Ethylene Evolution from Bracts and Leaves of Poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd

Woodrow, L. and Grodzinski, B. 1987. Ethylene evolution trombracts and leaves ol Poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.—J.exp. Bot. 38: 2024–2032. Ethylene release from fully expanded, red and white bracts andleaves of poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd., was compared.On a laminar (area) basis leaves contained about 50 times morechlorophyll and demonstrated 10 times the photosynthetic rateof the bracts. Both tissues contained starch, however, solublecarbohydrate in the bracts consisted primarily of reducing hexoseswhile the leaves contained mainly sucrose for translocation.The total free alpha-amino nitrogen content of the bract tissuewas twice that of the leaf tissue. The leaves contained moreACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) and produced proportionallymore endogenous C²H⁴ than either the red or white bracts. ACC-stimulated₂H₄ release was also greatest from the green tissue indicatingthat the EFE (ethylene forming enzyme) was most active in theleaves. The specific activity of the ¹⁴C₂H₄/¹²C₂H₄ releasedfrom [2,3-¹⁴C]ACC confirmed ACC as the primary precursor ofC₂H₄ in this tissue. Ethylene release from the non-photosynthetic,bract tissue was not markedly affected by alterations in CO₂or light conditions. In green leaf tissue endogeneous ethylenerelease increased from 1·5 to 6·0 pmol C₂H₄ cm^–2h^–1 while ACC-stimulated ethylene release increased from10 to 35 pmol C₂H₄ cm^2– h^1– as the CO₂ partial pressureincreased from 100 to 1 200 µbar. Key words: Poinsettia, ethylene, bracts     

Differentiation of Non-articulated Laticifers in Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.)

Differentiation of non-articulated laticifers in poinsettia(Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.) was studied ultra-structurally.Growing laticifers show: (1) a multinucleate apical region containingabundant ribosomes but few other differentiated organelles and(2) a sub-apical zone where the cytoplasm is dominated by vacuolesof diverse morphology with latex particles. These particlesappear first within narrow tubular vacuoles developed especiallyin the peripheral cytoplasm. During vacuolation of the laticifer,portions of cytoplasm, including some of the nuclei, becomeisolated by the enlarging and fusing vacuoles; eventually thesebecome lysed, except the latex particles which remain in thecentral vacuole. During differentiation of a laticifer branch,the cytoplasm contains the usual organelles, including a fewmicrobodies and coated vesicles. The plastids that lie withinthe peripheral cytoplasm differentiate into amyloplasts witha single elongated starch grain. Towards the end of differentiationthe cytoplasm becomes restricted to a thin parietal layer, withthe remaining organelles reduced or degenerate, surroundinga central vacuole filled with latex particles. Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd, poinsettia, ultrastructure, differentiation, laticifers     

Sucrose Mobilisation in Sugarcane Stalk Induced by Heterotrophic Axillary Bud Growth

A theoretical high-yield sugarcane biofactory can be idealised as containing culm tissue that functions as a secondary source tissue rather than a sink. To investigate this potential process, heterotrophic axillary bud outgrowth from sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) setts was used as a model system to demonstrate that sucrose is a mobilisable carbon source. The outgrowth and subsequent biomass accumulation of axillary buds from two-eye setts of mature sugarcane stalks grown in the dark was used to measure carbon mobilisation from sett internode pith tissue. After 42 days growth 99.0 ± 0.72% of sett internode pith sucrose was depleted and 2.66 ± 0.16 g of new tissue accumulated. Comparison with a control treatment in which axillary buds were excised at day zero demonstrated that carbon mobilisation was driven by the accumulation of new biomass. Profiling of soluble carbohydrates (viz. sucrose, glucose and fructose), starch, total soluble protein, total amino nitrogen, free amino acids and total insoluble material showed that the sucrose stored in the sett internode pith was the only available carbon source of sufficient size at day zero for the observed biomass accumulation. Other metabolites mobilised were glucose, fructose and some amino acids, notably isoleucine and leucine that were depleted in shoot treatment setts at day 42.     

Distribution and Organization of Non-articulated Laticifers in Mature Tissues of Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.)

