Corolla tube formation in six species of apocynaceae

Corolla tube formation inTrachelospermum asiaticum, Nerium indicum var.leucanthum, Anodendrom affine, Vinca major, Catharanthus roseus andAmsonia elliptica was investigated anatomically. The corolla tube formation among these species is basically similar. The bases of petal primordia extend laterally to the interprimordial regions, the upward growth occurrig at those regions just beside the petal bases. The extending petal bases connect with each other at the bases of the abaxial side of stamen primordia in the early stage of the corolla development. The upward growth at the coonnected regions results in the formation of a short corolla tube but is weakened rapidly. At the stage of the mutual connection of petal bases, a common base of petal and stamen primordia is initiated. This common base develops into the lower portion of the corolla tube, i.e. the portion below the stamen insertion. In a relatively late stage, adjacent margins, of the corolla lobes fuse postgenitally at their lower portions, resulting in the formation of almost all of the upper portion of the corolla tube. The corona inNerium andVinca is initiated by the active adaxial growth of the upper portion of the corolla tube.     

Reversible inhibition of ethylene action and interruption of petal senescence in carnation flowers by norbornadiene

The inhibitory effects of the cyclic olefin 2,5-norbornadiene (NBD) on ethylene action were tested in carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv White Sim) flowers. Treatment of flowers at anthesis with ethylene in the presence of 500 microliters per liter NBD increased the concentration of ethylene required to elicit a response (petal senescence), indicating that NBD behaves as a competitive inhibitor of ethylene action. Transfer of flowers producing autocatalytic ethylene and exhibiting evidence of senescence (petal in-rolling) to an atmosphere of NBD resulted in a rapid reduction in ethylene production, petal 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase activity, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid content, and ethylene forming enzyme activity. Removal of NBD resulted in recovery of ethylene biosynthesis. These results support the autocatalytic regulation of ethylene production during the climacteric stage of petal senescence and suggest that continued perception of ethylene is required for maintenance of ethylene biosynthesis. The inhibition of ethylene action by NBD after the flowers had reached the climacteric peak was associated with interruption of petal senescence as evidenced by reversal of senescence symptoms. This result is in contrast to the widely held belief that the rate of petal senescence is fixed and irreversible once petals enter into the ethylene climacteric.     

Relationship between Ethylene Evolution and Senescence in Morning-Glory Flower Tissue

An excised tissue system consisting of corolla rib segments was developed to study the relationship between senescence and ethylene production in morning-glory flowers (Ipomoea tricolor). Such segments, isolated 1 or 2 days (day −1 or day −2) before flower opening (day 0) passed through the same developmental phases as did the corresponding tissues of the intact organ. When excised on day −1 and incubated overnight, the rib segments turned from purple to blue and changed from a slightly curled to a flat configuration. On day 0, these segments rolled up during the afternoon and turned purple again, as did the ribs of an intact corolla; the rolling up coincided with an increased rate of ethylene production. Premature rolling up and associated ethylene evolution were induced by ethylene or propylene treatment. When segments were excised on day −2 and incubated overnight, there were no changes in color or shape; during day −1, no spontaneous rolling up and little ethylene evolution occurred. Application of ethylene or propylene to these immature segments elicited rolling up but did not stimulate endogenous ethylene production.     

PATTERNS OF FLORAL DEVELOPMENT IN AGALINIS AND ALLIES (SCROPHULARIACEAE). II. FLORAL DEVELOPMENT OF AGALINIS DENSIFLORA

Initiation of floral primordia begins in Agalinis densiflora with production of two lateral adaxial calyx lobe primordia followed by a midadaxial primordium, and then primordia of two abaxial calyx lobes. Initiation of three abaxial corolla lobe primordia is succeeded by that of two stamen pairs and then by primordia of two adaxial corolla lobes. The primordium of the abaxial carpel appears before the adaxial one. Except for the calyx, initiation of primordia proceeds unidirectionally from the abaxial to the adaxial side of the floral apex. Zygomorphy in the calyx, corolla, and androecium is evident during initiation of primordia and is accentuated during organogenesis. The calyx undergoes comparatively rapid organogenesis, but the inner three floral series undergo a protracted period of organogenesis. The perianth series reach maturation prior to meiosis in the anthers. Maturation of the androecium and gynoecium are postmeiotic events.     

