CARBOHYDRATE PHYSIOLOGY OF ORCHID SEEDLINGS. III. HYDROLYSIS OF MALTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES BY PHALAENOPSIS (ORCHIDACEAE) SEEDLINGS

Germinating seeds and developing seedlings of Phalaenopsis Habsburg and Phalaenopsis Ruth Burton × (Phalaenopsis Abendrot × Phalaenopsis Abendrot) can utilize glucose, maltose, maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose, and maltoheptaose as carbon sources. Fresh weight decreased significantly with increased polymerization from glucose through maltoheptaose. Seedling survival declined on higher molecular weight sugars reaching levels which were significantly different from those on glucose. Sugar uptake increased moderately with increasing molecular weight of oligomers. The maltooligosaccharides used in these experiments are hydrolyzed by the orchid seedlings and of the sugars which can support good growth glucose, but not maltose accumulate in culture media. As a result, media which supported seedlings contained substantial levels of glucose, the starting sugars, and decreasing amounts of the next shorter oligomers. This suggests enzymatic endwise hydrolysis of these maltooligosaccharides. Similar results were obtained with Phalaenopsis seedlings produced from seeds which were germinated on sugar-free medium and transferred to a solution containing the same oligomers. Sugars in media which did not support seedlings were not hydrolyzed.     

EFFECTS OF ETHEPHON,ITS NONETHYLENE-GENERATING ANALOG ETHYLPHOSPHONIC ACID,AND PHOSPHOROUS ACID IN ASEPTIC CULTURE OF ORCHID SEEDLINGS

Seeds of Cattleya aurantiaca (Orchidaceae) were germinated and grown aseptically on Knudson C medium containing 2.5, 5, 10, 20, and 50 mg l^-1 of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (Ethephon), ethylphosphonic acid, or the inorganic acid moiety of both, phosphosphorous (phosphonic) acid. 2-Chloroethylphosphonic acid, an ethylene precursor, reduced leaf length at 5–50 mg l^-1 proportional to increasing concentrations. Seedlings produced fewer leaves within the range of 20–50 mg l^-1 Ethephon compared to lower concentrations (2.5–10 mg l^-1). Germination was not affected adversely. Cultures containing the homologous, but not ethylene-generating ethylphosphonic acid in the same concentrations brought about similar but generally less severe reductions in leaf length and number. Phosphorous acid at the same concentration levels did not reduce the number and length of leaves. Our observation suggests that the intact organic phosphonates contribute to the inhibition of leaf growth caused by ethylene, which is released slowly from Ethephon in the culture medium and/or plant tissue, following uptake.     

ORCHID PHYTOALEXINS. II. ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POSSIBLE STEROL COMPANIONS

Four sterols have been isolated from extracts of Cymbidium pseudobulbs infected with Rhizoctonia repens M 32. One of them, ergosterol peroxide, is most probably an artifact of extraction. The other three, sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol, occur in a 70:25:5 ratio. Appearance of phytoalexin(s) in pseudobulb extracts coincides with increase of sterol production. This raises the question whether Cymbidium phytoalexins are related, biosynthetically or structurally, to sterols. Since the same three sterols occur (free or conjugated) in Cattleya and Arundina, but in different ratios to each other than in Cymbidium, they may be of value in chemotaxonomy.     

INORGANIC NITROGEN NUTRITION OF THE SEEDLINGS OF THE ORCHID,CATTLEYA

When grown in vitro in a medium containing NH₄NO₃ as the sole source of nitrogen, seeds ro the orchid, Cattleya (C. labiata ‘Wonder’ X C. labiata ‘Treasure'), germinated readily and proceeded to form small plantlets. Development of the embryos was accompanied by an increase in their total nitrogen and a decline in the percent dry weight. Growth responses of the seedlings in other ammonium salts like (NH₄)₂SO₄, (NH₄)₂HPO₄, NH₄Cl, ammonium acetate and ammonium oxalate were similar to that in NH₄NO₃. However, when grown in a medium containing NaNO₃, development of the seedlings was drastically inhibited; KNO₃, Ca(NO₃)₂, KNO₂ and NaNO₂ also were poor nitrogen sources. Attempts to grow the seedlings in NaNO₃ by changing the pH or by addition of kinetin, molybdenum or ascorbic acid as supplements were completely unsuccessful. When seedlings growing in NH₄NO₃ for varying periods were transferred to NaNO₃, it was found that those plants allowed to grow for 60 or more days in NH₄NO₃ could resume normal growth thereafter in NaNO₃. Determination of the nitrate reductase activity in seedlings of different ages grown in NaNO₃, after NH₄NO₃, showed that the ability of the seedlings to assimilate inorganic nitrogen was paralleled by the appearance of the enzyme.     

POST-POLLINATION PHENOMENA IN ORCHID FLOWERS. IV. EFFECTS OF ETHYLENE

Treatment of Cymbidium (Orchidaceae) flowers with 10/μl/liter ethylene for up to 78 hr induces anthocyanin formation in both gynostemia (columns) and labella (lips). After that, pigment levels decrease. During 24-hr exposures, ethylene concentrations of 0.1, 1, and 10μl/ liter cause increased anthocyanin levels in both lips and columns. Ethylene also brings about color changes in the calli and wilting of the perianth, but it does not cause straightening of gynostemia and stigmatic closure. Emasculation effects are similar to those of ethylene, whereas pollination and NAA induce anthocyanin formation and closing of stigmas, as well as swelling and loss of curvature in gynostemia. The effects of ethylene are correlated with its action in other systems.     

