Leaf Morphology

Transgenic plants of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L) and European plum (Prunus domestica L) were produced by transforming with the apple class 1 KNOX genes (MdKN1 and MdKN2) or corn KNOX1 gene. Transgenic tobacco plants were regenerated in vitro from transformed leaf discs cultured in a medium lacking cytokinin. Ectopic expression of KNOX genes retarded shoot growth by suppressing elongation of internodes in transgenic tobacco plants. Expression of each of the three KNOX1 genes induced malformation and extensive lobbing in tobacco leaves. In situ regeneration of adventitious shoots was observed from leaves and roots of transgenic tobacco plants expressing each of the three KNOX genes. In vitro culture of leaf explants and internode sections excised from in vitro grown MdKN1 expressing tobacco shoots regenerated adventitious shoots on MS (Murashige and Skoog 1962) basal medium in the absence of exogenous cytokinin. Transgenic plum plants that expressed the MdKN2 or corn KNOX1 gene grew normally but MdKN1 caused a significant reduction in plant height, leaf shape and size and produced malformed curly leaves. A high frequency of adventitious shoot regeneration (96%) was observed in cultures of leaf explants excised from corn KNOX1-expressing transgenic plum shoots. In contrast to KNOX1-expressing tobacco, leaf and internode explants of corn KNOX1-expressing plum required synthetic cytokinin (thidiazuron) in the culture medium to induce adventitious shoot regeneration. The induction of high-frequency regeneration of adventitious shoots in vitro from leaves and stem internodal sections of plum through the ectopic expression of a KNOX1 gene is the first such report for a woody perennial fruit trees.

Tolerance to drought remains poorly described for Jatropha curcas accessions from different geographical and climatic origins. To address this issue we studied the response of two J. curcas accessions, one from Indonesia (wet tropical climate) and the other from Cape Verde islands (semi-arid climate). Potted seedlings (with 71 days) of both accessions were subjected to continuous well watered conditions (control) or to a drought stress period followed by re-watering. To mimic natural conditions in which drought stress develops gradually, stress was imposed progressively by reducing irrigation (10% reduction every 2 days, on a weight base), for a period of 28 days, until a field capacity of 15% (maximum stress) was achieved, followed by one week under well-watered conditions. We measured soil and plant water status, growth and biomass partitioning, leaf morphology, leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence. Both accessions maintained high leaf relative water content (70-80%) even at maximum stress. Net photosynthesis (A n ) was not affected by mild to moderate stress but it abruptly dropped at severe stress. This was due to reduced stomatal conductance, which showed earlier decline than A n . Plant growth (stem elongation, leaf emergence and total leaf area) was reduced, minimizing water loss, but no significant differences were found between accessions. Drought stress did not reduce chlorophyll contents but led to reduced chlorophyll a/b. Both accessions showed fast recovery of both stomatal and photochemical parameters suggesting a good tolerance to water stress. Both J. curcas accessions showed a-dehydrationavoidant behaviour, presenting a typical water saving strategy due to strict stomatal regulation, regardless of their provenance.

The pattern of development of the inflorescence is an important characteristic in ornamental plants, where the economic value is in the flower. The genetic determinism of inflorescence architecture is poorly understood, especially in woody perennial plants with long life cycles. Our objective was to study the genetic determinism of this characteristic in rose. The genetic architectures of 10 traits associated with the developmental timing and architecture of the inflorescence, and with flower production were investigated in a F(1) diploid garden rose population, based on intensive measurements of phenological and morphological traits in a field. There were substantial genetic variations in inflorescence development traits, with broad-sense heritabilities ranging from 0.82 to 0.93. Genotypic correlations were significant for most (87%) pairs of traits, suggesting either pleiotropy or tight linkage among loci. However, non-significant and low correlations between some pairs of traits ...

An investigation was carried out during the first and second crop seasons of 2010 at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala (India) to examine the growth and developmental pattern of blood grass (Isachne miliacea Roth ex Roem et Schult.) as influenced by nutrient management and spacing of associated rice with an approach to assess the possibility for managing the weed through agronomic manipulations. The treatments included NPK @ 90:45:45 kg ha -1 (100% NPK) and 112.5:56.25:56.25 kg ha -1 (125% NPK) at two levels (100% N as chemical fertilizer and 75% N as chemical fertilizer + 25% N as organic) under three spacings (15 × 15, 20 × 15, 20 × 20cm). The results of the present study revealed that both vegetative and reproductive characteristics of Isachne miliacea were significantly influenced by the management practices for the associated rice crop. During the first crop season, the weed plants growing in rice fields treated with 125 percent recommended NPK with ...

Rolleri, C. H.; Martinez, O. G. & Prada, C. 2010. Huperzia reflexa and Lycopodiella cernua (Lycopodiales-Pteridophyta): two new re- cords to the NW of Argentina, and updates on their morphology. Bot. Complut. 34: 41-48. Huperzia reflexa and Lycopodiella cernua are recorded for the first time for the northwest of Argentina; along with the new records, the cha- racters of the leaf morphology and spores are analyzed, and updated descriptions and geographical distribution of both taxa are also given. Three of the four genera of the Lycopodiaceae are present so far in the area: Huperzia, Lycopodium and Lycopodiella, and the number of species come to nine. To facilitate the recognition of all taxa, this paper also includes a key for their determination.

Aim  We ask whether contemporary forests of the Chilean Coastal Range can be considered to be direct and conservative descendants of pre‐Pleistocene palaeofloras that occurred in southern South America from the Palaeogene to early Neogene periods (65–10 Ma), maintaining foliar physiognomies that do not match their present‐day climate. We also identify the most likely ancestors of present‐day coastal forests.Location  Coastal Range of south‐central Chile (33–40° S).Methods  We compared leaf morphology between five representative modern floras from mid‐latitude forests of the Chilean Coastal Range, and 14 Palaeogene–early Neogene palaeofloras from southern South America. We also compared the composition of biogeographical elements (defined by the modern distribution of plant genera) between fossil and present‐day assemblages. Palaeoclimatic reconstructions were based on a canonical correspondence analysis between leaf morphology of modern assemblages and eight climatic variables, and ...

