3-Deoxy-d-arabino-Heptulosonate 7-Phosphate Synthase from Potato Tuber (Solanum tuberosum L.)

3-Deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase, the first enzyme of the shikimate pathway, was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from tubers of Solanum tuberosum L. cv Superior. The enzyme is a dimer with a native molecular weight of 110,000. The enzyme appears to be hysteretic. The enzyme activity is stimulated by Mn²⁺ and l-tryptophan. Chromatofocusing resolved two forms of the enzyme with isoelectric points of 7.8 and 8.4, respectively. The enzyme closely resembles an analogous activity previously isolated from roots of Daucus carota (JA Suzich, JFD Dean, KM Herrmann 1985 Plant Physiol 79: 765-770).     

马铃薯块茎发育机理及其基因表达

马铃薯（Solanum tuberosum L.)块茎是有块茎马铃薯植物的地下变态器官,它由匍匐茎顶端膨大形成,对于马铃薯块茎形成的生理机制已有许多研究,这些研究表明,块茎发生受许多因素的影响,总体来讲短日 照,较低的温度以及离体条件下培养基较高的蔗糖浓度等有利于块茎形成,同时,块茎形成过程中内源激素亦发生一系列变化,然而,对于块茎形成中相关基因表达,进而调控块茎形成的系统研究目前还较滞后,已有研究显示,块茎形成与膨大涉及到一系列基因的表达与关闭,同时它也与淀粉合成和块茎储藏蛋白基因的表达有关,综述了这一领域现有的研究进展。     

Mobilization of Seedpiece Nitrogen During Plant Growth from Aged Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Seed-tubers

A study was conducted to characterize patterns of mobilizationand translocation of seedpiece nitrogen (N) from single-eyeseedcores cut from 5 and 17-month-old potato seed-tubers. Differencesin mobilization efficiency were related to age-induced, morphologicaldifferences in plant development. Seedcores from older seed-tuberssprouted earlier and produced an average of 6.6 shoots per eyecompared to a single shoot from younger seed-tubers. Shoot vigour(d. wt per shoot) from 17-month-old was four-fold lower thanthat from 5-month-old seed-tubers following 25 d of growth.However, total shoot dry matter from older seedcores was two-foldgreater than that from younger seedcores. Differences in vigourper shoot were not explained entirely by differences in shootnumber. Rates and absolute amounts of free amino, soluble protein andtotal-N mobilized from 17-month-old seedcores were greater thanfrom younger seedcores. However, a higher degree of intersproutcompetition from older seedcores translated into a lower amountof mobilized N available to support growth of individual shoots.Furthermore, before seedcore N became limiting, concentrationof foliar N (mg g d. wt^–1) from older seedcores was lowercompared to that from younger seedcores, indicating a lowersink strength for N per unit increase in dry weight of the multipleshoots. Seedpiece N did not appear to limit shoot growth fromyounger seedcores. Age-induced loss of vigour on an individualshoot basis may thus be related to decreased sink strength andincreased competition among multiple shoots for seedcore N. Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.), seed-tuber age, nitrogen mobilization, plant growth potential     

The Relationship Between Photosynthesis and Tuber Growth in Solanum tuberosum L.

Measurements of the rate of photosynthesis of plants of Solanumtuberosum L. var. King Edward were made, using ¹⁴CO₂, at weeklyintervals throughout their growth in a controlled environment.Leaf area and dry weight of sections of the plant were alsodetermined. The results are discussed in relation to existingtheories that photosynthesis can be limited by carbohydrateaccumulation in the leaves, and stimulated by the initiationof tubers.     

The Effect of Vanadate on Phosphate Transport in Aged Potato Tuber Tissue 2Solarium tuberosum)

The effect of orthovanadate on the uptake of phosphate by agedpotato tuber tissue was investigated to study the relationshipwith plasma membrane ATPase activity. Vanadate inhibited therate of phosphate uptake by aged discs with a maximum effectat 500 µM (58% inhibition). When vanadate was added tothe ageing medium for 24 h, the subsequent rate of phosphateuptake was also markedly decreased (68% inhibition). The resultsshow that the inhibition by vanadate was not due to enhancedleakage of phosphate nor to a non-specific toxic effect. Furthermore,complementary experiments with erythrosin B and molybdate wereconsistent with the hypothesis that vanadate acts specificallyon the plasma membrane ATPase and that this enzyme is involvedin maintaining the driving force for active uptake of phosphate(via co-transport with protons) by storage cells of potato tubers. Key words: Proton-phosphate co-transport, vanadate, plasma membrane ATPase, unloading     

Cysteine and Methionine Regulation of Sulfate Uptake in Potato Tuber Discs (Solanum tuberosum)

Sulfate uptake in potato tuber discs is inhibited by cysteine and methionine with an 8 h lag period. Cysteine, but not methionine, inhibition can be reversed by washing the treated discs. During the experimental period cysteine is rapidly metabolized, while methionine persists as a free amino acid. Amino acid inhibition of sulfate uptake is overcome by increasing sulfate concentration. The kinetic parameters change suggesting a loss of flexibility of the sulfate uptake system caused by sulfur amino acids.     

