Floral Nectaries of Rosmarinus officinalis L. Structure, Ultrastructure and Nectar Secretion

The nectary of Rosmarinus officinalis L. has the form of a four-lobed,asymmetrical disc situated around the base of the ovary. Thenectary lobe facing the lower flower lip is enlarged and isthe only one to have modified stomata. Vascular strands consistingof phloem only occur in the nectariferous tissue. It is suggestedthat the pre-nectar originating in the phloem accumulates primarilyas starch grains in plastids of the nectariferous cells. Thenumber of grains is very large before anthesis and decreasesconsiderably at anthesis. The transport of the pre-nectar tothe various nectariferous cells appears to be mainly via thesymplast. It could not be determined whether the process ofelimination of the nectar is solely eccrine or partly granulocrine. Rosmarinus officinalis, nectary, nectar secretion, starch grains, phloem     

Ultrastructural Aspects of the Nectary Spur of Limodorum abortivum (L) Sw. (Orchidaceae)

The ultrastructure of the nectary spur of Limodorum abortivum(L) Sw. was examined before and after anthesis. In cross sectionthe nectary spur shows an internal epidermal layer of thin-walledcells bordering the secretory cavity and 10–12 layersof parenchyma cells. The ultrastructure of the secretory cellssuggests the involvement of ER, Golgi and plastids in nectarsecretion. The nectar accumulated in the sub-cuticular spaceis released into the nectariferous cavity by rupture of theouter layer of the cuticle. Limodorum abortivum (L) Sw., Orchidaceae, nectary spur, nectar secretion, ultrastructure, anthesis, endoplasmic reticulum, dictyosomes, plastids     

荆条花蜜腺发育解剖学研究

荆条（Ｖｉｔｅｘ ｃｈｉｎｅｎｓｉｓ Ｍｉｌｌ．）花蜜腺属于淀粉型子房蜜腺,呈圆筒状环绕于子房的基部。蜜腺外观上无特殊结构,表面有。由分泌表皮和泌蜜组织组成,包括分泌表皮、气孔器、泌蜜薄壁组织和维管束。密腺和子房壁起源相同。花蕾膨大期,泌蜜组织细胞中产生大液泡;露冠期,泌蜜组织中形成维管束;花蕾初放期,分泌表皮细胞分化形成气孔器,无气孔下室,淀粉粒的积累在此期达到高峰;盛花期,蜜腺中已无淀粉粒,密     

新疆鼠尾草花蜜腺的发育解剖学研究

新疆鼠尾草（Salvia deserta Schang）花蜜腺位于子房基部的花托上,为盘状的花托蜜腺,其顶部裂成4片,其裂片大小不等,比例悬殊。蜜腺由产蜜组织和分泌表皮构成,又为结构蜜腺。组织化学染色显示淀粉粒动态明显,因此又属淀粉蜜腺。在发育的过程中细胞液泡化动态明显,且淀粉粒和蛋白质具有明显的消长变化,但PAS反应和苏木精脂类染色无明显变化。其泌蜜过程可能为：原蜜汁由邻近的韧皮部提供,经薄壁细胞运送至产蜜组织,在产蜜组织中进一步积聚、合成后,最终蜜汁通过变态气孔和分泌表皮细胞的角质层泌出。     

The Floral Nectary ofDigitalis purpureaL., Structure and Nectar Secretion

The floral nectary of the foxglove (Digitalis purpureaL.), locatedat the base of the ovary, was examined by: scanning electronmicroscopy; quantitative bright-field microscopy via computer-aided3-D reconstruction from serial sections; morphometric procedures;transmission electron microscopy and measurement of nectar effluxunder different experimental conditions. Time-lapse video recordingvia a microscope with incident light clearly showed that thenectar escaped from the apertures of modified stomata. The volumeflux via individual stomatal apertures was 0.31±0.1 nlmin^-1; therefore only a fraction of the total number of stomataper nectary (115±8) would be sufficient to dischargethe amount of nectar reported in previous publications. Thestomatal apertures are continuous with intercellular spacestraversing the small-celled nectariferous tissue. The latteris vascularized only by phloem, whose termini consists of rowsof slender cells. These sieve-like cells are surrounded by moreor less isodiametrical sheath cells with dimensions similarto the secretory cells. Details of nectary functioning are basedon enhanced structural information, complementary data on nectardischarge after experimental manipulations and the nature ofthe effluence.Copyright 1998 Annals of Botany Company Digitalis purpureaL.; foxglove; floral nectary; (ultra-)structure; 3-D reconstruction; morphometry; nectar flow; time-lapse video recording.     

