Enzyme etching treatment as an aid in the study of seed surface sculpture in Justicia and Rue Ilia (Acanthaceae)

LESTER, R. N. & EZCURRA, C, 1991. Enzyme etching treatment as an aid in the study of seed surface sculpture in Justicia and Ruellia (Acanthaceae). Enzyme etching treatment of seeds of Justicia was tested before scanning electron microscope examination. On all species tested the treatment removed the outer periclinal walls of the epidermal cells of the seeds, revealing the shape and morphology of the anticlinal walls. This treatment provides additional characters of the structure of the testa that may be useful in assessing relationships between species in this large and complex genus, but it proved useless in Ruellia. Here the seeds produce a coat of mucilage when moistened that completely protects the testa from the action of even extensive enzyme treatment.     

Der Feinbau der sog. Kugelhaare der Fadenkanker (Opiliones,Nemastomatidae)

Zusammenfassung Der Hohlraum des Kugelhaares von Nemastoma bildet im basalen Teil Ausbuchtungen mit tubulären Strukturen, die mit 40–50 von proximal nach distal ziehenden Kanälen in Verbindung stehen.Nahe der Haarspitze befindet sich ein hohler Schirm mit zahlreichen Chaetoiden. Dicht unter ihm öffnen sich die Kanäle nach außen, und zwar derartig, daß ihr zentrad gelegener Teil der Wand den Schirmstiel bildet, während sich ihr peripherwärts gelegener Wandteil in einzelne Streben aufgliedert. Diese bilden nach Erreichen des Schirmbodens zwischen sich und dem Schirmstiel einen großen Hohlraum, der von einem klebrigen Sekret angefüllt und, zusammen mit dem Schirm, auch umhüllt wird.

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The fine structure of spezialized setae on the pedipalpi of nemastoma (Opiliones, Nemastomatidae)

Summary The cavity of the seta on the pedipalpi of Nemastoma shows protrusions with tubular structures, which are connected with 40–50 channels proceeding from proximal towards distal.Close by the tip of the seta there is a hollow umbrella with numerous secondary chetae. Bight underneath, each channel is widened in a way that the central part of the wall builds the stalk of the umbrella, whereas the more peripheral part of the wall is split in single struts. Both struts fused with the umbrella and its stalk form a large cavity. This cavity is filled with a viscid droplet and enveloped as well together with the umbrella. — The possible meaning of these structures is discussed.

Frl. A. Hennig bin ich für ihre gewissenhafte technische Mitarbeit sehr zu Dank verpflichtet.     

Early development ofRhizobium-induced root nodules ofParasponia rigida. I. Infection and early nodule initiation

Summary The first of two major steps in the infection process in roots ofParasponia rigida (Ulmaceae) following inoculation byRhizobium strain RP501 involves the invasion ofRhizobium into the intercellular space system of the root cortex. The earliest sign of root nodule initiation is the presence of clumps of multicellular root hairs (MCRH), a response apparently unique amongRhizobium-root associations. At the same time or shortly after MCRH are first visible, cell divisions are initiated in the outer root cortex of the host plant, always subjacent to the MCRH. No infection threads were observed in root hairs or cortical cells in early stages. Rhizobial entry through the epidermis and into the root cortex was shown to occur via intercellular invasion at the bases of MCRH. The second major step in the infection process is the actual infectionper se of host cells by the rhizobia and formation of typical intracellular infection threads with host cell accommodation. This infection step is probably the beginning of the truly symbiotic relationship in these nodules. Rhizobial invasion and infection are accompanied by host cortical cell divisions which result in a callus-like mass of cortical cells. In addition to infection thread formation in some of these host cortical cells, another type of rhizobial proliferation was observed in which large accumulations of rhizobia in intercellular spaces are associated with host cell wall distortion, deposition of electron-dense material in the walls, and occasional deleterious effects on host cell cytoplasm.     

