Short-day and Low-temperature Control of Floral Induction in Festuca

The conditions necessary for floral induction to occur in tallfescue (Festuca arundinacea), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis),and red fescue (Festuca rubra), have been investigated. Onlya Tunisian ecotype of tall fescue produced inflorescences undershort-day conditions when air temperatures were above 8 °C.Under short days with low temperatures nearly all plants ofS. 170 tall fescue and S. 215 meadow fescue produced inflorescencesafter 15 weeks' exposure, but S. 59 red fescue showed only asmall response. Evidence was obtained for the existence in bothtall fescue and meadow fescue of a juvenile stage during whichplants showed a reduced response to inductive conditions. Avariation of 35 days in the required length of exposure to inductiveconditions was demonstrated between families within the S. 170variety of tall fescue, indicating the possibility of selectingfor larger or smaller inductive requirements. A second generationof seed was produced within a 12-month period from inflorescenceswhich had developed in a heated glasshouse during the wintermonths.     

山椒子离体植株再生

1植物名称山椒子（Uvaria grandiflora Roxb.）。 2材料类别 下胚轴、茎段。 3培养条件 （1）种子萌发培养基：1/2MS;（2）不定芽诱导培养基：MS＋BA2.0mg·L-1（单位下同）＋NAA0.1;（3）增殖培养基：MS＋BA1.0＋NAA0.1;     

密花胡颓子的离体植株再生

1植物名称密花胡颓子（Elaeagnus conferta Roxb.）,又名羊奶果。2材料类别茎段。3培养条件（1）种子萌发培养基：MS;（2）不定芽诱导培养基：MS＋BA 3.0 mg·L~（-1）（单位下同）＋NAA 0.1;（3）增殖培养基：MS＋BA 2.0＋NAA 0.1;（4）壮苗培养基：MS＋BA 0.5＋NAA 0.1;（5）生根培养基：1/2MS＋IBA 2.0＋NAA 0.1。上述培养基中均添加30 g·L~（-1）蔗糖和6.5 mg·L~（-1）卡拉胶,pH 5.8。培养温度为（25±2）℃,光照强度为40μmo1·m~（-2）·s~（-1）,光照时间为     

Light-dependent conversion of carotenoids in the parasitic angiosperm Cuscuta reflexa L.

The parasitic angiosperm Cuscuta reflexa contains unusually high amounts of the carotenoids lutein-5,6-epoxide and 9- cis -violaxanthin. In this study the light-dependent conversions of these carotenoids in entire plant tissue and purified LHCII b was compared with that of the xanthophyll cycle carotenoid violaxanthin when plants are exposed to high irradiance followed by low irradiance. In entire tissue under high irradiance, similar conversion kinetics and stoichiometry with de-epoxidation products suggest that both lutein-5,6-epoxide and all- trans -violaxanthin are equally suitable substrates for de-epoxidase. This is not the case under low irradiance as, although epoxidation of zeaxanthin and antheraxanthin rapidly restores the violaxanthin pool, the recovery of the lutein-5,6-epoxide pool is comparatively slow and has no stoichiometric relationship with its de-epoxidation product, lutein. Light-dependent changes in the concentration of 9- cis -violaxanthin mimic violaxanthin. However, the inability to detect de-epoxidation products or to de-epoxidize 9- cis -violaxanthin in vitro suggests that it is not subject to de-epoxidation and, instead, its concentration changes may reflect the equilibrium between isomers of violaxanthin. Light exposure did not affect the composition of carotenoids bound to purified LHCII b , indicating that these bound carotenoids are not subject to de-epoxidation and do not contribute to the isomer pool equilibrium. The biosynthetic origins of lutein-5,6-epoxide and the potential role of these carotenoid cycles in photoprotection are discussed.     