Two structures and functions in the nectary of Frankincense tree (Boswellia sacra Flueck.)

The flowers of Boswellia sacra Flueck. (Burseraceae) present a showy nectariferous ring which changes color from yellow to brilliant red in a few days. In this paper, the structure and development of this peculiar nectary were studied using light microscopy as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The nectary presents a double way of secretion, since it releases nectar through both glandular trichomes and nectarostomata. A direct vascular supply is lacking; however, a large quantity of starch was stored in glandular parenchyma cells at the early secretory stage, while it disappeared at the senescent stage. The nectary, besides showing the typical secretory parenchyma cells, is characterized by the occurrence of highly osmiophilic cell rows. Experimental evidence shows that these cells are involved in nectarostoma secretion. The different secreting structures are described and their role is discussed.     

Ultrastructure, Development and Secretion in the Nectary of Banana Flowers

The nectaries of Musa paradisiaca L. var. sapientum Kuntze werefound to secrete in addition to the sugar solution, a polysaccharidemucilage and a very electron dense, homogenous material whichwas apparently protein. The polysaccharide had already startedto appear outside the epithelial cells of the nectary at veryearly stages of nectary development. At somewhat later developmentalstages the very dense homogenous material appeared in the formof droplets between the plasmalemma and cell wall in massesin the nectary lumen. Nectar secretion started in flowers whenthe bract in the axil of which they occurred had just recoiled.The ER elements were dilated and formed vesicles and the Golgibodies were very active, at the stage of the nectar secretionand at stages preceding it, except at the stage just beforesecretion. In all stages of nectary development the dilatedER elements and most large Golgi vesicles contained fibrillarmaterial. It is suggested that both ER and the Golgi apparatusare involved in the secretion of the sugar solution and of thepolysaccharides. There was not enough evidence as to where inthe cell the very dense homogenous material is synthesized. A few developmental stages of the nectaries of the male flowersof the Dwarf Cavendish banana, which do not secrete nectar,were also studied. It was seen that at early stages of development,the ultra-structure of the nectary of this banana variety wassimilar to that of M. paradisiaca var. sapientum. However, theepithelial nectary cells of the Dwarf Cavendish banana disintegratedbefore maturation of the nectary. Musa paradisiaca L, banana, floral nectaries, ultrastructure     

Nectary Structure and Ultrastructure of Unisexual Flowers of Ecballium elaterium(L.) A. Rich. (Cucurbitaceae) and their Presumptive Pollinators

The structure and ultrastructure of the nectaries of the monoeciousspecies Ecballium elaterium were studied. Large differencesin size and structure of the nectaries were observed in thetwo genders of flowers, those of the staminate flowers beingmuch larger and more developed than those of the pistillateflowers. The latter do not secrete measurable amounts of nectar.In the nectariferous cells, especially of the staminate flowers,numerous plasmodesmata are present. The pre-nectar originatingin the phloem is stored in the plastids of the nectariferouscells primarily as starch grains. The nectar appears to be exudedfrom the nectary via modified stomata. Very small insects ofthe order Hemiptera were found to dwell inside the flowers ofthe two genders, but in different numbers; their number in thestaminate flowers was more than twice that in the pistillateflowers. These insects may take part in the process of pollination.Copyright 2001 Annals of Botany Company Ecballium elaterium, Cucurbitaceae, monoecious plant, nectaries, structure, ultrastructure, nectar secretion, stomata, Hemiptera insects     

