Modifications of the leaf surface structures of Quercus ilex L. in open, naturally CO2-enriched environments

Two Italian CO₂ springs allowed us to study the long-term effect of a 350–2600 μ mol mol^–1 increase in CO₂ concentrations on the surface structures of leaves of Quercus ilex L. Carbon dioxide increased the quantity of cuticular waxes, above an apparent threshold of 750 μ mol mol^–1 CO₂. Leaf wettability was not modified by CO₂ concentrations. Reduction in stomatal frequency was observable up to 750 μ mol mol^–1 CO₂, the slope being almost the same as that estimated for the increase in CO₂ concentration from pre-industrial times to the present. At higher concentrations, CO₂ seemed to exert no more impact on stomatal frequency.     

口温蜡在硬软腭缺损修复中的临床应用

目的:评价口温蜡在软腭缺损修复中制取缺损腔功能印模的应用效果。方法:对11例硬软腭缺损患者分别采用口温蜡和藻酸盐制取缺损腔印模,制作阻塞器,使用两种阻塞器各1个月后,比较其戴口温蜡取模制作的阻塞器时(甲组)、戴藻酸盐取模制作的阻塞器时(乙组)和不戴阻塞器时(丙组)三种情况下,患者口鼻漏情况的主观满意度、语音清晰度(Speech Inteligibility,SI)以及单韵母频谱分析值,分别对其进行比较。结果:甲组的口鼻漏满意度、语音清晰度及单韵母[i]音F1、F2、[u]音F2、[ü]音F2的频率值均显著高于其余两组(P0.05)。结论:口温蜡取模制作的阻塞器能够明显改善患者因腭咽闭合功能不全造成的口鼻漏、言语障碍等状况。     

13CNMR Spectra of β-diketones from waxes of the gramineae

The ¹³CNMR spectra of six β-diketones and seven oxygenated β-diketones have been measured. The β-dicarbonyl grouping has the following effects on the chemical shifts of the neighbouring carbons: α-, + 8.72; β-, ? 3.98; γ-, ?0.42; δ-, ?0.33; ?-,?0.20; ζ-,?0.09; η-, ?0.05; θ-, ?0.03 ppm. The effects indicate the position of the grouping up to the 10,12-position. The positions of hydroxyl and oxo groups, up to the eighth carbon from the end of the chain, are also shown by long-range effects. The relative positions of a β-diketone grouping and another oxygen-containing group can be established from the ¹³CNMR spectrum with little ambiguity when they are separated by six or fewer methylene groups. For these structures NMR spectroscopy is more reliable than mass spectroscopy, which gives results which are difficult to interpret when groups are close together.Components of mixtures of hydroxy β-diketones, from grass waxes, are identified and proportions indicated by the NMR spectra.     

Changes in leaf cuticular waxes of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) plants exposed to water deficit

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the most important oilseed crops, having seeds and oil that are highly valued as a traditional health food. The objective of this study was to evaluate leaf cuticular wax constituents across a diverse selection of sesame cultivars, and the responses of these waxes to drought-induced wilting. Water-deficit was imposed on 18 sesame cultivars by withholding irrigation for 15d during the post-flowering stage, and the effect on seed yield and leaf waxes compared with a well-watered control. Leaf cuticular waxes were dominated by alkanes (59% of total wax), with aldehydes being the next-most abundant class. Compared to well-irrigated plants, drought treatment caused an increase in wax amount on most cultivars, with only three cultivars having a notable reduction. When expressed as an average across all cultivars, drought treatment caused a 30% increase in total wax amount, with a 34% increase in total alkanes, a 13% increase in aldehydes, and a 28% increase in the total of unknowns. In all cultivars, the major alkane constituents were the C27, C29, C31, C33, and C35 homologs, whereas the major aldehydes were the C30, C32, and C34 homologs, and drought exposure had only minor effects on the chain length distribution within these and other wax classes. Drought treatments caused a large decrease in seed yield per plant, but did not affect the mean weight of individual seeds, showing that sesame responds to post-flowering drought by reducing seed numbers, but not seed size. Seed yield was inversely correlated with the total wax amount (-0.466*), indicating that drought induction of leaf wax deposition does not contribute directly to seed set. Further studies are needed to elucidate the ecological role for induction of the alkane metabolic pathway by drought in regulating sesame plant survival and seed development in water-limiting environments.     

