Effect of surfactants and oils on the phytotoxicity of difenzoquat to Avena fatua, barley and wheat

Controlled drop (CDA) and conventional applications of difenzoquat to pot-grown Avena fatua were compared. With the recommended surfactant (0.5% v/v Agral), very low volume CDA was less effective than conventional spray application. However, addition of extra Agral or various blends of paraffinic oil with Agral and the surfactants Burtemul A2 or Burtemul P2 improved the effects of the CDA treatments. When difenzoquat was absent the additives were inactive against A. fatua. They had little direct effect on wheat and barley and did not substantially increase the phytotoxicity of difenzoquat to these crops. Oil/surfactant mixtures were less viscous than high concentrations of Agral, and so easier to spray. In a pot experiment, smaller (150 μm diameter) drops of difenzoquat solution were more active against A. fatua than larger (200 μm-300 μm) drops. Reduction of the spray volume within the range 40 litres/ha to 5 litres/ha also reduced phytotoxicity. An oil/surfactant additive improved the activity of all difenzoquat CDA treatments. There was slightly more effect at the lowest spray volume but interactions between additive and application treatments were not statistically significant. When simulated rain treatments were applied 2 h or 5 h after spraying, difenzoquat controlled drop application was much less phytotoxic than a conventional 150 litres/ha treatment. However, addition of an oil/surfactant mixture markedly improved the performance of CDA. When rain was withheld for 24 h the additive had relatively less effect. In the field an oil/surfactant mixture improved control of A. fatua by difenzoquat with both conventional and controlled drop treatments. The additive did not increase injury to the wheat crop. The oil/surfactant mixtures markedly improved the spreading and wetting properties of sprays. This reduced localised contact injury, which, it is suggested, improved uptake and translocation of difenzoquat.     

The influence of form of deposit on the phytotoxicity of difenzoquat applied as individual drops to Avena fatua

Difenzoquat was applied as individual drops (200–400 μm diameter) to Avena fatua, using concentrations in the range 25–200 g/litre, this being appropriate to very low volume, controlled drop application. Increases in the concentration of difenzoquat within this range, or the use of larger drops, reduced the inhibition of growth of A. fatua. Increasing or decreasing the surfactant concentration from that recommended for field use also decreased performance of difenzoquat. The herbicide was more active when applied to the base of leaves and to younger leaves than to leaf tips and older leaves. In most cases reduced activity of difenzoquat was related to increased localised scorch and reduced movement of ¹⁴C-labelled herbicide from the treated region.     

Mutant characters of knotted maize leaves are determined in the innermost tissue layers

Knotted (Kn1), a dominant mutation in maize, perturbs normal leaf development. Mutant leaves have localized regions of extra growth called knots and, in addition to the normal ligule, ectopic fringes of ligule are found on the leaf blade. Previous clonal analysis showed that the epidermal genotype was immaterial in knot formation. To establish which inner leaf layer was required for formation of knots and ectopic ligule we used a closely linked albino mutation to mark X-ray-induced clonal sectors of wild type (kn) tissue in Kn1 plants. The sectors examined frequently changed in composition of layers in the leaf both transversely and longitudinally. We present results that show that both mutant characters are determined in the middle mesophyll-bundle sheath (MMBS) layer. We show that a lateral vein can produce a knot when only half the MMBS layer around the lateral vein contains the mutant gene. We also show that the ectopic ligule in Kn1 has contributions from both the adaxial epidermal and adaxial mesophyll layer.     

贵州西部箭竹属一新种

报道了贵州西部竹亚科箭竹属一新种,它被命名为威宁箭竹（Fargesia weiningensis Yi et L.Yang）。这个新种近似秦岭箭竹（F.qinlingensis Yi et J.X.Shao,但秆高达6 m,髓呈锯屑状;秆芽仅边缘具短纤毛;枝条较粗,直径达3 mm;箨鞘背面刺毛较密,小横脉不发育,箨舌繸毛长达1.5 cm,箨片常内卷,全部外翻;叶鞘纵脉间无小横脉,上部纵脊明显,叶片较大,长达15.5 cm,宽达1.5 cm,易于区别。     

