Identification of a 32-kDa anther marker protein for androgenic response in maize,Zea mays L.

Variations in the whole anther protein pattern have been investigated in a highly androgenic maize hybrid during the inductive pretreatment for androgenesis. It was found that a 32-kDa protein (MAR32) is induced and accumulates in the anthers during cold pretreatment of the tassel. A positive correlation between the rate of embryo formation via anther culture and the level of this protein after 7 days of cold treatment was observed. In addition, the in vivo synthesis of this protein by cold-pretreated anthers was demonstrated. Different responsive and non-responsive genotypes were also evaluated, and the accumulation of MAR32-like protein was only observed in certain responsive genotypes. The results suggest that the protein MAR32 is a marker for a form of androgenic responsiveness in maize.     

Water balance of over-wintering beetles in relation to strategies for cold tolerance

The vapour pressure of the haemolymph of a supercooled insect is higher than the vapour pressure of the haemolymph of a frozen insect at the same temperature. The aim of the study was to see whether this may affect the water loss of freeze-avoiding and freezetolerant, over-wintering beetles. The rates of water loss were determined on freeze-tolerant Pytho depressus larvae and Upis ceramboides adults. Within each species one group was kept supercooled whereas another group was frozen. All groups were incubated at-5°C. Both species displayed significantly lower rates of water loss when they were frozen than when they were supercooled. Values of respiratory rate and water loss of freeze-avoiding and freeze-tolerant species were compared to corresponding values of desert beetles. The results indicate that the freeze-avoiding species have lower rates of cuticular water loss than freeze-tolerant species. This indicates that the freeze-avoiding species have developed more efficient water-saving mechanisms than freeze-tolerant species. The reason for this may be that the haemolymph in frozen animals will be in vapour pressure equlibrium with the ice in the hibernaculum and thus there is no danger of desiccation during winter. The supercooled insects will have a vapour pressure of the haemolymph that is higher than the vapour pressure of water in the surrounding air and will thus lose water.Abbreviations BW body weight - BW_i initial body weight - BW_t body weight at time t - P vapour pressure difference between the water in the haemolymph and the water in the air - DWL_t dry weight loss at time t - M _w rate of metabolic water production - MF_w mol fraction of water, in the haemolymph - MO₂ rate of oxygen consumption - Osm osmolality of the haemolymph - P _a vapour pressure of water in the air - P _h vapour pressure of water in the haemolymph - P _w vapour pressure of pure water - Q a constant (2,02 1 oxygen per g fat metabolized) relating oxygen consumption to dry weight loss when fat is metabolized - R a constant (1,89 1 oxygen per g water produced) relating metabolic water production to oxygen consumption when fat is metabolized - R _dwl rate of dry weight loss - RH relative humidity of the air - RWC_i initial relative water content measured by weighing - RWC_t relative water content at time t - STP standard temperature and pressure     

Cold-induced changes in the polysome pattern and protein synthesis in winter rye (Secale cereale) leaves

Cold-induced changes in the polysome pattern and protein synthesis were analyzed in winter rye, Secale cereale L. cv. Voima, during one week's cold stress treatment, which was performed by transferring the 7-day-old plants from the greenhouse (25°C, long-day conditions) to 3°C and a photoperiod of 10. 5 h. Freezing resistance determined by electrolyte leakage increased significantly upon cold stress starting from LT₅₀ value –5°C. and reaching –9°C on the day 7 of cold exposure. After 4 weeks at low temperature, plants reached an LT₅₀ of –12°C. The polysome content increased markedly during cold stress compared to the control plants. After 2 weeks of cold treatment the polysome content decreased to the same level as that in control plants. The size-class distribution of polysomes showed a high proportion of large protein synthesizing polysomes in cold-stressed plants. After 2 weeks the values were comparable to those in control plants. Cold-induced proteins were detected using ³⁵S-labelled methionine for in vitro translations. At least 2 new polypeptides, M_r 30000 and 18000, were induced on the first day of cold stress and continued to be expressed at low temperatures 4 weeks later.     

