Effects of water level fluctuation on the growth ofNelumbo nucifera Gaertn. in Lake Kasumigaura,Japan

Investigations were made of the growth ofNelumbo nucifera, an aquatic higher plant, in a natural stand in Lake Kasumigaura. A rise of 1.0 m in the water level after a typhoon in August 1986 caused a subsequent decrease in biomass ofN. nucifera from the maximum of 291 g d.w. m⁻² in July to a minimum of 75 g d.w. m⁻². The biomass recovered thereafter in shallower regions. The underground biomass in October tended to increase toward the shore. The total leaf area index (LAI) is the sum of LAI of floating leaves and emergent leaves. The maximum total LAI was 1.3 and 2.8 m² m⁻² in 1986 and 1987, respectively. LAI of floating leaves did not exceed 1 m² m⁻². The elongation rates of the petiole of floating and emergent leaves just after unrolling were 2.6 and 3.4 cm day⁻¹, respectively. The sudden rise in water level (25 cm day⁻¹) after the typhoon in August 1986 caused drowning and subsequent decomposition of the mature leaves. Only the young leaves were able to elongate, allowing their laminae to reach the water surface. The fluctuation in water level, characterized by the amplitude and duration of flooding and the time of flooding in the life cycle, is an important factor determining the growth and survival ofN. nucifera in Lake Kasumigaura.     

In vitro Reconstitution of Epicuticular Wax Crystals: Formation of Tubular Aggregates by Long-Chain Secondary Alkanediols

Cuticles of several plant species are covered by tubular wax aggregates that are known to consist mainly of (S)-nonacosan-10-ol. The present work addresses the question whether minor wax components may additionally contribute to these tubules. Thin layer chromatography was used to prepare secondary alkanediol fractions from leaf cuticular waxes of Nelumbo nucifera and Thalictrum flavum, containing nonacosane-3,10-diol, nonacosane-4,10-diol, nonacosane-5,10-diol, nonacosane-7,10-diol, nonacosane-9,10-diol and nonacosane-10,13-diol. From organic solutions all these compounds crystallized in tubular shapes. Possible crystal structures of relevant alkanediol isomers are proposed, in analogy to the lattice geometries of comparable aliphatic compounds. The resulting structural model shows that nonacosan-10-ol and various secondary alkanediols may join in metastable mixed crystals. According to the structural model proposed the admixture of alkanediols to nonacosan-10-ol aggregates should enhance the stability of their tubular habit.     

子莲新品种‘武植子莲1号’和‘武植子莲2号’产量与营养品质分析

对子莲（Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.）新品种‘武植子莲1号’和‘武植子莲2号’与其他12个主栽子莲品种的莲子产量和品质性状进行分析,并通过隶属函数分析法对他们的营养品质性状进行综合评价。结果显示：不同子莲品种的产量和营养品质性状差异显著,同一品种在不同发育时期莲子的可溶性糖和淀粉含量等营养指标差异较大;鲜莲子的可溶性糖含量显著高于成熟莲子,而蛋白质和淀粉含量显著低于成熟莲子。与12个主栽子莲品种相比,‘武植子莲1号’在产量上较为突出,成熟莲子的淀粉含量达52.15%,是生产天然淀粉的优良品种;‘武植子莲2号’鲜莲子的直链淀粉和支链淀粉含量低,可溶性糖含量达23.43%,适合鲜食。隶属函数分析结果表明,‘武植子莲1号’和‘武植子莲2号’的综合营养品质较好,具有很高的应用价值。     

Mutation induction by γ and X-ray irradiation in tissue cultured lotus

Mutations of tissue cultured lotus were induced by treating plantlets with either acute -rays at doses of 0, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 krad or X-rays at doses of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 krad. The 2-krad dose of either - or X-ray treatments resulted in a 50% survival rate. The use of - and X-rays to induce mutation in lotus resulted in 21 altered characteristics. Mutants from 1- and 2-krad of either or X-rays had long secondary roots and numerous adventitious roots. These mutants also exhibited good shoot growth and healthy rhizome development. Most plants treated with 3–5 krad of either - or X-rays exhibited abnormal characteristics including vitrification, chlorosis, deformed petioles and in addition had inhibited growth of lateral buds, secondary roots and rhizomes. All plants treated with 6 krad of -rays died within 4 weeks. Control plants had stoma lengths of 2.56 m and cytological analysis of the root tips confirmed the diploid chromosome number of 16. Two groups of aneuploid cells were achieved using irradiation at doses of 3 and 4 krad of either - or X-ray. Chromosome numbers were 2n=18 and 20 with associated stoma lengths of 3.43 and 4.34 m, respectively. Abnormal stomata (cyclocytic and deformity) were observed in plants treated with 4 krad of -ray.     

