Mineral Ion Contents, Solute Release and Aspects of Ion Transport in Embryos from Germinating Low and High Vigour Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Both low and high vigour seed lots were more than 90% viablewhen germinated at 25 °C. The tissue weights and the contentsof mineral ions and glycinebetaine in the ungerminated embryoswere the same for each lot. The release of K⁺ and phosphateions from isolated embryos into aqueous media were also thesame. These similarities remained for at least 36 h of germination.At 48 h the coleoptiles of the low vigour embryos were about20% shorter and their fresh weight was about 30% less than thoseof the high vigour embryos. These differences were reduced againto about 10% at 72 h. In contrast to these differences, H⁺ efflux and ³⁶Rb⁺ uptakeby isolated embryos were up to 50% slower in low vigour embryoscompared with the high vigour ones. The difference was maximalat 24 h of germination and appeared to depend upon the anionpresented and the pH of the incubation medium. The H+/³⁶Rb⁺exchange ratio was not, however, changed in low vigour embryoscompared with high vigour ones.     

Natural Ageing: Poly(A) Polymerase in Germinating Embryos of Triticum durum Wheat

The viability of seeds is associated with ageing and storageconditions. A loss of viability is accompanied by slow germination,reduced growth, and a decline in protein and poly(A)⁺RNA synthesis.This paper reports on the activity of poly(A) polymerase indry and germinating embryos of Triticum durum Desf. cv. Cappellicaryopses of different ages and viability. The enzyme was presentas a single form during ageing and germination. The poly(A)polymerase was active at decreasing levels in all aged dry embryos,in parallel with loss of viability. Its activity strongly increasedduring the germination only in viable embryos. The observedincrease was due to de novo synthesis of the enzyme. Poly(A)polymerase synthesis was low during germination of less viableembryos and absent in older ones. Reduced poly(A) polymeraseactivity in dry or germinated wheat embryos may cause a shorteningof poly(A) chains in vitro and a decline in poly(A)⁺RNA synthesis.Copyright1995, 1999 Academic Press Triticum durum Desf. cv. Cappelli, wheat, embryo, natural ageing, poly(A) polymerase     

Transport and Partitioning of Lead in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea) and Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Lead (Pb) contamination in soils is a serious concern because it can be taken up by crops and then transferred through the food chain, posing a potential risk to human health. Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) are important crop species known to accumulate heavy metals in their tissues. This study aimed at understanding the transport and accumulation of Pb in these two species and the risk associated with consumption of these foods, which would help us in mitigating accumulation of Pb in edible tissues. The plants were grown at different Pb concentrations for the entire life cycle, and the partitioning of the metal to different tissues was examined. The results showed that plant species differ widely in their ability to transport and accumulate Pb in different tissues. In B. juncea, there was significant accumulation of Pb in both siliques and seeds, whereas most of the Pb in wheat was concentrated in the vegetative tissues and less to the flag leaf and reproductive tissues. In both species, although seed Pb concentrations exceeded acceptable limits, dietary intake did not exceed acceptable limits in most treatments, indicating that more studies on Pb transport and redistribution in crop species is necessary.     

Plant Regeneration from Cultured Immature Embryos and Inflorescences of 25 Cultivars of Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Immature embryos and inflorescences of wheat (Triticum aestivum)were cultured on agar media. The presence of the auxin 2, 4-Dinduced the formation of multiple shoots in a proportion ofcultures. In some cases the shoots developed from organized,embryoid-like structures. The morphogenetic capacities of 25different cultivars of spring and winter wheat were compared,and clear differences were found between genotypes. Shoots werecultured separately, and the resulting plants grown to maturityin the glasshouse. Over a thousand plants were regenerated inthis way, and phenotypic variation was observed amongst theregenerants. Key words: Wheat, Somatic embryogenesis, Regeneration     

{alpha}-Amylase Production by Pre-mature Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Embryos

Embryo/scutellar tissue of pre-mature wheat grains usually containslittle -amylase but readily produces the enzyme upon removalfrom the caryopsis. Enzyme production is accompanied by cytologicalchanges in the scutellar epithelium cells characteristic ofgerminating mature embryos, although -amylase production bypre-mature tissue is not always associated with germinativegrowth of the embryonic axis. Production of -amylase is influencedby embryo age, stimulated by GA₃ and overall is inhibited byABA. Examination by isoelectric focussing and rocket-line immuno-electrophoresisreveals the presence of both -AMYl and -AMY2 isoenzymes, thelatter being the major constituent. In the presence of ABA certain-AMY2 isoenzymes not detected previously are observed. Key words: a-Amylase, wheat, embryo     

