Mutations associated with floral organ number in rice

How floral organ number is specified is an interesting subject and has been intensively studied in Arabidopsis thaliana. In rice (Oryza sativa L.), mutations associated with floral organ number have been identified. In three mutants of rice, floral organ number 1 (fon1) and the two alleles, floral organ number 2-1 (fon2-1) and floral organ number 2-2 (fon2-2), the floral organs were increased in number centripetally. Lodicules, homologous to petals, were rarely affected, and stamens were frequently increased from six to seven or eight. Of all the floral organs the number of pistils was the most frequently increased. Among the mutants, fon1 showed a different spectrum of organ number from fon2 -1 and fon2 -2. Lodicules were the most frequently affected in fon1, but pistils of more than half of fon1 flowers were unaffected; in contrast, the pistils of most flowers were increased in fon2 -1 and fon2-2. Homeotic conversion of organ identity was also detected at a low frequency in ectopically formed lodicules and stamens. Lodicules and stamens were partially converted into anthers and stigmas, respectively. Concomitant with the increased number of floral organs, each mutant had an enlarged apical meristem. Although meristem size was comparable among the three mutants and wild type in the early phase of flower development, a significant difference became apparent after the lemma primordium had differentiated. In these mutants, the size of the shoot apical meristem in the embryo and in the vegetative phase was not affected, and no phenotypic abnormalities were detected. These results do not coincide with those for Arabidopsis in which clavatal affects the sizes of both shoot and floral meristems, leading to abnormal phyllotaxis, inflorescence fasciation and increased floral organs. Accordingly, it is considered that FON1 and FON2 function exclusively in the regulation of the floral meristem, not of the vegetative meristem.Abbreviation DIC differential interference contrast This work was supported in part by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan.     

Fruit set in a deceptive orchid: The effect of flowering phenology,display size,and local floral abundance

We investigated the effect of flowering time, display size, and local floral density on fruit set in Tolumnia variegata, a pollination-limited orchid that offers no reward to its pollinator(s). During 1990, natural variation in flowering time, display size, and fruit set were monitored in 508 plants at one locality in Puerto Rico. The following season, orchid floral abundance per host tree (Randia aculeata) was manipulated to investigate its effect on fruit set. Four floral abundance treatments were established (700, 500, 300, and 100), each replicated four times. Flowering time was the most important trait affecting fruit set. The proportion of plants setting at least one fruit was significantly high early and late in the season, but low during the flowering peak. Thus, strong disruptive selection differential on flowering phenology was found. Display size had little effect on fruit set. A weak, but significant disruptive selection differential on display size was found. Orchid floral abundance per host tree had a significant effect on fruit set. Early in the season, T. variegata flowers with intermediate number of conspecific flowers exhibited a greater probability of setting fruit than those in host trees with fewer or more flowers. Our results show that flowering phenology may be evolutionarily unstable, possibly a consequence of the deception pollination system. Furthermore, a deception strategy would be relatively unsuccessful in populations where plants are found in either very dense or sparse patches.     

杨桃果实采后生理研究(综述)

概述了国内外对杨桃果实采后主要营养成分的分析、呼吸、乙烯释放、主要生理病害,并介绍了不同贮藏条件或处理对杨桃果实采后贮藏性影响的研究概况。     

Enhancement of seminiferous tubular growth and spermatogenesis in testes of rats recovering from early hypothyroidism: a quantitative study

Testicular weight and DNA content were markedly reduced (63 and 69%) in weanling Long-Evans rat pups rendered hypothyroid from birth by administration of propylthiouracil (PTU), a reversible goitrogen. These growth deficits worsened to >80% by continuing hypothyroidism beyond weaning, to days 50 and 90. Recovery of thyroid function, brought about by discontinuing PTU at weaning, resulted in a paradoxical stimulation of testis growth, amounting to increased weight (40%), DNA content (60%) and size by 90 days, compared to age-matched controls. In the 25-day or older hypothyroid rats, testicular structure was immature and spermatogenesis markedly delayed, as evident by closed lumen and significantly reduced diameter of seminiferous tubules (38%), thickness of germinal layer (70%), and number of primary spermatocytes (86%), compared to control. Hypothyroidism did not alter the number of tubules per testis cross section. In the 90-day recovery rats, numbers of seminiferous tubules were unchanged but tubular diameter was significantly (20%) larger than in controls and spermatogenesis appeared very active as indicated by significantly increased germinal layer thickness (22%) and total number and density of primary spermatocytes (55% and 40%). The results show that although postnatal hypothyroidism is deleterious for testicular growth and spermatogenesis, recovery from this condition leads to enhanced seminiferous tubular growth and spermatogenesis.     