抗赖氨酸加苏氨酸莲体细胞变异体的筛选

对籽莲红花建莲（Ｎｅｌｕｍｂｏｎｕｃｉｆｅｒａｃｖ．Ｈｏｎｇｈｕａｊｉａｎｌｉａｎ）和白心湘莲（Ｎ．ｎｕｃｉｆｅｒａｃｖ．Ｂａｉｘｉｎｘｉａｎｇｌｉａｎ）杂交而成的幼胚的子叶、胚轴及幼胚叶（芽）形成的愈伤组织,施以赖氨酸加苏氨酸胁迫培养３０天,从中筛选出抗性愈伤组织并形成再生植株。低浓度的赖氨酸加苏氨酸促进愈伤组织的生长,而高浓度的赖氨酸加苏氨酸则抑制愈伤组织生长,直至具有致死作用,这种致死作用是因为高浓度的赖氨酸加苏氨酸抑制了天冬氨酸合成途径中的天冬氨酸激酶和高丝氨酸脱氢酶造成的,细胞发生变异后对赖氨酸和苏氨酸产生了抗性,即与天冬氨酸合成途径有关的氨基酸增加。抗性愈伤组织与未胁迫的愈伤组织的氨基酸测定表明,在总计１７种氨基酸中,抗性愈伤组织有１４种氨基酸含量超过原始愈伤组织,１种持平,２种不及原始愈伤组织。再生抗性植株的莲籽氨基酸测定显示,在１７种氨基酸中,有１２种超过母本红花建莲,１５种超过父本白心湘莲。     

应用SRAP标记对莲藕资源的聚类分析

利用一种新的分子标记SRAP技术对17个莲藕品种进行了DNA多态性分析。选取7对引物扩增基因组DNA,共获得168条带,其中159条为多态性条带,每对引物平均提供24个标记信息。由UPMGA方法得到的聚类分析结果表明了17个品种间的遗传关系:(1)亚洲莲与美洲莲之间有明显的差异;(2)在亚洲莲内部,藕莲和花莲有明显的遗传分化,在花莲内部亚洲莲与美洲莲的杂交后代和其它花莲品种之间存在明显的差异;(3)SRAP标记是作分子图谱的好标记,但很难区分遗传关系较近的品种。     

Development and characterization of microsatellite loci for lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)

This paper reports the development of microsatellite primers for Nelumbo nucifera Gaerten. By screening genomic libraries enriched with 10 kinds of probes, Seventeen polymorphic loci were isolated and primers were designed. Polymorphism of these 17 loci was assessed in 24 individuals. All the 17 loci are polymorphic and the number of alleles ranged from two to seven. Observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.0000 to 0.9176 and from 0.2837 to 0.7917 respectively. These microsatellite loci should be useful for studying the genetic diversity of N. nucifera.     

ISSR analysis of genetic diversity in sacred lotus cultivars

In this study, inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers were applied to assess genetic diversity and genetic relationships of 92 cultivars of sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.), one of the most famous flowers in China. Our results showed that sacred lotus exhibited a low level of genetic diversity (percentage of polymorphic bands, PPB = 55.8%), which may result from its asexual mode of reproduction and long-term artificial selection. Clustering analyses indicated that these cultivars could be divided into two clades. Most cultivars of Chinese lotus species origin were included in one clade, and one cultivar of American lotus species origin was nested in the other clade. The hybrid cultivars from hybridization between the two subspecies were interspersed in these two clades. Seven cultivars native to Thailand formed a distinct subclade among the cultivars of Chinese lotus species origin. Genetic differentiation between two subspecies, and between cultivars from Thailand and other cultivars could be attributed to geographic isolation. The monophyly of three cultivars of Sanshui Winter Lotus and their closest relationships to Chinese lotus species origin suggests that they might have a common origin and may consist completely or mainly of genetic material from N. nucifera subsp. nucifera.     

花莲种质资源的遗传多样性及品种间亲缘关系的探讨

利用17个随机引物对来自中国和美国的29份花莲种质资源材料进行了RAPD分析。扩增形成207条谱带,多态带122条,多态率为58．94％。说明中国花莲具有较丰富的遗传多样性。结果还显示：（1）花莲种质资源可被分为2个品种群：品种群Ⅰ以大花型为主,少量小花型。品种群Ⅰ以中小型花为主。又在欧氏遗传距离11．01处分为7个亚品种群。（2）美洲黄莲与中国莲的花莲之间在DNA水平上没有显著差异,与中小型花关系更近。     

Purity of the sacred lotus, or escape from contamination in biological surfaces

The microrelief of plant surfaces, mainly caused by epicuticular wax crystalloids, serves different purposes and often causes effective water repellency. Furthermore, the adhesion of contaminating particles is reduced. Based on experimental data carried out on microscopically smooth (Fagus sylvatica L., Gnetum gnemon L., Heliconia densiflora Verlot, Magnolia grandiflora L.) and rough water-repellent plants (Brassica oleracea L., Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott., Mutisia decurrens Cav., Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.), it is shown here for the first time that the interdependence between surface roughness, reduced particle adhesion and water repellency is the keystone in the self-cleaning mechanism of many biological surfaces. The plants were artificially contaminated with various particles and subsequently subjected to artificial rinsing by sprinkler or fog generator. In the case of water-repellent leaves, the particles were removed completely by water droplets that rolled off the surfaces independent of their chemical nature or size. The leaves of N. nucifera afford an impressive demonstration of this effect, which is, therefore, called the “Lotus-Effect” and which may be of great biological and technological importance. Received: 19 August 1996 / Accepted: 12 November 1996