Effect of Osmotic Stress on Ion Transport Processes and Phospholipid Composition of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Mitochondria

The effect of osmotic stress on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) mitochondrial activity and phospholipid composition was investigated. Preliminary growth measurements showed that osmotic stress (−0.25 or −0.5 megapascal external water potential) inhibited the rate of shoot dry matter accumulation while root dry matter accumulation was less sensitive. We have determined that differences in sensitivity to osmotic stress existed between tissues at the mitochondrial level. Mitochondria isolated from roots or shoots of stressed seedlings showed respiratory control and ADP/O ratios similar to control seedlings which indicates that stressed mitochondria were well coupled. However, under passive swelling conditions in a KCl reaction mixture, the rate and extent of valinomycin-induced swelling of shoot mitochondria were increased by osmotic stress while root mitochondria were largely unaffected. Active ion transport studies showed efflux transport by stressed-shoot mitochondria to be partially inhibited since mitochondrial contraction required the addition of N-ethylmaleimide or nigericin. Efflux ion transport by root mitochondria was not inhibited by osmotic stress which indicates that stress-induced changes in ion transport were largely limited to shoot mitochondria. Characterization of mitochondrial fatty acid and phospholipid composition showed an increase in the percentage of phosphatidylcholine in stressed shoot mitochondria compared to the control. Mitochondrial fatty acid composition was not markedly altered by stress. No significant changes in either the phospholipid or fatty acid composition of stressed root mitochondria were observed. Hence, these results suggest that a tissue-specific response to osmotic stress exists at the mitochondrial level.     

Pollen Dimorphism and Its Relation to the Formation of Pollen Embryos in Anther Culture of Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

The anomalous pollen grains in vivo at the frequencies of 2.61% and 6.81% respectively were found in anthers of two hybrid materials of wheat from which we had obtained the higher frequencies of induction of pollen embryos in anther culture in the past few years. This indicated that the pollen dimorphism also presented itself in the anthers on wheat plants. A comparative cytological study of development of anomalous pollen grains in vivo and of the early stages of the formation of pollen embryos in vitro was carried out and the results suggest that in cytological details there is an obvious similarity between them. This reveals the possibility that the pollen embryos night derive itself from the anomalous pollen grains in wheat as in the other plants. Therefore, it was considered that the appearance and frequency of the anomalous pollen grains could show the senibility of the development of microspores to the changes of various internal and external factors. The significance of the sensibility for the formation of pollen embryos in anther culture of wheat is discussed.     

The Vascular System of the Spikelet in Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

The lower three florets in a spikelet of wheat cv. Aotea werefound to be supplied by the principal vascular bundles of therachilla, while the system of more distal florets consistedof subvascular elements derived from the vascular cylinder formedat the disc of insertion of these florets. This pattern appearedto be the same in all spikelets irrespective of position, apartfrom the terminal one, nor was it altered by raising the supplyof nitrogen. The apparent constancy of the vascular system iscontrasted with considerable variability in the number of grain-bearingflorets depending on genotype and environment. If a floret isconnected directly with the main vascular system and if assimilatesare not limiting, then competition for assimilates does notappear to be the main factor preventing grain formation.     

根癌农杆菌介导小麦幼胚遗传转化的影响因素

利用携带pC3301质粒(含bar和gus基因)的超毒根癌农杆菌菌株EHA105对普通小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)扬麦158进行了遗传转化,对筛选中的抗生素浓度、菌液浓度、共培养温度和时间、幼胚预培养时间、乙酰丁香酮(AS)浓度、洗涤用液及筛选方式等影响转化的几个重要因素进行了讨论.对从294个小麦幼胚外植体中转化得到的5株成活植株进行了PCR和Southern blot分析,结果表明其中2株小麦基因组中整合了外源DNA,转化频率为0.68%.     

The Membrane Topology of ALMT1, an Aluminum-Activated Malate Transport Protein in Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

The wheat ALMT1 gene encodes an aluminum (Al)-activated malate transport protein which confers Al-resistance. We investigated the membrane topology of this plasma-membrane localized protein with immunocytochemical techniques. Several green fluorescent protein (GFP)-fused and histidine (His)-tagged chimeras of ALMT1 were prepared based on a computer-predicted secondary structure and transiently expressed in cultured mammalian cells. Antibodies raised to polypeptide epitopes of ALMT1 were used in conjunction with the antibody to the His-tags to determine the topology of ALMT1. This study shows that the ALMT1 protein contains six transmembrane domains with the amino and carboxyl termini located on the extracellular side of the plasma membrane.Key Words: ALMT1, aluminum resistance, immunofluorescent staining, malate transporter, topology, Triticum aestivum     

