Regulation of Leaf Shape in the Solanifolia Mutant of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) by Plant Growth Substances

The solanifolia mutant (sf/sf) of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)produces leaves consisting of leaflets with entire margins,unlike the lobed leaflets of normal plants. Normal plants treatedwith gibberellic acid (GA₃) produced leaves with entire marginswhereas mutant plants exposed to 2-chloroethyl-trimethyl ammoniumchloride (CCC)—an inhibitor of gibberellin biosynthesis—producedlobing of leaflets. The leaf area of the mutant was significantlygreater than that of the normal, but was not significantly differentfrom GA₃-treated normal leaves. Similarly, in CCC-treated mutantleaves the leaf area was not different from that of normal untreatedleaves. These observations suggest that the sf/sf mutation affectsthe leaf shape through its effect on endogenous gibberellinsand/or inhibitory substances. Leaf shape, Lycopersicon esculentum, plant growth substances, tomato     

Experimental and Analytical Studies of Pteridophytes: XXXVII. A Note on the Inception of Microphylls and Macrophylls

In an attempt to shed new light on the nature of microphyllsand macrophylls, a study has been made of leaf inception inselected materials, including Psilotum, Tmesipteris and otherpteridophytes, and flowering plants such as Cuscuta with greatly‘reduced’ leaves. It is shown that the incipientprimordia of the small scale-like leaves of Psilotum and ofthe quite substantial, though microphyllous, laminate leavesof Tmesipteris are closely comparable and that there are noessential differences in the histological organization of incipientmicrophylls and incipient macrophylls. In parasitic speciessuch as Cuscuta, with small scale-like leaves, the organizationof the apical meristem and the inception of primordia are asin normal autotrophic species. The so-called ‘reduced’leaves and the microphyllous condition of some pteridophytesare attributable to a physiological-genetical limitation ofgrowth of primordia in the subapical regions of the shoot. Theconclusions which may be drawn from these observations are discussed.     

Chemical and Hydraulic Influences on the Stomata of Flooded Plants

Flooding the soil greatly reduced stomatal opening and leafgrowth rate of pea (Pisum sativum L cv. Feltham First) seedlings.This was despite the fact that leaf water potential and turgorwere not significantly affected by the treatment. Potassiumuptake and transport to the leaves was reduced by flooding.Stomata of flooded plants could be reopened by incubating leavesin solutions containing KC1. These observations raise the possibilitythat nutrient deficiency may limit stomatal opening and growthin flooded plants. We also consider the possibility that potassiumdeficiency may interact with a modification in the balance ofgrowth regulators in the leaves to modify stomatal behaviourand growth. Key words: Flooding, stomata, leaf growth, water relations, potassium     

Positive and Negative Messages from Roots Induce Foliar Desiccation and Stomatal Closure in Flooded Pea Plants

Flooding the soil for 5–7 d caused partial desiccationin leaves of pea plants (Pisum sativum. L. cv. ‘Sprite’).The injury was associated with anaerobiosis in the soil, a largeincrease in the permeability of leaf tissue to electrolytesand other substances, a low leaf water content and an increasedwater saturation deficit (WSD). Desiccating leaves also lackedthe capacity to rehydrate in humid atmospheres, a disabilityexpressed as a water resaturation deficit (WRSD). This irreversibleinjury was preceded during the first 4–5 d of floodingby closure of stomata within 24 h, decreased transpiration,an unusually large leaf water content and small WSD. Leaf waterpotentials were higher than those in well-drained controls.Also, there was no appreciable WRSD. Leaflets detached fromflooded plants during this early phase retained their watermore effectively than those from controls when left exposedto the atmosphere for 5 min. Stomatal closure and the associated increase in leaf hydrationcould be simulated by excising leaves and incubating them withtheir petioles in open vials of water. Thus, such changes inflooded plants possibly represented a response to a deficiencyin the supply of substances that would usually be transportedfrom roots to leaves in healthy plants (negative message). Ionleakage and the associated loss of leaf hydration that occurswhen flooding is extended for more than 5 d could not be simulatedby isolating the leaves from the roots. Appearance of this symptomdepended on leaves remaining attached to flooded root systems,implying that the damage is caused by injurious substances passingupwards (positive message). Both ethylene and ethanol have beeneliminated as likely causes, but flooding increased phosphorusin the leaves to concentrations that may be toxic. Key words: Pisum sativum, Flooding, Foliar desiccation, Stomata, Ethylene     

