Sullo sviluppo dei blastomeri isolati dalle uova di alcune meduse (e di altri organismi)

Una breve nota preventiva è pubblicata in Anat. Anz. Bd. X, Nr. 6, per quanto si riferisce alle meduse, e in Rend. Ist. Lomb. serie II, Vol. XXVII, fasc. XX per gli echini.     

Osservazioni Preliminari Sull'ecologia di Semenzali di Rovere (Quercus Petraea (Matt.) Liebl.)

Abstract

Preliminary observations on the ecology of sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) seedlings.—The responses of sessile oak seedlings to four different light intensities and to increasing drought (three soil moisture contents) have been investigated in a nursery experiment in order to improve the knowledge of the ecology of this species in the Mediterranean area. Data have been compared with observations on natural regeneration established in different shade and soil moisture conditions in a sessile oak stand. The results of the two experiments showed that low light intensities (transmittance <5%) did not limit the seedlings establishment but induced lowest growth rates, while in full daylight seedlings mortality was very high (61%). In accordance with the observations in natural conditions, seedlings showed the best performances at intermediate light levels (50–80% of full daylight) and with increasing soil moisture: mortality was very low and average height increment, dry weight, relative growth rate (RGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR) showed the highest values. The differences in specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area ratio (LAR), root/stem ratio enabled to discuss the sessile oak seedlings ecology and adaptations to different light intensities and soil moisture content.     

Assorbimento di saccarosio in ipocotili di ravanello (Raphanus sativus L.)

Abstract

In questo lavoro abbiamo determinato le caratteristiche di entrata del saccarosio in funzione della sua concentrazione esterna, incubando i pezzi in saccarosio triziato, in condizioni normali e di stress osmotico. Nelle parti apicali l'assorbimento di saccarosio esogeno è lineare in presenza di basse concentrazioni mentre non lo è ad alte concentrazioni. Per quanto riguarda le parti basali la linearità si mantiene per tutte le concentrazioni; inoltre nelle parti apicali l'assorbimento è maggiore che nelle basali e la differenza aumenta all' aumentare delle concentrazioni di saccarosio esterno. Abbiamo poi studiato l'assunzione di saccarosio con osmotici diversi in cui fosse presente anche saccarosio marcato. I risultati ottenuti dimostrano che le parti apicali stressate prendono meno saccarosio dei controlli, mentre nelle basi stressate l'assorbimento, pur essendo inferiore a quello degli apici, è superiore rispetto ai controlli. Le differenze nel trasporto del saccarosio negli apici e nelle basi potrebbero essere spiegate dal fatto che a parità di peso nelle zone apicali ci sono più cellule di dimensioni inferiori che non hanno completato la distensione cellulare e che essendo in attiva crescita sono metabolicamente più attive. Nelle zone basali è invece presente un maggiore numero di cellule morte (xilema completamente differenziato). Questi due fattori potrebbero determinare nelle parti apicali un maggiore assorbimento con prevalenza del trasporto attivo e nelle parti basali un assorbimento inferiore con prevalenza del trasporto per diffusione.     

Azione esercitata dal cianuro sulla crescita e sull'inverdimento di plantule di Picea abies (L.) Karsten e di Larix decidua Miller

Abstract

Action of cyanide on growth and greening of seedlings of Picea abies and Larix decidua.—The effects of cyanide on growth and greening of dark germinated seedlings of Picea abies and Larix decidua are studied. While growth of Picea seedlings is scarcely inhibited, the effect of the inhibitor on Larix seedlings is very drastic. Greening of Picea seedlings is never inhibited while, at stronger concentrations, cyanide weakly inhibits greening of Larix seedlings. When seedlings are treated with cyanide and salicylhydrossamic acid, an inhibitor of mithocondrial respiration cyanide non-sensible, growth is inhibited more strongly than when cyanide only is used and greening too is inhibited. Cyanide is shown to be able to reach megagametophyte and embryo and to be incorporated steadily.     

