• Title/Summary/Keyword: plant morphology

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Methanol fixation for scanning electron microscopy of plants

  • Ki Woo Kim
    • Applied Microscopy
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    • v.50
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    • pp.10.1-10.6
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    • 2020
  • Plant specimens for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are commonly treated using standard protocols. Conventional fixatives consist of toxic chemicals such as glutaraldehyde, paraformaldehyde, and osmium tetroxide. In 1996, methanol fixation was reported as a rapid alternative to the standard protocols. If specimens are immersed in methanol for 30 s or longer and critical-point dried, they appear to be comparable in preservation quality to those treated with the chemical fixatives. A modified version that consists of methanol fixation and ethanol dehydration was effective at preserving the tissue morphology and dimensions. These solvent-based fixation and dehydration protocols are regarded as rapid and simple alternatives to standard protocols for SEM of plants.

Reconsideration of the taxonomic characteristics of Callicarpa japonica Thunb. and C. dichotoma (Lour.) K. Koch (Verbenaceae) in Korea (한국산 작살나무와 좀작살나무(마편초과)의 분류학적 형질 재검토)

  • Yoon, Min-Ji;Choi, Bo-Kyung;Hong, Suk-Pyo
    • Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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    • v.42 no.2
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    • pp.141-149
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    • 2012
  • To clarify some ambiguous diagnostic characters of Callicarpa japonica Thunb. and Callicarpa dichotoma (Lour.) K. Koch in Korea (Verbenaceae), the external morphology and micromorphology (leaf, anther, pollen, fruit, in particular endocarp surface and structure) of two taxa are studied and described in detail. It is confirmed that the following characteristics (e.g., the stem outline in a cross-section, the bud shape and length, the corolla tube length and the lobe length, the pattern of the anther dehiscence and length, and the endocarp morphology) are useful for distinguishing these two taxa. In particular, following three characteristics are most useful for an identification: (1) the corolla tube length of C. japonica (2.5-4.6 mm) is longer than that of C. dichotoma (0.7-1.0 mm); (2) the anther is dehiscing by an apical pore at the anthesis of C. japonica, while it is opening by a long fissure from the apex to the base in C. dichotoma; and (3) the edge of the endocarp (lateral view) in C. japonica is concave, while in C. dichotoma it is shown to be flat. On the other hand, the teeth state on the leaf margin and the position of inflorescence are not good diagnostic characteristics for identification. Additionally, the keys for all known Callicarpa taxa in Korea are provided.

Molecular Biodesign of Plant Leaves and Flowers

  • Kim Gyung-Tae
    • Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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    • v.5 no.3
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    • pp.137-142
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    • 2003
  • The morphology of the leaves and the flowers of angiosperms exhibit remarkable diversity. One of the factors showing the greatest variability of leaf organs is the leaf index, namely, the ratio of leaf length to leaf width. In some cases, different varieties of a single species or closely related species can be distinguished by differences in leaf index. To some extent, the leaf index reflects the morphological adaptation of leaves to a particular environment. In addition, the growth of leaf organs is dependent on the extent of the expansion of leaf cells and on cell proliferation in the cellular level. The rates of the division and enlargement of leaf cells at each stage contribute to the final shape of the leaf, and play important roles throughout leaf development. Thus, the control of leaf shape is related to the control of the shape of cells and the size of cells within the leaf. The shape of flower also reflects the shape of leaf, since floral organs are thought to be a derivative of leaf organs. No good tools have been available for studies of the mechanisms that underlie such biodiversity. However, we have recently obtained some information about molecular mechanisms of leaf morphogenesis as a result of studies of leaves of the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. For example, the ANGUSTIFOLIA (AN) gene, a homolog of animal CtBP genes, controls leaf width. AN appears to regulate the polar elongation of leaf cells via control of the arrangement of cortical microtubules. By contrast, the ROTUNDIFOLIA3 (ROT3) gene controls leaf length via the biosynthesis of steroid(s). We provide here an overview of the biodiversity exhibited by the leaf index of angiosperms. Taken together, we can discuss on the possibility of the control of the shapes and size of plant organs by transgenic approaches with the results from basic researches. For example, transgenic plants that overexpressed a wildtype ROT3 gene had longer leaves than parent plants, without any changes in leaf width. Thus, The genes for leaf growth and development, such as ROT3 gene, should be useful tools for the biodesign of plant organs.

