OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents in the spikes of Schizonepeta tenuifolia.

METHODCompounds were isolated and purified with silica gel, ODS and Sephadex LH-20 gel column chromatography, and their structures were determined by using spectroscopic analysis including MS and NMR.

RESULTNine compounds were isolated and identified as 5, 7-dihydroxy-6, 4'-dimethoxyflavone (1), 5, 7-dihydroxy-6, 3', 4'-trimethoxyflavone (2), ursolic acid (3), 3-hydroxy-4(8)-ene-p-menthane-3(9)-lactone (4), 5, 7, 4'-trihydroxyflavone (5), 5, 4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone (6), hesperidin (7), luteolin (8) and daucesterol (9).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1, 2, 6 were first obtained from the spikes of S. tenuifolia.

Flavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flowering Tops ; chemistry ; Lamiaceae ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

To obtain a primary overview of gene diversity and expression pattern in Lycoris longituba, 4,992 ESTs (Expressed Sequence Tags) from L. longituba bud were sequenced and 4,687 cleaned ESTs were used for gene expression analysis. Clustered by the PHRAP program, 967 contigs and 1,343 singlets were obtained. Blast search showed that 179 contigs and 227 singlets (totally 1,066 ESTs) had homologues in GenBank and 3,621 ESTs were novel.
Base Composition ; Computational Biology ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Flowering Tops ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genetic Variation ; Lycoris ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo determine the self-compatibility of Platycodon grandiflorum and the location of microspore germination on stigma.

METHODThe microspore germination of self-pollination, self-plant-pollination and cross-pollination and the pollination microspore germination in and outside of stigma were observed with fluorescence microscopy.

RESULTMost pollens of self-pollination, self-plant-pollination and cross-pollination can germinate on the stigma, and after 24 hours, pollen tube entered into the ovary successfully. Pollinated on the outer-surface of stigma, microspores could not germinate, but on the inner-surface of the stigma when it dehisced most microspores can germinate.

CONCLUSIONThe compatibility of self-plant-pollination of Platycodon grandiflorum is high. The microspore germination loci is on the inner-surface of the dehisced stigma.

Flowers ; growth & development ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; methods ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Platycodon ; growth & development ; Pollen Tube ; growth & development ; Pollination ; physiology

Inflorescence of Allium thunbergii was found to be severely infected with Fusarium sp. The flower was covered with the fungus and eventually failed to form seeds. The causal fungus was identified as F. proliferatum (Matsushima) Nirenberg based on the cultural and morphological characteristics. Pathogenicity of the fungus was proved by artificial inoculation onto the healthy plants. This is the first record of this disease from Korea.
Allium* ; Flowers* ; Fungi ; Fusarium* ; Inflorescence ; Korea ; Virulence

The endoplasmic reticulum quality control (ER-QC) is a conserved mechanism in surveillance of secreted signaling factors during cell-to-cell communication in eukaryotes. Recent data show that the ER-QC plays important roles in diverse cell-to-cell signaling processes during immune response, vegetative and reproductive development in plants. Pollen tube guidance is a precisely guided cell-cell communication process between the male and female gametophytes during plant reproduction. Recently, the female signal has been identified as small secreted peptides, but how the pollen tube responds to this signal is still unclear. In this review, we intend to summarize the role of ER-QC in plants and discuss the recent advances regarding our understanding of the mechanism of pollen tube response to the female signals.
Animals ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; metabolism ; Humans ; Plant Cells ; metabolism ; Plant Development ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plants ; immunology ; Pollen Tube ; cytology ; growth & development ; immunology ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo study the pollen germination in vitro and pollen tube growth of Scutellaria baicalensis.

METHODTwo years-old S. baicalensis that in the experiment field of Shangluo university were used as the materials. The effects of culture medium, sucrose, PEG, pH value, culture time and temperature on the pollen germination and tube growth of S. baicalensis were investigated using the method of liquid culture.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe results showed that 100 g x L(-1) sucrose was helpful for the germination and growth of pollens. However, higher concentration of sucrose would inhibit strongly pollen germination and the growth of pollen tubes. PEG could accelerate pollen germination and tube growth, and the optimal concentration was 150 g x L(-1). The optimum culture medium was BK and BK + 10% sucrose + 150 g x L(-1) PEG (pH 5.8) , and the latter was more benefit for pollen germination and tube growth. The pollen of germination was better at 25-35 degrees C, and it was the best at 30 degrees C for 2-3 hours, while pollen tube growth was slower at 25 degrees C.

Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; metabolism ; Germination ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Pollen Tube ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Temperature

To determine the optimal condition of pollen germination. The pollen of Prunella vulgaris was cultured in vitro. Pollen germination rates were recorded using 10% H3BO4, 30% Ca(NO3)2, 20% MgSO4 and 10% KNO3 as the basic mineral medium with PEG of different molecular weight, sucrose of various density and multiple pH value. The rates were also measured under different cultivation temperature and pollen acquisition time. The optimal condition of pollen germination is 10% H3 BO4, 30% Ca(NO3)2, 20% MgSO4, 10% KNO3, and 25% PEG-4000 as the medium, with pH about 6. 5 and pollen acquired at the beginning of blossom.
Flowers ; physiology ; Pollen ; physiology ; Prunella ; physiology

OBJECTIVECurrent study on the pollination biology of Tulipa edulis was conducted to investigate its pollination characteristics and to provide references for artificial domestication and breeding of T. edulis.

METHODFlowering dynamics, pollinators, morphology and structure of flower were observed. Different methods were adopted to evaluate the pollen vitality, and benzidine-H2O2 method was used for estimation of the stigma receptivity. Breeding system was evaluated based on out-crossing index (OCI) , pollen-ovule ratio (P/O) and the results of emasculation, bagging and artificial pollination studies.

RESULTThe flower of T. edulis showed typical characteristics of Liliaceae. The pollen remained viable to some extent during all the anthesis and peaked within three days after blossoming. Stigma acceptability peaked in the first day of blossom and dwindled away in the next four days. The type of breeding system of T. edulis was facultative xenogamy, three species of Halictus are the main pollination insects.

CONCLUSIONThe type of breeding system of T. edulis was facultative xenogamy, withal cross-pollination give priority to self-pollination, and the insects play a main role on the pollination of T. edulis, further validation are needed to judge if the wind is helpful to pollination.

Breeding ; Flowers ; Pollen ; Pollination ; Tulipa ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo provide theoretical basis for artificial cross breeding of Angelica dahurica from Sichuan and Hebei Province, the characteristics of stigma receptivity and the viability and life-span of pollen were studied.

METHODThe viability and life-span of pollen were evaluated by TTC (2, 3, 5-triphenyl tetrazlium chloride) test, and the stigma receptivity was estimated by benzidine-H2O2 method.

RESULTThe pollen viability of A. dahurica from Sichuan and Hebei provinces was increased gradually since the bud stage, but those levels had since subsided after the pollen release from craze antheral. There was a little difference in the pollen viability of A. dahurica from Sichuan at different branches. While the order of the pollen viability of A. dahurica from Hebei was main stem < first-order branching < second-order branching. At room temperature, the pollen viability of both decreased during time of anthers dehiscing but also above 50% after 5 days. Compared with 4 degrees C and room temperature, conservation at - 20 degrees C could extend life of the pollen. The stigma had receptivity in 4th day and reached the highest level in the 6th day after blooming.

CONCLUSIONThe optimum artificial pollination times of A. dahurica was 6 days after blooming and choose the pollen in the peak stage of anthers dehiscing.

Angelica ; physiology ; Flowers ; physiology ; Pollen ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo provide the basic guidance for seed breeding and cross-breeding of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis.

METHODThe floral behavior and pollinators were observed; 0.5% TTC solution was used for the pollen viability test and benzidine and -H2O2 was used for estimation of the stigma receptivity. The mating systems were tested by out crossing index (OC1), and pollination experiment was carried out by bagged and emasculated test in the field.

RESULTCommonly, stigma lobes spread slightly, and anthers started presenting the pollen from the outer ring while the flower was just beginning to open. Consequently, the distance between the stigma and its own pollen was relatively far, this "floral behavior" may be conducive to outcrossing. Then the flower entered the later period, while the stigma lobes spread widely, anthers all split, and this "floral behavior" shortened the stigma and its own pollen's distance, which may be conducive to selfing. P. polyphylla was partly protogynous. Stigma life-span was about 10-12 d. After anther dehiscence, the pollen viability maintained about 10% within 2 days, and 20% within 10 days. The value of out crossing index (OC1) was 4. By pollination experiment and pollinators observed, P. polyphylla was self-compatible, but no capacity for autonomous self-fertilization; In natural circumstances, outcrossing fructification rate was low, and mainly anemophilous. Assisted selfing-fertilization fructification rate was higher, spider was the main pollinators.

CONCLUSIONP. polyphylla has a mixed mating system with self-pollination and cross-pollination characteristics. Floral behavior has important adaptive significance in avoiding female and male interference, outcrossing, and delayed selfing. P. polyphylla is ambophily (a combination of both wind and insect pollination), pollinators changes due to environment. Pollen limitation is the main cause of low fructification rate under natural conditions.

Animals ; Breeding ; methods ; Flowers ; growth & development ; Germ Cells, Plant ; physiology ; Insecta ; physiology ; Liliaceae ; genetics ; growth & development ; physiology ; Pollen ; physiology ; Pollination ; Reproduction