Changes in auxin patterns in developing gynophores of the peanut plant (Arachis hypogaea L.)

The peanut plant (Arachis hypogaea L.) produces flowers aerially, but buries the recently fertilized ovules in the soil in order for the fruit and seeds to mature underground. The organ that carries the seeds into the soil is called the gynophore. The growth of the peanut gynophore is regulated primarily by indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). A monoclonal antibody raised against IAA was used to successfully detect and localize this growth substance in the tissues of developing peanut gynophores. Five different stages of development were analysed: (1) before fertilization; (2) after fertilization; (3) during downwards growth; (4) at soil penetration; and (5) at the early stages of fruit formation. While no auxin signal is visible in the unfertilized ovules and ovary region, an asymmetric signal is observed in the gynophore wall after fertilization. During downwards growth, the auxin signal is located in both the meristematic region and in the area encircling the seeds, as well as in the cortex and epidermis region of the elongation zone. Upon soil penetration, the auxin signal in the meristematic region disappears, and most of the signal is detected in the gynophore wall near the tip. At the early stages of peanut fruit development, auxin signal is found at the lowermost area of the bending fruit, which eventually causes the fruit to be positioned horizontally. The results of this study suggest that the possible source of auxin within the gynophore may be the area of the gynophore wall close to the tip.     

Growth rates and auxin effects in graviresponding gynophores of the peanut, Arachis hypogaea (Fabaceae)

The gynophore of the peanut plant (Arachis hypogaea) is a specialized organ that carries and buries the fertilized ovules into the soil in order for seed and fruit development to occur underground. The rates of growth of vertically and horizontally oriented gynophores were measured using a time-lapse video imaging system. We found that the region of maximum extension growth due to elongation (termed the Central Elongation Zone) is located on average at 2-5 mm from the tip. In the first 0-4 h after horizontal reorientation (gravistimulation), new zones of growth emerge on the upper surface, while the elongation zone of the lower side decreases in size and magnitude. Four to six hours after reorientation the zones of maximum growth are almost equal in size and location on the upper and lower sides. The growth rate and the gravitropic response decreased dramatically, upon the excision of the ovule region (terminal 1.5 mm), but a gravitropic growth response could be restored by applying the auxin indole-3-acetic acid exogenously to the excised tip. The addition of napthylphthalamic acid (an auxin transport inhibitor) at the ovule region allowed some growth to occur, but the gynophores do not respond normally to gravity, upon horizontal reorientation. We discuss the role of auxin in the gravitropic response of the gynophore.     

Boron mobility in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

In most plant families, boron (B) is phloem immobile. For plants such as peanut which bury their fruit, the mechanism for B delivery and the B source for fruit and seed growth remains enigmatic. Therefore, this study aimed to establish evidence of B retranslocation in peanut and to identify its importance in plant development. In a sand culture experiment, the increase in B contents in new organs after B withdrawal and the corresponding decline in B contents in older organs was evidence of B redistribution. In a foliar ¹⁰B experiment, the ¹⁰B abundance of treated-leaves decreased and ¹⁰B was detected in leaves and flowers formed after the application of foliar B. Application of ¹⁰B to the roots for a period also provided evidence for the retranslocation of ¹⁰B accumulated during the first growth period. The ¹⁰B abundance in older plant parts declined and ¹⁰B appeared in new organs (flowers, pegs, leaves) that had developed after the ¹⁰B supply had been replaced by ¹¹B. In the fourth experiment, foliar application of B reduced hollow heart, a symptom of B deficiency in seeds, in cv. TAG 24 from 39 to 8% and in Tainan 9 from 63 to 18%. These experiments all provide evidence for B retranslocation in peanut, but further work on the relative importance of the xylem and phloem pathways for B loading into the fruit is needed.     

