To study the temporal and spatial dynamics of carbon fixation by Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) in subtropical China, carbon fixation of leaves within the canopy of P. pubescens was measured with a LI-6400 portable photosynthesis system. The results showed that the capability of carbon fixation of P. pubescens leaves had obvious temporal and spatial dynamic variations. It was revealed that there were two peak periods and two low periods in the season variation of carbon fixation capability. Data also revealed that the capability of carbon fixation by five-year-old P. pubescens was more than that of one-year-old and three-year-old. Daily and seasonal carbon fixation showed a negative correlation with the CO(2) concentration. The temporal and spatial dynamics of carbon fixation by P. pubescens described above provided a scientific basis for development of technologies in bamboo timber production.

This review describes the basic principles of electrophysiology using the generation of an action potential in characean internodal cells as a pedagogical tool. Electrophysiology has proven to be a powerful tool in understanding animal physiology and development, yet it has been virtually neglected in the study of plant physiology and development. This review is, in essence, a written account of my personal journey over the past five years to understand the basic principles of electrophysiology so that I can apply them to the study of plant physiology and development. My formal background is in classical botany and cell biology. I have learned electrophysiology by reading many books on physics written for the lay person and by talking informally with many patient biophysicists. I have written this review for the botanist who is unfamiliar with the basics of membrane biology but would like to know that she or he can become familiar with the latest information without much effort. I also wrote it for the neurophysiologist who is proficient in membrane biology but knows little about plant biology (but may want to teach one lecture on "plant action potentials"). And lastly, I wrote this for people interested in the history of science and how the studies of electrical and chemical communication in physiology and development progressed in the botanical and zoological disciplines.

How cells manage without gravity and how they change in the absence of gravity are basic questions that only prolonged life on a Space station will enable us to answer. We know from investigations carried out on various kinds of Space vehicles and stations that profound physiological effects can and often to occur. We need to know more of the basic biochemistry and biophysics both of cells and of whole organisms in conditions of reduced gravity. The unique environment of Space affords plant scientists an unusual opportunity to carry out experiments in microgravity, but some major challenges must be faced before this can be done with confidence. Various laboratory activities that are routine on Earth take on special significance and offer problems that need imaginative resolution before even a relatively simple experiment can be reliably executed on a Space station. For example, scientists might wish to investigate whether adaptive or other changes that have occurred in the environment of Space are retained after return to Earth-normal conditions. Investigators seeking to carry out experiments in the low-gravity environment of Space using cultured cells will need to solve the problem of keeping cultures quiescent for protracted periods before an experiment is initiated, after periodic sampling is carried out, and after the experiment is completed. This review gives an evaluation of a range of strategies that can enable one to manipulate cell physiology and curtail growth dramatically toward this end. These strategies include cryopreservation, chilling, reduced oxygen, gel entrapment strategies, osmotic adjustment, nutrient starvation, pH manipulation, and the use of mitotic inhibitors and growth-retarding chemicals. Cells not only need to be rendered quiescent for protracted periods but they also must be recoverable and further grown if it is so desired. Elaboration of satisfactory procedures for management of cells and tissues at "near zero or minimal growth" will have great value and practical consequences for experimentation on Earth as well as in Space. All of the parameters and conditions and procedural details needed to meet all the specific objectives will be the basis of the design and fabrication of cell culture units for use in the Space environment. It is expected that this will be an evolutionary process.

This review highlights key historical works and the recent research on the monocot lateral meristems. It discusses the terminological issues (elucidating the terminological inconsistency found in the literature concerned), origination of secondary meristems, their morphology and characteristic features of the derivative tissues. Also the monocot cambium response to hormonal and gravitational stimuli is discussed. The summarized inputs in the present note are believed to renew interest in this field, which is important for a more comprehensive understanding of the abnormal secondary growth in the monocotyledons.