Ion Transport in the Testa of Germinating Seeds

Levengood, W. C. 1985, Ion transport in the testa of germinatingseeds.—J. exp. Bot. 36: 1053–1063. The current flow produced when an electrical potential is appliedto a partially hydrated seed is drastically altered by the applicationof a thermal pulse. Specific responses to thermally inducedchanges in electrical activity are related to the cell wallstructure of the seed coat and its state of hydration. It issuggested that expansion and contraction of the micropores inthe cell wall matrix provide a model based on a diffusion anddehydration during a thermal pulse and an ion-gating effectimmediately following the pulse. Mechanical flexing producedoscillatory behaviour in the electrical current flow throughseed coat tissues in a manner predicted by the thermal responses. Key words: Ion transport, testa, germinating seeds     

The Effect of Glumes on Fungal Infection of Germinating Seed of Spelt (Triticum spelta L.) in Comparison to Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The influence of fungi on seedling emergence of naked and hulled spelt (Triticum spelta L.) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was investigated. Seeds were sown in flat trays and placed in a growth chamber under stress conditions (low temperature and water logging) for four weeks, followed by favourable growth conditions. At weekly intervals, 150 seeds were removed, surface sterilized, and investigated for fungi. Pythium aristosporum Vanterpool, a causal agent of damping-off, was found to be best adapted to the unfavourable conditions and to be a major cause of pre-emergence damping-off. The frequency of seed-borne fungi decreased during the stress period, whereas soil-borne fungi survived and could be isolated from seeds and glumes in the following period with more favourable growth conditions. Seedlings from hulled seeds of spelt emerged more frequently than from naked kernels of spelt and both emerged at a higher rate than from seeds of winter wheat. This is good evidence that glumes protect seeds against fungal colonization and therefore increase the fitness of spelt under unfavourable germinating conditions.     

冬小麦植物铁载体分泌的杂种效应

缺铁是石灰性土壤常见的植物营养问题之一.禾本科植物种或基因型的植物铁载体分泌能力与耐缺铁有关,提高植物铁载体分泌能力是改良缺铁的土壤上植物铁aestivum L.) 3个杂交种及其4个亲本在缺铁营养液中植物铁载体的分泌及杂种的效应.植物铁载体的分泌率通过根分泌物对新形成的Fe(OH)3的活化能力进行测定, 在缺铁症出现时每隔2、3天测定1次.在缺铁条件下,所有基因型都分泌较多的植物铁载体,并且随缺铁症状的发展分泌量增加.杂交种具有对缺铁更敏感的反馈系统,在缺铁条件下,杂交种比亲本分泌铁载体的速度更快、量更高.通过分析杂交种和亲本的关系,认为可以通过对亲本分泌植物铁载体能力和配合力的选择,利用杂种优势来提高小麦铁的利用效率.     

The Soluble Nucleotide Content of Germinating Wheat Embryos

Estimates are given of the amounts of adenine, uracil, guanine,and cytosine present in the soluble nucleotides of wheat embryosduring germination in the dark. After 48 hours at 25° Cthe nucleotide content per gramme of dry tissue reaches a maximumlevel when the content of bases is approximately 3.5 µmolesof uracil, 2.8 µmoles of adenine, 0.6 µmoles ofguanine, and 0.5 µmoles of cytosine. The soluble nucleotidecontent of embryos growing at 0 to 5° C is lower than thatof embryos of the same dry weight grown at 25° C. Initiallythe amount of adenine present is greater than the amount ofuracil but after 20 hours of germination at 25° C uracilbecomes the predominant base in the soluble nucleotide fraction.Ion-exchange resin chromatography was used to separate the chiefsoluble nucleotides present in the extract of embryos grownfor four days at 25° C. Uridine diphosphate glucose accountsfor the major part of the uracil and adenosine monophosphatefor most of the adenine. Nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide wasdetected and identified and also a little uridine 5'-mono-phosphate.The possibility is discussed that most of the adenosine monophosphateis produced by degradation of reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotidephosphate.     