The distribution and cytological organization of non-articulatedbranched laticifers in the mature root, stem, and leaf tissuesof poinsettia. Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd., were studied bythe use of optical and electron microscopy. The laticifers occurin all parts of the plant body, being well represented in certainparenchymatous tissues and the phloem. The mature region ofthe laticifer has a living protoplast showing a thin parietalcytoplasm, bounded by plasmalemma and a tonoplast, which enclosesa large continuous central vacuole containing the milky latexfluid. The protoplast is multinucleate and possesses large amyloplasts,each enclosing a single elongated starch grain. Sparseness andpoor differentiation of the other components of the protoplast,mostly mitochondria, ribosomes and endoplasmic reticulum, suggestlow metabolism in the mature region of the laticifer. The latexof the central vacuole is dominated by spherical particles,0.3–1 µm in diameter, each with a dense matrix andan eccentric core of lighter staining material. In some laticifersthe latex particles fuse into coagulated masses. Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd, poinsettia, laticifers, ultrastructure, cytology     

Local and systemic protection of poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.) against Botrytis cinerea Pers. induced by benzothiadiazole

Benzothiadiazole (BTH) was found to be highly effective in increasing resistance of two poinsettia cultivars — ‘Coco White’ and ‘Malibu Red’, moderately susceptible to the fungus Botrytis cinerea. BTH applied at a concentration of 0.3 mM on the discs cut out from the leaves of these poinsettia cultivars reduced disease symptoms by more than 60 % in comparison to the control discs treated with water and exposed to infection. It was also observed that the applied inducer at a concentration of 0.03 and 0.3 mM had a favourable influence on the increase of poinsettia systemic resistance of SAR type (systemic acquired resistance). The effectiveness of BTH was much less when disease development was examined on detached leaves (a 20 % reduction of lesion area) in comparison with a pronounced inhibition of grey mould development on intact leaves of previously induced plants (a 80 % protection of intact plants). Benzothiadiazole in the concentration range from 0.03 to 1.4 mM added to in vitro agar medium was not found to have an inhibitory influence on Botrytis cinerea mycelium growth and sporulation.     

一品红试管苗移栽驯化期叶片的解剖结构变化

对一品红试管苗移栽驯化,同时研究了驯化过程中叶片结构的变化,结果表明,一品红在珍珠岩基质中成活率达98%,随着移栽时间的延长,表皮细胞增大,排列紧密;叶肉细胞间隙减小,栅栏组织细胞长度增加,主脉增厚,导管数目增加,保水,输水和抗逆能力增强。     

一品红花色素抗氧化性能的研究

从一品红红色苞片中提取花色素,并用自由基测定试剂盒测试了一品红花色素的体外抗氧化性能,并用碘量法测定了其抑制猪油氧化的效果,用TBARS法测定其对血浆脂蛋白氧化的抑制能力。结果表明:一品红花色素具有较强的清除超氧阴离子(O2.-)和羟自由基(.OH)的能力,清除效果优于同浓度的VC;其对猪油氧化的抑制效果和同浓度的VC相近,而对人血浆脂质过氧化的抑制效果显著高于VC。     

Differences in compounds released by embryogenic and non-embryogenic suspension cultures of Euphorbia pulcherrima

Media from embryogenic and non-embryogenic cell suspension cultures were analysed for protein content, electrophoretic protein patterns, glycoproteins and activity of peroxidases and β-glucosidases in order to characterize the physiological status of the cultures. On a dry mass basis the amount of extracellular proteins per cell was greater in embryogenic suspensions than in non-embryogenic suspensions. Non-embryogenic suspensions contained unidentified slimy compounds which were not present inembryogenic cultures. The extracellular Concanavalin A-specific glycoproteins gave different isoelectric focussing patterns and thus enabled embryogenic and non-embryogenic cultures to be differentiated. The extracellular peroxidase activity per cell dry mass was far greater in embryogenic than in non-embryogenic cultures. The isoenzymes differed in number and composition of the anionic bands. β-glucosidases were found in the same range of activity in both culture types, but the time course of enzyme activity during cultivation was significantly different. In the embryogenic culture the activity was correlated with dry mass increase, whereas in the non-embryogenic suspension the activity reached maximum during the linear growth phase. Polyphenoloxidase which was recently recognized as an intracellular marker for embryogenic stages was not released into culture media. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Parallelism in hill activity and anthocyanidin content in Euphorbia pulcherrima

Pigment compositions and Hill activities of red-leafy bracts, red-green leaves and green leaves of E. pulcherrima were studied. Interestingly enough, the chloroplasts from anthocyanidin-containing leaves are intrinsically more active than those from green leaves.     

