLS OF SCYTOSIPHON LOMENTARIA (SCYTOSIPHONACEAE,PHAEOPHYTA)1

The effects of different glutaraldehyde-osmium fixation schedules on the ultrastructure of the vegetative cells from the meristematic regions of Scytosiphon lomentaria (Lyngbye) Link fronds are described. The best overall preservation of cell structure was obtained with a 2 h fixation in 2.5–3.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffered seawater (pH 7.0), followed after washing by 1 h post fixation in 1% osmium tetroxide. The addition of 1% caffeine to the glutaraldehyde fixative resulted in better retention and spatial localization of the electron dense phenolic deposits within the cells. Particular attention was paid to the effects of the various fixation schedules on the electron-dense material within the cells and the images obtained were compared with previous accounts of brown algal cells. It is proposed that the term physode should be restricted to the discrete electron dense spherical bodies within the vacuoles and not applied to electron dense material in general. Although the organization of Scytosiphon cells was similar to that previously reported in the Scytosiphonaceae, the organization of the plasmodesmata into pit fields is at variance with previous accounts.     

玉米胚乳传递细胞的结构观察研究

以玉米品种'登海11号'为材料,分别于授粉后8、10、15和20 d采集颖果,取所需部位并采用树脂包埋的方法及半薄和超薄切片技术,对玉米胚乳传递细胞进行了显微和超微结构观察.结果显示:(1)胚乳传递细胞的壁内突从外层向内层依次递减,溶质浓度逐步降低,形成了明显的溶质浓度梯度,有利于溶质的运输;(2)中层胚乳传递细胞和内层胚乳传递细胞的邻壁上存在胞间连丝或一些孔径较大的胞壁孔道,从而使溶质更快的进入内层胚乳传递细胞;(3)在壁内突周围存在许多线粒体.研究表明,玉米胚乳传递细胞的结构适合溶质运输.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF A FRESHWATER BROWN ALGA FROM WESTERN CANADA1

Heribaudiella fluviatilis (Aresch.) Sved. is a freshwater brown alga distributed in Europe and Japan, but known only from one questionable record in eastern North America. It is now reported as present in western Canada, approximately 250 km from any marine water. Ultrastructural features prove its phaeophycean character. Each cell contains several discoid chloroplasts with thylakoids in triplets and an encircling triplet adjacent to the chloroplast envelope. Voluminous osmiophilic substances presumed to be physodes (phenolics) are present, as well as a single nucleus associated with dictyosomes and a pair of centrioles. The cell walls are perforated by plasmodesmata, which are considered of importance in cohesion of filaments.     

F肌动蛋白作为胞间连丝组分的结构与生理学证据

以蒜 (AlliumsativumL .)瓣鞘外表皮为材料 ,利用荧光特异探针与共焦镜检术 ,结合透射电镜与免疫金标记对表皮细胞间胞间联络的性质、结构进行了系统观察。结果表明 ,加厚壁上的通道是由狭长的管状胞质和初生纹孔场上成束的胞间连丝衔接组成 ,前者实为原生质体的一部分。单个胞间连丝的孔径为 6 0～ 70nm ,属正常胞间连丝范围 ,它们乃相邻细胞间共质联系的所在。荧光探针TRITC_Phalloidin (TRITC_Ph)标记的结果显示 ,整个通道上呈现红色荧光的纤索在接近初生纹孔场处明显变窄 ,与超微结构观察中所见的结构特点相吻合 ,共焦镜下观察到的初生壁上的荧光亮斑乃初生纹孔场中成束胞间连丝被标记的反映 ,从而有效地证实了F肌动蛋白在常态胞间连丝上的存在。免疫金标记实验显示在管状胞质中和胞间连丝上有金颗粒分布 ,这一结果为证实荧光标记物具肌动蛋白性质提供了有说服力的补充。     

F肌动蛋白作为胞间连丝组分的结构与生理学证据

以蒜(Allium sativum L.)瓣鞘外表皮为材料,利用荧光特异探针与共焦镜检术,结合透射电镜与免疫金标记对表皮细胞间胞间联络的性质、结构进行了系统观察.结果表明,加厚壁上的通道是由狭长的管状胞质和初生纹孔场上成束的胞间连丝衔接组成,前者实为原生质体的一部分.单个胞间连丝的孔径为60～70 nm,属正常胞间连丝范围,它们乃相邻细胞间共质联系的所在.荧光探针TRITC-Phalloidin (TRITC-Ph)标记的结果显示,整个通道上呈现红色荧光的纤索在接近初生纹孔场处明显变窄,与超微结构观察中所见的结构特点相吻合,共焦镜下观察到的初生壁上的荧光亮斑乃初生纹孔场中成束胞间连丝被标记的反映,从而有效地证实了F肌动蛋白在常态胞间连丝上的存在.免疫金标记实验显示在管状胞质中和胞间连丝上有金颗粒分布,这一结果为证实荧光标记物具肌动蛋白性质提供了有说服力的补充.     