Application of Digital Image Analysis System for Fine Evaluation of Varietal Differences and the Role of Ethylene in Visible Petal Senescence of Morning Glory

We detected differences in both onset and progression of visible petal senescence among morning glory cultivars by application of a digital image analysis system. The system is based on semiautomated time-lapse measurement of corolla areas. The system could also be applied to evaluate the effects of ethylene and its inhibitor on visible petal senescence. Both onset and progression of visible petal senescence were accelerated by ethylene treatment in all six cultivars tested. Treatment with aminooxyacetic acid (AOA), an ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor, prolonged time to onset of visible petal senescence in three of the six tested cultivars. In contrast, AOA treatment had no effect on duration of visible petal senescence in any tested cultivars. These data suggested differences among morning glory cultivars in the role of endogenous ethylene in controlling onset of visible petal senescence. In addition, we propose a new application of image analysis to fine quantification of time-lapse changes in the shape of plant organs.     

Functional micromorphology of petals of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chaenomeles japonica</Emphasis> exposed to humid and cold season

In this study, micro- and nano-traits of petal epidermises of flowers of Chaenomeles japonica extended under environmental conditions, during the humid and cold period of the year, are presented. The outer (abaxial) and the inner (adaxial) epidermises of petals of C. japonica consist of convex and papillae cells, respectively, that are covered by epicuticular wrinkled relief further ornamented by submicron motifs, forming interfaces between floral tissues and environment. Structural epidermal features of the petal relief at the nanoscale level reveal different functionality on the two sides of the corolla. The cuticular folds of convex epidermal cells display declining water retention on the outer petal surface and the exposed side of the corolla to the environmental conditions. The cuticular folds of papillae epidermal cells increase in size the inner petal surface, in comparison with the outer surface; such traits facilitate light absorption and enhanced the contact area among folds and curvatures at the inner side of the corolla. It appears that nanometric surface structures of petals may be important adaptive features of C. japonica flowers, contributing to their performance in the field.     

STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE PERIANTH IN DOWNINGIA BACIGALUPII

The structure and ontogeny of the calyx and corolla of Downingia bacigalupii Weiler (Campanulaceae; Lobelioideae) were investigated for the purpose of comparing perianth development with previous observations on the floral bract, as well as elucidating the mechanism of development of the zygomorphic, sympetalous corolla. Sepals are uni-traced with a palmate, reticulate venation. They have basal and apical hydathodes, as well as storage tracheids. Sepals show a reduction in size, venation and hydathode number when compared to the bract. The pentamerous, zygomorphic corolla is bilabiate, consisting of a three-lobed adaxial lip and a two-lobed abaxial lip connected by a short tubular region. The constituent petal lobes are also uni-traced and have a reticulate venation, resembling that of the sepal and bract, but lack storage tracheids and hydathodes. Sepals arise in an adaxial to abaxial succession and are initiated in the outer corpus layer of the floral apex. Expansion of the floral apex follows and is accompanied by the establishment of a second tunica layer. Sepals undergo apical, marginal, and intercalary growth accompanied by acropetal differentiation of procambium. The petals arise simultaneously and are initiated in the second tunica layer and the outer corpus cells. After initiation, the petals exhibit a period of apical and marginal growth followed by intercalary growth. Apical growth in petals is less protracted than in sepals, but plate meristem activity is more extensive. The free petal lobes become temporarily fused by an interlocking of marginal epidermal layers, but they separate at anthesis. Zonal growth beneath the originally free lobes forms the tube and lip regions of the sympetalous corolla. Zygomorphy is evident from the time of initiation of petals and is accentuated by later differential growth. Comparative observations of corolla ontogeny in autogamous species of Doumingia indicate that the reduced corollas in these taxa are derived by a simple process of neoteny.     

Comparative floral development in the tribe Mentheae (Nepetoideae: Lamiaceae) and its bearing on the evolution of floral patterns in asterids

A comparative developmental study of flowers was carried out using epi-illumination light microscopy on four genera of Lamiaceae (Nepeta, Rosmarinus, Salvia, andZiziphora), representing all three subtribes of Mentheae. All species examined share unidirectional (adaxial to abaxial) sepal initiation, except Rosmarinus, which has the reverse unidirectional sequence, starting abaxially. Initiated but suppressed bracteoles were detected only in Rosmarinus. In Rosmarinus, Salvia, and Ziziphora, initiation of petals and stamens proceeds unidirectionally from the abaxial side. Floral initiation of Nepeta has bidirectional inception of petals and unidirectional stamen initiation from the adaxial side. Temporal overlap in organ initiation between petal and stamen whorls occurs in all taxa, though this feature is more prominent in Rosmarinus. Significant structural and developmental features that distinguish the four genera include: (1) polysymmetric calyx tube, highly tomentose corolla and deeply four-partitioned ovary in Nepeta; (2) monosymmetric two-lipped calyx and shallowly four-partitioned ovary in Ziziphora; and (3) suppression of adaxial stamens in Salvia and Rosmarinus. Adaxial stamens are absent from Rosmarinus, but reduced stamens remain as staminodia in Salvia. In a phylogenetic context, the late monosymmetry of Nepeta and very early monosymmetry of Rosmarinus could both be regarded as derived conditions compared with the early monosymmetry ofSalvia and Ziziphora.     