Cycads are the most endangered of plant groups based on IUCN Red List assessments; all are in Appendix I or II of CITES, about 40% are within biodiversity 'hotspots,' and the call for action to improve their protection is long-standing. We contend that progress in this direction will not be made until there is better understanding of cycad pollen, seed and tissue biology, which at the moment is limited to relatively few (<10%) species. We review what is known about germplasm (seed and pollen) storage and germination, together with recent developments in the application of contemporary technologies to tissues, such as isotype labelling, biomolecular markers and tissue culture. Whilst progress is being made, we conclude that an acceleration of comparative studies is needed to facilitate the integration of in situ and ex situ conservation programmes to better safeguard endangered cycads.

The Spondioideae subfamily of the Anacardiaceae is widely distributed today in tropical regions. Recent molecular phylogenetic investigations indicate that the Spondioideae are not monophyletic, but rather comprise at least two separate clades that are difficult to distinguish using vegetative and floral characters. Nevertheless, the syndrome of fruit characters traditionally used in identifying the subfamily is useful in discriminating genera of these clades and for identification of both modern and fossil anacardiaceous fruits. Here we document the morphology and anatomy of endocarps for representatives of all extant genera traditionally treated as Spondioideae, plus two genera that have been placed close to them in molecular investigations, and . All genera are characterized by drupe-like fruits with sclerified stones that vary from uni- to multilocular depending on the genus. Germination modes vary throughout the Spondioideae. Some have characteristic plug-like opercula; others have recessed bilabiate germination valves, and still others open by apical flaps or simple slits. Although most currently recognized genera appear to be monophyletic, fruit morphology indicates that current circumscriptions of , and are in need of revision.

is a highly invasive East Asian tree that successfully colonizes several subtropical and temperate areas around the world. Its invasion capacity results from a widespread human use mostly in urban and periurban settings, very abundant fruit and seed production, small bird-dispersed fruits, high germination rates, resprouting capacity, fast growth rates, low herbivory levels and tolerance to a wide range of light, temperature and soil. All these traits contribute to its ability to rapidly increase in abundance, alter biodiversity, landscape ecology and limit its management. This paper reviews the current knowledge on with particular focus on its uses, distribution, invasiveness, ecological and economic impacts and control measures. Most relevant aspect of the review highlight the negative ecological impacts of its potential to continue expanding its range of distribution and the need of further studies on the eco-physiology of the species, economic impact and social perception of its invasion and early warning systems.

To mark the commencement of his retirement as Nathaniel Lord Britton Curator of Botany, and appointment as Curator Emeritus at the New York Botanical Garden, we pay tribute to Robbin Moran and impact on the botanical community with a brief synopsis of his career. Naturalist, fern expert, adored teacher-it is difficult to adequately pay tribute to his accomplishments, and his impact on botany in a single article. Robbin has published four books, 13 monographs of neotropical fern clades, over 170 scientific papers, and dozens of popular articles. He has named 115 new species, five new genera, and one family of ferns. He is eponymized by seven new species and the genus . We recount his earliest days and academic trajectory to become a leading researcher and educator in pteridology. We highlight his major influences, scientific accomplishments, and outreach to the botanical community.

The composition of fluids that mediate fertilization in cycads is described for the first time. Using tandem mass spectrometry, proteomes of two stages of fluid production, megagametophyte fluid and archegonial chamber fluid production, are compared in . These were compared with the proteome of another sexual fluid produced by ovules, the pollination drop proteins. Cycad ovules produce complex liquids immediately prior fertilization. Compared with the pollination drops that mainly had few proteins in classes involved in defense and carbohydrate modification, megagametophyte fluid and archegonial chamber fluid had larger proteomes with many more protein classes, e.g. proteins involved in programmed cell death. Using high-performance liquid chromatography, megagametophyte fluid and archegonial chamber fluid were shown to have elevated concentrations of smaller molecular weight molecules including glucose, pectin and glutamic acid. Compared to megagametophyte fluid, archegonial chamber fluid had elevated pH as well as higher osmolality.