Uptake and translocation of paclobutrazol by shoots of M.26 apple rootstock

When ¹⁴C-paclobutrazol, a gibberellin synthesis inhibitor, was applied to different parts of actively-growing M.26 apple rootstock shoots it was translocated acropetally when applied to the young stem and, to a lesser extent, from the youngest unrolled leaf. Paclobutrazol was not translocated out of leaf laminae, shoot tips or from one-year-old wood but translocation occurred out of a treated petiole into the attached leaf. No basipetal translocation was detected. This translocation pattern suggested movement through the xylem.Localised application of paclobutrazol caused a reduction in shoot extension and leaf production when the young stem or shoot tip were treated; the effect decreased as older parts of the stem were treated. Treatment of laminae or petioles had only a slight effect on shoot extension and treatment of one-year-old wood was ineffective. Combined treatment of the shoot tip plus young stem was similar in effect to treatment of the complete shoot.It is suggested that paclobutrazol exerts its effects on shoot growth by inhibiting gibberellin biosynthesis in the shoot tip and the expanding leaves.The findings contribute to an understanding of the requirements for efficient orchard application of foliar sprays of paclobutrazol.     

Insect-screened cultivation to reduce the invasion of tomato crops by Bemisia tabaci: modelling the impact on virus disease and vector

1 In two experiments carried out in Guadeloupe, barriers were used to reduce the entry of the virus vector Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) to tomato plots. The barriers erected around the crop were of insect‐proof cloth fences (<50 mesh), 1.5 m in height, in the first experiment with a deltamethrin‐treated, insect‐attracting strip facing inwards, and, in the second, with the barrier but no insecticide‐treated strip. 2 A mathematical model of epidemic development was fitted to the symptom data from the treated and control (unprotected) tomato plots. There were two viruses present, tomato yellow leaf curl and potato yellow mosaic; specific detection confirmed that symptoms gave an accurate indication of infection and that the two virus diseases had similar progress curves. 3 Parameter estimates obtained by model‐fitting suggested that the barriers reduced vector immigration by approximately 12‐fold but that B. tabaci retention within the plots was also increased slightly despite the mortality caused by the insecticide‐treated strips. Disease establishment was delayed by approximately 2 weeks. The results obtained in the second experiment involving barriers deployed without insecticide‐treated strips could be explained by a large increase in B. tabaci retention within the barriers resulting in more rapid virus disease progress than in controls. The results of mathematical modelling indicate that partial insect barriers can be worse than none because sufficient whiteflies can enter to establish a population and, at the same time, large numbers are retained in the barrier plot, with the net effect being a more rapid population increase than in the absence of barriers.     

弱光下生长的葡萄叶片蒸腾速率和气孔结构的变化

 植物能够对生长环境产生生态适应性,这种适应性可从气孔导度、光合速率、水分利用效率等生态指标上反映出来。为了研究葡萄蒸腾特性对弱光环境的适应性变化,本试验以‘京玉’葡萄幼苗（Vitis vinefera cv. Jingyu）为试验材料,通过遮光处理（2个处理,分别遮光65%和85%）营造弱光环境,测定了在弱光环境下生长的葡萄叶片蒸腾速率、气孔导度、水分利用效率对光照强度的响应,同时用扫描电镜技术观察了气孔的发育。结果表明,弱光环境下生长的葡萄幼苗,叶片的水势较高,但水分利用效率较低,叶片蒸腾速率和气孔导度变化对光照强度的响应缓慢,而自然光下生长的葡萄叶片则反应较迅速。通过对气孔结构的研究发现,与自然光照环境下生长的植株相比,在弱光环境下生长的葡萄幼苗,叶片下表皮的气孔横轴变宽,大小气孔之间差异减少,气孔外突,表皮细胞变大甚至扭曲,角质层变薄。说明葡萄幼苗能够对弱光环境产生适应性变化,其蒸腾特性的变化与其气孔结构的变化相关,具有一致性。     