Loss of tubulin during cold treatment of cultured carrot cells

When carrot cells, Daucus carota L. cv. Kintoki, in suspension culture were chilled on ice, more than 90% of the cortical microtubules disappeared within an hour. Colchicine-binding activity in the soluble extract decreased gradually during the prolonged cold treatment and after 4 days reached a minimum level. In SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretograms of the cold-treated cell extracts, the bands corresponding to tubulin subunits disappeared, whereas most of the other protein bands remained. The level of tubulin was restored within a day after the cells were returned to 267deg;C. The relative ratio of the two major β-tubulin isoforms was reversed during the cold treatment, indicating that the cold sensitivity of tubulin differs according to its molecular species. When the cells were returned to 26°C, the ratio was restored to the original state within 24 h.     

Photosynthetic acclimation to light in juveniles of two cloud forest tree species

The photosynthetic response of juveniles of Decussocarpus rospigliosii, an emergent primary forest species and shade tolerant in its juvenile stages and Alchornea triplinervia, a gap-colonizing species of tropical cloud forest in Venezuela was studied. Daily courses of microenvironmental variables and gas exchange under contrasting light conditions (gap and understory) were carried out in their natural environment and transplanted to different light regimes (shade and sun) in the field. The photosynthetic response and some anatomical characteristics of plants from different treatments were analyzed in the laboratory. Photosynthetic rates were low for both species, and were negative during some diurnal periods, related to the low photosynthetically active radiation levels obtained at both gap (6% of total radiation) and understory (2%). A. triplinervia shows higher rates (1.5–3.0 molm^{-2 -1}) than D. rospigliosii (0.7–1.1 molm^-2s^-1). Both species showed increased photosynthetic rates when grown in gaps. A. triplinervia did not adjust its maximum photosynthetic rates to the prevailing light conditions. In contrast, D. rospigliosii responded to increased light levels. Both species showed low light compensation points when grown under total shade. There was a partial stomatal closure generally during midday in D. rospigliosii. A. triplinervia presented lower leaf conductances, transpiration rates and lesser stomatal control. Some leaf anatomical characteristics, in both species, were affected by variations in the light regime (i.e. increased leaf thickness, leaf specific weight and stomatal density). These results suggest that both species have the ability to respond to variations in their natural light environments, therefore maintaining a favorable carbon balance during the day.     

冷锻炼对水稻和黄瓜幼苗SOD,GR活性及GSH,AsA含量的影响

水稻（Ｏｒｙｚａ ｓａｔｉｖａ Ｌ．）和黄瓜（Ｃｕｃｕｍ ｉｓｍ ｅｌｏ Ｌ．）幼苗在昼夜温度为１５ ℃／１０ ℃、白天光照１２ ｈ,光强为２５０ μｍ ｏｌ·ｍ － ２·ｓ－ １的条件下锻炼３ ｄ,明显地提高幼苗叶片中膜保护酶——超氧物歧化酶（ＳＯＤ）、谷胱甘肽还原酶（ＧＲ）活性和内源抗氧化剂——还原型谷胱甘肽（ＧＳＨ）、抗坏血酸（ＡｓＡ）的含量。经冷锻炼和未锻炼的幼苗移置４ ℃、光强为２５０ μｍ ｏｌ·ｍ － ２·ｓ－ １下胁迫处理２ ｄ,未锻炼苗叶片中ＳＯＤ、ＧＲ 活性和ＧＳＨ、ＡｓＡ 含量明显下降,而经冷锻炼的苗则相对比较稳定。从脂质过氧化产物——丙二醛（ＭＤＡ）含量及幼苗的存活率亦看出：冷锻炼苗具有较低的脂质过氧化水平和较高的幼苗存活率。由此认为：冷锻炼能提高水稻和黄瓜幼苗细胞膜的稳定性,从而增强了耐低温光胁迫的能力     

Root growth analysis: An underutilised approach to understanding aluminium rhizotoxicity