Osservazioni Sulla Maggiorana (Origanum Majorana L.) in Veste di Pianta Coltivata

Abstract

Stomatal features and ontogeny of stomata of 11 ornamental taxa of monocotyledonous families with Agavaceae (1 species), Amaryllidaceae (1 species), Araceae (3 species), Cannaceae (1 species), Commelinaceae (3 species), Liliaceae (1 species), and Musaceae (1 species) have been studied. Features like stomatal area, leaf area occupied by stomata and per cent leaf area occupied by stomata are reported for these taxa for the first time.     

La composizione chimica dell'essudato stigmatico di Citrus limon (L.) Burm

Abstract

The composition of the stigmatic exudate of Citrus limon (L.) Burm. - Biochemical analyses of the stigmatic exudate of Citrus limon (L.) Burm. have revealed the presence of lipids, polysaccharides, proteins, phenols, free aminoacids and alkaloids. The role of stigma secretion is discussed in relation to pollen activation and recognition and the pollen tube growth.     

Embriologia e Cariologia di Lochnera Rosea (L.) Rchb. (Apocynaceae)

Riassunto

L'A. stabilisce che in Lochnera rosea lo sviluppo del gametofito è di tipo normale; le microspore si dividono secondo il tipo simultanco; il tappeto è di secrezione. Fenomeni di associazione dei cromosomi del corrcdo aploide potrebbero indicare che il numero aploide S di questa specie sia derivato dal num. t.     

La componente lipidica dell'essudato stigmatico di Citrus limon (L.) Burm

Abstract

The lipidic component of Citrus limon (L.) Burm. stigmatic exudate. Chromatographic methods (Gas Chromatography and Thin Layer Chromatography) were used to investigate the lipids present in the stigmatic secretion of Citrus limon.

12 fatty acids, ranging from C 12 to C 24, were identified; they form 7 classes of different lipids, 3 of them having unsaturated components.     

Sull'embriologia di Leontopodium Nivale (Ten.) Huet ex Hand. Mazz.

Abstract

Embryology of « Leontopodium nivale » (Ten.) Huet ex Hand.-Mazz. — As in « Leontopodium alpinum » Cass. var. a typicum Fiori e Paoletti, from different alpine localities, no cases of apomixis have been observed (Maugini 1962) while Sokolowska-Kulczycka (1959) has noticed this phenomenon in the same species collected on the Tatra mountains, an embryological research on « Leontopodium nivale » (Ten.) Huet ex Hand. Mazz. has been undertaken. The material, collected in the alpine garden of Campo Imperatore (Abruzzo), has shown that the development of the female gametophyte occurs as in Leontopodium alpinum, according to the normal monomegasporial type which leads to the formation of an 8-nucleate gametophyte which at maturity is almost always poliantipodate. In « Leontopodium nivale » there is no trace of apomixix, but many cases of degeneration, particularly in the mature gametophyte, have been observed.     

Ultrastruttura della cellula apicale di Halopteris scoparia (L.) Sauvageau (Phaeophyceae,Sphacelariales)

Abstract

Ultrastructure of the apical cell of Halopteris scoparia (L.) Sauvageau (Phaeophyceae, Sphacelariales). - The ultrastructure of resting apical cells of Halopteris scoparia (L.) Sauvageau from material collected in December is described. The cytoplasm is higly vacuolated with lipids, poliphenolic substances and polisaccharides occurring inside the vacuoles (the classic « physodes »).

Two cell organelles are prominently active at this stage: conspicuosly hypertrophic dictyosomes and the budding endoplasmic reticulum. Both light and electron microscope observations show that the cell wall has an outer stratification and inner discontinuous thickenings, the constituent material of which is uniformerly dispersed.

The above observations point out that the apical cell of Halopteris scoparia at this stage of its life cycle is engaged in an elaboration of vacuolar and parietal substances which will be therefore readly available at the outset of the growing season.     