Rapid In Vitro Multiplication of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb

Micropropagation of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb was achieved through in vitro proliferation of axillary buds from 30 to 40 years old mature tree. Bud-break was achieved within six days when nodal explants were cultured on MS medium supplemented with kinetin (9.2 μm), indole-3-butyric acid (2.46 μM) apd 6-benzyladenine (13.2 μM). Multiple shoot formation occurred from nodal explants of in vitro raised shoots on MS medium with reduced levels of major salts and kinetin. Roots were Induced within 5 days on in vitro generated shoots on MS medium supplemented with 1-naphthalene acetic acid (0.53 μM) and indole-3-butyric acid (9.8 μM).     

Studies on Cuscuta reflexa ROXB. V. The level of endogenous hormones in the parasite,Cuscuta reflexa,and its host,Vicia faba L., and a suggested role in the transfer of nutrients from host to parasite

Summary The mechanism of parasitism of Cuscuta, especially the absorption of nutrients from its host, is not clear. As it might be connected with the function of plant hormones, the endogenous levels of all hormone groups in the parasite, Cuscuta reflexa, and its host, Vicia faba, were investigated. Since the content of auxins, gibberellins and cytokinins is higher in the host than in the parasite, there is no indication that any of these phytohormones is involved in the absorption of nutrients by Cuscuta. However, the content of growth inhibitors, especially free abscisic acid, is much higher in Cuscuta than in the host. There is a gradient of abscisic acid with a maximum in the basal, haustoria-bearing stem region in which the transfer of nutrients from host to parasite occurs. The high content of abscisic acid within the parasite may be a causal connection with the parasitic absorption of nutrients from host sieve tubes.This publication is respectfully dedicated to the academician Prof. Dr. A. L. Kursanov, Moscow, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of his birthday.     

Increased Pentose Phosphate Pathway Activity Linked to Floral Induction in Apices of Spinacia oleracea during Short Days

A quantitative cytochemical study of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenaseactivity as a marker of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP)was made on shoot apices of Spinacia oleracea kept either continuouslyin short days for up to eight weeks or transferred for a singleperiod of 20 h to continuous light after between three and eightweeks in short days. By the time the apices kept in continuousshort days showed morphological changes relating to the floralstate, the PPP activity was already elevated. From four weeksonwards, the apices were more readily induced to the floralstate as evidenced by the increased PPP activity. In addition,the level of PPP activity achieved in the short-day apices asthey progressed to the floral state was as great as that observedin the apices induced to flower by a 20-h day. Spinacea oleracea, pentose phosphate pathway, shoot apex, cytochemistry, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, floral induction     

非洲菊小花托的离体培养

非洲菊无性系小花托外植体的离体培养结果发现,小花托的大小直接影响愈伤组织上芽的分化,其中直径为0.5~0.7 cm的花托小切块效果最好,随着直径的增大,芽的分化诱导率降低。在不同激素成分的MS培养基中,以6-BA(6-苄氨基嘌呤)10 mg/L诱导的效果最佳,而在IBA(吲哚丁酸)0.3 mg/L的(1)/(2) MS培养基中,幼苗的生根效果最佳。     

Modelling the flow and partitioning of carbon and nitrogen in the holoparasite Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. and its host Lupinus albus L.: I. Methods for estimating net flows

