Nectary and gender‐biased nectar production in dichogamous Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop. (Onagraceae)

In dichogamous plants, nectar characteristics (i.e. nectar amount and its composition) can differ between sexual phases. In the present study, we investigated the structural organization of the floral nectary, nectar production and carbohydrate composition in the protandrous Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop. (Onagraceae). The receptacular nectary consisted of an epidermis with numerous nectarostomata, several layers of photosynthetic secretory parenchyma, and subsecretory parenchyma. Nectariferous tissue was not directly vascularized and starch grains were rarely observed in the secretory cells, occurring exclusively in the guard cells of modified stomata. The nectar was released via nectarostomata. The floral nectar was hexose rich (32.8/39.1/28.1% glucose/fructose/sucrose) and the total concentration was constant throughout the anthesis (47% on average). However, contrasting patterns in nectar amount and carbohydrate composition between the floral sexual phases were observed. On average, female‐phased flowers produced 1.4‐fold more nectar than male‐phased flowers, and although the nectar was sucrose rich during the male phase, it was hexose rich during the female phase, suggesting sucrose hydrolysis.     

柳兰在哈尔滨地区引种适应性研究

将原产于黑龙江省小兴安岭凉水自然保护区的野生柳兰栽培至具大陆性季风气候特点的哈尔滨市内。引种观察结果表明,通过与原产地同年生野生柳兰生长特性的比较,引种地柳兰植株生长发育正常,在人工栽培条件下能够安全越冬和越夏。根据柳兰植株生长量增长时期的特点划分了柳兰在引种地生长的4个时期;与原产地比较,柳兰花序数量、单花序中小花数量、花朵大小、花柄长度、花萼长度等数量性状均有增加,观赏特性优良。但引种地花序长度和蒴果长度小于原产地,且原产地的花朵大小比引种地的更均匀。本试验获得了野生柳兰在同纬度相同气候类型区域的引种栽培的基础数据,为柳兰在城市园林绿化中栽培应用奠定了基础。     

An experiment on reproduction from seed within existing populations of Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop.

Plant and Soil - Chamaenerion angustifolium is generally considered to be a nitrophilous plant species. Field observations suggested that reproduction from seed within rather dense populations is...     

A study on the population dynamics of the perennial plant species Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) scop.

Summary From a study of differently aged populations of the perennial plant species Chamaenerion angustifolium a concept was deduced concerning the population dynamics of the species. The age structure was determined by counting the rings of periderm in the roots. After the establishment of seedlings vegetative propagation is the main factor in population development. The longevity of populations depends on exogenic factors, since older root samples—if isolated from the population—appeared to be as viable as were younger specimens. The oldest population studied had been able to persist for about thirty years due to the mineral cycle brought about by the population itself. In still developing populations a greater number of shoots tend to sprout from younger roots than from older roots, when compared per unit root weight. The shoot density in full-grown populations (in which further root expansion does not occur) is related to the root biomass per unit area. It was suggested that the allocation of reserve assimilates within the roots is an endogenic factor determining the shoot density. After the early sprouting phase the shoot development depends mainly on environmental factors.     

Characteristics of Silica Deposition in Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. (Crabgrass)

Silica deposits in young plants of Digitaria sanguinalis (L.)Scop., cultured in nutrient solutions containing two levelsof SiO₂, were investigated by techniques including phase contrastmicroscopy and the electronprobe microanalyser. Field-grownspecimens were included in the study for comparison. Progressivesilicification over 20 days of early leaf ontogeny is describedand compared to that for other species. Si microassay results for culms and roots are combined withloeaf data in order to interpret overall deposition strategyfor the species. Comparisons between soil and water-cultured speciments suggestthat the extensive mesophyll silicification occurring in thelatter is atypical, and may influence growth. An attempt ismade to account for this latter silicification in terms of Kranzleaf anatomy.     

