α-Galactosidase from sweet chestnut seeds

The major sugars of fresh seeds of Castanea sativa were shown to be raffinose, stachyose and sucrose. Drying seeds at 25° for 14 weeks increased the ratio raffinose: stachyose from 1.1 to 3.5, reduced sucrose content by ca 50 % and decreased total extractable α-galactosidase. The enzyme activity was resolved into two peaks, a high MW form I (apparent MW215 000) and a low MW form II (apparent MW 53 000). The latter form was predominant in the extract of fresh seeds whereas the former was the main form in the 14-week dried seeds. An increase in the amount of enzyme I was also observed when a buffered extract (pH 5.5) of fresh seeds was stored at 4°. Enzymes I and II had pH optima of 4.5 and 6, respectively. Both enzymes hydrolysed p-nitrophenyl α-d-galactoside at a much greater rate than the natural substrates raffinose, stachyose, locust bean gum and carob gum. However, enzyme I showed preference for stachyose as compared to raffinose; the opposite order was observed for enzyme II.     

Relation métabolique entre l'arginine et l'acide γ-aminobutyrique dans le fruit de Castanea sativa: étude préliminaire de l'arginase

Analysis of the free amino acid pool in the chestnut fruit (Castanea sativa) shows that it is high in γ-aminobutyric acid. A metabolic connection between arginine and γ-aminobutyric acid is evident. Three enzymatic activities are involved: L-arginine ureohydrolase, L-ornithine 2-oxo-acid aminotransferase and L-glutamate carboxylyase.     

Relations between vulnerability to xylem embolism and xylem conduit dimensions in young trees of Quercus corris

Measurements of xylem conduit length and width and the distribution of xylem conduit ends were made in inter-nodes (I), nodes (N) and twig junctions (J) of 1-, 2- and 3-year-old twigs of plants of Quercus cerris L. Parallel measurements were also made of the loss of hydraulic conductivity of twigs subjected to pressure differentials across conduit pit membranes, equalling the leaf water potential at the turgor loss point. The loss of theoretical hydraulic conductivity was calculated as the ratio of i esivr⁴ (where r is the conduit radius) of the non-conducting conduits to that of all the conduits in the outermost wood ring of I, N and J. Stem zones such as 1-year-old nodes and junctions were localized with narrower and shorter xylem conduits and with higher percentages of conduit ends than internodes. Such ‘constricted zonesrsquo; were less vulnerable to embolism than internodes. Latewood conduits were consistently narrower, shorter and less vulnerable to embolism than earlywood ones. A positive relation therefore existed between conduit diameter and length and vulnerability to embolism. The overall vulnerability to embolism of Q. cerris plants is discussed in terms of xylem conduit width and length and of the distribution of conduit ends.     

西藏壳斗科订正

在野外观察和前人工作的基础上,对西藏壳斗科植物进行了详细的订正,描述了１个新种,报道１个中国新记录种,４个西藏新记录种,归并１１种和２变种,排除无标本记录的２种。确认西藏壳斗科植物共３属３２种,２变种。     

壳斗科植物摘录(Ⅴ)

<正> 壳斗科 FAGACEAE 锥属 Castanopsis Spach 苦槠钩锥 Castanopsis kuchugouzhui Huang et Y. T. Chang, hybr. nov. [Castanopsis sclerophylla (Lindl.) Schott. ×C. tibetana Hance] Castanopsis tibetana × sclerophylla Huang et Y. T. Chang in Guihaia 10(1) :7. 1990.     

Intraspecific variation and phylogeographic patterns of Fagus crenata (Fagaceae) mitochondrial DNA

Mitochondrial (mt) DNA variation in Japanese beech, Fagus crenata (Fagaceae), was studied in 17 populations distributed throughout the species' range. Total genomic DNA of samples from single trees representing each of 12 populations were digested with 18 restriction enzymes and hybridized with three probes containing coxI, coxIII, and atpA gene sequences. Thirty-four of the 54 enzyme/probe combinations showed polymorphisms and all the individuals were subsequently analyzed with six combinations of three probes and two enzymes. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms were evident around all three genes, allowing the identification of eight distinct haplotypes. Haplotype diversity within the populations was found to be very low (HS = 0.031), but population differentiation to be much higher (GST = 0.963). The mtDNA variation was strikingly different from allozyme variation (HS = 0.209; GST = 0.039). Gene flow for maternally inherited mtDNA should be restricted to seed dispersal while nuclear gene flow occurs by both seed and pollen dispersal. Therefore, the difference in the variation between mtDNA and allozymes may be largely a result of the much higher rate of gene flow associated with pollen dispersal than with seed dispersal. The mtDNA variation displayed strong geographic structure, which may reflect the species' distribution in the last glacial maximum and subsequent colonization, and probably also reflects intraspecific phylogeography of the species.     

