Showing papers on "Plant morphology published in 1997"

Methods in Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Abstract: Structure Methods for Analysis of Plant Cell/Tissue Ultrastructure, J.E. Mayfield and W.V. Dashek Carpogenesis and Basidiosporogenesis, S.C. Croan Decoloration of Wood Sapstain, S.C. Croan Chemistry Isolation, Assay, and Characterization of Plant Carbohydrates, W.V. Dashek Assay and Purification of Enzymes-Oxalate Decarboxylase, W.V. Dashek and J.A. Micales Antibody-Mediated Immunochemistry and Immunoassay in Plant Related Diseases, C. Clausen and F. Green, III Extraction and Assay of Plant Lipids: Phospholipids, W.V. Dashek Isolation and Analysis of Plant Nucleic Acids, W.V. Dashek Isolation, Separation, and Characterization of Organic Acids, W.V. Dashek and J.A. Micales Photoaffinity Labeling with 5-Azidoindole-3-Acetic Acid, A. Jones and T. Lomax Methods for the Analysis of Cytokinin Content, Metabolism, and Response, D.A. Lightfoot, K.L. McDaniel, J.K. Ellis, R.H. Hammerton, B. Nicander Analysis of Ethylene Biosynthesis in Plant Tissue by GC/FID, M.A. Harrison The Role of Plant Growth Regulators During Filament and Floral Development in Ipomoea nil Flowers, H. Kiss Extraction and Assay of Terpenoids-Including Certain Plant Hormones, W.V. Dashek Analytical Methods for the Analysis of Alkaloids, W.V. Dashek Phenolics and Compartmentalization in the Sapwood of Broad-Leaved Trees, K.T. Smith Lignin Analysis, J.F. Dean Flavanoid Applications in Research, W.D.. Clark and G. P. Titus Analysis and Manipulation of the Chorophyll Pathway in Higher Plants, M.V. Duke and S.O. Duke Isolation and Characterization of Plant and Algal Pigment-Protein Complexes, T.A. Martinson and F.G. Plumley The Isolation and Assay of Elicitins, L.M. Yu Chemistry, Extraction, and Assay of Plant Vitamins, W.V. Dashek Metabolism Simultaneous Measurement of Oxygen Uptake and Quinone Pool Reduction in Potato Tuber Mitochondria, N.R. Bowlby, C.B. Hiser, and L. McIntosh Biosynthesis of Plant Cell Wall Polysaccharides, W.V. Dashek Carbohydrolase Assays, T.L. Highley In Vitro Synthesis of Plant Proteins: Polyphenol Oxidase, W.V. Dashek Plant Lipid Protocols: Biochemical Analyses of Fatty Acid Metabolism in Higher Plants, D.J. Guerra and K. Dziewanowska cDNA Library Construction, W.V. Dashek Metabolism of Plant Hormones, W.V. Dashek Lignin Degradation, W.V. Dashek Plant Molecular Biology Plant Transformation Techniques and Vectors, W.S. Grayburn Restricted Fragment Length Polymorphism, W.V. Dashek Amplification of DNA and Gene Isolation, R. March-Amegadzie Molecular Analysis of cis -Acting Transcriptional Regulatory Elements and Transcriptional Factors, in the Bean Storage Protein Phaseolin Gene, N. Murai Manipulation of Plant Gene Expression Using Antisense RNA, D. Lee and C.J. Douglas Index NTI copy: Already written for August package Back Cover Copy/Short copy

Leaf thickness and UV-B absorbing pigments of plants in relation to an elevational gradient along the Blue Mountains, Jamaica

Abstract: Terrestrial plant species vary widely in their adaptation to (increasing) solar UV-B radiation. Among the various responses of higher plants to enhanced UV-B are increasing leaf thickness and increasing concentrations of UV-B absorbing compounds. In some (UV-B resistant) plant species increased leaf thickness and UV-B absorbance may form part of mechanisms protecting plants from UV-B damage. However, in UV-B sensitive plant species leaf thickness and UV-B absorbance may increase as well with enhanced UV-B radiation. In the latter case however, this response cannot prevent plant damage and disturbance. In the present field study the relationship between these plant parameters and a natural elevational UV-B gradient on the tropical island of Jamaica was described. Four plant species of the Blue Mountain Tropical Montane Forest, occurring on open forest sites along the roadside and paths were studied along an elevational gradient. Plant species studied are Redbush (Polygonum chinense), Wild ginger (Hedychium gardneranum), John Crow Bush (Bocconia frutescens) and White clover (Trifolium repens). The elevational sites were at 800, 1000, 1200, 1400 and 1600 m above sea level. Leaf thickness was measured of leaves of intact plants around midday in the field. Leaf disks (5 mm) were sampled and extracted with a methanol/HCl mixture. UV-B absorption of these leaf extracts was measured spectrophotometrically. For all species leaves from higher elevations were thicker than those from lower elevations. In addition, the absorption of UV-B of leaf extracts increased with increasing elevations. It is assumed that the calculated gradient of the UV-BBE from 800 m above sea level: 9.45 kJ m-2 day-1 to 9.75 kJ m-2 day-1 at 1600 m is related to the measured increase of leaf thickness and UV-B absorbing compounds. The responsiveness of these plant parameters to the elevational gradient does not necessarily imply that the plant species are UV-B resistant. One possibility is that the species studied, which are growing on open, disturbed sites on the forest floor and along mountain-roads, are relatively sensitive to UV-B. In addition to clear sky conditions, mist and clouds occur frequently in this tropical mountane forest at Jamaica. Also, the low nutrient status of the soil (low pH, nutrient deficiency) and the high content of polyphenols in leaves of many plant species of the tropical montane rain forest may relate to the marked response of the species studied with increasing elevation. Abbreviations: asl – above sealevel, UV-B – ultraviolet-B radiation (280–320 nm), TMCF – Tropical Montane Cloud Forest.

Determination of the unequal fate of cotyledons of a one-leaf plant, Monophyllaea

Abstract: One-leaf plants, belonging to the family Gesneriaceae, were described for the first time more than 150 years ago. One such unusual plant, Monophyllaea, has only one leaf at maturity. Only one of the two cotyledons grows continuously, without the formation of true leaves, and this feature, known as anisocotyledonous development, has been repeatedly mentioned in textbooks of plant morphology. However, the mechanism for the determination of the one-leaf phenotype remains to be ascertained. In this study, meristematic regions were identified, by monitoring DNA synthesis, at the base of both cotyledons just after germination, while no such regions were found in the shoot apex. Surgical experiments with seedlings and analysis of the anisocotyledonous development revealed that the fate of the cotyledons is determined during their growth. Anisocotyledonous development seems to be the result of competition between the two cotyledons. The mechanism that governs the development of the shoot in the genus Monophyllaea is discussed in relation to apical dominance, which is the common mechanism that regulates shoot development in many plants.

Micropropagation of selected somaclones of Begonia and Saintpaulia

Abstract: Begonia x elatior plantlets which regenerated from leaf disk callus showed variations in plant morphology, number of flowers per plant, and flower size. Variations in flowering period, number of flowers per plant, and flower morphology were observed in Saintpaulia ionantha L. plants directly regenerated from leaf disk explants. The cytokinins, benzylaminopurine and zeatin, tested in the culture medium did not affect the basic plant characteristics including flower colour which remained stable in both species. Micropropagation of selected somaclones having the desirable trait of high number of flowers per plant was stable in the MV2 and MV3 generations.