Differences in Nitrogen Metabolism During Growth of Plants from Aged Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Meristems

The effect of advanced meristem age on growth and accumulationof plant nitrogen (N) in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) was studied.Etiolated plantlets, excised from sprouted, single-eye-containingcores from 7 and 19-month-old seed-tubers, were transplantedinto aerated nutrient culture. Rates of shoot and root dry matterand shoot soluble-N (which included nitrate-N) accumulationwere similar for plants from both meristem ages over a 30 dinterval of log-linear growth. The rate at which nitrate-N accumulatedwas consistently 17 per cent higher in shoots from 19-month-oldcompared to those from 7-month-old meristems. However, accumulationof free amino-N and soluble protein-N were 21 and 15 per centlower, respectively in shoots from 19-month-old meristems. Abuild-up of shoot nitrate, along with lower rates of accumulationof amino-N and soluble protein-N, suggests a lower capacityfor nitrate reduction during early growth of plants from oldermeristems. Furthermore, these effects can be attributed to age-inducedchanges in the meristem or bud tissue as the plants were separatedfrom the tuber tissue initially in the study. Long-term ageingof seed-potatoes apparently affects changes within meristemsthat translate into a lower capacity to accumulate reduced formsof nitrogen during early plant growth. Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.), meristem age, nitrogen metabolism, plant growth potential     

Initial Anatomical Changes Associated with Tuber Formation on Single-node Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Cuttings

One-node potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. ‘Katahdin’)cuttings were used to study early anatomical changes associatedwith tuberization. Starch deposition and the percentage frequencyof cells in mitosis increased in the medullary region of thebud within 1 d after cutting, whereas increases in average cellsize were not detected until 4 d after cutting. Starch depositionand mitosis were the earliest detectable changes in anatomyassociated with tuber initiation. Potato, Solanum tuberosum L., tuber initiation, cuttings, cell enlargement, mitosis, starch deposition     

Chemical Composition and Ultrastructure of Suberin from Hollow Heart Tissue of Potato Tubers (Solanum tuberosum)

The disorder of potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum var. Russet Burbank) called “hollow heart” is manifested by the occurrence of hollow regions in internal parts of the tuber. The structure and composition of the suberin from the tissue lining of these internal cavities were determined by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry of the LiAlH₄-hydrogenolysis products. Identification of octadecene-1,18-diol as the major component and the presence of hexadecane-1,16-diol and very long chain (>C₁₈) alcohols in the hydrogenolysate showed that the suberin lining the internal cavities is quite similar to that found in the periderm of external wounds and the natural skin. Electron microscopic examination showed similar lamellar structure for the suberin of hollow heart, external wound periderm, and the natural skin of potato tubers. The results show that suberin can develop in a tissue which is not exposed to the external environment.     

In Vitro Propagation of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Potato shoots were propagated in vitro by placing nodes fromsprouted tubers on Murashige and Skoog type medium without hormones.The vigour of growth and the rate of node production increasedwith both day-length and temperature over the ranges 8–24h and 15–25 °C respectively. Propagation rates ofup to x 10 per month were obtained. In vitro plantlets spontaneouslyformed roots either in agar or liquid cultures. Plantlets leftin the culture jars for 3–4 months eventually senescedand formed small tubers in 16 and 24 h day-lengths. In a day-lengthof 8 h vegetative growth continued by branching and no tuberswere formed. Solanum tuberosum L., potato, tissue culture, propagation, temperature, day-length     

Shoot, Stolon, and Tuber Formation on Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Cuttings in Response to Photoperiod

The intensity of “tuberization stimulus” in potato shoots (Solanum tuberosum L.) can be assessed from cuttings containing one or more leaves. Cuttings maintained in a mist chamber under long days will form tubers from underground buds if prior to taking the cutting the leaves received sufficient exposure to photoperiods less than the critical photoperiod. The greatest tendency to tuberize was found in cuttings that consisted of a single, fully expanded leaf and its subtended bud. Grafts showed that genetical differences in critical photoperiod resided in properties of the leaf. Short days before cutting tended to shift growth from above ground buds of two-node cuttings to below ground buds, even if the number of short days was insufficient for tuber induction. As few as 6 short days reduced growth of shoots at the upper bud and increased underground growth of shoots and stolons.     

