The prickly-pears (Opuntia spp., Cactaceae): A source of human and animal food in semiarid regions

The Cactaceae contain many economically promising species primarily in the genus Opuntia. This genus appears to have its center of genetic diversity in Mexico where it is widely used as fodder, forage, fruit, and a green vegetable. In southwestern United States, the prickly-pears have been considered as both weeds and valuable forage plants. During the frequent, unpredictable droughts, propane torches known as “pear burners” are used to singe the spines off cactus pads so that they can be eaten by livestock. Although spineless varieties of Opuntia can be consumed directly by domestic livestock, they are extremely susceptible to herbivory by wildlife. The Cactaceae possess Crassulacean Acid Metabolism, which can be four- to five-fold more efficient in converting water to dry matter than the most efficient grasses. Some Opuntia strains grow rapidly with fresh-fruit yields of 8,000–12,000 kg/ha/ yr or more and dry-matter vegetative production of 20,000–50,000 kg/ha/yr.     

Sugar uptake by maize endosperm suspension cultures

Maize (Zea mays L.) endosperm suspension cultures are a useful model system for studying biochemical and physiological events in developing maize endosperm. In this report, sugar uptake by the cultures is characterized. Uptake of ¹⁴C-labeled fructose and l-glucose was linear with time, while the rate of uptake of radioactivity from sucrose increased over a 120 min period. Both saturable and linear components of uptake were observed for fructose, glucose, sucrose, 1′-deoxy-1′-fluorosucrose, and maltose. Uptake of mannitol, sorbitol, and l-glucose took place at lower rates and was linear with concentration. Rates of incorporation of radioactivity from fructose and glucose exceeded that of sucrose at all concentrations tested. Kinetics of 1′-deoxy-1′-fluorosucrose uptake indicated that ¹⁴C from sucrose can be taken up by a saturable carrier of intact sucrose as well as by invertase hydrolysis and subsequent uptake of hexoses. Cell wall invertase was demonstrated histochemically. Further study of fructose uptake at a concentration at which the saturable component predominated revealed sensitivity to metabolic inhibitors, respiratory uncouplers, the nonpermeant sulfhydryl reagent p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid, and nigericin. Uptake was not affected by valinomycin plus K⁺ and was stimulated by fusicoccin. Fructose and glucose uptake was not pH-sensitive below pH 7.0, whereas uptake of radioactivity from sucrose and 1′-deoxy-1′-fluorosucrose declined as the pH was increased above 5.0. Fructose uptake was not completely inhibited by glucose and vice versa, suggesting the presence of specific carriers. These results indicate that maize endosperm suspension cultures (a) absorb fructose via a typical, energy-requiring, carrier-mediated proton cotransport system; (b) possess saturable carriers for glucose and sucrose; and (c) also absorb sucrose via hexose uptake after sucrose hydrolysis by extracellular invertase.     

Nascent high density lipoproteins from liver perfusates of orotic acid-fed rats

Uniformly fatty livers from orotic acid-fed rats secreted almost no very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) but normal amounts of nascent high density lipoproteins (HDL) accumulated in perfusates. When lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) was inhibited, nascent HDL were uniformly discoidal and lacked cholesteryl esters. Lipid and apoprotein compositions of nascent HDL from normal and fatty livers were similar whether LCAT was inhibited or not. Apolipoprotein B-100 was not detected in perfusates of uniformly fatty livers, but small amounts of apolipoprotein B-48 were present in HDL2 fractions. Nascent lipoproteins were not seen in Golgi compartments, but lipid-rich particles were clearly evident in endoplasmic reticulum cisternae adjacent to the cis face of the Golgi complex, suggesting that orotic acid blocks VLDL secretion by preventing translocation of nascent particles from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cis Golgi compartment. The accumulation of normal amounts of discoidal HDL in liver perfusates despite virtual absence of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in Golgi secretory compartments, the space of Disse, and the perfusate is inconsistent with the concept that nascent HDL are exclusively a product of surface remnants cast off during lipolysis of chylomicrons and VLDL.     

