Observations on the Senescence of a Mutant Non-yellowing Genotype of Phaseolus vulgaris L.

A non-yellowing mutant of Phaseolus vulgaris L. was used toinvestigate factors involved in chlorophyll breakdown duringfoliar senescence. The mutant showed physiological changes similarto those of the normal yellowing type during senescence exceptthat leaf chlorophyll did not decline. Transmission electronmicroscope studies did not reveal appreciable differences inchloroplast ultrastructure between the two genotypes, suggestingthat chloroplast membrane integrity was not the factor preventingchlorophyll degradation in the mutant. However, the lack ofplastoglobuli in senescent mutant chloroplasts suggested thatthe lipid environment may be different from that of senescentnormal chloroplasts. Banding patterns of total soluble protein,resolved by sodium dodecyl sulphate-poly aery lamide gel electrophoresisshowed few, if any, differences between mature non-senescentnormal and mutant leaves; however, bands at 14 kD and 58 kDdiminished in senescent normal leaves, but remained in senescentmutant non-yellowing leaves. Key words: Non-yellowing mutant, Phaseolus vulgaris, senescence, chlorophyll degradation     

Stomatal Response of some Cultivated and Wild Tuber-bearing Potatoes in Warm Tropics as Influenced by Water Deficits

Leaf resistances of 14 cultivated potato genotypes (Solanumspp) and three tuber-bearing wild Solanum species were comparedwhen plants were grown under water stress at two tropical sitesFactors investigated were diurnal changes in leaf resistance,the effect of plant age, transient drought versus well-wateredconditions of potted and field-grown plants These measurementswere carried out in order to determine the stomatal behaviourof tuber-bearing genotypes and species Significant genotypic differences in leaf resistances were notedwithin the cultivated genotypes All genotypes had higher resistanceswhen water-stressed, but LT-7 appeared to have the lowest leafresistances Genetic differences in stomatal behaviour of tuber-bearingSolanum species were confirmed Abaxial stomatal resistancesof water-stressed plants of the species ranged between 1 74and 13 8 s cm^–1 Stomata of S chacoense were less affectedby drought (three-fold) than S tuberosum (four-fold) The greatesteffect was on S jungasense (five-fold) and on S raphanifoliumThese data show that stomata behaviour among tuber-bearing Solanumspecies is sufficiently different to warrant investigationsof drought-resistance in potato species under dry hot conditions Solanum tuberosum L., Solanum raphanifolium, Solanum chacoense, Solanum jungasense, leaf resistance     

Life-history strategies affect aphid preference for yellowing leaves

According to the nutrient-translocation hypothesis, yellowing tree leaves are colonized by aphids at the end of the growing season owing to improved availability of nutrients in the phloem sap after chlorophyll degradation. We measured aphid densities on potted Betula pendula seedlings in a field site where a small proportion of foliage rapidly turned yellow before normal autumn coloration as a consequence of root anoxia. The number of adults and nymphs of the birch-feeding specialist aphids Euceraphis betulae, Betulaphis brevipilosa and Callipterinella tuberculata were counted from leaves on each of the 222 plants. Aphids were detected on 19 per cent of green leaves and on 41 per cent of yellow leaves. There was no indication of aphid avoidance of yellow leaves, and the number of winged (alate) viviparous E. betulae adults and their nymphs were significantly higher on yellow leaves than on green leaves, while the numbers of apterous B. brevipilosa and C. tuberculata did not differ between the leaf colour types. Our result suggests that only aphid species with alate generation during colour change can take advantage of yellowing leaves. This may explain the exceptional abundance of E. betulae compared with other aphid species on birches.     

