THE ULTRASTRUCTURE AND HISTOCHEMISTRY OF THE SYNERGIDS OF COTTON

The composition and ultrastructure of the synergids of cotton were studied. The cells were found to be surrounded by a partial wall composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectins. The structure of the wall was observed to consist of an unusual fibrillar arrangement. The filiform apparatus was demonstrated to be an extension of the wall at the micropylar end of the cell. Large amounts of ER surround the filiform apparatus. Also associated with the latter are large numbers of plastids and mitochondria. The nucleus is large and contains a single, large nucleolus and, frequently, 1 or more micronucleoli. The nuclear membrane contains membrane-bound vesicles but has few extensions into the cytoplasm. The ER is oriented parallel to the long axis of the cell and decreases in concentration from the micropylar to the chalazal end of the cell. Dictyosomes are common throughout the cell but are more numerous in the midportion where they are closely associated with the ER. The chalazal end of the cell is occupied by vacuoles rich in an inorganic compound which leaves a considerable residue of ash. Spherosome-like bodies are common throughout the cell. Both the plastids and mitochondria show evidence of division. Ribosomes are numerous and are both free and associated with the ER, nucleus, plastids, and mitochondria. The function of the synergids is proposed to be the absorption, storage, and transport of compounds from the nucellus. On the basis of this function, it is suggested that the synergids act by providing material to the egg and the developing embryo and endosperm and that they are involved in the growth of the pollen tube into the embryo sac.     

黄瓜子叶扩张与细胞分裂素的关系

BA(benzyl adenine)专一性地促进离体黄瓜子叶的扩张。为了研究 BA 的作用机理,我们采用间接 EIISA 和 HPLC 的方法测定了子叶扩张过程中内源玉米素(Z)和玉米素核苷(ZR)含量的变化。离体黄瓜(Cucumis sativus,津研4号)子叶用10mg/l 的 BA 培养,72小时之后,处理子叶鲜重的增加比对照高70%。Z+ZR 在 BA 处理的子叶中有大量的积累。结果表明 BA 可能诱发了黄瓜子叶中的细胞分裂素生物合成和代谢的某些基因。     

THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE STALK AND BASE OF THE ANTHERIDIUM OF POLYTRICHUM

The fluorescent boundary across the stalk of an antheridium of Polytrichum appears as a distinctive, secondary wall layer in electron micrographs. Lamellations of electron-dense and -lucent materials cause this layer to resemble the “suberized lamellae” of root endodermis and leaf bundle sheaths in grasses. The cells of the stalk below the boundary are especially rich in lipid droplets, whereas those in the base of the antheridium, above the boundary, have markedly fewer and smaller lipid droplets and abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum often in loosely parallel arrays. Cytological differences develop before the boundary appears, so that the distinctive wall layer is secreted by protoplasts that are already specialized morphologically. During maturation of an antheridium there is a secretion of a fluid into a space that forms at the bottom of the sperm chamber. However, the cells surrounding this fluid show no special morphological adaptations that would seem to relate to secretion.     

EFFECTS OF ELEVATED CARBON DIOXIDE ON ESTIMATION OF LEAF AREA AND LEAF DRY WEIGHT OF SOYBEAN

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of elevated CO₂ on relationships between leaf area (A) and linear leaf dimensions (length [L] and width [W]) and leaf dry weight (M) in soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Bragg). Based on dimensional measurements made on trifoliolates 1–6 for plants grown under three CO₂ levels (348, 502 and 645 μl l^−-1), the best predictor for both trifoliolate leaf area and for fully expanded central leaflets of the trifoliolates was an equation of the form A = b_o + b₁L·W; these relationships were unaffected by CO₂, although there was a small effect of leaf position. For expanding central leaflets of the fifth trifoliolate, no CO₂, leaf size (age) or CO₂ × leaf size effect was found. Specific leaf weight (i.e., M/A) was significantly affected by CO₂, increasing with increasing CO₂. Hence, trifoliolate dry weight can be nondestructively estimated from trifoliolate area using the equation M = 0.097 + (6.71 × 10^−-3 + 1.04 × 10^−-6[CO₂])A, where [CO₂] is mean daytime CO₂ concentration of the growth environment.     

