Comparative study of two bioassays with weakened duckweed and yeast treated with homeopathic preparations

In homeopathic basic research, the question as to the most adequate test systems and apt methodology is still open. This investigation examined the hypothesis that more complex organisms show stronger reactions to homeopathic remedies than less complex ones. We compared two Arsenic (As5+) stressed bioassays with duckweed (Lemna gibba, a multi-cellular autotrophic organism) and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a single-cellular heterotrophic organism) regarding their response to homeopathic preparations [1]. For duckweed, growth rates of leaf area and leaf number were evaluated. For yeast, growth kinetics were determined by measuring slope, yield and Et50 (point in time when yield was half maximum) of the sigmoid growth curve. The experiments with duckweed and yeast were performed in parallel (same day, same location and identical homeopathic preparations). After screening 17 substances, three homeopathic preparations (Arsenicum album, nosode, gibberellic acid) were chosen for repeated experimental series [2]. Five independent experiments were conducted for each remedy with both organisms in parallel. Potency levels used were in the range of 17x–33x for duckweed and 17x–30x for yeast. To control for test system stability, systematic negative control experiments were conducted over the complete experimentation period. All experiments were blinded and randomized. The systematic negative control experiments did not yield any significant effects. Application of potentized Arsenicum album in the duckweed bioassay yielded the largest effects compared to water controls without remedies for the parameters leaf area and leaf number (p

Physico-chemical changes during fruit growth and developmental stages in yellow type passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Degener) accessions

Physiological and biochemical changes during fruit growth, development and maturity of six yellow type passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Degener) accessions were studied at weekly interval after fruit set from 21 days to 91 days after fruit set and after dropping from vine also. Fruit growth of passion fruit followed a single sigmoid growth curve. Fruit length (cm), diameter (cm) and weight (g) increased continuously (25.24%, 33.13% and 75.08% respectively) (from the initial stage till maturity up to 84 days), which slightly declined at ripening stage. Fruits developed acceptable physico-chemical qualities with good colour, when harvested at 84 to 91 days after fruit set (DAF). The study further revealed that the days taken from fruit set to maturity and ripening, colour change, total soluble solids and acidity may be considered as the most reliable maturity indices for taking harvest decision in pas-sion fruit.

Anatomía del fruto de Casimiroa edulis (Rutaceae), "zapote blanco", durante su desarrollo

White sapote is a Mexican fruit valued for its edible sweet pulp and medicinal seeds. In view of the importance that this species has for Mexico, and considering the scarcity of information on the anatomy of its fruit, a study of its development from flowering to maturity was undertaken. The material was studied by sectioning and maceration. General and staining with safranin and fast green, as well as specific staining for starch, lipids, phenols (tannins) and lignin, were made. The fruit growth in diameter presents a simple sigmoid growth curve. The fibrous structure covering the seed is an endocarp originating from a) the multiple internal epidermis, b) subepidermal layers of fundamental tissue and c) a net of vascular tissue surrounding the locule. The walls of this tissue thicken and lignify just before maturity. The pericarp does not accumulate starch during growth; at maturity it is sweet and contains abundant spherosomes (lipid droplets). The pericarp is populated by numerous lysigenous oil glands presenting various shapes and sizes (0.1-5.0 mm), with their axes radially oriented. We did not find the external hypodermis reported by Schroeder.

Growth of champa fruit under agroecological conditions of Miraflores, Boyacá, Colombia

The objective of this work was to analyze the growth of champa fruit (Campomanesia lineatifolia) as a function of growing-degree days (GDD) in the municipality of Miraflores, in Boyacá, Colombia. Thirty trees were selected at random, and 100 flowers in full bloom were marked in each tree. From the 26th day after flowering until harvest, 10 samples were taken every 15 days to determine the fruit parameters and growth rate. Temperature was recorded to calculate the GDD. From flowering until harvest, 1,489.1 GDD were accumulated over 145 days. Dry and fresh matter mass of pulp, seed, and total fruit were fitted to a logistic growth model, and three growth stages (S1, S2 and S3) were defined. In the S1, growth was slow, and the relative growth remained nearly stable, whereas the absolute growth rate (AGR) increased slowly. In the S2, maximum growth was observed. In the S3, which corresponds to maturation, dry mass increased gradually, and the AGR decreased, while the fresh pulp and total mass did not cease to increase. The polar and equatorial diameters increased linearly, while the volume followed an exponential model. Champa fruit show a simple sigmoid growth curve.

Ethylene as a Growth Hormone in Peach Fruit.

Ethylene production by whole fruit and mesocarp pieces of peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch. cv. Golden Queen] was measured throughout the growing season. Peach fruit have a double-sigmoid growth curve, in which a lag period of slow weight increase (stage II) is followed by a rapid stage of weight increase (stage III). Changes in ethylene production could not be related to stage I- stage II transitions, and ethylene remained low at the start of fresh weight stage III. Two weeks later, ethylene production rose sharply at the same time as the fruit started accumulating dry weight in dry weight stage III. Mesocarp pieces produced ethylene in a pattern similar to that of whole fruit. We conclude that, in peach, increasing ethylene production is one of the hormonal changes involved in dry matter accumulation during stage III of fruit growth.

Banana plant growth. 1. Gross morphology

Bananas plants (CV. Williams) at Alstonville, New South Wales, were sampled every two weeks from planting in November 1967 until early post emergence of the fruit in Map 1969. Records were kept of sucker, root, and inflorescence growth. On morphological grounds, the life of one apex was divided into five stages. The end points of these stages were : corm formation, commencement of lateral bud growth, floral initiation, bunch emergence, and harvest. Lateral buds, or suckers, commenced to grow after twelve foliate leaves were produced. Lateral bud development on the parent decreased as it commenced on the ratoon 1 crop. A total of 25 lateral buds showed some swelling but only 13 grew above ground level. All but one of these were removed when the plants were desuckered. After 19 months of growth, half of the live roots arose from gouged sucker remains. No decrease in root numbers was observed on the parent after bunch emergence. The first desuckering, nine months after planting, reduced the total number of roots on the plant by about 50 per cent. The young fruit underwent a sigmoid growth curve during the pre-emergence and early post-emergence phases of development. The most rapid growth of the fruit in terms of fresh weight increase occurred during the five to six weeks before emergence of the bunch.