EFFECTS OF X IRRADIATION ON LEMNA PERPUSILLA

Posner , Herbert B., and William S. Hillman . (Yale U., New Haven, Conn.) Effects of x irradiation on Lemna perpusilla. Amer. Jour. Bot. 47(6): 506–511. Illus. 1960.—The effects of x rays on the multiplication rates (MR), percent flowering (Fl%) and gross morphology of aseptically grown cultures of Lemna perpusilla, strain 6746, were studied. MR values are unaffected by doses of less than 300 r but are progressively depressed as the dose increases. The effect of a given dose on short-term MR values is the same at the 2 dosage intensities used, 500 and 2000 r/min. The inhibitory effect of intermediate doses on long-term growth is delayed; high doses have an “immediate” effect. Bleaching of fronds and cessation of growth occur in all cultures given 5,000 r or higher. Radiosensitivity is not altered by addition of yeast extract and casein hydrolysate to the medium. Depressed Fl% and seed production appear to be consequences of lowered MR. Morphological aberrations such as small size, epinasty and wrinkling are temporary. Frond-sequence may be altered by x rays but this aberration is permanent. Various aspects of the results are discussed.     

THE INFLUENCE OF BROOD SIZE ON THE ENERGY METABOLISM AND WATER LOSS OF NESTLING GREAT TITS PARUS MAJOR MAJOR

At normal outdoor temperatures there is a distinct influence of brood size on the heat production of ten-day-old Great Tits. One ten-day-old nestling proved unable to maintain its body temperature at 12^°C. Two ten-day-old tits together in one nestbox at 12^Á°C were able to elevate the air temperature sufficiently to maintain homoiothermia. The same of course holds for tits in larger broods.
At an air temperature of 18^°C, six or seven ten-day-old tits placed in a nestbox elevated the air temperature to a level at which they almost reached a state of hyperthermia: their metabolism was at the basal level. The basal metabolism of a ten-day-old tit was found to be slightly more than 0–1800 kcal/h. The metabolism intensity of 12 tits in a nestbox at 12^°C was of the same order of magnitude.
Tits in broods comprising more than 12 or 13 nestlings at normal outdoor temperatures probably develop hyperthermia, which is unfavourable both for their energy and for their water balance.     

THE EFFECT OF AUXINS ON PROTOPLASMIC STREAMING. III

1. A new method is described which gives a continuous record of the absolute rate of protoplasmic streaming in epidermal cells of the Avena coleoptile. 2. With this method a study was made of the influence of malate and iodoacetate on streaming velocity, in order to make correlations with the previously established effects of these substances on growth and respiration. 3. In the presence of optimum concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid in freshly cut sections, malate had no effect on streaming. In the presence of very low concentrations of the auxin, however, malate increased the range of response, so that the threshold of auxin sensitivity was lowered some ten times by the malate. Malate alone had no effect on streaming. 4. In coleoptile sections, soaked overnight in sugar solution or in water, the acceleration of streaming normally caused by auxin almost disappears, but the presence of malate causes large accelerations of streaming by the auxin. 5. Similarly, in sections from old coleoptiles, which no longer show acceleration of streaming by auxin, the acceleration is restored when malate is added together with the auxin. 6. Malate does not enter the cell as rapidly as does auxin, but easily detectable amounts penetrate within 30 minutes. 7. Iodoacetate in the concentration which inhibits growth (5 x 10^–5 M) completely inhibits the acceleration of streaming by auxin. In still lower concentrations iodoacetate slightly accelerates streaming. Higher concentrations, up to 2 x 10^–4 M, did not reduce the rate of streaming below that of controls without auxin. The effect of iodoacetate is therefore to inhibit the acceleration caused by auxin and not to affect the basal streaming rate. 8. It is concluded that, just as for growth and respiration, malate is necessary for the response to auxin shown by acceleration of streaming. This further strengthens the triple parallel between the effects of auxin on streaming, growth, and respiration, all of which are apparently mediated by the 4-carbon acid system.     

