A Mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana That Defines a New Locus for Glycine Decarboxylation

A novel photorespiratory mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana, designatedgld2, was isolated based on a growth requirement for abnormallyhigh levels of atmospheric CO₂. Photosynthetic CO₂ fixationwas inhibited in the mutant following illumination in air butnot in atmosphere containing 2% O₂. Photosynthetic assimilationof ¹⁴CO₂ in an atmosphere containing 50% O₂ resulted in accumulationof 48% of the soluble label in glycine in the mutant comparedto 9% in the wild type. The rate of glycine decarboxylationby isolated mitochondria from the mutant was reduced to 6% ofthe wild type rate. In genetic crosses, the mutant complementedtwo previously described photorespiratory mutants of A. thalianathat accumulate glycine during photosynthesis in air due todefects in glycine decarboxylase (glyD, now designated gld1)and serine transhydroxymethylase (stm). Because glycine decarboxylaseis a complex of four enzymes, these results are consistent witha mutation in a glycine decarboxylase subunit other than thataffected in the gld1 mutant. The two gld loci were mapped tochromosomes 2 and 5, respectively. ³Present address: Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, MichiganState University, East Lansing, MI 48824, U.S.A. ⁴Present address: Department of Applied Bioscience, Facultyof Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, 060 Japan ⁵Present address: Department of Biology, Carnegie Institutionof Washington, 290 Panama Street, Standford, CA 94305, U.S.A.     

禾谷缢管蚜和麦长管蚜玻璃管药膜法敏感毒力基线的建立

【目的】建立禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi（Linnaeus）和麦长管蚜Sitobion avenae（Fabricius）对常用杀虫剂的相对敏感基线。【方法】从田间采集麦蚜在实验室内饲养30代以上,利用玻璃管药膜法测定其对杀虫剂的敏感度,每条毒力基线为2次以上独立测定数据合并后的计算结果。【结果】用玻璃管药膜法建立了包括新烟碱类、吡啶类、氨基甲酸酯类、有机磷类和拟除虫菊酯类共22个药剂品种对禾谷缢管蚜和麦长管蚜3 h的敏感毒力基线。禾谷缢管蚜对新烟碱类药剂吡虫啉和啶虫脒的LC₅₀值分别为0.02和0.007 μg/cm²;对吡啶类药剂吡蚜酮的LC₅₀值为0.124 μg/cm²;对氨基甲酸酯类药剂丁硫克百威、硫双灭多威、灭多威、抗蚜威、西维因的LC₅₀值为0.0026~0.70 μg/cm²;对有机磷类药剂三唑磷、丙溴磷、氧乐果、乐果、马拉硫磷、辛硫磷、敌敌畏、毒死蜱的LC₅₀值为0.005~0.065 μg/cm²;对拟除虫菊酯类药剂三氟氯氰菊酯、高效氯氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯、联苯菊酯、氰戊菊酯、氯氰菊酯的LC₅₀值为0.033~0.240 μg/cm²。麦长管蚜对新烟碱类药剂吡虫啉和啶虫脒的LC₅₀值分别为0.15和0.12 μg/cm²;对吡啶类药剂吡蚜酮的LC₅₀值为0.41 μg/cm²;对氨基甲酸酯类药剂丁硫克百威、硫双灭多威、灭多威、抗蚜威、西维因的LC50值为0.005~0.76 μg/cm²;对有机磷类药剂三唑磷、丙溴磷、氧乐果、乐果、马拉硫磷、辛硫磷、敌敌畏、毒死蜱的LC₅₀值为0.018~0.36 μg/cm²;对拟除虫菊酯类药剂三氟氯氰菊酯、高效氯氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯、联苯菊酯、氰戊菊酯、氯氰菊酯的LC50值为0.20~2.94 μg/cm²。【结论】建立的两种麦蚜对22种杀虫药剂的相对敏感基线,包括当前所有可能用于防治麦蚜的药剂,可以用于以后麦蚜抗药性监测或其他相关研究的参照;禾谷缢管蚜对药剂的敏感度高于麦长管蚜。     

Cuticles of Vascular Epiphytes: Efficient Barriers for Water Loss after Stomatal Closure?

