Annals of Botany 2008 101(1):NP; doi:10.1093/aob/mcm314
© The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
ContentSnapshots
Aquaporins and leaf movements (Botanical Briefing)
Leaf movements can
be mediated by specialized pulvinar motor organs or by epinastic
growth. Both are associated with faster rates of membrane water
transport, which is often facilitated by aquaporins.
Uehlein and Kaldenhoff (pp. 1–4) summarize current research on the involvement of aquaporins
in leaf movements.
Significance of isoprene emission (Invited Review)
Sunlit oak leaves
emit approx. 2 % of photosynthesized carbon as isoprene.
Sharkey et al. (pp. 5–18) evaluate the importance of isoprene
emission for biosphere/atmosphere interactions and for the emitting
plants themselves. They conclude that isoprene emission evolved
many times to cope with short, high-temperature episodes and
to protect against reactive oxygen species.
Plant light interception can be explained via computed tomography (CT) scanning
Dutilleul et al. (pp. 19–23) Present a plant light-interception model based on advanced processing
of CT scanning data collected for developing canopies. Strong
correlations obtained with fractal dimensions estimated from
skeletonized three-dimensional images demonstrate that CT scanning
data contain fundamental information about the canopy architecture
geometry.
Polyploidy in the olive complex
Besnard et al. (pp. 25–30) demonstrate polyploidy in two wild olive taxa (subspp.
cerasiformis and
maroccana). Two polyploidizations appear to have played
a major role in olive diversification in Macaronesia and South
Morocco. Polyploidy is shown in relict subspecies, suggesting
that polyploidization has been favoured to overcome inbreeding
depression.
Storage of green coffee
When green-coffee
storage is prolonged, coffee quality decreases markedly.
Selmar et al. (pp. 31–38) demonstrate that biological causes of this deterioration are
linked both to metabolic reactions in the living seeds and to
post-mortem reactions. The parchment (endocarp) of coffee beans
is shown to have a large effect on viability.
Floral development in Cedrela and Toona
Floral development
of
Cedrela and
Toona, the genera comprising the basal tribe
Cedreleae, is described by
Gouvêa et al. (pp. 39–48). Patterns of floral development and apomorphic and plesiomorphic
floral characters are established in relation to other taxa
within the Meliaceae based on its current molecular phylogeny.
Tree growth via successive cambia: an ecological benefit?
Secondary growth
via successive cambia was studied by
Schmitz et al. (pp. 49–58) in the mangrove
Avicennia marina. Radial increment of 80 trees
was measured using cambial marking at eight study sites with
contrasting environments. A patchy growth mechanism is proposed
that offers the opportunity to form several growth layers simultaneously.
Ploidy and cytogeography of Pilosella officinarum
Mráz et al. (pp. 59–71) report on detailed sampling to establish boundaries of common
occurrence of tetraploids and higher ploids and use published
data to establish a general cytogeographic pattern for Europe.
They conclude that
P. officinarum (mouse-ear) is amphidiploid
with a basic tetraploid level originating from hybridizations
of diploid taxa from the section Pilosellina.
Genetics of eelgrass meadows in California and Mexico
Wetlands restoration
and mitigation can require eelgrass transplantation (
Zostera spp.).
Coyer et al. (pp. 73–87) report that two eelgrass
species and their hybrids are present off the coast of California.
These may be unsuitable as source populations in transplant
programmes because genotypic diversity is low in many pristine
areas.
Sugar signalling regulates source activity in Saccharum spp
Shading experiments
with sugar cane by
McCormick et al. (pp. 89–102) indicate
that sink demand limits source activity through kinase-mediated
sugar signalling correlated with decreased source hexose and
increased expression of photosynthetic and metabolite-transport
genes. The signal feedback system is a potential target for
future genetic manipulation to increase sugar cane sucrose yield.
Responses to canopy gaps
Growth by
Fagus grandifolia saplings is shown by
Takahashi and Lechowicz (pp. 103–109) to be much faster than growth by
Acer saccharum in both canopy
gaps and in closed-canopy conditions. The co-dominance of these
species is thought to be the outcome of other influences such
as heterogeneity of moisture and fertility regimes within forested
landscapes.
