Photoperiodic regulation of CS-ACS2, CS-ACS4 and CS-ERS gene expression contributes to the femaleness of cucumber flowers through diurnal ethylene production under short-day conditions

Photoperiod and the plant hormone, ethylene, modify sex expression of flowers in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). In the present study, femaleness of cucumber occurred under short‐day (8 h photoperiod) conditions compared to that under long‐day (16 h photoperiod) conditions, although the effect of photoperiod was more pronounced in a monoecious than in an andromonoecious cucumber. Application of ethylene had a greater effect than photoperiod on the production of female and bisexual flowers in monoecious and andromonoecious cucumbers, respectively. Ethylene evolution and the expression of CS‐ACS2, CS‐ACS4 and CS‐ERS genes in the shoot apices of both monoecious and andromonoecious cucumber plants had a diurnal rhythm with a peak in the middle of an 8 h or a 16 h light period. Peak ethylene evolution and expression of CS‐ACS2 was greater under short‐day conditions than under long‐day conditions in a monoecious cucumber but not in an andromonoecious one. Expression of CS‐ACS4 in monoecious and andromonoecious cucumber plants did not differ, but the level was higher under short‐day conditions compared with that under long‐day conditions. Thus, CS‐ACS2 and CS‐ACS4 might be involved in the basic diurnal rhythm of ethylene evolution in cucumber. Because exogenous ethylene increased the expression of CS‐ACS2 and CS‐ERS in monoecious cucumber possessing the M locus, but not in andromonoecious cucumber in which the function of the M locus was lost (Yamasaki et al. Plant and Cell Physiology 42, 608–619, 2001), the CS‐ACS2 gene might also be involved in ethylene production by positive feedback via regulation of M locus under short‐day conditions.     

离体培养下番红花花柱—柱头状物再生的研究

番红花(Crocus sativus L.)幼花被和幼花柱可以诱导花柱-柱头状物的再生,长度为24mm 的花芽上分离的花被具有最高的诱导频率(37.5%);花被外植体附加 K5 mg/L 和NAA 4mg/L 有利于再生花柱-柱头状物,频率达到35.3%;附加6-BAP 7 mg/L 和 NAA9mg/L 则有利于柱头状物的大量形成。     

山黧豆根适应铕环境生理代谢的表达

对培植在砂基中的山黧豆 LathyrussativusL. 幼苗经0.5mmol·L-1Eu3+和水 对照 根灌处理后,用扫描电镜和X-射线能量色散谱仪顺序定位检测根横断面表皮、外皮层、内皮层、维管柱各元素的百分含量;同时测定了与检测元素相关的根内活性氧、多胺产生生理活性指标.由于Eu3+的影响,使其根内响应产生生理代谢机制的变化,分布在根横断面不同组织中的各元素的百分含量不一样,主要是对生物活性中起作用的P、S、Ca、Mn4种元素影响较大,与测定的其它元素相比较,代谢利用率高;元素由低活性部位向高活性部位流动,表现出各元素由外向内,由表皮吸收运送到维管柱韧皮部、筛管运至植物各器官被利用的规律性.同时,由于Eu3+价态变化引起二者相关酶中离子的价态变化,致使植物体内自由基和多胺产生机制的响应变化,二者之间存在着一定的互补性,二者比值始终维持在一定的比例水平上,是Eu3+影响二者之间存在着的共同活性位点起作用的结果.     

萝卜种质资源对黑腐病的抗性鉴定与筛选

对40份初选萝卜种质分别接种Xcc8004和XccBJ两个菌株,进行黑腐病苗期抗性鉴定,对其中8份代表性萝卜种质肉质根切片接种Xcc8004进行抗性鉴定和27份萝卜种质幼苗接种8个效应物基因进行过敏反应鉴定。结果表明:不同萝卜种质苗期对黑腐病的抗性存在显著差异,筛选出高抗Xcc8004的材料3份、抗病1份、中抗4份,高抗XccBJ的材料1份、抗病2份、中抗5份。萝卜苗期对Xcc8004和XccBJ的抗病性极显著相关,幼苗和肉质根对Xcc8004的抗病性极显著相关。筛选出17份对不同效应物表现过敏反应的萝卜种质。对效应物XC₀241表现过敏反应的种质数最多,对XC₀542和XC₀541表现过敏反应的种质数次之。不同抗源对不同效应物的过敏反应程度有所不同。稳定可靠抗病资源的获得为萝卜抗病育种和抗病机理的深入研究提供了基础材料。     

苯丙烯酸对黄瓜幼苗生理特性的影响

采用基质栽培模拟实验,研究了不同浓度苯丙烯酸对黄瓜幼苗生理特性的影响.结果表明,苯丙烯酸对黄瓜幼苗的光合色素、光合速率、蒸腾速率和根系活力产生了抑制作用.当处理浓度为25μmol·L^-1时,对类胡萝卜素产生抑制作用,对叶绿素a、叶绿素b为促进作用;当浓度为50μmol·L^-1时,对光合速率、蒸腾速率和根系活力均产生显著的抑制作用(P<0.05),并随着处理浓度的增加抑制作用增强;当浓度为150μmol·L^-1时,对叶绿素a、叶绿素b产生显著抑制作用(P<0.05);随着处理浓度的增加,对黄瓜上述生理特性的抑制作用增强.低浓度苯丙烯酸(25～50μmol·L^-1)对幼苗根系活力的抑制强度不大,可在处理后期得到恢复;高浓度(100～150μmol·L^-1)处理则表现出显著的抑制作用,随着处理时间延长,抑制作用增强(P<0.05).     