模拟酸雨对红壤区茶树器官氮磷含量及其化学计量比的影响

以红壤区25年生茶园为对象,开展pH 4.5、pH 3.5、pH 2.5及自来水(对照)4种强度模拟酸雨处理原位试验,于处理第3年收集茶树体不同功能根系和不同年龄枝、叶,测定氮(N)、磷(P)含量,并计算化学计量比和酸雨响应敏感度.结果表明: 土壤pH值、硝态N和有效P随酸雨强度增加而显著降低.吸收根N含量随酸雨强度增加而提高,pH 2.5处理下吸收根N含量与对照相比显著提高32.9%;储藏根P含量随酸雨强度增强而显著降低;同时酸雨处理显著提高吸收根N/P.新叶和老叶N、P含量对不同强度酸雨处理响应不敏感,但酸雨处理增加了老叶N/P,且在pH 3.5处理下达到显著水平.酸雨处理对枝条的影响与其年龄有关,新枝N含量和N/P在低强度酸雨(pH 4.5)处理下显著增加,而老枝N含量和N/P对酸雨处理响应不敏感.吸收根、新叶和新枝N含量对酸雨响应敏感度分别高于储藏根、老叶和老枝,而储藏根和叶片P含量对酸雨响应敏感度高于其他器官.茶树器官N含量对酸雨处理较为敏感,适度酸雨可增加幼嫩器官N含量和N/P,改变茶树体N、P的循环和平衡.     

Field evaluation of integrated pest management-compatible pesticides for the citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) and its parasitoid Ageniaspis citricola (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)

Potentially selective and integrated pest management (IPM)-compatible pesticides for the citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton and its parasitoid Ageniaspis citricola Logvinovskaya were compared under nursery field conditions at Gainesville, FL. In 1996, replicated blocks of young grapefruit trees were treated with 2% petroleum oil and 1 x the lowest recommended field rate (LRFR) of diflubenzuron + oil (0.4%). Untreated and treated controls (avermectin at 1 x the LRFR + oil) were included. In 1997, blocks were treated with oil (3%), 1 x the LRFR of azadirachtin + oil, 1 x the LRFR of diflubenzuron + oil and 0.1 x the LRFR of avermectin + oil. Untreated and treated controls were again included. Oil at 3%, azadirachtin at 1 x the LRFR + 0.4% of oil, and diflubenzuron at 1 x the LRFR + 0.4% of oil were shown to be IPM-compatible pesticides. In 1997, these blocks had fewer mines per leaf and P. citrella pupae parasitized by A. citricola per total leaves sampled compared with the untreated control but more than the treated control (alpha = 0.05). Avermectin at 0.1 x the LRFR + 0.4% of oil was not considered an IPM-compatible pesticide because, while it reduced the number of P. citrella mines per leaf, it reduced the number of A. citricola to levels as low as the treated control. Actual P. citrella infestation levels had no detectable effect on tree growth and vigor. Pesticide applications were not justified when P. citrella infestations were < 1 mine per leaf and the biological control agent A. citricola was present.     

Red leaf color as a warning signal against insect herbivory: Honest or mimetic?

The co-evolution theory for red leaf colors considers redness as a handicap signal against herbivory. We have examined whether the assumed signal is honest and, accordingly, costly, by seeking a correlation between anthocyanin and total phenolic levels in 11 plants exhibiting variation in the expression of the red character either between individuals or between modules on the same individual. Selection of total phenolics as a variable was based on their assumed anti-herbivore function and on their common biosynthetic origin with anthocyanins. Plants with young or senescing red leaves were tested. Confirming evidence was found in senescing leaves, where in three out of the four studied species a significant and strongly positive correlation between signal strength (redness) and actual defensive potential (total phenolics) was found, rendering the signal both honest and costly. In young, developing leaves a significant, yet weakly positive correlation was found only in three out the seven examined species. Accordingly, the handicap signal hypothesis may be questioned in the case of young leaves. Hence, young leaf redness fits more to the alternative hypotheses that red leaf color is less easily perceived by folivorous insect photoreceptors or that red leaf color undermines insect camouflage. These hypotheses do not demand an increased chemical defensive potential.     