Changes in Polygalacturonase Activity and Solubility of Polyuronides during Ethylene-stimulated Leaf Abscission in Sambucus nigra

Leaflet abscission in Sambucus nigra is precipitated by cellwall degradation which is restricted to the site of cell separation.Accompanying wall breakdown is an increase in the activity ofthe enzyme polygalacturonase (PG) (E.C. 3.2.1.15 [EC] ) and this riseis primarily confined to the abscission zone tissue. The polygalacturonasehas a pH optimum of 4·4 and has the characteristics ofan endo-acting enzyme. The elevation in enzyme activity is theresult of an increase in at least two isoforms of PG as revealedby polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the natured protein.Leaflet abscission in S. nigra is associated with an increasein the solubility and depolymerization of polyuronides fromthe cell wall. These observations are discussed in relationto the mechanism of cell separation during ethylene-stimulatedleaf abscission. Key words: Elder, Sambucus nigra, abscission, polygalacturonase, polyuronides, ethylene     

Comparative account of nectary structure in Hexisea imbricata (Lindl.) Rchb.f. (Orchidaceae)

• Background and Aims Despite the number of orchid speciesthat are thought to be pollinated by hummingbirds, our knowledgeof the nectaries of these orchids is based solely on a singlespecies, Maxillaria coccinea (Jacq.) L.O. Williams ex Hodge.Nevertheless, it is predicted that such nectaries are likelyto be very diverse and the purpose of this paper is to comparethe nectary and the process of nectar secretion in Hexisea imbricata(Lindl.) Rchb.f. with that of Maxillaria coccinea so as to beginto characterize the nectaries of presumed ornithophilous Neotropicalorchids. • Methods Light microscopy, transmission electronmicroscopyand histochemistry were used to examine the histology and chemicalcomposition of nectary tissue and the process of nectar secretionin H. imbricata. • Key Results and Conclusions The nectary of H. imbricatahas a vascular supply, is bound by a single-layered epidermiswith few stomata and comprises two or three layers of subepidermalsecretory cells beneath which lie several layers of palisade-likeparenchymatous cells, some of which contain raphides or mucilage.The secretory cells are collenchymatous and their walls havenumerous pits with associated plasmodesmata. They contain thefull complement of organelles characteristic of secretory cellsas well as intravacuolar protein bodies but some of the secretoryepidermal cells, following secretion, collapse and their anticlinalwalls seem to fold. Nectar secretion is thought to be granulocrineand, following starch depletion, lipid droplets collect withinthe plastids. The nectar accumulates beneath the cuticle whichsubsequently forms swellings. Finally, nectar collects in thesaccate nectary spur formed by the fusion of the margins ofthe labellum and the base of the column-foot. Thus, althoughthe nectary of H. imbricata and M. coccinea have many featuresin common, they nevertheless display a number of important differences.     

Flower nectary structure in Cornus alba L.

The structure of the floral nectaries of Cornus alba was studied using light microscopy as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that the nectary gland of white dogwood had the shape of a fleshy ring surrounding the base of the style of the inferior ovary. Nectar secretion occurs through slightly depressed stomata, evenly distributed in the epidermis of the nectary. The nectariferous tissue is composed of over a dozen layers of heterogeneously structured cells. Between groups of cells with a typical structure, characteristic for the secretory tissue, cells occur with degenerated content and a high degree of vacuolization. In the area of the nectary gland cells, no vascular tissue elements were observed. The nectary was irrigated by the vasculature of the flower receptacle.     