Water permeabilities of astomatous, isolated cuticular membranesof 15 vascular epiphyte species (families: Araceae, Orchidaceaeand Piperaceae) from the moist lowland forest of Barro ColoradoNature Monument, Panama, were investigated. Permeances determinedat 30°C ranged from 0.46 x 10^-6 m s^-1(Aspasia principissa(Rchb.f.) R.E. Schult.) to 6.07 x 10^-6 m s^-1(Polystachya foliosa(Hook.)Rchb. f.). Comparison of these data with permeances of plantsfrom other habitats corroborates the notion that cuticular propertiesreflect the climatic demands of the growing sites. The studiedgroup of vascular epiphytes, living in a very drought-pronehabitat, showed the lowest cuticular permeances to water recordedto date. Copyright 2000 Annals of Botany Company Barro Colorado Island, cuticular transpiration, epiphyte, plant water relations, transport barrier     

DISTRIBUTION AND PRODUCTION OF THREE HYDROBIA SPECIES (GASTROPODA: HYDROBIIDAE) IN A SHALLOW COASTAL LAGOON IN THE BAY OF CADIZ, SPAIN

The abundance, life span, growth and production of the mud snailsHydrobia minoricensis, H. ulvae and H. ventrosa in a semi-naturallagoon system were studied by taking monthly samples at threesites during 1991 and 1992. The most abundant species, H. minoricensisoccurred at mean densities of 12834 to 26264 snails m^–2(10.7 to 25.8g dry weigh m^–2), depending on the site.The least abundant species, H. ulvae, occurred at mean densitiesof 185 to 353 snails m^–2 (3.2 to 2.2g dry weight m^–2).The numerical abundance and biomass of the three Hydrobia specieswere positively related to the biomass of benthic macroalgae(P<0.01). Although H. ulvae egg capsules were recorded throughoutthe year, newly hatched snailsof this species were not observed,in contrast to the other two species. The early spring and summercohorts of H. minoricensis and H. ventrosa seemed to be themost numerous. The average life spans of these two species wereestimated to be about 18 and 13 months respectively. Annualproduction estimates for the whole lagoon system were 29.0 (6.3),5.5 (0.8) and 5.2 (1.0)g dry weight (ash-free dry weight) m^–2yr^–1 for H. minoricensis, H. ulvae and H. ventrosa respectively.The annual P/B ratio was about 2 for H. minoricensis and H.ventrosa. (Received 5 July 1994; accepted 5 October 1994)     

Carbon-specific phytoplankton growth rates: a comparison of methods

Measurements of biomass and growth rate of two axenic algalcultures were carried out using three different methodologicalapproaches: the specific ¹⁴C-labelling of chlorophyll a, [³H]adenineincorporation into DNA and net organic carbon assimilation.Time-course experiments revealed that the specific activitiesof chlorophyll a were significantly higher than the specificactivity of total algal carbon in six of seven experiments.When the specific activity of chlorophyll a is used to calculatethe carbon biomass and growth rate, the carbon biomass of thealgae will thus be underestimated and the specific growth ratewill be too high. Determination of growth rates from incorporationof [³H]adenine gave lower values than those obtained from netorganic carbon assimilation and from ¹⁴C incorporation intochlorophyll a. Problems with adenine saturation are suggested.When [³H]adenine is used to measure growth rates in dense algalcultures, additions of >1 µM [³H]adenine are oftenrequired to maximally label the extracellular and intracellularadenine pools and hence DNA.     

