Narciclasine modulates polar auxin transport in Arabidopsis roots

Plant development displays an exceptional plasticity and adaptability that involves the dynamic, asymmetric distribution of the phytohormone auxin. Polar auxin flow, which requires transport facilitators of the PIN family, largely contributes to the establishment and maintenance of auxin gradients and mediates multiple developmental processes. Here, we report the effects of narciclasine (NCS), an Amaryllidaceae alkaloid isolated from Narcissus tazetta bulbs, on postembryonic development of Arabidopsis roots. Arabidopsis seedlings grown on NCS showed defects in root gravitropism which correlates with a reduction in auxin transport in roots. Expressions of auxin transport genes were affected and the polar localization of PIN2 protein was altered under NCS treatment. Taken together, we propose that NCS modulates auxin transport gene expression and PIN2 localization, and thus affects auxin transport and auxin distribution necessary for postembryonic development of Arabidopsis roots.     

油茶插穗生根过程的解剖学观察

采用常规石蜡切片法,观察油茶插穗不定根发育的解剖学特征。结果表明：油茶当年生插穗茎内无潜伏根原基, 插条的皮部存在连续排列成环状的厚壁细胞,这些结构特征可能与油茶插条生根时间较长有关。不定根由诱生根原基发育形成, 诱生根源于形成层、韧皮部及愈伤组织等部位,不定根属于诱导根原始体型、混合生根型。只有极少数插条的不定根由愈伤组织长出,不定根的发生与愈伤组织没有直接关系。     

宽叶泽苔草的花器官发生

通过扫描电镜观察了宽叶泽苔草Caldesia grandisSamuel.的花器官发生。宽叶泽苔草 的萼片3枚,逆时针螺旋向心发生 ;花瓣3枚,呈一轮近同时发生,未观察到花瓣_雄蕊复合原基;雄蕊、心皮原基皆轮状向心 发生,最先近同时发生的6枚原基全部发育成雄蕊,随后发生的6枚原基早期并无差别,在发 育过程中逐渐出现形态差异,直至其中1－4枚发育成心皮,其余的发育成雄蕊;而后的几轮 心皮原基,6枚一轮,陆续向心相间发生。本文揭示了3枚萼片螺旋状的发生方式,并推测这种螺旋方式是泽泻科植物进化过程中保留下来     

黄瓜花原基的形成及与Ca~(2+)的关系

以黄瓜为试验材料研究了肉眼可见的花原基突起之前 ,花原基早期的分化过程。结果显示花原基分化和开花的起始节位是第一真叶节 ;肉眼可见花原基突起前早期的分化是在叶腋亚表皮部位形成一个球形的花原基起始细胞团 ,此细胞团进一步分裂、扩大形成肉眼可见的花原基突起 ;第一真叶节的花原基起始细胞团分化集中发生于 6～ 7d苗龄时期 ;Ca2 + 在花原基起始细胞团细胞中主要分布在细胞壁和细胞间隙 ,而在非起始细胞团的叶腋亚表皮细胞则主要分布在液泡中 ,并对Ca2 + 在花原基起始细胞团分化中的作用进行了讨论。     

Growth and morphological development of sagittal otoliths of larval and early juvenile Trachurus japonicus

The daily periodicity of growth increment formation in sagittal otoliths of jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus was validated by marking otoliths with alizarin complexone (ALC). Analysis of otoliths of known‐age juveniles confirmed that the first increment formed on day 3 after hatching, and was associated with first feeding. A total of 198 specimens, ranging from 2·6 to 49·2 mm in body length (notochord length or standard length) and from 7 to 78 days in age, were collected in the East China Sea and Tosa Bay, and used to examine the association between otolith morphological development and ontogenetic development. The relationship between body length ( L ) and otolith radius ( R ) was significantly described by the linear function L  = 2·65 + 0·0425 R ( n  = 198, r ² = 0·99, P  < 0·001), indicating that somatic growth history can be reconstructed from otolith growth patterns. The otolith was primarily spherical in the preflexion larval stage, and became elongated with notochord flexion. The first secondary primordium formed at c . 25 days, during the middle postflexion stage, and was associated with metamorphosis. By c . 42 days the sagittal otolith was adult‐like in morphology, with the primary growth zone enclosed by the marginal growth zone, except in the anterior rostrum area. Thus age, growth and developmental stages were recorded in sagittal otoliths during the larval and early juvenile stages of jack mackerel.     