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) seed proteins inhibit protein synthesis and display strong immunoreactivity with rabbit polyclonal antibodies raised against the type 2 ribosome-inactivating protein nigrin b

Affinity chromatography-purifled elderberry (Sambucus nigraL.) seed proteins strongly inhibited protein synthesis and displayedthe 28S rRNA N-glycosidase activity characteristic of all typesof ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs). Western blot analysisrevealed several proteins that reacted with antibodies raisedagainst the novel non-toxic type 2 ribosome-inactivating proteinnigrin b isolated from elder bark, thus indicating the presenceof a new type 2 RIP. Key words: Anti-nigrin b antibodies, protein synthesis, seeds, elder seeds, Sambucus nigra     

地椒花蜜腺发育的解剖学观察

通过显微和亚显微观察对地椒花蜜腺的发育进行了研究。地椒花蜜腺位于子房基部的花盘上,属于盘状蜜腺,新鲜时呈绿色。蜜腺由分泌表皮和泌蜜组织组成,分泌表皮为一层细胞,表皮细胞角质膜较厚,表皮上分布着大量的气孔器,气孔器突出于表面;泌蜜组织细胞多层。花盘中央有维管束通向子房,在维管束和泌蜜组织之间有４￣５层大型的薄壁细胞。蜜腺由花盘的表皮及其内侧相邻的细胞发育而来,在发育过程中,其细胞中的液泡和贮藏的淀粉     

垂柳花蜜腺的发育解剖学研究

垂柳雌花蜜腺一枚,位于于房与花序轴之间,多呈扁平广卵形,由分泌表皮、泌蜜组织和维管束组成。雄花蜜腺呈基部相连的两枚突起,一枚位于花丝与花序轴之间,基部宽扁,上部棒状;另一枚位于花丝与苞片之间,棒状,仅由分泌表皮和泌蜜组织组成。雌、雄花蜜腺均起源于花托表面2—3层细胞。在蜜腺发育过程中,雌、雄花蜜腺泌蜜组织细胞的液泡发生规律性变化．雌花蜜腺为淀粉型蜜腺,而雄花蜜腺为非淀粉型蜜腺。雌、雄花蜜腺的原宜汁分别由蜜腺维管束韧应部或花丝维管束韧皮部提供,其蜜计最后均由分泌表皮细胞和变态气孔排出。     

Structure and Development of the Axillary Complex and Extrafloral Nectaries in Capparis retusa Griseb.

Abstract: The structure, organization and development of the axillary complex and extrafloral nectary in Capparis retusa Griseb. was analysed for the first time. The axillary complex presents three uniserial descending buds. Subordinated shoots originate from the distal and middle bud, while the proximal bud is usually quiescent. Close to the top of the axillary complex there is a subglobulous and umbilicated extrafloral nectary, normally visited by nectivore ants; a chronological coincidence between secretion, production and ant patrolling activities has been observed. The nectary structure differentiates at the second caulinar node, from an axillar meristem separated from the surrounding cells by a shell zone. On the fourth node a remarkably developed nectary primordium can be observed, inside which procambial strands develop acropetally. In the central region of the nectary primordium homogenous parenchyma differentiates progressively, later acquiring characteristics of nectariferous tissue. The mature nectary is vascularized by xylem and phloem, and the procambial differentiation is completed in a basipetal way. The first serial bud differentiates at the third node, from meristem cells near the base of its supporting leaf. The complex nodal structure with three buds completes its development at the eighth caulinar node. Ramular traces are observed as vascular semicylinders penetrating into the base of the buds to constitute a vascular system similar to that of the shoot. The scheme is repeated in the extrafloral nectary, giving rise to prolific branching in the periphery of the nectariferous tissue.     

长药景天花蜜腺的发育解剖学研究

长药景天花蜜腺５枚,呈侧向扁平的舌形或弯月形,分别位于５株离生心皮的外侧,两者的基部相连,属于子房蜜腺。蜜腺由分泌表皮、产蜜组织和仅含韧皮部的维管束组成。长药景天花蜜腺起源于心皮外侧基部的表层结构。产蜜组织在发育过程中,细胞中的液泡体积及淀粉粒呈现有规律的消长变化。泌蜜后期,蜜腺组织从上往下液泡化,具明显的方向性。根据其结构及多糖变化分析,来自韧皮部的原蜜汁以淀粉粒形式贮存于产蜜组织中,泌蜜期水解     