Salt Tolerance in the Triticeae: K/Na Discrimination in Barley

Concentrations of ions were measured in the youngest fully-expandedleaves of Triticum aestivum, T. durum, Hordeum vulgare, H. spontaneum,Secale cereale, and Aegilops squarrosa accessions grown in hydroponicculture in the presence of salt (NaCl+CaCl₂). Triticum aestivum,Secale cereale, and Ae. squarrosa had the low leaf Na and highleaf K concentrations typical of plants which contain the enhancedK/Na discrimination character originally found in Ae. squarrosa.T. durum and the Hordeum species did not have this character.The better growth of H. vulgare than of T. durum with similarsalt concentrations in the youngest fully-expanded leaves maybe a result of better compartmentation of Na, Cl, and K betweendifferent tisssues or between different compartments withincells. The enhanced K/Na discrimination character was expressedin disomic addition lines of H. vulgare chromosomes in Triticumaestivum. The H. vulgare variety Herta and its slender mutantboth had similar leaf cation concentrations, although they differedin growth rate when grown at 60 mol m^–3 NaCl. H. vulgareand T. durum seedlings grown in the absence of monovalent cationsaccumulated more ²²Na in their shoots than seedlings of otherspecies when incubated in 1.0 mol m^–3 NaCl labelled with²²Na. Key words: Salt, ion transport, I genome, barley, wheat     

INTERSPECIFIC INTERACTIONS AND SCARCITY OF A TROPICAL LIMPET

The øcmaeid limpet Lottia stipulata occurs in the midintertidal zone of rocky Pacific shores from Colombia to ElSalvador. It is regularly present but rare (<1 m^–2)at wave-exposed to semi-protected sites in Panama. The verticaldistribution of Lottia overlaps that of a pulmonate limpet,Siphonaria gigas, the most abundant molluscan grazer in themid zone (28. m^–2). Manipulations of the density of Siphonariasuggest the pulmonate negatively affects the recruitment, growth,and abundance of Lottia. Observations of populations of limpetsin an area undergoing succession support these results –Lottia recruits quickly and reaches high levels of abundance,but cannot maintain high densities as other benthic consumerslike S. gigas settle and increase in numbers over time. Paradoxically,examination of radulae suggests that if ability to use algalcrusts (the major available food) were of primary importance,Lottia would be the superior competitor. However, competitionneed not be invoked, and results can be explained by a one-wayrelationship between these two limpets. Lottia apparently hasno effect on Siphonaria, but the larger pulmonate probably actsas an agent of disturbance by interfering with foraging by Lottiaand by bulldozing or consuming newly-settled individuals. Predationon Lottia by a predaceous gastropod, Purpura columellaris, andby the American oystercatchcr, Haematopus palliatus, is insignificantat most sites, but may be important where these consumers areabundant. The abundance of Lottia appears to be controlled primarilyby disturbance by Siphonaria and by physical factors, not bypredation or competition. ¹Present address: Department of Zoology, University of Massachusetts,Amherst, Massachusetts 01003 ²Present address: Department of Zoology, University of RhodeIsland, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881 ³Order of authorship determined by coin toss. (Received 31 July 1984;     

SPHAERIUM CORNEUM (L.) AND PISIDIUM SPP. PFEIFFER -- THE ECOLOGY OF FRESHWATER BIVALVE MOLLUSCS IN RELATION TO WATER CHEMISTRY

Populations of Sphaerium corneum (L.) and Pisidium spp. weresampled monthly for 13 months, at 11 sites with a wide rangeof water chemistry in N.W. England. Both genera showed almostyear-round reproduction, but the periods of maximum productionshowed between-population variation. S. corneum adults containedspat at different stages of development and spat size was relatedto number in the brood. Multiple regression analysis with 16water physicochemical variables showed the following to be highlysignificant factors (P<0.01) in the distribution of the molluses(factors in order of importance):- S. corneum: HCO₃, K^$, Cl^–, Mg^2$, temperature, Ca^2$, month; Pisidium spp: PO₄^3–, Mg^2$, mud, oxygen, temperature, month. (Received 25 January 1978;     