Comparative Analysis of Chloroplasts and Mitochondria in Leaf Chlorenchyma from Mountain Plants Grown at Different Altitudes

Plants showing natural adaptation to growth in mountainous conditionswere collected from different elevations representing both forestand subrival belt ecosystems Mid-regions of leaves were preparedfor electron microscopy where morphometric observations wererecorded regarding the frequency of occurrence of chloroplastsand mitochondria, and their mean dimensions. The results showedthat both organelles, especially mitochondria are more abundantin plants growing at the higher elevation Oxytropis lapponica, O chionobia, Poa alpina, P pratensis, Geranium collinum, high elevation, mitochondria, chloroplasts, forest belt, subnival belt     

A Comparison of the Chemical Composition of Injured Leaves in Contrast to Uninjured Leaves of Victoria amazonica (Nymphaeaceae)

The object of this paper is to describe chemical and mineralogicalchanges in Victoria leaves that have sustained insect damage. Of 44 elements detected in various plant parts of Victoria amazonica(Poeppig) J. de C. Sowerby (V. regia auctt) Nymphaeaceae, only15 elements showed statistically significant differences inconcentration between insect-damaged leaves and whole (undamaged)leaves of the same plants. Two different types of insect damagewere noted: one was clearly recent, while the other was clearlyolder, probably not differing in time more than three weeks.Mg, Ca, Al, Si, S, Fe, Mn, Li and Ce were significantly moreconcentrated in the damaged leaf sections than in undamagedleaves of the mature plants with unopened buds. In the caseof preflowering plants, Na, Mg, Ca, Al, Si, S, Cl, Fe and Mnwere more prevalent in the damaged tissue than in the unattackedleaves of the same plants. In the former case, Na, K, Cl andP are rapidly lost when damage occurs, while plants that havehad a chance to recover from the damage, as in the case of thepreflowering plant leaves, begin to make up the difference inelemental concentration between the damaged and undamaged leaves. Mineralogical investigation showed that the amount of calcite(CaCO₃), the calcium oxalates weddellite and whewellite, andthe siliceous minerals - low-form cristobalite opal, low-formtridymite opal and quartz-was higher in the recently injuredleaves than in those that had been injured some time previouslyor than in the uninjured leaves. It is hypothesized that theincreased precipitation of minerals resulting from injury ispart of the plants' defence mechanism against further attackby insects or animals. Insect injury, Victoria, leaves, inorganic composition, mineralogy     

How Does Water Ascend in Tall Trees and Other Vascular Plants?

Since the Cohesion Theory was first introduced, a series ofincompatible observations has appeared in the literature. Directmeasurements of xylem pressure in single vessels of higher plantsand tall trees by means of the xylem pressure probe techniqueindicate that xylem tension in the leaves of intact, transpiringplants is often much smaller than that predicted for transpiration-drivenwater ascent through continuous water columns. We conclude thatthe available evidence warrants a critical reappraisal of tension-drivenwater transport as the exclusive mechanism of long-distancewater transport in plants.Copyright 1995, 1999 Academic Press Cohesion Theory, higher plants, long-distance transport, trees, water ascent, xylem pressure probe     

Formation of Pseudowhorls inPeperomia verticillata(L.) A. Dietr. Shoots Exhibiting Various Phyllotactic Patterns

