Variable Photosynthetic Metabolism in Leaves and Stems of Cissus quadrangularis L

By measuring titratable acidity, gas exchange parameters, mesophyll succulence, and ¹³C/¹²C ratios, we have shown that Cissus quadrangularis L. has C₃-like leaves and stems with Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). In addition, the nonsucculent leaves show the diurnal fluctuations in organic acids termed recycling despite the fact that all CO₂ uptake and stomatal opening occurs during the day. Young succulent stems have more C₃ photosynthesis than older stems, but both have characteristics of CAM. The genus Cissus will be a fruitful group to study the physiology, ecology, and evolution of C₃ and CAM since species occur that exhibit characteristics of both photosynthetic pathways.     

Shifts in the Carbon Metabolism of Xerosicyos danguyi H. Humb. (Cucurbitaceae) Brought About by Water Stress : II. Enzymology

Xerosicyos danguyi Humbert (Cucurbitaceae) is a leaf succulent endemic to Madagascar. Under well-watered conditions, the plant exhibited Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) but shifted to a dampened form of CAM, CAM-idling, when subjected to water stress. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of a shift in carbon metabolism on phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and on NADP-malic enzyme in X. danguyi. Experiments were conducted to determine the diurnal patterns of enzyme activity and pH optima of both enzymes, as well as the approximate molecular mass, kinetic patterns, malate inhibition, and glucose-6-phosphate stimulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. The two enzymes extracted from well-watered and water-stressed plants were similar in most parameters investigated; thus, CAM-idling appeared to be only a dampened form of CAM photosynthesis.     

CAM-idling in Hoya carnosa (Asclepiadaceae)

In the leaf succulent Asclepiad Hoya carnosa (L.) R. Br., CAM photosynthesis occurred under well-watered conditions, as characterized by diurnal gas exchange and changes in titratable acidity. Following 10–12 days of severe water stress, the plants shifted from CAM to a modified CAM-idling mode of metabolism. CAM-idling was characterized by complete or almost complete stomatal closure accompanied by CAM-like diurnal changes in titratable acidity. H. carnosa plants maintained this CAM-idling mode of photosynthesis for at least 8 weeks. Upon reirrigation, the plants returned to the original CAM mode within 1 week. These results suggested that CAM-idling is a reversible, intermediate form of sustained metabolism which enables plant survival under conditions of extended drought.This work was supported in part by NSF Grant PCM 8200366 and in part by the Science and Education Administration of the United States Department of Agriculture under Competitive Grant 5901-0420-8-0018-0.     

Bovine lens aldehyde dehydrogenase. Kinetics and mechanism.

Bovine lens cytoplasmic aldehyde dehydrogenase exhibits Michaelis-Menten kinetics with acetaldehyde, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, p-nitrobenzaldehyde, propionaldehyde, glycolaldehyde, glyceraldehyde, phenylacetylaldehyde and succinic semialdehyde as substrates. The enzyme was also active with malondialdehyde, and exhibited an esterase activity. Steady-state kinetic analyses show that the enzyme exhibits a compulsory-ordered ternary-complex mechanism with NAD+ binding before acetaldehyde. The enzyme was inhibited by disulfiram and by p-chloromercuribenzoate, and studies with with mercaptans indicated the involvement of thiol groups in catalysis.     

Chemical basis of host selection and plant resistance in oligophagous insects

Recent investigations of the Colorado potato beetle and the alfalfa weevil reveal many similarities in their modes of host selection. Many plant chemicals influence their behavioral responses and physiological processes. Chemical stimuli influencing host finding and acceptance or rejection of plants include attractants, repellents, sign stimulants, feeding stimulants and deterrents. Both species are highly sensitive to deterrent chemicals present in many plants. Feeding stimulants are indispensible for these insects and are supplied by both primary nutrients (i.e. sugars, amino acids, phospholipids and potassium salts) and secondary plant substances. The important role played by different plant chemicals in host selection and plant resistance is discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Neuere Untersuchungen am Kartoffelkäfer und am Luzerneblattnager förderten viele Übereinstimmungen in der Art ihrer Wirtswahl zu Tage. Viele Pflanzenstoffe beeinflussen ihre Verhaltensweisen und physiologische Prozesse. Chemische Reize, welche die Auffindung des Wirtes, Annahme oder Ablehnung der Pflanzen beeinflussen, umfassen Attractants, Repellents, Signalstoffe, Fraß-Stimulatoren und Abschreckstoffe. Beide Arten sind hochempfindlich gegenüber abschreckenden Verbindungen in vielen Pflanzen. Fraß-Stimulatoren sind für beide Insekten unabdingbar notwendig und werden sowohl von primären Nährstoffen (wie Zucker, Aminosäuren, Phospholipiden und Natriumsalzen) wie von sekundären Pflanzenstoffen gestellt. Die bedeutsame Rolle, welche Pflanzenstoffe bei der Wirtswahl und der Resistenz der Pflanzen spielen, wird diskutiert.

