Variation du taux d'acide abscissique chez deux variétés de poiriers, la Passe-Crassane et la Doyenne du Comice, en fonction de l'induction de la parthénocarpie par l'acide gibbérellique

The content of abscisic acid in the developing fruits of two cultivars of pear (Pyrus communis L.) was determined by UV spectrophotometry and by a colorimetric method based on the possibility of the lactone corresponding to abscisic acid to give a purple colour when sodium hydroxide is added. The young fruits were harvested either from trees treated with gibberellic acid (GA₃), for the purpose of inducing parthenocarpy, or from untreated trees. High levels of abscisic acid were associated with abortion and abscission of young fruits (June drop). There was little difference between fruits of GA₃-treated and untreated trees of the cultivar Passe-Crassane. In the other cultivar, ‘Doyenne du Comice’, the level of abscisic acid in the fruits of GA₃-treated trees was about twice as high as in control fruits and seemed to be directly related to the number of fruits per tree.     

Etude,par spectroscopie infra-rouge,de la conformation de quelques composés peptidiques modèles

Some experimental data are given on the infrared spectra between 3300 and 3500 cm^?1 of dilute solutions in carbon tetrachloride of three types of model compounds: CH_3?CONH-CH(R₁)-CONH(R₂), (I); CH₃-CON(CH₃)-CH(R₁)-CONH(R₂), (II) and CH₃-CONH-CH(R₁)-CON(R₂)₂, (III). In studying the N-H stretching bands, it was found that there are two types of intramolecular hydrogen bonds in these molecules; these result in two different cyclized conformations, C₅ and C₇, which contain respectively, five and seven atoms in the ring. By using model substances I, II, and III, in which the nitrogen atoms are unequally substituted, it is possible to identify the N-H stretching bands which are to be ascribed to the N-H oscillators included in the two different chelated conformations. It is found also that the stretching frequency of a free N-H oscillator depends upon the substituent on the nitrogen atom. Thus, it is possible to observe, with some of the model compounds I, four different absorption bands located at 3340, 3420, 3440, and 3460 cm^?1. The first two are ascribed to the N-H oscillators included in the H? bonds which lock the C₇ and C₅ conformations; the last two correspond to free N-H which differ with the substituent on the nitrogen atom.     

Acides-aminés et amines libres ďexplants foliaires de Nicotiana tabacum cultivés in vitro sur des milieux induisant la rhizogenèse ou la caulogenèse

Free amino acids and amines in leaf explants of Nicotiana tabacum cultivated in vitro on media inducing rhizogenesis or caulogenesis.
Foliar explants of Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi n.c. were cultivated on three different media: (1) a basal medium without hormone, so that no differentiation occurred in the explants; (2) with auxin added; and (3) with auxin plus cytokinin added, where the additions (2) and (3) promote rhizogenesis and caulogenesis, respectively. The content of free amino acids and amines of the three kinds of explants were investigated. In the two media lacking cytokinin, the explants contained great amounts of five amino acids (asparagine, glutamine, proline, glutamic acid and histidine) and of one aromatic amine, tyramine. In the cytokinin containing medium, only two amines accumulated in the explants: one aliphatic polyamine (putrescine) and one aromatic amine (phenethylamine). The increase in amino acids began immediately on the first days of culture. It was related neither to a more active proteolysis nor to the breaking of the correlations from the mother plant. It was induced by the addition of nutritional elements into the medium. On the other hand, the accumulation of aromatic amines occurred after a few days of culture and was transitory. A decrease was observed after the first emergence of new organs. The relation between the accumulations of these aromatic compounds and formation of roots or shoots is discussed.     

Differenciation cellulaire et composés sulfhydrylés acido-solubles de la racine de Lens culinaris Med.

