In vitro plant regeneration of fig (Ficus carica L. cv. gular) using apical buds from mature trees

A reliable procedure for multiple-shoot induction and plantlet regeneration was developed with apical buds collected from 7- to 8-year-old trees of Ficus carica L. using Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine and 0.2 mg/l 1-naphthaleneacetic acid. The in-vitro-regenerated shoots were further multiplied on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine and 0.2 mg/l 1-naphthaleneacetic acid and an average multiplication rate of four per subculture was established with 90% success. Excised shoots were rooted in liquid half strength MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid and 0.2% activated charcoal. Regenerated plantlets were successfully established in soil, with a success rate of 68%. Received: 28 July 1997 / Revision received: 15 January 1998 / Accepted: 7 February 1998     

Plant regeneration from axillary buds of a mature tree of Ficus religiosa

Dormant axillary buds of nodal explants collected from a mature (35-year-old) tree of Ficus religiosa L. sprouted on MS medium supplemented with 6-benzyladenine (BA, 5 mg l^–1) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA, 0.2 mg l^–1 ) within 4 days. Multiple shoots were obtained when these explants were transferred to MS medium containing 1.5 mg l^–1 BA and 1.5 mg l^–1 adenine sulphate (ADS). These multiple shoots (1 cm) were allowed to elongate to a height of 4–5 cm by maintaining them on MS medium containing 2 mg l^–1 BA, 0.5 mg l^–1 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), and activated charcoal (0.3% w/v). Nodal segments taken from these in vitro-proliferated shoots yielded multiple shoots when cultured on the multiple shoot-inducing MS medium mentioned above. Root induction in these shoots (4–5 cm in height) was achieved by transferring them onto MS medium supplemented with 2 mg l^–1 IBA and 0.1 mg l^–1 NAA for 1 week; upon transfer to half-strength MS basal medium these shoots exhibited root proliferation. These rooted plantlets were successfully established in soil after a short period of acclimatization. Received: 17 April 1997 / Revision received: 2 September 1997 / Accepted: 20 September 1997     

榕属植物化学成分和药理作用研究进展

对榕属植物的化学成分和药理作用方面的研究进展作一概述。     

An unusual thermostable aspartic protease from the latex of Ficus racemosa (L.)

The most extensively studied ficins have been isolated from the latex of Ficus glabrata and Ficus carica. However the proteases (ficins) from other species are less known. The purification and characterization of a protease from the latex of Ficus racemosa is reported. The enzyme purified to homogeneity is a single polypeptide chain of molecular weight of 44,500 ± 500 Da as determined by MALDI-TOF. The enzyme exhibited a broad spectrum of pH optima between pH 4.5-6.5 and showed maximum activity at 60 ± 0.5 °C. The enzyme activity was completely inhibited by pepstatin-A indicating that the purified enzyme is an aspartic protease. Far-UV circular dichroic spectra revealed that the purified enzyme contains predominantly β-structures. The purified protease is thermostable. The apparent T_m, (mid point of thermal inactivation) was found to be 70 ± 0.5 °C. Thermal inactivation was found to follow first order kinetics at pH 5.5. Activation energy (E_a) was found to be 44.0 ± 0.3 kcal mol⁻¹. The activation enthalpy (ΔH^∗), free energy change (ΔG^∗) and entropy (ΔS^∗) were estimated to be 43 ± 4 kcal mol⁻¹, −26 ± 3 kcal mol⁻¹ and 204 ± 10 cal mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively. Its enzymatic specificity studied using oxidized B chain of insulin indicates that the protease preferably hydrolyzed peptide bonds C-terminal to glutamate, leucine and phenylalanine (at P₁ position). The broad specificity, pH optima and elevated thermal stability indicate the protease is distinct from other known ficins and would find applications in many sectors for its unique properties.     

聚果榕榕果小蜂种群分布格局及其生境和季节差异比较

采用多个指数对西双版纳地区聚果榕榕果小蜂的种群分布格局进行了检测,并重点运用基于方差/均值比率法的t值测度比较了其生境和季节差异.结果表明,6种聚果榕榕果小蜂的种群分布格局皆呈聚集分布;传粉小蜂聚集强度在生境序列上,原始雨林≈严重干扰地段中度干扰地段,在季节序列上,雨季>干热季>雾凉季;非传粉小蜂不同种类不同性别随着生境和季节变化皆表现出明显的聚集强度差异.对各种聚集强度变化的发生机理与其对聚果榕传粉者互惠共生体进化稳定性进行了讨论,认为保护榕树、保护榕树和传粉昆虫互惠共生体的重点应放在保护其原始森林生境方面.     