Il modello messiniano e la distribuzione bipolare di Morisia monanthos (Viv.) Ascherson (Brassicaceae) in Corsica

Abstract

The Messinian Model and the bipolar distribution of Morisia monanthos in Corsica. – The bipolar distribution of the palaeoendemic Morisia monanthos (Viv.) Ascherson in Corsica is discussed. It is shown that the limiting factor is not the rocky subsoil but the actual condition of the soil: a marly ground subject to erosion is compulsory for this plant. The historical origin of this particular pattern of distribution is explained on the basis of the Messinian Model.     

Ricerche sui pigmenti fotosintetici di Gracilaria verrucosa (Huds.) Papenfuss. Dosaggio quantitativo della ficoeritrina

Abstract

Research on photosynthetic pigments from Gracilaria verrucosa (Huds.) Papenfuss. Quantitative analysis of phycoerythrin. – Among biliproteins of Rhodophycean algae, phycoerythrin is very interesting for constant distribution, in large amounts, in the different species. Phycoerythrin's extinction coefficients have been already calculated for some Bangiophycean and only two species of Rhodophycean algae. In this work we have analyzed all photosynthetic pigments and isolated pure phycoerythrin from Gracilaria verrucosa (Huds.) Papenfuss [= Gracilaria confervoides (L.) Grev.] belonging to Gigartinales. The aim of our research was to evaluate the quantitative ratio between this pigment and the others in a sistematic group for which there are only qualitative data. Phycoerythrin of Gracilaria is the R-classical type, with three absorption maxima. Average values of absorption coefficients, calculated on a large number of samples are E₁ ^%cm (565 nm) = 53.8, E₁ ^%cm (540 nm) = 48.4, E₁ ^1%cm (498 nm) = 49.1. These values are different from those obtained for R-phycoerythrin of Ceramium rubrum and B-phycoerythrin of Rhodochorton floridulum, both species belonging to Floridean algae. Our several experiments by chromatography and gel-electrophoresis process have demonstrated that the R-phycoerythrin we isolated is substantially pure. Thus we suggest that different absorption coefficient values are due either to a more complicated protein in the pigment molecule or to a different chromophore/protein ratio. This could result very interesting for the chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic aspect, but the small number of algae till now analyzed does not allow to draw any general conclusion.     

Fenomeni di Inattivazione e di Riattivazione Enzimatica in Endospermi di semi di Ricino

Abstract

Inactivation and riactivation of enzymes in endosperms of castor bean seeds. — On the basis of previous results, the possibility has been investigated of the reversible interconversion of active and inactive form of enzymes in castor bean seeds, during their development.

The results described here indicate that:

1. the activity of some glycolytic enzymes increases greatly (81% and 400% increase of, respectively, Gl-6-P-dehydrogenase and aldolase) upon incubation of dry seeds for few hours at 4 °C.

2. The decrease of enzyme activity upon dehydration of seeds and the increase during the subsequent imbibition can be shown reproducibly.

3. This same observation is made for oxygen uptake.

These results are interpreted to indicate the reversible inactivation of enzymes caused by dehydration of seeds.     

Il Gametofito Tetramegasporiale di Tulipa Oculus-Solis St. Am. Var. Praecox (Ten.)

Summary

We take here into consideration the embryologic study of Tulipa Oculus-solis St. Am v. praecox, a species which became naturalized in the northern Sardinia, and we notice that contemporaneously to the development of the embryo-sac according to Euphorbia dulcis type (85% frequency), which was already described by Bambacioni (1931), we may have also the development according to Adoxa type (15% frequency).

We show here the hypothesis that the possibility of developping the embryo-sac according to unlike types (but genically kindred ones) is not depending upon an early or a delayed vacuolisation, caused by either external or internal casual factors, but on the contrary is the manifestation of a peculiar tendency which is connected with the particular genetic caracteristic of the Species.