Central Leaflet Research Articles

Studies on the variability of stomatal density in soybean cultivars. I. Influence of leaf sides and leaf positions on the differences among cultivars.

This study was planned to know how the leaf sides and leaf positions influence on the differences among cultivars in soybean. Experiment A : Differences among cultivars in stomatal density and its two components. Five and twelve cultivars were used as materials in 1979 and 1980, respectivery. Each plant was grown in a pot, in a natural-light phytotron with a temperature of 30°C during the day (06.00-18.00) and 25°C during the night. Only central leaflets in the component leaves of main stem were observed. The copies of epidermis were taken with manicure liquid from the central position between mid rib and leaf margin, in a fully expanded leaflet. Stomatal density (number of stomata per unit of surface area of epidermis, SD) is devided into two components, (1) the power of stomatal differentiation (ratio of stomatal number to epidermal cell number, PS), and (2) the epidermal cell size (surface area of an epidermal cell, EC). The relationship among SD, PS and EC is shown in the equation (1), on condition that the guard cell has very small surface area compared to the epidermal cell. Both in SD and PS, the values were a half smaller in adaxial side than in abaxial side at every leaf positsons (Table 2). Contrary to this, the values in EC did not differ so much with leaf sides (Table 2, Table 5). F values with leaf positions showed significant levels in SD, PS and EC (Table 4). But, the variabilities of SD among laef positions were smaller than those among leaf sides (Table 2). Differences among the cultivars in SD, PS and EC were also significant statistically (Table 3, Table 4). In adaxial leaf side, SD showed high positive correlation with PS, but did'nt show significant correlation with EC (Table 6). Contrary to this, SD in abaxial leaf side showed relatively high negative correlation with EC, and moreover showed lower positive correlation with PS compared to the case of adaxial side (Table 6). Experiment B : Observation on differentiation of stomata with the course of leaflet growth. Staining surface method (Table 1) was adopted for the observation, using the central leaflet of third leaf position in main stem of two cultivars as materials. It was found from the observations that the stomata began to differentiate after the epidermal cells had already differentiated moderately, and that the stomata began to differentiate somewhat earlier in abaxial leaf side than in adaxial leaf side (Fig. 1, Fig. 3). The patterns of change in EC and PS during leaflet growth were wholly differed each other (Fig. 2, Fig. 3). Between the two cultivars, the differentiation of stomata was earlier in Tokachi Hadaka than in Akiyoshi (Fig. 3). From the above results, the relation was shown that the process patterns of SD with the course of leaflet growth were differed between the two cultivars, especially in adaxial leaf side (Fig. 4).

Remarkable asymmetries in trifoliolate leaves with particular reference to Medicago

Abaxial pubescence of the trifoliolate leaves of numerous species is asymmetric, with a greater density of trichomes on the portions of the lateral leaflets between their midribs and outer margins (the margins closest to the base of the petiole) than on the remainder of the lateral leaflets or on the central leaflet. This pattern was evaluated statistically in 1250 plants representing 55 species of Medicago, 13 other genera of the Leguminosae, and 5 genera of other plant families. It was found that the magnitude of asymmetry of pubescence is higher in Medicago than in other legumes considered collectively, but the phenomenon is widespread in the Leguminosae. The generality of the pattern in other vascular plant families could not be assessed reliably because of the paucity of nonlegume species with pubescent trifoliolate leaves. However, the pattern is not universal because in Staphylea trifolia (Staphyleaceae) an opposite asymmetry was found. Young trifoliolate leaves of leguminous plants frequently are folded in a complex fashion, which exposes only one-sixth of the surface area, corresponding to the relatively pubescent portions. Higher trichome density on these exposed surfaces may reflect adaptation, perhaps against phytophagous insects or desiccation. However, the pattern may also be explained by a tendency for better trichome development on exposed epidermal surfaces in comparison with surfaces adpressed against each other. A second asymmetry of trifoliolate leaves was also examined: a trend for the width of the relatively pubescent portion of the lateral leaflet to be greater than that of the corresponding portion on the opposite side of the midrib. While this asymmetry was found to be significant, and to be especially well developed in the nonlegumes examined, there are numerous exceptions, and at least in the Leguminosae the tendency is not as strikingly developed as the eccentricity of pubescence.