Interaction of Abscisic Acid and Light on Leaf Senescence in Rice

The senescence of excised leaves of Oryza saliva L. cv. BAM11 was studied by monitoring the breakdown of chlorophyll andprotein. ABA at 10^–6 M retarded senescence until the 3rdday and accelerated it in a normal way until the 9th day inlight. The effect of ABA was light-dependent, which is beingreported for the first time in rice. ABA in the presence oflight (26.3 Klux) delayed protein breakdown but could not preventthe yellowing effect. (Received June 18, 1982; Accepted January 28, 1983)     

Fungal endophyte diversity and community patterns in healthy and yellowing leaves of Citrus limon

Fungal endophytes on citrus plants have been little studied, and the effects of citrus diseases on their incidence and diversity have not been addressed. In this study, we examined the foliar fungal endophytes of Citrus limon in the vicinity of Yaoundé, Cameroon, with emphasis on the differences between endophyte communities in healthy and yellowing leaves. From 82.3 % of the 480 leaf fragments, a total of 482 isolates were recovered and analysis of ITS sequences revealed 20 phylotypes. All fungal endophytes were ascomycetes and, except for one species, were common plant pathogens. Mycosphaerella and its anamorphs (34.2 % of all isolates), and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (50.4 % of all isolates), were isolated most frequently. Mycosphaerellaceous species dominated in healthy leaves, and were absent from yellowing leaves. C. gloeosporioides was isolated significantly more frequently from yellowing than healthy leaves. Yellowing leaves had a significantly higher overall infection frequency but, in contrast, the least species diversity. Difference in the endophyte assemblages of healthy and yellowing leaves suggests that yellowing of leaves may facilitate the incidence of certain endophytes and impose growth inhibition on others.     

Gibberellin-induced delay of leaf senescence of Alstroemeria cut flowering stems is not caused by an increase in the endogenous cytokinin content

The effects of various chemically pure gibberellins and cytokinins on leaf yellowing of Alstroemeria were described. The loss of chlorophyll was measured both in leaves of cut flowering stems and in a model system consisting of detached leaf tips. It was demonstrated that plant growth substances affected chlorophyll loss in both systems to the same extent. Leaf senescence was delayed by various gibberellins and cytokinins. The results demonstrated that some of the gibberellins (GA₄ and GA₇) are far more effective in delaying chlorophyll loss than GA₃, which is commonly used as a postharvest treatment for Alstroemeria cut flowering stems. Immunoassays were used to demonstrate that the effect of gibberellins on leaf yellowing does not involve an increase in the endogenous cytokinin concentrations in the leaves as an intermediate step.Abbreviations GA gibberellin A - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - GA_3Mc GA₃-methyl ester - ZR zeatin riboside - IPAR isopentenyl adenine riboside.     

The Relationship between the critical Leaf Area, Total Chlorophyll Content, and Maximum Growth-rate of some Pasture and Crop Planst

The amounts of leaf and of chlorophyll per unit area of landexposed to light above 400–500 f.c. on sunny days at localnoon were determined for pure stands of red clover, white clover,perennial ryegrass, short-rotation ryegrass, maize, kale, cocksfoot,and watercress, growing under near-optimum conditions. The valuesobtained for the grass species and maize were significantlyhigher than those of the dicotyledon species There was a highly significant correlation (r = + 0?912) betweenthe maximum growth-rates¹ of the different species and the amountsof chlorophyll above the measurement level per unit area ofland. However, the index was higher for species in which the leaves were disposed horizontally or whereflagging occurred (clovers, kale, and maize) than for the grassspecies, suggesting either that the chlorophyll of the firstgroup of species was more active or efficient in photosynthesisthan the chlorophyll in the species with erect leaves, or thata greater proportion of dry matter produced was accumulatedin underground organs of these erect-leaved species. Growth-ratedata were not available for cocksfoot or watercress. There was a significant correlation (r = + 0?815) between theleaf-area index absorbing 95 per cent. of the light and themaximum growth-rates of the different species, but this relationshipdid not take account of the photosynthetic activity of otherparts of the plant or of species differences in chlorophyllcontent. The results are discussed in relation to the availability andutilization of light energy and carbon dioxide by the speciesexamined.     