The effect of plant growth regulator concentrations and ageing of callus on the extent and nature of variation among callus culture regenerants of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) cv. Redcoat was examined. Plants regenerated from callus culture had reduced plant vigour, shorter petiole length and smaller leaf size, but more leaves and runners under greenhouse conditions. These responses appeared to be due to a physiological influence of plant growth regulators. No distinct phenotypic variants were observed at plant growth regulator concentrations in the range of 1-10 ~tM each of BA and 2,4-0 combination, but the highest concentration (20 txM each) of this combination produced a high frequency (10%) of dwarf type variants. The dwarf nature of these variants was maintained in the runner plants produced by the primary regenerants. The plants regenerated from 8-week-old calli did not show any distinct morphological variants. However, a significant proportion of deformed leaf shape (6-13%) and yellow leaf (21-29%) variants was obtained among plants regenerated from 16 and 24-week-old calli. The primary regenerants of the leaf shape variants were established as chimeras. The chimeric plants produced runner progeny with normal plants and plants with completely distorted leaf morphology. Both leaf shape and yellow leaf variants remained stable through runner propagation. Isozyme analysis failed to distinguish any of the variants from the standard runner plants. Flow cytometric analysis indicated the aneuploid nature of leaf shape variants but it could not distinguish dwarf and yellow leaf variants from standard runner plants.

In spite of the relative importance of groundwater in costal dune systems, studies concerning the responses of vegetation to ground water (GW) availability variations, particularly in Mediterranean regions, are scarce. Thus, the main purpose of this study is to compare the responses of co-occurring species possessing different functional traits, to changes in GW levels (i.e. the lowering of GW levels) in a sand dune ecosystem. For that, five sites were established within a 1 km 2 area in a meso-mediterranean sand dune ecosystem dominated by a Pinus pinaster forest. Due to natural topographic variability and anthropogenic GW exploitation, substantial variability in depth to GW between sites was found. Under these conditions it was possible to identify the degree of usage and dependence on GW of different plant species (two deep-rooted trees, a drought adapted shrub, a phreatophyte and a non-native woody invader) and how GW dependence varied seasonally and between the heterogeneous sites. Results indicated that the plant species had differential responses to changes in GW depth according to specific functional traits (i.e. rooting depth, leaf morphology, and water use strategy). Species comparison revealed that variability in pre-dawn water potential (pre) and bulk leaf δ 13 C was related to site differences in GW use in the deeprooted (Pinus pinaster, Myrica faya) and phreatophyte (Salix repens) species. However, such variation was more evident during spring than during summer drought. The exotic invader, Acacia longifolia, which does not possess a very deep root system, presented the largest seasonal variability in pre and bulk leaf δ 13 C. In contrast, the response of Corema album, an endemic understory drought-adapted shrub, seemed

In this study, leaf morphology was assessed in a mixed oak stand (western France) using two geometric morphometric (landmark and outline) datasets and one dataset of 19 leaf measures. Adult oaks (817 oaks), comprising four white oak species ( Quercus petraea , Q. robur , Q. pubescens and Q. pyrenaica ), were sampled for DNA extraction and genetic analysis (nuclear microsatellites). Leaf morphology was assessed on 336 oaks, comprising pure species and hybrids as determined by genetic assignment. This comparative study of oak leaf morphology, based on the use of two free size geometric morphometric methods and a set of leaf measurements, combined with the genetic assignment of individuals to pure species or hybrids, provided information about the differences among species and the intermediate leaf morphology of their hybrids.

In this study, leaf morphology was assessed in a mixed oak stand (western France) using two geometric morphometric (landmark and outline) datasets and one dataset of 19 leaf measures. Adult oaks (817 oaks), comprising four white oak species ( Quercus petraea , Q. robur , Q. pubescens and Q. pyrenaica ), were sampled for DNA extraction and genetic analysis (nuclear microsatellites). Leaf morphology was assessed on 336 oaks, comprising pure species and hybrids as determined by genetic assignment. This comparative study of oak leaf morphology, based on the use of two free size geometric morphometric methods and a set of leaf measurements, combined with the genetic assignment of individuals to pure species or hybrids, provided information about the differences among species and the intermediate leaf morphology of their hybrids.

Through field studies, cotton responses to dual stresseswaterlogging and low light (shade) were investigated. The hypothesis was that shade would amplify yield losses in waterlogged (WL) cotton. Either early or late in the reproductive phase, the crop was WL (96 h and 120 h, in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014, respectively) and/or shaded (6 days or 9 days in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014, respectively). Waterlogging at early reproductive phase significantly reduced lint yield (17 % averaged across both years) of cotton, although shade-induced yield losses (18 %) were only significant in 2013-2014. Shade significantly exacerbated yield losses only when the impact of waterlogging damage was modest (2013-2014). More intense waterlogging impaired lint yield independently of the light levels. Yield reductions in these experiments were the consequence of both accelerated fruit abscission and fewer fruiting nodes produced. Plants had lower leaf nitrogen levels and photosynthetic rates after waterlogging and/or shade treatments and produced fewer fruiting nodes. Although long-term shade increased specific leaf area (30 %) and leaf N (20 %) immediately following 5 days of waterlogging, it did not restore shoot growth, node formation or lint yield because of suppressed photosynthetic performance (area basis) and carbohydrate supply.

Rice is one of the major staple foods of India. India needs to produce 84 million tons more food grains than it currently produces (315.6 million tons) to meet the demands of 1.65 billion people by 2050. Weeds are among the most severe constraints in resource use efficiency in direct-seeded rice (DSR) than traditionally practiced puddled transplanted rice (TPR). The needed increase in rice production is possible with increased productivity of rice. However, it requires major interventions and system improvements to alleviate the pressure from weeds. In this mini-review, we studied the recent developments in weed management research in rice in India, especially herbicide combinations that might significantly improve the future outlook. Several well-known rice weeds, including Leptochloa chinensis, Ischaemum rugosum, Paspalum distichum, weedy rice and algal blooms, have increased in abundance in rice in some Indian states. A novel method of direct seeding called 'Tar-wattar DSR' was introduced and successfully popularised in Punjab. In Jammu also, the Tar-wattar technology resulted in higher returns, but in Haryana, it did not perform well. Two RobiNOweed Basmati rice varieties, Pusa Basmati 1979 and Pusa Basmati 1985, the first non-GM (genetically modified) Basmati rice varieties tolerant to herbicide imazethapyr, have been released recently for commercial cultivation in India. A cautious approach is suggested for their popularisation amongst Indian farmers as non-adoption of stewardship guidelines leads to herbicide-tolerant weedy rice evolution, as has occurred in other countries. Herbicide mixtures and sequential application of herbicides have been found to effectively manage many problematic weeds in rice, established by different methods. Herbicide applications using drones are being tested but are yet to be approved by the Indian government. Efforts are also underway to use machine-vision technology, together with rapid data processing, to enable commercial automated devices and robotic machines to recognise weeds and crop-row patterns and facilitate the treatments against weeds. These methods are yet to be widely tested in rice. More research efforts are needed to have a holistic understanding of climate change effects on weeds in rice, their competition and management, even though such efforts were initiated in India. The research on rice weed management needs to be intensified, focusing on climate-resilient integrated ecological weed management with a major emphasis on cultural and preventative weed management, integrated with the 'need-based' use of herbicides and precision weed management.