Ethylene sensitivity: The role of short-chain saturated fatty acids in pollination-induced senescence of Petunia hybrida flowers

Normal and pollination-induced senescence of Petunia hybrida L cv. Pink Cascade flowers is accompanied by an increase in the sensitivity of the corolla to ethylene as indicated by an acceleration in the rate of corolla bluing after exposure to exogenous ethylene. Pollination resulted in the production of short-chain saturated fatty acids ranging in chain length from C₆ to C₁₀. Following pollination, these acids are synthesized in the stylar tissue via the acetate pathway within the first 12 hours. The fatty acids are transported rapidly to the corolla where they induce an increase in ethylene sensitivity. In unpollinated flowers, these acids are produced in the corolla during the early stages of senescence. Although the levels of these fatty acids decrease rapidly during the final stages of senescence, a significant increase in ethylene sensitivity could be detected prior to the decrease. It appears that the increase in ethylene sensitivity caused by the synthesis of short-chain saturated fatty acids occurs concurrently, but independent from ethylene synthesis.     

Original Paper Floral Organogenesis in Verbenaceae sensulato

The early floral ontogeny of three subfamilies, viz. Verbenoideae, Viticoideae and Caryopteridoideae of Verbenaceae (s.l.), was compared. Two differently initiated patterns were found. In the present species of Verbenoideae, there is a unidirectional sequence of organogenesis, from abaxial to adaxial side of the floral apex. While the abaxial paired sepal, petal and stamen arise sequentially, the adaxial paired sepal, petal and stamen do not appear or appear in a much earlier stage. The centripetal whorled sequence of organogenesis appears in Viticoideae and Caryopteridoideae, where sepal primordia arise simultaneously or successively (from adaxial to abaxial). After completion of sepal initiation a plastochron is indicated, during which time a change to the induction of petal takes place, and five petals appear simultaneously, followed by initiation of four stamens. Events of floral organogenesis support the phylogeny inferred from morphological data and rbcL sequence analysis, i.e. the subfamily Verbenoideae does not form a monophyletic group with the subfamilies Viticoideae and Caryopteridoideae.     

Comparative floral development in Lamioideae (Lamiaceae): Marrubium,Phlomis, and Stachys

A comparative study of floral ontogeny and development was carried out on three genera (Marrubium L., Phlomis L., Stachys L.), representing three tribes of Lamioideae (Marrubieae, Phlomideae, Stachydeae) using epi-illumination light microscopy. The sequence of organ whorl appearance in all three genera is sepals, petals plus stamens, and carpels. Sepal appearance is reversed unidirectional starting from the adaxial side in all except Phlomis, which is unidirectional. Order of petal appearance is bidirectional in Marrubium and Stachys, and simultaneous in Phlomis. Stamens appear unidirectionally starting from the adaxial side in all except in Phlomis, which has an abaxial to adaxial unidirectional sequence. Significant developmental features distinguishing the three genera from each other include (1) weakly monosymmetric, elongated calyx tube, five-lobed corolla, divergent anthers with thecae transverse to the filament, unequally bifid stigma and ovary with glandular hairs in Marrubium; (2) actinomorphic hairy calyx, four-lobed corolla and unequally bifid stigma in Phlomis; and (3) glabrous calyx, equally bifid stigma and symmetric disc nectary in Stachys. Our results indicate some potential for floral ontogenetic features in delimiting the different tribes. The hypothetical evolutionary pathway of organogenesis sequences is discussed.     

The higher resistance to chilling stress in adaxial side of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rumex</Emphasis> K-1 leaves is accompanied with higher photochemical and non-photochemical quenching

Responses of two sides of Rumex K-1 leaves to chilling stress (5 °C, photon flux density of 100 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) were studied by using gas exchange, chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence, and spectrum reflectance techniques. The Chl and carotenoid contents in the two sides were not affected by chilling treatment, and both were higher in the adaxial side. The maximum quantum yield of photosystem (PS) 2 and fraction of functional PS1 in the abaxial side decreased more markedly than those in the adaxial side during the chilling treatment, indicating that the abaxial side was damaged more significantly than the adaxial side. Before chilling, there were no obvious differences in actual photochemical efficiency of PS2, photosynthesis, and photorespiration between two sides of the leaves. Under chilling stress, the actual photochemical efficiency of PS2, photosynthesis, and photorespiration all declined more significantly in the abaxial side, which was partly attributed to lower carboxylation efficiency in the abaxial side than that in the adaxial side. Non-photochemical quenching was higher in the adaxial side, though the de-epoxidation of xanthophyll cycle pigments’ pool on basis of Chl was higher in the abaxial side. Both the slower decrease in the photochemical quenching and the higher non-photochemical quenching may account for the higher resistance to chilling stress in the adaxial side of Rumex K-1 leaves.     