Phylogeny and biogeography of the genus Ainsliaea
Phylogeography
of the genus
Ainsliaea in the Sino-Japanese region is examined
by
Mitsui et al. (pp. 111–124) using three DNA data sets.
They reveal major lineages of
Ainsliaea corresponding to species
distribution that originated approx. 1.1 MYA (early Pleistocene)
and subsequently evolved independently in environmentally heterogeneous
regions of eastern Asia.
Floral nectary of Hymenaea stigonocarpa
Paiva and Machado (pp. 125–133) study the nectary of chiropterophilous
H. stigonocarpa flowers
during the different stages of floral development, with special
emphasis on plastid dynamics, and observe the conversion of
plastids into vacuoles. The extrastomatic body is described
for the first time, and its function is possibly related to
nectar resorption.
Rubisco synthesis in response to N influx
It is unclear whether
Rubisco synthesis occurs if N flux in to senescent leaves is
increased.
Imai et al. (pp. 135–144) show that although
Rubisco synthesis declines with senescence, leaves in late senescence
retain an ability to synthesize Rubisco actively in response
to increased N influx.
Patterns of polyploid co-existence in Arnica cordifolia
Kao (pp. 145–152) investigates the patterns of co-existence and molecular relatedness
of polyploids in
A. cordifolia. Broad- and local-scale sampling
reveal many triploids and tetraploids. Habitat differentiation
via roadside-understory separation is not supported as a coexistence
mechanism. Instead, molecular analyses indicate multiple events
creating triploids but reveal a lack of variation in tetraploids.
Evolution of angiosperm cotyledons
To assess the evolutionary
implications of the recent reclassification of Hydatellaceae
spp. as dicots, the micro-morphology of seedlings of six species
representing all eco-geographical groups of the Hydatellaceae
is presented by
Sokoloff et al. (pp. 153–164). They conclude
that the seedling sheath of some Hydatellaceae can be equated
to the two united cotyledons of water lilies.
Water content components, desiccation and recovery in Sphagnum
Although
Sphagnum mosses contain large amounts of extracellular water,
Hájek and Beckett (pp. 165–173) measure other parameters of hydration such as cytoplasmic water,
osmotic potential, turgor-loss point and cell wall elasticity.
These parameters are linked to desiccation tolerance and to
ecological preferences of five
Sphagnum species.
Nurse plants vs. nurse objects
Munguía-Rosas and Sosa (pp. 175–185) examine mechanisms underlying plant- and object-facilitated
establishment of the columnar cactus
Pilosocereus leucochephalus.
They identify seed–seedling conflicts and conclude that
nurse objects offer the best opportunity to secure seed permanence,
while nurse plants are better for ensuring seedling survival.
Nanoparticles as smart treatment-delivery systems (Technical Article)
Nano-devices directing
small particles into living organisms were used first in medical
research.
González-Melendi et al. (pp. 187–195) report that penetration and translocation of magnetic nanoparticles
is also possible in whole living plants. This opens up a wide
range of possibilities for use in plant research and agronomy.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
Related articles in Ann Bot:
- Aquaporins and Plant Leaf Movements
- Norbert Uehlein and Ralf Kaldenhoff
Ann Bot 2008 101: 1-4.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Do Interspecific Differences in Sapling Growth Traits Contribute to the Co-dominance of Acer saccharum and Fagus grandifolia?
