Abscisic-acid-deficient mutants at the aba gene locus of Arabidopsis thaliana are impaired in the epoxidation of zeaxanthin

Abstract. The xanthophyll content of wild type and abscisic acid (ABA) - deficient mutants of pea and Arabidopsis thaliana was determined. The wilty mutant of pea was indistinguishable from the non-mutant control. In contrast, plants homozygous for mutant alleles at the aba locus of Arabidopsis were very different from wild type. In these mutants, zeaxanthin accumulated to abnormally high levels. The major carotenoids, violaxanthin and 9'- cis -neoxanthin were virually absent from the mutant chromatograms. It was concluded that the aba genetic lesion impairs the epoxidation of zeaxanthin to violaxanthin and that this results in an inability to accumulate ABA. This provides clear evidence that zeaxanthin is a precursor of ABA.     

Sinapine Leakage from Non-viable Cabbage Seeds

Seeds leak many compounds during the early phases of germinationand seed viability may be associated with differential leakageof specific compounds. Leakage of a fluorescent compound fromnon-viable cabbage (Brassica oleracca var. capitata L.) wasdocumented and studies were performed to identify the fluorescentcompound. Imbibed samples of both heat-killed (HK) and viablecabbage seeds were submerged in a viscous colloidal gel. After2 h to 4 h, a fluorescent halo was observed under U.V. lightaround the heat-killed seed but not around the viable seed.Viable and HK seeds were imbibed in water for 8 h and the pHof the leachate was adjusted to either 7 or 10. The absorptionspectra of leakage from HK seeds revealed peak values at 322nm and 388 nm at pH 7 and 10, respectively. This pattern wasnot observed from viable seed leakage. Two-dimensional paperchromatography was conducted on the HK seed leachate. Four fluorescentspots were observed after development first with BAW (n-butanol:acetic acid: water, 4: 1: 5 by vol.) followed by 6% acetic acid.One of the fluorescent spots (spot 3) was studied further dueto its observed intensity. Sinapine thiocyanate was preparedfrom rapeseed oilmeal and used as a reference sample. Absorptionspectra of spot 3 and sinapine thiocyanate were similar at bothpH 7 and 10. Spot 3 had identical R_F values using three solventsystems and identical colour reactions in five tests comparedto sinapine thiocyanate. It was concluded that sinapine wasthe major compound responsible for the fluorescent leakage fromHK cabbage seeds. Key words: Leachate, viability, Brassica     

Seed Viability Determinations in Cabbage Utilizing Sinapine Leakage and Electrical Conductivity Measurements

A need exists for the development of rapid seed quality teststhat determine viability (defined as the ability to germinate)without the necessity for completion of germination. In cabbage(Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) the compound sinapine,a choline ester of sinapic acid, has been shown to leak fromheat-killed (HK.) but not from viable seeds. Sinapine leakagewas studied as a more accurate method for identifying viableseeds than the conductivity test. After an 8 h soak, a 26-folddifference in sinapine leakage was detected between HK and viableseeds (as measured by the absorbance at 388 nm at pH 12) comparedto a 4-fold difference measured by electrolyte leakage. Theremainder of the studies were conducted on two seedlots of thesame cultivar. Viability was predicted on the same seed by assessingleakage from individual seeds into the soak water using threemethods; soak water colour, absorbance at 388 nm, and electricalconductivity. This information was compared with the actualgermination of each seed for the two seedlots. For both seedlots,the presence of sinapine in seed soak water (detected eitherby a yellow solution colour at high pH or by high absorbance),identified more seeds that were non-viable than the partitioncoefficient calculated from conductivity measurements (76%,72% and 28% of non-viable seeds were identified, respectively).It is proposed that leakage of sinapine is a better predictorof cabbage seed viability than electrical conductivity. Key words: Seed deterioration, seed leakage, germination prediction     

Resistance to halo-blight in the Cambridge accessions V4604 and V4058 of Phaseolus beans

V4604, a Cambridge University accession of Phaseolus vulgaris, had a high degree of leaf resistance to race 1 of Pseudomonas phaseolicola and partial resistance to race 2. Genetic control of resistance to race 1 was by a major dominant gene which is also present in the cv. Red Mexican. The partial resistance of V4604 to race 2 was under polygenic control, as was the low level resistance to race 2 in V4058.     

