Inflated trichornes in flowers of Bauhinia (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae)

TUCKER, S. C., RUGENSTEIN, S. R. & DERSTINE, K. S., 1984. Inflated trichomes in flowers of Bauhinia (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae). An unusual kind of bifid multicellular inflated trichome is reported to occur on floral organs of II species of Bauhinia (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae), They occur on sepals, petals, stamens, carpels, receptacle, leaves, and stems, but not on all organs in each species. Their development in B. malabarica is described.     

Integrating evidence-based treatments for common mental disorders in routine primary care: feasibility and acceptability of the MANAS intervention in Goa,India

Common mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, pose a major public health burden in developing countries. Although these disorders are thought to be best managed in primary care settings, there is a dearth of evidence about how this can be achieved in low resource settings. The MANAS project is an attempt to integrate an evidence based package of treatments into routine public and private primary care settings in Goa, India. Before initiating the trial, we carried out extensive preparatory work, over a period of 15 months, to examine the feasibility and acceptability of the planned intervention. This paper describes the systematic development and evaluation of the intervention through this preparatory phase. The preparatory stage, which was implemented in three phases, utilized quantitative and qualitative methods to inform our understanding of the potential problems and possible solutions in implementing the trial and led to critical modifications of the original intervention plan. Investing in systematic formative work prior to conducting expensive trials of the effectiveness of complex interventions is a useful exercise which potentially improves the likelihood of a positive result of such trials.     

Cladistic analysis of the Lythraceae sensu lato based on morphological characters

GRAHAM, S. A., CRISCI, J. V. & HOCH, P. C, 1993. Cladistic analysis of the Lythraceae sensu lato based on morphological characters. The Lythraceae s. I. comprise 31 mostly highly distinctive genera distributed worldwide. Cladistic analyses of the family were undertaken using 26 characters from anatomy, floral morphology, pollen, and seed morphology. Of four outgroup hypotheses, the Onagraceae offered the best heuristic assessment, generating 3746 trees with a tree length of 83 and consistency index and (C.I.) of 0.41. A strict consensus tree from the 3746 trees produced a basal monophyletic group of five genera (Sonneratia, Duabanga, Punka, Lagerstroemia, Lawsonia) characterized by anthotelic (determinate) inflorescences and wet stigmas, and a second clade with blastotelic (indeterminate) inflorescences, dry stigmas, and reduced carpel number. Successive weighting with Onagraceae as outgroup generated five most parsimonious trees with a tree length of 164 and C.I. of 0.75. Internal branches are weakly supported by only seven non-homoplasious characters. Significant results of the analysis include: (1) recognition of the two major clades and a total of seven monophyletic groups within the family; (2) the paraphyly of subfamily Lythroideae (Lythraceae s. s .); and (3) indication that genera endemic to the New World have been derived from more than one ancient Old World evolutionary line. The current taxonomic classification of the family is not closely correlated with results of the cladistic analysis.     

The Immunochemical Relationships of Prolamins of Temperate Meadow Grasses and Cereals

The immunochemical relationships between the aqueous alcohol-solubleprolamin storage proteins of temperate cereals (wheat, barley,rye and oats) and five species of Festucoid meadow grasses (Loliumperenne, Festuca rubra, F. arundinacea, Dactylis glomerata andPhleum pratense) were studied by "Western Blot" analyses usingantisera raised against C hordein of barley, -gliadin of wheatand avenins of oats. In addition, the reaction between the Chordein antiserum and the grass prolamins was studied usinga quantitative laser nephelometer assay. The results confirmedthe previously reported structural relationship between theprolamins of Festuca and Lolium and members of the Triticeae(barley, wheat, rye). They also showed a strong antigenic relationshipbetween the prolamins of Dactylis and Phleum and avenins ofoats, and this is consistent with their molecular weights andamino acid compositions. The results indicate that similar immunochemicalstudies may be of value in clarifying the taxonomic relationshipsof Festucoid meadow grasses. Key words: Cereals, grasses, prolamins, homology, evolution, immunochemistry     