Pseudowhorls are composed of leaves attached at almost equallevels and separated by single fully elongated internodes. InPeperomiaverticillata, pseudowhorls form regularly in shoots exhibitingboth spiral and truly whorled patterns of phyllotaxis. In spiralsystems, they are composed of successive leaves positioned onthe ontogenetic helix. In whorled phyllotaxis, leaves of twoadjacent whorls occur at almost the same level and this wayform a pseudowhorl. The number of leaves per pseudowhorl dependson the type of phyllotactic pattern and also the system of primordiapacking. In all the shoots, regardless of the type of phyllotaxis,the number of leaves per pseudowhorl equals the number of leafprimordia in physical contact with the apical dome. It is thesame as the higher number in contact parastichy pairs in spiralpatterns or the number of orthostichies in whorled phyllotaxis.The pseudowhorled pattern is already manifested in the arrangementof leaf primordia. In spiral and whorled phyllotaxis the plastochronratio calculated for primordia or whorls belonging to adjacentpseudowhorls is always higher than that calculated for membersof one pseudowhorl. Moreover, angular distances between primordiaof one pseudowhorl in spiral patterns are more uniform thanexpected in Fibonacci phyllotaxis. These observations were madeon plants both growing in pots and culturedin vitro. 6-Benzylaminopurine,a synthetic cytokinin, added to the medium increases the meannumber of leaves per pseudowhorl. It seems that this effectis indirect: phyllotaxis changes first rather than the destinyof a particular internode in a process of selective elongation.Copyright1999 Annals of Botany Company Peperomia verticillata, pseudowhorls, phyllotaxis, shoot apex.     

The Influence of Nitrogen Supply on the Use of Nitrate and Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase as Leaf Nitrogen Stores for Growth of Potato Tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Millard, P. and Catt, J. W. 1988. The influence of nitrogensupply on the use of nitrate and ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenaseas leaf nitrogen stores for growth of potato tubers (Solanumtuberosum L.).—J. exp. Bot. 39: 1–11. The capacity of field-grown potato plants to store N in theirleaves for re-use during tuber growth was studied in two experiments.Increasing the N application from 0 g to 25 g N m^–2 providedplants with more N than they needed for growth and so allowedaccumulation of N in their leaves, principally as nitrate andprotein. Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RUBISCO)concentrations increased by approximately 120% in response toN application. During tuber growth there was an export of nitrate-Nfrom the leaves of N-replete plants and of RUBISCO-N from bothhigh and low N plants. RUBISCO-N was mobilized more rapidlyfrom leaves than N from other proteins and, together with nitrate,in one experiment accounted for over 90% of the N lost fromthe leaves irrespective of the N treatment. The potential contributionof mobilization of N stored in RUBISCO to the N content of tubersat final harvest was calculated as being between 11–15%,and appeared to be unaffected by the N supply to the plants. The distribution of N accumulating within the canopy, in responseto N application was studied. Nitrate accumulated predominantlyin the lowermost (shaded) leaves, while reduced N (includingRUBISCO) was found mainly in the younger leaves at the top ofthe canopy. This is discussed in relation to the growth of theplant and the supply of N. Key words: Solanum tuberosum, nitrogen, nitrate, ribulose, 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, storage     

Photooxidative Damage in Young Leaves of Declining Grapevine: Does It Result from a New and Possibly Viroid-Related Disease?

Leaves of chlorotic plants of Vitis vinifera were investigatedfor physiological and ultrastructural disorders by comparingthem with leaves of apparently healthy plants from a vineyard,where infection with Hop Stunt Viroid F (HSVdg) and GrapevineYellow Speckle Viroid I (GYSVdl) was widespread. In affectedplants, chlorosis was much stronger in young and developingthan in old and fully expanded leaves. Chemical analyses failedto reveal mineral deficiencies. The quantum yield of photosynthesiswas decreased in chlorotic leaves. A decrease in the numberof PSI reaction centers was also observed. Persisting photoinhibitionoccurred only in leaves of affected plants. The redox stateof cellular and extracellular ascorbate and increased levelsof glutathione indicated oxidative stress in affected plants.Ultrastructural analysis revealed both swelling and loss ofthylakoids even in young chlorotic leaves and other pathologicalchanges. Symptoms were similar to those normally observed onlyin old senescing leaves. However, chlorotic leaves showed unexpectedlyhigh protein levels, though aging is known to lead to proteindegradation. (Received April 30, 1996; Accepted October 14, 1996)     

