Growth and production of ornamental sunflower grown in the field in response to application of humic acids

The humic acid fraction of organic matter has a stimulating effect on the growth and development of ornamental plants. This study investigated the response in growth and yield of field-grown ornamental sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) to the seed treatment with humic acids. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. Sunflower seeds were soaked in solutions of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40mmol L-1 C in the form of humic acids and then sown in the flower beds. At harvest, the flower stems were collected to determine the variables: stem height, stem diameter, fresh stem weight, number of leaves per stem, leaf fresh weight per stem, leaf dry matter per stem, number of flower stalks, and diameter of the floral receptacle. Data were subjected to regression analysis. The results showed increases in all variables in response to the application of humic acids, except in number of leaves per stem, which remained unchanged. The greatest increases usually resulted from concentrations from 15 to 20mmol L-1 C in the form of humic acid. It was concluded that the seed treatment with humic acid at the indicated concentrations increases the number and commercial quality of flower stalks of field-grown ornamental sunflower.

Functional transition in the floral receptacle of the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera): from thermogenesis to photosynthesis

The receptacle of the sacred lotus is the main source of heat during the thermogenic stage of floral development. Following anthesis, it enlarges, greens and becomes a fully functional photosynthetic organ. We investigated development of photosynthetic traits during this unusual functional transition. There were two distinct phases of pigment accumulation in receptacles. Lutein and photoprotective xanthophyll cycle pigments accumulated first with 64 and 95% of the maximum, respectively, present before anthesis. Lutein epoxide comprised 32% of total carotenoids in yellow receptacles, but declined with development. By contrast, more than 85% of maximum total chlorophyll, β-carotene and Rubisco were produced after anthesis, and were associated with significant increases in maximum electron transport rates (ETR) and photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm). Leaves and mature receptacles had similar Rubisco content and ETRs (>200 μmol m−2 s−1), although total chlorophyll and total carotenoid contents of leaves were significantly higher than those of green receptacles. Receptacle δ13C before anthesis was similar to that of leaves; consistent with leaf photosynthesis being the source of C for these tissues. In contrast, mature receptacles had significantly lower δ13C than leaves, suggesting that 14–24% of C in mature receptacles is the result of refixation of respired CO2.

Taxonomic significance of inflorescences, floral morphology and anatomy in Passerina (Thymelaeaceae)

Comparative studies were undertaken on the inflorescence, bracts and floral morphology of all taxa of the genus Passerina L. in southern Africa. Information is given in tabular form and a key based on bract morphology is presented.Floral morphology supported the status of the intrageneric taxa and also proved to be of taxonomic significance in the genus. Controversy surrounding the interpretation of a number of floral morphological structures in Passerina has been resolved. Morphological and anatomical evidence allowed a re-interpretation of the structure of the receptacle, hypanthium and sepals, ovary type and position, structure of the seed coat, ovule type and position, obturator, fruit and seed. On this basis an authentic generic description of the floral morphology was compiled. Passerina is distinguished by the following set of characters, a very short floral receptacle, tubular hypanthium, petaloid calyx, absence of petals and petaloid scales, diplostemonous dimorphic androecium, extrorse anthers, superior ovary, anatropous, ventrally epitropous ovule, an obturator of elongated cells, a I-seeded berry or an achene and tegmic seed with nuclear endosperm becoming cellular throughout.On this basis the flower in Passerina is considered a phylogenetically advanced structure, supporting the view that the genus is advanced within the Thymelaeoideae. The proposed taxonomic relationship between Thymelaeaceae and Malvales is confirmed by floral morphological evidence. Comparative studies were undertaken on the inflorescence, bracts and floral morphology of all taxa of the genus Passerina L. in southern Africa. Information is given in tabular form and a key based on bract morphology is presented.Floral morphology supported the status of the intrageneric taxa and also proved to be of taxonomic significance in the genus. Controversy surrounding the interpretation of a number of floral morphological structures in Passerina has been resolved. Morphological and anatomical evidence allowed a re-interpretation of the structure of the receptacle, hypanthium and sepals, ovary type and position, structure of the seed coat, ovule type and position, obturator, fruit and seed. On this basis an authentic generic description of the floral morphology was compiled. Passerina is distinguished by the following set of characters, a very short floral receptacle, tubular hypanthium, petaloid calyx, absence of petals and petaloid scales, diplostemonous dimorphic androecium, extrorse anthers, superior ovary, anatropous, ventrally epitropous ovule, an obturator of elongated cells, a I-seeded berry or an achene and tegmic seed with nuclear endosperm becoming cellular throughout.On this basis the flower in Passerina is considered a phylogenetically advanced structure, supporting the view that the genus is advanced within the Thymelaeoideae. The proposed taxonomic relationship between Thymelaeaceae and Malvales is confirmed by floral morphological evidence.