THE ULTRASTRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE OESOPHAGUS OF PATELLA VULGATA LINNAEUS

The oesophagus of Patella vulgata Linnaeus is divisible intotwo histologically and functionally distinct regions, a centralfood channel and a series of lateral pouches forming the oesophagealglands: both are lined by a glandular ciliated columnar epithelium.Subepithelial mucous cells are restricted to the epitheliumlining the food channel and posterior section of oesophagus,whilst amylase-secreting cells occur only in the oesophagealglands. The activity of the ciliated cells lining the food channelmixes ingested food with saliva and mucus to form a food stringthat is carried towards the stomach. Amylase-secreting cellsproduce an extracellular amylase in the form of proteinaceoussecretory granules, which are released by apocrine secretionwithin cytoplasmic blebs. Release is correlated with periodsof immersion when feeding is possible. The free blebs are carriedout of the pouches and into the food channel where the amylaseinitiates carbohydrate digestion. The oesophageal epitheliumabsorbs tritiated D-glucose by a Na⁺-dependent mechanism inhibitedby 2,4-DNP and phloridzin and the amylase-secreting cells pinocytoseferritin. It is suggested that the oesophagus absorbs smallsolute molecules derived from ruptured algal cells and theirpartially digested polysaccharide storage products. There alsoappears to be pinocytosis of dissolved organic matter. ^*Current address: The R L. Weston Institute for NeurologicalStudiet, University College & Middlesex Medcal School, MortimerSt., London Wl. (Received 8 March 1988; accepted 29 April 1988)     

GROWTH OF EXCISED PINE EMBRYOS AND THE ROLE OF THE COTYLEDONS DURING GERMINATION IN VITRO

A study was made of the role of the cotyledons, embryo orientation, surgical treatment, darkness, light, and autoclaved coconut milk on the growth of Pinus lambertiana Dougl. embryos in vitro. The embryos did not require an haustorial function of the cotyledons in vitro. Removal of the shoot meristem drastically altered the developmental physiology of the embryo and the function of the root meristem was severly inhibited. Positional effects on embryo growth were reversed by darkness. In the light vertical-inverted tube cultures displayed better growth than horizontal-inverted tube cultures, whereas in the dark the horizontal-inverted tube cultures displayed better growth than the ver ical-inverted tube cultures. Autoclaved coconut milk had no statistically demonstrable effect on embryo growth as measun d by the analysis of variance and Student-Newman-Keul's range test; however, the graphical analysis suggests that, in conjunction with the presence of the shoot meristem, there may be a slight beneficial response to autoclaved coconut milk.     

日本沼虾精子的形态和超微结构研究

应用电子显微镜技术结合细胞化学方法对日本沼虾精子进行子形态和超微结构研究。结果显示,日本沼虾精子琪似外翻的伞状,无鞭毛,不运动的精子主要由前端棘突,中间帽状体和后主体部分组成,精子的核属非浓缩型,内布许多絮状物质,外无核膜包被,呈Ｆｅｕｌｇｅｎ阳性反应,位于后主体部内;中间帽状体的细胞质内含有一对中心粒和１５－２０根放射状排列的纤丝,纤丝在帽状体凸面中央汇聚并延伸成精子的棘突,棘突和放射状纤丝皆具     

大熊猫臼齿釉质的超微结构和氨基酸组成

大熊猫臼齿釉质的超微结构特征主要是施氏明暗带的宽度一般由8—15条釉柱组成;釉柱的横切面一般呈六角形或四角形,由里向外,釉柱的直径逐渐增大。在靠近釉牙本质界处,釉柱数量逐渐减少,有时甚至完全缺失,形成无釉柱结构的釉质。大熊猫臼齿釉质的氨基酸组成主要以甘氨酸,丙氨酸,谷氨酸,天冬氨酸和亮氨酸的含量为最高,而蛋氨酸,胱氨酸和酪氨酸的含量为最低。另外,还含有少量的羟脯氨酸。这种组成模式一般与人类和其它哺乳动物牙齿釉质的氨基酸组成相类似。     

THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF SCHOPFIPOLLENITES: ORBICULES AND TAPETAL MEMBRANES

Electron microscopy of in situ fossil (Pennsylvanian) pollen assignable to the taxon Schopfipollenites indicates the presence of orbicules and tapetal membranes similar to those associated with the secretory tapetum of extant plants. Orbicules are spheroidal, hollow and associated with a complex tapetal membrane system. Each membrane is three-parted, consisting of two thin layers attached by beads of electron-dense material. A thicker, outer layer is suggestive of the orbicule reticulum described in some angiosperm families. A comparison between the fossil orbicules and membrane systems and those of extant plants is presented.     

THE HISTOCHEMISTRY AND ULTRASTRUCTURE OF JACK PINE MICROSPORANGIA DURING THE WINTER

The development of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) microsporangia from October to April was investigated with a microdensitometer and a transmission electron microscope. DNA, RNA, and protein content of sporogenous cells was measured at monthly intervals. DNA was unreplicated (2C) until March when DNA synthesis was first noted, coinciding with a loss of heterochromatin. Protein content doubled in April. RNA staining increased in December and then decreased. Numerous whorls and stacks of rough endoplasmic reticulum and ribonucleoprotein-like granules appeared in December and may be related to the RNA increase. A fibrillar, light-staining region was found in the cytoplasm of the sporogenous cells from November to March. It was hydrolyzed in the presence of protease and may be a winter morphology of microfilament bundles or dictyosomes. Lipid bodies and vacuoles were abundant in the tapetum and sporangial wall cells during the winter. Observations substantiate reports that winter is not a time for cessation of development.