Changes of Starch and Sorbitol in Leaves Before and After Removal of Fruits from Peach Trees

Changes in contents of nonstructural carbohydrates in leaves,as well as some characteristics of leaves before and after fruitremoval, were investigated in potted peach (Prunus persica L.)trees. Leaf area and dry mass per unit leaf area (SLW) at thefruit-maturation stage decreased with increasing numbers ofpeaches per tree, whereas the chlorophyll content per unit areain leaves of fruiting trees increased. The chlorophyll contentdecreased more rapidly upon removal of fruit than that in leavesof fruiting trees. The starch content per unit dry mass in leavesof fruiting trees at the fruit-maturation stage was lower thanthat in leaves of non-fruiting trees. Starch accumulated significantlyin leaves within 1 d of removal of fruit during the fruit-maturationstage and continued to increase thereafter. The accumulationof starch after removal of fruit occurred more rapidly thanthe decrease in chlorophyll content. Reducing and non-reducingsugars (total sugars) per unit dry mass in the leaves were higherin fruiting trees than in non-fruiting trees. After fruit removal,the total sugar content of leaves increased temporarily andthen gradually decreased. The sorbitol content per unit freshmass in leaves of fruiting trees during the fruit-maturationstage was slightly higher than that in leaves of non-fruitingtrees. One day after removal of fruit, the sorbitol contentincreased in parallel with the accumulation of starch and remainedhigh. The sucrose content of leaves did not change markedlyupon removal of fruit. Prunus persica L.; peach leaves; nonstructural carbohydrate; starch and sorbitol; fruit removal     

Leaf Nucleic Acids:: II. METABOLISM DURING SENESCENCE AND THE EFFECT OF KINETIN

The nucleic acids in the green and in the senescent leaves ofthree types of plant have been studied. High and low molecularweight RNA of the chloroplast is not present in senescent leavesof Xanthium pensylvanicum, but both cytoplasmic and chloroplasticfractions are found in yellow leaves of Vicia faba and Nicotianatabacum. RNA is more rapidly degraded than DNA in the leavesof these plants when they are detached, and kinetin treatmenttemporarily arrests the loss of chlorophyll and nucleic acid.Once X. pensylvanicum leaves are yellow and senescent they cannotbe re-greened, whereas those of Nicotiana spp., and to someextent those of V. faba, can be rejuvenated. We suggest thatthe retention of chloroplast RNA in yellow leaves may be a majorfactor determining their ability to re-green and that the patternof organelle senescence prior to the first stages of leaf autolysisand dehydration is species-specific.     

Synthesis and Breakdown of the Apoproteins of Light-Harvesting Chlorophyll a/b Proteins in Chlorophyll b-deficient Mutants of Rice

Turnover, in the light, of apoproteins of light-harvesting chlorophylla/6-proteins for Photo-system I and II (LHC-I and LHC-II, respectively)was studied with the wild-type and three chlorophyll 6-deficientmutants of rice. (1) Synthesis of the 24 and 25 kDa apoproteinsof LHC-II and the 20 and 21 kDa apoproteins of LHC-I was examinedby incubating leaf segments with [³⁵S]-methionine. The threerice mutants, chlorina 2, which totally lacks chlorophyll b,and chlorina 11 and 14, which are partially deficient in chlorophyllb, synthesized the apoproteins as rapidly as did the wild typerice. (2) Pulse-chase experiments showed that breakdown of theapoproteins proceeded slowly, such that only a small proportionof the newly synthesized apoproteins was lost during the 48h of the chase in normal rice leaves. By contrast, large fractionsof the labelled apoproteins were rapidly degraded within thefirst several hours of the chase period in the chlorina mutants.The greater the deficiency in chlorophyll b of the mutant, thelarger were the rate and extent of the protein breakdown. Thisresult indicates that chlorophyll b is needed to stabilize theapoproteins of LHC-II and LHC-I. (3) However, even in chlorina2, there were small fractions of the apoproteins with lifetimesas long as those of apoproteins in the wild-type rice, suggestingthat the newly synthesized apoproteins are partially protectedby a factor(s) other than chlorophyll b. (4) The rate of turnoverof the apoproteins was significantly reduced in the dark andstrongly inhibited by prior treatment of leaf segments withchloramphenicol. (Received November 24, 1988; Accepted March 17, 1989)     

NaCl-induced Senescence in Leaves of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivars Differing in Salinity Resistance