Initial Anatomical Changes Associated with Tuber Formation on Single-node Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Cuttings: A Re-evaluation

Cell division and cell expansion during early stages of tuberdevelopment were studied using developing axillary buds on single-leafcuttings from potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Cuttings takenfrom plants induced to form tubers, by short day (SD) treatment,were compared with cuttings from non-induced (long day, LD)plants. In the apical zone of the buds, cell division occurredfrom the first day after cutting, in both LD and SD cuttings.The planes of these divisions were transverse, associated withelongation of the buds. At day 5, a new orientation of celldivision was observed in the subapical zone of SD cuttings only.These divisions were longitudinal, associated with radial growth.Cell expansion occurred in both SD and LD cuttings, and wasnot uniquely related to the onset of tuber formation. Copyright1999 Annals of Botany Company Solanum tuberosum L., potato, tuber formation, cell division, cell expansion.     

The Relation Between the Nitrogen Concentration and Photosynthetic Capacity of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Leaves

Measurements of the rate of light-saturated photosynthesis (P_max)were made on terminal leaflets of potato plants growing in cropssupplied with 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 g N m^–2. Measurementswere made between 100 and 154 d after planting. Two types ofleaf were selected—the fourth leaf on the second-levelbranch (L₄, _B1) and the youngest terminal leaflet that was measurable(L_YM). Later, the total nitrogen concentration of each leaflet(N_L) was measured. A linear regression between P_max and N_L,common to both leaf positions, explained 68.5% of the totalvariation. With L₄, _B1 leaves there was a significant improvementin the proportion of variation explained when regressions withseparate intercepts and a common slope were fitted to individualfertilizer treatments. These results suggest that an increasingproportion of leaf nitrogen was not associated with the performanceof the photosynthetic system with increasing nitrogen supply.This separation between nitrogen treatments was not as clearfor L_YM leaves. Stomatal conductance to transfer of water vapourwas neither influenced by leaf position nor directly by nitrogensupply. Rather conductance declined in parallel with the declinein photosynthetic capacity. Solanum tuberosum, potato, nitrogen, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, leaf     

Interrelation Between Growth Rate of Individual Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Tubers and Their Cell Number

In potato plants fast and slow growing tubers develop on thesame plant. A hypothetical causality between tuber growth rateand tuber cell number was investigated by determining the tubercell number with the aid of an automatic counting procedure.Our data show a close correlation between tuber size and cellnumber over the whole range of tuber volumes considered (3–28cm³). If the influence of tuber size on cell number is eliminatedby means of a partial correlation analysis, the cell numberof the entire tuber is not significantly correlated with itsgrowth rate. An exclusive consideration of the smaller cells(10–30 µm) in the apical tuber region, where thecell division rate in potato tubers is highest, reveals a loosebut significant partial correlation to tuber growth rate (r= 0.383, P < 0.05). The growth rate of the slow growing tubers of any potato plantmay be enhanced by removing the fast growing tubers. In thefirst few days this enhanced growth rate is not due to a stimulationof cell division rate, but rather due to cell expansion. Potato, Solanum tuberosum L., tuber growth rate, tuber cell number     

Purification and Properties of Fructokinase from Developing Tubers of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Fructokinase has been purified from developing potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers by a combination of hydrophobic interaction, affinity chromatography, and gel filtration. The protein has a native molecular mass of approximately 70 kD but is apparently a dimer. Ion-exchange chromatography and two-dimensional western blots resolved three major fructokinases, designated FK-I, FK-II, and FK-III in order of their elution from a Mono-Q column. Fructokinase activity proved labile when proteins were purified in the absence of fructose. Kinetically, FKs I, II, and III all have broad pH optima with peaks at about pH 8.5. The enzymes have a high specificity for fructose (K_m values ranging from 0.041 to 0.128 mm), and can utilize a range of nucleoside triphosphates. Unlike FKs I and II, FK-III is not inhibited by fructose concentrations in excess of 1 mm. MgADP inhibited activity of the three FKs (between 68 and 75% inhibition at 1.0 mm), whereas fructose 6-P caused inhibition at concentrations of 10 mm. There were no regulatory effects observed with a range of other metabolites. K⁺ (10 mm) activated FK-I by 4-fold and FKs II and III by only about 50%.     