- Koichi Takahashi and Martin J. Lechowicz
Ann Bot 2008 101: 103-109.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Phylogeny and Biogeography of the Genus Ainsliaea (Asteraceae) in the Sino-Japanese Region based on Nuclear rDNA and Plastid DNA Sequence Data
- Yuki Mitsui, Shao-Tien Chen, Zhe-Kun Zhou, Ching-I. Peng, Yun-Fei Deng, and Hiroaki Setoguchi
Ann Bot 2008 101: 111-124.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- The Floral Nectary of Hymenaea stigonocarpa (Fabaceae, Caesalpinioideae): Structural Aspects During Floral Development
- Elder Antonio Sousa Paiva and Silvia Rodrigues Machado
Ann Bot 2008 101: 125-133.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Changes in the Synthesis of Rubisco in Rice Leaves in Relation to Senescence and N Influx
- Kazuhiro Imai, Yuji Suzuki, Tadahiko Mae, and Amane Makino
Ann Bot 2008 101: 135-144.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Origins and Widespread Distribution of Co-existing Polyploids in Arnica cordifolia (Asteraceae)
- Rebecca Hufft Kao
Ann Bot 2008 101: 145-152.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Seedling Diversity in Hydatellaceae: Implications for the Evolution of Angiosperm Cotyledons
- Dmitry D. Sokoloff, Margarita V. Remizowa, Terry D. Macfarlane, Renee E. Tuckett, Margaret M. Ramsay, Anton S. Beer, Shrirang R. Yadav, and Paula J. Rudall
Ann Bot 2008 101: 153-164.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Effect of Water Content Components on Desiccation and Recovery in Sphagnum Mosses
- Tomás Hájek and Richard P. Beckett
Ann Bot 2008 101: 165-173.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Nurse Plants vs. Nurse Objects: Effects of Woody Plants and Rocky Cavities on the Recruitment of the Pilosocereus leucocephalus Columnar Cactus
- Miguel Angel Munguía-Rosas and Vinicio J. Sosa
Ann Bot 2008 101: 175-185.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Nanoparticles as Smart Treatment-delivery Systems in Plants: Assessment of Different Techniques of Microscopy for their Visualization in Plant Tissues
- P. González-Melendi, R. Fernández-Pacheco, M. J. Coronado, E. Corredor, P. S. Testillano, M. C. Risueño, C. Marquina, M. R. Ibarra, D. Rubiales, and A. Pérez-de-Luque
Ann Bot 2008 101: 187-195.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Plant Light Interception Can Be Explained via Computed Tomography Scanning: Demonstration with Pyramidal Cedar (Thuja occidentalis, Fastigiata)
- Pierre Dutilleul, Liwen Han, and Donald L. Smith
Ann Bot 2008 101: 19-23.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Polyploidy in the Olive Complex (Olea europaea): Evidence from Flow Cytometry and Nuclear Microsatellite Analyses
- G. Besnard, C. Garcia-Verdugo, R. Rubio De Casas, U. A. Treier, N. Galland, and P. Vargas
Ann Bot 2008 101: 25-30.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- The Storage of Green Coffee (Coffea arabica): Decrease of Viability and Changes of Potential Aroma Precursors
- Dirk Selmar, Gerhard Bytof, and Sven-Erik Knopp
Ann Bot 2008 101: 31-38.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Floral Development in the Tribe Cedreleae (Meliaceae, Sub-family Swietenioideae): Cedrela and Toona
- Cantídio Fernando Gouvêa, Marcelo Carnier Dornelas, and Adriana Pinheiro Martinelli Rodriguez
Ann Bot 2008 101: 39-48.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- A Patchy Growth via Successive and Simultaneous Cambia: Key to Success of the Most Widespread Mangrove Species Avicennia marina?
- Nele Schmitz, Elisabeth M. R. Robert, Anouk Verheyden, James Gitundu Kairo, Hans Beeckman, and Nico Koedam
Ann Bot 2008 101: 49-58.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Isoprene Emission from Plants: Why and How
- Thomas D. Sharkey, Amy E. Wiberley, and Autumn R. Donohue
Ann Bot 2008 101: 5-18.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Cytogeography of Pilosella officinarum (Compositae): Altitudinal and Longitudinal Differences in Ploidy Level Distribution in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and the General Pattern in Europe
- Patrik Mráz, Barbora Singliarová, Tomás Urfus, and Frantisek Krahulec
Ann Bot 2008 101: 59-71.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Eelgrass Meadows in the California Channel Islands and Adjacent Coast Reveal a Mosaic of Two Species, Evidence for Introgression and Variable Clonality
- J. A. Coyer, K. A. Miller, J. M. Engle, J. Veldsink, A. Cabello-Pasini, W. T. Stam, and J. L. Olsen
Ann Bot 2008 101: 73-87.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
- Changes in Photosynthetic Rates and Gene Expression of Leaves during a Source–Sink Perturbation in Sugarcane
- A. J. McCormick, M. D. Cramer, and D. A. Watt
Ann Bot 2008 101: 89-102.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
