Tritiated digoxin binding to (Na+ + K+)-activated adenosine triphosphatase: possible allosteric site

Tritiated H(3)-digoxin specifically binds to a cardiac (Na(+) + K(+))-activated adenosine triphosphatase. In the presence of adenosine triphosphate and other nucleoside di- and triphosphates, binding is stimulated by sodium ion, the apparent rate constant being similar to that reported for phosphorus-32 incorporation from adenosine triphosphate and for the adenosine triphosphatase activity. In the presence of magnesium, manganese, inorganic phosphate, or other ions, sodium ion inhibits binding. The data support an allosteric type of sodium-potassium ion pump.     

The tulip shoot apex. I. Structure and development

The development of the tulip shoot was followed from the time the first cells in the axil of a mother bulb scale became meristematic through bulb scale and leaf production to anthesis of the flower and senescence of the bulb scales and shoot. The periods of activity of the shoot apex were recorded and discussed. The life span of a tulip bulb from initiation to its death can be as long as 41 months, but during this time the apex of the principal axis may be inactive for three separate periods which may total 14 months.     

Light studies in a spacing trial with apple on a dwarfing and a semi-dwarfing rootstock

Light interception by the orchard canopies in a spacing trial with Golden Delicious and Jonathan on M IX and on M II was measured in 1968, 1969 and 1970. In 1969 and 1970 light distribution over the Golden Delicious hedges in the high-density plots was also measured and related to fruit and foliage distribution and to fruit quality. Simultaneously, integrated light readings at 100–200 locations were taken over 24-hour periods, using a photochemical method.Although all plots attained their ceiling yield level in 1967, the 6th year after planting, light interception continued to increase from 1968 to 1970. In the low-density plots — 1100 trees per ha on M IX and 660 trees per ha on M II — the canopies intercepted roughly half of the incident light and yields levelled off at 40 tons per ha. The high-density M IX plot (3300 trees per ha) intercepted two-thirds, the high-density M II plot (2260 trees per ha) more than three-quarters of incident light. Both plots yielded more than 70 tons per ha in 1967 and 1968, but thereafter the yield level dropped, especially for trees on M II, presumably because of mounting inter-tree competition for light.Light levels in the hedges in the high-density plots at equal distances from the hedge perimeter were very much the same for both varieties, for both rootstocks and in the two years. Light levels fell sharply towards the interior and bottom parts of the hedges. The main advantage of the M IX hedge was its smaller cross section, leaving little room for a poorly illuminated centre. At lower light levels weight per fruit and especially fruit colour declined, but the relation between light level and fruit quality was not consistent for both rootstocks and in both years. These inconsistencies could be explained on the basis of differences in pruning system, affecting the type of wood on which the fruit is borne.Fruit was concentrated in the interior part of the hedges, so that a high proportion of the crop suffered from the poor light conditions in this part. Fruit distribution was generally correlated with foliage distribution. In the M IX hedge by far the highest leaf density was found in the centre of the hedge. This is an advantage in comparison with the large leaf area — relatively unproductive and casting much shade — in the top of the M II hedge. Light measurements before and after fruit removal suggested that the shade cast by the fruit is negligible as compared to shading by the foliage.It is concluded that canopy architecture in the high-density M IX plot, with a leaf area index of 2.15, is close to the optimum for single row planting systems in Northwest Europe. Gains in percentage light interception, as in the high-density M II plot, are associated with a greatly inferior light distribution over the canopy, leading to lower yields per unit growth and deterioration of fruit quality. In addition to light, pruning strongly influences fruit quality.     

Nitrogen accumulation induced by phosphorus deficiency in citrus plants

Growth responses and nitrogen constituents were tested in young citrus trees grown on gradually decreasing amounts of phosphorus in greenhouse solution cultures. The phosphorus concentration in dry matter of minus-P leaves dropped to a third of that in control leaves and then remained steady throughout the experiment, while the total nitrogen concentration was low at the beginning and, rising gradually, reached an enormous amount. Nitrogen estimations in minus-P leaves showed the specific dynamics of the soluble nitrogen fraction: its content was low at the onset of the deficiency, and rose rapidly due to intensive accumulation of arginine in the tissues. Under conditions of acute phosphorus deficiency, arginine constituted more than 60% of the free amino acids and arginine nitrogen above 40% of the total, while in normal leaves arginine did not exceed 8% of the free amino acids, and about 1–% of the total.Similar patterns of increased nitrogen level due to arginine accumulation were found in leaves of phosphorus-deficient grapefruit and orange trees under field conditions.     

The relation between method of propagation,plant density and growth,mineral uptake and yield of dasheen (Colocasia antiquorum, Schott.)

Two field experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of method of propagation (including two proposed new methods) and plant density on the growth, mineral uptake and yield of dasheen (Colocasia antiquorum, Schott.).Planting different pieces of “seed” resulted in a higher percentage germination, higher percentage efficiency of solar energy conversion and better growth characters of the plant, in the order: cormel, apical, half-apical, corm piece and quarter-apical piece, respectively.Increasing the plant density decreased the growth characters of the plant and increased the percentage efficiency of solar energy conversion.The nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentrations were not affected by types of dasheen seeds, whereas the absolute amount per plant followed the same pattern of change as the dry matter content.Distance between plants had no statistically significant effect on the concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the plant tissues. However, the absolute amounts of these minerals per plant decreased as the plant population was increased.Planting with the cormel resulted in the highest total yield. However, the difference in total yield between planting with the apical and half-apical pieces was not statistically significant. A similar situation was found when planting with quarter-apical and corm pieces. Therefore, it is recommended that the apical piece is cut into two equal halves in order to use a given amount of apicals to reduce the corm pieces when planting.Increasing the plant population, by reducing the distance between plants from 45 to 30 cm, resulted in an increased yield per hectare. However, reducing the distance between plants to 15 cm resulted in a decrease in yield.     

The effects of some chemical treatments on leaf water conductance of cut,flowering stems of Chrysanthemum morifolium

The leaf water conductance of cut, flowering stems of Chrysanthemum morifolium was measured by diffusion porometry. The stems were placed in solutions of chemicals which have commonly been used in flower preservatives, or which might be expected to affect the physiology of the leaves.In the environmental conditions of our experiments (18° C; 0.8 kPa; 5 W m^?2 visible radiation for 8 h) sucrose (6 %) and abscisic acid (0.001 %) lowered leaf water conductance. Silver nitrate (0.003 %) or 8-hydroxyquinoline sulphate (0.02 %) either had no effect or increased leaf water conductance. We conclude that the latter two substances increase the vase life of cut flowers by affecting the physiology and pathology of the stem rather than the stomatal physiology of the leaf. The leaves of stems standing in high concentrations of sucrose accumulated sucrose and were frequently damaged as a result.The results are discussed with regard to the water relations of the cut flower and the possible use of anti-transpirants.     

Magnetic flux transport on the sun

Although most of the magnetic flux observed on the sun originates in the low-latitude sunspot belts, this flux is gradually dispersed over a much wider range of latitudes by supergranular convective motions and meridional circulation. Numerical simulations show how these transport processes interact over the 11-year sunspot cycle to produce a strong "topknot" polar field, whose existence near sunspot minimum is suggested by the observed strength of the interplanetary magnetic field and by the observed areal extent of polar coronal holes. The required rates of diffusion and flow are consistent with the decay rates of active regions and with the rotational properties of the large-scale solar magnetic field.