Biogeography and conservation of the genus Ficus (Moraceae) in Mexico

Aim The main objective of this study is to document the biogeographical patterns, endemism and degree of conservation of the species of Ficus (Moraceae) in Mexico. There are over 750 species of the genus Ficus distributed worldwide, and Mexico practically represents its northernmost limit in the American continent. Detailed studies at regional scales may help to understand the biogeography of large genera such as Ficus. Location Mexico. Methods The biogeographical patterns of Mexican Ficus were obtained from information of fig specimens available in two of the main herbaria of Mexico (2140 vouchers), collecting figs throughout this country, and revising the specialized literature. The presence of each species of Ficus was recorded for every one of Mexico's states and several tropical countries of America. Besides, the Mexican territory was divided into cells of 1° × 1° and the presence or absence of all species of the genus was recorded. Rarity of species was classified based on the width of geographic distribution, habitat specificity and population size. Results A total of 21 species of Ficus occur in Mexico, including six species (28.6%) that are endemic to this country. Five species are included in subgenus Pharmacosycea and 16 species are documented under subgenus Urostigma. Affinities of Ficus flora with other tropical countries in America generally decreased as geographical distances from Mexico increased. Mexican states and cells with highest values of Ficus species richness (both total and endemic species) were located. Ten species, including three endemics, presented a wide distribution. Five species, including two endemics, possess the three attributes of rarity (narrow geographical distribution, high habitat specificity and scarce local populations). Three species of Ficus, including the endemic and very rare Ficuslapathifolia (Liebm.) Miq., are not recorded in any protected area existing in Mexico. Main conclusions Most of the Mexican Ficus show a great morphological variation and occupy different habitats along their geographic distribution. The biogeographical patterns described here establish a fundamental scenario for ongoing studies on Ficus–pollinator interactions. However, many local populations are considered to be at risk, as there have been significant reductions in the number and size of local populations. Further studies are needed to understand the process of colonization, maintenance and persistence of fig–pollinator mutualism in species with different patterns of geographic distribution. Mexican Ficus require special policies for conservation due to their complex degree of rarity, particularly their geographic distribution in different types of vegetation, ranging from dry scrublands to tropical rain forests.     

无花果试管苗在NaCl胁迫过程中的溶质积累

将多次继代培养的无花果试管苗接种在含 Na Cl不同浓度的 MS培养基上 ,30 0mmol·L- 1Na Cl使试管苗致死。在 0～ 2 0 0 mmol· L- 1Na Cl的培养基上 ,试管苗生长显著受到抑制 ,叶片中 Na+含量增加 ,K+/Na+上升。同时 ,游离脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量也增加 ,可以认为 Na+累积是无花果试管苗盐适应的主要方面 ,脯氨酸和可溶性糖增加也起到了增强耐盐性的功能     

Parasites of mutualisms

Cooperation invites cheating, and nowhere is this more apparent than when different species cooperate, known as mutualism. In almost all mutualisms studied, specialist parasites have been identified that purloin the benefits that one mutualist provides another. Explaining how parasites are kept from driving mutualisms extinct remains an unsolved problem because existing theories explaining the maintenance of cooperation do not apply to parasites of mutualisms. Nonetheless, these theories can be summarized in such a way as to suggest how mutualisms can persist in the face of parasites. (1) For cooperation to occur, the recipient of a benefit must reciprocate, and the recriprocated benefit must be captured by the initial giver or its offspring. (2) For cooperation to persist, the mutualism must be re-assembled each generation. Because most mutualisms are of the "by-product' type, broadly defined, the first condition is normally always fulfilled. Thus, the maintenance of mutualism usually requires enforcement of the second condition: reliable re-assembly. Hence, I argue that the persistence of mutualism is best understood by using theories of species coexistence, because each mutualist can be considered a resource for the other, and species coexistence theory explains how multiple taxa (e.g. parasites and mutualists) can stably partition a resource over multiple generations. This approach connects the study of mutualism to theories of population regulation and helps to identify key factors that have promoted the evolution, maintenance and breakdown of mutualism. I discuss how these ideas might apply to and be tested in ant-plant, fig-wasp and yucca-moth mutualisms.     

Endogenous Plant Hormone Contents in Relation to FlowerBud Differentiation in Ficus carica (Moraceae)

Based on the morphological results of the flower bud differentiation in Ficus carica L.‘Brunswick', we quantified certain plant hormones, including ZR, ABA, GA1₊₃ and IAA, in the developing flower bud at the differentiation stageon the seventh or the eighth node of the new shoots, and found that at the stage of floral receptacle and floscule formation, the buds contained high level of ZR and ABA, and low level of GA1₊₃ and IAA, leading to a high ratio of ABA to IAA, ABA to GA1₊₃ ZR to GA1₊₃ , and ZR to IAA, respectively.     

水同木次生木质部导管分子观察研究

运用细胞图像分析系统及显微照相方法,观察研究水同木次生木质部导管分子。结果发现,水同木次生木质部导管分子中存在着许多不同的样式,大多数导管分子短而宽,多数无尾或仅一端具尾;导管均为单穿孔板,未发现有侵填体。