冬小麦植物铁载体分泌的杂种效应

缺铁是石灰性土壤常见的植物营养问题之一。禾本科植物种或基因型的植物铁载体分泌能力与耐缺铁有关 ,提高植物铁载体分泌能力是改良缺铁的土壤上植物铁营养的关键措施之一。在水培条件下分析了冬小麦(TriticumaestivumL .) 3个杂交种及其 4个亲本在缺铁营养液中植物铁载体的分泌及杂种的效应。植物铁载体的分泌率通过根分泌物对新形成的Fe(OH) 3 的活化能力进行测定 ,在缺铁症出现时每隔 2、3天测定 1次。在缺铁条件下 ,所有基因型都分泌较多的植物铁载体 ,并且随缺铁症状的发展分泌量增加。杂交种具有对缺铁更敏感的反馈系统 ,在缺铁条件下 ,杂交种比亲本分泌铁载体的速度更快、量更高。通过分析杂交种和亲本的关系 ,认为可以通过对亲本分泌植物铁载体能力和配合力的选择 ,利用杂种优势来提高小麦铁的利用效率。     

An Assessment of Heavy Ion Irradiation Mutagenesis for Reverse Genetics in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Reverse genetic techniques harnessing mutational approaches are powerful tools that can provide substantial insight into gene function in plants. However, as compared to diploid species, reverse genetic analyses in polyploid plants such as bread wheat can present substantial challenges associated with high levels of sequence and functional similarity amongst homoeologous loci. We previously developed a high-throughput method to identify deletions of genes within a physically mutagenized wheat population. Here we describe our efforts to combine multiple homoeologous deletions of three candidate disease susceptibility genes (TaWRKY11, TaPFT1 and TaPLDß1). We were able to produce lines featuring homozygous deletions at two of the three homoeoloci for all genes, but this was dependent on the individual mutants used in crossing. Intriguingly, despite extensive efforts, viable lines possessing homozygous deletions at all three homoeoloci could not be produced for any of the candidate genes. To investigate deletion size as a possible reason for this phenomenon, we developed an amplicon sequencing approach based on synteny to Brachypodium distachyon to assess the size of the deletions removing one candidate gene (TaPFT1) in our mutants. These analyses revealed that genomic deletions removing the locus are relatively large, resulting in the loss of multiple additional genes. The implications of this work for the use of heavy ion mutagenesis for reverse genetic analyses in wheat are discussed.     

Developmental Base Temperature in Different Phenological Phases of Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

The linear relationship between temperature and developmentrate has been widely recognized and it has been suggested thatthermal units (the summation of daily mean temperature abovea base temperature) can predict the phenological developmentof a crop. The aim of this paper was to determine the base temperaturefor different phenological phases of wheat. Two mediterraneanwheat cultivars and five sowing dates were used to obtain differentmean temperatures during development and different developmentalrates. The linear regression of development rate against meantemperatures for each period indicated that there were no uniquebase temperatures for all stages of the life span and valuesclose to 4°C and to 9·5°C were found to be bestfits for base temperatures before and after the terminal spikeletstage of both cultivars. A model to predict wheat developmentwas validated with another data set, which included differentwheat cultivars and sowing dates. Estimates of the error indevelopmental prediction by using a single base temperatureof 0°C is discussed as a function of separate developmentstages. Key words: Wheat development, base temperature, thermal time, Triticum aestivum     

Free Polyamines in Senescing Wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)

The free polyamine content of flag leaves, peduncles, rachis,glumes, and grains of wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Castell)plants, ripening under field conditions, has been investigatedduring three consecutive growing seasons. Putrescine was quantitativelythe most important of all polyamines detected in these organs.Concentrations were highest in the grains, glumes and flag leaves.No correlation was found between polyamine content and the onsetof senescence of flag leaves and other organs. Excised primaryleaves, however, showed a decrease in polyamine content in thedark and also in light/dark cycles, but in the latter case onlyafter an initial increase. Sink removal of otherwise intactwheat plants caused an accumulation of putrescine in flag leavesat the later stages of senescence, whereas removal of all otherleaves was without any significant effect. Putrescine was alsorecovered in phloem-exudate samples collected throughout theperiod of grain development. In both grains and glumes, peakconcentrations of polyamines were found early during seed development. Key words: Triticum aestivum, polyamines, ripening, senescence     

Asymmetric Somatic Hybridization Between Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Bromus inermis

Asymmetric hybridization was conducted between wheat and Brorrats inermis keyss which is a distanfiy related intergeneric plant (belonging to different tribe) of wheat and possesses some favorable traits, such as resistant to cold, drought and disease. Protoplasts isolated from young embryo-derived calli of common wheat ( Triticura aestivum L., tv. 99P, (AABBDD), 2n = 42) were fused with UV-treated protoplasts isolated from young embryo-derived calli of Bromus inermis by PEG method. Three clones (No. 1 ~ No. 3) were regenerated from the fusion products and differentiated into albino seedlings. The clones and the seedlings were all verified as hybrids by chromosome counting, isozyme and RAPD analysis. Their isozyme and RAPD pattern contained the characteristic bands of both parents as well as new band(s). The chromosome numbers of albino were in the range of 42~54 with small chromosomes of Bromus inerm/s and chromosome fragments. The above results confirmed that hybrid albinos were obtained.