Nodulated Lupinus albus L. was grown on quartz sand in the greenhouseand supplied with a N-free culture solution. Half the plantswere infected with Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. at 33 DAS. An empiricallybased modelling technique was developed to quantitatively depictuptake, flow and utilization of C and N in the host plant andbetween host and parasite over a 12 d period. The modellingincorporated C: N ratios of solutes in phloem and pressure-inducedxylem sap, net increments of C and N and respiratory lossesof C. For assessing the transfer of solutes from host phloemto Cuscuta it was not possible to use the C: N ratio of phloemsap close to the site of parasite attachment, a procedure whichwould have assumed non-specific withdrawal of phloem-borne solutes,since this would have implied unimpeded mass flow from hostto parasite. The relative intake of C and N by the parasiteby specific withdrawal of nitrogenous and carbonaceous solutesfrom the phloem was obtained independently by assuming thatxylem intake occurred non-specifically. Xylem import was thusobtained (a) from transpiration and tissue water increment ofCuscuta and the concentrations of N and C in xylem sap and (b)from the Ca²⁺ increment of Cuscuta and the ratios Ca: N andCa: C in lupin xylem sap, assuming that Ca²⁺ intake occurredsolely via xylem. By subtracting net xylem import from totaluptake of C and N by Cuscuta the methods resulted in comparableratios of C: N intake from the phloem. The average ratio (53.4)was smaller than the C:N ratio in host phloem (85.6) indicatingspecific withdrawal of solutes with a distinct preference forN. Using this ratio, modelling of flows of C and N was possibleand showed that Cuscuta abstracted C and N mainly from the hostphloem, but xylem supply was nutrient-dependent and amountedto 6.4% of the N but only 0.5% of the C demand. The resultsindicated that Cuscuta exerted a very strong sink and competedefficiently with the root, the major sink of L. albus, by attracting81% of the current photosynthate and more N (223%) than wascurrently fixed. The massive demand of the parasite led to lossesparticularly of N from leaves and the root and apart from causingcarbon losses it appeared to induce a sink-dependent stimulationof photosynthesis. In contrast, nitrogen fixation in the Cuscuta-infectedlupin was inhibited to 37% of the control. Key words: Cuscuta reflexa, Lupinus albus, carbon, nitrogen, phloem, xylem, transport, parasites, modelling     

Effect of ABA on the in Vitro Induction of Floral Buds of Dendrobium candidu Wall.ex Lindl.

An in vitro flowering system of Dendrobium candidurn Wall. ex Lindl., a wild species of orchid, was established. Callus was induced from seeds and protocorms formed on MS agar medium supplemented with 0.3 mg/L NAA under diffused light. Floral buds were induced when protocorms were cultured on MS agar medium supplemented with 2 mg/L 6-BA and 0.5 mg/L NAA, the frequency of floral bud induction being 27.0%. When protocorms were precultured on MS medium supplemented with 0. 5 mg/L ABA for 15 days and then transfered onto MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L 6-BA, the frequency of floral bud induction increased greatly reach 84.0 % during a period of 5 months. Meanwhile the number of branches and floral buds also increased and in some instances inflorescence appeared. Never the less, no floral bud was formed if protocorms continued to be cultured on the ABA-containing MS medium.     

植物离体组织染色体加倍诱导同源四倍体

随着生物技术的迅速发展,通过植物离体组织人工诱导多倍体已经成为获得多倍体植株的有效途径。本文就植物离体组织染色体加倍诱导同源四倍体的研究进展做一介绍,详细评述了植物离体组织细胞加倍的途径、影响植物离体组织加倍的因素、利用不同诱导剂进行处理效果比较及离体组织材料的早期倍性鉴定技术等,并展望了植物离体诱导同源四倍体的前景。     

玉米芽尖培养中的高频率体细胞胚胎发生与植株再生(简报)

通过诱导玉米芽尖产生胚性愈伤组织,建立起高频率植株再生的玉米芽尖培养实验体系。在MS+1.0mg·L-16-BA+0.2mg·L-12,4-D+500mg·L-1CH的培养基上诱导愈伤组织并继代培养1次后,将愈伤组织转移到Ms+0.5mg·L-16-BA+0.4mg·L-1IBA+500mg·L-1CH的分化培养基上,可形成大量的体细胞胚胎。组织学观察表明,体细胞胚胎主要发生在胚性愈伤组织表面与表层下部。不同基因型的芽尖形成愈伤组织和再生植株的能力不同。     

Phytochrome Participation in Induction of Haustoria in Cuscuta japonica, a Holoparasitic Flowering Plant

