Unusual Tissue Complexes Formed in Association with Traumatic Gum Cavities in the Stem of Bombax ceiba L.

Administration of ethephon (2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid) inthe stem of Bombax ceiba L. (Bombacaceae) induced the formationof a barrier zone of several layers of traumatic parenchymacells from the vascular cambium. These cells accumulate polysaccharidesand phenolics at irregular intervals, and eventually break downinitiating a gum cavity. The lysis of cells proceeds in a definiteway keeping characteristic islands of parenchyma intact in thetraumatic tissue. So the traumatic parenchyma is organized intoseveral large horizontal conical projections of uniform shapeand cell composition amidst the tangentially anastamosing cavities.The projections have a central core of radially elongated cellsand a few layers of peripheral cambiform cells. The derivativesof the cambiform cells enlarge, accumulate polysaccharides andphenolics, and disintegrate in the cavity. Later, disintegrationof some of the projections further enlarges the cavity. Bombax ceiba, ethephon, gum cavities, unusual tissue complexes     

Cytology and taxonomy of Coptis teeta Wall.(Ranunculaceae)

Cytological investigations of 13 natural populations of Coptis teeta indicated that the species has a somatic number of 18 chromosomes which form nine homomorphic pairs. The species did not possess any supernumerary chromosomes. The chromosome number, size and morphology were similar in all populationS. Based on the taxonomic studies the 13 natural populations are grouped into two well-defined subspecies, teeta and lohitensis, for which a key is provided.     

KERATINS AND SKIN DISORDERS

The epidermal keratinocytes express two major pairs of keratin polypeptides. One pair (K5/K14) expressed specifically in basal generative compartment and the other (K1/K10) expressed specifically in the differentiating suprabasal compartment. The switch in the expression of the keratins from proliferating to differentiating compartment indicates the changes that occur in the keratin filament organization which in turn influences the functional properties of the epidermis. Proper regulation of keratin gene expression and the filament organization are absolutely necessary for normal functioning of the skin. Keratin gene mutations can influence the filament integrity thereby causing several heritable blistering disorders of the skin such as epidermolysis bullosa, bullous icthyosiform erythroderma, etc. Changes in the keratin gene expression may lead to incomplete differentiation of the epidermal keratinocyte, causing hyperproliferative diseases of the skin such as psoriasis, carcinomas, etc. This review briefly describes the changes in keratin structure or gene expression that are known to result in various disorders of the skin.     

A unique growth pattern associated with cleistogamy in a tropical legume, Vigna minima (Roxb.) Ohwi & Ohashi (Leguminosae)

Obligate subterranean cleistogamy, observed in a natural population of Vigna minima , is associated with the production of one or two negatively geotropic, leafy shoots and several positively geotropic, highly pigmented, leafless shoots. The latter branch profusely after penetrating the soil and produce much reduced, cleistogamous flowers. The undehisced anthers contain germinated pollen grains. The seeds developing from the cleistogamous flowers differ in size, weight and surface features from those produced by the chasmogamous flowers of other natural populations within the species.     

Regulation of growth response to water stress in the soybean primary root. I. Proteomic analysis reveals region‐specific regulation of phenylpropanoid metabolism and control of free iron in the elongation zone

In water‐stressed soybean primary roots, elongation was maintained at well‐watered rates in the apical 4 mm (region 1), but was progressively inhibited in the 4–8 mm region (region 2), which exhibits maximum elongation in well‐watered roots. These responses are similar to previous results for the maize primary root. To understand these responses in soybean, spatial profiles of soluble protein composition were analysed. Among the changes, the results indicate that region‐specific regulation of phenylpropanoid metabolism may contribute to the distinct growth responses in the different regions. Several enzymes related to isoflavonoid biosynthesis increased in abundance in region 1, correlating with a substantial increase of isoflavonoid content in this region which could contribute to growth maintenance via various potential mechanisms. In contrast, caffeoyl‐CoA O‐methyltransferase, which is involved in lignin synthesis, was highly up‐regulated in region 2. This response was associated with enhanced accumulation of lignin, which may be related to the inhibition of growth in this region. Several proteins that increased in abundance in both regions of water‐stressed roots were related to protection from oxidative damage. In particular, an increase in the abundance of ferritin proteins effectively sequestered more iron and prevented excess free iron in the elongation zone under water stress.     

Structural Diversity and its Adaptive Significancein Seeds of Vigna minima (Roxb.) Ohwi Ohashi and its Allies (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae)

The surface features of seed coat, hilum and strophiole, histologicalaspects of hilum and strophiole, and mechanism of seed dormancyinVigna minima, V. umbellata, V. dalzelliana and V. calcarataauct. pi. have been investigated. Scanning electron microscopyhas revealed a substantial variability in seed coat microtopography,hilum and strophiole, which is of taxonomic and evolutionarysignificance. The histology of the hilum is uniform in all fourtaxa, but the structure of the strophiole shows differencesbetween wild and cultivated species. All four taxa have hardseeds; those ofV. umbellata have no dormancy but those of wildspecies have water-impermeable dormancy. Seed germination experimentsusing araldite-coated, and hilum-micropyle- and strophiole-pluggedhard seeds of V. umbellata and water-impermeable seeds of V.minima, which were pin-pricked through the strophiolar groove,demonstrate that the zone of weakness to the permeability ofwater in hard seeds of these species is the strophiolar region,and not the seed coat, hilum or micropyle. The parenchymatoustissue of the strophiolar plug in the seeds ofV. umbellataisassociated with the lack of dormancy, whereas the sclerenchymatoustissue of the strophiolar plug in the seeds ofV. minima is responsiblefor the water-impermeable seed dormancy. Under natural conditions,the water-impermeable dormancy of wild species breaks down asa result of the degradation of the hard seed coat, by microbialaction, at the strophiolar groove.     

Ecological studies on five species of endangered Himalayan poppy, Meconopsis (Papaveraceae)

Ecological studies were carried out on 19 endangered populations of Meconopsis horridula, M. paniculata, M. simplicfolia, M. sinuata and M. villosa from the Sikkim Himalayas. The populations of M. horridula, M. paniculata and M. sinuata inhabit open alpine slopes, those of M. simplicfolia are restricted to alpine meadows, while those of M. villosa are confined to the interiors of temperate forests and along forest fringes. The habitats of these species remain snow-hound from October to February. Analyses suggest that all the species except M. horridula , have a broad area of distribution, but narrow habitats and niches. All five species are confined to moist, clayey to silty soils with acidic pH, high concentrations of organic matter, nitrate, phosphate, potassium and calcium. M. paniculata is a 'generalist', whereas all other species investigated are 'specialists'.     

Certain Histological and Anatomical Features of the Central Nervous System of a Large Indian Spider, Poecilotheria

SYNOPSIS. Some of the finer details of the anatomical organizationof the subesophageal ganglion of the spider, Poecilotheria sp.were studied in Palmgren silver-stained sections at the lightmicroscopic level. The ganglionic mass is differentiated intoa central fibrous core and a peripheral layered mass of cellularcortex. The neuropile is heterogeneous, consisting of both diffuseand glomerular types, and is considered the primary place forintegration. The dorsal region is motor, and the ventral issensory. The processes of motor cells and endings of sensoryneurons are restricted mostly to a single ganglion. Each largemotor neuron possesses a long stem-process, short and highlybranched dendritic ramifications, and a smooth, unbranched axon.Larger interneurons are more diversified, and extend from oneto several ganglia. These are of ascending or descending oreven decussating types. Smaller interneurons are mostly restrictedto one or a few ganglia. On the basis of this organization theprobable synaptic junctions between neurons are discussed.