Nitrate Supply and the Biophysics of Leaf Growth in Salix viminalis

The influence of nitrogen on leaf area development and the biophysicsof leaf growth was studied using clonal plants of the shrubwillow, Salix viminalis grown with either optimal (High N) orsub-optimal (Low N) supplies of nitrate. Leaf growth rate andfinal leaf size were reduced in the sub-optimal treatment andthe data suggest that in young rapidly growing leaves, thiswas primarily due to changes in cell wall properties, sincecell wall extensibility (% plasticity) was reduced in the LowN plants. The biophysical regulation of leaf cell expansion also differedwith nitrogen treatment as leaves aged. In the High N leaves,leaf cell turgor pressure (P) increased with age whilst in theLow N leaves P declined with age, again suggesting that foryoung leaves, cell wall plasticity limited expansion in theLow N plants. Measurements of cell wall properties showed thatcell wall elasticity (%E) was not influenced by nitrogen treatmentand remained constant regardless of leaf age. Key words: Salix, cell wall extensibility, nitrogen nutrition, biophysics of leaf growth     

Silica and Ash in Tissues of Some Coastal Plants

Ash and silica contents and their depositional patterns in differenttissues of 44 Mississippi coastal plants were determined. Silicacontent of dried plants varied from no more than a trace inChenopodium album L. leaves to 7.37 per cent in Zizanopsis miliacea(Michx) Doell & Aschers leaves. Ash content varied from2.50 per cent in Lythrum lineare L. stems to 28.24 per centin Borrichia frutescens (L.) DC leaves. Plants in the same familytend to be alike in their ability to absorb or not absorb silica.Poaceae and Cyperaceae had consistently high concentrationsof silica. In contrast, the Asteraceae studied had very lowsilica contents but often had high contents of other minerals.Dicotyledonous plants studied had consistently lower silicacontents than the monocotyledons. Plants growing in salt watercontained considerable sodium chloride. Spectra were obtainedfor major elements in four different plants. Energy-dispersiveX-ray analysis shows that distribution of the element siliconis clearly related to certain epidermal structures such as guardcells, ridges, dumb-bells and balls that appear in electronmicrographs. Silica was deposited differently in each type ofplant studied. In many of the plants silica was deposited inrows of irregular-shaped particles running lengthwise of theleaf and in guard cells. In others, like Zizanopsis miliacea(Michx) Doell & Aschers, the deposit was sheet-like. Zizaniaaquatica L. not only had a sheet-like deposit, but the depositwas ridged and there were rows of dumb-bell-shaped silica cells.Related plants had similar structures. Euchlaena mexicana Schrad.,Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L and Manisuris rugosa (Nutt.) Kuntzeall had irregular phytoliths similar to those in Zea mays L. coastal plants, marsh plants, ash content, silica deposition, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, silicon distribution, X-ray diffraction patterns, spectra of elements in plants     

Proline Accumulation during Water Stress in Resurrection Plants

In leaves of resurrection plants dried intact, free prolineincreased in nine species and remained unchanged or declinedin two other tolerant species. Infiltration of proline into hydrated resurrection leaves oftwo species (a relatively high accumulator of proline, Borya,and low accumulator, Myrothamnus) prior to dehydration did notimprove the cells' survival rate, and in some cases caused adecrease in survival. These data indicate that the extreme drought tolerance of resurrectionplants is not related per se to proline levels.     

