DIMENSIONAL CORRELATIONS IN DEVELOPING SELAGINELLA SPORANGIA

With length of sporangia as a developmental index, the growth relationships of sporangia during differentiation were studied in strobili of Selaginella bigelovii. The strobili usually contain two rows of megasporangia and two rows of microsporangia with a mega- opposite a microsporangium at each node. Prior to the sporocyte stage a sporangium in a megasporangiate row is larger and elongates more rapidly than a sporangium opposite it at the same node in a microsporangiate row. The number of sporogenous cells is similar in sporangia of the same length from both rows until cell multiplication ceases in sporangia of the megasporangiate row, while it continues in sporangia of the same size in the microsporangiate row. The observed growth differences between sporangia of the micro- and megasporangiate rows are interpreted as events in the differentiation of two sporangial types.     

Re-study of Minostrobus chaohuensis Wang (Lycopsida) from the Upper Devonian of Anhui,South China

Minostrobus chaohuensis Wang was previously known only as a lycopsid megasporangiate strobilus from the Upper Devonian of Anhui Province, South China. Our comprehensive study of the newly collected materials reveals the details of its morphology, anatomy, and reproduction, which allow us to emend its generic and specific diagnoses. M. chaohuensis is reconstructed as a plant with multi-dichotomous branching system, helically arranged leaves, and monoecious and monosporangiate strobili (i.e., separate megasporangiate and microsporangiate strobili in one individual). The anatomy of both fertile and sterile portions of Minostrobus indicates that the exarch primary xylem strand is the solid protostele, with the peripheral protoxylem ridges and Williamson's striations in metaxylem tracheids. The key reproductive and anatomical characters suggest that Minostrobus chaohuensis is far more likely to represent a distal shoot of pseudo-herbaceous or arborescent lycopsids within the order Isoëtales sensu lato. It is suggested that the monosporangiate-strobilus clade in the Isoëtales may include primitive, monoecious taxa in the Late Devonian and advanced, dioecious ones in the Carboniferous. The hypothesis that the more phylogenetically advanced monosporangiate-strobilus clade might have well diverged from the basal bisporangiate-strobilus clade of arborescent lycopsids by the Late Devonian is further supported.     

CONTROL OF SEX RATIOS IN HAPLOID POPULATIONS OF THE MOSS,CERATODON PURPUREUS

Female biased sex ratios occur in a number of unrelated mosses. Such ratios refer to the relative numbers of male and female gametophytes in moss populations and are therefore more comparable to the numbers of pollen grains and ovules in populations of seed plants than to the numbers of male (microsporangiate) and female (megasporangiate) sporophytes. A survey of 11 populations of the moss, Ceratodon purpureus, showed that sex ratios are heterogeneous, but that female biases occur in more than half the populations. One hundred and sixty single spore isolates representing 40 sporophytes from one population demonstrated that female gametophytes outnumbered males by a ratio of 3:2 at the time of germination. Female gametophytic clones formed significantly more biomass than male clones, and individual female shoots were more robust. Male clones, however, produced more numerous stems. These sexually dimorphic traits may be related to life history differences between male and female gametophytes since females must provide nutritional support to the “parasitic” sporophyte generation, a burden that males do not share.     

Early-flowering Scots pines through tissue culture for accelerating tree breeding

Scots pine plantlets were produced via tissue culture using cotyledons excised from germinated embryos as explants. The optimum tissue culture conditions were: 1/2GDbasal medium gelled with agar-Gelrite during shoot formation and with agar during rooting, inclusion of 5.0M benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.05 M naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) for 2 weeks for shoot induction, and repeated 2.7 M NAA pulses of 1 week for rooting. Micropropagation success was genotype-dependent. Average multiplication rates varied among experiments from 3 to 15 shoots per embryo. The maximum shoot production from a single embryo was 35. Rooting was the most difficult phase in the propagation process. Most of the plantlets had a plagiotrophic and highly branched growth habit when growing in the greenhouse. Some individuals produced megasporangiate strobili at the age of 3 years and microsporangiate strobili with viable pollen at the age of 4 years. Early-flowering clones and the ability to conserve seedlings from which cotyledons have been cultured give new possibilities for accelerated tree breeding.     