Despite numerous published studies, the mechanistic bases for Al rhizotoxicity and for intraspecific differences in Al tolerance remain elusive. Classical methods of growth analysis offer a means to describe quantitatively the onset of root growth inhibition in response to an Al challenge, and any subsequent recovery in growth rates (i.e. acclimation). Such information could help elucidate tolerance mechanisms (i.e. constitutive vs. inducible). Despite this potential utility, however, published data of high accuracy and precision are few, especially with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In this paper, a conceptual framework for analysing root growth responses to Al is presented. Specially designed tanks and a computerised video analysis system were used to monitor root elongation in a simple medium (1 mM CaCl₂, pH 4.3) containing varied Al concentrations. Root lengths of five wheat cultivars were measured every 2 to 5 h for 48 h after Al challenge. Growth rates typically exhibited a brief (1–2 h) lag phase prior to a sharp decline, followed by a recovery phase of 12 h duration. At low levels of Al (i.e. sufficient to cause a 10% reduction in net elongation) post-recovery growth rates generally equalled those of control roots, but were significantly reduced at Al concentrations yielding a 40 to 50% reduction in net elongation. All cultivars exhibited similar inhibition-acclimation response patterns and these responses did not explain differences in sensitivity to Al. Nonetheless, solution Al concentrations required to elicit the same growth responses varied by 20-fold across the five cultivars, consistent with the notion that root exclusion of Al is a significant component of differential Al tolerance in wheat.     

The induction of freezing tolerance in jack pine seedlings: The role of root plasma membrane H+- ATPase and redox activities

The acquired freezing tolerance of jack pine seedlings (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) conditioned at low nonfreezing temperatures and short photoperiods was determined by comparison of seedling survival to that of nonconditioned (control) seedlings following exposure to ?5 and ?10°C. Compared to that of controls, survival of conditioned seedlings was markedly increased following exposure to freezing temperatures. A 1-week conditioning treatment significantly increased the survival of the seedlings after exposure to ?5°C, but was less effective on seedlings exposed to ?10°C. Conditioning periods of 2 and 4 weeks resulted in higher survival of seedlings exposed to both ?5 and ?10°C. The changes of two root-plasma-membrane-associated enzyme activities, H⁺-ATPase and NADH-dependent ferricyanide reductase, were studied in enriched plasma membrane fractions during conditioning and after freezing. Post-freezing activities of both enzymes were enhanced by conditioning at low temperatures and short photoperiods. These changes may be related to the increased frost hardiness also induced by conditioning.     

Acclimation of photosynthesis,respiration and ecosystem carbon flux of a wetland on Chesapeake Bay,Maryland to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration

Acclimation of photosynthesis and respiration in shoots and ecosystem carbon dioxide fluxes to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (C _a ) was studied in a brackish wetland. Open top chambers were used to create test atmospheres of normal ambient and elevated C _a (=normal ambient + 34 Pa CO₂) over mono-specific stands of the C₃ sedge Scirpus olneyi, the dominant C₃ species in the wetland ecosystem, throughout each growing season since April of 1987. Acclimation of photosynthesis and respiration were evaluated by measurements of gas exchange in excised shoots. The impact of elevated C _a on the accumulation of carbon in the ecosystem was determined by ecosystem gas exchange measurements made using the open top chamber as a cuvette.Elevated C _a increased carbohydrate and reduced Rubisco and soluble protein concentrations as well as photosynthetic capacity(A) and dark respiration (R _d ; dry weight basis) in excised shoots and canopies (leaf area area basis) of Scirpus olneyi. Nevertheless, the rate of photosynthesis was stimulated 53% in shoots and 30% in canopies growing in elevated C _a compared to normal ambient concentration. Elevated C _a inhibited R _d measured in excised shoots (–19 to –40%) and in seasonally integrated ecosystem respiration (R _e ; –36 to –57%). Growth of shoots in elevated C _a was stimulated 14–21%, but this effect was not statistically significant at peak standing biomass in midseason. Although the effect of elevated C _a on growth of shoots was relatively small, the combined effect of increased number of shoots and stimulation of photosynthesis produced a 30% stimulation in seasonally integrated gross primary production (GPP). The stimulation of photosynthesis and inhibition of respiration by elevated C _a increased net ecosystem production (NEP=GPP–R _e ) 59% in 1993 and 50% in 1994. While this study consistently showed that elevated C _a produced a significant increase in NEP, we have not identified a correspondingly large pool of carbon below ground.