一品红苞片花色素的分离及初步鉴定

用紫外-可见光分光光度计、高效液相色谱(HPLC)和质谱(MS)技术对一品红(Euphorbia pulcherrima)红色苞片中的花色素提取液进行了初步鉴定。一品红花色素的甲醇溶液分别在270、340 和520 nm 处有 3 个吸收峰; 在 440 nm 吸光度与可见光最大吸收波长 520 nm 吸光度的比值 为0.29; 花色素的甲醇溶液中加入AlCl3后发生红移, 再加入HCl后发生蓝移; 色素溶液在紫外光下无荧光; 色素样品经液相色谱分离后在 270 nm检测有 5 个比较明显的吸收峰; 质谱中得到 595、611、381、571 和 589 等对应的分子离子峰; 花色素酸解液高效液相色谱图谱和鼠李糖、葡萄糖的出峰时间一致。由这些结果可推断一品红花色素样品中主要含有 5 种组分: 矢车菊花色素芸香苷、飞燕草花色素芸香苷、飞燕草花色素苯甲酰基葡糖苷、矢车菊花色素苯甲酰基葡糖苷和一种未知成分。     

一品红苞片花色素的分离及初步鉴定

用紫外-可见光分光光度计、高效液相色谱（HPLC）和质谱（MS）技术对一品红（Euphorbia pulcherrima）红色苞片中的花色素提取液进行了初步鉴定.一品红花色素的甲醇溶液分别在270、340和520 nm处有3个吸收峰;在440 nm吸光度与可见光最大吸收波长520 nm吸光度的比值为0.29;花色素的甲醇溶液中加入AlCl3后发生红移,再加入HCl后发生蓝移;色素溶液在紫外光下无荧光;色素样品经液相色谱分离后在270 nm检测有5个比较明显的吸收峰;质谱中得到595、611、381、571和589等对应的分子离子峰;花色素酸解液高效液相色谱图谱和鼠李糖、葡萄糖的出峰时间一致.由这些结果可推断一品红花色素样品中主要含有5种组分：矢车菊花色素芸香苷、飞燕草花色素芸香苷、飞燕草花色素苯甲酰基葡糖苷、矢车菊花色素苯甲酰基葡糖苷和一种未知成分.     

High Uniformity of plants regenerated from cytogenetically variable embryogenic suspension cultures of poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch)

Summary Shoot tip explants, callus and embryogenic cell suspensions of Euphorbia pulcherrima have been examined for quantitative variation in nuclear DNA content by means of cytophotometry. Increasing instability was found in calli and cell suspensions from Erlenmeyer flask and bioreactor culture. Nuclear DNA content ranged from 2C up to 32 C. Plants regenerated from embryogenic cell suspensions, however, were highly uniform with regard to phenotype and ploidy level indicating strongly impaired embryogenic potential of polyploid, aneuploid or other genetically altered cells.     

矮生一品红试管快速繁殖技术研究

矮委一品红试管苗增殖的最佳培养基为MS 6-BA0.2mg/L NAA0.05mg/L 0.36%琼脂,每月增殖倍数7.6,最佳生根培养基为1/4MS IBA1.0mg/L 琼脂0.36g/L,每株生根2～3条,试管苗移栽成活率86.5%。     

Sterols and triterpenols in latex and cultured tissues of Euphorbia pulcherrima

The sterol and triterpenol constituents of Euphorbia pulcherrima latex and cultured callus tissues were examined by GLC and mass spectrometry. Latex extracts from different varieties contained sitosterol, β-amyrin, germanicol, cycloartenol, β-amyrin acetate, and germanicol acetate. Capillary GC profiles of these varieties indicated that the triterpene content was essentially identical for examined latices. Cultured tissues derived from petioles and stem internodes synthesized only sitosterol in significant quantities, although trace amounts of several sterols that occur in latex were also detected in cultured tissues. This study supports the interpretation that the pattern of triterpene synthesis in the laticifer of the normal plant is a highly controlled and stable phenomenon among varieties of this species.     

Molecular Characterization of a Distinct Begomovirus Infecting Euphorbia pulcherrima in China

Virus isolate G35 was obtained from Euphorbia pulcherrima showing leaf curl and vein thickening symptoms in Tianyang, Guangxi Province, China. The virus was transmitted by whiteflies to Nicotiana tabacum, Lycopersicon esculentum, Datura stramonium and E. pulcherrima. DNA‐A contains 2746 nucleotides, with two open reading frames (ORFs) in the virion‐sense DNA and four ORFs in the complementary‐sense DNA. When compared with the DNA‐A sequence of other begomoviruses, the total DNA‐A of isolate G35 was most closely related to that of Ageratum enation virus (79.9% sequence identity). However, the deduced coat protein of G35 is most like that of Pepper leaf curl virus from Bangladesh (94.9% amino acid sequence identity), and the AC1 of G35 is most like that of Cotton leaf curl Multan virus‐Okra (87.2% amino acid sequence identity). The molecular data showed that G35 is a distinct Begomovirus species, for which the name Euphorbia leaf curl virus (ELCV) is proposed.     