Host Response to Meloidodera spp. (Heteroderidae)

Host responses to Meloidodera floridensis Chitwood et al., 1956, M. charis Hooper, 1960, and M. belli Wouts, 1973 were examined on loblolly pine, peony, and sage, respectively, with light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. In each case the nematodes induce a single uninucleate giant cell. The giant cell is initiated in the pericycle and expands as it matures. The mature giant cell induced by M. floridensis is surrounded by vascular parenchyma, whereas that caused by M. charts and M. belli coutacts xylem and phloem. The cell wall of giant cells induced by all three Meloidodera spp. is generally thicker than that of surrounding cells, with the thickest part adjacent to the lip region of the nematode. The thinner portion of the wall includes numerous pit fields with plasmodesmata, but wall ingrowths were not detected in a thorough examination of the entire wall. The nucleus of a giant cell induced by M. goridensis is highly irregular in shape with deep invaginations, whereas those caused by M. charis and M. belli include a cluster of apparently interconnected nuclear units. Organelles, including mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and plastids of giant cells caused by Meloidodera, are typical of those reported in host responses of other Heteroderidae. The formation of a single uninucleate giant cell by Meloidodera, Cryphodera, Hylonerna, and Sarisodera, but a syncytium by Atalodera and Heterodera sensu lato, might be considered in conjunction with additional characters to determine the most parsimonious pattern of phylogeny of Heteroderidae.     

Chara tomentosa Antheridial Plasmodesmata at Various Stages of Spermatogenesis

Chara tomentosa antheridial plasmodesmata are described during proliferation and spermiogenesis. In antheridial filament cells which are cycling completely synchronously, unplugged plasmodesmata are filled with light cytoplasm. The same plasmodesmata are observed after cessation of mitotic division followed by the onset of synchronous spermiogenesis. Walls separating cells at different cell cycle stages and dividing antheridial filaments into asynchronous domains are plugged with a dense osmophilic substance. Similarly plugged plasmodesmata are present between antheridial cells of different types, e.g., capitular cells and antheridial filaments. In mid spermiogenesis when abundant endoplasmic reticulum (ER) appears temporarily it penetrates into plasmodesmata enabling cell-to-cell transport via ER cisternae. In late spermiogenesis there are no cisternae in plasmodesmata. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Liposome-mediated gene delivery into plant cells

Liposomes may offer several advantages as vectors for gene delivery into plant cells: (1) enhanced delivery of encapsulated DNA by membrane fusion, (2) protection of nucleic acids from nuclease activity, (3) targeting to specific cells, (4) delivery into a variety of cell types besides protoplasts by entry through plasmodesmata, (5) delivery of intact small organelles. Realization of these advantages calls for the construction of efficient liposomes, for appropriate fusion conditions and for an understanding of the nature of liposome-cell interactions. Various characteristics and techniques of the liposome-cell system are described (mode of delivery, liposome types and composition, and means of promoting delivery of liposome contents). Data of liposome-mediated delivery of various macromolecules into plant cells, with special reference to protoplasts, calli and pollen are reviewed. This includes data obtained by the use of fluorescent probes, radioactive-labelled DNA, viral nucleic acids and expression of plasmid-DNA. Structure and characteristics of plant surfaces and plasmodesmata are discussed with respect to DNA entry. It is suggested that liposome-mediated gene delivery into plant cells, and not only protoplasts, will be advantageous in certain specific tissues and situations.     

Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen zum Problem der Cytomorphogenese vonMicrasterias denticulata Bréb.