Four o'clock pollination biology: nectaries,nectar and flower visitors in Nyctaginaceae from southern South America

Floral nectary structure and nectar sugar composition were investigated in relation to other floral traits and flower visitors in contrasting species of Nyctaginaceae from southern South America, representing four tribes (Bougainvilleeae, Colignonieae, Nyctagineae, Pisoneae). Our comparative data will aid in the understanding of plant–pollinator interactions and in the development of hypotheses on the origin of floral and reproductive characters in this family. The nectaries are located on the inner side of the staminal tube. The nectariferous tissue is composed of an epidermis and three to ten layers of secretory parenchymal cells, supplied indirectly by the filament vascular bundles. Stomata appear to be associated with nectar secretion. For the first time in Nyctaginaceae, nectary ultrastructure is described in Boerhavia diffusa var. leiocarpa. Nectary parenchyma cells are densely cytoplasmic and contain numerous starch grains. Plasmodesmata connect the nectariferous cells. Flowers of Nyctaginaceae secrete a small volume of nectar of variable concentration (10–47%). Nectar is dominated by hexoses, but Mirabilis jalapa showed a balanced proportion of sucrose and hexoses. Hymenoptera are the most common visitors for most species; nocturnal Lepidoptera are the most common visitors for M. jalapa and Bougainvillea stipitata. We found relatively low variation in the nectary characteristics of Nyctaginaceae compared with broad variation in flower structure, shape, colour and nectar traits. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London     

鹅掌柴花蜜腺的发育解剖学研究

对鹅掌柴(Scheffler octophylla Harms．)花蜜腺的发育进行解剖结构观察。鹅掌柴花盘蜜腺位于下位子房上方环绕花柱基部。蜜腺由分泌表皮、产蜜组织组成,心皮维管束与其相邻并发出一些伸入蜜腺基部的短分枝。蜜腺起源于心皮原基基部外侧的几层细胞。鹅掌柴花蜜腺为淀粉型蜜腺,淀粉粒为许多微小颗粒聚集成的复粒。原蜜汁由蜜腺基部维管束的筛管提供,达产蜜组织细胞和表皮细胞后以淀粉粒的形式贮藏。泌出的蜜汁一部分来自淀粉粒的降解,一部分来自泌蜜期输入的原蜜汁。表皮和产蜜组织细胞均具泌蜜功能。泌出的蜜汁大部分通过气孔排出,还有部分由角质层渗出。     

烟草花蜜腺发育的解剖学研究

烟草的花蜜腺位于子房基部 ,围绕子房 ,属于子房蜜腺。蜜腺由分泌表皮和泌蜜组织组成 ,分泌表皮角质膜厚薄不匀 ,表皮上分布少量气孔器 ,气孔凹陷 ,孔下室不明显 ,泌蜜组织细胞多层。蜜腺邻接子房壁维管束 ,本身没有维管组织。蜜腺由子房基部的外壁表皮及其相邻的内侧细胞经分裂、生长、分化而来 ,在发育过程中 ,细胞中的液泡和淀粉粒都呈现一定的消长规律。原蜜汁由子房壁维管束提供 ,经过泌蜜组织细胞加工后 ,蜜汁通过气孔和薄的角质膜处泌出。     

荔枝花蜜腺发育解剖学研究

荔枝花蜜腺呈盘状,位于子房和花萼之间的花托上。花盘蜜腺由表皮、产蜜组织、维管束组成。蜜腺的原始细胞由花托表面的2~3层细胞脱分化产生。成熟蜜腺产蜜组织细胞含有淀粉粒,为淀粉型蜜腺,表皮细胞内无淀粉粒。产蜜组织出现分化:PAS反应颜色深的细胞成网状分布,与表皮下方的1~2层细胞相连,构成蜜汁的运输通道;颜色浅的细胞分布于网眼处。蜜腺表皮上的角质层波状皱折,有泌蜜孔。表皮毛主要起保护作用,大部分蜜汁通过泌蜜孔排出。