In Chilean evergreen temperate forest, fern species of the genus Blechnum occur in diverse microhabitats ranging from large gaps to heavily shaded understoreys. We hypothesised that differences in the ecological breadth of three co-occurring Blechnum species would be associated with differences in magnitude of ecophysiological responses to light availability. We quantified the field distribution of each species in relation to diffuse light availability (% canopy openness), and measured in situ variation in photosynthetic capacity (A), dark respiration (R d) and specific leaf area (SLA) across the light gradient. The response of SLA of each species was also evaluated in a common garden in two light conditions (understorey and forest edge). The three Blechnum species differed significantly in the range of light environments occupied (breadth: B. chilense > B. hastatum > B. mochaenum). Despite significant interspecific differences in average A and R d , the response of these traits to light availability did not differ among species. However, there was significant interspecific variation in both the mean value and the plasticity of SLA to light availability, the species with least ecological breadth (B. mochaenum) showing a flatter reaction norm (lower response) than its two congeners. This pattern was also found in the common garden experiment. The adjustment of leaf morphology (SLA) to light availability appears to be an important mechanism of acclimation in these Blechnum species. The narrow range of light environments occupied by B. mochaenum may be at least partly attributable to its inability to display phenotypic plasticity in SLA to changes in light availability.

Bispyribac-sodium [sodium 2,6-bis(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yloxy)benzoate] is a selective herbicide of the group of pyrimidinebenzoates, employed in commercial formulation for the post-emergent control of weeds in the culture of irrigated rice in the State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. The herbicide is highly toxic and hazardous for the environment, with security interval of 118 days (ANVISA, 2011). It is highly mobile, diffusing easily in the soil, resulting in possible contamination of groundwater and surface water in surrounding areas. Application of this herbicide in flooded rice crops can result in its accumulation in the soil and sediments, from where it can reach irrigation water supplies (BRASIL, 2011). The bispyribac-sodium herbicide is relatively flexible with regards to utilized dosage and application timing. With increasing dosages, control over weeds in more advanced stages of development is achieved. This characteristic has stimulated some producers to abuse the d...

Increasing aridity is one of the most important trends of current climate change. Leaf functional traits suggest a substantial basis for assessing the aridity effects on vegetation. However, since plants possess diverse leaf morphology and anatomy due to different evolutionary history of taxa, the effect of aridity can hardly be revealed in a multispecies analysis. We studied leaf functional traits for 317 samples of 193 plant species in steppe and desert communities along a 1600-km latitudinal gradient in Southern Siberia (Transbaikalia, Russia) and Mongolia. We determined morphological leaf traits, quantitative anatomical parameters, physiological parameters, and photosynthetic pigments content. Different relevance of leaf traits for indication of plant response to climate has been demonstrated. The clearest changes in site-mean values along the aridity gradient were shown for leaf thickness, total chloroplast number per leaf area (N chl /A) and total surface area of chloroplasts (A chl /A) and cells (A mes /A) per leaf area. Unlike leaf size and leaf mass per area, these quantitative mesophyll parameters related to plant photosynthetic capacity were strongly correlated with climate. We found no evidence for a decrease in sizes of mesophyll cells with aridity, but cell volume as well as chloroplast number per cell were linked with plant functional type (PFT). We revealed an increase in N chl /A and A chl /A in desert-steppe species in comparison to steppe and forest-steppe vegetation types within each PFT of C 3-plants (C 3-dicot herbs, C 3-dicot shrubs, C 3-monocots and C 3-succulents). C 4-plants were generally characterized by low A chl /A and A mes /A, but had higher rate of CO 2-transfer through mesophyll and chloroplast surfaces. C 3-and C 4-plants differed in response to aridity and showed opposite trends in changes of leaf traits along the aridity gradient. We conclude that leaf mesophyll traits contribute to important mechanism of climatic adaptation in different PFTs along a large latitudinal gradient.

Berberis microphylla G. Forst is a fruit shrub native from Patagonia, considered as a non-timber forest product. In recent years, there has been an increased demand for its fruits, both for fresh and industrialized consumption, being the establishment of commercial orchards in different sites a need to meet this demand. B. microphylla cloned plants have been introduced from Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego to Buenos Aires province in order to evaluate its phenotypic plasticity and the possibility of fruit production. At the same time, a comparative study on the morphology and anatomy of the mature leaves of B. microphylla grown in two different environmental conditions was carried out. Moreno leaves were significantly larger than Ushuaia leaves in all the morphological parameters registered, while Ushuaia leaves were more circular than Moreno leaves with the highest roundness and elongation indexes. Nevertheless, histological sections showed that Ushuaia leaves have one more layer of palisade cells respect to Moreno leaves. Ushuaia leaves showed higher palisade cells, larger abaxial epidermal cells and thicker cuticles than Moreno leaves. The stomatal density was superior on Moreno leaves. Scanning Electron Microscope of abaxial epidermis showed a surface with numerous ridges of different forms that prevent the layout of epidermal cells on Moreno leaves. Appearance of this surface is glossy and oily. On the contrary, epidermal cells are well recognized on Ushuaia leaves. Stomata of anomocytic type were observed and surface looks waxy. Auto-fluorescence on leaf cross sections were observed on the vascular bundles and partially on the epidermis cells. B. microphylla leaves showed a high phenotypic plasticity between the two sites of cultivation. The changes in the leaf morphology and structure observed in Moreno leaves could indicate that the plants are trying to adjust its morphology to the new culture conditions i.e. higher temperatures and lower irradiance.

Berberis microphylla G. Forst is a fruit shrub native from Patagonia, considered as a non-timber forest product. In recent years, there has been an increased demand for its fruits, both for fresh and industrialized consumption, being the establishment of commercial orchards in different sites a need to meet this demand. B. microphylla cloned plants have been introduced from Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego to Buenos Aires province in order to evaluate its phenotypic plasticity and the possibility of fruit production. At the same time, a comparative study on the morphology and anatomy of the mature leaves of B. microphylla grown in two different environmental conditions was carried out. Moreno leaves were significantly larger than Ushuaia leaves in all the morphological parameters registered, while Ushuaia leaves were more circular than Moreno leaves with the highest roundness and elongation indexes. Nevertheless, histological sections showed that Ushuaia leaves have one more layer of palis...

