Casparian bands occur in the periderm of Pelargonium hortorum stem and root

Background and Aims

Casparian bands are characteristic of the endodermis and exodermis of roots, but also occur infrequently in other plant organs, for example stems and leaves. To date, these structures have not been detected in phellem cells of a periderm. The aim of this study was to determine whether Casparian bands occur in phellem cells using tests that are known to detect Casparian bands in cells that also contain suberin lamellae. Both natural periderm and wound-induced structures were examined in shoots and roots.

Methods

Using Pelargonium hortorum as a candidate species, the following tests were conducted: (1) staining with berberine and counterstaining with aniline blue, (2) mounting sections in concentrated sulphuric acid and (3) investigating the permeability of the walls with berberine as an apoplastic, fluorescent tracer.

Key Results

(1) Berberine–aniline blue staining revealed a modification in the radial and transverse walls of mature phellem cells in both stems and roots. Three days after wounding through to the cortex of stems, the boundary zone cells (pre-existing, living cells nearest the wound) had developed vividly stained primary walls. By 17 d, staining of mature phellem cells of wound-induced periderm was similar to that of natural periderm. (2) Mature native phellem cells of stems resisted acid digestion. (3) Berberine was excluded from the anticlinal (radial and transverse) walls of mature phellem cells in stems and roots, and from the wound-induced boundary zone.

Conclusions

Casparian bands are present in mature phellem cells in both stems and roots of P. hortorum. It is proposed that Casparian bands act to retard water loss and pathogen entry through the primary cell walls of the phellem cells, thus contributing to the main functions of the periderm.     

Investigation of the influence of EPs 7630, a herbal drug preparation from Pelargonium sidoides, on replication of a broad panel of respiratory viruses

The Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs^® 7630 is an approved drug for the treatment of acute bronchitis in Germany. The postulated mechanisms underlying beneficial effects of EPs^® 7630 in bronchitis patients include immunomodulatory and cytoprotective effects, inhibition of interaction between bacteria and host cells, and increase of cilliary beat frequency on respiratory cells. Here, we investigated the influence of EPs^® 7630 on replication of a panel of respiratory viruses. Determination of virus-induced cytopathogenic effects and virus titres revealed that EPs^® 7630 at concentrations up to 100 μg/ml interfered with replication of seasonal influenza A virus strains (H1N1, H3N2), respiratory syncytial virus, human coronavirus, parainfluenza virus, and coxsackie virus but did not affect replication of highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus (H5N1), adenovirus, or rhinovirus. Therefore, antiviral effects may contribute to the beneficial effects exerted by EPs^® 7630 in acute bronchitis patients.     

Antimicrobial,Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Essential Oils from Five Selected Herbs

Eucalyptus bridgesiana, Cymbopogon martinii, Thymus vulgaris, Lindernia anagallis, and Pelargonium fragrans are five species of herbs used in Asia. Their essential oils were analyzed by GC-MS, and a total of 36 components were detected. The results of our study indicated that, except for the essential oil of P. fragrans, all of the essential oils demonstrated obvious antimicrobial activity against a broad range of microorganisms. The C. martinii essential oil, which is rich in geraniol, was the most effective antimicrobial additive. All of the essential oils demonstrated antioxidant activities on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay, β-carotene/linoleic acid assay, and nitric oxide radical scavenging assay. Furthermore, the T. vulgaris essential oil, which possesses plentiful thymol, exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. For P. acnes-induced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the essential oils of P. aeruginosa, C. martinii, and T. vulgaris reduced the TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8 secretion levels of THP-1 cells.     

Assimilate Transport in Phloem: Regulation and Mechanism

The Münch hypothesis of phloem transport has been significantly modified in the past 50 years and is now widely accepted. The short and therefore noncomprehensive survey remembers earlier data verifying the dependency of mass flow on metabolic control. Speed measurements and other strong arguments for the validity of the Münch hypothesis are examined, physicochemical obstacles still persist, but molecular detection and localization of sucrose transporters inside the sieve-tube system are in accordance with the mass flow mechanism. Taking into account source–sink control, the lateral sinks pose new problems, unless acceptance of a continuous control along the conduits improves the theory. A view into future research is advised: the gymnosperm sieve cell system seems to act as a super relay system consisting of a chain of micro-Münch-systems.     