水稻不育系安农S-1育性转换及相关基因的表达分析

通过在自然环境和高温温室内对安农S-1的不同部位进行高温、低温诱导处理,对水稻温敏核不育系安农S-1的温度敏感时期和诱导部位进行了研究。总共进行了8种处理,结果表明：安农S-1的育性转换时期是从花粉母细胞形成到减数分裂的四分体时期之前。在育性转换时期,处于高温的条件下,根部低温处理不能诱导安农S-1可育,穗部低温处理可以使安农S-1保持可育,可见安农S-1的温度敏感部位在幼穗。aprz基因和育性相关,用RT-PCR方法研究了aprt基因在安农S-1不同部位和不同温度环境的表达变化,结果显示,在幼穗中aprt基因的表达在高温环境中被大幅度下调,而在叶中和根中的变化比较小,这说明幼穗对温度最敏感,从侧面验证了引起安农S-1育性转换的温度敏感部位是在幼穗。     

A Mathematical Method for Studying the Endogenous Component of the Circadian Temperature Rhythm and the Effect of Aging

A mathematical model was developed in order to study the endogenous component of the circadian rhythm in body temperature. The model describes the fluctuations in body temperature as a function of a cosine-shaped endogenous rhythm plus an exogenous component which is linearly correlated with the time spent in active wakefulness. The model was evaluated in 4 young and 4 old rats. In 7 out of 8 rats there was a significant lack of fit when the traditional cosinor method was used, as compared with only 1 out of 8 when using our model. In all 8 rats the regression was highly significant and also useful as defined by the ? m criterion. The results from the model were in agreement with literature regarding constant routine studies in humans. The mean amplitude of the endogenous rhythm was 0.24°C in young rats and 0.19°C in old rats, whereas the amplitudes of the overt rhythm were 0.38 and 0.26°C, respectively. The age-related differences in the amplitude of the overt circadian temperature rhythm could to a large extent be attributed to age-related differences in activity-induced heat production. Finally, the acrophase of the endogenous rhythm occurred 18.7 minutes later than that of the overt rhythm. If applicable to human, the proposed method may form a valuable extension to existing constant routine protocols for studying the endogenous circadian rhythm in body temperature.     

The differential mortality at various life stages of the greenhouse whitefly,Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), by infection with the fungus Aschersonia aleyrodis (Deuteromycotina: Coelomycetes)

The parasitoid Encarsia formosa is commonly applied to control the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum in glasshouse tomatoes and cucumbers. Nevertheless, in some cases the control capacity of this natural enemy is insufficient and an additional selective pest-suppressing agent is desirable. The entomopathogenic fungus Aschersonia aleyrodis was applied to cucumber plants carrying whiteflies in different developmental stages. After spraying each leaf with 2 ml of spore suspension (4 × 10⁶ spores/ml) the plants were kept at 100% RH for 24 hr; thereafter the humidity was lowered to 70% RH at 20°C and the photoperiod was 16 hr. Treated eggs did not become infected, but larvae that hatched from these eggs and settled on the treated abaxial leaf surface were infected at the same rate and to the same degree as treated first instar larvae. This suggests that the spores persist for at least 7 days. The final percentages of infection over all instars when treated as young eggs, old eggs, and first larval instars were 94, 93, and 90%, respectively. The final percentages of infection when treated as third and fourth larval instars and prepupae were 76, 28, and 12%, respectively. The older instars were less susceptible and adults were seldom infected by the fungus. Several applications of A. aleyrodis as a microbial insecticide are needed to achieve sufficient control of whitefly populations in glasshouses.     