Contents 1 General Introduction 2 Growth characteristics in H. spontaneum populations from different habitats 3 Variation in relative growth rate and growth traits in fifteen Hordeum species 4 Mapping Quantitative Trait Loci for growth-related traits in Hordeum spontaneum 5 Association of AFLP markers with growth-related traits in Hordeum spontaneum

The difficulty of manual hoe weeding presents a major challenge to the adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. Herbicide use is known to reduce manual hoe weeding requirements during the season while increasing economic returns. Studies to determine the efficacy of herbicides in maize under CA were carried out in Zimbabwe. The treatments evaluated were:(i) manual hoe weeding (ii) paraquat (0.2 kg a.i. ha) (iii) glyphosate (1.025 kg a.i ha) (iv) atrazine (1.8 kg a.i. ha) (v) glyphosate (1.025 kg a.i ha) + atrazine (1.8 kg a.i. ha) (vi) glyphosate (1.025 kg a.i ha) + atrazine (1.8 kg a.i. ha) + metolachlor (1.152kg a.i. ha ). Greater efficacy of weed control was higher in herbicide treated plots compared to hoe weeding alone. Atrazine combined with other herbicides or alone significantly (P<0.05) suppressed Garlinsoga parviflora, Bidens pilosa and other broadleaf weeds that dominated the weed spectrum at study sites. A tank mix of glyphosate + ...

Parasite damage strongly affects dynamics of boreal forests. Damage levels may be affected by climate change, either directly or indirectly through changes in properties of host trees. We examined how herbivore and pathogen damage in Alnus viridis subsp. fruticosa (Rupr.) Nym. depend on leaf morphology and chemistry, tree size, and tree neighborhood. Damage and tree properties were measured in 2003 and 2004 on eight trees at each of 20 sites in Interior Alaska. Damage varied significantly among sites and among trees within sites, but Cartesian distances between sites were not correlated with similarity in damage levels. Compared with middle leaves, terminal leaves experienced less damage from phloem-feeding insects and pathogens, whereas leaf-roller damage was largely confined to terminal leaves. Summer drought in 2004 strongly reduced damage from phloem-feeding insects, while damage from chewing insects increased. Overall, herbivore damage was best explained by leaf morphology and ...

Clines in traits across hybrid zones reflect a balance between natural selection and gene flow. Changes over time in average values for traits, and especially the shapes of their clines, are rarely investigated in plants, but could result from evolution in an unstable hybrid zone. Differences in clines between floral and vegetative traits could indicate different strengths of divergent selection. Five floral and two vegetative traits were measured in 12 populations along an elevational gradient spanning a natural hybrid zone between Ipomopsis aggregata and Ipomopsis tenuituba. We compared clines in the floral traits with those measured 25 years ago. Observed changes in mean trait values were compared with predictions based on prior estimates of natural selection. We also compared the steepness and position of clines between the floral and vegetative traits. Corolla length has increased over five generations to an extent that matches predictions from measurements of phenotypic select...

We investigated the effect of growth irradiance (I) on photon-saturated photosynthetic rate (P max), dark respiration rate (R D), carboxylation efficiency (CE), and leaf mass per unit area (LMA) in seedlings of the following four tropical tree species with contrasting shade-tolerance. Anthocephalus chinensis (Rubiaceae) and Linociera insignis (Oleaceae) are light-demanding, Barringtonia macrostachya (Lecythidaceae) and Calophyllum polyanthum (Clusiaceae) are shade-tolerant. Their seedlings were pot-planted under shading nets with 8, 25, and 50 % daylight for five months. With increase of I, all species displayed the trends of increases of LMA, photosynthetic saturation irradiance, and chlorophyll-based P max , and decreases of chlorophyll (Chl) content on both area and mass bases, and mass-based P max , R D , and CE. The area-based P max and CE increased with I for the light-demanders only. Three of the four species significantly increased Chl-based CE with I. This indicated the increase of nitrogen (N) allocation to carboxylation enzyme relative to Chl with I. Compared to the two shade-tolerants, under the same I, the two light-demanders had greater area-and Chl-based P max , photosynthetic saturation irradiance, lower Chl content per unit area, and greater plasticity in LMA and area-or Chl-based P max. Our results support the hypothesis that light-demanding species is more plastic in leaf morphology and physiology than shade-tolerant species, and acclimation to I of tropical seedlings is more associated with leaf morphological adjustment relative to physiology. Leaf nitrogen partitioning between photosynthetic enzymes and Chl also play a role in the acclimation to I.

Syntaxins and other SNARE proteins are crucial for intracellular vesicle trafficking, fusion, and secretion. Previously, we isolated the syntaxin-related protein NtSyr1 (NtSyp121) from tobacco in a screen for abscisic acid-related signaling elements, demonstrating its role in determining the abscisic acid sensitivity of K ؉ and Cl ؊ channels in stomatal guard cells. NtSyr1 is localized to the plasma membrane and is expressed normally throughout the plant, especially in root tissues, suggesting that it might contribute to cellular homeostasis as well as to signaling. To explore its functions in vivo further, we examined stably transformed lines of tobacco that expressed various constructs of NtSyr1 , including the full-length protein and a truncated fragment, Sp2, corresponding to the cytosolic domain shown previously to be active in suppressing ion channel response to abscisic acid. Constitutively overexpressing NtSyr1 yielded uniformly high levels of protein (Ͼ 10 times the wild-type levels) and was associated with a significant enhancement of root growth in seedlings but not with any obvious phenotype in mature, well-watered plants. Similar transformations with constructs encoding the Sp2 fragment of NtSyr1 showed altered leaf morphology but gave only low levels of Sp2 fragment, suggesting a strong selective pressure against plants expressing this protein. High expression of the Sp2 fragment was achieved in stable transformants under the control of a dexamethasone-inducible promoter. Sp2 expression was correlated positively with altered cellular and tissue morphology in leaves and roots and with a cessation of growth in seedlings. Overexpression of the full-length NtSyr1 protein rescued the wild-type phenotype, even in plants expressing high levels of the Sp2 fragment, supporting the idea that the Sp2 fragment interfered specifically with NtSyr1 function by competing with NtSyr1 for its binding partners. To explore NtSyr1 function in secretion, we used a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-based section assay. When a secreted GFP marker was coexpressed with Sp2 in tobacco leaves, GFP fluorescence was retained in cytosolic reticulate and punctate structures. In contrast, in plants coexpressing secreted GFP and NtSyr1 or secreted GFP alone, no GFP fluorescence accumulated within the cells. A new yellow fluorescent protein-based secretion marker was used to show that the punctate structures labeled in the presence of Sp2 colocalized with a Golgi marker. These structures were not labeled in the presence of a dominant Rab1 mutant that inhibited transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi. We propose that NtSyr1 functions as an element in SNARE-mediated vesicle trafficking to the plasma membrane and is required for cellular growth and homeostasis.