Cell differentiation and acid-soluble sulfhydryl compounds in the root of Lens culinaris. Med. — The content of acid-soluble sulfhydryl compounds (SH + S-S) is determined amperometrically in tissues of the Lens root. Two distinct zones are analysed: first the meristematic one (0 to 1.6 mm from the tip) and secondly the elongating one (1.6 to 3.7 mm). Measurements concerned the first 80 hours of the root growth. SH/S-S ratio is minimum in the meristematic ZONE. Connections seem to exist between the growth rate and the amount of SH compounds in the elongating zone. These facts suggest that the increase of cytoplasmic SH is associated with the reduction of protein-disulfur-bridges, which account for t he intermicrofibrilar bindings in the cell wall. The effects of auxins (indoleacetic acid and naphtylacetic acid) treatments are also studied. They are strictly localized in the apical zone and their intensity depends upon the auxin concentration. SH-level is rising: this is due partially to a reduction of acid-soluble S-S.     

Valoración de la fuerza,la flexibilidad,el equilibrio,la resistencia y la agilidad en función del índice de masa corporal en mujeres mayores activas

Introduction

Overweight and obesity are increasing at an alarming rate among older people. This is mainly because this population is predominantly sedentary. The aim of this study was to classify, according to the body mass index (BMI), a group of older active women and to evaluate the different basic physical abilities as a function of this.

Material and methods

The BMI and fitness were evaluated in 60 elderly active women (mean age: 66.14 ± 6.59 years) using the 2-minute step test, arm curl test, chair stand test, back scratch test, chair-sit and reach-test, flamenco test, and 8-foot up-and-go test.

Results

It was found that 52.23% of the women studied had a normal BMI and 47.76% were slightly overweight. There were no cases of obesity or underweight. Women with normal BMI had better values in all tests than overweight women. Significant differences were found in the flamenco test (P < .05), and 8-foot up-and-go test (P < .01).

Conclusions

Older women who usually do physical activity had a normal or slightly overweight BMI. It was also found that women with lower BMI have better resistance, flexibility, balance and strength.     

Les kystes de dinoflagellés du Crétacé moyen de la marge atlantique brésilienne, le bassin de Santos

Organic dinoflagellate cysts are studied from the sedimentary sequence of hole 1-SPS-14A, drilled during oil exploration in the Santos Basin, Brazilian continental margin. The Ariri and Florianópolis Formations (Transitional sequence) do not contain any dinocysts. The oldest found dinocysts occur at the base of the Drift sequence in sediments, within platform carbonates of the Guarujá Formation. Continuous sea-level rise throughout the late Albian and Cenomanian submerged the carbonate platform with the terrigenous input of the Itanhaém Formation. The transgressive phase reached its peak during the Cenomanian/Turonian transition. Pelites were deposited during oceanic anoxic event (OAE-2), consisting the lower part of the Itajaí-Açu Formation. Normal oceanic conditions re-established in the late Turonian. The Brazilian dinocyst assemblage has tethyan affinities. Some species (i.e., Dinopterygium cladoides, Litosphaeridium arundum, Odontochitina rhakodes and Systematophora cretacea) suggest a middle Albian age for the carbonate platform of the Guarujá Formation. The lower part of the Guarujá Formation was not dated by other microfossils. An uppermost Albian or lower Cenomanian age is suggested for the base of the Itanhaém Formation on the basis of species Palaeohystrichophora infusorioides and Ovoidinium verrucosum. The Cenomanian-Turonian boundary cannot be characterized by dinocysts. Species Atopodinium iuvene, which is known from Turonian sediments in Europe, was found at the top of the Itajaí-Açu Formation. The observed dinocyst bioevents (i.e., last occurrence) are correlated with known foraminiferal, nannofossil and other palynological bioevents. The diversity of the assemblages remains constant throughout the various palaeoenvironments as these are reflected by the Guarujá and Itajaí-Açu Formations, but relative abundances of taxa are variable. Genera Coronifera, Florentinia, Ovoidinium, Spiniferites and Trichodinium are abundant in the carbonate platform assemblages (Guarujá Formation). Genera Cribroperidinium and Cyclonephelium are abundant in detrital sediments (Itajaí-Açu Formation). Only one species (Subtilisphaera guarujaensis n. sp.) is restricted to the carbonate platform environment.