Similarities in the genomic sequence and coat protein structure of plant virsuses

The genomic sequences of several RNA plant viruses including cucumber mosaic virus, brome mosaic virus, alfalfa mosaic virus and tobacco mosaic virus have become available recently. The former two viruses are icosahedral while the latter two are bullet and rod shaped, respectively in particle morphology. The non-structural 3a proteins of cucumber mosaic virus and brome mosaic virus have an amino acid sequence homology of 35% and hence are evolutionarily related. In contrast, the coat proteins exhibit little homology, although the circular dichroism spectrum of these viruses are similar. The non-coding regions of the genome also exhibit variable but extensive homology. Comparison of the brome mosaic virus and alfalfa mosaic virus sequences reveals that they are probably related although with a much larger evolutionary distance. The polypeptide folds of the coat protein of three biologically distinct isometric plant viruses, tomato Bushy stunt virus, southern bean mosaic virus and satellite tobacco necrosis virus have been shown to display a striking resemblance. All of them consist of a topologically similar 8-standard β-Barrel. The implications of these studies to the understanding of the evolution of plant viruses will be discussed.     

Novel extracellular enzymes (ligninases) of Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Abstract 3 New spectrophotometric enzyme assays were developed for the study of microbial lignin-degrading enzymes. The conversion of 2-methoxy-3-phenylbenzoic acid to 2-hydroxy-3-phenylbenzoic acid led to the discovery of an extracellular, aromatic methyl ether demethylase produced by the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium . The conversion of methyl 2-hydroxy-3-phenylbenzoate to 2-hydroxy-3-phenylbenzoic acid allowed the identification of an extracellular, aromatic methyl ester esterase produced by this fungus. The Phanerochaete sp. also excreted an enzyme complex that oxidized 4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-buten-2-one, probably to aliphatic products. All 3 novel enzyme activities were produced together with, and probably comprise a part of, the Phanerochaete ligninolytic enzyme complex. Unlike previously known ligninases, these enzymes did not oxidize 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol. All 3 were H₂O₂-dependent and were activated by Mn²⁺ ions.     

Floristic groups and plant communities of southeastern Santa Fe,Argentina

This paper is a survey of the vegetation of the southeastern departments in the Province of Santa Fe (Argentina). The vegetation was analyzed following Braun-Blanquet's approach modified by Mueller-Dombois & Ellenberg (1974). The most relevant species of the region were placed in 25 groups according to their requirements or general behaviour. Most of the communities are herbaceous, and apart from the woody and some other miscellaneous ones they were grouped into three ecologically and floristically defined sets. The first set, the Stipa grasslands and related communities, which are characterized by the more or less abundant presence of Stipa hyalina, Stipa neesiana and Stipa papposa, comprises five different communities. The second, the halophilous communities, comprises five communities, the two Spartina ssp. grasslands, the halophilous prairies of Distichlis spicata, the short sedge Scirpus americanus communities and the ‘pela-dales’. The third, the hygrophilous communities, comprises nine communities which are not so well defined as the ones in the other sets. Besides, two further communities have been included, the Paspalum quadrifarium and the Melica macra tall grasslands.     

棉纤维细胞伸长生长与过氧化物酶和IAA氧化酶的关系

棉纤维细胞于开花当天从棉胚珠表皮上发生,随即开始伸长生长,星S型生长曲线。棉纤维细胞的可溶性蛋白、过氧化物酶活性和IAA氧化酶活性同伸长生长的关系不大;而离子型结合的细胞壁蛋白质含量、过氧化物酶活性和IAA氧化酶活性同棉纤维细胞的伸长生长关系较大,表现在棉纤维细胞快速伸长期活性较低,而在伸长生长停止时出现活性高峰,同棉纤维细胞的伸长生长有负相关现象。     

The morphology and anatomy ofHydrastis (Ranunculales): Systematic reevaluation of the genus