The Knotted leaf blade is a mosaic of blade,sheath, and auricle identities

The dominant Knotted-1 mutations in maize alter development of the leaf blade. Sporadic patches of localized growth, or knots, and fringes of ectopic ligule occur along lateral veins of mutant leaf blades. In addition, bundle sheaths do not completely encircle lateral veins on mutant leaf blades. We have compared mutant leaf blades with wild-type leaves to determine the precise nature of the perturbed regions. Our analysis includes characterization of epidermal cell shapes, localization of photosynthetic proteins and histology of the leaf. We show that mutant leaf blades are a mosaic of leaf organ components. Affected regions of mutant leaf blades resemble either sheath or auricle tissue in both external and internal features. This conversion of blade cells represents an acropetal shift of more basal parts of the leaf blade region and correlates with previously identified ectopic expression of the Knotted-1 protein in the leaf blade. We propose that inappropriate expression of Kn1 interferes with the process of establishment of cell identities, resulting in early termination of the normal blade development program or precocious expression of the sheath and auricle development programs. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Silicon Deposition in the Roots, Culm and Leaf of Phalaris canariensis L

Silicon deposition in the roots, culm and leaf of canary grass(Phalaris canariensis L.) was investigated using light microscopy,scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis. In adventitious roots grown in solution silicon was concentratedin four endodermal walls. Silicon was not detected in the endodermisof aerial adventitious roots, but was present in the epidermisand outer cortical cell layers. Silicon deposition in the culm mainly took place in the epidermis,and particularly in epidermal papillae. The silica deposition pattern in the leaf was typical of thesub-group Festucoideae. The leaf blade showed deposits in costalprickle hairs and wavy rods, but few intercostal deposits. Inthe ligule deposition was confined to isolated groups of pricklehairs on the abaxial surface. The major sites of silica depositionin the leaf sheath were the stomatal subsidiary cells, papillaeand intercostal idioblasts. Prickle hairs were much less commonin the sheath than the blade, and costal wavy rods appearedto be absent in the sheath. Phalaris canariensis L., canary grass, silicification, root, culm, leaf, electron probe microanalysis     

The establishment of axial patterning in the maize leaf

The maize leaf consists of four distinct tissues along its proximodistal axis: sheath, ligule, auricle and blade. liguleless1 (lg1) functions cell autonomously to specify ligule and auricle, and may propagate a signal that correctly positions the blade-sheath boundary. The dominant Wavy auricle in blade (Wab1) mutation disrupts both the mediolateral and proximodistal axes of the maize leaf. Wab1 leaf blades are narrow and ectopic auricle and sheath extend into the blade. The recessive lg1-R mutation exacerbates the Wab1 phenotype; in the double mutants, most of the proximal blade is deleted and sheath tissue extends along the residual blade. We show that lg1 is misexpressed in Wab1 leaves. Our results suggest that the Wab1 defect is partially compensated for by lg1 expression. A mosaic analysis of Wab1 was conducted in Lg1+ and lg1-R backgrounds to determine if Wab1 affects leaf development in a cell-autonomous manner. Normal tissue identity was restored in all wab1+/- sectors in a lg1-R mutant background, and in three quarters of sectors in a Lg1+ background. These results suggest that lg1 can influence the autonomy of Wab1. In both genotypes, leaf-halves with wab1+/- sectors were significantly wider than non-sectored leaf-halves, suggesting that Wab1 acts cell-autonomously to affect lateral growth. The mosaic analysis, lg1 expression data and comparison of mutant leaf shapes reveal previously unreported functions of lg1 in both normal leaf development and in the dominant Wab1 mutant.     

The ligules of green leaves of cock's-foot grass, Dactylis glomerata L., are a micro-habitat for bacteria and fungi

Microbial populations on the ligule and leaf blade of cock's-foot grass, Dactylis glomerata L., were examined by three different methods. The ligule was identified as an important microbial niche for both bacteria and fungi. Microbial populations on the ligule increased after emergence and declined again as it approached senescence. The area of leaf blade adjacent to the ligule also had a rich microbial flora. This contrasts with the remainder of the leaf blade which is sparsely populated. However, the tip can also support a rich microbial population.     

中华水韭叶舌和缘膜的发生及其发育进程研究

采用石蜡切片技术,以人工培养的中华水韭幼苗的最初几枚叶至成熟植株的叶为实验材料,连续解剖观察其叶舌和缘膜的发生、发育进程,并分析其发育进程与孢子囊和叶片的关系.结果显示:(1)中华水韭叶舌与叶片在其个体发育早期来自于同一原基,但叶舌最初的发育速度快于叶片.(2)中华水韭的苗龄达到15枚叶时开始有孢子囊发生,此时的叶舌下方有明显的缘膜结构.(3)当中华水韭的孢子体达到30枚叶片以上时,早期产生于植株外围的孢子囊已经发育成熟,可以清楚地区分出大、小孢子囊,其中在已经成熟的大孢子叶上,叶舌相对于孢子囊的长度变短,下唇萎缩,缘膜消失;成熟小孢子叶的叶舌比大孢子叶的叶舌长,上翻程度大,下唇萎缩程度不如大孢子叶明显,缘膜也退化消失.研究认为,缘膜是水韭系统发育早期的普遍结构,而演化后期一些地区的缘膜则显著退化甚至消失;对于系统发育初期的中华水韭,其叶舌与叶片的差异并不像现代水韭那么明显.     