Variation in salinity tolerance and shoot sodium accumulation in Arabidopsis ecotypes linked to differences in the natural expression levels of transporters involved in sodium transport

Salinity tolerance can be attributed to three different mechanisms: Na⁺ exclusion from the shoot, Na⁺ tissue tolerance and osmotic tolerance. Although several key ion channels and transporters involved in these processes are known, the variation in expression profiles and the effects of these proteins on Na⁺ transport in different accessions of the same species are unknown. Here, expression profiles of the genes AtHKT1;1, AtSOS1, AtNHX1 and AtAVP1 are determined in four ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana. Not only are these genes differentially regulated between ecotypes, the expression levels of the genes can be linked to the concentration of Na⁺ in the plant. An inverse relationship was found between AtSOS1 expression in the root and total plant Na⁺ accumulation, supporting a role for AtSOS1 in Na⁺ efflux from the plant. Similarly, ecotypes with high expression levels of AtHKT1;1 in the root had lower shoot Na⁺ concentrations, due to the hypothesized role of AtHKT1;1 in retrieval of Na⁺ from the transpiration stream. The inverse relationship between shoot Na⁺ concentration and salinity tolerance typical of most cereal crop plants was not demonstrated, but a positive relationship was found between salt tolerance and levels of AtAVP1 expression, which may be related to tissue tolerance.     

In vitro Inhibition of Oocyte and Follicular Maturation and Spawning in Starfish (Asterias forbesi) by 2-4-Dinitrophenol

The in vitro effects of 2-4-dinitrophenol (DNP) on spawning and follicular and oocyte maturation in starfish ovaries and its various cellular components were investigated. Spawning and oocyte and follicular maturation induced by starfish gonadotropin radial nerve factor (RNF) in isolated ovarian fragments were all inhibited by appropriate doses of DNP. DNP inhibits processes which occur shortly after addition of the gonadotropin; in ovarian fragments insensitivity to DNP inhibition occurred shortly after addition of RNF but prior to initiation of spawning. Spontaneous follicular and oocyte maturation which occurred following release of ovarian follicles into sea water was prevented by DNP. In non-spontaneously maturing follicles released from the ovary, DNP inhibited both follicle and oocyte maturation induced by the secondary stimulator of spawning and maturation, 1-methyladenine (1-MA). DNP also inhibited 1-MA induced meiotic maturation in isolated immature oocytes incubated in the absence of follicle cells. Inhibition of oocyte maturation was not associated with inhibition of ³H-1-MA incorporation by isolated oocytes. Immature oocytes incubated in the presence of DNP underwent maturation following washing and subsequent exposure to 1-MA. Immature oocytes initially exposed to both 1-MA and DNP, however, showed decreased maturation responsiveness following washing and re-exposure to 1-MA. The results suggest that the inhibitory effects of DNP on spawning and oocyte maturation are the result of direct effects on the oocytes and possibly other cells and tissues within the ovary.     

Modulation of Extracellular Matrix Production by Conditioned Medium

This report describes some general features of chick embryochondrocyte cultures and some methods for measuring matrix production.It is reported that as cultures grow, the average chondrocyteacquires an increased ability to synthesize matrix components.In part this increased ability is caused by conditioning ofthe culture medium, since conditioned medium from chondrocytecultures can rapidly stimulate mucopolysaccharide and collagensynthesis, but not growth. The cells condition the medium byreleasing a factor that has the following characteristics: non-dialyzable,heat and trypsin-sensitive, sensitive to treatment with mercaptoethanol,p-chloromercuribenzoate, and periodate, and a molecular weightgreater than 30,000 but less than 150,000. The factor is a specializedproduct of chondrocytes, since it is not made by unexpressedchondrocytes nor by differentiated pigmented retina cells. Conditionedmedium acts rapidly (2 hr) to produce a significant stimulationof the incorporation of sulfate into hyaluronidase-sensitivematerial. This action is not sensitive to treatment with actinomycinD, and it is suggested that conditioned medium might act onthe cell surface. The action of conditioned medium factor representsan example of positive feedback of one specialized product madeby a particular cell type on the synthesis of other specializedproducts made by the same cell type.     

