HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Search for Related Content

Bhardwaj and Eckert combine observations of floral development with measures of pollen deposition and removal plus experimental pollinations in a multilevel functional analysis of dichogamy in flowering rush, Butomus umbellatus (Butomaceae). Although dichogamy, floral sex change such that flowers disperse and receive pollen at different times, is widespread in plants, few systems have been documented in such detail. In addition to showing that individual flowers are strictly protandrous, they compared observations of inflorescence development to random computer simulations to show that flowers within an inflorescence change sex synchronously. Pollinator observations suggest that synchronous dichogamy has been selected to reduce between-flower self-pollination. (see p.2204)

Major revision for pleurothallids

In the first comprehensive phylogenetic study of its kind for subtribe Pleurothallidinae (Orchidaceae), Pridgeon, Solano, and Chase have resolved many issues, including the artificiality of the genus Pleurothallis (2000 species itself) using DNA sequences from nuclear and plastid genomes. Their data on the pleurothallid orchids, which contain more species than many plant families, should stimulate much discussion. (see p.2286)

Anatomy and phase change in grasses

Sylvester, Parker-Clark, and Murray make a detailed comparison of leaf development during phase change in maize, rice, and bluegrass. Their careful descriptions, highlighted by excellent illustrations, demonstrate three interesting findings: leaf width stabilizes at maturity during the shift to adult development; species vary with respect to the number of embryonic leaves; and hairs, waxes, and other anatomical traits are independent of phase change in rice and bluegrass, but not maize. Intriguingly, the duration of transitional phases and leaf growth reflect individual embryonic patterns of development in all three species. The authors speculate that changes in the timing of embryonic and early post-embryonic development could explain differences in phase change among these species. (see p.2157)

Novel MDH found in soybean

Imsande et al. report on the cloning, expression, and plastid import of a novel malate dehydrogenase (MDH) in soybean. Interestingly, this enzyme, which is similar to a nodule-enhanced MDH found in alfalfa and garden pea, exhibits high homology to a plastid-localized MDH from Arabidopsis. Their data show that the soybean MDH plays a key role in generating carbon skeletons and reducing power for soybean tissues, such as root nodules and seeds, that are active in N assimilation. (see p.2136)

This Article Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Search for Related Content