Whether leaf morphology is altered by future increases in atmospheric CO 2 and temperature has been reexamined during three years in wheat grown in field chambers at two levels of nitrogen supply. Flag leaf fresh and dry mass, area, volume, and ratios of these parameters, as well as the contents of water, chlorophyll, non-structural carbohydrates and nitrogen compounds have been determined at anthesis and 14 days later. High CO 2 decreased, rather than increased as reported in the literature, leaf mass per area and leaf density, and increased water content per area and volume and water percentage. Warmer temperatures also decreased leaf mass per area, but did not affect density or water per area or volume, while they increased water percentage. Nitrogen supply did not change CO 2 and temperature effects on leaf morphology. Non-structural carbohydrates increased and nitrogen compounds decreased in elevated CO 2 , and the sum of these compounds decreased with warmer temperatures. These changes in composition did not account for modifications of leaf morphology. We conclude that increases in atmospheric CO 2 and temperature after leaf initiation can decrease leaf mass per area, and elevated CO 2 can also decrease leaf density, due to decreases in leaf structural compounds. The functional significance of these changes is probably a decrease in photosynthetic capacity per unit leaf area.

Whether leaf morphology is altered by future increases in atmospheric CO 2 and temperature has been reexamined during three years in wheat grown in field chambers at two levels of nitrogen supply. Flag leaf fresh and dry mass, area, volume, and ratios of these parameters, as well as the contents of water, chlorophyll, non-structural carbohydrates and nitrogen compounds have been determined at anthesis and 14 days later. High CO 2 decreased, rather than increased as reported in the literature, leaf mass per area and leaf density, and increased water content per area and volume and water percentage. Warmer temperatures also decreased leaf mass per area, but did not affect density or water per area or volume, while they increased water percentage. Nitrogen supply did not change CO 2 and temperature effects on leaf morphology. Non-structural carbohydrates increased and nitrogen compounds decreased in elevated CO 2 , and the sum of these compounds decreased with warmer temperatures. These changes in composition did not account for modifications of leaf morphology. We conclude that increases in atmospheric CO 2 and temperature after leaf initiation can decrease leaf mass per area, and elevated CO 2 can also decrease leaf density, due to decreases in leaf structural compounds. The functional significance of these changes is probably a decrease in photosynthetic capacity per unit leaf area.

Phenotypic plasticity may allow organisms to cope with variation in the environmental conditions they encounter in their natural habitats. Salt adaptation appears to be an excellent example of such a plastic response. Many plant species accumulate organic solutes in response to saline conditions. Comparative and molecular studies suggest that this is an adaptation to osmotic stress. However, evidence relating the physiological responses to fitness parameters is rare and requires assessing the potential costs and benefits of plasticity. We studied the response of thirty families derived from plants collected in three populations of Plantago coronopus in a greenhouse experiment under saline and non-saline conditions. We indeed found a positive selection gradient for the sorbitol percentage under saline conditions: plant families with a higher proportion of sorbitol produced more spikes. No effects of sorbitol on fitness parameters were found under non-saline conditions. Populations also differed genetically in leaf number, spike number, sorbitol concentration and percentages of different soluble sugars. Salt treatment led to a reduction of vegetative biomass and spike production but increased leaf dry matter percentage and leaf thickness. Both under saline and non-saline conditions there was a negative trade-off between vegetative growth and reproduction. Families with a high plasticity in leaf thickness had a lower total spike length under non-saline conditions. This would imply that natural selection under predominantly non-saline conditions would lead to a decrease in the ability to change leaf morphology in response to exposure to salt. All other tests revealed no indication for any costs of plasticity to saline conditions.

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Zelkova species, trees of the elm family (Ulmaceae), are part of the Cenozoic relict flora. In western Eurasia, the genus comprises three species that are restricted to disjunct areas (Z. sicula on Sicily, Z. abelicea on Crete and Z. carpinifolia in Transcaucasia). The situation is different in East Asia, where three species (Z. serrata, Z. schneideriana and Z. sinica) have at least partly overlapping distributions. The phylogenetic and phylogeographic status of these East Asian species is still not well understood, mainly since all previous studies used almost exclusively plant material collected in botanical gardens and were based on very small numbers of individuals. Our study is the first based on 33 natural populations covering all important areas with Zelkova species in the Sino-Japanese Floristic Region. Chloroplast and microsatellite markers were used, and Bayesian analyses were run for both types of markers. East Asian Zelkova species cluster into two groups that partially overlap when comparing the two types of markers. For chloroplast markers, the two groups coincide with all Japanese, some Korean and northern Chinese Z. serrata in one group and all other individuals in the other group, regardless of whether they are attributed to Z. serrata, Z. sinica or Z. schneideriana from Korea, mainland China and Taiwan. At the nuclear level, however, the clustering clearly groups all the Z. serrata individuals together, regardless of whether they are from Japan, Korea or China, and the two other species in a second group. This complex genetic pattern in East Asian Zelkova species is most likely due to a combination of ancient diversification and speciation events and more recent hybridization during the last glacial/interglacial retractions and recolonizations. One of the surprising results of our study concerns the populations from Taiwan, which are genetically similar to Z. schneideriana. Thus, their assignation to a separate taxon (Z. tarokoensis) or to a variety of Z. serrata (Z. serrata var. tarokoensis), as currently reported in all local and national floras, might be in need of revision. Furthermore, our results indicate that the East Asian species are more closely related to Z. carpinifolia than to any other Western European species. Haplotypes of Z. sicula and Z. abelicea (Mediterranean region) as well as those of Z. sinica and Z. schneideriana (East Asia) seem to have diversified more recently. The most ancient haplotypes are found among the western Eurasian Z. carpinifolia and the East Asian Z. serrata. This result is in agreement with the carpinifolia and serrata-like morphotypes commonly found in the fossil record.

The aim of the present work was to largely identify the scale insects and fungi living on mango leaves in order to find out from their biology whether there is a possible relationship between the two groups of organisms so that specific recommendations for their control can be made. A white hard scale insect Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead (Diaspididae) and a green soft scale insect Kilifia acuminata Signoret (Coccidae) as well as four saprotrophic fungi belonging to the genera Alternaria Nees: Fr., Cladosporium Link., Helminthosporium Link ex Fr. and Stemphylium Wallr., were detected based on their morphological features in accordance with the identification keys and descriptions of scale insects and fungi. The infestation of mango leaves with the saprotrophic fungi was interpreted as a secondary infection due to the primary infection with the scale insects as honeydew producers on which the fungal spores develop and reproduce. Therefore, it is recommended to control the scale ins...

Aims: The study aimed to investigate the physiological behaviour of cupuaçu tree progenies subjected to water deficiency. Study Design: The experimental design was completely randomised, in a 2x7 factorial scheme (2 water regimes: with and without water deficiency and 7 cupuaçu tree genotypes), totalling 14 treatments with 5 replications.

