Flower Biology and the Effects of Different Chemicals on Pollen Germination of Some Early Sweet Cherry Cultivars

Abstract Sweet cherry fruit is a tasty and valuable product for consumers. In order to increase the export share of cherry, which is also very important in export, it is beneficial to grow with cherry varieties that mature at different times. The cherries offered to the market in the early period will be more attractive. In this study, morphological and biological features of pistils of early-maturing 'Cristalina', 'Early Lory', 'Prime Giant', fruit set rates and pollen germination status and some chemical applications were investigated. As a result, fruit sets of cultivars were 17.6-28.6% in two years. Significant differences were observed in pistil morphology of the cultivars and 'Cristalina' had shorter pistil (14.35-14.51 mm) and style (11.47-11.65 mm) lengths than the other cultivars. Greater deformation was observed in primary ovules of 'Early Lory' right after anthesis. There were not significant differences in pollen germination ratios of the cultivars, but boric acid treatments improved pollen germination ratios of all cultivars. Boric acid application increased pollen germination with 21%. This was followed by IAA (8%), GA3 (5%), KNO3 (4%). It was concluded based on present findings that in orchard establishment with the early cultivars, flower biology should momentously be assessed.

Synergic actions of polyphenols and cyanogens of peanut seed coat (Arachis hypogaea) on cytological, biochemical and functional changes in thyroid.

In animals, long-term feeding with peanut (Arachis hypogaea) seed coats causes hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the thyroid gland. However, to date there have been no detailed studies. Here, we explored the thyroidal effects of dietary peanut seed coats (PSC) in rats. The PSC has high levels of pro-goitrogenic substances including phenolic and other cyanogenic constituents. The PSC was mixed with a standard diet and fed to rats for 30 and 60 days, respectively. Animals fed with the PSC-supplemented diet showed a significant increase in urinary excretion of thiocyanate and iodine, thyroid enlargement, and hypertrophy and/or hyperplasia of thyroid follicles. In addition, there was inhibition of thyroid peroxidase (TPO) activity, 5’-deiodinase-I (DIO1) activity, and (Na+-K+)-ATPase activity in the experimental groups of rats as compared to controls. Furthermore, the PSC fed animals exhibited decreased serum circulating total T4 and T3 levels, severe in the group treated for longer duration. These data indicate that PSC could be a novel disruptor of thyroid function, due to synergistic actions of phenolic as well as cyanogenic constituents.

Mating system and causes of low fructification rate by self-pollination of Codonopsis pilosula / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study four kinds of germplasm resources of Codonopsis pilosula and provide the basal mating systems data for the breeding and cultivation of C. pilosula.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>0.5% TTC (2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride) solution was used for the pollen viability test and benzidineand-H2O2 [1% benzidine in 60% ethanol,hydrogen peroxide (3%), and water, 4:11:22] was used for estimation of the stigma receptivity. The mating systems were tested by out crossing index (OC1), pollen-ovule ratio (P/O) and pollination by bagged and emasculated in the field.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The pollen viability of C. pilosula reached highly about 80% when the pollen staying in the anther, 2-3 days before the petals opening. The anther began scattering pollen before the day of the petals opening, the pollen viability was the highest about 95%, the pollen stick thickly aroud the stigma and quickliy lost in the next day. The stigma life-span was about 4-5 days, the optimal time for pollination was the first day of the petals opening, when the stigma was highly sticky and yellow. The value of out crossing index (OC1) was 4, pollen-ovule ratio was between 104.84-185.75. The natural fructification rate of cross-pollination by emasculated-treatment was 25.6% 42.4%. The fructification rate and compatible index of self-pollination by bagged- treatment were about 3.3%-6.7% and 3.0-21.8.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mating system of C. pilosula is mixed with self-pollination and cross-pollination, prone to cross-pollination. The compatibility of self-pollination is high. The difference of maturing period of pistil and stamen and the lack of polen amount cause low fructification rate of self-pollination.</p>

Monoicy in A. angustifolia (Bert. ) O. Kuntze (Araucariaceae): I. Morphological aspects of the reproductive structures

Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze is a dioecious conifer species native of Brazil. The rare occurrence of monoiceous specimens have been attributed to pathogenic infections or other injuries in adult trees. Here, the morphological characteristics of male and female cones and pollen grains of a monoiceous A. angustifolia are described. Male and female cones and pollen grains presented normal morphology, lacking any sort of injuries or infection and suggesting the existence of further grounds for the occurrence of monoicy in this conifer species.

Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze é uma conífera primariamente dióica nativa do Brasil. A ocorrência de raros exemplares monóicos tem sido creditada a infecções patogênicas ou outras injúrias em árvores adultas. Neste trabalho, as características morfológicas de cones masculinos e femininos e dos grãos de pólen de uma A. angustifolia monóica são descritas. Os cones masculinos e femininos e os grãos de pólen apresentaram morfologia normal, se a presença de qualquer tipo de injuria ou infecção, sugerindo a existência de outros mecanismos para a ocorrência de monoicia nesta conífera.

Trichophyton album (Sabouraud, 1909): Caso clínico - Estudo micológico de cultura sobre meio a base de estafilococo / Trichophyton album (Sabouraud, 1909): Clinical case - Mycological study of culture on staphylococcus-based medium

Descreve o autor, pormenorizadamente, o caso de um menino com lesões do couro cabeludo, o que é raro, e da pele glabra devida ao T. album (Sabouraud, 1909). O exame microscópico dos cabelos parasitados revelou tratar-se de Megasporo. As culturas em meio açucarado de Sabouraud não puderam ser obtidas no começo, enquanto conservados os tubos em temperatura ambiente. Mais tarde, quando colocados em estufa à temperatura de 28° C., começaram as colônias a aparecer, mostrando, aos poucos, as caraterísticas do T. (faviforme) album. Aproveitou-se o autor da oportunidade para a verificação do comportamento desse fungo nos chamados meios a base de estafilococos, como anteriormente o fizera BAUDET. Viu nesses meios as culturas prosperarem bem, mesmo em temperatura ambiente; tornarem-se viçosas, não mais glabras, mas penugentas e, microscopicamente, não serem mais formadas só de filamentos estéreis, como ocorria nos meios açucarados, mas apresentarem abundantes órgãos de frutificação. Em outras palavras, o T. (faviforme) album semeado em meio mais favorável como certamente o é para ele o meio a base de estafilococo, perde seu caráter faviforme. Tem razão BAUDET em sugerir a exclusão do termo faviforme na designação acima. O autor experimentou, também, no mesmo meio a base de estafilococos outro cogumelo de cultura glabra - o T. violaceum - não conseguindo, porém, modificações no aspeto macro - e microscópico desse fungo. (AU)