Annals of Botany 2008 102(6):NP; doi:10.1093/aob/mcn220
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Isolation and characterization of Nramp1 from Malus
Malus baccata is
an apple rootstock that is highly resistant to low temperature
(down to –45 °C) but is sensitive to iron deficiency
chlorosis, and is often found in calcareous soils in north China.
Xiao et al. (pp. 881–889) determine the subcellular localization
and function of an iron regulator gene,
NRAMP1, cloned from
Malus baccata.
Ancient literature reveals pathways of eggplant domestication
Little is known
about domestication processes of vegetables lacking archaeological
data. Using ancient Chinese literature,
Wang et al. (pp. 891–897) reveal that the domestication process of eggplant in China involved
three principal aspects of fruit quality. This indicates that
evidence as to modifications in domestication traits can be
traced through ancient literature in some civilizations.
Anatomy and morphology of nectar-producing Melastomataceae
Less than 0·5
% (approx. 80 species) of Neotropical Melastomataceae produce
flower nectar. These are mostly vertebrate-pollinated, and exhibit
several morphological shifts.
Verassin et al. (pp. 899–909) determine that nectar release seems to be related to stomata
located on stamens and ovary apices that are supplied by large
vascular bundles. The distribution of nectary stomata in different
lineages suggests that nectariferous flowers have evolved independently
within the Melastomataceae.
Floral scent, floral colour and population membership in Hesperis
Both localized population-level
effects and shared biochemistry between floral scent and floral
colour may contribute to variation in floral scent phenotypes
for colour-polymorphic plants.
Majetic et al. (pp. 911–922) find that for
Hesperis matronalis, biochemistry alone cannot
explain floral scent variation; rather, floral scent variation
may be better explained by localized biotic and abiotic factors,
and/or greater complexity in biochemical associations.
Effects of shade on plants in extreme climates
Plants exposed to
stress can find shelter under the shade of established plants.
However, as found by
Valladares et al. (pp. 923–933) for
two evergreen shrubs from continental, Mediterranean habitats,
beneficial effects of shade can be eclipsed by reduced soil
moisture during dry years, which are expected to be more frequent
due to climate change in this region.
Symmetric competition for light between genotypes
Although genotypes
of the clonal plant
Potentilla reptans have shown differences
in plastic responses to shade, they do not differ in height
when directly competing.
Vermeulen et al. (pp. 935–943) find that the most abundant genotypes after 5 years of competition
do not capture disproportionally more light per unit mass. This
suggests that the competition for light is symmetric between
genotypes.
Seed mass, germination and micro-site preference in pioneers
Neotropical pioneers
occur preferentially in particular sized canopy gaps.
Daws et al. (pp. 945–951) show that seed mass-related differences in germination performance
contribute to these distribution patterns. Slow germination
and a high sensitivity to limited water availability restrict
small-seeded pioneers to small gaps while large-seeded species
can geminate in the harsh environment of large gaps.
Shoot architecture matters to altitudinal segregation of plant species
Plant traits that
are characteristic of either low altitude or high altitude environments
remain a matter of controversy.
Milla et al. (pp. 953–966) suggest that formerly neglected traits, such as architectural
or organogenetic characters, may differ consistently among altitudes.
They propose that architecture is functionally related to other
traits typical to either highland or lowland species.
Unifying concept for N : P ratios of diverse crop species
Greenwood et al. (pp. 967–977) derive a mechanistic model that relates whole-crop N : P
ratio to biomass during crop growth with near-optimum levels
of nutrients. It has only two constants, one of which is close
to the average for freshwater autotrophs. The validity of the
model is supported by the results of 38 field experiments on
numerous species.
Enemy-derived elicitors and foliar tannins in Onobrychis
Onobrychis viciifolia responds with increased concentrations of condensed tannin (CT)
to simulated attacks by fungi, bacteria or herbivorous insects
– regardless of the nutrient status of the plant.
Häring et al. (pp. 979–987) thus argue that these results challenge some classical defence
theories and suggest that the biosynthesis of CTs is inducible
by enemy-derived substances.
Clonal plasticity and mechanical stress in aquatic plants
Puijalon et al. (pp. 989–996) hypothesize that a continuous water current would induce plastic
alterations of clonal architecture among aquatic plants. Plastic
responses for clonal traits led to two contrasting strategies
to cope with mechanical stress: an escape strategy (e.g. through
increased length of creeping stems and spacer lengths) and a
resistance strategy (through a denser canopy and enhancement
of anchorage efficiency).
Origin of clonal diversity and structure of Populus
The Mediterranean
habitat of
Populus alba is highly fragmented and has been subject
to long-term human interference, so it is not known whether
some populations are native or exotic in origin. Using chloroplast
and nuclear microsatellites,
Brundu et al. (pp. 997–1006) study populations of uncertain origin from the island of Sardinia,
and demonstrate that white poplar could be regarded as a floristic
relict of the native flora with an unusual prevalence of vegetative
spread capable of giving rise to very large monoclonal stands,
with a restricted number of genets and unique haplotypes.
Delimitation of Sauropus based on DNA sequence data
The relationships
within
Sauropus (Phyllanthaceae) are largely resolved, and the
genus is closely related to
Phyllanthus,
Glochidion and
Breynia.
Pruesapan et al. (pp. 1007–1018) show the Australian and
Asian
Sauropus species to be distinct clades.
Breynia is part
of the Asian
Sauropus clade.
Sauropus/
Breynia (to be united)
are sister to
Glochidion and included in
Phyllanthus.
Variation in the flowering phenology of Stenocereus
Geographic and
temporal variation in the timing of reproduction of a columnar
cactus of the Sonoran Desert are studied by
Bustamante and Búrquez (pp. 1019–1030).
They find considerable intraspecific variation in phenological
parameters within and between populations, and report for the
first time that climatic variance (several months before flowering)
is closely associated with the onset of flowering. Geographic
variation in plant size and its effect on individual plant fecundity
as well as in flowering time are also considered.
Limitations to sexual reproduction in Grevillea repens
Low reproductive
output is often problematic in small populations of self-incompatible
plants. In such cases ‘genetic rescue’ is a conservation
management option, but there is potential for outbreeding depression.
Holmes et al. (pp. 1031–1041) reveal pollinator- and mate-limitation
in
Grevillea repens and demonstrate that its response to inter-population
pollination varies with genetic distance and the genetic and
ecological background of the pollen-recipient population.
Floral longevity and costs of delaying fertilization (Short Communication)
Floral longevity
plays an important role in plant reproduction, but also has
its costs.
Castro et al. (pp. 1043–1048) observe that
flower senescence is activated by pollen receipt but delayed
pollination has negative impacts on plant reproductive success.
Reduced female fitness associated with long floral life span
can constitute a cost of extend longevity, counteracting the
selection for longer life spans mediated by pollinator limitation.
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