Antifungal effects of herbal essential oils alone and in combination with ketoconazole against Trichophyton spp

AIMS: To determine the effects of herbal essential oils on Trichophyton spp. growth and to evaluate the effects of Pelargonium graveolens oil and its main components citronellol and geraniol combined with ketoconazole against Trichophyton spp. METHODS AND RESULTS: Growth inhibition of six Trichophyton spp. by herbal essential oils was accessed and the combined effects of P. graveolens oil and its main components citronellol and geraniol were evaluated using a checkerboard microtitre assay against T. schoenleinii, T. erinacei and T. soudanense. The essential oil fraction of P. graveolens and its main components, geraniol and citronellol, exhibited strong synergism with ketoconazole against T. schoenleinii and T. soudanense, with fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indices in the range of 0.18-0.38. CONCLUSIONS: The antifungal effects of ketoconazole against Trichophyton spp. are enhanced significantly by administering it in combination with the essential oil fraction of P. graveolens or its main components, because of strong synergism, especially against T. soudanense and T. schoenleinii. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The combination of ketoconazole and the essential oil fraction from P. graveolens or its main components for treatment of infections caused by Trichophyton species may reduce the minimum effective dose of ketoconazole, and thus minimize the side-effects of ketoconazole.     

马蹄纹天竺葵叶斑变异的解剖学观察

植物叶斑是由两种或者两种以上基因型细胞组成的特殊组织结构,在植物发育研究和提高植物观赏性方面具有十分重要的意义。该项研究以天竺葵(Pelargoniumzonal)‘Ms.Pollock’银边绿心型新鲜叶组织为材料,研究斑块结构切片及不同质体细胞的分布,以探索叶斑异化变型机制。结果表明:天竺葵‘Ms.Pollock’突变型异化不是由于细胞突变形成,而是由于质体突变型白色细胞和原型绿色细胞在生长发育过程中相互竞争转轨所致,即白色细胞和原型绿色细胞改变了分裂方向,部分表皮绿色细胞进入第二层,挤压第二层白色细胞转轨进入第三层,导致细胞类型的移位,从而形成异型斑。     

Oligogalacturonate hydrolase with unique substrate preference from the pulp of parsley roots

The main form of pectate hydrolases in the cell wall of parsley roots showed a unique substrate preference of a plant exopolygalacturonase because it clearly preferred the substrates with degree of polymerization about 10. This form was separated from the others, purified and characterized. Enzyme exhibited sharp pH optimum corresponding to pH 4.7, molecular mass 53.5 kDa, and isoelectric point 5.3. It was stable at 50°C in 2-h assay and had optimum of temperature at 60°C (activation energy being 37.0 kJ/mol). The interaction with concanavalin A indicated the glycosylation of enzyme. Substrates were cleaved from the non-reducing end.     

3种观赏植物对室内甲醛污染的净化及生长生理响应

在密封条件下,采取熏蒸法研究了常春藤、绿萝、驱蚊草对不同浓度梯度的甲醛气体胁迫的吸收能力及其生理响应。结果显示:(1)3种植物对室内甲醛气体均有不同程度的吸收能力,其吸收率随室内甲醛气体浓度的升高而逐渐增加,且吸收能力表现为常春藤>驱蚊草>绿萝。(2)与对照相比,随着室内甲醛气体胁迫浓度的增加,驱蚊草、绿萝、常春藤的叶绿素含量先升高再降低,而叶绿素a/b值的变化趋势各有不同。(3)不同浓度甲醛气体胁迫下,3种植物的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和过氧化物酶(POD)活性均显著升高,并以常春藤的增加量最大(分别为113.21%和120.84%),驱蚊草的增加量最小(分别为69.04%和60.76%);而3种植物的过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性与对照相比显著降低,并以驱蚊草的变化量最大(49.54%),绿萝的变化量最小(14.66%)。(4)驱蚊草、绿萝、常春藤的丙二醛(MDA)含量和脯氨酸含量随着甲醛气体浓度的增加呈升高趋势。综合分析表明,3种室内植物耐受甲醛胁迫的能力存在显著差异,常春藤属于吸收多、耐性强的植物,驱蚊草属于吸收多、耐性弱的植物,而绿萝属于吸收少、耐性强的植物。     

Essential oil variation in dwarf plants of Pelargonium sp. capitatum,induced by a new plant growth bioregulator

Dwarf plants derived from tissue cultures of Pelargonium capitatum, gave an essential oil of quite different composition from that produced by normal plants. This difference persisted for as long as the plant demonstrated the effect of the growth retardant. The chemical composition of the essential oil derived from growth-retarded plants is presented.     

植物遗传嵌合体及其在观赏植物育种中的应用

植物嵌合体是由2种或者2种以上遗传型细胞组成的特殊的植物结构,它在西欧国家观赏植物产业中发挥着非常重要的作用.本文根据有关资料及作者在德国柏林洪堡大学园艺科学所多年的研究结果,着重介绍了植物嵌合体的概念及形成机理、植物嵌合体的分类以及植物嵌合体繁殖中的特点,植物嵌合体的作用,并简要地讨论了其在植物育种中的生产开发和利用问题.