New insights into the heterosporous lycopsid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Changxingia</Emphasis> from the Upper Devonian Wutong Formation of Zhejiang Province,China

A heterosporous lycopsid plant is described from the Upper Devonian (Famennian) Wutong Formation, Changxing County, northern Zhejiang Province, China. The plant is known for its terminal and many detached megasporangiate strobili, most of which do not have sporophylls preserved. Some megasporangiate strobili are closely associated with a vegetative axis bearing leaf cushions and with a mass of microspores. Because of the monosporangiate strobili, the present lycopsid belongs to the Dichostrobiles of the Isoёtales sensu lato. This lycopsid conforms to Changxingia in the vegetative leaves, leaf cushions (including leaf scar and ligule pit), some parts of the megasporophyll (pedicel, heel and lamina), the megasporangium and the megaspores, although the branching pattern of axes, the arrangement and other parts of megasporophyll are still unknown. The fossils are described as Changxingia sp., and this genus is expanded with character of microspore. Hence, the previous and present data indicate that the earliest lycopsids with monosporangiate strobili from the Upper Devonian of China are consistent in Lagenicula megaspores with gula and Lycospora microspores with equatorial cingulum. In contrast, the Carboniferous lycopsids with monosporangiate strobili in Euramerica and Cathaysia show great diversification of both megaspores and microspores.     

中药银杏叶对老年痴呆症小鼠学习记忆能力的影响

目的研究中药银杏叶与西药脑复康片对老年痴呆症小鼠学习记忆能力恢复效果的差异。方法 KM小鼠随机分为对照组、模型组、银杏叶组和脑复康组,各组20只。除对照组外,其余组采用腹腔注射D-半乳糖和灌胃AlCl3进行造模,连续60 d。银杏叶组和脑复康组自造模起给予相应的药物,连续60 d。试验结束后测定小鼠学习记忆能力,测定脑组织中乙酰胆碱酯酶活性、过氧化脂质（MDA）含量、超氧化岐化酶（SOD）活性、Na＋、K＋-ATPase、游离钙离子含量和进行脑神经元细胞计数。结果与模型组比较,银杏叶组动物潜伏期明显延长,错误次数降低（P〈0.05）;银杏叶组动物脑组织SOD活性明显升高（P〈0.05）,MDA含量、Ca＋浓度含量、乙酰胆碱酯酶活性显著性降低（P〈0.05）,与对照及脑复康组比较未见显著差异（P〉0.05）;银杏叶组动物大脑海马锥体细胞数与模型组比较明显升高（P〈0.01）,大脑皮质神经元细胞数与模型组比较无明显差异（P〉0.05）。结论中药银杏叶改善小鼠学习记忆障碍的作用与西药脑复康片相似。     

银杏传粉生物学研究进展

银杏(Ginkgo biloba L.)是最古老裸子植物之一,其传粉受精过程表现出许多特殊的原始性状和特征,在种子植物的系统演化上具有重要研究价值;同时,银杏种实经济价值高,但栽培上由于授粉受精不良而导致落花落果现象严重,因此了解银杏传粉生物学特性对于其种实的优质高产具有实际意义.本文从银杏雌雄株开花物候学、雌雄花形态结构特征、花粉和胚珠发育进程、花粉和胚珠生物学特性、传粉机制及花粉在胚珠内萌发生长进程等方面,对银杏传粉生物学相关研究进行综述,为银杏的系统演化、授粉受精和种实发育研究提供参考.     

CALAMOCARPON INSIGNIS,A NEW GENUS OF HETEROSPOROUS,PETRIFIED CALAMITEAN CONES FROM THE AMERICAN CARBONIFEROUS

Baxter , R. W. (U. Kansas, Lawrence.) Calamocarpon insignis , a new genus of heterosporous, petrified calamitean cones from the American Carboniferous. Amer. Jour. Bot. 50(5): 469–476. Illus. 1963.—Calamocarpon insignis is described as a new genus of calamitean cone based on numerous fragments of microsporangiate and megasporangiate cones found in coal balls of middle Pennsylvanian age from the Cherokee Group of Kansas and the Des Moines Series of Iowa. The cones are similar to Calamostachys in general construction, having a hollow pith, prominent protoxylem canals, and alternating whorls of sterile bracts and sporangiophores. They differ in that the microsporangiate cones bear microsporangia each containing several hundred microspores which may occur as tetrads or single spores, while the megasporangiate cones bear large rectangular megasporangia each containing a single functional megaspore surrounded by sterile nutritive tissue. The microspores average 30–40μ in diameter compared to a maximum measurement of 2.7 × 0.7 mm for the single rectangular megaspore. The female gametophyte was produced within the megaspore which was held within the megasporangium during the entire period of development. The megasporangia were deciduous so that the entire structure was shed as a unit.     