Arabinogalactan proteins in embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus cultures of Euphorbia pulcherrima

The arabinogalactan protein (AGP) fractions of embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus lines of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex. Klotzsch were analysed over a cultivation period of 9 weeks using the β -glucosyl Yariv reagent and an anti-AGP antibody (LM2). The amount of AGPs detected with the Yariv reagent increased in embryogenic cultures during the development of somatic embryos. The embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus contained different sets of AGPs characterized with the Yariv reagent and the LM2 monoclonal antibody. AGPs recognized by LM2 are localized primarily in the protodermal cells of globular somatic embryos. The development of somatic embryos of E. pulcherrima appears to be associated with the presence of particular AGPs.     

Polyphenoloxidase-activity and -activation in embryogenic and non-embryogenic suspension cultures of Euphorbia pulcherrima

The activity and activation potential of polyphenoloxidase (PPO, E.C. 1.10.3.1.) of tissue from shoot tips, adult leaves and embryogenic and non-embryogenic cell suspension cultures of Euphorbia pulcherrima was investigated using an oxygen probe technique. PPO derived from differentiated in vivo plant tissue (shoot tips, leaves) cannot be activated either by storage at 0–4°, freezing and thawing, incubation with CaCl₂, sodium dodecyl sulfate or by incubation with trypsin. Embryogenic cells are characterized by high initial PPO activity and strong activation potential of membrane bound enzyme. Non-embryogenic material reveals low phenolase activity and low activation potential. An activation quotient (based on the ratio between PPO-activity determined after sodium dodecyl sulfate incubation to PPO-activity determined after CaCl₂-incubation) was calculated. This is independent of absolute enzyme activity and can be used for characterization of the embryogenic status of cells.Abbreviations fw fresh weight - MS Murashige and Skoog - PPO polyphenoloxidase - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate     

花楸腋芽增殖途径快繁技术研究

选用花楸茎节为外植体进行组培腋芽增殖途径研究,结果表明：利于花楸生长的最适宜基本培养基为MS培养基;芽诱导培养基为1/2MS+6-BA 2.5 mg·L^-1+2.4-D 0.5 mg·L^-1;增殖培养基为MS+6-BA（1.600~2.100）mg·L^-1+NAA（0.140~0.230） mg·L^-1,平均繁殖系数达到13倍以上;继代壮苗培养的最佳培养基为MS+6-BA 0.2 mg·L^-1+IBA 0.2 mg·L^-1;在1/2MS+IBA 0.3 mg·L^-1培养基上,平均生根数为5.96,生根率达90.20%。将生根后的组培苗移栽至腐殖土：泥炭土：河沙（比例为3：2：1）的基质中,成活率达95.55%。     

Shoot Axillary Bud Morphogenesis in Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa)

The annual cycle of kiwifruit [Actinidia deliciosa(A. Chev.)C. F. Liang et A. R. Ferguson var.deliciosacv. Hayward] shootaxillary bud (first-order axillary bud, FOAB) morphogenesisis described. FOABs developed quickly with the majority of budscales and leaf primordia present approx. 125 d after budbreak(dab). Mature FOABs had, on average, 23.2 bud scales and leafprimordia. Most second-order axillary structures were also presentapprox. 125 dab. During the growing season, the second-orderstructures developed into second-order axillary buds (SOABs)or remained as simple, dome-shaped meristems (SDSMs). At maturity,nearly all FOABs had four SOABs and, on average, 12.4 SDSMs.Most SDSMs were fused to the subtending leaf primordia, butsome SDSMs developed so that they were ‘free’ fromthe subtending leaf primordia. Third-order axillary meristems(third-order SDSMs) were observed in the axils of most SOABs,and, on average, there were 20.6 per FOAB. Our observationson the development of second-order axillary structures are consistentwith evocation in kiwifruit occurring earlier than the generally-acceptedtime of late summer. Actinidia deliciosa; bud morphogenesis; development; flowering; evocation