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Journal paper No. ...., Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, Logan, Utah.     

我国新蚤属斯氏组(stevensi group of Neopsylla)的分类研究及新种新亚种记述(Siphonaptera:Hystrichopsyllidae)

我国的新蚤属已知有18个种和亚种,其中有12种和亚种属于多毛组,6种属于斯氏组。著者等今整理了从云南、贵州、福建和陕西四省所得到的斯氏组新蚤,除尊新蚤和异种新蚤未获得以外共记述了10种和亚种。其中无规新蚤和福建新蚤为已知种,不同新蚤为我国新记录,均作了补充记述。另外还发现了斯氏新蚤的雌性。本种系Rothschild 氏于1915年根据采自尼泊尔-锡金边境的一只雄蚤而记述。至1932年Jordan氏根据从四川得到的标本记述了雌性形态。本文根据从云南获得的雌雄性标本,重新记述了雌性形态,并由于早先文献中证据的不足和结论的可疑提出Jordan氏1932年记述的雌蚤并非本种,可能是其他种新蚤的雌性。 本文记述了两个斯氏组的新种:1)相关新蚤新种,采自云南中甸 Apodemus agrarius;2)二毫新蚤新种,采自云南中甸 A.agrarius(?E.proditor)。另外,对特新蚤进行了种下分类,提出特新蚤乃一多型物种,根据其种群特征将所得标本分别订为三个地理亚种:(1)云南大理的为特特新蚤;贵阳的为贵阳特新蚤;福建的为闽北特新蚤。 最后编制了我国斯氏组新蚤12个种和亚种的分类检索表。     

警纹地老虎Euxoa exclamationis(Linnaeus)的初步研究

1.警纹地老虎在新疆各地与黄地老虎同时混合发生,各虫态又与黄地老虎相近似,因而两种地老虎常常混淆不清,给研究和测报工作带来一定的困难。本文对它与黄地老虎的形态做了比较,生物学特性作了叙述。 2.此虫在南疆莎车地区一年发生二代,以滞育的第二代幼虫在土中越冬。越冬深度较黄地老虎为浅。成虫发生期为4月中旬至9月中旬,其间出现两次高峰,第一次为4月下旬至5月上旬,第二次为7月上中旬。 3.警纹地老虎虽是杂食性害虫,但其寄主植物范围较黄地老虎为狭。第一代幼虫一般生活在藜科杂草上,作物地除苜蓿外很少发现它的踪迹:第二代主要集中苜蓿、甜菜和马铃薯等作物为害。 4.各虫态历期长短随温度而异。卵期当温度为20℃及26℃时,分别为8-10天、4-6天;蛹期在17-18℃及25-27℃时,分别为25-28天、12-14天;幼虫期第—代以灰藜、甜菜、玉米饲养者,分别为26-33天、33天、37-38天。 5.成虫取食马蔺花蜜者产卵量较取食白菜花及清水者高1.29、2.26倍。幼虫取食甜菜者其成虫产卵量较取食玉米者高1.74倍,蛹重以取食灰藜和甜菜者较重,取食马铃薯和玉米者较轻。     

地里恙螨幼虫形态变异的研究

我们在研究甲乙两型地里恙螨子代的形态和两型地里恙螨的杂交实验中,发现这两者子代幼虫中有出现形态变异的现象。 1.后侧毛基的移位:从沿海某县采回的甲型地里恙螨(以下简称“C甲”)在实验室饲养繁殖的F_1标本中,出现一只左边后侧毛位置正常而右边后侧毛向上移位至感毛基的前侧(见图1)。左边A-P为27.6