Photosynthesis of Ivy Leaves (Hedera helix) after Heat Stress I. CO2-Gas Exchange and Diffusion Resistances

For an analysis of the inhibition of the photosynthetic CO₂-uptake after heat stress attached leaves of Hedera helix L. were heat-stressed for 30 min at various temperatures. Subsequently their photosynthetic CO₂-uptake, transpiration, respiration in light and darkness, and CO₂-compensation concentration were measured under optimal conditions. After heat stress the stomatal resistance increased only corresponding to the raised CO₂-concentration inside the leaves (due to the reduced CO₂-uptake). The physical resistance between the mesophyll cell walls and the chloroplasts remained unchanged after heat stress. A non-stomatal inhibition of the CO₂-uptake is indicated by a strong increase of the CO₂-compensation concentration after heat stress. This is hardly due to a stimulation of the respiration in light, as the CO₂-evolution into CO₂-free air in light was even reduced. Therefore, it must be concluded that the photosynthetic process itself is impaired after heat stress.     

In vivo-Microspectrophotometric Characterization of Flavonol Glycosides in Vicia faba Guard and Epidermal Cells

Cytological observations by fluorescence and U.V.-absorptionmicroscopy together with in vivo spectrophotometric analysesof stomata, guard cell protoplasts and epidermal cells of Viciafaba have shown that kaempferol 3,7-O-glycosides are localizedin the vacuoles. The alkaline-induced emission spectra recordedwith guard and epidermal cells after NH₄OH-treatment were identical,exhibiting an emission maximum at 525 nm; the spectra correlatedwith that of reference flavonols after exposure to NH₄OH Theexcitation spectra of both cell types are typical of these flavonolsshowing two maxima at 290 nm and 390 nm. In agreement, two absorptionmaxima were recorded for guard cells at 270 nm and 330 nm, withoutalkali, which shifted bathochromically to 275 nm and 380 nm,respectively, after NH₄OH treatment. The fluorescence intensitymeasured at 525 nm demonstrates a photostability in epidermalcells whereas it increases by a factor of about five with theexcitation time up to 30 min in guard cells. For the latter,several possible processes are discussed. Key words: Alkaline-induced fluorescence, emission, excitation, U.V.-absorption spectra, kaempferol glycosides, cell specificity     

Identification of the Immobilization Antigens of Paramecium by Their Cyanogen Bromide Cleavage Patterns1

Immobilization antigens from 12 serotypes of three stocks of Paramecium tetraurelia and from one serotype of one stock of P. primaurelia were isolated and purified. Purified proteins were cleaved with cyanogen bromide, and the patterns of the fragment peptides were determined by electrophoresis on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. It was shown that each of the serotypes of stock 51 of P. tetraurelia has an antigen that produces a characteristic and unique pattern. Consequently, the antigens can be identified by their patterns. Antigens from the allelic serotypes tested had identical patterns. The method is sensitive enough for the investigation of small sample volumes, and useful as a simple biochemical technique for the identification of serotypes.     

The influence of glutathione upon light-induced high-amplitude swelling and lipid peroxideformation of spinach chloroplasts

Light-induced high-amplitude swelling and lipid peroxide formationof isolated spinach chloroplasts were studied with regard tothe supposed analogy to lipid peroxide dependent disintegrationof mitochondria. Addition of glutathione to chloroplasts exposedto light results in excessive stimulation of swelling, whereasthe rate of lipid peroxide accumulation is significantly decreased.In the dark, glutathione does not show any substantial effect.Glutathione apparently serves as a donor substrate for the reductionof lipid peroxides in chloroplasts. The increased water uptakeof chloroplasts in the presence of glutathione cannot be conditionedby peroxidation of membrane lipids, as could be demonstratedfor mitochondria in similar experiments. Evidence is presentedthat a glutathione peroxidase activity is present in spinachhomogenate. The enzyme system, however, behaves quite differentlyfrom glutathione peroxidase of animal sources in respect tostability and pH dependency of the reaction rate (Received October 24, 1970; )     

DIFFERENCES IN RESTING-SITE PREFERENCE IN TWO COEXISTING LAND SNAILS, ARIANTA ARBUSTORUM AND ARIANTA CHAMAELEON (HELICIDAE), ON ALPINE SLOPES

Resting-site preference and patterns of spatial distributionwere examined in the sympatric land snails Arianta arbustorumand A. chamaeleon on two opposite slopes in the south-easternAlps, Austria. The two slopes did not differ in proportion ofA. arbustorum and A. chamaeleon (74.4% vs. 25.6% on the NNE-exposedslope and 68.3% vs. 31.7% on the SSW-exposed slope). Individualsof both species showed aggregated dispersion patterns. The nearest-neighbourmethod indicated that in both species snail aggregations predominantlyconsisted either of A. arbustorum or A. chamaeleon on the NNE-exposedslope with a mosaic of rocks and distinct patches of differentplants. On the SSW-exposed slope, which was less variable invegetation cover, snail aggregations consisted of conspecificand hetero-specific individuals. Juvenile and adult A. arbustorumpreferred to rest attached to leaves of Adenostyles alliariae,but avoided rock surfaces and patches of grass on the NNE-exposedslope. In contrast, juvenile and adult A. chamaeleon preferentiallyrested on rock surfaces, and also avoided grass patches. Juvenileand adult A. chamaeleon did not differ in resting-site preference,whereas small differences in resting sites were observed betweenjuvenile and adult A. arbustorum. Differences in resting-sitepreference is one way of niche differentiation which may allowindividuals of the two Arianta species to coexist. (Received 14 March 1996; accepted 8 July 1996)