Pericardiodiaphragmatic hernia

Twenty-seven reported cases of pericardial diaphragmatic hernia are reviewed and another case is added. This entity may be congenital or traumatic in origin, the latter being more frequent at a ratio of 2:1. All patients except one were male and the mean age at diagnosis was 40 years. The patients were usually symptomatic, the most frequent complaints being of cardiac or respiratory origin. Pneumoperitoneum may be diagnostic although chest roentgenograms and contrast studies may suggest the diagnosis. Computed axial tomography and echocardiography may prove useful in the future. We believe the anterior abdominal approach is preferable to the transthoracic approach in reducing the hernia and repairing the defect because it affords better exposure and easier accessibility to other intraabdominal disease and can easily be converted into a median sternotomy if needed. The stomach and transverse colon became herniated most frequently and in only three cases was a sac found. The defect involves the central leaflet of the diaphragm and primary repair generally results in a good prognosis.

Photosynthetic Response to Water Stress in Phaseolus vulgaris

AbstractWater stressed Phaseolus vulgaris L. plants were monitored to detect the relationships between net photosynthesis, transpiration, boundary layer plus stomatal resistance, mesophyll resistance, CO2 compensation point, ribulose, 1,5‐diphosphate carboxylase activity and leaf water potential.At full expansion, the first trifoliate leaves of greenhouse grown bean plants were subjected to water stress by withholding irrigation. Gas exchange and enzyme activity of the central trifoliolate leaflets were monitored as leaf water potential decreased.Although increased stomatal resistance appeared to be the primary causal factor of reduced net photosynthesis, increased mesophyll resistance and decreased ribulose 1,5‐diphosphate carboxylase activity further documented the role of non‐stomatal factors.

GAS EXCHANGE AND ENZYME ACTIVITY DURING LEAF EXPANSION IN PHASEOLUS VULGARIS L.

SUMMARYNet photosynthesis, transpiration, boundary layer plus stomatal resistance to CO2 diffusion, and CO2 compensation point were monitored in the central leaflet of expanding first trifoliate leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris L. Simultaneously, the activities of three enzymes related to net photosynthesis, photorespiration and dark respiration were measured. Net photosynthesis rate and ribulose 1,5‐diphosphate carboxylase activity increased with leaflet expansion, reaching peaks just prior to full expansion. Concurrently, boundary layer plus stomatal resistance, CO2 compensation point and malate dehydrogenase activity decreased, reaching lowest values at full leaflet expansion.Shortly after peak photosynthetic activity was reached all trends reversed, as the physiological activity of the first trifoliate leaf of this determinate type bean plant changed to that characterized by a senescing leaf.

Echocardiogram of the porcine aortic bioprosthesis in the mitral position

Echocardiography was performed in 10 consecutive patients who had a clinically normally functioning porcine aortic bioprosthesis in the mitral position. Strong well defined echoes were recorded from the anterior and posterior aspects of the xenograft stent. The maximal separation of the anterior and posterior stent echoes approximated the diameter of the stent at its base. The maximal excursion of the anterior stent was 5 to 10 mm (mean 7.5) with a mean systolic slope of 15 to 35 mm/sec (mean 22.2) and diastolic slope of 11 to 59 mm/sec (mean 21.5). In all 10 patients it was possible to record an anterior xenograft leaflet with anterior movement at the onset of diastole and posterior movement at the onset of systole and with appropriately steep (more than 200 mm/sec) slopes. The diastolic (E-F) slope of the anterior leaflet in 9 of the 10 patients ranged from 9 to 38 mm/sec (mean 19). In 6 of the 10 patients a posterior xenograft leaflet with a movement pattern symmetric with that of the anterior leaflet was recorded. In two patients, the central aortic leaflet was recorded with little diastolic displacement. These two patients also had mild aortic regurgitation, which was associated with diastolic shudder of the the xenograft leaflets. Echocardiography was also performed in one patient who was later shown to have a 10 cm 3 thrombus on the ventricular surface of a xenograft valve. The echocardiogram in this patient revealed the following abnormalities: (1) excessive anterior stent movement and systolic slope suggesting paravalvular leak in the presence of abnormal cinefluoroscopic valve tilt, and (2) multiple dense nonhomogeneous echoes between the anterior and posterior aspects of the valve stent, with an early diastolic clear space behind the anterior stent and abnormal echoes behind the posterior stent during systole. Echocardiography therefore appears to be useful in evaluating the porcine aortic bioprosthesis in the mitral position.