胱氨酸厂废水氨基酸含量分析及其利用价值评价

分析了猪毛制备胱氨酸废水中的氨基酸含量,评价了这种废水的利用价值。通过多级浓缩离析实验方法,探讨了制备饲料用氨基酸的可行性。结果表明,胱氨酸厂废水中含有１７种氨基酸,其中必须氨基酸７种。与粮食中必须氨基酸含量相比高１．６～２．７倍。与鸭、鸡配合饲料标准中规定的氨基酸种类和含量相比基本相近。废液中可溶性固形物含量５０％以上,氨基酸总量达２０％以上,开发利用价值极高。     

A taxonomic study of Plantago subgenus Psyllium (Miller) Harms

ANDRZEJEWSKA-GOLEC, E., 1992. A taxonomic study of Plantago subgenus Psyllium (Miller) Harms . The result of studies on hairs and iridoid glycosides provide evidence for heterogeneity of the subgenus Psyllium. The division of the subgenus into four series is undertaken.     

Dermatophytes and other keratinophilic fungi from coypus (Myocastor coypus) and brown rats (Rattus norvegicus)

The occurrence of mycotic agents was investigated by hair-brush technique on the coat of 162 naturalized coypus (Myocastor coypus) and 64 indigenous brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) originating from the same protected area in Central Italy. The isolates from positive coypus (29.6%) were identified as Microsporum gypseum (14.8%), Trichophyton terrestre (9.8%), Alternaria sp. (3.7%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (2.5%), Cladosporium sp. (1.8%), Scopulariopsis sp. (1.2%), and Chrysosporium keratinophilum (0.6%), whereas the isolates from positive rats (46.7%) were identified as M. gypseum (28.1%), T. mentagrophytes (12.5%), Chrysosporium tropicum and T. terrestre (3.1% each), and Chrysosporium inops (1.6%). Statistically, brown rats were more likely to harbor fungal agents (P < 0.05) on their coat than coypus, especially T. mentagrophytes (P < 0.01) and M. gypseum (P < 0.05). No positive animal showed dermatological lesions. The present results are the first providing basic information on the coat’s mycoflora of a wild coypu population. It is concluded that the coypu, an allochthonous rodent in Italy, can play a role as natural animal reservoir of dermatophytes and as carrier of keratinophilic and saprophytic fungi within its new habitat, though to a lesser extent than indigenous rats. Therefore, people who are exposed to the risk of contact with the coat of rats and coypus should take all the cautions needed to protect themselves from mycotic agents potentially transmissible to humans.     

白边油蝠表皮角质化细胞末端分化的超微结构

蝙蝠是一种唯一能够飞行的哺乳动物,其皮肤的超微结构尚未见报道。在电镜下观察了白边油蝠(Pipistrellus kuhlii)背部和翼膜皮肤的超微结构。表皮的厚度较低(10~12μm),角质层下有1~2层的刺细胞,该刺细胞由相似于鸟类无羽表皮的纤细角化细胞形成。颗粒层不连续且仅有少量小型透明角质颗粒(<0.3μm)。在翼膜的若干区域,表皮简化为一层与角质层相连的基底层。过渡期的角化细胞几乎不存在,提示其角质化过程非常迅速。基底膜上的无数半桥粒在真皮下面形成密集的附着点。大量胶原纤维直接维系在半桥粒和基底膜的致密层上,稀疏的弹性纤维使得蝙蝠表皮在飞行时易于伸展、在飞行后易于迅速折叠而不会受到损伤。与鸟类的表皮相似,蝙蝠角化细胞富有大量的脂质。由于脂质有助于蝙蝠皮肤在飞行中与冷空气流的传热绝缘,大量脂质的存在可能是为补偿蝙蝠翼膜的真皮缺乏厚的脂肪层。研究还表明,毛发较薄(4~7μm),并具有与皮层相似的突状物组成的精细表皮,其表皮细胞形成钩状抓握点使毛发紧紧粘结在一起,通过这种方式毛皮保持紧凑以恒定体温。     

Micromorphology of hairs and spines on ovary and fruit ofDaucus carota L. var.sativa (The cultivated carrot)

The primary ridges of the fruit wall bear hairs in two rows and the secondary ridges have spines in a single row. Scanning electron microscopic studies reveal the finer details of the morphology of hairs and spines. The development of hairs and spines is traced out to give a critical morphohistogenic explanation.