Purificazione e attività antimicrobica di estratti ottenuti da foglie di piante africane appartenenti alla famiglia delle Combretaceae SUMMARY The dry leaves of two African plants of the Combretaceae family, furnished by the botanist of the St. Jean de Dieu hospital of Tangueità (Benin, central Africa), were extracted with a sequence of 5 solvents with increasing polarity (from cyclohexane to water).The raw materials, obtained from these extractions following solvent evaporations, were tested for antibiotic activity against gram negative and gram positive bacterial strains. According to the results of a modified Kirby-Bauer test, no promising effect was obtained against Gram negative bacteria while interesting dose-effect activities were observed against Gram positive strains. In particular, from G. senegalensis active compounds were found in the low polarity extract (dichloromethane) which, at a concentration of 800 µg/disk (13 mm diameter disk), resulted in a grow inhibition crown of 4.7 mm and 2.6 mm on Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus MSSA, respectively. An higher amount of the aqueous extract (4760 µg/disk) also produced a good result as 5.7 mm and 5.0 mm crowns were observed. The extracts from C. micranthum showed an inhibiting effect in the more polar extracts (i.e. from ethanol and water) which gave 1 mm of grow inhibition crown on both strains at a concentration of 1000 µg/disk. The most promising extract from each plant was partially purified and then tested on some clinical relevant bacterial strains: S. aureus MRSA, Clostridium difficile, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Corynebacterium striatum, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Haemophylus influenzae, Escherichia coli, obtaining a good killing effects on the Gram positive bacteria of the panel.

Purificazione e attività antimicrobica di estratti ottenuti da foglie di piante africane appartenenti alla famiglia delle Combretaceae SUMMARY The dry leaves of two African plants of the Combretaceae family, furnished by the botanist of the St. Jean de Dieu hospital of Tangueità (Benin, central Africa), were extracted with a sequence of 5 solvents with increasing polarity (from cyclohexane to water).The raw materials, obtained from these extractions following solvent evaporations, were tested for antibiotic activity against gram negative and gram positive bacterial strains. According to the results of a modified Kirby-Bauer test, no promising effect was obtained against Gram negative bacteria while interesting dose-effect activities were observed against Gram positive strains. In particular, from G. senegalensis active compounds were found in the low polarity extract (dichloromethane) which, at a concentration of 800 µg/disk (13 mm diameter disk), resulted in a grow inhibition crown of 4.7 mm and 2.6 mm on Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus MSSA, respectively. An higher amount of the aqueous extract (4760 µg/disk) also produced a good result as 5.7 mm and 5.0 mm crowns were observed. The extracts from C. micranthum showed an inhibiting effect in the more polar extracts (i.e. from ethanol and water) which gave 1 mm of grow inhibition crown on both strains at a concentration of 1000 µg/disk. The most promising extract from each plant was partially purified and then tested on some clinical relevant bacterial strains: S. aureus MRSA, Clostridium difficile, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Corynebacterium striatum, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Haemophylus influenzae, Escherichia coli, obtaining a good killing effects on the Gram positive bacteria of the panel.

The accumulation of substances associated with PM 2.5 [polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals] on leaves of Pyrus calleryana (pear) and TiliaÂeuchlora (linden) along an urban road was investigated. These species have similar leaf morphology and were exposed to the identical environmental conditions. The accumulation of both PAHs and metals per leaf area was significantly higher on linden leaves than on pear leaves.

Plant-water relationships, leaf morphology and concentrations of pigments, proline, solu- ble sugars, anthocyans and nutrients of after wildfire resprout leaves of Arbutus unedo L. were com- pared with those of same age sprout leaves in unbumed plants. In spring samples, several significant differences appear: after-fire resprouts showed some juvenile characteristics, such as high tissue elas- ticity, small cells, low specific leaf weight, high ChlaIChlb ratio and a high anthocyan content; on the other hand, unbnrned plants showed drought tolerance characteristics by osmotic adjustment and lower tissue elasticity, larger cells, higher specific leaf weight and lower ChlaíChlb ratio. In fall sam- ples, both kind of shoots showed drought tolerance by osmotic adjustment, low tissue elasticity, large cells and high specific leaf weight. Results show that after-fire resprouts have, at the beginning of their development, higher morphological and physiological plasticity that the new sprout...

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2007 at Main Research Station, UAS Hebbal, Bangalore to study cob growth pattern in maize using empirical models under different weed management practices. Quadratic and linear models were used for simulating leaf area expansion. Functional models were used using leaf area at 10 days interval from 10 to 120 DAS, under four weed management practices viz ., (i) Atrazine, 0.75 kg ai/ha (eliminating competition of grasses and broad leaf weeds), (ii) 2, 4-D EE 0.8 kg ai/ha (eliminating competition from broad leaf weeds), (iii) Hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS (eliminating all weed types competition) and (iv) Unweeded control (offering competition of all weed types). Fourth degree polynomial showed prediction of 88 to 98% in simulating course of leaf area expansion per unit leaf number in maize, while quadratic model showed prediction of 88 to 96% and linear model gave prediction of 74 to 88%. Differentiating quadratic and the linear functional ...

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2007 at the Main Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Hebbal, Bangalore, under irrigated conditions to know the pattern of dry matter production in maize using empirical models under weed management practices. Empirical models simulated the crop growth (dry matter production) of maize by 98% indicating that competition of weed types did not alter the pattern of growth of maize, but cumulatively affected the total dry matter at harvest, where as, the linear function predicted the crop growth by 92 to 94%. Differentiating quadratic and linear functions indicated that dry matter production efficiency (DMPE) were improved by 34 to 46% in hand weeding or atrazine treatments due to elimination of weed competition over unweeded control. Competition of grassy weeds (in 2,4-D EE treatment) lowered the DMPE by 24% over atrazine treatment with less weed competition, while competition from broad leaf weeds and sedge lowered the DM...