Sugar uptake and starch biosynthesis by slices of developing maize endosperm

¹⁴C-Sugar uptake and incorporation into starch by slices of developing maize (Zea mays L.) endosperm were examined and compared with sugar uptake by maize endosperm-derived suspension cultures. Rates of sucrose, fructose, and d- and l-glucose uptake by slices were similar, whereas uptake rates for these sugars differed greatly in suspension cultures. Concentration dependence of sucrose, fructose, and d-glucose uptake was biphasic (consisting of linear plus saturable components) with suspension cultures but linear with slices. These and other differences suggest that endosperm slices are freely permeable to sugars. After diffusion into the slices, sugars were metabolized and incorporated into starch. Starch synthesis, but not sugar accumulation, was greatly reduced by 2.5 millimolar p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid and 0.1 millimolar carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone. Starch synthesis was dependent on kernel age and incubation temperature, but not on external pH (5 through 8). Competing sugars generally did not affect the distribution of ¹⁴C among the soluble sugars extracted from endosperm slices incubated in ¹⁴C-sugars. Competing hexoses reduced the incorporation of ¹⁴C into starch, but competing sucrose did not, suggesting that sucrose is not a necessary intermediate in starch biosynthesis. The bidirectional permeability of endosperm slices to sugars makes the characterization of sugar transport into endosperm slices impossible, however the model system is useful for experiments dealing with starch biosynthesis which occurs in the metabolically active tissue.     

Development of tannin vacuoles in chalaza and seed coat of barley in relation to early chalazal necrosis in the seg1 mutant

Structural development of grain tissues of maternal origin in normal and seg1 barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Betzes) was examined using light and electron microscopy. Chalaza and seedcoat cells of normal grains developed prominent tannin vacuoles which persisted throughout the grain-filling period. Tannins were present in the same tissues of seg1, but no large central vacuoles developed. Instead, the chalaza and nucellar projection degenerated and were crushed, presumably terminating sugar flow and causing formation of shrunken grains (35–55% normal dry weight). Tannins were localized using various histochemical stains. Extracts of chalaza and adjacent tissues contained proanthocyanidins which yielded delphinidin and cyanidin upon hydrolysis in boiling HCl. We suggest that the basis of the seg1 phenotype may be abnormal compartmentation of tannins causing precipitation of cytoplasmic proteins and early death of chalazal cells.Abbreviations FAA Formalin-acetic acid-ethanol - PAS periodic acid Schiffs reagent     

Allometry of within-fruit reproductive allocation in subtropical dicot woody species

Angiosperm fruits typically consist of pericarp and seed, which collectively function to maximize plant reproductive success. Within-fruit reproductive allocation has been scarcely examined across a wide range of fruit types and taxa although it is critical to the understanding of the evolution of fruit size and seed size. We investigated seed size, fruit size, seed number per fruit (SNF), and within-fruit biomass allocation between seed mass and pericarp mass for 62 dicot woody species (27 deciduous and 35 evergreen species) of a subtropical evergreen forest in southwest China. At the fruit level, total pericarp mass (TPM) isometrically scaled with increasing total seed mass (TSM) in the evergreen species and in the pooled data set, while TPM increased faster than TSM in the deciduous species. The slope difference is possibly due to the difference in the timing of fruit development between the two species groups. At the seed level, seed package (pericarp mass per seed) isometrically scaled with increasing seed size in the deciduous group, but less than isometrically in the evergreens and in the pooled data set. SNF was negatively correlated with seed size but positively correlated with the proportion of pericarp within fruits. In conclusion, within-fruit biomass allocation is significantly affected by seed size, fruit size, and SNF in both deciduous and evergreen species. The implications of the observed scaling relationships are discussed in relation to seed size evolution and global patterns of seed size variation.     

A New Genus and Species of the Damselfly Family Hemiphlebiidae from the Lower Cretaceous Chernovskie Kopi Locality (Eastern Transbaikalia)

Thairia transbaikalica Felker et Vasilenko, gen. et sp. nov. (Odonata, Hemiphlebiidae) from the Mesozoic Chernovskie Kopi locality is described. A short review of known genera of Hemiphlebiidae is provided. Relative age of enclosing rocks is discussed.     

Effects of red and blue light on the composition and morphology of maize kernels grown in vitro

Growth and development of plants are known to be affected by exposure to red and blue light. Mechanisms by which light quality influences gene expression in maize (Zea mays L.) embryos have not been explored. Maize kernels can be cultured in vitro allowing experimental manipulation of environmental factors during seed development. We used the in vitro kernel culture system to investigate the response of developing maize seeds, which normally develop without exposure to light, to controlled light quality. Kernels grown under red light accumulated more dry weight than those grown in darkness, whereas kernels grown under blue light accumulated less. Reciprocal color shift experiments showed that light quality during the first week in culture had more influence on kernel weight than during the subsequent three weeks in culture. Soluble sugars were higher in both light treatments than in darkness. Blue-grown kernels had higher amino acid and lower lipid levels than red-or dark-grown kernels. Embryo morphology was markedly affected by red light, under which the upper shoot axis was longer than under blue light or in darkness. Embryo morphology was influenced by light quality during the later stages of development rather than the first week. We suggest, based on these results, that gene expression in the embryo and endosperm of developing maize seeds is sensitive to light quality, and the mechanism and time dependence of this effect warrant further study. In vitro maize kernel culture affords a convenient system for such light quality experiments.