A New Morphological Interpretation of the Female Reproductive Organs in Ginkgo biloba L., with a Phylogenetic Consideration on Gymnosperms

The ovuliferous structure of Ginkgo biloba L. has been variously interpreted morphologically. As a result the systematic position and the relationship with other gymnosperms of this ancestral gymnosperm have long been under dispute. In the present paper, a brief survey of the main views as to the nature of the ovuliferous structure is givcn. Based on morphological and teratological data previously reported, a new interpretation is proposed. The essential points are summarized as follows: 1. In morphological essence, a fertile dwarf shoot with some ovuliferous structures in Ginkgo biloba L. might as a whole be nothing but a megasporophyll strobilus (female cone), which is shared actually by all the conifers in the gymnosperms. The fertile dwarf shoot has appearance extremely similar to that of the vegetative dwarf shoot, suggesting that in Ginkgo biloba L. the vegetative organs and the reproductive organs have not been yet well differentiated, and thus its megasporophyll strobilus might represent one of the most primitive compound strobilus types. 2. In Ginkgo biloba, the ovuliferous structure borne in the axil of a scale leaf (sometimes a normal leaf) on the dwarf shoot, together with the scale leaf itself, might be the homogenous organ corresponding to the bract-scale and seed-scale complex of the compound female strobilus of the typical conifers. The complex is a relatively isolated reproductive unit on the strobilus. The normal leaves and the scale leaves on the dwarf shoot might be equivalent to the bract-scales in the typical cones, though the normal leaves still retain the vegetative nature as the foliage leaves on the vegetative shoot. The stalk hearing ovules at its top might be equivalent to a seed-scale of the typical cones. 3. The megasporophyll strobilus in Ginkgo biloba, namely a whole fertile dwarf shoot as mentioned above, seems to show much more primitive characteristics than those of typical conifers. In this plant it is very difficult to distinguish the fertile dwarf shoot from the common vegetative dwarf shoot before reproduction time. Moreover, its megasporophyll strobilus often exhibits more atavistic abnormalities than those of other conifers. All the evidence indicates that the primitive ancestor of conifers might have had the fertile organs which might be of basically identical morphology as vegetative shoots, except that in the fertile organs there might exist numerous fertile leaves bearing one or many ovules. 4. The longer stalk of the ovuliferous structure in Ginkgo biloba might have come from mainly a secondary elongation growth of the seed scale, and only a little part of it might be the remains of the original shoot. The fork structure bearing ovules at the top of the stalk might be the rudementary part of the petioles of the only two extremely reduced megasporophylls. The collar around the base of the ovule might be a secondary protective structure. 5. A correct morphological interpretation of the female strobilus in Ginkgo biloba is doubtless of important significance for our better understanding of the evolution of the female reproductive organs in conifers. According to our interpretation mentioned above, together with the concept of the bractscale and seed-scale complex proposed in the present paper, which is mainly based on the concept of the seed-scale complex propose by Florin, here we put forward an evolutionary theory of the bract-scale and seed-scale complex. According to this theory, the female reproductive organs of the ancestral conifers should be very similar, as mentioned above, to the sterile foliage shoot except that the former might have some fertile leaves which could produce ovules at reproduction time. This ancestral female reproductive organ type might have had evolved towards two directions and thus formed two main evolutionary lines. One is represented by the genus Cycas and we may call it the Cycas Evolutionary Line (C-line), in which the megasporophyll strobilus is monopodial, with the fertile leaves and sterile bracts occurring directly on the main axis. The Cycadaceae is the only living gymnosperm member along this evolutionary line. The second line is represented by all the conifers including Ginkgo, which all have the structure of the bract-scale and seed-scale complex, and thus we called it the "Bract-scale and Seed-scale Complex Evolutionary Line" (BS-line). The members along this line have multipodial female strobilus, i.e. compound strobilus. On the main axis occur some sterile vegetative bracts. In the axils of some or most of the bracts occur the seed-scales. The seed-scales are actually the remains of the extremely, or smetimes completely reduced fertile shoots. Each part of the bractt-scale and seed-scale complex and the main axis of the strobilus could have undergone independent or correlated changes, and thus have had formed various types of strobilus which are found in the living conifers. 6. Our theory on the evolution of the bract-scale and seed-scale complex seems to support the division of all the gymnosperms into two major groups as proposed by Chamberlain, and is also in favour of the placement of Ginkgo biloba into the conifers as the most primitive member along BS-line. 7. Based on their similar morphological characters, it can be considered that Ginkgo biloba might have close relationships with the Nageiaceae, Ephedraceae, Welwitschiaceae and Araucariaceae. All these groups have multinerved leaves without costa. These living gymnosperms might have a more direct relationship withthe ancestral cordaites.     

