Biosynthesis of Cytokinin in Germinating Seeds of Zea mays

The embryos of germinating Zea mays seed were supplied with[¹⁴C]-adenine Following incubation, the tissue was extractedand extensively purified by non-exchange chromatography andthin layer chromatography. Radioactivity was found to be incorporatedinto zeatin nucleotide indicating that the embryo in the germinatingseed is capable of cytokinin biosynthesis. Key words: Zea mays cytokinin, zeatin nucleotide, biosynthesis, seed     

萌发玉米种子脱水耐性与胚根细胞超微结构的变化

玉米种子脱水试验表明,25℃下萌发24h种子脱水耐性开始丧失,丧失50％和100％的时间分别为33h、58h。萌发过程中随着吸胀时间增加,玉米种子脱水耐性逐步丧失。显微观察显示,种子吸胀过程中,胚根细胞的贮藏物质逐步减少,线粒体等细胞器的分化程度则不断提高,尤其是脂类物质的分解程度与脱水耐性变化的关系似乎更明显。     

Polyamine Content Related to Seed Storage Performance in Zea mays

As part of a search for biochemical indicators of seed withgood survival characteristics during storage, polyamine (PA)levels were measured in embryos for Zea mays seeds. PA levelswere determined in individual embryos of Mean Generation Analysis(MGA) of crosses between lines which show good (C²) and poor(C⁶) storage characteristics. A correlation was found betweenhigher PA contents (putrescine and spermidine) and superiorsurvival characteristics within the populations that were analysedby MGA. Titres of putrescine (PUT) and spermidine (SPD) showedthat three-quarters of the F² resembled the C² parent and aquarter resembled the C⁶ parent. Furthermore, the backcrossC⁶F¹ showed that half of the embryos had PUT levels above theparental C⁶ line. A maternal inheritance effect was not observed.Neither spermine nor cadaverine content was correlated withthe survival inheritance pattern. Given the survival kineticsobtained, it is suggested that both the PA titres and the seedsurvival characteristics are determined by nuclear dominantfactors. Key words: Polyamines, Zea mays, seeds     

Metabolism and Translocation of Exogenous Zeatin Riboside in Germinating Seeds and Seedlings of Zea mays

High specific activity [³H]-zeatin riboside (ZR) was suppliedto germinating seed and developing seedlings of Zea mays tostudy its metabolism and translocation The major metabolitesof ZR in endosperm, embryo, and first leaves were adenosine,adenine, and adenine nucleotide When ZR was supplied to theradicle tip a significant proportion of the radioactivity extractedfrom the radicle was identified as zeatin-9-glucoside (Z9G).However, some ZR was also transported to the shoot and vestigialembryo During the initial stage of germination, movement ofzeatin riboside from the embryo to the endosperm was pronouncedbut little movement occurred in the reverse direction Key words: Zea mays cytokinin, zeatin riboside, metabolism, translocation     

玉米种子萌发能力和耐脱水能力的形成

以玉米品种“粤单9117”为材料,研究了种子发育过程中萌发能力和耐脱水能力的获得。玉米种子的生理成熟期约为43DAP（授粉后天数）。胚萌发能力的获得是在14－21DAP、耐脱水能力的获得出现在25－28DAP。胚的耐脱水能力在28DAP后仍不断得到加强。耐脱水能力的获得与细胞膜的发育及受保护的程度密切相关。脱水有利于不同发育时期的胚和种子的萌发。     

Gibberellins and geotropism in Zea mays coleoptiles

Summary Diffusible gibberellins were obtainable in agar from excised 4 mm tips of etiolated coleoptiles of Zea mays. Placing the tips in a horizontal position increased the total yield of gibberellins by approximately five times. With horizontal tips, the ratio of gibberellin activity recovered from lower and upper halves, expressed as a percentage of total yield, was 80.76:19.24 (lower:upper).     

Interchromosomal recombination in Zea mays.

A new allele of the 27-kD zein locus in maize has been generated by interchromosomal recombination between chromosomes of two different inbred lines. A continuous patch of at least 11,817 bp of inbred W64A, containing the previously characterized Ra allele of the 27-kD zein gene, has been inserted into the genome of A188 by a single crossover. While both junction sequences are conserved, sequences of the two homologs between these junctions differ considerably. W64A contains the 7313-bp-long retrotransposon, Zeon-1. A188 contains a second copy of the 27-kD zein gene and a 2-kb repetitive element. Therefore, recombination results in a 7.3-kb insertion and a 14-kb deletion compared to the original S+A188 allele. If nonpairing sequences are looped out, 206 single base changes, frequently clustered, are present. The structure of this allele may explain how a recently discovered example of somatic recombination occurred in an A188/W64A hybrid. This would indicate that despite these sequence differences, pairing between these alleles could occur early during plant development. Therefore, such a somatically derived chimeric chromosome can also be heritable and give rise to new alleles.     