Effect of Calcium on Tuberization in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Tuberization response of single-node leaf cuttings from induced potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.) was reversed when pretreated with 5 millimolar ethyleneglycol-bis-(beta-aminoethyl ether)N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) + 50 micromolar calcium ionophore (A23187) and resumed when transferred to a CaCl(2)-containing medium. Tuberization was inhibited by LaCl(3), chlorpromazine, and trifluoperazine at 5 to 10 micromolar. These results suggest a role for calcium in the tuberization process.     

Growth and Tuberization of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) under Continuous Light

The growth and tuberization of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) maintained for 6 weeks under four different regimes of continuous irradiance were compared to plants given 12 hours light and 12 hours dark. Treatments included: (a) continuous photosynthetic photon flux of 200 micromoles per square meter per second cool-white fluorescent (CWF); (b) continuous 400 micromoles per square meter per second CWF; (c) 12 hours 400 micromoles per square meter per second CWF plus 12 hours dim CWF at 5 micromoles per square meter per second; (d) 12 hours micromoles per square meter per second CWF plus 12 hours dim incandescent (INC) at 5 micromoles per square meter per second and a control treatment of 12 hours light at 400 micromoles per square meter per second CWF and 12 hours dark. The study included five cultivars ranging from early- to late-season types: `Norland,' `Superior,' `Norchip,' `Russet Burbank,' and `Kennebec.' Tuber development progressed well under continuous irradiation at 400 micromoles per square meter per second and under 12 hours irradiance and 12 hours dark, while tuber development was suppressed in all other light treatments. Continuous irradiation at 200 or 400 micromoles per square meter per second resulted in severe stunting and leaf malformation on `Superior' and `Kennebec' plants, but little or no injury and vigorous shoot growth in the other cultivars. No injury or stunting were apparent under 12-dim light or 12-dark treatments. Plants given 12 hours dim INC showed significantly greater stem elongation but less total biomass than plants in other treatments. The continuous light encouraged shoot growth over tuber growth but this trend was overridden by providing a high irradiance level. The variation among cultivars for tolerance to continuous lighting indicates that potato may be a useful species for photoinhibition studies.     

Essential Arginyl Residue at the Active Site of Pyrophosphate:Fructose 6-Phosphate 1-Phosphotransferase from Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Tuber

The aim of this work was to test the proposal that the active site of pyrophosphate:fructose 6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase (PFP) contains an essential arginyl residue. Enzyme activity was inhibited equally in the glycolytic and gluconeogenic directions by arginine-modifying reagents. The second-order rate constants for 2,3-butanedione and phenylglyoxal were 13.1 [plus or minus] 0.45 and 55.3 [plus or minus] 1.3 M-1 min-1, respectively. The corresponding values for the kinetic order of inactivation by these modifying reagents were 0.84 [plus or minus] 0.049 for 2,3-butanedione and 0.89 [plus or minus] 0.052 for phenylglyoxal. The substrates, fructose 6-phosphate and pyrophosphate, and a range of substrate analogs protected the enzyme from inactivation by 2,3-butanedione. These data suggest that modification of no more than one arginyl residue at, or close to, the active site is required to inhibit the enzyme. This result supports the proposal that the active site of PFP in plants is equivalent to that of the bacterial ATP-phosphofructokinase (S.M. Carlisle, S.D. Blakeley, S.M. Hemmingsen, S.J. Trevanion, T. Hiyoshi, N.J. Kruger, and D.T. Dennis [1990] J Biol Chem 265: 18366-18371).     

Nature of 'Pollinator' Effect in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Haploid Production

Haploids (2n =24) of the common tetraploid (2n=48) potato (SolanumtuberosumL.) provide promising material for attacking many problemsconcerned with the genetics, cytogenetics and breeding of thisspecies. Interspecific 4xx2xcrosses betweenSolanum tuberosumgp.Andigenaorgp.Tuberosumcultivars as pistillate parents andSolanum tuberosumgp.Phurejaassource of pollen (hereafter ‘pollinator’) have beenused to produce maternally derived haploids through parthenogenesis.This paper discusses the nature of the ‘pollinator’effect in haploid extraction. The ‘pollinator’ hada significant effect on haploid frequencies following 4xx2xcrosses.The ‘pollinator’ effect seems to operate via theendosperm, in which haploid (n=2x) embryos are associated withhexaploid endosperm. A superior ‘pollinator’ appearsto have its effect by contributing two haploid (n) gametes tothe central cell. 2n pollen; double fertilization; endosperm; ploidy manipulations; Solanum tuberosum