Factors affecting the accuracy of chlorophylla andb determination by means of their paper chromatographic separation and colorimetric measurement in eluates

Quantitative determination of chlorophyll a and β can be made by paper chromatography of acetone extracts of plant material with colorimetric measurement of the eluates from the separated zones. From the suitable solvent systems which give adequate separation of the pigments at a distance of 20 cm. from the start,Hager's mixture (1955) separates the chlorophylls better than the toluene-isopropanol (400: 1 v/v.) mixture, which, however, is better for the separation of carotenoids. Twice the amount of chlorophyll is separated on Whatman 31 ET paper, equally well and with the same time of development, as on Whatman No. 3 paper, on which it is possible to separate a maximum of about 15 μg of chlorophyll pigments per 1 em. start length. Losses on elution are, however, higher on using Whatman 31 ET paper. In plants with a high chlorophyllase activity, the error of determining chlorophyll a andb is greatly reduced if the leaves are placed for 1 min. in boiling water before extraction. For elution of chlorophylla andb from paper it is better to use anhydrous acetone, for chlorophyllides 80% acetone. A comparison of the procedure investigated with the method of two-wave length spectrophotometric measurement of crude acetone extracts showed that in view of the average 10% loss, the chromatographic method is hardly suitable for determining the absolute amounts of chlorophylla andb, although the relation (a/b) can be determined with similar precision by both methods. Moreover, in view of the greater amount of work involved the chromatographic method can only be recommended for confirming the results of spectrophotometrie determination. Quantitative determination of chlorophylls from the area of the spot or from the "R_F" value can only be of an informative character.     

Catalase activity in thermal blue-green algae in relation to temperature

Biologia Plantarum - The author has studied the relation of the catalase activity in thermal blue-green algae to temperature. Experimental data were taken from the first phase of the reaction, so...     

The effect of reversion and duplication of leaf disks on the accuracy of photosynthesis determination by the dry weight method

Experiments with sunflower and fodder cabbage showed that reversion of the leaf disks lower side upwards (towards the radiation source) decreased the photosynthetic rate by as much as 26% both at full (2. 10⁵ erg. cm^?2. sec.^?1) and half density of irradiation. On placing two disks one on another the photosynthetic rate was decreased in the upper disk in a similar way as it was on reversion even if it were placed in the normal position (upper side upwards). But assimilation in the lower disk was only a fraction (0–40%) of that of the upper disk and in thick leaves was within the limits of the compensation point. The sum of the increase in dry weight in both disks due to photosynthesis exceeds the increment in one normally placed disk only in thin leaves and at high density of radiation. On the basis of the differences found it is advised to discard experimental samples where a quarter of the disks were reversed during exposure. On evaluating samples in which some of the disks were duplicated in error, it is most accurate to deduct the weight of one control disk from the weight obtained. The decrease in photosynthetic rate found in reversed and duplicated disks is evidently due to the simultaneous effect of differences in the supply of CO₂ and radiation energy to the assimilating tissue and apparatus and also to differences in the photosynthetic capacity of different leaf tissues.     

Scanning electron microscopy of cultures of rare macromycetous fungi

Using scanning electron microscopy it was possible to describe structures on the mycelia of macromycetous fungi that possess both taxonomic and functional importance. For taxonomic characteristization of 11 studied species, the presence and distribution of clamps on hyphæ represent an, important feature; in the case ofLyophyllum decastes the form of clamps may be useful for identifying cultures. Formation and types of anamorhps inPleurotus calyptratus, Montagnea arenaria andLyophyllum decastes are also of taxonomic importance. For additional taxonomic characterization of cultures ofTricholoma mongolicum the formation of “coils” might be exploited. Formation of anastomoses and crystals has predominantly a physiological role. However, in our view, production of crystals under certain culture conditions may serve as a diagnostic parameter.     

Stream vegetation in different landscape types

A methodology is proposed for assessing the ecological value of streams in the catchment of the Moravská Dyje River. It is concluded that by using a wide range of parameters that a more objective assessment is achieved than if only one were used. The landscape of the catchment studied contains excessive amounts of nutrients and, in comparison to its natural state, has become too uniform.     

Differences in haemolymph proteins in relation to diapause and wing dimorphism inPyrrhocoris apterus (L.) (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae)

Three different cultures of dimorphic bug,Pyrrhocoris apterus, were analyzed concerning diapause and its relation to wing morph pattern. The proportion of macropterous bugs was considerably higher (36%) in the Mediterranean culture from Israel than that (1.3%) in the temperate culture from the Czech Republic. The macropterous morph- and brachypterous morphrelated types of reproduction arrest, differing by the length of pre-oviposition period, were distinguished in cultures analyzed. The reproduction arrest with an average pre-oviposition period of 38.2 days in Mediterranean macropters and 18.5 days in macropters from selected macropterous strain, was found to be typical for macropterous morph. Two different photoperiodic conditions induced macropterous morph-related reproduction arrest, the long-day (18 h light-6 h dark) photoperiod in macropterous strain macropters and the short-day (12 h light-12 h dark) photoperiod in Mediterranean macropters. The brachypterous morph-related reproduction arrest, characterized by pre-oviposition period longer than 90 days, occurred predominantly in diapausing brachypterous bugs. While the hibernal diapause of brachypterous bugs was characterized by a very high level of the 78- and 82-kDa proteins in haemolymph, their content in haemolymph of macropters during macropterous morph-related reproduction arrest was almost as low as in the reproductive adults. The variation of reproduction arrest in relation to wing dimorphism represents an important feature in the life strategy ofP. apterus.