Annals of Botany 2009 103(3):i; doi:10.1093/aob/mcp001
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Rice genome and the microtubule cytoskeleton (Invited Review)
Microtubules play
essential roles in cell division and cell morphogenesis.
Guo et al. (pp. 387–402) survey the rice genome for genes encoding tubulins and microtubule-interacting
proteins. Rice proves to be a powerful model system to approach
microtubule-based mechanisms that regulate growth and development
in monocots.
Thiourea and mitochondrial functioning in Brassica seeds
Srivastava et al. (pp. 403–410) find that treatment with thiourea maintains the mitochondrial
functioning in seeds of
Brassica juncea subjected to salinity
stress. It regulates the expression profile of various mtATPase
subunits and reverts the activity profile observed under the
stress. The results provide insights into the molecular mechanism
of thiourea-mediated salinity tolerance.
Staminate and pistillate flowers in Nothofagus species
The distributions
of staminate and pistillate flowers may influence self- and
cross-pollination rates.
Puntieri et al. (pp. 411–421) demonstrate that two closely related species of
Nothofagus resemble
each other in staminate-flower distribution but not regarding
pistillate-flower distribution. Pistillate flowers are more
distal along growth units in
N. alpina than in
N. obliqua. Both
flower types are preformed 1 year before anthesis.
Recognition of host root exudates by broomrape
Parasitic plants
of the Orobanchaceae have developed the ability to perceive
the presence of adjacent living host roots by sensing compounds
released by their hosts.
Fernández-Aparicio et al. (pp. 423–431) show that weedy broomrapes with a broad host spectrum respond
better to the different exudates released by a wide range of
crops and wild species than do non-weedy broomrapes, which have
a narrow host spectrum. (
Featured article in ContentSelect on p. iii.)
Physical dormancy break in Ipomoea
Ipomoea lacunosa seeds display physical dormancy (PY) and undergo sensitivity
cycling to dormancy break.
Jayasuriya et al. (pp. 433–445) propose a mechanism for breaking PY in sensitive seeds of
I. lacunosa using a series of blocking experiments to determine
absorption and desorption of water vapour via the hilum. This
is the first time such a mechanism for PY-break has been described.
Genetic regulation of foliar alkaloids in ponderosa pine
Gerson et al. (pp. 447–457) demonstrate genetic control of alkaloid synthesis in foliage
of
Pinus ponderosa var.
ponderosa grown in a single nursery.
Quantitative variation from seedling to seedling was high, and
variation among regions of origin exceeded that among families.
Seedlings from western parental sources produced more piperidines.
Alkaloid levels were negatively related to annual seedling height
growth and temperature range at parental sites.
Chromosome diversity and evolution in Liliaceae
Whilst Liliaceae
(
sensu APG) contains species with some of the largest chromosomes
and genomes in angiosperms, these are not universal karyotypic
features of the family. By compiling an extensive dataset from
the literature and viewing this within a robust phylogenetic
framework,
Peruzzi et al. (pp. 459–475) provide insights
into the diverse patterns of karyotype organization and evolution
in the 15 genera comprising Liliaceae.
Efficiency of phosphate use in epiphytes
Vascular tank epiphytes
have to cope with a low and highly intermittent nutrient supply.
Winkler and Zotz (pp. 477–484) report that absorbing foliar
trichomes possess an effective physiological uptake mechanism
for phosphate, which is mainly transferred to growing tissue.
Phosphorus not immediately needed for current growth is stored,
leading to some independence of intermittent supply.
Flowering phenology of invasive vs native species
Flowering phenology
of invasive alien species in relation to natives is examined
by
Godoy et al. (pp. 485–494) in three different Mediterranean-type
regions worldwide. They conduct 227 invasive–native species-pair
comparisons, revealing that aliens flower earlier, later or
at the same time as natives; the climatic origin of invasive
species determines the observed patterns, which are due to human-mediated
introductions of species between regions.
Fruit vs leaf irradiance and ascorbate content in tomato
Differential shadings
allows the discrimination of the impact of sugar influx and
irradiance on fruit ascorbate metabolism.
Gautier et al. (pp. 495–504) show that fruit shading in tomato is the most effective treatment
in reducing fruit ascorbate content, which was not sugar limited.
Leaf shading impacted at a lower level on fruit ascorbate metabolism
by delaying fruit ripening. (Featured article in Content
Select on p. iii.)
Depletion of photosystem II proteins in an extreme halophyte
Pagliano et al. (pp. 505–515) demonstrate that photosystem II of the extreme halophyte
Salicornia veneta lacks the PsbQ and contains reduced amounts of the PsbP
extrinsic polypeptides. Despite this difference, PSII in this
plant is fully functional. The role of these proteins in modulating
the effect of essential calcium and chloride ions is discussed.
(Featured article in Content
Select on p. iii.)
Food bodies in Cissus verticillata (Vitaceae)
Paiva et al. (pp. 517–524) examine the development, structure and histochemical aspects
of ‘pearl glands’ in
Cissus verticillata and conclude
that they constitute food rewards and can mediate symbiotic
interactions between plants and ants; these structures are thus
food bodies. They contain lipids and sugars and are collected
by different ant species.
P and N nutrition and induction of CAM
Clusia minor is
an inducible-CAM species that usually inhabits P-deficient soils.
Maiquetía et al. (pp. 525–532) show that alleviating
P and N deficiency in seedlings prevents CAM induction by water
deficit, measured as increased nocturnal accumulation, and they
suggest that P deficiency is a stress factor that promotes CAM
induction. (Featured article in Content
Select on p. iii.)
Field methods for sampling and storing nectar (Technical Article)
Nectar collection
and storage methods have a large impact on the results of studies
using flowers with small nectar volumes.
Morrant et al. (pp. 533–542) carry out the first study to compare a range of field methods
for nectar collection and storage. The results have implications
for the understanding of energy and sugar types available to
flower visitors, as well as energy production by plants.
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