Hormonal regulation of ripening in the strawberry,a non-climacteric fruit

Anthocyanin accumulation is one measure of ripening in the strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.), a non-climacteric fruit. Neither aminoethoxyvinylglycine, an inhibitor of 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid synthase, nor inhibitors of ethylene action (silver, norbornadiene) affected anthocyanin accumulation in ripening fruit. When the achenes were removed from one half of an unripe fruit there was an accelerated accumulation of anthocyanin and induction of phenylalanine ammonia lyase on the de-achened portion of the ripening fruit. These effects of achene removal could be prevented by the application of the synthetic auxins 1-naphthaleneacetic acid or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid to the de-achened surface. The introduction of 1-naphthalene acetic acid into intact unripe strawberry fruit through the peduncle delayed their subsequent ripening, as measured by the accumulation of anthocyanin, loss of chlorophyll and decrease in firmness. These findings suggest that the decline in the concentration of auxin in the achenes as strawberry fruit mature modulates the rate of fruit ripening.Abbreviations ACC 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid - AVG aminoethoxyvinylglycine - NAA 1-naphthaleneacetic acid - PA1 phenylalanine ammonia-lyase - POA phenoxyacetic acid - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid     

Pollen limitation and fruit abortion in a declining rare tree,the Eurasian yew (Taxus baccata L.): A reproductive cost of ecological marginality

Populations of rare tree species such as the dioecious and anemophilous yew (Taxus baccata) are especially prone to extinction if they occupy marginal habitats. This is the case of yew populations growing in Mediterranean mountains under dry climate and a severe anthropogenic disturbance regime, which show insufficient regeneration. We examined two of the likely mechanisms driving this population decline. The study was conducted in a central Spanish yew population in 2005 and 2006. On one hand, we tested for the effect of the amount of pollen received by female flowers by means of a pollen addition experiment. On the other hand, we tested for the effect of initial fruit set on abortion and mature fruit production. Finally, we evaluated the effect of the spatial arrangement of male and female yew trees on realized fecundity. The success of fertilization and fruiting in the experimental population was pollen-limited. Female trees aborted ca. 70% of the fruit set in both years and treatments. Fruit set was significantly influenced by the females' neighbourhood, with fecundity decreasing exponentially with distance to the nearest male in both years. Overall, our results indicate that factors associated with ecological marginality have a strong influence on yew performance.     

Development and growth of fruit bodies and crops of the button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus

We studied the appearance of fruit body primordia, the growth of individual fruit bodies and the development of the consecutive flushes of the crop. Relative growth, measured as cap expansion, was not constant. It started extremely rapidly, and slowed down to an exponential rate with diameter doubling of 1.7 d until fruit bodies showed maturation by veil breaking. Initially many outgrowing primordia were arrested, indicating nutritional competition. After reaching 10 mm diameter, no growth arrest occurred; all growing individuals, whether relatively large or small, showed an exponential increase of both cap diameter and biomass, until veil breaking. Biomass doubled in 0.8 d. Exponential growth indicates the absence of competition. Apparently there exist differential nutritional requirements for early growth and for later, continuing growth. Flushing was studied applying different picking sizes. An ordinary flushing pattern occurred at an immature picking size of 8 mm diameter (picking mushrooms once a day with a diameter above 8 mm). The smallest picking size yielded the highest number of mushrooms picked, confirming the competition and arrested growth of outgrowing primordia: competition seems less if outgrowing primordia are removed early. The flush duration (i.e. between the first and last picking moments) was not affected by picking size. At small picking size, the subsequent flushes were not fully separated in time but overlapped. Within 2 d after picking the first individuals of the first flush, primordia for the second flush started outgrowth. Our work supports the view that the acquisition of nutrients by the mycelium is demand rather than supply driven. For formation and early outgrowth of primordia, indications were found for an alternation of local and global control, at least in the casing layer. All these data combined, we postulate that flushing is the consequence of the depletion of some unknown specific nutrition required by outgrowing primordia.     

Floral abortion and pollination in four species of tropical mangroves from northern Australia

We assessed natural rates of floral abortion in four common mangrove species from northern Australia and subsequently manipulated pollination experimentally. Sonneratia alba J. Smith exhibited the highest rate of fruit set of the four species (23%), indicating this mangrove was best able to utilise the natural pollination opportunities provided. Fruit set in S. alba appeared, however, to be pollinator limited, as large increases in fruit set occurred after manual cross-pollination of flowers. Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. had the highest rate of natural pollination, but fruit set was lower (15%) and appeared to be impeded by resource limitations. Although a range of insects visited Ceriops australis (C.T. White) Ballment, T.J. Sm & Stoddart, the rate of fruit set was low (3%) and the capacity for flower fertilisation limited, despite evidence of autogamy in this species. There was an indication of both resource and pollinator limitation in C. australis. Rhizophora stylosa Griff. exhibited limited fruit set (0.5%), possibly due to limiting maternal resources and the lack of adaptation of flowers to either animal or wind pollination. Large increases in fruit set were recorded after manual cross-pollination of R. stylosa flowers. R. stylosa and C. australis, characterised by resource rich propagules with long periods of development, both aborted a large proportion of propagules during the fruit maturation process.     