Genetic dissection of the initiation of the infection process and nodule tissue development in the Rhizobium-pea (Pisum sativum L.) symbiosis

Twelve non-nodulating pea (Pisum sativum L.) mutants were studied to identify the blocks in nodule tissue development. In nine, the reason for the lack of infection thread (IT) development was studied; this had been characterized previously in the other three mutants. With respect to IT development, mutants in gene sym7 are interrupted at the stage of colonization of the pocket in the curled root hair (Crh- phenotype), mutants in genes sym37 and sym38 are blocked at the stage of IT growth in the root hair cell (Ith- phenotype) and mutants in gene sym34 at the stage of IT growth inside root cortex cells (Itr- phenotype). With respect to nodule tissue development, mutants in genes sym7, sym14 and sym35 were shown to be blocked at the stage of cortical cell divisions (Ccd- phenotype), mutants in gene sym34 are halted at the stage of nodule primordium (NP) development (Npd- phenotype) and mutants in genes sym37 and sym38 are arrested at the stage of nodule meristem development (Nmd- phenotype). Thus, the sequential functioning of the genes Sym37, Sym38 and the gene Sym34 apparently differs in the infection process and during nodule tissue development. Based on these data, a scheme is suggested for the sequential functioning of early pea symbiotic genes in the two developmental processes: infection and nodule tissue formation.     

Nodule numbers are governed by interaction between CLE peptides and cytokinin signaling

CLE peptides are involved in the balance between cell division and differentiation throughout plant development, including nodulation. Previously, two CLE genes of Medicago truncatula, MtCLE12 and MtCLE13, had been identified whose expression correlated with nodule primordium formation and meristem establishment. Gain-of-function analysis indicated that both MtCLE12 and MtCLE13 interact with the SUPER NUMERIC NODULES (SUNN)-dependent auto-regulation of nodulation to control nodule numbers. Here we demonstrate that cytokinin, which is essential for nodule organ formation, regulates MtCLE13 expression. In addition, simultaneous knockdown of MtCLE12 and MtCLE13 resulted in an increase in nodule number, implying that both genes play a role in controlling nodule number. Additionally, a weak link may exist with the ethylene-dependent mechanism that locally controls nodule number.     

A model for leaf initiation: Determination of phyllotaxis by waves in the generative circle

A biophysical model is proposed for how leaf primordia are positioned on the shoot apical<br /> meristem in both spiral and whorl phyllotaxes. Primordia are initiated by signals that propagate<br /> in the epidermis in both azimuthal directions away from the cotyledons or the most recently<br /> specified primordia. The signals are linear waves as inferred from the spatial periodicity of the<br /> divergence angle and a temporal periodicity. The periods of the waves, which represent actively<br /> transported auxin, are much smaller than the plastochron interval. Where oppositely directed<br /> waves meet at one or more angular positions on the periphery of the generative circle, auxin<br /> concentration builds and as in most models this stimulates local movement of auxin to<br /> underlying cells, where it promotes polarized cell division and expansion. For higher order<br /> spirals the wave model requires asymmetric function of auxin transport; that is, opposite wave<br /> speeds differ. An algorithm for determination of the angular positions of leaves in common leaf<br /> phyllotaxic configurations is proposed. The number of turns in a pattern repeat, number of leaves<br /> per level and per pattern repeat, and divergence angle are related to speed of auxin transport and<br /> radius of the generative circle. The rule for composition of Fibonacci or Lucas numbers<br /> associated with some phyllotaxes is discussed. A subcellular model suggests how the shoot<br /> meristem might specify either symmetric or asymmetric transport of auxin away from the<br /> forming primordia that produce it. Biological tests that could make or break the mathematical<br /> and molecular hypotheses are proposed.