Occurrence of sorbitol in Zea mays

The identity of sorbitol (d-glucitol) from maize seeds was confirmed by GC/MS of the TMSi-ether and by co-chromatography with authentic sorbitol. Sorbitol was found in seeds and silks but not in pollen or leaves. Both endosperm and embryo contained sorbitol, but endosperm accounted for most of the sorbitol recovered from intact seeds.     

Entry and distribution of aluminum in Zea mays

Summary The electron microprobe X-ray analyzer (microprobe) has been used to determine the mode of entry of aluminum (Al) and its distribution and localization in the corn plant. Microprobe analysis is a non-destructive method allowing for multiple element analysis in the same tissues, cells or cell organelles.Al was found to be precipitated on the surface of the epidermal cells of the root with no penetration into the cortex as long as the root surface remained intact. The root cap was freely permeable and contained the highest concentration of Al. The epidermal layer behind the root cap prevented movement into the cortex and conductive tissue.The penetration of a lateral root through the endodermis, cortex and epidermis provided a channel of entry for Al into the cortex and conducting tissues of both the lateral and main root. Essentially no Al was found in the transition zone and only small quantities were present in the above-ground plant parts.The localization of phosphorus was exactly the same as that of Al. This suggested that there was a precipitation of P by Al. A similar analysis for calcium and phosphorus on control plants did not reveal such a precipitation.The method of sample preparation was critical in retaining and localizing the elements in question and is discussed in that light.Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Article No. 4269.     

Chilling stress and oxygen metabolizing enzymes in Zea mays and Zea diploperennis*

Abstract. The activities of five active-oxygen scavenging enzymes were compared for cold-lability and three were compared for chilling induction in two Zea genotypes of contrasting susceptibility to photoinhibition during chilling. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR, EC 1.6.5.4), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR, EC 1.8.5.1), and glutathione reductase (GTR, EC 1.6.4.2) in leaf extracts from plants grown without chilling stress were assayed at 19°C and 5°C. Enzymes from the chilling-susceptible Z. Mays cv. LG11 had lower specific activities at 5°C than did enzymes from the chilling-tolerant Z. diploperennis, except for MDHAR where no significant differences were observed. The activities of SOD and APX from Z. diploperennis were double those of Z. mays at both assay temperatures. Monodehydroa-scrobate reductase and glutathione reductase activities in both species were reduced by 63–78% at a 5°C assay temperature. The dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) showed the greatest low-temperature lability losing 96% (Z. diploperennis) and 100% (Z. mays) of its activity at 5°C. To examine possible chilling-induced changes in levels of enzyme activity, plants of both Zea genotypes were transferred to growth chambers at 10°C at moderate light intensities. Glutathione reductase activity was found to increase within 24h in Z. diploperennis, but it decreased slightly in Z. mays. MDHAR activity decreased by 50% in Z. diploperennis but showed only a transient increase in activity in Z. mays.     

Leaf vasculature in Zea mays L.

The vascular system of the Zea mays L. leaf consists of longitudinal strands interconnected by transverse bundles. In any given transverse section the longitudinal strands may be divided into three types of bundle according to size and structure: small, intermediate, large. Virtually all of the longitudinal strands intergrade structurally however, from one bundle type to another as they descend the leaf. For example, all of the strands having large-bundle anatomy appear distally as small bundles, which intergrade into intermediates and then large bundles as they descend the leaf. Only the large bundles and the intermediates that arise midway between them extend basipetally into the sheath and stem. Most of the remaining longitudinal strands of the blade do not enter the sheath but fuse with other strands above and in the region of the blade joint. Despite the marked decrease in number of longitudinal bundles at the base of the blade, both the total and mean cross-sectional areas of sieve tubes and tracheary elements increase as the bundles continuing into the sheath increase in size. Linear relationships exist between leaf width and total bundle number, and between cross-sectional area of vascular bundles and both total and mean cross-sectional areas of sieve tubes and tracheary elements.     

Genetic and Genomic Toolbox of Zea mays

Maize has a long history of genetic and genomic tool development and is considered one of the most accessible higher plant systems. With a fully sequenced genome, a suite of cytogenetic tools, methods for both forward and reverse genetics, and characterized phenotype markers, maize is amenable to studying questions beyond plant biology. Major discoveries in the areas of transposons, imprinting, and chromosome biology came from work in maize. Moving forward in the post-genomic era, this classic model system will continue to be at the forefront of basic biological study. In this review, we outline the basics of working with maize and describe its rich genetic toolbox.     

Somatic embryogenesis in Zea mays L.

