The distribution of hydroxycinnamic acid amides in flowering plants

Hydroxycinnamic acid amides have been identified as the main phenolic constituents in the reproductive organs of a range of flowering plants.     

Morphology of Heliotropium (Boraginaceae) Dispersal Units1

In flowers of Heliotropium s.l. the primary carpel tips are overtopped by commissural outgrowths. Therefore the stylar cleft mimics a lateral orientation of the carpels. In species in which the fruit splits into four diaspores the separation tissues run through both the median and the transverse fruit planes. In species where only two two-seeded nutlets are developed the fruit splits within the false septa and each half is composed of parts of both carpels (“syn-mericarpids”).     

The impact of surface mine reclamation on headwater streams in Southwest Virginia

Recovery of headwater streams following the cessation of mining and the application of terrestrial (vegetative) reclamation techniques was assessed by comparison of water quality and aquatic biota in two such systems (reclaimed four to seven years) with that of an unimpacted stream and of streams draining mine areas which were abandoned without reclamation. Alkalinity, hardness, sulfate, and conductivity were elevated in the reclaimed mine streams as were fine-particle suspended solids and sediment. Overall water quality was comparable to streams draining unreclaimed lands. Benthic invertebrate and fish populations were significantly lower in abundance in the reclaimed mine streams than in the reference stream and showed less taxonomic richness and stability; they were similar in these respects to the biota of the unreclaimed mine streams. Continued sedimentation from mined areas and haul roads affected stream habitat and appeared to be the major factor limiting biotic recovery. These findings emphasize that terrestrial reclamation does not assure lotic restoration. Water quality criteria merit consideration in the refinement of reclamation procedures for mined lands.     

Infloreszenz- und Blütenentwicklung bei der KugeldistelEchinops exaltatus (Asteraceae)

InEchinops the flowers are surrounded by several scales and initiated in an acropetal and spiral succession on a cone-like inflorescence axis (Figs. 1–6). The floral organs originate in the following sequence: petals—stamens—carpels—pappus. The petals arise from a meristematic rim and therefore are already interconnected when they arise as primordia. This sympetalous zone remains rather inconspicuous for a long period, but eventually, the elongated corolla tube is formed through intercalary growth in a ring zone. Thereby, the stamens are moved upwards and form ledges on the corolla tube (Fig. 34). In the inferior ovary the usual zones of the typical angiospermous gynoecium can be distinguished, namely a synascidiate, symplicate and hemisymplicate zone. The ovule is borne on carpellary tissue.

     

狭叶坡垒传粉生物学初探

狭叶坡垒(Hopea chinensis)为常绿乔木,是我国热带季雨林的代表树种之一。它树型优美,具一定的耐寒性,是我国珍稀濒危保护植物。为阐明其传粉生物学特征和迁地保护的繁殖潜力,该文在引种地桂林植物园对狭叶坡垒的开花物候、花尺寸和花气味进行了观察和测量,运用杂交指数(OCI)、花粉胚珠比(P/O)、花粉活力、柱头活性检测和人工自交等方法对其繁育系统进行了检测,观察了访花昆虫并检验了其传粉效率,通过人工异交检验了繁殖潜力和可能的传粉限制。结果表明:(1)桂林植物园内狭叶坡垒的花期为7月底到9月底,持续60 d左右,一个花序花期约12 d,单花期约3 d,花朵开放时间为17:00—18:45。(2)雌雄同熟,雌蕊空间位置高于雄蕊,高花粉活力和高柱头可授性出现时间基本一致。(3)OCI 等于4,P/O为10 788±984。(4)无自动自花授粉能力且自交不亲和,自然条件下和异交授粉能坐果且坐果率无显著差异。(5)蕈蚊是狭叶坡垒唯一的传粉者。(6)主要花香成分为β-榄香烯、(E)-7,11-二甲基-3-亚甲基-1,6,10-十二碳三烯和1-石竹烯。综上所述,狭叶坡垒繁育系统为异交,在迁地保护地需要蕈蚊作为传粉者,能坐果并得到成熟种子,不存在授粉限制。     