On some formulas in a partnership model from the perspective of a semi-Markov process

Many deterministic models of sexually transmitted diseases, as well as population models in general, contain elements of stochastic or statistical reasoning. An example of such a model is that of Dietz and Hadeler (1988) concerning sexually transmitted diseases in which there is partnership formation and dissolution. Among the interesting formulas in this paper, which enter into the analysis of the model, are those for the expected number of partners a male or female has during a lifetime. To a probabilist such formulas suggest the possibility that some stochastic process may be constructed so as to yield these formulas as well as others that may be of interest. The principal purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that such a stochastic process does indeed exist in the form of a three state semi-Markov process in continuous time with stationary laws of evolution and with a one-step density matrix determined by four parameters which were interpreted as constant latent risk functions in the classical theory of competing risks. This construction of a semi-Markov process not only provides a framework for the systematic derivation of the formulas of Dietz and Hadeler but also suggests pathways,for extensions to the age-dependent case.This research was partially supported by NATO Grant D.890350     

Implications of the variance effective population size on the genetic conservation of monoecious species

The concept of variance effective population size [Ne_(v)] and other expressions are reviewed and described for specific sampling steps in germplasm collection and regeneration of monoecious species. Special attention is given to procedures for computing the variance of the number of contributed gametes [V(k)] to the next generation. Drift, as it occurs between generations, was considered to contain a component due to the sampling of parents and a subsequent component due to the sampling of gametes. This demonstrates that drift, caused by reduction of seed viability, damages the genetic integrity of accessions stored in germplasm banks. The study shows how mating designs, such as plant-to-plant or chain crossings with additional female gametic control, can partially alleviate this problem. Optimal procedures for increasing Ne_(v) when collecting germplasm in the field are also discussed. The effect of different female and male gametic control strategies on Ne_(v) is considered under several situations. Practical examples illustrating the use of V(k) and Ne_(v) expressions are given.     

Strong synergistic effects of gibberellins with the synthetic cytokinin N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N-phenylurea on parthenocarpic fruit set and some other fruit characteristics of apple

The induction of parthenocarpic fruit set was investigated using the apple cvs. Golden Delicious and Jonagold. The gibberellins GA₃, GA₄, GA₅ and GA₇ and the synthetic phenylurea-type cytokinin CPPU (N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N-phenylurea), were applied alone and in combination to unpollinated flowers at the end of petal fall. Gibberellins induced only a marginal final set of parthenocarpic fruits. CPPU sprays were more effective, particularly in the first year. When applied in combination, CPPU and gibberellins had a positive synergistic effect on parthenocarpic fruit set and fruit size, but a negative effect on flower induction the next year. After CPPU + GA sprays, percent fruit set was similar, or greater, compared to natural pollinated trees. The parthenocarpic fruits induced by CPPU + GA had an increased length to diameter ratio. CPPU stimulated, and GA₄ and GA₇ reduced, the russeting of the parthenocarpic fruits. The internal quality of the fruits was hardly affected, but Ca-deficiency symptoms occurred more frequently in parthenocarpic fruits.     

离体条件下诱导番茄果实状结构的再生

以番茄（Ｌｙｃｏｐｅｒｓｉｃｏｎ ｅｓｃｕｌｅｎｔｕｍ Ｍｉｌｌ．）雌蕊和幼果的组织作外植体可以诱导果实状结构的再生。这种果实状结构在离体条件下能培养成熟,成熟时具红色。解剖观察表明：果实状结构由果肉和包围在外面的果皮组成,无种子和胎座。外源激素和外植体年龄的试验揭示：１．以雌蕊组织作外植体时,仅附加外源细胞分裂素就可以诱导果实状结构的再生,外源生长素似乎不是必需的,最高的诱导频率（５０．０％ ）出现在仅附加玉米素０．５ ｍ ｇ／Ｌ的组合。２．从直径４—１２ ｍ ｍ 的幼果上分离的外植体在附加外源激素的培养基上均可诱导果实状结构的再生,但只有从直径８ ｍ ｍ 的果实分离的组织块作外植体并将它们培养在６－ＢＡＰ ２ ｍ ｇ／Ｌ,ＮＡＡ０．１ ｍ ｇ／Ｌ的培养基上时,果实状结构的诱导频率最高（６２．５％ ）。为了探讨在果实状结构再生中表现出来的细胞全能性的表达,提出了植物细胞全能性的部分表达（Ｐａｒｔｉａｌｅｘｐｒｅｓｓｉｏｎ ｏｆｐｌａｎｔ ｃｅｌｌｔｏｔｉｐｏｔｅｎｃｙ）的概念并进行了讨论。     

Use of lysophosphatidylethanolamine, a natural lipid, to retard tomato leaf and fruit senescence

We studied the influence of lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) on the pattern and rate of ethylene production and respiration of tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum cv. H7155) leaflets and fruit. Leaflets that had been senescing on the plant showed a climacteric-like rise in ethylene production but not in respiration rate which decreased continuously with leaf age. Detached leaflets had a climacteric-like pattern in respiration whether they were incubated in complete darkness or in light. Detached leaflets incubated in the dark had higher rates of ethylene production and CO₂ evolution than did light-incubated leaves. There was no change in the pattern of ethylene production or CO₂ evolution as a result of LPE treatment. However, LPE-treated attached and detached leaflets had consistently lower rates of CO₂ evolution. The reduction in CO₂ evolution by LPE was most pronounced at the climacteric-like peak of the detached leaves. LPE-treated leaflets had a higher chlorophyll content and fresh weight and lower electrolyte leakage than the control. LPE-treated fruits had lower rates of ethylene and CO₂ production than did the control. LPE-treated fruits also had higher pericarp firmness and lower electrolyte leakage than the control. The results of the present study provide evidence that LPE is able to retard senescence of attached leaves and detached leaves and tomato fruits. Several recent studies suggest that lysolipids can act in a specific manner as metabolic regulators. Our results suggest a specific role of lysolipid LPE in aging and senescence