REABSORPTION OF ORGANIC SOLUTES IN SOME MARINE AND FRESHWATER PROSOBRANCH GASTROPODS

Influx in vitro of glucose to the heart, kidney and ureter,where present, in Monodonta, Pomacea, and Viviparus, and alsoof leucine to these tissues in Viviparus, was measured using[³H]-labelledtracers. Phloridizin-sensitive, Na⁺-dependent [³H]D-glucose uptake wasevident in the papillary sac of Monodonta, the ventricle ofViviparus, and the kidney of Pomacea. Viviparus ventricle alsoshowed Na⁺-dependent uptake of [³H]L-leucine. Nevertheless Viviparusappears to excrete some amino acids (by undefined routes) andmay therefore lack the carriers for their resorption. In Viviparusand Pomacea the site of organic solute resorption (taken tobe where Na⁺-dependent tracer uptake predominates) is proximalto the sites of Na⁺resorption. The ultrastructure of the resorptivesites has been examined in the three genera and compared withthat of the nephridial gland and dorsal wall of the kidney ofLittorina. The ciliated cells comprising the epithelium of thepapillary sac in Monodonta and their homologues over the nephridialgland and dorsal wall of Littorina and dorsal wall of Pomaceashow common features typical of transporting epithelia in othermolluscs. The ventricular epicardium of Viviparus shows secondaryspecializations for resorption but lacks an endocytotic canalsystem. The site of organic solute resorption (the most highlyspecialized part of which is the nephridial gland in marinespecies), has been correlated with the anatomy of the renalveins in the four genera, and with other specializations inthe freshwater genera.The difficulty of quantifying rates oftransport of solutes from studies in vitro is discussed. ^*Present address: Dept. of Physiology, The University, DundeeDD1 4HN (Received 31 January 1989; accepted 24 March 1989)     

Studies on the Growth in Culture of Plant Cells: XXIII ISOLATION OF NUCLEI AND HISTONES FROM CULTURED CELLS OF ACER PSEUDOPLATANUS L.

A technique is described for the isolation of purified nucleifrom suspension culture cells of Acer pseudoplatanus. This involvesa grinding medium containing 70% (v/v) glycerol, 1 mM Mg²⁺,2 mM Ca²⁺, and Tris buffer at pH 7.8, prestorage and disruptionof the cells at –20 °C in a Potter-Elvehjem homogenizer,and purification by filtration and centrifugation in the presenceof Triton X-100. The nuclear yield is c. 25% as assessed bynuclear count or DNA estimation and the nuclei are active inthe RNA synthesizing system of Tautvydas (1971). When the histones of these nuclei are extracted in H₂SO₄ andprecipitated by ethanol, 113 µg histone is obtained perµg nuclear DNA and the histone fraction contains 22% basicamino acids and has a lysine: arginine ratio of 2.6. Acid-ureagel electrophoresis shows the presence of five major histones(H1, H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 in sequence from anode to cathode)having respectively molecular weights of 24 500, 13 500, 13300, 12 800, and 11 000. There is very good correspondence betweencalf thymus histones H3 (reduced form) and H4 and two of theseAcer histones. The other Acer histones differ from the calfthymus histones H1, H2A, H2B in molecular weight but can beprovisionally equated with these by a newly developed differentialstaining reaction. Calf thymus histone H2A appears to be lessrich in lysine than the corresponding Acer histone. Evidence from a pulse-chase experiment with (¹⁴C)lysine and[³H]tryptophan is in favour of the cytoplasmic synthesis ofthe histones.     

Microheterogeneity of N-glycosylation on a stylar self-incompatibility glycoprotein of Nicotiana alata

Gametophytic self-incompatibility, a mechanism that preventsinbreeding in some families of flowering plants, is mediatedby the products of a single genetic locus, the S-locus. Theproducts of the S-gene in the female sexual tissues of Nicotianaalata are an allelic series of glycoproteins with RNase activity.In this study, we report on the microheterogeneity of N-linkedglycosylation at the four potential N-glycosylation sites ofthe S²-glycoprotein. The S-glycoproteins from N.alata containfrom one to five potential N-glycosylation sites based on theconsensus sequence Asn-Xaa-Ser/Thr. The S²-glycoprotein containsfour potential N-glycosylation sites at Asn²⁷, Asn³⁷, Asn¹³⁸and Asn¹⁵⁰, designated sites I, n, IV and V, respectively. SiteIII is absent from the S₂-glycoprotein. Analysis of glycopeptidesgenerated from the S₂-glycoprotein by trypsin and chymotrypsindigestions revealed the types of glycans and the degree of microheterogeneitypresent at each site. Sites I (Asn²⁷) and IV (Asn¹³⁸) displaymicroheterogeneity, site II (Asn³⁷) contains only a single typeof N-glycan, and site V (Asn¹⁵⁰) is not glycosylated. The microheterogeneityobserved at site I on the S₂-glycoprotein is the same as thatobserved at the only site, site I, on the Srglycoprotein (Woodwardet al., Glycobiology, 2, 241-250, 1992). Since the N-glycosylationconsensus sequence at site I is conserved in all S-glycoproteinsfrom other species of self-incompatible solanaceous plants,glycosylation at this site may be important to their function.No other post-translational modifications (e.g. O-glycosylation,phosphorylation) were detected on the S₂-glycoprotein. fertilization microheterogeneity N-glycans plants RNase     