The influence of NaCl on senescence-related parameters (proteinand chlorophyll concentrations, membrane permeability and chlorophyllfluorescence) was investigated in young and old leaves of fiverice cultivars differing in salt resistance. NaCl hastened thenaturally-occurring senescence of rice leaves which normallyappears during leaf ontogeny: it decreased chlorophyll and proteinconcentrations and increased membrane permeability and malondialdehydesynthesis. Such an acceleration of deteriorative processes affectedall leaves in salt-sensitive cultivars while it was more markedin oldest than in youngest leaves of salt-resistant genotypes.NaCl-induced senescence also involved specific modifications,such as an increase in basal non-variable chlorophyll fluorescence(F ₀) recorded in all cultivars or a transient increase in solubleprotein concentration recorded in salt-resistant genotypes only.Alteration of membrane permeability appeared as one of the firstsymptoms of senescence in rice leaves and allowed discriminationamong cultivars after only 7 d of stress. In contrast, F _v/F _mratio (variable fluorescence/maximal fluorescence) was thesame for all cultivars during the first 18 d of stress and thuscould not be used for identifying salt-resistant rice exposedto normal light conditions. Relationships between parametersinvolved in leaf senescence are discussed in relation to salinityresistance of rice cultivars. Chlorophyll concentration; chlorophyll fluorescence; electrolyte leakage; magnesium; malondialdehyde; membrane permeability; NaCl; Oryza sativa L.; protein; rice; salinity resistance; senescence; UV absorbing substances     

The Chloroplast and Leaf Developmental Mutant, pale cress, Exhibits Light-conditional Severity and Symptoms Characteristic of its ABA Deficiency

The PALE CRESS gene (PAC) is essential for proper chloroplastand leaf development in Arabidopsis thaliana. The ability ofpac mutants to accumulate significantly more chlorophyll whengrown in low light conditions than in high light conditionssuggests that carotenoid deficiency is at least partly responsiblefor premature cessation of chloroplast development. In additionto accumulation of low levels of chlorophyll and carotenoidpigments,pac mutants are abscisic acid (ABA) deficient and havecharacteristics which may be explained by this deficiency. Theseinclude reduced seed viability and, in enclosed growth conditions,increased leaf growth. Plants transformed with an antisensePAC construct often bear viviparous embryos which may be symptomaticof a deficiency in ABA. Since carotenoids are precursors ofABA, a role for PAC in carotenoid biosynthesis is further supported.The nuclear-encoded, chloroplast-localized PAC protein has beenimplicated in the maturation of plastid-encoded mRNAs. Thus,PAC may affect the abundance of one or more chloroplast proteinswhich function in the synthesis or stability of carotenoids.Using thePROLIFERA gene as a marker for cell division, it isshown that cell division profiles in the pac shoot apex aredisrupted. pac leaves are relatively normal in size and shapedespite the light intensity-induced variability of leaf celldefects. Copyright 2000 Annals of Botany Company Abscisic acid, carotenoid, chloroplast development, leaf development, organismal theory, PALE CRESS,PROLIFERA , vivipary     

Effect of Potassium Deficiency on C3 and C4 Cereals

C₄ cereals (Zea maya L. and Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) and C₃cereals (Triticum aestivum L. and Hordeum vulgare L) were grownin nutrient solutions with constant, interrupted, or absentpotassium supply. The lack of potassium retarded shoot growthand depressed the chlorophyll accumulation in all species ina similar way. After the renewal of potassium, the differencesin the compensation for growth retardation were not correlatedwith the photosynthetic system, but with the recovery of chlorophyllaccumulation in younger leaves. As important for the compensationof shoot growth retardation was a slower senescence of old leavescompared to plants with a constant potassium supply. This wasshown by the chlorophyll content and PEP carboxylase activity.In contrast to C₃ cereals, the C₄ cereals did not react withhigher chlorophyll contents to the same extent after the renewalof the postassium supply. The PEP carboxylase activity, however,was immediately raised higher than in control leaves. Chlorophylland PEP carboxylase activity increased simultaneously only inless aged leaves.     