CRABS CLAW, a gene that regulates carpel and nectary development in Arabidopsis, encodes a novel protein with zinc finger and helix-loop-helix domains

Studies of plants with mutations in the CRABS CLAW gene indicate that it is involved in suppressing early radial growth of the gynoecium and in promoting its later elongation. It is also required for the initiation of nectary development. To gain further insight, the gene was cloned by chromosome walking. CRABS CLAW encodes a putative transcription factor containing a zinc finger and a helix-loop-helix domain. The latter resembles the first two helices of the HMG box, known to bind DNA. At least five other genes of Arabidopsis carry the same combination of domains, and we have named them the yabby family. The new helix-loop-helix domain itself we call the yabby domain. Consistent with the mutant phenotype, CRABS CLAW expression is mostly limited to carpels and nectaries. It is expressed in gynoecial primordia from their inception, firstly in lateral sectors where it may inhibit radial growth, and later in the epidermis and in four internal strips. The internal expression may be sufficient to support longitudinal growth, as carpels are longer in a crabs claw promoter mutant where expression is now confined to these regions. The patterns of expression of CRABS CLAW in ectopic carpels of floral homeotic mutants suggest that it is negatively regulated by the A and B organ identity functions, but largely independent of C function. CRABS CLAW expression occurs in nectaries throughout their growth and maturation. It is also expressed in their presumptive anlagen so it may specify cells that will later develop as nectaries. Nectaries arise from the floral receptacle at normal positions in all A, B and C organ identity mutants examined, and CRABS CLAW is always expressed within them. Thus CRABS CLAW expression is regulated independently in carpels and nectaries.

Gall development and fine structure of the nutritive cells of Myopites blotii (Diptera, Tephritidae) on Inula salicina

The tephritid fly Myopites blotii attacks the flower head of Inula salicina at the outset of anthesis. Their larvae tunnel through tubular florets, achenes, and vertically through the swollen, densely vascularized floral receptacle. The goal of the mining larvae is the large vascular bundles at the base of the bracts. The tunneling larvae cut a number of vascular bundles irrigating the florets and the resulting cavity is always open to the outside. Cell walls and cell remnants are continuously agglomerated by the larvae along the entrance channel, forming a black layer. Small patches of nutritive cells appear near severed vascular bundles that end in the larval cavity. The nutritive cells are activated to a high level of RNA and proteosynthesis. The cells have a dense cytoplasm and a large lobed nucleus with a large nucleolus. The long, flexuous plastids form a perinuclear crown. Numerous mitochondria and peroxisomes attest to intense respiration in these cells. The nutritive cells provide proteins and nucleoproteins to the larvae that also feed directly on the vascular bundles ending in the larval cavities. The more sedentary, nearly mature larvae concentrate their feeding activity toward the bottom of the larval cavity where a nutritive layer differentiates. A sclerenchyma layer forms that isolates the larval cavity from the vascular bundles of the floral receptacle. Key words: gall, nutritive tissue, floral receptacle, Tephritidae, Inuleae, Asteraceae.