日本通草蛉cDNA文库构建及部分ESTs分析

本研究以日本通草蛉Chrysoperla nipponensis (Okamoto)为材料,采用Oligo(dT)引物定向克隆构建cDNA文库并进行EST序列测定,旨在以基因库的形式进行种质资源的保存,为其遗传改良奠定基础,并为探讨其分类地位提供分子依据。对该文库质量分析表明：库容量为1.0×10⁶,重组率为80.0％,平均插入片段为512 bp。测序后最终成功得到323条表达序列标签（expressed sequence tags,ESTs）序列,经Phrap程序聚类拼接后得到236条单基因簇（unigene）,包括86个重叠群（congtigs）和150个单拷贝（singlets）。使用NCBI中的BlastN和BlastX程序对236条ESTs进行本地化搜索,BlastN的结果表明：180条ESTs（76.3%）没有注解,56条ESTs（23.7%）与GenBank上公布的序列有较高的同源性,其中一条序列被确定为该种的16S rRNA基因,利用MEGA软件构建了基于该16S rRNA序列草蛉科的系统发育树,结果显示通草蛉属Chrysoperla与叉草蛉属Dichochrysa、玛草蛉属Mallada、草蛉属Chrysopa的亲缘关系比较近,这与传统分类相吻合。BlastX的比对结果为197条ESTs（83.5%）有功能注解,39条ESTs（16.5%）无注解或score值小于100。使用GO(gene ontology)数据库对236条ESTs序列进行功能注释,结果表明：142条ESTs（59.7％）有注解,并表达出40多种基因产物。     

Regulation of Sterol Biosynthesis in Solanum Species

Regulation of sterol synthesis was studied in Solanum species.A significant negative correlation was found between sterolcontent and rate of sterol synthesis from (1-¹⁴C) acetate inplant organs of Solanum nigrum and cell cultures of S. dulcamara.Exogenous cholesterol significantly inhibited the rate of sterolsynthesis from (¹⁴C) acetate in cell cultures of S. dulcamarawithout affecting synthesis from (³H) mevalonate. Exogenouscholesterol stimulated the rate of total lipid synthesis fromboth (¹⁴C) acetate and (³H) mevalonate. Thus, cholesterol inhibitedconversion of acetate to mevalonate; this is taken as evidenceof a negative feedback control on sterol synthesis. Key words: Feedback control, Phytosterol biosynthesis, Plant cell culture, Solanum species     

The Foregut of Gecarcinus lateralis as an Organ of Salt and Water Balance

The permeability of the foregut of the land crab, Gecarcinuslateralis, to tritiated water (THO), Na²², and Cl³⁶ was studiedin vitro during the intermolt period and after ecdysis. In crabswith eyestalks, the foregut is permeable to water and ions inthe direction hemolymph-to-lumen and lumen-to-hemolymph, bothduring the intermolt period and after ecdysis. However, theforegut of animals without eyestalks is impermeable after ecdysis. The movement of THO always follows the movement of Na²² acrossthe wall of the foregut, while the movement of Cl³⁶ may or maynot be correlated with the movement of Na²² and THO. Comparisonof the ratio of water to ions in the hemolymph with the ratiocalculated from radioisotope flux indicates that Na⁺ and waterare probably moving isosmotically, although not necessarilyaccompanied by Cl^– When an extract of the thoracic ganglionic mass of G. lateralisis added to the "hemolymph side" of the foregut in vitro, thereis immediately a large increase in permeability to water andsalts. This occurs in the foregut of crabs with eyestalks duringintermolt and also in eyestalkless crabs after ecdysis. Thus, not only is the foregut of Gecarcinus lateralis permeableto water and salts in both directions, but also the extent ofits permeability is under neuroendocrine control. As a consequence,the animal may be able to move water and salts into the foregutor out of it into the hemolymph as needed. This may be an importantadaptation for a terrestrial crab that must conserve water,especially at the critical time of ecdysis.     