Evidence from morphology and anatomy (including embryology), as well as from palynology, chemistry and cytology, indicates thatHydrastis is quite divergent from Ranunculaceae (in which the genus has been most often included) as well as from both Glaucidiaceae and Berberidaceae. Distinctive features ofHydrastis, which demarcate it from Ranunculaceae but which are sometimes shared by Berberidaceae, are: the unique mode of origin of the vascular supply to stamens and carpels; the micropyle being formed by both integuments; the xylem not V-shaped in cross section; scalariform vessel perforations present; haploid chromosome number 13; pollen tectum consisting of a compound layer of striae; leaf mesophyll not differentiated; the unique course of stem medullary bundles; D-galactose present. Its distinctive higher haploid chromosome number, as well as its many less-specialized character states (in floral structure, leaf anatomy, and xylem and vessel morphology), suggest thatHydrastis is a relictual primitive group which diverged early from a common ancestral stock of Ranunculaceae, Berberidaceae and probably of Circaeasteraceae; at least some of the features shared byHydrastis and one or another of the families concerned seem to be a heritage from their common ancestor. We propose a reestablishment of a monotypic family, Hydrastidaceae.     

甜茶组织培养研究

甜茶的茎段和实生苗培养在MS基本培养基中,研究植物激素对器官形成的影响,试验结果表明BA0.5-2.0毫克/升明显促进芽的形成和增殖;而对照(基本培养基)无形成芽。细胞分裂素对芽的起动是必需的。BA0.5-2.0毫克/升和GA_s1.0毫克/升配合使用,对茎段形成芽和增殖反而减少,但形成的苗较高和幼叶生长良好。通过继代培养,可繁殖大量小苗,它揭示出同一块外植体生长出许多小植株的可能,将无根苗转入含有IBA0.25-0.50毫克/升的1/2MS培养基中,能诱导生根,发展完整植株。试管苗移植土壤中,获得成功,幼苗生长良好。     

植物细胞的遗传全能性与组织培养形态发生控制

引言自1902年德国植物学家Haberlandt提出植物的单个细胞可能具有分化的全能性的理论以来,人们才开始从事植物组织培养,以致今天广泛用来有意识地定向控制遗传变异和人工创造植物新类型的研究。到今据不完全统计,全世界约有1000种高等植物作过离体培养尝试。根据大量实验结果证明,植物单个细胞具有遗传的全能性,     

饲料硒和维生素E对大鼠机体抗氧化能力的影响

 用克山病病区粮配成基础低硒饲料,补充硒和/或维生素E组成四种不同水平的饲料,饲喂雄性断乳大鼠,观察其对机体抗氧化能力的影响。评价指标是用抗坏血酸诱发的红细胞溶血率、被O~-_2(超氧阴离子)氧化的血红蛋白量和组织中的TBA值。动物饲养13周后,自尾静脉取血,测定溶血率和血红蛋白被氧化的百分率,和全血SeGSHPx(含硒谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶)活力。15周后将动物断头杀死,立即取出心脏和肝脏测定SeGSHPx活力和TBA值。结果表明在克山病病区粮的饲料中补充硒或维生素E,或者二者同时补充均明显提高组织中的SeGSHPx活力和降低组织中的TBA值。不论在硒缺乏时或硒充足时,饲料中补充维生素E显著降低抗坏血酸诱发的红细胞溶血率,对O~-_2氧化血红蛋白无保护作用。在维生素E缺乏时,仅补充硒对溶血无作用。不论饲料中维生素E缺乏或者充足,补充硒对O~-_1氧化血红蛋白均有显著保护作用。     

Climate and plant distribution at global and local scales

This paper investigates, with predictive models, the utility of ecophysiological responses to climate as predictors of plant distribution. At the global scale responses to extreme minimum temperatures and to the hydrological budget effectively predict the distribution limits of the major vegetation types of the World. A minimum temperature of -15°C, for example, appears critical in controlling the poleward spread of vegetation that is dominated by evergreen broadleaved species; however, the presence or absence of more frost resistant species, such as those that are deciduous broadleaved, is not obviously explained in terms of extremes of climate. In such cases, predicting the competitive relationships between species is necessary and dependent on the climatic sensitivity of population dynamics.We are grateful to Hans de Kroon for discussions on the application of matrices to ecology.     

诸葛菜组织培养中的器官形成

植物组织和细胞培养技术已在农作物的改良及园艺植物的快速繁殖方面得到广泛的应用。在这方面,十字花科植物正在受到相当多的注意。新近,为了建立十字花科植物的细胞转化系统,我们试验了多种十字花科植物,发现诸葛菜的叶和叶柄等外植体具有极强的器官分化能力,现将结果报告如下。本文取材植物诸葛菜,又名二月兰(Oryc-hophragmus violaceus/Moricandia sonchifolia),