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from leaflets of peanut,Arachis hypogaea

Somatic embryos were induced on peanut (Arachis hypogaea) leaflets from aseptically germinated embryo axes. Leaflet size influenced percent somatic embryogenesis; 5–8 mm long cut leaflets were superior to 2–3 mm long uncut leaflets. Maximum embryogenesis of 14.6% was obtained after a 15 d incubation on induction medium (modified MS with B5 vitamins, 30 g/l sucrose, 4 g/l Gel-Gro, 40 mg/l 2,4-D +0.2 mg/l kinetin) followed by transfer to a secondary medium with 5 mg/l 2,4-D+0.2 mg/l kinetin. Primary somatic embryos were fused along the axes with no distinct cotyledons, but secondary embryos had single axes with two cotyledons. Other treatments had lower percent embryogenesis, no secondary embryogenesis, and embryos with single axes with two cotyledons. Some somatic embryos converted into normal plants capable of greenhouse survival.Abbreviations MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium - B5 Gamborg et al. (1968) B5 medium - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - BAP 6benzylaminopurine - NAA 1-naphthaleneacetic acid     

Auxin redistributes upwards in graviresponding gynophores of the peanut plant

The peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) produces flowers aerially, but buries the recently fertilized ovules into the soil, where fruit and seed development occur. The young seeds are carried down into the soil at the tip of a specialized organ called the gynophore. Although the gynophore has a typical shoot anatomy, it responds positively to gravity like a root. In this study, we explore the role of the plant growth regulator indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in the growth and the gravitropic response of the peanut gynophore. With an immunolocalization technique using an IAA monoclonal antibody, we localized IAA within the tissues of vertically oriented and gravistimulated gynophores. We found that in vertically oriented gynophores, IAA labeling occurs in the periphery of the gynophore, in the entire cortex and epidermis. Within 20 min of horizontal reorientation, the IAA signal gradually increases in the upper cortex/epidermis and diminishes in the lower cortex/epidermis. At 1.5 h after gravistimulation, all of the IAA immunolocalization signal is detected in the upper cortex and epidermis – none is detected in the lower side. Growth rate measurements also indicate that after 1–2 h of reorientation, the growth rate maximum on the upper side corresponds temporally and spatially to the growth rate minimum on the lower side. Experiments using radioactively labeled IAA corroborate an upper-side redistribution of this hormone upon horizontal reorientation. These results are analyzed with respect to the current theories of plant gravitropic response, and a model for a possible gravity-induced IAA redistribution from the lower to the upper side of the peanut gynophore is proposed. Received: 25 January 1999 / Accepted: 24 February 1999     

Fungal populations in the rhizosphere of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Summary A comparison of fungal populations in the rhizospheres of eight varieties of peanut grown in a red lateritic soil amended with farmyard manure was made by the dilution-plate technique. There was a marked increase in fungi in the rhizospheres of TMV 2, TMV 4, Pollachi Red and EC 1698, the increase was smaller in Spanish Improved and RS 1 while very little rhizosphere effect was shown by TMV 3 and Pondicherry 8. Age of the plant had a significant influence on numbers of fungi in the rhizosphere. High R/S ratios were obtained when the plants were 30 days old, at which time attained maximum vegetative growth and started to flower. The ratios gradually decreased after that age until the plants were three months old when there was again a small increase. This later rise in fungal populations is interpreted to be due to an increase in microbial activity around dead or senescent roots. No correlation could be established between numbers of root nodules produced by a variety and its rhizosphere effect. Preferential stimulation of certain fungi in the rhizosphere of some of the varieties was noticed.     

花生衰老进程的研究

通过对鲁花11号和辐8707 2个高产花生品种的衰老进程研究表明：花生衰老具有地上部（叶片）渐进衰老和整株衰老的双重特点。花生从始花至花后60d左右为地上部（叶片）渐进衰老期：此期主茎高、侧枝长、分枝数、主茎、侧枝绿叶数、叶面积、茎、叶干重迅速增加,并接近或达到最大值,主茎及侧枝基部叶片逐渐由下向上开始衰老死亡,饱果开始出现,根系活力、固氮酶活性逐渐升高至接近最大值,始花后60－90d为整株缓衰期,此期地上部茎叶生长基因停止,逐渐开始衰老死亡,主茎、侧枝绿叶数开始减少,生殖体（荚果）干重迅速增长,根系活力、固氮酶活性缓慢降低;始花后90d以后称为整株速衰期,此期主茎、侧枝绿叶迅速减少,地上部迅速衰老死亡,生殖体（荚果）干重缓慢增长,根系活力、固氮酶活性迅速降低。地上部（叶片）渐进衰老期与开花及大量荚果形成相对应,整株缓衰期伴随着荚果迅速增重,整株速衰期与荚果缓慢增重一致。     

Importance of glutathione in the nodulation process of peanut (Arachis hypogaea)