水位梯度对湿地植物生长、繁殖和生物量分配的影响

本文考察了水位梯度对武夷慈姑（Ｓａｇｉｔａｒｉａｗｕｙｉｅｎｓｉｓ）、小慈姑（Ｓ．ｐｏｔａｍｏｇｅｔｉｆｏｌｉａ）、野荸荠（Ｅｌｅｏｃｈａｒｉｓｐｌａｎｔａｇｉｎｅｉｆｏｒｍｉｓ）和锐棱荸荠（Ｅ．ａｃｕｔａｎｇｕｌａ）植物幼苗生长、繁殖器官干重、生物量及其分配式样的影响。实验表明：植物高度、生物量及其分配对水位梯度的反应在种间有一定差异，而慈姑属植物的叶数、荸荠属植物的秆数、繁殖器官干重等对水位梯度处理的反应在种间有一定相似性。综合植物生物量和繁殖的反应特点，可以认为武夷慈姑和锐棱荸荠适宜生长在０～５ｃｍ水深处，小慈姑在２０ｃｍ水深处生长较佳，而野荸荠适宜于０～２０ｃｍ范围。结果提示：湿地植物的空间分布与其对水位反应的差异性有一定关系。     

THE EFFECT OF AUXINS ON PROTOPLASMIC STREAMING. II

1. A further study has been made of the effect of indole-3-acetic acid (auxin) on protoplasmic streaming in the epidermal cells of the Avena coleoptile. 2. The transient nature of the effect of auxin, both in accelerating and retarding streaming, is due to the temporary exhaustion of carbohydrate from the tissues. In presence of 1 per cent fructose or some other sugars the acceleration or retardation of streaming by auxin is not transient, but is maintained for at least 2 hours. 3. The retardation of streaming brought about by concentrations of auxin above 0.5 mg. per liter is due to oxygen deficiency This has been confirmed in several ways. 4. It follows that the effect of auxin is to increase the respiration of the coleoptile tissue. 5. Younger coleoptiles, 3 cm. long, are sensitive to lower concentrations of auxin than those 5 cm. long, and more readily exhibit oxygen deficiency as a result of the action of auxin. However, after decapitation their response to auxin more closely resembles that of 5 cm. coleoptiles. 6. The retardation of streaming in such coleoptiles, resulting from oxygen deficiency, is delayed by very dilute solutions of histidine. On this basis an explanation is suggested for the results of Fitting on streaming in Vallisneria leaves. 7. The mean rate of streaming in control untreated coleoptiles in pure water varies with the time of year, but not with the time of day. 8. The results support the view that auxin accelerates an oxygen-consuming process which controls the rate of protoplasmic streaming, and that the latter controls growth. The substrate for this process is probably sugar. 9. It is suggested that auxin also accelerates another oxygen-consuming process, which may withdraw oxygen from the process which controls streaming rate and hence cause retardation of the latter.     

黄毛鼠(Rattns rattoides Hodgson)的繁殖

啮齿动物数量的增长速度,归根到底是由其繁殖强度决定的,而繁殖强度主要决定即于雌体的数量,繁殖力和繁殖期的长短等。我们自1963年开始进行广东农田害鼠研究以来,积累了一些黄毛鼠的繁殖材料,现报道如下: 工作方法自1963年3月一1966年6月,逐月在广东斗门县平沙地区,采捕黄毛鼠进行测量和剖检观察性器官状况,记录雄体翠丸是否下降,大小(长x阔)及重量,雌体的子宫角是否有胎仔及胎斑(包括胎仔数和胎斑数)。另在1976年7一9月在花县炭步地区,着重观测雌体的生殖状况。先后共剖检黄毛鼠7471只(雌体3190只,雄体4281只)。同时在室内进行饲养观察,以资比较。     

泥鳅繁殖和生长的研究

泥鳅的性成熟年龄:雌体为1—2龄,雄体为1龄。其性腺发育和性细胞特征,与鲤科鱼类基本一致。泥鳅属分批产卵类型的鱼类。在天然水域中,4—10月生殖。在一定范围内,泥鳅的生殖力随体长、体重的增长而提高。体长增长以第1—2龄最快,体重年增重率以第2龄为最高。因此,泥鳅的人工养殖周期以两年为佳;收获个体规格宜在体长为11cm以上。