External and internal flavonoids from Madagascarian Uncarina species (Pedaliaceae)

External and internal flavonoids were isolated from 12 Uncarina taxa (Pedaliaceae), endemic to Madagascar. Four flavone aglycones, tricetin 7,3′,5′-trimethyl ether, tricetin 7,4′,5′-trimethyl ether, 5,3′-dihydroxy-6,7,4′,5′-tetramethoxyflavone and eupatorin were isolated from leaf wax of seven Uncarina taxa, Uncarina grandidieri, Uncarina decaryi, Uncarina abbreviata, Uncarina turicana, Uncarina platycarpa, Uncarina leandrii var. leandrii and Uncarina peltata, but not Uncarina stellulifera, Uncarina perrieri, Uncarina sakalava, Uncarina leptocarpa and U. leandrii var. rechbergeri. Furthermore, eight flavonoid glycosides were isolated from the leaves. Major glycosides were apigenin and luteolin 7-O-glucuronides and occurred in all the Uncarina taxa examined, except the absence of the former compound in U. peltata. Other glycosides were identified as hispidulin, jaceosidin, chrysoeriol and tricin 7-O-glucuronides, and luteolin 7,4′-di-O-glucuronide and a flavonol, isorhamnetin 3-O-diglucoside. From the results described above, methylated flavone aglycones and glucuronides were chemical characters of the leaves of Uncarina species, and also may be those of the family Pedaliaceae. Besides, an anthocyanin, two flavonols and three flavones were isolated from the flowers of U. grandidieri, and identified as cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside (anthocyanin), quercetin and isorhamnetin 7-O-glucuronides (flavonols) and apigenin, luteolin and jaceosidin 7-O-glucuronides (flavones).     

植物角质层蜡质合成与调控的分子生物学研究进展

角质层覆盖于陆生植物的地上部分。沉积于其表面的外角质层蜡质组成了植物与外部环境之间的屏障。蜡质的合成是由大量酶类协同作用的结果,又是一个积极可调控的过程。综述了近年来角质层蜡质合成与调控的分子生物学研究进展,包括突变体筛选、基因克隆和鉴定,以及功能基因组学研究等三方面,并对植物蜡质代谢基因克隆鉴定中存在的问题进行了探讨。     

Biodegradation of phytane (2,6,10,14-tetramethylhexadecane) and accumulation of related isoprenoid wax esters by Mycobacterium ratisbonense strain SD4 under nitrogen-starved conditions

The accumulation of storage lipids during the biodegradation of 2,6,10,14-tetramethylhexadecane (phytane) by Mycobacterium ratisbonense strain SD4 grown under nitrogen-starved conditions was investigated. Detailed chemical analysis of intracellular metabolites revealed the existence of (at least) three different pathways for the catabolism of phytane, and the accumulation of significant proportions (39% of the total lipids) of several isoprenoid wax esters formed by condensation of oxidation products of the hydrocarbon. In contrast, triacylglycerols but no wax esters were accumulated by strain SD4 grown on hexadecane, the unbranched homologue of phytane.     

两种吹绵蚧蜡泌物超微结构的研究

采用扫描电镜技术研究了澳洲吹绵蚧lcerya purchase Maskell和埃及吹绵蚧Icerya aegyptiaca(Douglas)不同龄期主要泌蜡腺体和蜡泌物的超微结构.结果发现:成虫期背面的丝状蜡是由多格腺和皮毛共同分泌产生的.卵囊是由雌成虫成熟时腹部腹面的半圆形卵囊带所分泌的,也是实心丝状蜡结构.若虫期吹绵蚧背面覆盖着由多格腺分泌的丝状蜡,实心结构;腹面有长丝状的蜡质缠绕,紧贴腹面体壁的还有一层小蜡圈.     

Interacting elevated CO2 and tropospheric O3 predisposes aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) to infection by rust (Melampsora medusae f. sp. tremuloidae)

We investigated the interaction of elevated CO₂ and/or (Ozone) O₃ on the occurrence and severity of aspen leaf rust (Melampsora medusae Thuem. f. sp. tremuloidae) on trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.). Furthermore, we examined the role of changes in leaf surface properties induced by elevated CO₂ and/or O₃ in this host–pathogen interaction. Three‐ to five‐fold increases in levels of rust infection index were found in 2 consecutive years following growing‐season‐long exposures with either O₃ alone or CO₂ + O₃ depending on aspen clone. Examination of leaf surface properties (wax appearance, wax amount, wax chemical composition, leaf surface and wettability) suggested significant effects by O₃ and CO₂ + O₃. We conclude that elevated O₃ is altering aspen leaf surfaces in such a way that it is likely predisposing the plants to increased infection by aspen leaf rust.