COMPARATIVE CYTOHISTOLOGICAL STUDIES ON INHIBITION AND PROMOTION OF STEM GROWTH IN CHRYSANTHEMUM MORIFOLIUM

Sachs , R. M. (U. California, Davis), and A. M. Kopranek . Comparative cytohistological studies on inhibition and promotion of stem growth in Chrysanthemum morifolium. Amer. Jour. Bot. 50(8): 772-779. Illus. 1963.—The present study with Amo, CCC, and Phosfon,³ 3 substances which inhibit stem elongation, shows that all inhibit subapical cell expansion and division in Chrysanthemum morifolium var. ‘Indianapolis Yellow.‘ Furthermore, GA,³ in preventing the inhibition of stem elongation, maintains subapical activity at normal or greater than normal levels. For comparative purposes concentrations of the retardants and GA have been selected which completely prevent or promote the maximum rate of stem elongation. Phosfon causes complete inhibition of root growth and almost completely prevents dry matter accumulation in the tops. However, GA does not prevent such deleterious effects. Thus, GA and the growth retardants are mutually antagonistic only with respect to stem elongation and not to other aspects of growth. Furthermore, none of the retardants inhibits transverse stem growth; on the contrary transverse cell expansion and division in the subapical tissues are stimulated by the retardants, and as a result the stems of such plants are thicker than normal. GA not only prevents the thickening effect of the retardants, but, at the doses applied, GA-treated stems are considerably thinner than those of the controls, having fewer and smaller cells across the pith, cortical, and vascular tissues. Apparently, then, there is a relationship between longitudinal and transverse growth in the subapical tissues such that if one is promoted, the other is inhibited.     

ONTOGENETIC AND HISTOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN THE VEGETATIVE SHOOT TIP OF CHENOPODIUM ALBUM

Gifford , Ernest M., Jr ., and Herbert B. Tepper . (U. California, Davis.) Ontogenetic and histochemical changes in the vegetative shoot tip of Chenopodium album. Amer. Jour. Bot. 49(8): 902–911. Illus. 1962.—A distinct central zone is present in apices of young, rapidly growing seedlings of Chenopodium album. This zone is clearly evident when the plane of section includes developing leaf buttresses and/or newly formed leaf primordia, but is not visible if the cells associated with these developing foliar organs are not in the plane of section. Cells in the central zone contain markedly lower concentrations of RNA than those of the peripheral zone. Differences in DNA, SH-protein, total protein, and histone concentration of cells in the apex parallel the zonal distribution of RNA, but are much less obvious. As the plant ages and the rate of leaf production decreases, the zonal distribution of the above-mentioned compounds becomes less and less obvious. Cells at sites of leaf initiation in older seedlings still have slightly higher RNA concentrations, but a central zone such as is visible in the young seedlings is no longer evident. The axial tunica cells do, however, contain noticeably lower DNA and histone concentrations than the remaining cells of the shoot apex. Changes occur in the size of nucleoli during ontogeny and the possible relationship between nucleolar size and modifying factors is discussed.     

HISTOCHEMISTRY OF THE PRIMARY THICKENING MERISTEM IN THE VEGETATIVE STEM OF ALLIUM CEPA L.

Stems of Allium cepa L., 1, 2, 5, and 6 months old respond similarly when stained for protein and RNA. The primary thickening meristem (PTM) stains more intensely than surrounding stem tissues. The acropetal region of the PTM is a broadly staining band which narrows basipetally to the level of the initiation of shoot-borne roots in the stem and disappears more basipetally. These staining patterns are consistent with the hypothesis that the PTM functions in stem thickening and root production, and also indicate that the meristem functions before histological evidence of the cambial-like zone exists in the onion stem. Histochemical staining may be an accurate method of locating the PTM.     

ZONATION IN THE APICAL CELL OF ZONARIA

Light and electron microscopic techniques were used to study the row of apical cells that form the meristem of the dictyotalean brown alga, Zonaria farlowii. A distinctly polar pattern occurs in the cells. Four ultrastructurally different cytoplasmic zones have been seen: an apical zone, a nuclear zone, a compound vacuolar zone, and a vegetative zone. The apical cell of Zonaria is a differentiating cytoplasmic unit where striking intracellular gradients occur.     