Profiles of Leaf Senescence During Reproductive Growth of Sunflower and Maize

We investigated the effect of reproductive growth on the profilesof leaf senescence in maize (Zea mays L.) and sunflower (Helianthusannuus L.). Leaf senescence after flowering was assessed usingboth structural (leaf chlorophyll, nitrogen and dry matter)and functional (photosynthesis) variables in undisturbed plants(+G) and in plants in which grain set was prevented (-G). Twoweeks after flowering, lack of grain accelerated senescencein maize and delayed senescence in sunflower as indicated byleaf chlorophyll; leaf nitrogen and dry matter were less sensitiveresponse variables. Lack of interaction between reproductivetreatment and leaf position indicates that the senescence signal,whatever its nature, was equally effective throughout the plantin both species. In both species, feedback inhibition of photosynthesiswas first detected 30–35 d after flowering; excess carbohydratein the leaves was therefore an unlikely trigger of acceleratedsenescence in maize. As reproductive development progressed,differences between +G and -G plants were more marked in sunflower,and tended to disappear or reverse in maize. In sunflower, interactionsbetween leaf position and reproductive treatment—attributableto the local effect of grain—were detected around 20–27d after flowering. Copyright 2000 Annals of Botany Company Helianthus annuus, Zea mays, chlorophyll, light, nitrogen, photosynthesis, reproductive growth, senescence, source-sink, SPAD.     

Ineffectiveness of cytokinin-induced chlorophyll retention in hypostomatous leaf discs

Kinetin retarded the decrease in chlorophyll content in leafdiscs from 5 species of plants with amphistomatous leaves, wherethe upper surface was exposed to air, but not in Rumex acetosera.When leaf discs were floated so that the lower surface was exposed,the effect of kinetin was less evident. Kinetin also stimulatedtranspiration in leaf discs from Nicotiana tabacum (amphistomatous),but not in leaf discs from Paederia chinensis (hypostomatous).Nor kinetin did retard chlorophyll breakdown in this specieswhen leaf discs were floated so that the stomatal surface wasin contact with the solution. The ineffectiveness of cytokininsin chlorophyll retention in leaf discs from hypostomatous leaveswas not due to reduced uptake of benzylaminopurine-¹⁴C. Chlorophyll retention was severely inhibited by coating theleaf surface with vaseline either in the presence or absenceof kinetin. Leaf discs floated on a solution exposed to CO₂-lessair retained more chlorophyll than those in normal air. Thereis thus a close relationship between stomatal opening (as measuredby stimulation of transpiration) and chlorophyll retention,as influenced by cytokinins. It is suggested that cytokinin-induced chlorophyll retentionand odier effects on leaf tissues could be mediated throughits effects on stomatal opening. (Received January 22, 1976; )     

Leaf Senescence and Abscisic Acid in Leaves of Field-grown Soybean

Leaf senescence in field-grown soybean (Merrill) as defined by the period after full expansion, was studied by measuring abscisic acid (ABA), total soluble protein, and chlorophyll in leaves through the later part of the growing season. ABA concentrations increased significantly at the end of the season when leaves had started to turn yellow, well after total soluble protein and chlorophyll had started to decline. The results indicate that events occurring before leaf yellowing are more significant in evaluating leaf senescence since the yellowing condition and rise in ABA are effects of changes in physiological activity beginning when leaves are still green.     

Dry Matter Yields and Photosynthetic Rates of Diploid and Hexaploid Triticum Species

The above ground dry matter yields of two wild diploid Triticumspecies averaged 76 per cent of that of two hexaploid breadwheat varieties in field trials carried out over five years.A cultivated diploid species, T. monococcum, gave similar drymatter yields to the bread wheat varieties but had a longergrowth cycle. The flag leaves of wild diploid species had higher rates ofphotosynthesis than those of the bread wheat varieties bothwhen expressed per unit area of leaf or per unit weight of chlorophyll.Photosynthetic rates of other organs, expressed per unit weightof chlorophyll were also greater for the wild diploids thanfor hexaploids. For snoots at the stage when their flag leaveswere fully expanded, the investment in photosynthetic machinery,as measured by chlorophyll concentration, was less in the twowild diploids than in the hexaploids. This compensated for thehigh photosynthetic rate of the former, such that the specificgrowth rates, assessed by carbon-14 fixation per unit shootdry matter, were similar. Triticum spp., wheat, dry matter yield, photosynthesis, carbon-14, ploidy     