Herbivore-induced resistance in Betula pendula: the role of plant vascular architecture

We studied the role of plant vascular architecture in the determination of the spatial extent of herbivore induced responses within Betula pendula Roth saplings. The induced responses were measured in bioassays in terms of the relative growth rate of larvae of a geometrid moth, Epirrita autumnata. We hypothesised that the level of induced resistance of a certain leaf would be determined by the degree of vascular connectivity between the leaf in question and a damaged leaf, as suggested by recent theoretical and empirical studies. A comparison of the control plants with the damaged plants indicated that damaging one leaf of a sapling was sufficient to induce an increase in the resistance level. There were also differences among the leaves within a plant in the resistance level, but these differences could not be explained by the degree of vascular connectivity with the damaged leaf. These results suggest that the vascular connections have low power as explanations of the spread and spatial extent of the induced resistance in Betula pendula saplings Instead, the resistance level of all leaves within a sapling increased following the damage. We suggest that the pattern of increased resistance observed in this experiment may be beneficial for the young saplings studied. For young saplings at their early stages of development, it may be beneficial to be able to distribute the induction signal to all leaves as fast as possible and thus repel the herbivore totally. For a young sapling, the capability of repelling the herbivore totally might thus be a feasible strategy whereas an older sapling may tolerate localised damage better and compensate for the damage within the undamaged plant parts.     

Population regulation of a classical biological control agent: larval density dependence in Neochetina eichhorniae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a biological control agent of water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes

The release of classical biological control agents has reduced the economic, environmental and social problems caused by water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes; however, additional control measures are needed in some locations. Water hyacinth plants were treated with different densities of eggs of the weevil Neochetina eichhorniae Warner, one of the main control agents, under different nutrient regimes in a controlled experiment. Plants were destructively sampled and the development of N. eichhorniae was assessed. The survival of first and second instars declined as larval density increased. Plant nutrient status did not directly affect the mortality rate of larvae, but at higher nutrient concentrations larvae developed faster and were larger at a given developmental stage. It is argued that the density dependence operating in N. eichhorniae occurs through an interaction between young larvae and leaf longevity. Consequently, events which disrupt water hyacinth leaf dynamics, e.g. frost or foliar herbicides, will have a disproportionately large effect on the control agents and may reduce the level of control of the host.     

Paclobutrazol enhances photosynthesis and ajmalicine production in Catharanthus roseus

An investigation was carried out with paclobutrazol (PBZ) in order to study its effect on the photosynthetic and anatomical characteristics of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. The chlorophyll content and related parameters like net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and internal CO₂ concentration were measured from control and treated plant samples. The anatomical characteristics, viz., leaf thickness, epidermis and cuticle, palisade layer, spongy layer and vascular bundle were studied. The root alkaloid ajmalicine was extracted and estimated from both treated and control plant roots. Photosynthetic pigment increased under PBZ treatment. PBZ treatment increased the net photosynthetic rate and internal CO₂ concentration, but reduced transpiration. PBZ treatment increased the thickness of the leaf, epidermis and cuticle, palisade layer and spongy layer but reduced the diameter of xylem vessels significantly when compared to control, however the phloem elements had shown an increased diameter as compared to control in the PBZ treated plants. There was a significant enhancement in ajmalicine content under PBZ treatment when compared to control plants. The results suggested that the application of PBZ have significant effects on photosynthetic and anatomical responses thus can be used for improving productivity in medicinal plants.     

