In situ responses to elevated CO2 in tropical forest understorey plants

1. Plants growing in deep shade and high temperature, such as in the understorey of humid tropical forests, have been predicted to be particularly sensitive to rising atmospheric CO₂. We tested this hypothesis in five species whose microhabitat quantum flux density (QFD) was documented as a covariable. After 7 (tree seedlings of Tachigalia versicolor and Beilschmiedia pendula ) and 18 months (shrubs Piper cordulatum and Psychotria limonensis, and grass Pharus latifolius ) of elevated CO₂ treatment ( c. 700 μl litre^–1) under mean QFD of less than 11 μmol m^–2 s^–1, all species produced more biomass (25–76%) under elevated CO₂.
2. Total plant biomass tended to increase with microhabitat QFD (daytime means varying from 5 to 11μmol m^–2 s^–1) but the relative stimulation by elevated CO₂ was higher at low QFD except in Pharus .
3. Non-structural carbohydrate concentrations in leaves increased significantly in Pharus (+ 27%) and Tachigalia (+ 40%).
4. The data support the hypothesis that tropical plants growing near the photosynthetic light compensation point are responsive to elevated CO₂. An improved plant carbon balance in deep shade is likely to influence understorey plant recruitment and competition as atmospheric CO₂ continues to rise.     

人肾上腺内肽能神经的超微结构

应用抗生蛋白链菌素一生物素一过氧化物酶复合物的免疫电镜技术,在相邻切片中,分别观察人肾上腺内ＮＰＹ、ＶＩＰ、ＳＰ和ＣＧＲＰ免疫反应神经纤维的超微结构和免疫反应物的定位。ＮＰＹ和ＶＩＰ免疫反应物位于小颗粒羹泡和线粒体外膜,部分嗜铬细胞呈ＮＰＹ免疫反应阳性。ＳＰ和ＣＧＲＰ免疫反应物主要定位于大颗粒囊泡内。ＳＰ和ＣＧＲＰ免疫反应轴突与嗜铬细胞形成对称性或非对称性的轴体突轴。测量了这４种肽能神经末梢的直径,从而推测其来源,并讨论了该４种神经肽对人肾上腺的作用。     

Fuchsin staining with naoh clearing for lignified elements of whole plants or plants organs

Three methods that are adapted to the various consistencies of plants are as follows: 1. Samples are placed for 10-14 hr at 60° C in a 1% aqueous solution of basic fuchsin, to which 10 gm of solid NaOH per 100 ml are added. 2. Samples when taken out of 95% alcohol are placed in a 1% solution of basic fuchsin in 95% alcohol for 24 hr; after washing in water, they are placed in a 15% solution of NaOH at 60° C until cleared. 3. Samples are placed in a 15% aqueous solution of NaOH at 60° C until cleared, then for 24 hr at 60° C in 15% NaOH containing basic fuchsin. After being stained and cleared by one of these three methods, the samples are rinsed in water, dehydrated and then passed into a mixture of absolute alcohol and concentrated HC1 (3:1) for 1-15 min, rinsed in absolute alcohol, cleared in xylene and mounted in Canada balsam. The lignified tissues appear red; the others, transparent.     

A quantitative method for assessing stages of the rat estrous cycle

The impact of gender and/or hormone variations on a wide variety of neural functions makes the choice between studying males or females (or both) of a given species difficult. Although female rats are widely used experimentally, few studies control for the stage of estrus. More detailed information about how to distinguish the various stages of the estrous cycle is needed. For the present study, vaginal smears were obtained once a day and stained using an adaptation of the Papanicolaou (PAP) procedure. Images are provided of unstained “wet” samples and the corresponding PAP stained smears illustrating the cellular profile for each stage of the cycle as well as post-ovariectomy. The different cell populations across the cycle were quantified and ratios determined to show trends between the predominant and other cell types in each stage of the estrous cycle. Both stained and unstained images and cell quantification data provide valuable guidelines for distinguishing the stages of the estrous cycle.     

Note Sui Grani a Spighe Ramificate

Resumé

Chez les Blés branchus de l'espèce «turgidum» (Triticum turgidum compositum), il existe des sortes à thermostade plutôt froid (Blés d'hiver ou de semi-hiver) et des sortes à thermostade chaud, tièe ou «indifférent» (Blés de printemps).

Les Blés branchus de l'espèce «turgidum» apparaissent comme étant des plantes à photostade de jour long.

La plus ou moins grande rapidité de l'accomplissement du photostade, par rapport à la rapidité de l'assimilation des matières plastiques, détermine la structure, — non ramifiée ou ramifiée — de l'épi.