Echocardiographic assessment of bicuspid aortic valves. Angiographic and pathological correlates.

Aortic root echocardiograms were recorded from 89 patients whose aortic valves had also been adequately defined by selective angiography or viewed surgically or at autopsy. The eccentricity index (E.I.) of the aortic leaflets was measured at the onset of diastole and an E.I. of 1.3 or greater was taken as abnormal. Of 31 patients with isolated nonobstruced or mildly obstructed bicuspid aortic valves (7 viewed previously at valvotomy and 24 diagnosed radiologically) 23 (74%) had an abnormal E.I. Varying eccentricity occurred in some of these patients. Central leaflet echoes (E.I. of 1.0 to 1.25) were present in the other eight patients. All 14 patients with nonobstructed tricuspid aortic valves had central echoes. Additional multilayered diastolic echoes were found in patients with bicuspid aortic valves as well as in two patients with abnormal tricuspid aortic valves. The valves of 13 patients with aortic stenosis or incompetence were viewed surgically and the E.I. was abnormal in all patients with a bicuspid aortic valve in this group. Aortic leaflet echo findings were not diagnostically helpful in ten patients with tetralogy of Fallot, one of whom had a normal E.I. with a surgically confirmed bicuspid aortic valve. Of 21 patients with VSD only one had a bicuspid aortic valve but six had an abnormal E.I. This false positive sign was related to a high membranous VSD, sometimes with aortic valve prolapse. It is concluded that an E.I. of greater than or equal to 1.3 in the absence of an associated VSD is diagnostic of a bicuspid aortic valve and can be expected to be found in approximately three-quarters of subjects with this abnormality.

On the Expression of Plant Age of Soybean by Means of Plastochron Index

1. Six plants of soybean were grown in a green house in 1972. The length of every compound leaf from the 1st to 13th, which was the last one, was measured every other day. 2. When the leaf length was expressed logarithmically, the growth curve was linear against the days after germination during the most part of the growing period. The regression equation of log L (L is referred to leaf length) on the number of days was calculated for each leaf. The regression coefficients of all leaves were not the same. Some of the differences between two successive leaves were significant. In the range from the 1st to the 7th leaf, upper leaves tended to show larger coefficient than the lower leaves ; in the leaves higher than 7th, however, the coefficient tended to decrease gradually. While higher temperature may be involved in part in higher regression coefficients of higher leaves, it may be true that the coefficients depend to some extent on the nodal location of leaves. 3. At first the standard length for calculating plastochron index (referred to as P.I.) was tentatively defined as 30 mm for leaf blades of central leaflets and as 45 mm for whole compound leaves. Based on these standard lengths, the errors of calculated P.I. derived from following causes were estimated; (a) the bending of regression line or the nth leaf before the P.I. reaches n+1, (b) the difference of regression coefficients between two successive leaves and (c) combination of (a) and (b). As to the maximum errors during plastochron, the largest ones out of 65 plastochrons observed were 0.07 by (a), 0.09 by (b) and by (c) in the case of leaflets, and 0.03 by (a), 0.14 by (b) and by (C) in compound leaves, while the frequencies of errors of those sizes seemed very low. After all, the errors brought about by those causes, even in cases those occurred together, did not seem so large for practical use. 4. The P.I. calculated with the standard length defined tentatively as 30 mm or 45 mm as above were almost linear against days in the case of either leaflets or compound leaves. The correction of above three kinds of errors were too small to be distinguished on the graph. 5. Central leaflets appeared more suitable than whole compound leaves to be measured for estimation of P.I., from the viewpoints of size of errors and easiness of measuring leaf length. In order to use P.I. as an index of plant age of soybean, a certain standard length must be defined suitably. The comparison of size of errors between 10 mm and 2O mm as the standard length suggested that 10 mm may be more suitable. It should be noticed in 10 mm standard, however, that the length of the (n+1)th leaf to be measured is always shorter than 10 mm, sometimes as short as 2 mm, which may make the measurements fairly inaccurate, furthermore the errors of measuring length cause larger errors of P.I. in the case of 10 mm than in 20 mm. 6. The errors of calculated P.I. caused by errors in measuring length are larger when either nth or (n+1)th leaves are nearer the standard length. Therefore, the length should be measured as accuretely as possible, especially for the leaves near the standard length.