To produce large volumes of biomass for implementing its green energy policy, the Government of Indonesia has issued a short rotation energy plantation program for a number of tree species including Calliandra calothyrsus (Meissn.). Optimum density and prompt harvesting are needed to maximise productivity, but information regarding both factors is insufficient. This study aimed to investigate the optimum growth spacing and ideal felling age to produce the largest volumes of biomass both economically and sustainably. Experiments were arranged on one hectare of land, which was divided into four plots with different plant spacing treatments (1 Â 1.5 m; 1.5 Â 1.5 m; 2 Â 1.5 m; and 2 Â 2 m). Growth and yield observations were carried out on plants aged 12, 18, and 24 months in each plot, with 30 sample trees left for growth observations and ten sample trees cut at each of the three ages after planting. This resulted in a total of 240 samples from the 2,710 trees planted. Trees were felled at 50 cm from the soil surface, and the resulting stools were left to regrow. A year after felling, resulting coppices, were observed and cut. Growth, productivity and calorific value were studied for both 'primary' and 'coppiced' wood. Study results demonstrate that competition between plants strongly determines the growth and productivity of 'primary' wood. The plot with the densest plant spacing had the lowest nutrient content for almost all soil nutrients. Higher plant density showed higher competition index values, and resulted in fewer and smaller diameter stems emerging from stools, and lower biomass productivity. Competition index values, which increased with plant age, can be used as an indicator for determining harvest timing. Productivity increased by up to 15% following development as a coppice plantation. Optimum wood productivity and greatest economy came from parent stands with plant spacing of 2 Â 2 m, harvested at 18 months old and coppiced. This treatment yielded an average biomass/tree of primary wood 7.2 kg and coppice wood 8.22 kg, respectively, with lignin content of approximately 22%, and calorific value of around 18,807 kJ. These values match biomass energy requirements for feedstock for electricity generation. Harvesting at 24 months showed no significant increases in productivity, lignin content, or calorific value.

Weeds compete with rice for sunlight, nutrients and water, and may reduce the yield. However, in traditional rice farming systems farmers utilize many kinds of weeds for food, forage or household purposes. Rice weeds are also utilized to feed ruminants.The aims of this research were to explore the weed diversity of rice field in various regions and rice farming systems in Java. Field researches were conducted in November 2011-January 2012. Designated research areas: West Java: Cianjur (upland) and Karawang (lowland); Central of Java: Karanganyar (upland) and Brebes (lowland); East Java: Malang (upland) and Gresik (lowland). Locations of plots have been selected according the principles of stratified random sampling. Weed assemblages were sampled in fields of intensive and extensive farming systems as well as in fallowed areas before weeding time in two seasons. The result showed that approximately 295 species of weeds growth in rice field and terrace area. Dominant weed species present at the terrace in experimental site were Cynodondactylon, Eleusineindica, and Fimbristylismiliaceae. Potency of weed for ruminant feed gains approximately 903,5 g/m2 at terrace area.

Plant-water relationships, leaf morphology and concentrations of pigments, proline, soluble sugars, anthocyans and nutrients of after wildfire resprout leaves of Arbutus unedo L. were compared with those of same age sprout leaves in unbumed plants. In spring samples, several significant differences appear: after-fire resprouts showed some juvenile characteristics, such as high tissue elasticity, small cells, low specific leaf weight, high ChlaIChlb ratio and a high anthocyan content; on the other hand, unbnrned plants showed drought tolerance characteristics by osmotic adjustment and lower tissue elasticity, larger cells, higher specific leaf weight and lower ChlaíChlb ratio. In fall samples, both kind of shoots showed drought tolerance by osmotic adjustment, low tissue elasticity, large cells and high specific leaf weight. Results show that after-fire resprouts have, at the beginning of their development, higher morphological and physiological plasticity that the new sprouts of unburned plants. Resum. Ecofisiologia dels rebrots d' Arbutus unedo L. després del foc. Es comparen les relacions hídriques, la morfologia foliar i les concentracions de pigments, prolina, sucres solubles, antocians i nutrients de les fulles de rebrots d'drbutus unedo L. després d'un incendi, amb iguals característiques de les fulles de brots de plantes no cremades de la mateixa edat. A les mostres de primavera apareixen diverses diferkncies significatives: els rebrots, després del foc, presenten característiques juvenils, com són alta elasticitat dels teixits, ci.l.lules petites, baix pes específic foliar, alta relació ChlaíChlb i un elevat contingut d'antocians; d'altra banda, les plantes no cremades presenten característiques de tolerbcia a I'eixut per ajustament osmbtic i baixa elasticitat dels teixits, ci.l.lules més grosses, pes específic més alt i relació ChlaíChlb inferior. A les mostres de tardor els dos tipus de brots presenten tolerhncia a I'eixut per ajustament osmbtic, baixa elasticitat de teixits, cbl.lules grosses i pes específic foliar alt. Els resultats mostren que els rebrots després del foc tenen, a I'inici del seu desenvolupament, una plasticitat morfolbgica i fisiolbgica superior que els brots nous de les plantes no cremades.

Chloroplast DNA restriction-site comparisons were made among 24 species of the Hawaiian silversword alliance (Argyroxiphium, Dubautia, and Wilkesia) and 7 species of North American perennial tarweeds in Adenothamnus, Madia, Raillardella, and Raillardiopsis (Asteraceae-Madiinae). These data and results from intergeneric hybridization indicated surprisingly close genetic affinity of the monophyletic Hawaiian group to two diploid species of montane perennial herbs in California, Madia bolanderi and Raillardiopsis muirii. Of 117 restriction-site mutations shared among a subset of two or more accessions, more than one-fifth (25 mutations) separated the silversword alliance, M. bolanderi, and Raillardiopsis from Adenothamnus and Raillardella. An additional 10 mutations distinguished the silversword alliance, M. bolanderi, and R. muirii from Adenothamnus, Raillardella, and Raillardiopsis scabrida. Phylogenetic analyses of these data and production of vigorous hybrids of the combinations Du...

The increased pressure to maintain high level of rice output for consumption has resulted in increased use of pesticides on rice fields in Malaysia. This study attempts to analyze the pesticide use on human health and on the environment. It focuses on the impact on the quality of paddy, water, farmers and biotic ecosystem. This study has been carried out in the paddy field areas of Sungai Burung and Sawah Sempadan in the state of Selangor. Some water and paddy samples are tested both in the laboratory and Green House using bioassay method in order to detect the residual content of pesticides and its effect on the growth of paddy. Besides laboratory observations, questionnaire interviews with 219 farmers were also conducted. The result shows that the use of pesticides harm the environment, plants, fishes, livestock and farmers. Consequently, more Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has to be made and to think of ways to overcome the hazardous problem of pesticides use before it is ecologically and socially getting worst in the future.

