The roles of light and pericarp on seed dormancy and germination in feral Raphanus sativus (Brassicaceae)

The timing of seed germination may determine the success of a weed species in an agroecosystem, and its expression is modulated by environmental conditions, but also by seed physiology and anatomy. The aims of this study were to investigate the roles of light, pericarp, dry storage and cold stratification on seed dormancy and germination in feral radish, a troublesome agricultural weed in temperate zones of the Americas that reduces crop yields. To this end, we used isolated intact pods and extracted seeds to test germination over time under contrasting temperature, light and storage conditions. Here, we showed that fresh seeds were non‐dormant, but that light and the presence of the pericarp reduced germination, especially under low temperatures. The pericarp reduced the final water content absorbed by seeds inside pods and decreased absorption/dehydration rates. The pericarp showed several small lignified cell layers in the endocarp, and x‐ray images displayed the lack of space between the partially embedded seed and the endocarp. Dry storage and cold stratification were ineffective in breaking the dormancy imposed by the pericarp. The apparent requirement for darkness and the mechanical restriction of the pericarp may have the potential to induce dormancy, spreading the timing of seed germination over a more extended period and hindering the control of feral radish.     

银杏实生树不同发育阶段个体内源激素含量的变化

以不同年龄银杏实生树为试材,研究芽尖和叶片中内源激素赤霉素(GA3)、玉米素(ZT)、吲哚乙酸(IAA)和脱落酸(ABA)含量与个体发育阶段的关系。结果表明,7龄期和13龄期银杏实生树芽尖和叶片中上述4种内源激素含量无明显差别,同时与13龄期首次开花的雄株接近,但却和3龄期有显著差异。可见实生树在7龄期前后树高2.5～3.0m已处转变期;随后树体继续生长增高到12～13m,在13龄期前后首次出现雄花和雌花开始进入成年期。芽尖中上述4种内源激素水平不是转变期进入成年期的惟一控制因子。转变期长可能是实生树迟果的原因之一。     

Computed tomographic anatomy of the canine cervical vertebral venous system

Computed tomographic (CT) venography of the cervical vertebral canal was performed in six, clinically normal, adult mixed-breed dogs from 14 to 23 kg. After dogs were euthanized and saline perfused, a gelatin and iothalamate mixture was injected into the right external jugular vein. Contiguous, 4-mm-thick CT images were obtained with dogs in sternal recumbency. Dogs were kept in the same position as for the CT scan and frozen to approximately -8 degrees C. All post-contrast CT images were analyzed using similar bone window and level settings. Additional multiplanar reformatted dorsal images were obtained in all dogs. The frozen cadavers were sectioned through the cervical region extending from the occiput to T1 at approximately 8-mm intervals. The frozen sections were then compared with the CT images. The CT appearance of the normal cervical vertebral venous system was described and illustrated. Components such as the internal vertebral venous plexus, interarcuate veins, intervertebral veins, and vertebral veins were clearly identified on the CT images.     

Anatomical variation of arterial supply to the rabbit spleen

The rabbit, which is widely used as an experimental animal and is also popular as a companion animal, has a flat and elongated spleen with the longitudinal hilus running along its visceral surface. The spleen receives via the hilus an arterial supply that is essential for splenic nutrition and normal functioning. However, the distribution and variation of the arteries to the spleen have not been studied in detail. This study investigated anatomical variations of splenic arterial supply in 33 New Zealand White rabbits with a colored latex injection into arteries. We also examined whether the length of the spleen correlated with the number of the splenic branches of the splenic artery. The splenic artery always arose as the first independent branch of the celiac artery and ran along the splenic hilus to usually provide 6 (range, 3 to 10) splenic branches to the spleen. There was a moderate correlation (R=0.6) between the number of splenic branches and the longitudinal length of the spleen. The splenic branches often arose as a trunk or trunks in common with short gastric arteries. The number of common trunk(s) was usually 1 (range, 0 to 4). The data showed that the pattern and number of arterial branches to the spleen varied according to the individual animal, suggesting that such variations should be considered when performing experimental and veterinary surgical treatments in rabbits.     

SiO2纳米颗粒对黄瓜“新唐山秋瓜”幼苗根系 解剖结构和气体交换的影响

硅是地壳内含量第二丰富的元素。近年来,人们开始探索硅的纳米材料在农业领域的运用。为更好地将二氧化硅纳米颗粒应用于园艺植物生产,以黄瓜栽培品种新唐山秋瓜(Cucumissativuscv."QiuguaofNew Tangshan")为材料,采用盆栽的方式研究不同施入量下(0、5、10和20m L)浓度为30%的二氧化硅溶液对黄瓜根系解剖结构、根毛形成、黄瓜叶片光合色素含量、叶绿素荧光参数以及气体交换的影响。结果表明,二氧化硅纳米颗粒对黄瓜的根系解剖结构并没有显著的影响,但对根毛形成的影响较大,在每盆20m L二氧化硅溶液条件下的根毛密度最高。施入不同量的二氧化硅溶液对黄瓜叶片光合色素含量均有提高但并不明显,且在较低施入浓度下,光合作用机制得到一定的提高。黄瓜叶片的净光合速率随着二氧化硅施入量的增加逐渐增加,但施入量对蒸腾速率的影响不明显。综上,二氧化硅纳米颗粒通过促进根毛形成以及提高净光合速率能够提高植物的生长机理,进而促进植物生长和产量的提高,将其运用于农业生产及园艺作物生产上具有广阔前景。     

植物解剖学研究进展

综述了植物解剖学的发展历程,石蜡切片和冷冻切片2种方法在植物相关组织、主要器官的研究进展,以及2种切片方法的技术改进,并展望了国内植物解剖学与计算机领域、分子生物学等其他学科相结合的研究前景。     

Swine viscera preservation in hypersaturated salt solution after alcohol fixation as a preparation method for educational purposes

The use of live animals for educational purposes is an old practice that is still employed in teaching and research institutions. However, there are several objections to this practice, whether for ethical or humanitarian reasons. Surgical techniques teaching using anatomical pieces and/or preserved cadavers promotes greater learning efficiency, provides exercise repetition and increases the confidence and satisfaction of the students when compared to the use of live animals. The current work aimed to analyse the feasibility of using fresh swine urinary bladder and small intestines (jejunum), obtained from slaughterhouses, fixed in 99.8% ethyl alcohol (EA) and preserved in sodium chloride hypersaturated solution (SCHS) at 30%, for 7, 14 and 21 days, as an alternative method for surgical skills training (SST). Swine viscera, fixed in EA and preserved in SCHS, presented a realistic appearance, absence of odour and maintained the viable morphological characteristics during the performance of the operative techniques. Preservation solutions had low cost, were easy to acquire and did not offers risks to human health. Therefore, urinary bladders and small intestines fixed in 99.8% EA for 30 days and maintained in 30% SCHS at different periods were demonstrated as a good viable option as a preservation method for surgical skills training.