Secondary cell wall deposition causes radial growth of fibre cells in the maturation zone of elongating tall fescue leaf blades

A gradient of development consisting of successive zones of cell division, cell elongation and cell maturation occurs along the longitudinal axis of elongating leaf blades of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), a C3 grass. An increase in specific leaf weight (SLW; dry weight per unit leaf area) in the maturation region has been hypothesized to result from deposition of secondary cell walls in structural tissues. Our objective was to measure the transverse cell wall area (CWA) associated with the increase in SLW, which occurs following the cessation of leaf blade elongation at about 25 mm distal to the ligule. Digital image analysis of transverse sections at 5, 15, 45, 75 and 105 mm distal to the ligule was used to determine cell number, cell area and protoplast area of structural tissues, namely fibre bundles, mestome sheaths and xylem vessel elements, along the developmental gradient. Cell diameter, protoplast diameter and area, and cell wall thickness and area of fibre bundle cells were calculated from these data. CWA of structural tissues increased in sections up to 75 mm distal to the ligule, confirming the role of cell wall deposition in the increase in SLW (r2 = 0.924; P < or = 0.01). However, protoplast diameter of fibre cells did not decrease significantly as CWA increased, although mean thickness of fibre cell walls increased by 95 % between 15 and 105 mm distal to the ligule. Therefore, secondary cell wall deposition in fibre bundles of tall fescue leaf blades resulted in continued radial expansion of fibre cells rather than in a decrease in protoplast diameter.     

Relationships between the blade and sheath growth in the same leaf and in successive leaves of winter barley

Winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Efra) plants were grown till the stage of the fourth leaf under controlled conditions at constant temperatures 26.0 °C, 21.8 °C, 19.6 °C and 15.3 °C. The relationships between the sheath and blade growth was studied. The leaf sheath began to be discernible when it was 0.1 mm long and the blade length was 20 mm. In this stage a correlation (r = 0.812) was found between the length of blade and that of shearth. The sheath length in 20 mm long leaf increased in dependence on leaf insertion. At the time of the beginning of sheath discernibility the elongation growth of the subsequent leaf was initiated. In this stage the sheath length and the length of the subsequent leaf were correlated (r = 0.911). At the beginning of the growth of the subsequent leaf the length of the preceding sheath increased in dependence on insertion. Other relations were derived graphically and a hypothetical model of relationships between the cereal leaf growth and development was formulated.     

Epidermal Cell Division and the Coordination of Leaf and Tiller Development

Initiation and development of grass leaves and tillers are oftendescribed individually with little attention to possible interrelationshipsamong organs. In order to better understand these interrelationships,this research examined epidermal cell division during developmentaltransitions at the apical meristem of tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceaSchreb.). Ten seedlings were harvested each day for a 9-d period,and lengths of main shoot leaves and primary tillers were measured.In addition, numbers and lengths of epidermal cells were determinedfor 0·5 mm segments along the basal 3 mm of each leafand tiller. Primordia development and onset of rapid leaf elongationwere characterized by an increase in the number of cells perepidermal file with mean cell length remaining near 20 µmper cell. After the leaf had lengthened to 1-1·5 mm,cells near the leaf tip ceased dividing and increased in length,at which time leaf elongation rate increased rapidly. Liguleformation, marking the boundary between blade and sheath cells,occurred prior to leaf tip emergence above the whorl of oldersheaths, while the earliest differentiation between blade andsheath cells probably began when leaves were < 1 mm long.Major transitions in leaf and tiller development appeared tobe synchronized among at least three adjacent nodes. At theoldest node, cessation of cell division in the leaf sheath wasaccompanied by initiation of cell division and elongation inthe associated tiller bud. At the next younger node the ligulewas being initiated, while at the youngest node cell divisioncommenced in the leaf primordium, as elongation of a new leafblade began. This synchronization of events suggests a key rolefor the cell division process in regulating leaf and tillerdevelopment.Copyright 1994, 1999 Academic Press Festuca arundinacea Schreb., tall fescue, cell division, leaf initiation, tillering, ligule development     