An embryological study and systematic significance of the primitive gymnosperm Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo biloba L.is considered one of the most ancient seed plants,with several primitive features of plant reproductive process.However,the phylogenetic position of Ginkgo and its relationship with other extant seed plants remain unclear.To gain a better understanding of these issues,we observed the embryological development of G.biloba using semi-thin sections and scanning electron microscopy.In late August,the zygote moved from the end of the micropylar to the middle of the archegonium,and mitosis resulted in many free nuclei distributed randomly in the archegonium.Afterwards,the cell wall was formed and the proembryo began to differentiate into the embryonal region and the underdeveloped presuspensor region.In early October,the embryo differentiated into two cotyledons,plumule,hypocotyl,radicle,and suspensor tissues.Subsequently,the two cotyledons grew rapidly,but the undeveloped suspensor began to degenerate and gradually disappear,indicating that the embryo had begun to mature.During early embryo development,the main supply of nutrients was carbohydrate in the cells of the jacket,tentpole,and surrounding endosperm,whereas endosperm provided nutrients during embryo maturation.Our results indicate that Ginkgo is extremely similar to cycads in terms of embryology but more similar to conifers in macromorphology and vegetative anatomy,suggesting that the Ginkgo lineage may have an intermediate phylogenetic position between cycads and conifers.     

Ginkgo biloba extract ameliorates gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

The effect of Ginkgo biloba (EGb), a plant extract with an antioxidant effect, has been studied on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in male wistar rats. Ginkgo biloba extract (300 mg/kg BW) was administered orally 2 days before and 8 days concurrently with gentamicin (80 mg/kg BW). Saline treated animals served as control. Estimations of urine creatinine, glucose, blood urea, serum creatinine, plasma and kidney tissue MDA were carried out after 8 days of gentamicin treatment. Kidneys were examined using histological techniques. Blood urea and serum creatinine were increased by 896% and 461% respectively, with gentamicin, compared to saline treated group. Creatinine clearance was significantly decreased with gentamicin. Ginkgo biloba extract protected rats from gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. Changes in blood urea, serum creatinine and creatinine clearance induced by gentamicin were significantly prevented by Ginkgo biloba extract. There was a 177% and 374% rise in plasma and kidney tissue MDA with gentamicin, which were significantly reduced to normal with Ginkgo biloba extract. Histomorphology showed necrosis and desquamation of tubular epithelial cells in renal cortex with gentamicin, while it was normal and comparable to control with Ginkgo biloba extract. These data suggest that supplementation of Ginkgo biloba extract may be helpful to reduce gentamicin nephrotoxicity.     

Cytoskeleton in Pollen and Pollen Tubes of Ginkgo biloba L.

The distribution of F-actin and microtubules was investigated in pollen and pollen tubes of Ginkgo biloba L. using a confocal laser scanning microscope after fluorescence and immunofluorescence labeling. A dense F-actin network was found in hydrated Ginkgo pollen. When Ginkgo pollen was germinating,F-actin mesh was found under the plasma membrane from which the pollen tube would emerge. After pollen germination, F-actin bundles were distributed axially in long pollen tubes of G. biloba. Thick F-actin bundles and network were found in the tip of the Ginkgo pollen tube, which is opposite to the results reported for the pollen tubes of some angiosperms and conifers. In addition, a few circular F-actin bundles were found in Ginkgo pollen tubes. Using immunofluorescence labeling, a dense microtubule network was found in hydrated Ginkgo pollen under confocal microscope. In the Ginkgo pollen tube, the microtubules were distributed along the longitudinal axis and extended to the tip. These results suggest that the cytoskeleton may have an essential role in the germination of Ginkgo pollen and tube growth.     