Zusammenfassung Die Wirkung einer Blockade der Proteinsynthese durch Cycloheximid wurde an sich differenzierenden Zellen vonMicrasterias denticulata Bréb. licht- und elektronenmikroskopisch sowie mikrokinematographisch untersucht. Es wurde der Befund vonTippit andPickett-Heaps (1974) bestätigt, daßMicrasterias-Zellen unter dem Einfluß von Cycloheximid eine abnorme Zellentwicklung zeigen, die sich in einer Vereinfachung des Zellmusters und einem blasigen Anschwellen der Lappen äußert (anucleate type of development).Die Primärwand Cycloheximid-behandelter Zellen weist eine markante Änderung ihrer Ultrastruktur auf. Und zwar finden sich diskrete Partikel, bei denen es sich mit großer Wahrscheinlichkeit um die Inhalte von D-Vesikel (Kiermayer 1970) handelt, in einer eigenen zusätzlichen Schicht an die homogene Primärwandschicht angelagert. Es wird angenommen, daß durch die Hemmung der Proteinsynthese während der Zellentwicklung D-Vesikelinhalte ihre Fähigkeit verlieren, sich in die wachsende Primärwand einzulagern. Ein möglicher Zusammenhang dieses Phänomens mit der Entstehung der typischen Zellmißildungen wird diskutiert.Die Bildung einer Sekundärwand wird durch Cycloheximid verhindert.

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Formation and ultrastructure of the primary wall ofMicrasterias denticulata Bréb. under the influence of cycloheximide

Summary The effect of a blockade of protein synthesis by cycloheximide on differentiating cells ofMicrasterias denticulata Bréb. has been studied by light- and electronmicroscopy and microcinematography. The result ofTippit andPickett-Heaps (1974) thatMicrasterias cells, treated with cycloheximide show an abnormal cell development, e.g., reduction of the cell pattern and a bladderlike swelling of the lobes (anucleate type of development) could be supported.The primary wall of cycloheximide treated cells shows a striking change of its ultrastructure. Many discrete particles very probably representing the content of D-vesicles (Kiermayer 1970) form a separate additional inner layer near the outer homogenous layer of the primary wall. It is suggested that during an inhibition of protein synthesis the content of D-vesicles looses its ability to be incorporated into the growing cell wall. A possible connection of this phenomenon with the typical malformation of the cell is discussed.The formation of a secondary wall is prevented by cycloheximide.

Die Untersuchungen wurden vom Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Projekt Nr. 2783, 3660) unterstützt; Frau Ing.Doris Pinegger danken wir für die technische Hilfe.     

The Preparation of Plasmodesmata from Plant Tissue Homogenates: Access to the Biochemical Characterization of Plasmodesmata-Related Polypeptides

A technique for the preparation of plasmodesmata within a cell wall fraction of Solanum nigrum tissue homogenates has been developed, featuring good ultrastructural preservation of plasmodesmatal structure. SDS-PAGE of protein extracts of this plasmodesmata-containing cell wall fraction revealed the distinct enrichment of two bands, with molecular weights of 28 and 43 kD.     

A new type of test wall in the Late Cretaceous (Late Santonian-Campanian) heterohelicid planktic foraminifera

The first Cretaceous serial planktic foraminifer (family Heterohelicidae Cushman, 1927) with simple-ridged test wall is reported from the uppermost Santonian-lower Campanian sediments of the Deep Sea Drilling Project Site 463 (Mid-Pacific Mountains, equatorial Central Pacific). Hendersonites pacificus n. sp. is characterized by the reduced ornamentation over the last pairs of chambers and strong peripheral costae lining the periphery with test wall flexure. This species evolved from H. carinata (Cushman, 1938) of the upper Santonian-Campanian, a frequently reported species from the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Western Tethyan Realm.     

杜仲花粉壁发育的超微结构观察

利用透射电子显微镜和场发射扫描显微镜对杜仲花粉壁结构和发育进行了研究.结果显示,杜仲花粉在四分体末期形成原外壁,质膜随之出现波状样式,原基粒棒的形成在波状质膜的凹陷处积累,同时细胞中的核质类核仁向核膜外扩散,并进一步分布在质膜下;单细胞花粉早期其外壁结构(覆盖层、柱状层、基足层和外壁内层)已经分化完全,之后花粉内壁由萌发孔起始发育,然后全面增厚,至花粉成熟时萌发孔处的内壁变得很厚,并形成具有丰富径向微通道的结构,此时外壁内层崩溃解体.重点讨论了花粉外壁模式决定以及类核仁和花粉外壁形成之间的关系.