GSH appears to be essential for proper development of the root nodules during the symbiotic association of legume-rhizobia in which the entry of rhizobia involves the formation of infection threads. In the particular case of peanut-rhizobia symbiosis, the entry of rhizobia occurs by the mechanism of infection called 'crack entry', i.e. entry at the point of emergence of lateral roots. We have previously shown the role of GSH content of Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA 6144 during the symbiotic association with peanut using a GSH-deficient mutant obtained by disruption of the gshA gene, encoding gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS), which was able to induce nodules in peanut roots without alterations in the symbiotic phenotype. To investigate the role of the peanut GSH content in the symbiosis, the compound L-buthionine-sulfoximine (BSO), a specific inhibitor of gamma-GCS in plants, was used. There were no differences in the plant growth and the typical anatomic structure of the peanut roots when the plants grew in the Fahraeus medium either in presence or in absence of 0.1 mM BSO. However, the GSH content was reduced by 51% after treatment with BSO. The BSO-treated plants inoculated with wild-type or mutant strains of Bradyrhizobium sp. showed a significant reduction in the number and dry weight of nodules, suggesting that GSH content could play an important role in the nodulation process of root peanut with Bradyrhizobium sp.     

Role of carbohydrate moieties in peanut (Arachis hypogaea) peroxidases.

The activities of a cationic (C.PRX) and an anionic peroxidase isolated from peanut (Arachis hypogaea)-cell suspension culture were drastically reduced when they were deglycosylated with glycopeptidase F or oxidized by 10 mM-periodate. In contrast with the controls, the deglycosylated or the oxidized peroxidases were much more susceptible to proteolytic degradation. In radiolabelling experiments with [35S]methionine, the non-glycosylated C.PRX was synthesized in the tunicamycin-treated cultures and secreted into the medium. Examination of the C.PRX polypeptides by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis followed by fluorography showed that the non-glycosylated form had an Mr of approx. 31,000, which is about 78% of that of the glycosylated form. Our results suggest that carbohydrates may not be essential for peroxidase secretion, but that stabilization of the peroxidase molecules and acquisition by these isoenzymes of a catalytically active conformation is linked directly or indirectly to glycosylation.     

Utility of EST-derived SSR in cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and Arachis wild species

Background  

Lack of sufficient molecular markers hinders current genetic research in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.). It is necessary to develop more molecular markers for potential use in peanut genetic research. With the development of peanut EST projects, a vast amount of available EST sequence data has been generated. These data offered an opportunity to identify SSR in ESTs by data mining.     

花生镉污染研究进展

花生既是世界主要的油料作物,又是重要的植物蛋白来源和食品加工原料.随着花生直接食用和食品加工的不断增加,国际上对花生籽粒Cd含量问题越来越关注.我国是世界上重要的花生生产国和出口国.近年来,花生Cd含量偏高已经成为制约我国出口贸易的重要因素.本文从花生籽粒Cd富集能力、花生Cd含量的种内差异、籽粒中Cd的分布规律、影响花生籽粒Cd积累的机制和降低花生籽粒Cd含量技术等方面,对花生Cd污染研究的现状与问题进行了论述.指出在花生Cd污染控制方面有2种策略可以考虑,一是降低花生对土壤Cd的吸收;二是控制Cd向籽粒的迁移富集.为此需要从3个方面加强对花生籽粒Cd积累机制的研究,即花生根系活性特征参数及其与籽粒Cd积累的关系;花生果荚Cd吸收机制及其对籽粒Cd含量的贡献;花生植株体内Cd迁移机制及其与籽粒Cd含量的关系.     

Plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Somatic embryos were induced from immature cotyledons and immature embryonal axis ofArachis hypogaea L. on L-6 basal medium supplemented with NAA, picloram or 2,4-D at 5–50 mg 1^-1. Immature embryonal axis produced a higher number of somatic embryos in comparison with immature cotyledons. The highest number of responding cultures was produced on medium supplemented with NAA (50 mg 1^-1), while the highest average number of somatic embryos per culture was produced on medium with 2,4-D (10 or 20 mg 1^-1) and picloram (30 mg 1^-1) from cotyledons. The somatic embryos developed into plants on basal medium supplemented with activated charcoal and about 100 plants were successfully transferred to the field. Acknowledgement: The authors wish to thank Nuclear Agriculture Division, BARC for supplyingA. hypogaea seeds and Mr. R.M. Mudliar for photography.     