The Influence of Removing Tubers on Dry-matter Production and Net Assimilation Rate of Potato Plants

To study the effect of removing tubers on growth and net assimilationrate (E) of potato, plants were grown in pots partly filledwith soil with the shoot growing through a polythene cover.Tubers developed in the space between the cover and the soilsurface. Removing tubers immediately they began to form had little effecton E at the beginning of the experiment but later greatly reducedit. Shading reduced E more at the beginning of the experimentthan later. Removing tubers decreased total dry weight, butmuch of the material that would have moved to tubers accumulatedin leaves and stems. In intact plants the loss of weight byshading was mainly from the tubers; in plants without tubersit was mainly from stems and leaves. Removing tubers increasedleaves on lateral stems. Increasing the amount of nitrogen supplieddiminished the effect on E of removing tubers, presumably becausethe extra allowed other sinks for carbohydrate to develop. Thegrowth of some buds of the potato plant is so strongly inhibitedthat they cannot grow and act as sinks for excess carbohydratewhen tubers are removed. Such internal inhibition of growthmay sometimes suffice to influence the magnitude of E of normalplants. Removing tubers usually increased sugar and starch contentand protein N content of stems and leaves.     

The influence of the parasitic angiosperm Striga gesnerioides on the growth and photosynthesis of its host, Vigna unguiculata

Cowpea plants (Vigna unguiculata) infected with the root hemiparasiticangiosperm Striga gesnerioides accumulated less biomass thanuninfected plants over a growth period of 60 d. The allometricrelationship between shoot and root dry weight was similar inparasitized plants relative to control plants, as was the proportionof dry matter partitioned into leaf, stem and root tissue. However,infected plants failed to make any significant investment ofdry matter in pods. The rate of photosynthesis of the youngestfully expanded leaf of parasitized plants was significantlylower than for control plants. The lower rates of photosynthesiswere not attributable to stomatal limitation, a loss of chlorophyllor to an accumulation of carbohydrate. The depression of photosynthesisin the young leaves was transient. As control leaves aged, photosynthesisdeclined. This also occurred in Striga infected plants, butto a lesser extent resulting in higher rates of photosynthesisin mature leaves when compared to those of uninfected plants.The foliar nitrogen content of parasitized plants was higherthan control plants consistent with the slower rate of photosyntheticdecline of older leaves. The data are discussed with respectto the influence of parasitic weeds on host growth and photosynthesis. Key words: Cowpea, hemiparasite, allometry, nitrogen     

Striga hermonthica decreases photosynthesis in Zea mays through effects on leaf cell structure

Maize seedlings were grown in pots either with or without preconditionedseeds of the parasitic weed, Striga hermonthica. After between4 and 8 weeks, net photosynthesis in the leaves of maize plantsinfected with Striga decreased compared to leaves of uninfectedcontrol plants. The activities of four enzymes of photosyntheticmetabolism were, however, little affected by infection. A pulse-chaseexperiment using ¹⁴CO₂ showed that C₄ acids were the main earlyproducts of assimilation even when the rate of photosynthesiswas much decreased by infection, but more radio-activity appearedin glycine and serine than in leaves of healthy maize plants.Leaves of infected maize required longer to reach a steady rateof photosynthesis upon enclosure in a leaf chamber than leavesof uninfected plants after similar treatment. Electron microscopy of transverse sections of the leaves ofinfected maize indicated that the cell walls in the bundle sheathand vascular tissue were less robust than in leaves of healthyplants. The results suggest that infection with Striga causesan increase in the permeability of cell walls in the bundlesheath, leakage of CO₂ from the bundle sheath cells and decreasedeffectiveness of C₄ photosynthesis in host leaves. Key words: Zea mays, Striga hermonthica, photosynthesis, photorespiration, enzyme activity     

Panicum milioides, a Gramineae plant having Kranz leaf anatomy without C4-photosynthesis

Light and electron microscopic observations of the leaf tissueof Panicum milioides showed that the bundle sheath cells containeda substantial number of chloroplasts and other organelles. Theradial arrangement of chlorenchymatous bundle sheath cells,designated as Kranz leaf anatomy, has been considered to bespecific to C₄ plants. However, photosynthetic ¹⁴CO₂ fixationand ¹⁴CO₂ pulse-and-chase experiments revealed that the reductivepentosephosphate pathway was the main route operating in leavesof P. milioides. The interveinal distance of the leaves wasintermediate between C₃and C₄Gramineae species. These resultsindicate that P. milioides is a natural plant species havingchracteristics intermediate between C₃ and C₄ types. (Received March 6, 1975; )