菊花花部特征及花冠精油组分与访花昆虫的相关性

 菊花(Dendranthema morifolium)是异花授粉植物, 具有自交不亲和特性。其自然授粉的主要媒介为蜂类和蝶类。我们对19个菊花品种的花色、花朵繁密度、花冠直径、管状花花盘直径、株高以及花冠精油组分与访花蜂数和访花蝶数的相关性进行了研究。结果表明, 黄花色系较吸引西方蜜蜂(Apis mellifera)访花; 菊花的花朵繁密度、花冠直径、管状花花盘直径均与访花蜂数有显著相关性, 而株高与访花蜂数无相关性。大红蛱蝶(Vanessa indica)青睐红色花, 其访花蝶数与花朵繁密度、管状花花盘直径均有显著相关性, 而花冠直径和株高与访花蝶数无相关性。经气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)分析得知, 不同菊花品种花冠精油的组分不同, 其主要成分均为单萜和倍半萜类及其含氧衍生物; 并且不同品种含有某些特定的花冠精油组分, 其中樟脑萜(r = –0.909, p<0.05)和6,10,14-三甲基-2-十五酮(r=0.882, p<0.05)与访花蜂数呈一定的相关性, α萜品醇(r=0.979, p<0.01)、顺柠檬烯氧化物(r=0.979, p<0.01)、金合欢烯氧化物(r=0.979, p<0.01)、p-mentha-6,8-dien-2-ol,cis- (r=0.973, p<0.01)、p-menth-1-en-8-ol (r=0.962, p<0.01)和4-萜品烯醇(r=0.957, p<0.05)与访花蝶数呈一定相关性。     

ULTRASTRUCTURAL ZONATION OF ADRENOCORTEX IN THE RAT

The fine structure of the different zones in the adrenal cortex of the adult rat has been studied under the electron microscope. Four regions mainly differentiated by the mitochondrial morphology, the lipid droplets, and the structure of the ground cytoplasm were recognized. In the glomerular zone mitochondria are thin and elongated with an abundant matrix. The inner structure is characterized by the presence of tubules of 300 A that are straight or bend at an angle and which may be grouped in parallel array giving a pseudocrystalline pattern. The wall of each tubule is a finger-like projection of the inner membrane and its cavity corresponds to the outer chamber of the mitochondrion. In the intermediary zone mitochondria are larger and irregular. The matrix is filled with convoluted tubules and vesicular elements. The lipid droplets are larger and irregular in the glomerulosa and and small in the intermedia. The ground substance is dense and contains free ribosomes in the glomerulosa and starts to be vacuolated in the intermedia. In the fasciculata mitochondria are round or oval and are filled with vesicular elements with a mean size of 450 A. Larger vesicles and more clear elements (vacuoles) are seen near the edge as if their content was diluted. Some of these vacuoles protrude on the surface. In the reticular zone mitochondria are also vesicular but frequently show signs of alteration and disruption. Dense elements recognized as microbodies are observed in the fasciculata but they increase in number in the reticularis. These results are discussed on the light of the so called zonal theory of the adrenal cortex. Two stages in the differentiation of the mitochondria are postulated. The tubular structure of the glomerulosa undergoes a process of disorientation and dilatation of the tubules to form the tubulo-vesicular elements of the intermediary zone. In a second stage of differentiation, by fragmentation of the tubules, the vesicular structure of fasciculata is formed. These findings are discussed from the viewpoint of the relationship between mitochondria and synthesis of steroid hormones. A secretory process that starts within mitochondria by the formation of vesicles and proceeds into the ground cytoplasm, as extruded and more clear vacuoles, is postulated.     

VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION OF CHENOPODIUM QUINOA BY SHOOT TIP CULTURE

An in vitro procedure is described for vegetative propagation of two varieties of Chenopodium quìnoa. Shoot tips of seedlings and adult plants were stimulated to produce multiple shoots by axillary branching in a B5 medium modified by decreasing sucrose (10 g/l), increasing nitrate (2,700 mg/l) and phosphate (315 mg/l) salts, and to which glycine was added (4 mg/l). This modified medium was supplemented with benzyladenine (0.22 mg/l) and naphthaleneacetic acid (0.018 mg/l). These conditions allowed development of more than twice the average number of shoots per culture as did the non-modified B5 medium. Absence of exogenous growth substances stimulated shoot elongation and rooting more effectively than auxins or gibberellic acid added to the medium. Rooted plants, transferred to a greenhouse, grew to 2 m at the flowering stage.     

河南植被水平地带性的分布规律

河南植被纬向性分布与气温有关。北部属温带落叶林区域,典型植被,山地为落叶阔叶林和常绿针叶林,东部平原的农作物为一年两作或两年三作。南部为亚热带常绿阔叶林区域的常绿、落叶阔叶混交林地带,典型植被为含有常绿成分的落叶阔叶林,针叶林由马尾松、黄山松和杉木林组成。河南植被的经向性分布职决于干燥度引起的地带性变化,东部大别山的植被由黄山松林和茶园来表征,南部的桐柏山地带则没有黄山松林和茶园。     

菊花组织培养过程的光质效应初探

光质在菊花组织培养过程中具显著的生物学效应。试验中,绿色光可促进试管菊的生长,绿色、红色、兰色光还能部分解除~(60)Co—γ射线照射试管苗后所产生的抑制生长作用,红色光有利于花瓣愈伤组织的形成。菊花组织培养过程中的光质效应,尚与品种有关,表明品种间存在光质敏感性的差异。