Correlative Inhibition of Lateral Bud Growth in Phaseolus vulgaris L. Ethylene and the Physical Restriction of Apical Growth

Restriction of apical growth in Phaseolus by enclosing the upperpart of the shoot in sealed or ventilated tubes induced developmentof axillary buds beneath the enclosure. Enclosed parts of shootsshowed a reduction of leaf growth and, in experiments wherethe tubes were sealed, of internode extension. Enclosure ofthe shoots in large vessels that did not restrict leaf expansion,but which contained 0?5 vols 10^–6 ethylene, similarlyinduced axillary bud growth. Analysis of the gaseous extractof physically restricted shoots showed a 2?5-fold increase inethylene concentration. The results suggest involvement of ethylenein the release of correlative inhibition brought about by physicalrestriction of apical growth.     

Extraction of Endogenous Ethylene and Ethane from Leaves of Phaseolus vulgarisL.

A procedure to recover small volumes of gases from plant tissuesby vacuum extraction is described. Changes in the volume ofthe gases and the concentrations of ethylene and ethane recoveredfrom Phaseolus leaves were observed when the evacuation conditionsduring extraction were altered. These changes were differentin the primary leaves and in the second trifoliate leaves. Thus,estimates of internal ethylene and ethane concentrations appearto be influenced both by the morphology of the tissue and theevacuation conditions employed. There was a positive correlationbetween the concentrations of ethylene and ethane in the gaseousextracts. The internal ethylene concentrations in the primary,first trifoliate, and second trifoliate leaves, considered together,were correlated with their respective rates of ethylene emanation.     

The involvement of ethylene in the coiled sprout disorder of potato

Application of low concentrations of ethylene gas to the sprouts of Arran Pilot elicited many of the morphological and anatomical symptoms of the coiled sprout disorder. Similar effects were observed using 2-chloroethyl-phosphonic acid (Ethrel). Obstruction of coil-prone etiolated sprouts led to enhanced ethylene production for a period of two to three days but this pattern was not shown by non-coil-prone sprouts.     

Steroidal Oestrogens and Adventitious Root Formation in Phaseolus Cuttings

Solutions of oestrone, oestrone-phosphate, oestrone-sulphate,oestradiol and oestradiol-sulphate in the concentration range10^–3 mol m^–3 to 10^–7 mol m^–3 had noobservable morphological or anatomical effects on adventitiousroot formation in Phaseolus vulgaris hypocotyl, epicotyl andprimary leaf cuttings. Oestradiol-sulphate and oestrone-sulphatetreatments at 0.1 mol m^–3 significantly inhibited rootingin hypocotyls, and the inhibition was almost complete in epicotylsand primary leaves. In the latter, anomalous development ofvascular tissues was noted. However, neither oestrone-phosphateat 0.1 mol m^–3 nor direct application of up to 100 µgof the oestrogens to apices or primary leaves of explants modifiedthe pattern of root formation. The results are discussed withreference to the distributive and metabolic fates of the appliedsubstances. Phaseolus vulgaris L., bean, adventitious roots, steroidal oestrogens, translocation     

RED LIGHT, BLUE LIGHT, AND COPPER ION IN THE PHOTOPERIODIC CONTROL OF FLOWERING IN LEMNA PERPUSILLA 6746

L. perpusilla, 6746 grown in HUTNER's medium (containing a highlevel of EDTA) responds as a short-day plant under white orred light, but is almost completely daylength-indifferent underblue. In a medium containing ca. 2µmoles/liter of unchelatedcopper ion, it flowers rapidly under all photoperiods, white,blue or red. Although certain long-day blue schedules permitflowering even on HUTNER's medium, blue is not simply "inactive"photoperiodically, since inclusion of a single brief red exposurein certain blue schedules is sufficient to prevent floweringas though the whole schedules were red. The indicated blue-redinteraction should prove important for further analyses of photoperiodismin this plant. ¹Research carried out at Brookhaven National Laboratory underthe auspices of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.     

BLUE LIGHT, PHYTOCHROME AND THE FLOWERING OF LEMNA PERPUSILLA 6746

Lemna perpusilla 6746 was grown on HUTNER'S medium with sucroseunder light schedules combining red, blue and far-red light.As shown earlier, brief red exposures added to a continuousblue schedule inhibit flowering although either schedule alonepermits it; hence red and blue act together in establishinga long day (flower inhibiting) condition. However, the red exposurerequired to inhibit flowering is greater with high intensitythan with low intensity continuous blue, suggesting in additiona blue-red antagonism. Blue light reverses the effects of abrief red exposure closing a blue or far-red main photoperiod,but it also reverses the effects of a brief far-red exposureclosing a red photoperiod. Thus, blue can act either like redor like far-red, depending on the situation. All effects ofblue light on the flowering of L. perpusilla 6746 are consistentwith the notion that it establishes a Pfr level intermediatebetween those established by red and far-red light; the postulationof an additional photoreaction to explain the effects of blueseems unnecessary. ¹Research carried out at Brookhaven National Laboratory underthe auspices of the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission.     

Effects of Soil Flooding on Growth and Grain Yield of Populations of Tetraploid and Hexaploid Species of Wheat

Single populations of three hexaploid species of wheat, Triticumaestivum, Triticum spelta and Triticum macha, and two populationsof the tetraploid wheat, Triticum dicoccum (Pontus and Bordeaux),were grown in a greenhouse experiment at a range of soil floodingregimes: free draining, two levels of transient flooding andcontinuous flooding. Increasing severity of flooding treatment resulted in increasedsoil reduction and an increase in the concentration of reducediron and manganese in the experimental soil, and also resultedin a reduction in vegetative growth, number of inflorescences,grain number and grain weight. There were, however, large differencesbetween the wheat populations in the degree of reduction inyield caused by flooding. The population of T. macha was muchmore flooding-tolerant than the other hexaploid species andthe ‘Pontus’ population of the emmer wheat, T. dicoccum,was more tolerant than the ‘Bordeaux’ populationof this species and than T. spelta and T. aestivum. The results are discussed in relation to the origin of the populations. Soil flooding, Triticum aeslivum, Triticum macha, Triticum spelta, Triticum dicoccum     

Minchinia teredinis N. Sp. (Balanosporida, Haplosporidiidae), a Parasite of Teredinid Shipworms

ABSTRACT. A new species of ascetosporan parasitizing tissues of woodboring mollusks of the genus Teredo , including T. navalis Linnaeus, T. furcifera von Martens, and T. bartschi Clapp, is described from light and transmission electron microscopical observations. The new species is assigned the name Minchinia teredinis sp. n. (Phylum Ascetospora, Class Stellatosporea, Order Balanosporida, Family Haplosporidiidae). Plasmodia, sporonts, sporocysts, and mature spores are found in all host tissues, but primarily in the gill. Spores are obovate, operculate, and characterized by four projections from the epispore membrane. The species is found from Long Island Sound to Virginia on the east coast of the United States. The parasite causes extensive damage to host tissues and is correlated with reductions in host populations.