Flag Leaf Photosynthesis of Triticum aestivum and Related Diploid and Tetraploid Species

Rates of net photosynthesis of the flag leaves of 15 genotypesof wheat and related species were measured throughout theirlife, using intact leaves on plants grown in the field. At thestage when rates were maximal, they were in general highestfor the diploid species, intermediate for the tetraploidspeciesand lowest for Triticum aestivum (means of 38, 32 and 28 mgCO₂ dm^–2 h^–1 respectively). Rates were stronglynegatively correlated with leaf area, leaf width and the meanplan area per mesophyll cell and positvely correlated with stomatalfrequency and number of veins per mm of leaf width. The differencesamong species in these attributes were mainly related to ploidylevel. It was not possible to determine the relative importanceof each anatomical feature, though the changes in stomatal frequencyhad only slight effects on stomatal conductance and the observeddifferences in rates of photosynthesis were much greater thanwould be expected from those in stomatal conductance alone. There was genetic variation in rates of light dependent oxygenevolution of isolated protoplasts and intact chloroplasts butno difference attributable to ploidy. The mean rate, 91 µmolO₂ mg^–1 chlorophyll h^–1, equivalent to 3.9 mg CO₂mg^-1chlorophyll h^-1 was considerably less than the rate of photosynthesisin comparable intact leaves, which was 7.2 mg CO₂ mg^–1chlorophyll h^–1. The total above-ground dry matter yields were least for thewild diploids T. urartu and T. thauodar and the wild tetraploidT. dicoccoides, but the other wild diploids produced as muchdry matter as the hexaploids. The prospects of exploiting differences in photosynthetic ratein the breeding of higher yielding varieties are discussed. Triticum aestivum L., wheat, Aegilops spp, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, stomatal frequency, polyploidy     

Effect of Disbudding on Root Cytokinin Export and Leaf Senescence in Tomato and Tobacco

Bud removal and decapitation (disbudding) of plants of tomato(Lycopersicon esculentum Miller) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacumL.) resulted in an increase in both the concentration and thetotal flux of cytokinin in bleeding xylem sap. There was a retardationin the rate of chlorophyll loss from leaves of disbudded plantsof both species. Ultrastructural examination of the chloroplastsof disbudded tomato plants revealed a maintenance of chloroplastintegrity, compared with chloroplasts from control plants. Itis suggested that the delaying of leaf senescence observed indisbudded plants is due to an increased availability of cytokininto these leaves.     

Expression of SK3-type dehydrin in transporting organs is associated with cold acclimation in Solanum species

The expression of a gene, encoding a dehydrin protein designated as DHN24 was analyzed at the protein level in two groups of Solanum species differing in cold acclimation ability. The DHN24 protein displays consensus amino acid sequences of dehydrins, termed K- and S-segments. The S-segment precedes three K-segments, classifying the protein into SK₃-type dehydrins. A group of Solanum species able to cold acclimation constituted by S. sogarandinum and S. tuberosum, cv. Aster, and a second one composed of a S. sogarandinum line, that lost ability to cold acclimation, and of S. tuberosum, cv. Irga, displaying low ability to cold acclimation were studied. Under control conditions, noticeable levels of the DHN24 protein was observed in stems, tubers, and roots of Solanum species. No protein was detected in leaves. During low temperature treatment the DHN24 protein level substantially increased in tubers, in transporting organs and in apical parts, and only a small increase was observed in leaves. The increase in protein abundance was only observed in the plants able to cold acclimate and was found to parallel the acclimation capacity. Upon drought stress, the DHN24 level decreased in stems and in leaves, but increased in apical parts. These results suggest that Dhn24 expression is regulated by organ specific factors in the absence of stress and by factors related to cold acclimation processes during low temperature treatment in collaboration with organ-specific factors. A putative function of the SK₃-type dehydrin proteins during plant growth and in the tolerance to low temperature is discussed.