A Preliminary Study on the Effects of Nitrogen Supply on the Growth In Vitro of Nine Potato Genotypes (Solanum spp)

Cultures of nine potato genotypes (seven Solanum tuberosum oneS. sparsipilum and one S. oplocense genotypes) were examinedfor their response to growing on medium containing either 60mol m^–3, 40 mol m^–3 or 20 mol m^–3 nitrogen.Genotypes differed in their response to nitrogen. Reducing thenitrogen regime tended to produce taller plants with longerinternodes, shoots had larger leaves but contained less chlorophyll.No change in fresh weight or number of nodes was observed. Genotypex nitrogen interactions were significant for chlorophyll content,shoot length and internode length. Results suggest that thechanges observed were as a result of changes in the total nitrogenlevel rather than changes in the ammonium : nitrate ratio. Thisstudy suggests that for certain potato genotypes, nitrogen levelsin MS medium are too high for producing desirable microplantsin terms of leaf area and shoot length Key words: Solanum tuberosum, S. sparsipilum, S. oplocense, micropropagation, morphogenesis     

sgk: an essential convergence point for peptide and steroid hormone regulation of ENaC-mediated Na+ transport

To studythe role of sgk (serum, glucocorticoid-induced kinase) inhormonal regulation of Na⁺ transport mediated by theepithelial Na⁺ channel (ENaC), clonal cell lines stablyexpressing human sgk, an S422A sgk mutant, or aD222A sgk mutant were created in the background of the A6model renal epithelial cell line. Expression of normal sgkresults in a 3.5-fold enhancement of basal transport and potentiationof the natriferic response to antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Transfectionof a S422A mutant form of sgk, which cannot bephosphorylated by phosphatidylinositol-dependent kinase (PDK)-2, results in a cell line that is indistinguishable from the parent linein basal and hormone-stimulated Na⁺ transport. The D222Asgk mutant, which lacks kinase activity, functions as adominant-negative mutant inhibiting basal as well as peptide- andsteroid hormone-stimulated Na⁺ transport. Thussgk activity is necessary for ENaC-mediated Na⁺transport. Phosphorylation and activation by PDK-2 are necessary forsgk stimulation of ENaC. Expression of normal sgkover endogenous levels results in a potentiated natriferic response toADH, suggesting that the enzyme is a rate-limiting step for the hormoneresponse. In contrast, sgk does not appear to be therate-limiting step for the cellular response to aldosterone or insulin.

     

Phloem translocation in regenerating in vitro- heterografts of different compatibility

Phloem translocation of [¹⁴C]-sucrose and 5/6-carboxyfluorescein(CF) from scion into the stock was studied in in vitro-heterograftsof Lycopersicon on Solanum (L/S) and Vicia on Helianthus (V/H)at various stages of regeneration. Autografts of all partnersserved as controls. Corresponding with the translocation experimentsnewly formed sieve-tube connections between the graft partnerswere counted. ¹⁴C-translocation experiments with [¹⁴C]-sucrose revealed anage-dependent increase of radioactivity in the stock of allcombinations. In L/S and all autografts the major increase of¹⁴C-label in the stock occurred 5–10 d after grafting.In V/H, however, import of label into the stock remained lowthroughout the regeneration period. In L/S grafts, increasesin the numbers of sieve-tube connections parallel the increasingrate of ¹⁴C-transport, indicating functioning sieve-tube connectionsin the graft union. In contrast, V/H grafts did not show thisstrong correlation between structure and function of wound repairphloem. This suggested the existence of non-transporting sieve-tubesbetween the graft partners. Similar results were obtained withCF-transport, showing that effective phloem translocation acrossthe graft interface occurred in L/S, but not in V/H grafts.The observed differences in phloem translocation are discussedwith regard to compatibility/incompatibility phenomena in heterografts. Key words: Compatibility/incompatibility, in-vitro-heterografts, phloem transport ([¹⁴C]-sucrose, carboxyfluorescein), wound phloem     