水分因对沙地柏实生苗水分和生长特征的影响

为探讨未来降雨条化对半干旱气候区毛乌素沙地常绿优势灌木沙地柏（Sabina vulgaris)实生苗水分和生长特征的可能影响。在鄂尔多斯沙地草地生态站开展了模拟降雨变化的实验,水分饱和亏缺和组织密度随土壤水分含量提高而降低,失水系数却相反,这表明沙地柏实生苗的保水抗旱性随模拟降雨量增加而降低。水分梯度对枝茎面积比无显著影响,叶质量茎面积比和叶质量枝面积比随土壤分含量增大击降低。这意味着实生苗分枝的供水潜力随水分可利用性提高而降低,水分变化显著影响生物量分配,而对形态和植冠生产力指数均显著影响;生物量、株高和茎茎增量的变化反映了沙地柏生长的缓慢性,系对水分变化的敏感性高于叶和茎,地下部分生物量投资随水分可利用性提高而增大,这暗示沙地柏实生苗可能通节约利用水分方适应自生境中的水分胁迫。     

Devlopmental Physiology of Sugar-Beet: II. EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE AND NITROGEN SUPPLY ON THE GROWTH, SOLUBLE CARBOHYDRATE CONTENT AND NITROGEN CONTENT OF LEAVES AND ROOTS

Plants were grown at temperatures of 15 and 25 ?C with two ratesof nitrogen supply. The changes in dry weight, leaf area, cellnumber, mean cell volume, soluble carbohydrate, and total nitrogenconcentration of the cotyledons, the first and second pair oftrue leaves, and the storage root were measured. Changes incell number and cell volume of the first pair of true leavesand storage root of plants were also measured at 11, 18, 25,and 32 ?C. Leaf growth before unfolding was chiefly by increase in cellnumber and after unfolding by increase in mean cell volume,while the growth of the storage root was almost entirely byincrease in cell number. The rates of cell division and cellexpansion were fastest at 25 ?C, but the initially high ratesof cell division in the terminal bud and in individual leavesdecreased rapidly and greater rates were maintained at the sub-optimaltemperatures, i.e. 15 and 18 ?C. After an initial period ofslow growth, the first-formed leaves grew faster and becamelarger at 15 than at 25 ?C. Leaves were produced, unfolded,grew faster, and became larger with increase in the externalconcentration of nitrogen, because cells divided and expandedfaster, so that nitrogen increased the number and size of cells. Sugar concentration was greater at 15 than at 25 ?C in leavesbut not in the storage root. Sugar concentration in the petiolesof the first and second pair of true leaves increased to 1.2and 2.0 per cent fresh weight respectively. Decreased nitrogensupply temporarily increased the sugar concentration of cotyledonpetioles and the seedling hypocotyl, but later decreased itin the leaves and storage root. Nitrogen concentration was greaterin the leaves and storage root at 15 than at 25 ?C with thelarger nitrogen supply. Nitrogen concentrations were similarin young leaves of all treatments but as the size of leavesincreased nitrogen concentrations decreased most rapidly at25 ?C with the smaller nitrogen supply. It is suggested that when increased leaf production and storage-rootgrowth occurs at temperatures below the growth optimum (25 ?C),they may be due to an effect of increased carbohydrate supplyon cell division and sugar storage.     

MORPHOMETRY OF ORCHID SEEDS. II. NATIVE CALIFORNIA AND RELATED SPECIES OF CALYPSO,CEPHALANTHERA, CORALLORHIZA AND EPIPACTIS

A study of Calypso, Cephalanthera, Corallorhiza and Epipactis seeds suggests that morphometric analysis can be useful as a taxonomic tool and an indicator of developmental patterns.     

盐分和水分胁迫对盐地碱蓬幼苗渗透调节效应的研究

利用不同浓度ＮａＣｌ和等渗ＰＥＧ处理４０ｄ龄的盐地碱蓬（Ｓｕａｅｄａｓａｌｓａ（Ｌ．）Ｐａｌ．）幼苗,１０ｄ后测定植株中主要有机溶质和无机离子的含量及叶片渗透势和渗透调节能力。结果表明,ＮａＣｌ处理的无机离子总含量急剧增加,其中Ｎａ＋、Ｃｌ－增加最多,占总计算渗透势（ＣＯＰ）的７１％～８８％,总无机离子占ＣＯＰ的９５％～９７％。而有机溶质总含量则稍有降低,约占ＣＯＰ的２％～５％。ＰＥＧ处理使有机溶质（氨基酸、糖、有机酸）含量明显增加,特别是氨基酸占ＣＯＰ的９％。不同处理的实测渗透势（ＭＯＰ）均小于ＣＯＰ,说明在这些条件下,还有其它的渗透剂参与盐地碱蓬幼苗的渗透调节。结果还表明,盐地碱蓬幼苗的渗透调节能力随外界盐浓度的增大而增加。