Antagonistic and synergistic interactions between aluminum and manganese on growth of Vigna unguiculata at low ionic strength

Concentrations of soluble aluminum (Al) and manganese (Mn) frequently reach phytotoxic levels in acid soils. While dose response relationships for these metals are well documented, the effects of combined exposure have received less attention. We have examined the effect of combinations of Al and Mn on growth and metal accumulation in Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. grown in solution culture under conditions of low ionic strength (conductivities typically < 100 µS cm⁻¹). The nature of interaction between these metals varied with the specific physiological response, the part of the plant investigated, and the relative amount of stress imposed. Analysis of growth data provided evidence for amelioration of metal toxicity (antagonistic effects), although this effect was dose dependent. Analysis of metal content data provided evidence for antagonistic and synergistic (exacerbation of toxicity) effects, again depending on dose. Analysis of foliar symptoms also provided evidence for antagonisms and synergisms, with the nature of the response dependent on the specific physiological response and specific plant part investigated. In contrast with previous reports, evidence for antagonistic, synergistic, and multiplicative effects on growth, metal uptake, and expression of foliar symptoms have been obtained under physiologically and environmentally relevant conditions. These results suggest a more detailed analysis of the potential for interactions between metals in the environment is required.     

Plant-derived smoke solutions stimulate the growth of Lycopersicon esculentum roots in vitro

Aqueous extracts of smoke, derived from Themeda triandra, a fire-climax grass, and Passerina vulgaris, a fynbos plant, stimulated the growth of primary root sections of tomato roots in suspension culture. The optimal dilution for both extracts was 1:2000. Several of the fractions obtained from TLC separation of the Themeda and the Passerina extracts significantly promoted primary root growth. The auxins naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), indolebutyric acid (IBA) and indoleacetic acid (IAA) were found to stimulate the growth of the primary root axis, with IAA and NAA significantly promoting lateral root number. Similarly, the naturally occurring cytokinins, zeatin and its derivatives (zeatin-O-glucoside; dihydrozeatin and zeatin riboside) stimulated primary root length. Zeatin and dihydrozeatin promoted secondary root growth, but only at very low concentrations.     

Transient increase in phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol trisphosphate during activation of human neutrophils

We recently showed that phosphatidylinositol trisphosphate (PIP3) was present in a unique lipid fraction generated in neutrophils during activation. Here, we demonstrate that the band containing this fraction isolated from thin layer chromatography consists primarily of PIP3 and that only small amounts of radiolabeled PIP3 exist prior to activation. In addition, high performance liquid chromatography of deacylated phospholipids from stimulated cells reveals an increase in a fraction eluting ahead of glycerophosphoinositol 4,5-P2. After removal of the glycerol we found that it coeluted with inositol 1,3,4-P3 when resubjected to high performance liquid chromatography. Thus, we have detected a second, novel form of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate in activated neutrophils, PI-(3,4)P2. The elevation of PIP3 through the formyl peptide receptor is blocked by pretreatment with pertussis toxin, implicating mediation of the increase in PIP3 by a guanosine triphosphate-binding (G) protein. The rise in PIP3 is not secondary to calcium elevation. Buffering the rise in intracellular calcium did not diminish the increase in PIP3. The elevation of PIP3 appears to occur during activation with physiological agonists, its level varying with the degree of activation. Leukotriene B4, which elicits many of the same responses as stimulation of the formyl peptide receptor but with minimal oxidant production, stimulates a much attenuated rise in PIP3. Isoproterenol, which inhibits oxidant production also reduces the rise in PIP3. Hence formation of PI(3,4)P2 and PIP3 (presumed to be PI(3,4,5)P3) correlates closely with the early events of neutrophil activation.     

Salbutamol: tablets,inhalational powder,or nebuliser?

A study was carried out to ascertain the most effective method of giving salbutamol. Seventeen children with severe asthma received active salbutamol (4 mg via a nebuliser, 400 micrograms as an inhalational powder, or a 4 mg tablet) together with complementary placebos on a double-blind, triple-dummy randomly allocated basis. The bronchodilatation effect was assessed by measuring the peak expiratory flow rate. The bronchodilatation effect was greatest when patients received nebulised salbutamol (p less than 0.05) but lasted longest when they received the tablet (p less than 0.0001); the onset of the effect was rapid with all forms of administration. These results indicate that nebulised salbutamol gives the best relief in severe asthma; in less severe cases, however, a regimen combining the inhalational powder and tablets is sufficient and more convenient.     

SEX-RATIO BIAS WITH ASYMMETRIC EXCHANGE OF POLLEN BETWEEN DEMES

In a patch of hermaphroditic plants, with a low level of pollen migration between patches, a prevailing wind creates a gradient, within the patch, in the strength of local competition among pollen for reproductive success. This leads to a sex ratio gradient, with a male (pollen) bias in downwind individuals, which can be quite strong even for large patches. The effect can be understood as follows: downwind individuals have relatively low reproductive value and respond by putting more resources into the gamete (pollen) with the best long-range (extra-patch) reproductive success.