Spatially explicit and multi-sourced genetic information is critical for conservation of an endangered plant species,San Diego thornmint (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acanthomintha ilicifolia</Emphasis>)

San Diego thornmint Acanthomintha ilicifolia (Gray) Gray (Lamiaceae) is a winter herb restricted to San Diego county in the United States and Baja California Norte in Mexico. Historic records document 80 occurrences of this species, with 55 extant occurrences in San Diego County currently known. We compared three measures of genetic variation to inform ongoing conservation efforts: putatively neutral genetic structure revealed from isozyme markers, apparent cytogenetic variation confirmed using flow cytometry, and potentially adaptive morphological variation quantified in a common-garden study. Together, these data indicated that this rare endemic is genetically complex, revealing significant differentiation of neutral and potentially adaptive genetic variation among populations, and possessing at least two cytotypes, sometimes even within the same population. While additional study is required to resolve the extent of potential local adaptation in this species, conservation plans should limit the movement of germplasm among occurrences and monitor populations in order to limit potential long-term impacts to population viability. Given that these findings challenge the canonical model of genetic structure in rare plants (low genetic variation and limited genetic structure), we recommend guidelines to apply genetic information to conservation strategies.     

The primary processes of photosystem II in purified guard-cell protoplasts and mesophyll-cell protoplasts from Commelina communis L.

The performances of four gas chromatographic detectors (nitrogen-phosphorus, flamephotometric, electron-capture and flame-ionisation) were compared for the analysis of permethylated cytokinins. The nitrogen-phosphorus and flame-photometric detectors (selective for nitrogen and sulphur-containing compounds respectively) gave greatly enhanced sensitivity and-or specificity compared with the flame-ionisation detector for a wide range of cytokinin types. The response of the electron-capture and flame-ionisation detectors was quantitatively similar. The improved performance of the nitrogen-phosphorus and flame-photometric detectors was used to develop rapid and simple purification techniques for the assay of zeatin and zeatin riboside in coconut milk; dihydrozeatin and dihydrozeatin riboside in bean leaves and cytokinin nucleosides in wheat-germ transfer RNA.     

Adrenergic responses of the cardiovascular system of the eel, Anguilla australis, in vivo

Heart output, arterial pressures, and heart rate were measured directly in conscious unrestrained eels (Anguilla australis) and responses to intra-arterial injection of adrenaline monitored. Adrenaline increased systemic vascular resistance, heart output, and cardiac stroke volume in all animals. In some cases small transient decreases in stroke volume and hence heart output were seen at the peak of the pressor response: These probably reflect a passive decrease in systolic emptying due to increased afterload on the heart. In most cases, adrenaline produced tachycardia; but two animals showed consistent and profound reflex bradycardia, which was accompanied by a concomitant increase in stroke volume such that heart output was maintained or increased slightly. The interaction of changes in heart output and systemic vascular resistance produced complex and variable changes in arterial pressure. There was no consistent pattern of changes in branchial vascular resistance. Atropine treatment in vivo revealed vagal cardio-inhibitory tone in some animals and always blocked the reflex bradycardia seen during adrenaline induced hypertension. In some animals, adrenaline injection after atropine pretreatment led to the establishment of cyclic changes in arterial pressure with a period of about 1 min (Mayer waves).