Identification of an Apically-Located Antigen That Is Conserved in Sporozoan Parasites

ABSTRACT. Sporozoan parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa all possess common apical structures. The current study used a monoclonal antibody (mAb-E12) to identify a conserved antigen in the apical region of merozoites of seven species of Plasmodium (including rodent, primate and human pathogens), tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii , bradyzoites of Sarcocystis bovis , and sporozoites and merozoites of Eimeria tenella and E. acervulina. The antigen was also present in sporozoites of haemosporinid parasites. Immunofluorescence studies showed that the antigen was restricted to the apical 3rd of these invasive stages. Using immunoelectron microscopy, labeling was demonstrated in the region of the polar ring, below the paired inner membranes of the parasite pellicle, and near the subpellicular microtubules radiating from the polar ring of merozoites and sporozoites of E. tenella . The majority of the antigen could be extracted with 1% Triton-X 100, but a portion remained associated with the cytoskeletal elements. The molecule has a relative rate of migration (M_r) of 47,000 in Plasmodium spp. and 43–46,000 in coccidian species. Since the epitope recognized by mAb-El 2 is highly conserved, restricted to motile stages, and appears to be associated with microtubules, this antigen could be involved in cellular motility and cellular invasion.     

Initial Differentiation of Vascular Tissue in the Shoot Apex of Carrot (Daucus carotaL.)

Although an initial stage of vascular differentiation precedingprocambium has been demonstrated in ferns, its presence in seedplants has not been accepted generally. In the shoot apex ofcarrot, a short cylinder of provascular tissue is recognizedas the initial stage of vascular differentiation. This firstbecomes apparent through the enlargement and vacuolation ofpith and cortical tissue rather than as a result of specificchanges in the provascular tissue itself. Procambium in discretestrands differentiates acropetally in the provascular tissuein relation to developing leaf primordia. Provascular tissueis not recognized above the axil of the youngest leaf primordiumbut it is distinct at or above the level at which the traceof the youngest primordium diverges. Support for the recognitionof provascular tissue is provided by a positive reaction tohistochemical tests for carboxylesterases in this tissue aswell as in procambium and later stages of vascular differentiation.Copyright1999 Annals of Botany Company. Provascular tissue, carboxylesterase, shoot apex, vascular differentiation, carrot (Daucus carotaL.).     

A New Australian Species of Ctenarytaina Ferris and Klyver (Hemiptera: Psyllidae: Spondyliaspidinae) established in Three Other Countries

The species described in this paper, Ctenarytaina spatulata sp.n., is widely distributed in Australia. Since 1990 it has also been recorded in New Zealand, the U.S.A. (California) and Uruguay.     

Manipulation of IAA-Oxidase Activity and Auxin-Deficiency Symptoms in Intact Cotton Plants with Manganese Nutrition

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. Deltapine 15) seedlings were grown in solution culture in which the Mn²⁺ level was varied. Following an initial period, a series of shifts in manganese nutrition were employed, each lasting 14 days. Appearance was observed and fresh weight, IAA oxidase (IAAO), peroxidase and IAAO inhibitor levels were determined. After the initial 3 weeks of treatment, growth was negatively correlated with IAAO (or peroxidase) activity. All shifts in manganese nutrition resulted in predicted changes in IAAO activity, growth and plant appearance during a second 2-week period of the experiment. Continuously deficient plants exhibited highest leaf abscission and IAA oxidase activity, and lowest growth of all treatments. Plants shifted from deficient to control levels of Mn²⁺ exhibited a marked decline in IAAO activity, increase in growth and absence of leaf abscission. Plants shifted from borderline deficiency to deficient Mn²⁺ exhibited a major increase in IAAO activity, reduction in growth and extensive leaf abscission. Control and borderline toxicity plants maintained normal IAAO activity, growth, and appearance. During a final 2-week period, symptom expression was intensified. In particular, the initial borderline deficiency plants shifted to deficient levels of Mn²⁺ abscised most of those leaves that expanded after the shift in treatment. In addition, shifts of some plants to toxic Mn²⁺ levels during the third phase of the experiment produced a complete cycle of manipulation. Plants initially deficient in Mn²⁺ with high IAAO and low growth recovered growth and declined in IAAO when shifted to control Mn²⁺ and then suffered severe inhibition of growth and toxicity symptoms when shifted to high Mn²⁺. In all cases changes in enzyme activity, growth, leaf abscission and similar symptoms were most strongly expressed in the youngest tissue or that with the greatest potential for growth during the interval of a particular treatment. Since total growth, IAAO, leaf abscission, internode length and similar symptoms were consistently manipulated in both directions (increase or decrease in intensity or degree) by raising or lowering Mn²⁺ levels in the plant culture medium, we conclude that there is a causal relationship between IAAO and these responses that involves destruction of auxin.