Chromium in plants

Chromium is an essential trace element and is associated with some biological pathways, especially with glucose tolerance. For these reasons, we decided to determine the concentration of chromium in two sets of Brazilian medicinal plants. The first group consisted of plants that are considered as antidiabetic, whereas the second included plants that do not have this therapeutic property. The concentration of chromium was determined by flameless atomic absorption. All the plants analyzed contain chromium in the normal range for this element, but the hypoglycemic plants contain more chromium than the others (1–4 μg/g compared to 0.5–1.5 μg/g).     

Micropropagation of Plumbago rosea Linn.

Multiple shoot formation from the medicinal plant Plumbago rosea Linn. was induced on callus from stem segments on Murashige & Skoog media containing auxin and cytokinin. 2,4-D (2.5 mg l^-1) and kinetin (1.5 mg l^-1) added to the media gave best callus production, while BAP (2 mg l^-1) plus NAA (1.0 mg l^-1) induced shoot formation from that callus. Numerous shoots with roots could be produced by transferring shoots to media containing IBA (1.5 mg l^-1). Regenerated plantlets were transferred to pots and 60% survived.     

Correction of chlorophyll-defective male-sterile winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus) through organelle exchange: Characterization of the chlorophyll deficiency

Jarl, C. I., Ljungberg, U. K. and Bornman, C. H. 1988. Correction of chlorophyll-defective male-sterile winter oilseed rape ( Brassica napus ) through organelle exchange: Characterization of the chlorophyll deficiency. - Physiol. Plant. 72: 505–510.
As is known, the introduction of male-sterile Raphanus sativus L. cytoplasm into Brassica napus L. results in male-sterile oilseed rape plants, which display a temperature-related chlorophyll defect. The influences of temperature and irradiance on this defect were investigated. Compared to a line of normal (green phenotype) male-fertile oilseed rape, the male-sterile line had reduced chlorophyll content, fewer chloroplasts per cell, an altered ultrastructure of the chloroplasts and reduced activities of both photosystems, although the relative amounts of the photosystems and the chlorophyll a/b ratio were similar. The lower activity of the photosystems is explained by a decreased functional antennae size and a reduced efficiency in the interactions between the nuclear-encoded light-harvesting proteins and the reaction centres coded for by the plastome. Some thylakoid polypeptides differed in proportion between the male-fertile line with green phenotype and the male-sterile line with chlorotic phenotype. Characters, in which the two lines exhibited differences, are ascribed to difficulties in molecular communication between the oilseed rape nucleus and the radish cytoplasm, which are combined in the deficient male-sterile line.     

Salt tolerance of the reed plant Phragmites communis

Reed plants ( Phragmites communis Trinius) were grown at NaCl concentrations up to 500 m M and their growth, mineral contents and leaf blade osmotic potential were determined. Addition of NaCl up to 300 m M did not affect growth significantly. Sucrose, Cl^-and Na⁺ concentrations in the shoots increased with the salinity of the medium and the shoot water content decreased. K⁺ always contributed most to the leaf osmotic potential. Even in the presence of 250 m M NaCl in the rooting medium, the leaf blade contained only 50 mM Na⁺, suggesting that the plants have an efficient mechanism for Na⁺ exclusion. ²²Na⁺ uptake experiments suggested that the retranslo-cation of absorbed Na⁺ from shoots to the rooting medium lowered the uptake of Na⁺.     

Carbon and nitrogen partitioning in young nodulated pea (wild type and nitrate reductase-deficient mutant) plants exposed to NH4NO3

Carbon and nitrogen partitioning was examined in a wild-type and a nitrate reductase-deficient mutant (A317) of Pisum sativum L. (ev. Juneau), effectively inoculated with two strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum (128C23 and 128C54) and grown hydroponically in medium without nitrogen for 21 days, followed by a further 7 days in medium without and with 5 mM NH₄NO₃. In wild-type symbioses the application of NH₄NO₃ significantly reduced nodule growth, nitrogenase (EC 1.7.99.2) activity, nodule carbohydrates (soluble sugars and starch) and allocation of [¹⁴C]-labelled (NO₃⁻, NH₄⁺, amino acids) in roots. In nodules, there was a decline in amino acids together with an increase in inorganic nitrogen concentration. In contrast, symbioses involving A317 exhibited no change in nitrogenase activity or nodule carbohydrates, and the concentrations of all nitrogenous solutes measured (including asparagine) in roots and nodules were enhanced. Photosynthate allocation to the nodule was reduced in the 128C23 symbiosis. Nitrite accumulation was not detected in any case. These data cannot be wholly explained by either the carbohydrate deprivation hypothesis or the nitrite hypothesis for the inhibition of symbiotic nitrogen fixation by combined nitrogen. Our result with A317 also provided evidence against the hypothesis that NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ or its assimilation products exert a direct effect on nitrogenase activity. It is concluded that more than one legume host and Rhizobium strain must be studied before generalizations about Rhizobium /legume interactions are made.     

