ROLE OF THE LIGHT-DARK CYCLE AND MEDIUM COMPOSITION ON THE PRODUCTION OF COCCOLITHS BY EMILIANIA HUXLEYI (HAPTOPHYCEAE)1

Production of coccoliths by cells of Emiliania huxleyi (Lohmann) Hay and Mohler was measured during exposure of the cells to two diel light-dark cycles (16:8 h). During the light period about eight coccoliths per cell were formed at a constant rate of one coccolith per 2 h. Cells divided during the first half of the dark period. No coccolith production took place during the dark period. With electron microscopy we found early-stage, coccolith-production compartments in cells after mitosis while still in the dark. No calcification was observed in these compartments. Cells grown on enriched seawater (Eppley's medium) tended to produce enough coccoliths to cover the cell in a single layer. When these cells reached the stationary phase coccolith production stopped. Coccolith production was induced by removal of extracellular coccoliths. Cells grown on medium containing 2% of the nitrate and phosphate of Eppley's medium tended to produce coccoliths in the stationary phase. This resulted in the formation of multiple layers of coccoliths. The multiple covering was restored after decalcification of stationary cells. Formation of multiple layers of coccoliths may help the cells reach deeper, nutrient-rich water by increasing the sinking rate of the cells.     

THE RELATIONSHIP OF GIBBERELLIN AND AUXIN IN PLANT GROWTH

No synergism was found between IAA and gibberellin in the Avenucurvature test and this bioassay thus measures changes in diffusibleauxin resulting from gibberellin treatment and not a synergisticaction of the gibberellin on the curvature response to auxin.Gibberellin treatment causes an increase in diffusible auxinfrom the stem apex of dwarf pea (Pisum sativum L. var. LittleMarvel) 24 to 48 hours before the elongation response in thestem. The increase in diffusible auxin in the stem apex of Centaureacyanus L. var. Blue Boy occurs four to six days before the boltingresponse to gibberellin treatment under short days. The stemtissues of both the dwarf pea and Centaurea show an elongationresponse to IAA when the IAA is applied in a manner simulatingthe stem apex. Thus the growth of the dwarf pea and the boltingof Centaurea brought about by treatment with gibberellin aredependent on an increase in diffusible auxin. ¹Present address: Biological Institute, College of General Education,University of Tokyo, Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo.     

THE SCALING OF PLANT AND ANIMAL BODY MASS,LENGTH, AND DIAMETER

The interspecific scaling exponents of body mass M and diameter D with respect to length L were determined to evaluate the predictions of three scaling hypotheses (geometric, stress, and elastic similitude). The relation between M and L was determined for data from a total of 133 aquatic and terrestrial species (66 plant and 67 animal species); the relation between D and L was determined independently for a total of 753 aquatic and terrestrial species (667 plant and 86 animal species). Organisms were crudely classified as to their geometry (spheres, spheroids, cylinders) and shape (defined as the body slenderness factor, L/D) to examine whether geometry and shape evinced size-dependent variations. Regression indicated M = 1.29L^2.95 (r² = 0.91, N = 133; α_RMA = 3.09 ± 0.088). The stress and elastic similitude (which respectively predict α_RMA = 5 and α_RMA = 4) were rejected; geometric similitude was not (α_RMA = 3). For animals and plants, α_RMA = 2.81 ± 0.061 (r² = 0.98), and α_RMA = 2.95 ± 0.093 (r² = 0.94), respectively. For aquatics and terrestrial organisms, α_RMA = 2.82 ±0.134 (r² = 0.97, N = 36), and α_RMA = 3.08 ±0.111 (r² = 0.89, N = 97), respectively. These results were interpreted to support the hypothesis of geometric similitude. For the pooled plant and animals data, D = 0.05L^1.00 (r² = 0.95; α_RMA = 1.03 ± 0.009), which was compatible with the hypothesis of geometric similitude. For plants, D = 0.05L^1.06 (r² = 0.95; α_RMA = 1.09). For animals, D = 0.29L^0.98 (r² = 0.95; α_RMA = 1.01 ± 0.025). Also, for aquatics, α_RMA = 0.951 ± 0.151, whereas for terrestrial plants and animals, α_RMA = 1.03 ± 0.089. Although the scaling exponent for D differed among individual groupings of animals and plants, the results of regression analyses were interpreted to indicate that, on the average, body diameter scaled isometrically with respect to length as predicted by geometric similitude. For the pooled data set, organic shape varied over 3 orders of magnitude; L varied over 9 orders of magnitude reflecting 22 orders of magnitude of M. In terms of body geometry and the absolute numbers of species in the total data set: spherical shaped species (L = D) < unassigned species < prolate spheroidal species < cylindrical (squat < slender) species. The largest organisms in the data set were slender (L/D > 20) cylindrical plants; the smallest organisms were spherical plants and animals. Although not subject to statistical inference, these data were interpreted to indicate that organic shape and geometry evince size-dependent variations. These variations as well as size-dependent changes in bulk density are hypothesized to account for the scaling exponents of M and D determined for individual plant and animal clades and grades.     

植物生长调节剂的研究及应用进展

植物生长调节剂是合成植物激素,其可以调节植物的代谢和生理功能,并且已广泛用于农业、林业和其他领域。而植物生长调节剂本身存在的毒副作用所引起的安全问题也不容忽视,在使用调节剂时应保证其安全性和有效性。文章概述了植物生长调节剂的种类、作用功效、国内外植物生长剂的研究和应用情况及在使用中存在的问题,分析了调节剂药效的影响因素,就植物生长调节剂的进一步应用提出了建议,进行了展望,并对其应用于生态修复领域的可行性进行了分析。植物生长调节剂在使用时应注意:(1)适时适量;(2)多种药型谨慎搭配,科学调控植物生长剂的使用;(3)植物生长调节剂不能随意与农药搭配以避免不良反应的发生。