ACHLYS CALIFORNICA — (BERBERIDACEAE) — A NEW SPECIES

SummaryAchlys californica, a tetraploid, distinct in morphology and ecogeographical distribution from the diploid A. triphylla is described below as a new species. The distribution of A. californica is mostly in the coastal region from northern California to southernmost British Columbia, while A. triphylla occurs predominantly in the Cascade mountain range.In an account of the biosystematics of Achlys published in 1967 (Fukuda, 1967), cytogenetic, morphological, ecological and distributional evidence was presented that the genus may be divided into three taxa. One of these, a diploid, A. triphylla (Sm.) DC. subsp. japonica (Max.) Fukuda, is restricted to Hokkaido and northern Honshu, in Japan. Disjunct from this, on the eastern side of the Pacific Ocean, A. triphylla subsp. triphylla is found from northern California to British Columbia.Until this study, all western North American material of Achlys has been placed in this species. However, it is now apparent that diploid and tetraploid plants occur, each with a distinctive morphology and ecogeographical distribution, as shown in Fig. 1. They merit specific distinction.The first specimen of Achlys was collected by Archibald Menzies, at Tulalip Bay, in the southern part of Puget Sound, now in the state of Washington, on June 4, 1794. J. E. Smith gave it the name Leontice triphylla (Smith, 1812). A. P. de Candolle pointed out that Menzies' plant differed from the members of the Asiatic genus Leontice by not developing valvate flaps when the anthers dehisce. Consequently, he created a new genus Achlys for it in 1821. In fact, the genera differ by many other characters and are sometimes placed in separate subfamilies (Rendle, 1925). The type‐specimen collected by Menzies, which is in the Smith Herbarium at the Linnean Society in London, was recognized as being of the diploid species by morphology and measurement of stomatal sizes in the central leaflet (Fukuda, 1967). For this reason the tetraploid plant, which has not yet received a formal description, is treated here.

The biosystematics of the genus Lotus (Leguminosae) in Canada. I. Cytotaxonomy

A morphological and cytological study of native and introduced Lotus species found in Canada has been conducted on both living material and on over 600 herbarium specimens from 20 Canadian and American herbaria. Illustrations of flowers, seed, ovaries and styles, habit, and geographical distribution for each species are given. Five native species, L. denticulatus (E. Drew) Greene (annual (A), self-fertilized (S), 2n = 12), L. formosissimus Greene (perennial (P), outcrossing (O), 2n = 14), L. micranthus Benth. (A, S, 2n = 14), L. pinnatus Hook. (P, O, 2n = 14), and L. purshianus (Benth.) Clem. and Clem. (A, S, 2n = 14), and four introduced species, L. corniculatus L. (P, O, 2n = 24), L. krylovii Schischk. and Serg. (A, S, 2n = 12), L. pedunculatus Cav. (P, O, 2n = 12), and L. tenuis Waldst. et Kit. (P, O, 2n = 12) were found in Canada. Chromosome numbers are reported for the first time for L. formosissimus, L. micranthus, and L. pinnatus. Drawings of karyotypes and idiograms based on chromosome analyses are presented. Morphological observations made include style shape, pollen size and shape, seed size, number of flowers, length of standard, calyx index (length of calyx/length of calyx tube), length of peduncle, length of legume, length of petiole, and central leaflet index (leaflet length/leaflet width). Results of hydrocyanide tests on leaves of the native species were negative. The relationships of the different taxa are discussed and it is considered that both the North American and Old World species should be included in a single genus Lotus.

Modification of the endoplasmic reticulum in some mammalian oocytes.