Pollinator-mediated assortative mating in mixed ploidy populations of Chamerion angustifolium (Onagraceae)

Establishment of polyploid individuals within diploid populations is theoretically unlikely unless polyploids are reproductively isolated, pre-zygotically, through assortative pollination. Here, we quantify the contribution of pollinator diversity and foraging behaviour to assortative pollen deposition in three mixed-ploidy populations of Chamerion angustifolium (Onagraceae). Diploids and tetraploids were not differentiated with respect to composition of insect visitors. However, foraging patterns of the three most common insect visitors (all bees) reinforced assortative pollination. Bees visited tetraploids disproportionately often and exhibited higher constancy on tetraploids in all three populations. In total, 73% of all bee flights were between flowers of the same ploidy (2x–2x, 4x–4x); 58% of all flights to diploids and 83% to tetraploids originated from diploid and tetraploid plants, respectively. Patterns of pollen deposition on stigmas mirrored pollinator foraging behaviour; 73% of all pollen on stigmas (70 and 75% of pollen on diploid and tetraploid stigmas, respectively) came from within-ploidy pollinations. These results indicate that pollinators contribute to high rates of pre-zygotic reproductive isolation. If patterns of fertilization track pollen deposition, pollinator–plant interactions may help explain the persistence and spread of tetraploids in mixed-ploidy populations.     

Sexual Dimorphism in Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop

Differences between males and females of Cirsium arvense (L.)Scop. in morphology and sexual performance are described. Nofunctional pollen was observed in females, and no pollen-sterileanthers were observed in males. The difference between the sexesin ovule functions is not absolute however: some males produceoccasional fruits. The number and distribution of fruits onboth sexes are described. The fruits borne on males are smallerand germinate less well than those borne on females, but theseedlings from the two sexes grow equally well. On the average,males contribute only 5.3 x 10^–4 as many genomes via ovulesas do females. The average male constancy, the proportion ofmale genes transmitted via pollen, is estimated as 0.9989. Theprimary sex index, a measure of the functional approach to strictdioecy (represented as 1.00) is 0.9995. C. arvense is describedas near-dioecious and varying from dioecy in a gynodioeciousmanner. The opinion expressed by Correns that the near-dioecyof C. arvense has been derived from hermaphroditism via gynodioecyis upheld.     

Phytochemical variability during vegetation of Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub genotypes derived from in vitro cultures

The purpose of the study was to evaluate Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub genotypes for preliminary selection and further breeding programs aimed at obtaining a suitable industrial form for the pharmaceutical applications. Clonally propagated plants representing 10 genotypes of Ch. angustifolium were regenerated under in vitro conditions, hardened and planted in the field. Studies included an evaluation of shoot proliferation, phytochemical assessment of in vitro and ex vitro plants as well as investigations of intraspecies variability regarding four phenological stages: vegetative, beginning of blooming, full blooming, and green fruit phases. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of bioactive compounds were performed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector and tandem mass spectrometer (HPLC–DAD–MS/MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods. The efficiency of shoot multiplication varied between genotypes from 8.12 to 21.48 shoots per explant. A high reproduction rate (>?20 shoots per explant) was recorded for four lines (PL_45, PL_44, PL_58, DE_2). Plants grown in vitro synthesized oenothein B (11.2–22.3 mg g^?1 DW) and caffeic acid derivatives. Plants harvested from field contained the full spectrum of polyphenols characteristic for this species, and oenothein B and quercetin 3-O-glucuronide were the most abundant. The maximal content of oenothein B was determined in the vegetative phase of fireweed, while some flavonoids were found in the highest amount in full blooming phase. The results of analysis of variance indicated significant differences among genotypes in oenothein B, 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid and flavonoids accumulation in four phenological phases. PL_44 plants were characterized by high content of oenothein B and quercetin 3-O-glucuronide as well as a relatively high level of other flavonoids. Based on our phytochemical and micropropagation studies, PL_44 genotype was the best candidate for early selection and further breeding programs.

     

Zwei Bastarde ausVeronica (Paederota) Bonarota L. undVeronica (Paederota) lutea (Scop.) Wettst

Ohne ZusammenfassungIch schliesse mich bezüglich der Nomenclatur und Einfügung in die GattungVeronica der Bearbeitung dieser Pflanzengruppe durch Wettstein (Engler u. Prantl Natürl. Pflanzenfam. IV. Th. Abth. 3 b. S. 85. [1893.]) an.     