Seedlings of Cuscuta japonica pasted on an acrylic plate developedmany haustoria in response to far-red light after pre-irradiationwith white light. The effect of far-red light was cancelledcompletely by red light irradiated immediately after the far-redlight. In order to elucidate the photoreceptor(s) for photocontrolin the induction of haustoria, action spectra for the photo-inductionand its reversion were determined in the wavelength region from340 nm to 800 nm using the Okazaki Large Spectrograph. The action spectrum for the induction of haustoria had a pronouncedpeak at 740 nm and a small peak at 420 nm, while the actionspectrum for reversal of the induction had a pronounced peakat 660 nm and a small peak at 380 nm. These results indicatethat phytochrome is involved in the photocontrol of inductionof haustoria in Cuscuta japonica. Considering the far-red /redreversibility, it was suggested that phytochrome B is the photorecepter.This is the first reliable evidence of phytochome participationon development of haustoria in parasitic plants. ⁴Present address: Graduate School of Science Division of BiologicalScience, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-01 Japan.     

Anti-steroidogenic activity of methanolic extract of Cuscuta reflexa roxb. stem and Corchorus olitorius Linn. seed in mouse ovary

Methanolic extract (ME) of both C. reflexa stem and C. olitorius seed arrested the normal oestrus cycle of adult female mouse and significantly decreased the weight of ovaries and uterus. The cholesterol and ascorbic acid contents in ovaries were significantly increased in the treated mice. Two key enzymes, delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, were decreased significantly in ME of both C. reflexa stem and C. olitorius seed after 17 days of treatment. High level of substrates and low level of enzymes indicate the inhibition of steroidogenesis in treated mice and may be due to the presence of flavonoids.     

中国菟丝子离体再生体系的建立

选取萌发3～5d、长度3～5cm的中国菟丝子（Cuscuta Chinensis Lam）幼苗,将其分为上、中、下3部分并作为外植体进行离体培养与植株再生研究。结果表明,其上、中部片段更适宜愈伤组织诱导;诱导培养基以添加1mg L^-1 NAA和1mg L^-1 BA的MMS培养基效果最好,此培养基也可用于愈伤组织的继代培养,愈伤组织在上述培养基中已生长一年之久。分化培养基为添加1mg L^-1 BA的MMS培养基,平均每块愈伤组织可以产生2．8株植株。     

水稻离体授粉的胚胎学研究

采用2个水稻（Oryza sativa L.)品种“春江05”（早粳）和“95046”（晚粳）,对离体授粉过程中的胚胎学进行了详细的研究。结果表明：（1）2个品种均胡离体授粉结实,平均结实率为52．1％,其中28．4％胚胎发育正常,2．2％胚胎发育异常,21．5％愈伤组织化;（2）离体授粉时的胚胎发育途径和体内自然发育基本相同,中是合子和初生胚乳核首次启动分裂及以后的发育均较延缓,但最终也能萌发成幼苗。（3）观察到具细长胚柄的原胚及液泡化原胚等异常的胚胎类型;（4）子房内形成的愈伤组织分为致密和松散两种类型,二均可化出不定芽和不定根,还对离体授粉的方法,离体授粉中正常和异常的胚胎发育途径进行了讨论。     

Embryological Studies on In Vitro Pollination in Rice

n vitro pollination and its embryological studies were carried out in two japonica cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa L.), “Chunjiang 05" and “95046". N6 basic medium supplemented with different exogenous hormones was used for ovary culture after in vitro pollination. The main results were as follows: (1) both cultivars were induced to set kernels after in vitro pollination. The frequency of seedset was 52.1%, including 28.4%normal embryo development, 2.2% abnormal embryo development and 21.5% callus formation. (2) The processes of embryo and endosperm development after in vitro pollination were basically as normal as those in vivo , except there was some retardation in the first division of zygotes and primary endosperm nuclei as well as in their subsequent development. However, both kernels and plantlets could be produced finally. (3) A few abnormal embryos were observed, for instance, proembryos with elongated suspensor and vacuolated proembryos. (4) Two types of calli in the cultured ovaries appeared, namely, the compact callus and the fragile callus, which were able to differentiate into adventitious buds and roots.