Sink to source transition in developing leaf blades of tall fescue

This study aims to characterize the translocation of photosynthates within and from developing tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea ) leaves at the time of transition from sink to source. The developing leaf contains a source, the exposed tip, and a sink, the growing basal portion. When the exposed tip of the developing blade is labelled with ¹⁴CO₂, it exports photosynthates exclusively to sinks within the developing blade until the blade reaches 80% of its final length, when photosynthates begin to be exported from the blade and pass through the collar to reach the growing sheath and the next expanding leaf. Concurrently, the previous mature leaves reduce their level of photosynthate export to the developing blade; export stops as soon as the sheath of the developing leaf elongates beyond 10 mm. Export from the mature leaves to the growing sheath and to the next expanding leaf blade increases rapidly. Thus, in a developing tall fescue leaf blade photosynthate importation and exportation are exclusive events: the expanding blade imports photosynthate from mature leaves until it reaches 80% of its final length, then exportation begins and importation ceases.     

Field studies of leaf development and expansion in the leek (Allium porrum)

An analysis of leek leaf development and expansion was carried out over three seasons using field-grown plants of three varieties which were directly sown at different dates or transplanted from controlled conditions. In all cases, successive leaves appeared (tip visible) at equal intervals of accumulated temperature. Detailed analysis of a single sowing in 1985 showed that the regularity of leaf appearance was a consequence of the coordinated response to accumulated temperature of leaf initiation (plastochron 100°C days > 0°C) and leaf blade and sheath extension. For each successive leaf, an additional 32°C days were required between initiation and appearance to allow for the linear increase in ‘sheath’ height, giving a phyllochron of 132°C days. Direct measurement of leaf extension before and after leaf appearance, and of the length of the leaf extension zone, confirmed that the rate of leaf extension, in terms of accumulated tempeature, was constant, and independent of leaf number. However, there were differences between seasons and between varieties in the responses of leaf appearance, leaf extension and ‘sheath’ length to accumulated temperature. It was concluded that the simple ontogenetic increase in leaf dimensions, which was a feature of all the crops studied, was a consequence of the progressive increase in the duration of leaf expansion.     

Sectors of liguleless-1 tissue interrupt an inductive signal during maize leaf development.

The ligule and auricles separate the blade and sheath of normal maize leaves and are absent in liguleless-1 (lg1) mutant leaves. We induced chromosome breakage using X-rays to create plants genetically mosaic for lg1. In genetically mosaic leaves, when an lg1 mutant sector interrupts the normal ligule, the ligule is often displaced basipetally on the marginal side of the sector. Therefore, lg1 mutant sectors not only fail to induce ligule and auricle, but are also disrupting some form of intercellular communication that is necessary for the normally coordinated development of the ligular region. Our data are consistent with a model in which an inductive signal originates near the midvein, cannot traverse the lg1 mutant sector, and reinitiates in the wild-type tissue across the sector toward the leaf margin. The lg1 gene product, therefore, appears to be required for the transmission of this signal and could be involved with reception.     

Distribution and frequency of plasmodesmata in relation to photoassimilate pathways and phloem loading in the barley leaf

Large, intermediate, and small bundles and contiguous tissues of the leaf blade of Hordeum tvulgare L. ‘Morex’ were examined with the transmission electron microscope to determine their cellular composition and the distribution and frequency of the plasmodesmata between the various cell combinations. Plasmodesmata are abundant at the mesophyll/parenchymatous bundle sheath, parenchymatous bundle sheath/mestome sheath, and mestome sheath/vascular parenchyma cell interfaces. Within the bundles, plasmodesmata are also abundant between vascular parenchyma cells, which occupy most of the interface between the sieve tube-companion cell complexes and the mestome sheath. Other vascular parenchyma cells commonly separate the thick-walled sieve tubes from the sieve tube-companion cell complexes. Plasmodesmatal frequencies between all remaining cell combinations of the vascular tissues are very low, even between the thin-walled sieve tubes and their associated companion cells. Both the sieve tube-companion cell complexes and the thick-walled sieve tubes, which lack companion cells, are virtually isolated symplastically from the rest of the leaf. Data on plamodesmatal frequency between protophloem sieve tubes and other cell types in intermediate and large bundles indicate that they (and their associated companion cells, when present) are also isolated symplastically from the rest of the leaf. Collectively, these data indicate that both phloem loading and unloading in the barley leaf involve apoplastic mechanisms.