银杏良种江苏大佛手种实生长及内含物研究

本文报道从江苏引种的４个银杏优良品种的种实生长发育特性、种实与种核性状的比较及种仁内含物测定的结果,为提高江苏大佛手的产量和品质以及鉴定其在本地生长是否能保持优良性状提供科学依据。     

银杏主要病虫害综合治理技术研究

在广西桂林银杏产区,危害银杏的主要病虫害有银杏超小卷叶蛾、白蚁、叶枯病,植株受害后,树势生长衰弱,产量下降,尤其是百年银杏大树尤为明显。经过试验分析找出对上述病虫害进行治理的最佳技术措施是:采用施肥、抚育、修剪、清园等营林技术措施治本,药剂防治救急措施治标,以治本为主,标本兼治。试验结果:超小卷叶蛾的防治效果在92%以上,白蚁的防治效果达100%,叶枯病的防治效果在85.9%以上,平均单株产量比治理前增产20.3kg,增幅为94.8%,单株产量高于对照0.6倍,平均单株新梢量高于对照4.6倍。对示范区和推广区的治理树进行调查分析,共治理银杏大树14.58万株,平均每株增产银杏20.34kg,共增产银杏296.519万公斤,产值达4744.304万元,经济、社会、生态三大效益显著。     

Spore-bearing structures in Salvinia nymphellula Desv. (Salviniaceae)

Fructifications of Salvinia nymphellula Desv., recently discovered from two places in Ghana, are recorded and described here for the first time. Two particularly interesting features have been noticed in the specimens examined: (1) the occurrence of amphisporangiate sporocarps between the proximal megasporangiate and the distal microsporangiate ones of each fertile segment, and (2) a difference between the specimens collected from the two places in the relative sizes of the proximal and distal sporocarps of their fertile segments. These features have also been detailed and commented on in the text.     

银杏叶黄酮的乙醇提取方法研究

研究了银杏叶总黄酮含量的季节悸变化规律及利用乙醇提取银杏叶黄酮的方法,结果表明,根据银杏叶在一年生长间总黄酮含量确定银杏叶最佳采收时间为8－9月份,通过单因素试验和正交试验,确定乙醇提取银杏叶总黄酮的最佳条件为：银可中粉碎至50－60目,以70％乙醇按照液固比6：1的比例,于80℃条件下提取2次,每次1h,银杏叶总黄酮提取率可达87．6％。     

Is Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgoaceae) really an oviparous plant?

Germination of Ginkgo biloba seeds with intact and removed sarcotesta was compared to test the role of the seed coat in germination biology. The presence of an intact sarcotesta significantly reduced total germination percentage when compared to seeds with the sarcotesta removed. Some seeds were also cold stratified. This treatment was not necessary for germination, but it did improve total germination percentage. The seeds were collected during the period of natural abscission. Contrary to the accepted literature, we found that Ginkgo seeds contain well-developed embryos at the time of dispersal. These data demonstrate that the seed coat contributes to winter dormancy of G. biloba, and that the phenology of this species is less primitive than popularly believed.     

高压静电场对银杏愈伤组织生长的影响

银杏愈伤组织经１ ．０ｋＶ／ ｃｍ 强度的高压静电处理后, 愈伤组织生长速率提高, 超氧物歧化酶（ＳＯＤ） 活性和蛋白质及糖含量增加,过氧化物酶（ＰＯＤ） 和吲哚乙酸（ＩＡＡ） 氧化酶活性下降。实验表明,正高压静电场促进银杏愈伤组织细胞的生长,与ＨＶＥＦ 影响体内ＳＯＤ、ＰＯＤ 和ＩＡＡ 氧化酶活性以及蛋白质和糖含量的变化相关     

Ginkgolides induce apoptosis and decrease cell numbers in mouse blastocysts

In this report, we examine the cytotoxic effect of ginkgolides, the major components of Ginkgo biloba extracts, on the blastocyst stage of mouse embryos and on subsequent early postimplantation embryonic development in vitro. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay revealed that blastocysts treated with 5 or 10muM ginkgolide A or ginkgolide B showed increased apoptosis versus untreated controls. This could be correlated with the observation that ginkgolide-treated blastocysts showed a significant reduction in the average number of total cells in the blastocyst and trophectoderm/inner cell mass lineage versus controls. In addition, ginkgolide-pretreated blastocysts showed normal levels of implantation on culture dishes in vitro, but significantly fewer embryos reached the later stages of embryonic development in the treatment groups versus the controls, instead dying at relatively early stages of development. Our results collectively indicate that ginkgolide treatment of mouse blastocysts induces apoptosis, decreases cell numbers, retards early postimplantation blastocyst development, and increases early-stage blastocyst death. These novel findings provide important new insights into the effect of Ginkgo biloba extracts on mouse blastocysts.