AbstractOocytes of the hamster, rat, Mongolian gerbil and squirrel monkey demonstrate an unusual “twin” or multilaminated arrangement of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Two or more cisternae appose laterally apparently after the ribosomes vanish from the adjacent surfaces. A central electron dense leaflet, composed of filamentous components can be discerned between the apposed surfaces. Between two cisternae of the membrane complex found in hamster oocytes, narrow connecting pillars or walls also develop. The nuclear envelope frequently represents one cisternal element in the membrane complex, at which place nuclear pores are lacking. In rat oocytes the endoplasmic reticulum cisternae take on either a concentric form, apparently by end‐to‐end fusion of “twin” cisternal membranes, or form a spiral by several turns of the same cisternum. No functional role could be suggested for the observed specilization of the endoplasmic reticulum.

Effects of Pinching Leaflets on the Growth and the Yield of Kidney Bean

Experimental researches were performed on the growth and yields of kidney bean plants as affected by the treatment of pinching-off one or two of the three leaflets of every leaf at its very young stage. 1) The growth in the stem length was retarded, while the numbers of leaves and flowers were increased by the treatment. 2) The leaflets left on the treated leaves developed generally larger than those of the corresponding positions on the untouched control plants. While the areal ratio among the three leaflets on every normal leaf was nearly 1 : 1:, the ratio between the two leaflets left on every treated leaf was still found to be 1 : 1, not disturbed by the treatment, though they developed respectively larger in their absolute areas. The central leaflet however proved itself somewhat peculiar in areal growth, differing from the side leaflets. 3) There were obseved a tendency that pinching one of the leaflets of every leaf favoured the yield, while to pinch two of them reduced the yield.

Traumatic Diaphragmatic Hernia

Twenty-seven reported cases of pericardial diaphragmatic hernia are reviewed and another case is added. This entity may be congenital or traumatic in origin, the latter being more frequent at a ratio of 2:1. All patients except one were male and the mean age at diagnosis was 40 years. The patients were usually symptomatic, the most frequent complaints being of cardiac or respiratory origin. Pneumoperitoneum may be diagnostic although chest roentgenograms and contrast studies may suggest the diagnosis. Computed axial tomography and echocardiography may prove useful in the future. We believe the anterior abdominal approach is preferable to the transthoracic approach in reducing the hernia and repairing the defect because it affords better exposure and easier accessibility to other intraabdominal disease and can easily be converted into a median sternotomy if needed. The stomach and transverse colon became herniated most frequently and in only three cases was a sac found. The defect involves the central leaflet of the diaphragm and primary repair generally results in a good prognosis.

AN ANATOMICAL STUDY OF THE MODIFICATION OF BEAN LEAVES AS A RESULT OF TREATMENT WITH 2,4‐D

ONE OF THE most obvious effects of the use of 2,4-D on plants is the formation of grotesque leaves. Little information is available concerning the exteriial or internal characters of leaves that have been injured in this manner. Beal (1944) illustrated the external effects on trifoliolate leaves that had developed on bean plants after treatment with different concentrations of growth substances applied in combination with lanolin or carbowax. More recently, Burton (1947) has demonstrated the formative effects of certain substituted chlorophenoxy compounds on bean leaves. It was believed, however, from observations made in preliminary trials that variation in leaf modification likoe those obtained by Barton and Beal might be caused by using the same amount of the same chemical on plants of slightly different size at the time of treatment. For this reason a study of leaves of the bean plant, Phaseolus vulgaris, var Red Kidney, was made. The development of unusual leaves on the bean became visible only after the first week following treatment, when the young leaves that were in the bud at time of treatment expanded. Partially or fully expanded leaves that were outside the bud at time of treatment were not visibly altered. PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENT.-Twenty-four plants were grown from seed for 10 days. Groups of three closely similar plants were selected, each with terminal bud lengths respectively 5-7 mm., 8-10 mm., and 10-12 mm. The measurements were made from the base of the stipules at the base of the bud to the tip. At the later stages, when the first trifoliolate leaf had expanded more fully, the measurement was made from the base of the stipule at the base of the first trifoliolate leaf to the tip of the central leaflet of this leaf. When there was curvature in this leaf, the measurement was made in the same manner ignoring the curvature. Bud size, therefore refers to the length of the oldest leaf of the bud. On the day following the first selection when the buds had increased in length, another group of three was selected with a terminal-bud length of from 15-17 mm. One day later a fifth group was selected in which the terminal leaflet of the lowest leaf had expanded to 35 mm. in length. Plants from each group were treated on the day of selection by injection from a hypodermic needle into the midrib