Rhizosphere microorganism effects on soluble amino acids,sugars and organic acids in the root zone ofAgropyron cristatum,A. smithii andBouteloua gracilis

Three axenic and rhizosphere microorganism-inoculated shortgrass steppe plant species were evaluated for possible differences in residual organic carbon and nitrogen present as sugars, organic acids and amino acids. IntroducedAgropyron cristatum was compared toA. smithii andBouteloua gracilis, which are dominant species in the native shortgrass steppe. These plants, grown for 90 days in root growth chambers, showed differences in residual organic carbon and nitrogen per gram of root, and rhizosphere microbe presence resulted in additional changes in these compounds. The root biomass ofB. gracilis was significantly increased with microbes present. TheAgropyron species had significantly lower amino acid levels with microbes present, while under the same conditions, theB. gracilis showed significant decreases in residual sugars. Based on the amino acids, sugars and organic acids, the C/N ratio of the sterileA. cristatum was higher than forB. gracilis. Rhizosphere microbe presence did not result in changes in these C/N ratios. These results suggest thatA. cristatum, with microbes present, will have lower levels of amino acids present, whileB. gracilis, with a lower C/N ratio, will have sugars used to a greater extent by the rhizosphere microbes. This resulted in the higher levels of residual soluble organic C and N in the rhizosphere ofB. gracilis, in comparison with the introducedA. cristatum. These differences may be critical in influencing the course of nutrient accumulation and plant competition in short-grass steppe communities, and in understanding basic aspects of plant-rhizosphere microorganism interactions.     

Glycine decarboxylase is confined to the bundle-sheath cells of leaves of C3−C4 intermediate species

Immunogold labelling has been used to determine the cellular distribution of glycine decarboxylase in leaves of C₃, C₃–C₄ intermediate and C₄ species in the genera Moricandia, Panicum, Flaveria and Mollugo. In the C₃ species Moricandia foleyi and Panicum laxum, glycine decarboxylase was present in the mitochondria of both mesophyll and bundle-sheath cells. However, in all the C₃–C₄ intermediate (M. arvensis var. garamatum, M. nitens, M. sinaica, M. spinosa, M. suffruticosa, P. milioides, Flaveria floridana, F. linearis, Mollugo verticillata) and C₄ (P. prionitis, F. trinervia) species studied glycine decarboxylase was present in the mitochondria of only the bundle-sheath cells. The bundle-sheath cells of all the C₃–C₄ intermediate species have on their centripetal faces numerous mitochondria which are larger in profile area than those in mesophyll cells and are in close association with chloroplasts and peroxisomes. Confinement of glycine decarboxylase to the bundle-sheath cells is likely to improve the potential for recapture of photorespired CO₂ via the Calvin cycle and could account for the low rate of photorespiration in all C₃–C₄ intermediate species.Abbreviation and symbol kDa kilodaltons - CO₂ compensation point     

Leaf ultrastructure of C4 species possessing different Kranz anatomical types in the cyperaceae

The leaf ultrastructure of NADP-malic enzyme type C₄ species possessing different anatomical features in the Cyperaceae was examined: types were the Rhynchosporoid type, a normal Kranz type in which mesophyll cells are adjacent to Kranz cells, and Fimbristyloid and Chlorocyperoid types, unusual Kranz types in which nonchlorophyllous mestome sheath intervenes between the two types of green cells. They show structural characteristics basically similar to the NADP-malic enzyme group of C₄ grasses, that is, centrifugally located chloroplasts with reduced grana and no increase of mitochondrial frequency in the Kranz cells. However, the Kranz cell chloroplasts of the Fimbristyloid and Chlorocyperoid types exhibit convoluted thylakoid systems and a trend of extensive development of peripheral reticulum, although those of the Rhynchosporoid type do not possess such particular membrane systems. The suberized lamella, probably a barrier for CO₂ diffusion, is present in the Kranz cell walls of the Rhynchosporoid type and in the mestome sheath cell walls of the other two types, and tightly surrounds the Kranz cells (sheaths) that are the sites of the decarboxylation of C₄ acids. These ultrastructural features are discussed in relation to C₄ photosynthetic function.     

Influence of the food plants on the degree of parasitism of larvae ofHeliothis armigera byCotesia kazak

Influence of the food plants ofHeliothis armigera (Hb.) on the degree of parasitism by exotic parasiteCotesia kazak Telenga (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was studied in cages in the laboratory on 7 food plants such as cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill), okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench], Dolichos (dolichos lablab L.), pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.], Cowpea (Vigna unquiculata (L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietium L.). To determine the preference of the parasite 2 test methods were employed. In single plant choice test cotton was most preferred. Next in order of preference were tomato and okra. Dolichos, pigeonpea, cowpea and chickpea were least preferred. In multiple choice test, however, cotton and okra were preferred followed by tomato. Parasites were seen visiting these plants very frequently and high parasitism was recorded on these plants. Chick pea, pigeon pea, cowpea and Dolichos were the least preferred food plants. There appears to be some difference in fecundity as affected by some food plants. Exposure on okra, cotton and tomato resulted in higher cocoon production as compared to pigeonpea, Dolichos, cowpea and chickpea. There was, however, no difference in sex-ratio and longevity of the progeny as affected by food plants. This exotic parasite should be released first in crops such as cotton, okra and tomato on whichH. armigera is a very serious pest in India and elsewhere. Contribution No. 140/86 of the Indian institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore-560 089