Chloroplast DNA markers reveal a geographical divide across Argentinean southern beech Nothofagus nervosa (Phil.) Dim. et Mil. distribution area

  Nothofagus nervosa is one of the most important species of the temperate forests of southern South America. On the eastern slope of the Andes Mountains (Argentina) it has a very small and narrow natural distribution area which follows the valleys of the numerous west-east lake basins. Re-colonisation after the last glaciation is assumed to have originated from refugia located in the western pacific coast or even in free interglacial patches of the Andes Mountains. Sixteen pairs of primers were used to amplify 16 non-coding regions of chloroplast DNA in 11 populations from over the entire distribution area in Argentina. After restriction analysis two polymorphic fragments were found which defined two haplotypes and allowed a differentiation among populations. A clear geographic divide occurs separating populations distributed south and north of a west-east mountain chain. This suggests that after the last glaciation the species spread out from at least two different refugia. Hypotheses about the possible location of these refugia are discussed. Received: 28 October 1997 / Accepted: 19 March 1998     

Clarification of the name Nothofagus alpina and a new epithet for a Nothofagus hybrid

Arguments in favour of using Nothofagus alpina (Poepp. & Endl.) Oerst. (Fagaceae) rather than N. procera Oerst. or N. nervosa (Phil.) Krasser as the correct name for rauli are presented. We also refute suggestions that N. alpina is based on hybrid material. The hybrid of N. alpina with N. obliqua (Mirb.) Blume is formally described as N . ×  dodecaphleps Mike L. Grant & E. J. Clement and a key to the deciduous taxa of Nothofagus is provided.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 146 , 447–451.     

Biosyntheses of the uracilylalanines willardiine and isowillardiine in higher plants

The syntheses of willardiine and isowillardiine were studied in vivo in pea seedlings by feeding uracil-[2-¹⁴C] and in vitro with enzyme extracts from Pisum, Lathyrus, Albizia, Leucaena and Fagus seedlings by using uracil and O-acetyl-l-serine as substrates. The fate of isowillardiine in the intact seedlings has also been studied by feeding isowillardiine-[¹⁴C] through the roots and determining its distribution. Some properties of willardiine and isowillardiine synthase(s) are described. Willardiine was also obtained by a B₆-catalysed chemical reaction under mild conditions. The question whether two enzymes are involved in the formation of the two isomeric uracilylalanines is discussed.     

四种栎属青冈亚属植物叶绿体基因组特征及系统发育研究

栎属青冈亚属植物的系统发育地位长期存在着争议，部分种的种间关系不明确。为揭示宁冈青冈(Quercus ningangensis)、曼青冈(Q.oxyodon)、毛曼青冈(Q.gambleana)、竹叶青冈(Q.neglecta)的叶绿体基因组特征及系统发育关系，该研究选择以上4种栎属青冈亚属植物的成熟叶片进行二代测序，对其叶绿体基因组结构和特征进行分析，并结合相关类群进行系统发育研究。结果表明：(1)宁冈青冈、曼青冈、毛曼青冈、竹叶青冈的叶绿体基因组序列长度分别为160 906、160 883、160 832、160 784 bp,均编码133个基因，包括88个蛋白质编码基因、37个tRNA基因、8个rRNA基因。(2)4种栎属青冈亚属植物偏好以A/T结尾的密码子，质体基因组变异区域主要存在于非编码序列。(3)通过IR边界分析得出，4种栎属青冈亚属植物存在ycf1假基因且在IRb/SSC区域发生扩张。(4)系统发育分析显示，在壳斗科中，水青冈属(Fagus)和轮叶三棱栎属(Trigonobalanus)较早分化出来，栎亚属(subg.Quercus)未形成一个单系群，叶绿体基因组建树结...