Use of a Disarmed Ri Plasmid Vector in Analysis of Transformed Root Induction

Nicotiana glauca, N. tabacum, Solanian dulcamara and S. nigrumwere transformed by Agrobacteriun rhizogenes strain BN1010 (TL^–TR⁺).The TR-DNA stimulated agropine-positive root induction and wastransformation competent in the absence of the TL-DNA. An unusualpattern of root induction was seen when stem explants were inoculatedwith this strain; occasionally, agropine-positive roots wereinduced at the inoculation sites, but prolific agropine-negativeroots were formed in profusion down the stems. The utility ofBN1010 as an efficient co-integrating vector was demonstratedby the separate transfer of a fragment containing rol ABC (BN1010::pEM15) and of a chimeric nopaline synthase-kanamycin resistancegene (BN1010:: Neo) into plants. Root cultures of S. dulcamaratransformed with BN1010:: Neo had an unusual, positively geotropicphenotype. Strain BN1010:: pEM15 (rol ABC⁺D^–TR⁺) incitedmore roots down stem explants than strain A4T. This indicatesthat rol D may act to suppress agropine-negative root productionin N. glauca and N. tabacum. Key words: Agrobacterium rhizogenes, TL-DNA, TR-DNA, disarmed Ri vector, transformed roots, Nicotiana glauca, N. tabacun, Solatium dulcamara, S. nigrum     

Dynamic measurements of roots hydraulic conductance using a high-pressure flowmeter in the laboratory and field

A new high-pressure flowmeter(HPFM)is described which is capableof rapid water-flow measurements. The HPFM permits dynamic determinationof hydraulic conductance of roots, K_r, and can be used in tehlaboratory or field. The base of a root is connected to theHPFM and water is perfused into the root system opposite tothe normal direction of flow during trnaspiration. The perfusionpressure is changed at a constant rate of 3–7 kPa s^–1while measuring the flow into the root every 2–4 s. Theslope of the plot of flow versus applied pressure is K_r. This paper describes the HPFM, presnents the theory of dynamicflow measurements, discusses sources of error, presnets evidencethat dynamic measurements of K_r in Ficus maclellandi (and sixother tropical species from Panama) yield the correct result,and demonstrates the use of the method under field conditionsin Panama on Cecropia obtusifolia and Palicourea guianensis. Key words: High-pressure flowmeter, root and shoot hydraulic conductance, Ficus maclellandi, Cecropia obtusifolia, Palicourea guianensis     

Calcification in the Green Alga Halimeda: IV. THE ACTION OF METABOLIC INHIBITORS ON PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND CALCIFICATION

The effects of a number of metabolic inhibitors on calcificationand photosynthesis in Halimeda tuna, H. discoidea, and H. macrolobaare described. The inhibitors used are CCCP, DNP, DCMU, azide,cyanide, chloramphenicol, cycloheximide, and Diamox. The effectsof these inhibitors, although complex, are consistent with ourmodel of calcification in Halimeda. Inhibition of photosyntheticCO₂ uptake inhibits calcification as does stimulation of respiratoryCO₂ evolution (i.e. uncoupling). There is also indirect evidencefor the presence of a possible light stimulated H⁺ efflux whichinhibits calcification. The observed calcification rate is thereforethe result of a number of factors which affect the concentrationof CO^–and the pH in the intercellular space of the Halimedathallus. The results obtained with the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor Diamoxprovide further evidence for the effective separation of theintercellular space from the external medium by the appressedperipheral utricles.