Environmental conditions that promote photorespiration are considered to be a major driving force for the evolution of C4 species from C3 ancestors. The genus Flaveria contains C3 and C4 species as well as a variety of intermediate species. In this study, we compare the water-use efficiency of intermediate Flaveria species to that of C3 and C4 species. The results indicate that under both well-watered and a drought-stress condition, C3-C4 and C4-like intermediacy in Flaveria species improve water-use efficiency as compared to C3 species. and M. C. Dias, W. Brüggemann.
The coffee plant is native to shaded environments and its seedlings are often produced in shaded nurseries. However, some nursery managers, in an effort to improve the acclimation of seedlings to field conditions after transplantation, produce seedlings in full sun exposure. In this study, the morphological and physiological parameters of arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) seedlings produced in full sun (T1) and in shade (T2) were examined. The biomass accumulation and relative growth rate of T1 and T2 seedlings were similar. The T1 seedlings had less biomass allocation to shoots, a lower leaf mass ratio and a lower leaf area ratio; however, they had a greater net assimilation rate (rate of increase in plant mass per unit leaf area), which was associated with a greater net photosynthetic rate. There were no alterations in the concentrations of total chlorophylls or in the chlorophyll a/b ratio when comparing T1 and T2 seedlings. No indications of photoinhibition or photooxidative damage were observed in the T1 plants, which were shown to have a more robust antioxidant system than the T2 plants. Seedlings transferred from shade to full sun (T3) were not capable of utilising the incident extra light to fix CO2. These seedlings showed a remarkable nocturnal retention of zeaxanthin and a significantly increased deepoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle, even at predawn, but the activity of antioxidant enzymes was lower than in the T1 and T2 plants. Despite the acclimation capacity of T3 seedlings to the new light environment, they exhibited chronic photoinhibition and considerable photooxidative damage throughout the seven days following the transfer to full sun exposure. We further discuss the practical implications of producing coffee seedlings in full sunlight and under shade. and G. A. B. K. Moraes ... [et al.].
Během několika uplynulých tisíciletí byla Malta – středozemní souostroví se dvěma velkými a osídlenými ostrovy Malta a Gozo – zcela zbavena lesních porostů s převládajícími borovicí halebskou (Pinus halepensis) a dubem cesmínovitým (Quercus ilex). Současná planě rostoucí vegetace, tvořená převážně degradovanou macchií a formacemi garrigue a frygana, je nyní soustavně potlačována šířícími se sídlišti. Nicméně stojí za to navštívit Maltu a seznámit se s její květenou vyšších rostlin, čítající kolem jednoho tisíce druhů (včetně 36 zajímavých orchidejí), a to zejména v časně jarním období., Malta, a Mediterranean archipelago with two large, inhabited islands, has over the past millennia been totally deprived of forests with dominating Allepo Pine (Pinus halepensis) and Holm Oak (Quercus ilex). The contemporary wild vegetation – mainly of degraded macchia, garrigue and phrygana is being continuously suppressed by urban explosion. Nevertheless, the Maltese wild flora numbering around 1,000 vascular plant species (including 36 interesting orchids) makes a visit to Malta worthwhile, particularly in the early springtime., and Jan Čeřovský.
Rostlinný hormon auxin je známý jako regulátor prodlužování stonku a (ne)aktivity postranních pupenů. Ve skutečnosti ale dokáže mnohem více. Ovšem jen za předpokladu, že se ho správné množství vyskytuje ve správném místě a čase. Příjem auxinového signálu zajišťují receptory uvnitř buňky i na jejím povrchu., The plant hormone auxin is a long-known regulator of shoot elongation and auxiliary bud (in)activity. But there is much more about it – if the right amount of auxin appears at the right place and time. The auxin signal is perceived by both intracellular and surface receptors., and Jiří Libus.
Šídlatky (rod Isoëtes) jsou prastaré plavuně s pozoruhodnými adaptacemi na nedostatek živinových zdrojů ve vlastním prostředí. Jejich unikátní životní strategie je dodnes úspěšná, ne však bezmezně odolná vůči globálním změnám prostředí. Šídlatky tvoří významnou složku vyhraněných vodních i suchozemských ekosystémů a citlivě indikují jejich stav. Detailní znalost anatomie, fyziologie a ekologie těchto živoucích fosilií je klíčem k pochopení fungování a zranitelnosti jejich často rozsáhlých biotopů a zajištění jejich ochrany, případně obnovy., Quillworts (genus Isoëtes) are ancient lycophytes with remarkable adaptations to the sparse nutrient sources in their environment. Their unique life strategy has been successful to these days, but not entirely resistant to the global environmental changes. Quillworts make up an important component in well-defined aquatic and dry-land ecosystems and sensitively indicate their state. A detailed knowledge of the anatomy, physiology and ecology of these living fossils is the key to understanding the operation and vulnerability of their often extensive biotopes and to ensuring their protection or recovery., and Martina Čtvrtlíková.