How has the remnant population of the threatened frog Leiopelma pakeka (Anura: Leiopelmatidae) fared on Maud Island,New Zealand,over the past 25 years?

Despite widespread global reports of declining amphibian populations, supporting long‐term census data are few, limiting opportunities to study changes in numbers and survival over time. However, in New Zealand, for the past 25 years (1983–2008), we studied Leiopelma pakeka, a threatened, terrestrial frog that inhabits rocky boulder banks under forest on Maud Island. Using night sampling at least annually on two 12 × 12 m plots, we had 5390 captures of 1000+ individuals, 327 on one plot (grid 1), 751 on the other (grid 2). The mean (±SE) number of frogs found per night was 11.3 (±0.6) on grid 1 and 25.6 (±1.4) on grid 2. We used capture‐recapture models to estimate population size, proportion of animals remaining beneath the surface and survival rate. The mean (±SE) population estimate was 131 (±14.7) frogs on grid 1 and 367 (±38.7) on grid 2. Over 25 years the estimated population increased on grid 1 and fluctuated on grid 2. Some frogs were captured on most sampling visits, others less often, evidently failing to emerge from cover each visit. Using a combination of open and closed population models, we estimated the mean (±SE) proportion remaining underground was 0.63 (±0.12) on grid 1 and 0.53 (±0.07) on grid 2. Our research represents one of the longest‐run population studies of any frog, and we recorded significant longevity, two males reaching 35+ and 37+ years, a female 34+ years. No significant differences occurred between mean annual survival rates of apparent females and males, or between the two sites. The number of toes clipped for individual identification had little influence on the return rate, once the effect of time of first capture was removed.     

Foliar sclereids in the Magnoliaceae

The foliar sclereids in 136 species representing 11 of the 12 genera of Magnoliaceae were studied and compared. Sclereids occur in four different cell assemblages within the leaf: diffuse idioblasts, mesophyll, dermal system, and the vein sheath including terminal elements. Tropical members tend to have the most highly sclerified leaves. In species of Manglietia the leaves have sclerified spongy mesophyll and either sclerified epidermis or hypodermis. In Talauma , sclerification affects the vein sheath and terminal cells of veinlets, with a specialized thick marginal vein in the Asian taxa but not in the American ones. Liriodendron and the magnolias native to the north temperate zone have only minimal sclerification, which usually is confined to the vein sheath of the midrib and the main lateral veins, and as idioblastic sclereids in the petiole and the midrib near the base of the blade. The two largest genera Magnolia and Michelia are heterogeneous and include species which vary as to their combinations of sclerified elements among the four possible types.     

New chromosome reports in the subtribes Diocleinae and Glycininae (Phaseoleae: Papilionoideae: Fabaceae)

The base chromosome number of x = 11 is the most probable in all the subtribes included in tribe Phaseoleae, although some aneuploid reduction is evident in Collaea and Galactia (Diocleinae) and chromosome duplications are seen in Amphicarpaea, Cologania and Glycine (Glycininae). The aims of this study were to improve the cytological knowledge of some species of Collaea and Galactia and to examine the anomalous counts reported for Calopogonium (Glycininae) and verify its taxonomic position. In addition, a molecular phylogeny was constructed using nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences (internal transcribed spacer region), and the chromosome number was optimized on the topology. In this work, the chromosome counts for Galactia lindenii, Galactia decumbens and Collaea cipoensis (all 2n = 20), and Calopogonium sericeum (2n = 22) are reported for the first time. The new reports for Galactia and Collaea species are in agreement with the chromosome number proposed for subtribe Diocleinae. The study rejects the concept of a cytologically anomalous Calopogonium and, based on the phylogenetic analysis, corroborates the position of this genus within subtribe Glycininae. The ancestral basic chromosome number of x = 11 proposed for Phaseoleae is in agreement with the evolutionary pathway of chromosome numbers analysed in this work. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 336–341.