Ectopic Expression of the Pttkn1 Gene Induces Alterations in the Morphology of the Leaves and Flowers in Petunia hybrida Vilm

A novel knottedl-like homeobox (knox) gene, Pttknl (Populus tremula×tremuloides knotted1), isolated from the cambial region of hybrid aspen, was introduced into Petunia hybrida Vilm. using the leafdisc method mediated by Agrobacterium. A series of novel phenotypes was observed in transgenic petunia plants, including the formation of ectopic spikes on the adaxial surface of corollas and small petals on theabaxial surface of corollas, fusion of floral organs, shortening of corolla midribs, the formation of tumor-like knots along the midrib on the abaxial surface and serrated lobs of corolla margins, and alterations in petal color; except for changes in the leaves and plant architecture, RT-PCR showed that the Pttknl gene was expressed in the leaves of different petunia transgenic plants, whereas no signal was detected in wild-type plants. The possible function of Pttknl in leaf and flower development is discussed.     

Physiological changes accompanying senescence in the ephemeral daylily flower

The daylily flower, Hemerocallis hybrid cv Cradle Song, develops from the opening bud to full senescence in 36 hours. Unlike other ephemeral flowers studied to date, it does not respond to ethylene, but other senescence phenomena are similar. There was a small respiration climacteric coinciding with early flower senescence, and it was also observed in isolated petals and petal slices. Cycloheximide abolished the climacteric and delayed senescence in all three systems. Petal apparent free space increased from 30% at bud opening to 38% at the onset of senescence, and sugar efflux increased from 0.2 to 2.8 milligrams per gram of fresh weight per hour during the same period. A sharp increase in ion efflux from 0.8 to 4.0 micromoles of NaCl equivalents per gram of fresh weight per hour, coinciding with the climacteric, was abolished by cycloheximide. Uptake of radiolabeled inorganic phosphate by petal slices from 100 micromolar solution increased during onset of senescence from 6 to 10 nmoles per gram of fresh weight per hour. Half was esterified; of this, 14% went into ATP, and the cellular energy charge remained high at 0.86 during senescence. The proportion incorporated into phospholipid (2.2%) did not change during senescence, but the proportion in phosphatidyl choline increased and in phosphatidyl glycerol decreased during senescence. The general phosphate ester pattern in presenescent slices closely resembled that in other plant tissues except that phospholipid precursors were more prominent (approximately 20% of total organic ³²P versus 5%). In senescent slices, the proportion of hexose phosphates decreased from 40 to 15% of total organic ³²P and that of phospholipid precursors increased to approximately 50%, suggesting that phospholipid synthesis was blocked early in senescence.     

鸡蛋花(夹竹桃科)花表皮气孔的初步研究

对鸡蛋花花表皮的气孔进行初步研究,结果发现:花冠裂片的上表皮没有气孔的分布;花冠裂片的下表皮则有气孔的分布。当花冠裂片长度1.5cm时,气孔密度最大,且极显著地高于花冠裂片长度为2.0、2.5、3.5cm和4.0cm时的气孔密度。长度为3.0cm的花冠裂片的气孔指数最大,与花冠裂片长度为1.0、2.0、3.5cm和4.0cm时的气孔指数的差异均达极显著水平。在花冠筒长度为0.3cm和0.4cm时,没发现气孔;当花冠筒生长到0.5cm时开始出现气孔。花冠筒长度为0.6cm时,气孔密度最大,且极显著地高于其它长度花冠筒的气孔密度。花冠筒长为0.6、1.1cm和1.3cm时的气孔指数均极显著地大于长度为0.5cm花冠筒的气孔指数。花冠裂片和花冠筒下表皮的普通表皮细胞都呈不规则的多边形,保卫细胞呈半月形。     

Flower ontogeny in Capparis spinosa (Capparaceae) with special emphasis on symmetry expression

The flower ontogeny of Capparis spinosa L. was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to shed light on the early expression of symmetry in a representative member of Capparaceae. Sepals start decussately with the abaxial and adaxial sepals, followed by the lateral ones. Petal appearance proceeds uni‐directionally from the abaxial to the adaxial side. Stamens develop centrifugally on an androecial ring. Five to seven carpel lobes arise on a gynoecial ring. Monosymmetry is established in early development by the uni‐directional petal appearance and is further enhanced by the acquisition of an abaxial nectary appendage and differential development of perianth organs at anthesis. The early monosymmetric pattern found in C. spinosa differs from the early monosymmetric and early disymmetric pathways of Cleomoideae. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the late establishment of monosymmetry is a reflective of symmetry in early development.