Contrasting movement patterns of nectar-collecting and pollen-collecting bumble bees (Bombus terricola) on fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium) inflorescences

Abstract. 1. Movements of nectar and pollen-foraging bumble bees on inflorescences of Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) J. Holub (fireweed or rosebay willow herb) were compared with predictions based on reward distributions and optimality principles. Observations suggest that nectar and pollen-gathering bumble bees behave according to the same set of reward maximization criteria when foraging from flowers of this species.
2. Both kinds of foragers matched their arrival points with the vertical positions on inflorescences in which the densities of their respective food resources were greatest. For nectar-foragers, this point was located at the lowest tier of flowers, whereas for pollen-foragers it was found in the middle of the inflorescences. Nectar and pollen-foraging bees both moved upward on inflorescences following gradients from high to low reward availability.
3. Nectar-foragers responded to decreases in inflorescence size over the season by reducing the number of flower visits made on each raceme. Number of flowers visited by pollen-foragers was low throughout and reflected the scarcity of male-phase flowers on racemes. Flower revisitation rates were low for both kinds of workers, but were slightly higher for those collecting pollen.     

Genetic variability in the European minnow,Phoxinus phoxinus (L.)

An electrophoretic study of genetic variation at 11 loci was performedfor a population of European minnows, Phoxinus phoxinus (L.). Ten loci, EST-1 ^*, EST-2 ^* EST-3 ^*,GPD-1 ^*,GPD-2 ^*,GPI-1 ^*,GPI-2 ^*,MPI ^*,6PGD ^* and PGM ^* were polymorphic. IDH ^*wasmonomorphic. The mean number of heterozygotic loci over all 176 fish was 3.05 ± 0.104(SE). Observed mean heterozygosity was 0.28±0.058(SE) and expected mean heterozygosity was 0.27±0.054(SE). EST-2 ^*, EST-3 ^* andPGM ^* were not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Length,condition, parasite numbers or male breeding characters, i.e. red colorationand tubercles, were not influenced by single enzyme loci.     

Extranuptiale Nektarien. Beobachtungen anSalix eleagnos Scop. undPteridium aquilinum (L.)Kuhn.

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Genetic variability in callus formation and regeneration of garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Twenty garlic Allium sativum (L.) genotypes were analysed for genetic variation in their ability to form callus (in one medium) and regenerate shoots (in four different media). Genotypes showed significant differences in the analysis of variance of all the traits tested. The accession Printanor showed the best general behaviour, with 83% callus-producing explants, 44.7% organogenic explants, and 15.35 shoots/g of callus. The best regeneration medium was MBO, without growth regulators. Shoot production capacity was examined with the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction model that proved to be a powerful tool for analysis and easy comprehension of the strong genotype×medium interactions frequently observed in in vitro culture systems. Received: 5 February 1998 / Revision received: 11 May 1998 / Accepted: 1 June 1998     

Differences in the location of subcotyledonary buds among Epilobium angustifolium L., E. dodonaei Vill. and E. fleischeri Hochst. (Onagraceae) and effects on architecture and population structure

STÖCKLIN, J., 1992. Differences in the location of subcotyledonary buds among Epilobium angustifolium L., E. dodonaei Vill. and E. fleischeri Hochst. (Onagraceae) and effects on architecture and population structure . Morphological and architectural features in the two closely related pioneer plant species Epilobium dodonaei and E. fleischeri are examined in cultivation and in the field and compared with E. angustifolium. In E. angustifolium , the aerial shoot system is renewed every year from buds on horizontal roots and results in a horizontal spread and a clonal growth form. In E. dodonaei , bud formation is restricted to the hypocotyl and in larger plants to the transitional region between root and shoot. Consequently this species shows no vegetative mobility and develops a shrub-like habit. The alpine E. fleischeri combines the habit of E. angustifolium and E. dodonaei and may either develop successive generations of shoots from the transitional region between root and shoot and/or exploit new areas by horizontal roots and the formation of shoots from root buds. The simple difference in the location of renewal buds is accentuated by cumulative growth. The study shows that E. dodonaei and E. fleischeri , which often are considered as subspecies, are separated by fundamental differences in their architectural models. The ecological and demographic implications of these differences are discussed.     

Water use dynamics of dryland canola (Brassica napus L.) grown on contrasting soils under elevated CO2

Plant and Soil - Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) stimulates the leaf-level (intrinsic) water use efficiency (iWUE), which may mitigate the adverse effects of drought by...