翅果油树叶面积和叶重的预测模型

数学模型对于非破坏性地研究和预测植物的生长状况非常方便有效。以山西省翅果油树自然保护区翅果油树（Elaeagnus moles）叶片为研究对象,利用简单易测的叶长（L）、叶宽（w）和叶绿素含量（SPAD）及其不同的组合作为模型拟合参数,建立了关于叶面积（LA）、叶饱和鲜重（SFW）和叶干重（DW）的预测模型共10个,选择拟合度最好的模型作为LA、SFW和DW的预测模型,这3个模型分别为：LA=3．647＋0．383LW＋0．001LWS（R=0．968）,SFW=-0．464＋0．081L＋0．00008LV／S（R=0．963）,DW=-0．094＋0．032W＋0．0001LS（R=0．960）,并用实测值对模型进行了验证,结果表明LA、SFW和DW的预测值与实测值分别达到了高度一致,能够用于对实际未知叶片LA、SFW和DW的预测。     

STRUCTURAL AND HISTOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE CAMBIUM AND SHOOT MERISTEMS OF SOYBEAN TREATED WITH 2,3,5-TRIIODOBENZOIC ACID

Flowering soybeans were sprayed at the tips with 50 ppm TIBA. Microscopic and macroscopic observations were made of the nodes, internodes, and shoot meristems every week for 4 wks after TIBA treatment. TIBA-treated plants produced open flowers at the upper nodes 1 week earlier than did control plants. Accompanying this early flower development, the following changes occurred in the upper internodes, as compared to controls: (a) increased activity of the procambium; (b) rapid development of thick-walled protophloem cells; (c) production of small vessels. Three weeks after treatment middle internodes of treated plants showed less cambial activity than did corresponding internodes of controls. The changes in the middle internodes of treated plants suggest a close correlation with increased flowering. Two weeks after treatment some lateral shoot apices at nodes nearest the main shoot apex exhibited the following changes, in contrast with controls: (a) development of conical apices with stack-of-brick-like peripheral cells; (b) shrinkage of protoplasmic contents in some rib meristem cells and young pith cells; (c) frequent thickening of primary walls in young pith cells. Three weeks after treatment cells of lateral shoot meristems with conical axillary buds showed a denser stain for protein than did cells of corresponding meristems of controls. Floral apices in these meristems also stained more densely for protein than did similar apices in control plants. Together with early flower production in the upper nodes of treated plants, less starch occurred 2–3 weeks after treatment than in corresponding nodes of controls. Two to three weeks after treatment lateral shoot apices of both treated and control plants had numerous, large starch grains in the rib meristem, young pith, leaf and bud primordia, and developing flowers but few starch grains appeared in the tunica, corpus, and procambium.     

Plant–Microbe Interactions: Wetting of Ivy (Hedera helix L.) Leaf Surfaces in Relation to Colonization by Epiphytic Microorganisms

Abstract Leaf wettability, cuticular wax composition, and microbial colonization of upper and lower leaf surfaces of ivy (Hedera helix L.) was investigated for young and old leaves sampled in June and September. Contact angles of aqueous buffered solutions measured on young leaf surfaces ranged between 76° and 86° and were not dependent on the pH value of the applied droplets. Contact angles measured on old leaf surfaces were up to 32°, significantly lower than on young leaf surfaces. Furthermore, contact angles were significantly lower using aqueous solutions of pH 9.0 compared to pH 3.0, indicating the influence of ionizable functional groups on leaf surface wetting properties. Observed changes in leaf wetting properties did not correlate with different levels of alkanoic acids in cuticular waxes. However, microscopic examination of the leaf surfaces indicated the influence of epiphytic microorganisms on wetting properties of old leaves, since their surfaces were always colonized by epiphytic microorganisms (filamentous fungi, yeasts, and bacteria), whereas surfaces of young leaves were basically clean. In order to analyze the effect of epiphytic microorganisms on leaf surface wetting, surfaces of young and clean ivy leaves were artificially colonized with Pseudomonas fluorescens. This resulted in a significant increase and a pH dependence of leaf surface wetting in the same way as it was observed on old ivy leaf surfaces. From these results it can be deduced that the native wetting properties of leaf surfaces can be significantly masked by the presence of epiphytic microorganisms. The ecological implications of altered wetting properties for microorganisms using the leaf/atmosphere interface as habitat are discussed. Received: 20 March 1999; Accepted: 5 July 1999; Online Publication: 18 July 2000     