The genus Mangifera L. belongs to the family Anacardiaceae, order Sapindales (Litz & Hormaza, 2020). Kostermans & Bompard (1993) recognizes 69 species of Mangifera based on flower morphology. Most of these are included in two subgenera Mangifera L. and Limus (Marchand) Kosterm. The subgenus Mangifera contains most of the species (47) distributed into four sections: section Marchandora Pierre.; section Euantherae Pierre.; section Rawa Kosterm.; and section Mangifera Ding Hou. A further 11 species reside in uncertain classification positions (Kostermans & Bompard, 1993). The origin and the center of Mangifera diversity has been established as SouthEast Asia and, from here it has spread and is now cultivated across the world (Bompard, 2009). According to Abdelsalam et al. (2018) Mangifera indica L. (Mango), was introduced for cultivation in Egypt at least 200 years ago. In 2015, the total cultivated area of Mango reached ~ 102071.76 hectares, with the main cultivation area concentrated in the Ismailia Governorate. T HE GENUS Mangifera L. belongs to the family Anacardiaceae, order Sapindales with 69 known species. Mangifera indica is an essential major tropical crop in the globe economy. This study aims to portray the significance of the usage of geometric and micrometric leaf traits to characterize Mango cultivars. Thirty-three morphological and anatomical leaf traits of 41 Mango accessions belong to six cultivars were investigated. The data were analyzed using statistical packages under R environment. Results showed that geometric and micrometric leaf traits such as the leaf length, width, petiole length, leaf blade shape, the shape of upper and lower epidermal cells, the outline of the vascular cylinder, and the number of phloem resin canals were of significance value in the characterization of Mango cultivars. Taxonomic diagnostic key based on some of those traits was constructed. ANOVAs, MANOVA, correlation, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) retrieved the significance of applying those leaf traits as cultivar identifiers. The present investigation estimate that the attributes of the Mango leaf could be useful and straightforward cultivar identifiers that could be followed by Mango breeders to save time, efforts and money in terms of being unhindered by long juvenile stage of the tree.

Plant surface areas were measured from samples of two common submersed aquatics with widely diverging morphologies: Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.) and water stargrass (Heteranthera dubia (Jacq.) MacM.). Measures for the highly dissected leaves of Eurasian watermilfoil involved development of a regression equation relating leaf length to direct measures of a subsample of leaf parts. Measures for the simple leaves of the stargrass were sums of measured triangles. Stem surfaces for both species were calculated as measured cylinders. Though the means of the stem length and leaf length were larger for stargrass samples, their mean surface area was 95 cm 2 which was less than the 108 cm 2 recorded for Eurasian watermilfoil samples. Relating surface area to dry weight for the stargrass was straightforward, with 1 mg of dry weight yielding an average 0.678 cm 2 of surface area. Biomass measures for the water milfoil were confounded by the additional weight of epiphytic algae persisting on cleaned samples. The results suggest that a lesstime consuming method for surface area measures of plants with highly dissected leaves and a caveat for using biomass measures to estimate surface area in such plants.

The characters of Quercus robur and Q. petraea leaves are of main taxonomic value and the adult trees of both species can be distinguished on them. However, young individuals, mostly seedlings but also saplings, are told to be undistinguishable or only partly distinguishable on the leaf morphology. The aim of the study was to verify this hypothesis on the basis of biometrical analyses of leaf characteristics of adults trees and saplings in two mixed oak woods, one located close to the north-eastern limit, the other about 400 km inside of the Q. petraea range in Poland. The analysis of discriminations and minimum spanning tree on the squares of Mahalanobis distances were analysed to find differences between Q. robur, Q. petraea and intermediate adults and saplings. The differences between saplings of Q. robur and Q. petraea were found lower than between adult trees. Nevertheless, the biometrical analysis confirmed determination of saplings in the field.

Pinnate compound leaves have laminae called leaflets distributed at intervals along an axis, the rachis, whereas simple leaves have a single lamina. In simple- and compound-leaved species, the PHANTASTICA (PHAN) gene is required for lamina formation. Antirrhinum majus mutants lacking a functional gene develop abaxialized, bladeless adult leaves. Transgenic downregulation of PHAN in the compound tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) leaf results in an abaxialized rachis without leaflets. The extent of PHAN gene expression was found to be correlated with leaf morphology in diverse compound-leaved species; pinnate leaves had a complete adaxial domain of PHAN gene expression, and peltate leaves had a diminished domain. These previous studies predict the form of a compound-leaved phan mutant to be either peltate or an abaxialized rachis. Here, we characterize crispa, a phan mutant in pea (Pisum sativum), and find that the compound leaf remains pinnate, with individual leaflets abaxialized, rathe...

Polyploidy has the utmost importance in horticulture for the development of new ornamental varieties with desirable morphological traits referring to plant size and vigor, leaf thickness, larger flowers with thicker petals, intense color of leaves and flowers, long lasting flowers, compactness, dwarfness and restored fertility. Polyploidy may occur naturally due to the formation of unreduced gametes or can be artificially induced by doubling the number of chromosomes in somatic cells. Usually, natural polyploid plants are unavailable, so polyploidy is induced synthetically with the help of mitotic inhibitors. Colchicine is a widely used mitotic inhibitor for the induction of polyploidy in plants during their cell division by inhibiting the chromosome segregation. Different plant organs like seeds, apical meristems, flower buds, and roots can be used to induce polyploidy through many application methods such as dipping/soaking, dropping or cotton wool. Flow cytometry and chromosome counting, with an observation of morphological and physiological traits are routine procedures for the determination of ploidy level in plants.

Polyploidy has the utmost importance in horticulture for the development of new ornamental varieties with desirable morphological traits referring to plant size and vigor, leaf thickness, larger flowers with thicker petals, intense color of leaves and flowers, long lasting flowers, compactness, dwarfness and restored fertility. Polyploidy may occur naturally due to the formation of unreduced gametes or can be artificially induced by doubling the number of chromosomes in somatic cells. Usually, natural polyploid plants are unavailable, so polyploidy is induced synthetically with the help of mitotic inhibitors. Colchicine is a widely used mitotic inhibitor for the induction of polyploidy in plants during their cell division by inhibiting the chromosome segregation. Different plant organs like seeds, apical meristems, flower buds, and roots can be used to induce polyploidy through many application methods such as dipping/soaking, dropping or cotton wool. Flow cytometry and chromosome c...

The regal pelargonium, cv. Dubonnet, was transformed using the disarmed Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains LBA4404 or EHA105 containing the binary vector pLN70. This plasmid carries on its T-DNA the rolC gene from Agrobacterium rhizogenes under control of the CaMV 35S promoter and the npt II selectable marker gene under a NOS promoter. Six independent transformants were produced and grouped according to their phenotypic characteristics. Two transformants showed the same phenotype as the untransformed control plants. Three transformants exhibited a dwarf phenotype and one displayed a super-dwarf phenotype. Southern hybridization analyses of the T-DNA left border region using a npt II probe showed that the six transformants all arose from independent transformation events. Northern hybridization analyses showed that the rolC gene was expressed only in the four transformants that exhibited a dwarf phenotype. Our data show that the phenotypic effects of rolC expression in regal pelargoniums include reductions in plant height, leaf area, petal area, and corolla length. Earlier flowering of the rolC transgenics by up to 22 d was also observed.