Summary Combining ability studies with respect to such green fodder quality characteristics as oxalic acid, calcium, sodium, potassium and green fodder yield were carried out in a 12 × 12 diallel cross set in pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides (Burm) S. & H.). With regard to differential expression of gene effects, studies for quality traits were carried out in different seasons and on different plant parts. The relative proportions of general and specific combining variances indicated the preponderance of non-additive genetic variance. Parents possessing desirable fodder quality characteristics were identified on the basis of combining ability and per se performance, and selection criterion for crosses was discussed. It was recommended that leaf portion should be biochemically analysed and manipulated in an environment when the genes are expressed.Part of the Ph. D. dissertation submitted to the Punjab Agricultural University by the senior author in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree     

Glucolipids of Zea mays and Pisum sativum

The glucolipids formed upon feeding (U-¹⁴C)glucose to embryos of Zea mays were partially characterized with respect to: (a) metabolic turnover, (b) acid lability, (c) phosphorus content, (d) chromatographic properties, and (e) hydrolysis products. The chloroform-methanol-soluble assimilated radioactivity was examined specifically for occurrence of a glycosylated prenol phosphate. With the extraction conditions used, no evidence was found for formation of a glucosylated prenol phosphate. Several, as yet unidentified, acid-labile glucolipids undergoing metabolic turnover were observed. Four diglycerides were characterized as hydrolysis products of a fraction that contained ¹⁴C-glucose and phosphorus, and was subject to metabolic turnover. Examination of the 1-butanol-soluble glucolipids from pea (Pisum sativum) seedlings also demonstrated anionic glucolipids, evidencing metabolic turnover but none with the properties of glucosylated prenol phosphate.     

Internode length in Zea mays L.

[¹³C, ³H]Gibberellin A₂₀ (GA₂₀) has been fed to seedlings of normal (tall) and dwarf-5 and dwarf-1 mutants of maize (Zea mays L.). The metabolites from these feeds were identified by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. [¹³C, ³H]Gibberellin A₂₀ was metabolized to [¹³C, ³H]GA₂₉-catabolite and [¹³C, ³H]GA₁ by the normal, and to [¹³C, ³H]GA₂₉ and [¹³C, ³H]GA₁ by the dwarf-5 mutant. In the dwarf-1 mutant, [¹³C, ³H]GA₂₀ was metabolized to [¹³C, ³H]GA₂₉ and [¹³C, ³H]GA₂₉-catabolite; no evidence was found for the metabolism of [¹³C, ³H]GA₂₀ to [¹³C, ³H]GA₁. [¹³C, ³H]Gibberellin A₈ was not found in any of the feeds. In all feeds no dilution of ¹³C in recovered [¹³C, ³H]GA₂₀ was observed. Also in the dwarf-5 mutant, the [¹³C]label in the metabolites was apparently undiluted by endogenous [¹³C]GAs. However, dilution of the [¹³C]label in metabolites from [¹³C, ³H]GA₂₀ was observed in normal and dwarf-1 seedlings. The results from the feeding studies provide evidence that the dwarf-1 mutation of maize blocks the conversion of GA₂₀ to GA₁.Abbreviations GA_n gibberellin A_n - GC-MS combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry - HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography - RP reverse phase     

Niacin Biosynthesis in Seedlings of Zea mays

Evidence obtained from incubation of corn (Zea mays cv. Golden Bantam) seedlings in dl-[benzene ring-U-(14)C]tryptophan, l-[5-(3)H]tryptophan, l-[U-(14)C]aspartate and [U-(14)C]glycerol indicates that niacin is synthesized in these plants via oxidative degradation of tryptophan. Aspartate and glycerol do not appear to be precursors of niacin in corn seedlings.     

Effects of a Magnetic Field on the Growth of Primary Roots of Zea mays

Caryopses with primary roots of Zea mays L. (cv. Golden CrossBantam 70) were incubated on agar-solidified distilled water(0.4% agar) in a magnetic field of 5 k gauss or 0.01 k gauss(control), the direction of root growth corresponding to thedirection of magnetic field from the north- to the south-seekingpole. The rate of growth of the roots exposed to 5 k gauss wasincreased by about 25% over that of the controls (0.01 k gauss).When caryopses with primary roots were incubated on agar-solidifieddistilled water that had previously been exposed to a magneticfield of 5 k gauss or 0.01 k gauss, no differences in ratesof root growth were observed. The growth rate of the primaryroot increased with increased magnetic flux density (from 0.01k to 5 k gauss). The orientation of the root in terms of thedirection of the magnetic field (from the north- to the south-seekingpole) affected the rate of growth of the root. When the directionof root growth was in line with the direction of the magneticfield of 5 k gauss or in the direction opposite to that of thefield, growth rates increased by 27% and 22%, respectively,of the growth rate of the controls (magnetic field of 0.01 kgauss). When the direction of growth was perpendicular to thedirection the field, the growth rate increased by 15% of thatof the control (0.01 k gauss). It appears that a magnetic stimulusmay induce an increase in the rate of root growth in some plantmaterials. (Received March 23, 1988; Accepted August 9, 1988)     

玉米和类玉米种间杂交后代细胞学鉴定

利用组成玉米异染色质钮的180-bp重复序列和TR-1元件以及45S rDNA对玉米自交系F107、GB57、二倍体多年生类玉米及其远缘杂交后代的染色体进行荧光原位杂交,确定了3种重复序列在亲本染色体上的分布;同时对远缘杂交后代进行了细胞学鉴定,通过荧光信号在染色体上的位置,证实远缘杂交后代中异源种质的染色体来源;讨论了异染色质钮重复序列对玉米和其野生种杂交后代外源染色体整合和染色体行为等方面研究的应用。