Ultrastructure of chromoplasts and other plastids in Crocus sativus L. (Iridaceae)

Saffron (Crocus sativus L. Iridaceae) chromoplasts and other plastids were studied by electron microscope to determine their structure, origin and pigment localization. Plastids from pistils of floral buds and flowers at anthesis, dried and decoloured stigmas, and green and senescent leaves were examined. Results indicated that mature saffron chromoplasts occur in the red parts of stigmas and have a reticulo-tubular structure. They contain a reticulum of tubules and plastoglobules. Tubules formed dilated vesicles mainly while plastoglobules appeared numerous and scattered on the whole chromoplast. Chromoplasts appeared in red stigma of very young floral buds. They originated from amyloplasts, the only plastids occurring in the colourless basal portion of style, as well as in the parenchyma of ovary and corm. Transition forms of plastid as amylo-chromoplast, occur in the yellow parts of stigma and style. Senescent leaves did not show plastids with structure similar to the chromoplast of red stigma. Red pigmented and scented stigmas might cooperate in saffron reproduction by attracting pollinator.     

Inhibitory effects of some synthetic monoethanolamine salts of para-substituted benzoic acids and corresponding benzoic acids on cucumber seed germination

Abstract

Benzoates and particularly, benzoic acids are known biologically for their effects in the regulation of seed germination. A series of monoethanolamine salts of para-substituted benzoic acids (MEASPBAs), the corresponding acids (BAs) and monoethanolamine (MEA) were tested at different concentrations, on Cucumis sativus L. germination in order to assess their biological activity. The correlation between the effects of different substituents of these salts and the corresponding acids with germination rate, root and shoot length, fresh and dry biomass, soluble protein content, isocitrate lyase (ICL, EC 4.1.3.1) and catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6.) activity, was evaluated. Data showed that p-OH and p-CH₃ substituents had a lower inhibitory effect compared to the halogenated substituents. Moreover, the inhibition of root and shoot lengths and the dramatic decrease of fresh biomass for halogenated (p-Cl, p-Br, p-I) MEASPBAs and BAs followed the increase of the atomic size of the substituent.     

Influence of electrolytes on growth, phototropism, nutation and surface potential in etiolated cucumber seedlings

A variety of electrolytes (10-30 mol m-3) increased the relative growth rate of etiolated cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Burpee's Pickler) hypocotyls by 20-50% relative to water-only controls. The nonelectrolyte mannitol inhibited growth by 10%. All salts tested were effective, regardless of chemical composition or valence. Measurements of cell-sap osmolality ruled out an osmotic mechanism for the growth stimulation by electrolytes. This, and the nonspecificity of the response, indicate that an electrical property of the solutions was responsible for their growth-stimulating activity. Measurements of surface electrical potential supported this reasoning. Treatment with electrolytes also enhanced nutation and altered the pattern of phototropic curvature development. A novel analytical method for quantitating these effects on growth was developed. The evidence indicates that electrolytes influence an electrophysiological parameter that is involved in the control of cell expansion and the coordination of growth underlying tropisms and nutations.     

UV-B response of cucumber seedlings grown under metal halide and high pressure sodium/deluxe lamps

UV-B-sensitive (Poinsett) and -insensitive (Ashley) cultivars of cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.) were grown in growth chambers at 600 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹ of photosynthetically active radiation provided by metal halide (MH) or high pressure sodium/deluxe (HPS/DX) lamps. Plants were irradiated 15 days from seeding for 6 h per day under 18. 2 kJ m⁻² day⁻¹ of biologically effective UV-B (UV-B_BE) radiation. One of the most pronounced effects of UV-B was a 27 to 78% increase in phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL) activity. UV-B also increased total polyamines. Catalase and superoxide dismutase varied greatly in their response to UV-B. There were no interactive effects on PAL or catalase activity, or total polyamines. There was a UV × PAR source interaction for superoxide dismutase activity. UV-B increased chlorosis and decreased height, dry weight and leaf area. Stem elongation, biomass production, leaf enlargement and chlorosis were greater under HPS/DX lamps than under MH lamps. Chlorosis was greater in Poinsett than in Ashley and in lower leaves than in upper ones. Aside from chlorosis, there were no interactive effects of UV-B, PAR source or cultivar on any of the growth parameters measured, suggesting that the growth response of cucumber seedlings to UV-B is unaffected by PAR source or cultivar. Similarly, except for SOD activity, the biochemical response to UV-B was also not influenced by PAR source or cultivar.