Hormone homeostasis and induction of the small-fruit phenotype in ‘Hass’ avocado

Plant hormones play an important regulatory role in growth and development of fleshy fruits and often these are synthesized in a sequence that is tissue- and/or fruit-specific. Previous studies using Hass avocado and its small-fruit phenotype as a model demonstrated a relationship between the cytokinin/abscisic acid ration and final fruit size. More detailed studies revealed that differential activity of molybdenum-cofactor-containing enzymes was in part responsible for the observed increase in abscisic acid in small Hass fruit and that the same suite of enzymes likely impacted levels of indole-3-acetic acid. The present study confirms that the inability of the seed to produce/accumulate indole-3-acetic acid is a major contributing factor and characteristic of fruit that display a small-fruit phenotype, that reduced indole-3-acetic acid levels occur concomitant with increased abscisic acid, and that cytokinin metabolism appears unchanged irrespective of fruit size. Results are discussed in relation to the role of molybdenum-cofactor-requiring enzymes in indole-3-acetic acid and abscisic acid metabolism.     

Metabolomics-assisted refinement of the pathways of steroidal glycoalkaloid biosynthesis in the tomato clade

Steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) are nitrogen-con-taining secondary metabolites of the Solanum species, which are known to have large chemical and bioactive diversity in nature. While recent effort and ...     

The structure and roles of sterile flowers in Viburnum macrocephalum f. keteleeri (Adoxaceae)

The formation and ecological roles of sterile flowers in flowering plants are interesting issues in floral biology and evolution. Here, we investigated the morphological and anatomical characteristics of both fertile and sterile flowers of Viburnum macrocephalum f. keteleeri, a self-incompatible and insect-pollinated shrub, during different developmental stages of flowers. In addition, pollinator visitation rates and fruit set were determined in intact inflorescences and those with sterile flowers removed. The results indicate that sterile and fertile flowers were developmentally similar during early developmental stages, and that development of the flower types diverged about 15 days before flowering. In addition, pollinator visitation rates, number of pollen grains on stigmas and fruit set were significantly higher in inflorescences with sterile flowers than those without sterile flowers. The results suggest that sterile flowers of this species evolved from fertile flowers under long-term selective pressure, and play a crucial role in enhancing reproductive success through effectively attracting pollinators to the plant and thus enhancing fruit set.     

荔枝和龙眼种子发育过程中ABA含量及对外源ABA敏感性的变化

在荔枝和龙眼种子发育过程中,内源ＡＢＡ水平先是上升,至大约７８～８０ＤＰＡ时出现高峰,之后两者ＡＢＡ含量均不断下降。果实成熟时采收的种子,ＡＢＡ含量比高峰时分别下降近６倍。另外,随着种子的发育,种子及其胚轴对外源ＡＢＡ的敏感性（ＳＡＢＡ）亦持续下降。１０－４ｍｏｌ／ＬＡＢＡ可以完全抑制９０ＤＰＡ前的荔枝和龙眼种子的萌发,但对成熟种子１０－２ｍｏｌ／ＬＡＢＡ亦不能抑制其萌发。龙眼种子离体胚轴的ＳＡＢＡ高于荔枝。ＡＢＡ含量与敏感性的这种变化可能是两种顽拗性种子成熟时萌动,进而不耐脱水贮藏的重要原因之一。     

不同群落中川鄂连蕊茶的生殖分配与个体大小之间关系的探讨

研究了缙云山川鄂连蕊茶 (Camelliarosthorniana) 在 3个群落类型中的生殖分配、生殖分配与个体大小之间的关系和座果率。结果表明 :1) 在地径 1.0~ 3.5cm范围内, 种群间生殖分配差异显著, 即毛竹林 >针阔混交林 >常绿阔叶林 ;在地径 1.0~ 5.0cm范围内, 针阔混交林和常绿阔叶林之间差异不显著 ;在地径 1.0~ 6.0cm范围内, 毛竹林显著高于针阔混交林和常绿阔叶林, 而针阔混交林和常绿阔叶林之间差异不显著 ;因此种群间生殖分配比较时, 应考虑种群间的大小分布。运用生殖分配的有关学说对川鄂连蕊茶生殖分配格局进行了解释, 生境稳定性学说和生活史理论假说相结合可以解释川鄂连蕊茶生殖分配格局。 2 ) 川鄂连蕊茶个体生殖分配与个体大小之间存在抛物线关系。 3) 种群密度对川鄂连蕊茶座果率没有影响。     

不同治理措施对闽东南沿海侵蚀性赤红壤肥力影响的研究

 赤红壤严重侵蚀地经不同措施治理后,土壤结构、水分状况得到改善,土壤腐殖质品质亦有所改善,土壤营养元素容量及供应强度得到明显加强,土壤微生物数量急剧增加,土壤呼吸作用和酶活性显著加强,土壤肥力处于恢复之中。其中豆科树种(大叶相思)改良土壤效果最好,单一种果措施则相对较差。引进豆科植物增加果园覆盖或敷盖是该地区侵蚀劣地治理及地力改良重要技术措施之一。