The absorption, translocation and distribution of the herbicide glyphosate in maize expressing the CP-4 transgene

Maize (Zea mays L. var. Bonnie) transformed with a gene encoding a 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase with altered sensitivity showed over 100-fold greater resistance to the herbicide glyphosate (N-[phosphonomethyl]glycine) in comparison with its non-transformed progenitor (parental control) at the third-leaf stage. Studies with [¹⁴C]-glyphosate at a dosage lethal to the parental control, but sublethal to the transgenic, revealed that a maximum of 45-65% of the applied dose was absorbed, with greater absorption occurring in transgenic plants. Translocation of glyphosate was closely related to its absorption (r value 0.956) with approximately 15% more of the applied dose being mobilized in transgenic plants than the parental controls. Analysis of electronic autoradiograms along the treated leaf lamina found discrete internal regions of glyphosate accumulation closely associated with the site of application. These regions contained lower amounts of glyphosate present in the treated leaf lamina was almost completely translocated in transgenic plants, while in the parental controls more remained and the leaf became necrotic. In both types of maize there was a small accumulation of herbicide in the tip region of the leaf which was not mobilized. Younger shoot tissues and roots were major sinks for translocated glyphosate accumulating approximately 25-40% of the applied dose depending upon treatment. In the parental control, equal amounts of glyphosate were found distributed between young shoot tissues and roots; while in transgenic plants, the young shoot tissue accumulated around three times more glyphosate than the roots. In both plant types, glyphosate was localized in the meristems and young, actively growing leaves. Specific glyphosate activity (the amount of glyphosate per unit dry weight of tissue) in the major sinks of the transgenic declined towards the end of the treatment period but remained relatively constant in the parental control. In conclusion, enhancing glyphosate resistance by genetic transformation influenced the absorption, translocation and distribution of this herbicide in whole plants.Keywords: Zea mays, glyphosate (N-[phosphonomethyl]-glycine), transgenic, absorption, translocation, source-sink.      

Predicting the Leaf Area and Leaf Dry Weight of Elaeagnus mollis in Shanxi

Non destructive and mathematical approaches of modeling can be very convenient and useful for plant growth estimation. The leaf of Elaeagnus mollis was taken as the object of research. Leaf length、 leaf width、SPAD value and different combinations of these variables were developed models to predict individual leaf area, saturated fresh weight, and dry weight of Elaeagnus mollis. Ten regression equations were compared. Select fitting the best model as a predictive model in leaf area, saturated fresh weight and dry weight. The three models were as follows: individual leaf area LA=3647+0383LW+0001LWS (R=0968), saturated fresh weight SFW=-0464+0081L+000008LWS (R=0963), and dry weight DW=-0094+0032W+00001LS (R=0960). The best prediction model of LA, SFW and DW was validated with the measured value. The results showed that the predicted values and measured values were highly consistent. It could be used to predict the LA, SFW and DW of actual unknown leaves.     

A direct liquid, non-equilibrium solid-phase micro-extraction application for analysing chemical variation of single peltate trichomes on leaves of Salvia officinalis

A non-equilibrium solid phase micro-extraction application was tested for the rapid extraction of essential oil from single oil glands of sage and the oil components compared with those determined by solvent extract and distillation. Oil glands were directly ruptured with a polydimethylsiloxane-coated fused silica fibre and the essential oil was sorbed. Three insertion levels of an individual plant of Salvia officinalis involving an immature apical young leaf, an expanding and a fully developed leaf, respectively, were used to determine the applicability of this method. Thirty-eight components in the oil could be identified by GC-MS. The method only showed small semi-quantitative differences compared with conventional methods. Chemical variation of single oil glands within the immature and premature leaf was higher than within the homogeneous mature leaf. The intermediary, still-expanding leaf was used to carry out a detailed study of the glands. The basal region of the intermediary leaf contained compounds in high conformity with the young leaf trichomes. The remaining oil glands of this leaf showed inconsistent accumulation patterns.