Effect of Gibberellic Acid on the Elongation Rate of Agrostis alba Root Hairs

The influence of gibberellic acid over a wide range of concentrations on the rate of elongation of root hairs of redtop grass was investigated. The rate of root hair elongation was increased by GA over the concentration range of 10^?7 to 10^?12 M inclusive, with peak stimulation occurring at 10^?6 M. Although root hair growth was slightly accelerated by 10^?6 M GA, this concentration damaged many root hairs and caused some to stop growing altogether. Rate of root hair elongation was reduced to less than 84% of the control by 10^?5 M GA.     

New Diagnostic System for the Identification of Lactose-fermenting Gram-negative Rods

The identification of prompt lactose-fermenting gram-negative rods has generally relied heavily upon colonial morphology coupled with one or more indole, methyl red, Voges-Proskauer, citrate (IMViC) parameters, hydrogen sulfide, and motility. Studies were undertaken to compare diagnoses dependent solely upon the more orthodox criteria to a system for identification based upon hydrogen sulfide, ornithine decarboxylase, and citrate utilization (HOC). The results suggest that the IMViC scheme of identification is neither consistent nor applicable when applied to the current nomenclature of the above group of organisms and should be discarded, whereas the HOC system may prove to be of significant value to clinical microbiologists.     

Golgi apparatus mediated polysaccharide secretion by outer root cap cells of Zea mays

Summary In the outer cap cells of roots of Zea mays, secretion is accompanied by hypertrophy of dictyosome cisternae with formation of large secretory vesicles. Vesicle contents are subsequently released from the protoplast by fusion of the vesicle membrane with the plasma membrane. The secreted material, a highly hydrated polysaccharide, was localized intracellularly by the periodic acid-Schiff reaction. Under appropriate conditions, the product moves outward through the cell wall after discharge from the protoplast, and appears as a droplet adhering to the root tip. Under conditions where the secretory product accumulates at the inner wall surfaces, no external droplet is formed.The secretory activity has an active phase that is sensitive to metabolic inhibitors and influenced by temperature (Q₁₀>2), and a passive phase that is independent of temperature, insensitive to metabolic inhibitors but sensitive to osmotic agents. The active phase is characterized by a temperature-independent periodicity (3 hours). Sucrose supplied to the growth medium increases the amount of polysaccharide secreted. Polysaccharide synthesis, segregation into vesicles, and discharge from the protoplast are assumed to require active metabolism; the step involving extrusion of polysaccharide through the cell wall region appears to be a passive process influenced by the degree of hydration of the polysaccharide and by cell turgor.Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Paper No. 2967; Charles F. Kettering Research Laboratory Contribution No. 261.     

Some observations on spermatogenesis in Gelastocoris oculatus (Hemiptera) with the aid of the electron microscope

The nuclear cap in the spermatogonial and early spermatocyte cells of Gelastocoris is an aggregate of closely packed mitochondria with their long axes perpendicular to the nuclear membrane. Eventually in the early growth period, the mitochondria move from the cap and appear to become more or less equally distributed in the cytoplasm where they remain until their fusion in the spermatid to form the nebenkern. The Golgi complex consists of clusters of lamellae and vesicles, the Golgi bodies. Granules form within the vesicles, increase in size, move from their place of origin and become distributed at random in the cytoplasm. They are the pro-acrosomal granules and at the end of the growth period fuse to form the proacrosome, about which Golgi bodies collect. The Golgi bodies, however, never fuse into an acroblast. At one end of the oval-shaped pro-acrosome is a small dark body and a less dense vesicle the future of which is uncertain. The dark body eventually occupies a position at the tip of the acrosome. The pro-acrosome, after moving to the side of the nucleus opposite the nebenkern, differentiates into the acrosome which elongates into a tail-like structure. The nuclear membrane of some spermatocytes may appear wave-like in cross section, with the crest and trough different in appearance. Near the membrane and in the troughs of the waves large clusters of granules are frequently present. Similar clusters may be found elsewhere in the cytoplasm. Presumably they had their origin near the membrane but this is not conclusive. Bodies of indeterminate origin and structure may be present in the cytoplasm. They could be lysosomes but evidence is lacking. In late spermatocytes and in spermatids, a group of ten or twelve granules is present. They are smaller than the pro-acrosomal granules, are always closely associated and pass as a group into the tail. Their significance is unknown. The endoplasmic reticulum is typical of cells in general. There are no granule accumulations within the vesicles as in some secretory cells. Vesicles of various shapes and sizes are present within the centrosphere of the first meiotic division. While their location is similar to that of the centriole, the identity of the vesicles is uncertain.