花生镉污染研究进展

花生既是世界主要的油料作物,又是重要的植物蛋白来源和食品加工原料．随着花生直接食用和食品加工的不断增加,国际上对花生籽粒Cd含量问题越来越关注．我国是世界上重要的花生生产国和出口国．近年来,花生Cd含量偏高已经成为制约我国出口贸易的重要因素．本文从花生籽粒Cd富集能力、花生Cd含量的种内差异、籽粒中Cd的分布规律、影响花生籽粒Cd积累的机制和降低花生籽粒Cd含量技术等方面,对花生Cd污染研究的现状与问题进行了论述．指出在花生cd污染控制方面有2种策略可以考虑,一是降低花生对土壤Cd的吸收;二是控制Cd向籽粒的迁移富集．为此需要从3个方面加强对花生籽粒Cd积累机制的研究,即花生根系活性特征参数及其与籽粒Cd积累的关系;花生果荚Cd吸收机制及其对籽粒Cd含量的贡献;花生植株体内Cd迁移机制及其与籽粒Cd含量的关系．     

Pterocarpenes elicited by Aspergillus caelatus in peanut (Arachis hypogaea) seeds

The substituted pterocarpenes named aracarpene-1 (1) and aracarpene-2 (2) were isolated from wounded peanut seeds challenged by a strain of Aspergillus caelatus. The structures of these putative phytoalexins were determined by interpretation of NMR and MS data. The aracarpenes were investigated for their antifungal and antibacterial activities as well as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities in mammalian cells. Aracarpene-2 demonstrated high antibacterial properties against tested gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, whereas aracarpene-1 displayed low antibacterial properties against the same bacteria. Both compounds had no antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus. Together with peanut stilbenoids that are also produced in the challenged seeds, these compounds may represent a class of low-molecular weight peanut metabolites with a defensive role(s) against pathogenic microorganisms.     

Somatic embryogenesis from the axillary meristems of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Developmental anomalies in the plumule meristem of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) somatic embryos resulted in poor shoot differentiation and reduced plant recovery. Existing meristems with caulogenic potential have never been tested for embryogenesis in peanut. The present experiment was designed to test the mature zygotic embryo axis derived plumule with three meristems for somatic embryogenesis. Embryogenic masses and embryos developed from the caulogenic meristems in the axils. Exposure of 2 weeks in primary medium with 90.5 μM 2,4-D suppressed the shoot tip differentiation temporarily which then regained the ability to form the shoot on withdrawal of 2,4-D. Exposure of 4 weeks in primary medium with 90.5 μM 2,4-D suppressed the shoot tip differentiation irreversibly. No shoot formation was noted from the tips in any of the cultures which were in secondary medium with 13.6 μM 2,4-D. Development of somatic embryos directly from axillary meristems was confirmed histologically. Conversion frequency of these embryos was 11%. Thus, in this report, we describe a method to obtain somatic embryos from the determined organogenic buds of the axillary meristem, by culturing the nodal explant vertically on embryo induction medium. It also displays the possibility of obtaining both embryogenic and organogenic potential in two parts of the same explant simultaneously. The possibility of extending this approach for genetic transformation in in vivo system through direct DNA delivery or Agrobacterium injection in meristems can also be explored. Using Agrobacterium rhizogenes, we have demonstrated the possibility of gene transfer in the axillary meristems of seed-derived plumule explant.     

Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated gene transfer in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Transgenic peanut plants were produced using Agrobacterium mediated gene transfer. Primary leaf explants of peanut were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA 4404 harbouring the binary plasmid pBI 121 (conferring -glucuronidase activity and resistance to kanamycin) and cultured on regeneration medium supplemented with kanamycin to select putatively transformed shoots. They were rooted and plants were transferred to soil. Stable integration and expression of the transgenes were confirmed by NPT II assay, Southern blot hybridization and GUS assay.Abbreviations BA 6-benzyladenine - GUS -glucuronidase - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - NOS nopaline synthase - NPT II neomycin phosphotransferase II - SDS Lauryl sulfate     

A simplified methodology for purification of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) agglutinin

The agglutinin from peanut (Arachis hypogaea) was readily isolated by affinity chromatography on acid-treated Sepharose 6B. The recovered lectin (50 mg/100 g seeds) appeared as a single band of Mr 32,000 on gel electrophoresis and its specific haemagglutination titre on desialylated human A red blood cells was very high (2(15)).