The subcellular localization of tryptophan decarboxylase, strictosidine synthase and strictosidine glucosidase in suspension cultured cells of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don and Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R. Br. ex Roem. et Schult, was investigated. It was found that tryptophan decarboxylase is an extra-vacuolar enzyme, whereas strictosidine synthase is active inside the vacuole. Strong indications were obtained for the localization of strictosidine glucosidase on the outside of the tonoplast. The results suggest that tryptamine is transported into the vacuole where it is condensed with secologanin to form strictosidine, and that strictosidine passes the tonoplast and is subsequently hydrolysed outside the vacuole.

No abstract

Isolated vacuoles from ajmalicine-producing cell suspensions of Catharanthus roseus accumulated the alkaloid ajmalicine. Dissipation of the transtonoplast pH gradient with nigericin abolished ajmalicine accumulation, whereas dissipation of the transtonoplast potential with valinomycin had no effect. Addition of Mg-ATP resulted in a higher ajmalicine accumulation. Serpentine produced by the cells was largely recovered in isolated vacuoles; in contrast, ajmalicine was lost. Ajmalicine was converted in vitro into serpentine by horseradish basic peroxidases (EC 1.11.1.7). In cultured cells there was a striking conformity between the time course of serpentine content and that of the activity of basic peroxidases. Ajmalicine was converted efficiently into serpentine by basic peroxidases extracted from vacuoles and by intact isolated vacuoles. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that ajmalicine accumulates by an ion-trap mechanism and that the accumulated ajmalicine is converted into serpentine inside the vacuoles. By the transformation of ajmalicine into the charged serpentine a trap is created to retain the alkaloids more efficiently in the vacuole.

No abstract

Additional index words. Lilium longiflorum, photomorphogenesis, thermomorphogenesis, twilight Abstract. Potted bulbs of Lilium longiflorum Thunb. 'Ace' and 'Nellie White' and Lilium (Asiatic hybrid) 'Enchantment' were grown in a greenhouse under ambient photoperiod (APP), 8-h photoperiod by removing twilight from ambient by blackout cloth (8PP), or 8PP extended with 1 hour of low-intensity far-red radiation (9PP). Height of 'Ace', 'Nellie White', and 'Enchantment' increased by 24%, 18%, and 12%, respectively, under APP and by 118%, 100%, and 44%, respectively, under 9PP compared to 8PP. In a second experiment, the effects of reduced irradiance (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% shade) were determined on the same cultivars grown under APP or 8PP. The effects of APP on height were similar in magnitude for 'Ace' and 'Nellie White' but were insignificant for 'Enchantment' compared to 8PP. Shading increased height linearly for all cultivars. The regression was greater under APP (2.8 mm/percent shade) than under 8PP (1.8 mm/ percent shade) for 'Ace' and 'Nellie White' combined. Plant height of 'Enchantment' was less affected by reduced irradiance. For all cultivars, APP or 9PP produced higher stem dry weight compared to 8PP. Shading decreased leaf and bulb dry weight of the Easter lily cultivars.

Controlling plant height without the use of plant growth retardants is one of the goals in future production of potted plants. Light quality with a low red to far-red ratio (R:FR) increases plant height. In this trial, the effects of light quality [R:FR ratio of 0.4, 0.7, and 2.4 (R = 600–700 nm, FR = 700–800 nm)] at the end of day were investigated on potted chrysanthemums using growth chambers. After a 9-h photoperiod, the 30-min end-of-day lighting was provided by light-emitting diodes at low irradiance by maintaining either red = 1 μmol·m−2·s−1 (Rcon) or far-red = 1 μmol·m−2·s−1(FRcon). After 3 weeks of end-of-day lighting, plants given the lowest end-of-day ratios (R:FR of 0.4 or 0.7) were taller than control plants (R:FR = 2.4). For low ratios of R:FR (0.4), the actual intensities of R and FR did not affect plant height, whereas for higher ratios of R:FR (0.7 and 2.4), plant height was greater for FRcon than for Rcon. Leaf area of the lateral side shoots was lower for plants treated with an R:FR of 0.4 compared with those of controls. Dry weight, stem diameter, number of internodes, and number of lateral branches were unaffected by the end-of-day ratio.

No abstract

No abstract