文心兰COL基因的分离及其表达分析

CONSTANS(CO)及CONSTANS-like(COL)基因在光周期调控植物开花中起到重要的作用。该研究以文心兰(Oncidium)品种‘金辉’为材料,分离了CO同源基因OnCOL2及另外2个COL基因(OnCOL8和OnCOL9),它们分别编码326、411和291个氨基酸;生物信息分析预测它们均定位于细胞核;OnCOL2、OnCOL8有2个锌指B-box结构域和1个CCT结构域,而OnCOL9缺少B-box结构域。多序列比对及进化树分析结果表明,所有COL蛋白可划分为3组,OnCOL2与OnCOL8、OnCOL9分到了2个不同组中。OnCOL2与建兰(Cymbidium ensifolium)CeCOL(90.77%)高度相似;OnCOL8与OnCOL9在进化关系上更为接近,分别与拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)AtCOL9和AtCOL10关系最近,它们在B-box和CCT结构域都极为保守。表达分析结果表明OnCOL2、OnCOL8与OnCOL9分别在花、根和假鳞茎中表达量最高,在叶片中的表达呈周期性变化趋势,且在长、短日照条件下表达的峰值及时间均存在差异,在花芽分化时期的叶片中表达量均显著上调。研究表明,OnCOL2、OnCOL8与OnCOL9基因均受到生物钟和日长调节,在光周期途径中,可能通过上调它们的表达以促进文心兰花芽的形成。该研究结果为进一步研究基因功能及光周期调控文心兰开花机制奠定了基础。     

油茶花芽分化形态结构及内源激素变化

以普通油茶(Camellia oleifera) 4个无性系为材料,结合油茶成花的动态观察和花芽分化过程的石蜡切片形态观察,采用酶联免疫吸附分析法测定花芽中玉米素核苷(ZR)、脱落酸(ABA)、生长素(IAA)、赤霉素(GA) 4种内源激素含量,探讨油茶花芽分化与内源激素的关系。油茶花芽分化过程可分为6个时期：前分化期(10 d)、萼片形成期(20 d)、花瓣形成期(30 d)、雌雄蕊形成期(20 d)、子房与花药形成期(10 d)和雌雄蕊成熟期(20 d),历时3～4个月。油茶不同无性系的花芽分化时间略有不同。油茶花芽中ZR含量相对较低(5.102～16.412 ng·g–1 FW),ABA含量相对较高(76.815～137.648 ng·g–1 FW)。其中,粤华5号和湘林8号的ZR、ABA含量变化趋势一致,岑软3号和岑软2号含量变化趋势一致。油茶花芽中IAA含量相对较高,为49.072～135.622 ng·g–1 FW,随着花芽分化进程,IAA含量均呈先升后降再升的变化趋势。GA含量相对较低,为5.616～13.720 ng·g–1 FW,随时间变化,呈现出不断降低的趋势。其中,不同无性系的IAA、GA含量变化趋势一致,而ZR、ABA含量变化趋势有所差异。ZR有利于花器官形成;高浓度IAA促进油茶花芽分化,低浓度IAA有利于开花;花芽中IAA与ABA存在明显的颉颃作用;GA抑制花芽分化。     

顶空固相微萃取-气相色谱-质谱联用法分析香花秋海棠及其变种花香气成分

利用顶空固相微萃取结合气相色谱-质谱联用技术对盛花期的香花秋海棠(Begonia handelii)雄花及其变种铺地秋海棠(B. handelii var. prostrata)雌花和红毛香花秋海棠(B. handelii var. rubropilosa)雄花的挥发性香气成分进行分析。结果表明,从铺地秋海棠花中鉴定出香气成分32 种,其中醇类物质含量最高,占总成分50.10,其次分别为碳氢类、醛类和酸类物质,分别占总成分25.39、13.87、4.34;从香花秋海棠花中鉴定出香气成分为21种,醛类物质含量最高,占总成分57.12,其次是醇类、碳氢类、杂环类物质,分别占总成分17.37、15.31、4.88;从红毛香花秋海棠花中鉴定出香气成分44 种,醇类物质含量最高,占总成分38.22,其次是碳氢类、醛类和醚类物质,分别占总成分34.36、16.83、6.91。铺地秋海棠和红毛香花秋海棠香气成分较接近,富含具有清香、甘甜气息的芳樟醇氧化物等物质;香花秋海棠花中醛类物质含量最高,具有淡焦甜香气。