Identification of 11 species of Paemo through each original plant and medicines (11종 패모(貝母)의 기원별 자연·약재상태 감별)

  • Lee, Seungho;Ju, Youngsung
    • The Korea Journal of Herbology
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    • v.29 no.6
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    • pp.133-140
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    • 2014
  • Objectives : Paemo is a phlegm-resolving drug with cold properties and classified 5 kinds which come from 11 species of original plant. All the more, according to literature record, 20 species of original plant were used. As a natural result, these are easily to confuse and there are a lot of counterfeit product. So we are to present a differential standard of Paemo. Methods : It was planed a differential standard form through outer appearance of the original plant and outer appearance in the form of each medicines which was collected local market or field for 11 species which is listed in Korea or China pharmacopeia. Results : It was possible to distinguish the orignal plant between Fritillaria and Bolbostemma through its stem shape. In Fritillaria of original plant, it was possible to distinguish through its width of leaf, number of leafy bracts, color and position of flower and shape of leaf apex. In outer appearance in the form of each medicines, there are difference in color and texture of medicine between Fritillaria and Bolbostemma and there are difference in size, shape, size of inner and outter fleshy leaf of bulb, pattern of surface and apex of fleshy leaf of bulb among 10 Fritillaria species. Conclusions : This study presents various differences in the outer appearance of the original plant and the outer appearance in the form of each medicines among Paemo. It will be helpful to further applied research.

Molecular Biodesign of Plant Leaves and Flowers

  • Kim, Gyung-Tae
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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    • 2003.04a
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    • pp.49-55
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    • 2003
  • The morphology of the leaves and the flowers of angiosperms exhibit remarkable diversity. One of the factors showing the greatest variability of leaf organs is the leaf index, namely, the ratio of leaf length to leaf width. In some cases, different varieties of a single species or closely related species can be distinguished by differences in leaf index. To some extent, the leaf index reflects the morphological adaptation of leaves to a particular environment. In addition, the growth of leaf organs is dependent on the extent of the expansion of leaf cells and on cell proliferation in the cellular level. The rates of the division and enlargement of leaf cells at each stage contribute to the final shape of the leaf, and play important roles throughout leaf development. Thus, the control of leaf shape is related to the control of the shape of cells and the size of cells within the leaf. The shape of flower also reflects the shape of leaf, since floral organs are thought to be a derivative of leaf organs. No good tools have been available for studies of the mechanisms that underlie such biodiversity. However, we have recently obtained some information about molecular mechanisms of leaf morphogenesis as a result of studies of leaves of the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. For example, the ANGUSTIFOLIA (AN) gene, a homolog of animal CtBP genes, controls leaf width. AN appears to regulate the polar elongation of leaf cells via control of the arrangement of cortical microtubules. By contrast, the ROTUNDIFOLIA3 (ROT3) gene controls leaf length via the biosynthesis of steroid(s). We provide here an overview of the biodiversity exhibited by the leaf index of angiosperms. Taken together, we can discuss on the possibility of the control of the shapes and size of plant organs by transgenic approaches with the results from basic researches. For example, transgenic plants that overexpressed a wild-type ROT3 gene had longer leaves than parent plants, without any changes in leaf width. Thus, The genes for leaf growth and development, such as ROT3 gene, should be useful tools for the biodesign of plant organs.

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Isolation, characterization, and evaluation of Bacillus thuringiensis isolated from cow milk

  • Kweon, Chang-Hee;Choi, Sang-Yoon;Kwon, Hyog-Young;Kim, Eun-Hye;Kang, Hyun-Mi;Moon, Jin-San;Jang, Geum-Chag;Lee, Hee-Soo;Kang, Seung-Won;Kim, Jong-Man;Pyo, Suhkneung;Rhee, Dong-Kwon
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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    • v.52 no.3
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    • pp.169-176
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    • 2012
  • Probiotics colonize the intestines and exert an antibacterial effect on pathogens. Therefore, probiotics could be used as a preventive agent against lethal infections. To isolate probiotic microorganisms, 116 bacterial strains were isolated from healthy cow's milk and were subjected to Gram-stain, morphology and biochemical analyses, Vitek analysis, and 16S rRNA analysis. One of the strains identified as Bacillus (B.) thuringiensis 87 was found to grow very well at pH 4.0~7.0 and to be resistant to high concentrations of bile salts (0.3~0.9% w/v). B. thuringiensis was susceptible to the antibiotics used in the treatment of bovine mastitis, yet it exhibited an antimicrobial effect against Staphylococcus (S.) aureus 305. Moreover, it protected mice from experimental lethal infections of E. coli O55, Salmonella typhimurium 01D, and S. aureus 305 through a significant induction of interferon-${\gamma}$, even at four-week post-administration of B. thuringiensis. Although oral administration of B. thuringiensis 87 did not provide significant protection against these lethal challenges, these results suggest that B. thuringiensis 87 could be a feasible candidate as a probiotic strain.

Effect of post-treatment routes on the performance of PVDF-TEOS hollow fiber membranes

  • Shadia R. Tewfik;Mohamed H. Sorour;Hayam F. Shaalan;Heba A. Hani;Abdelghani G. Abulnour;Marwa M. El Sayed;Yomna O. Mostafa;Mahmoud A. Eltoukhy
    • Membrane and Water Treatment
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    • v.14 no.2
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    • pp.85-93
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    • 2023
  • Membrane separation is widely used for several applications such as water treatment, membrane reactors and climate change. Cross-linked organic-inorganic hybrid polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) / Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was adopted for the preparation of optimized hollow membrane (HFM) for membrane distillation or other low pressure separators for mechanical properties and permeability under varying pretreatment schemes. HFMs were prepared on semi-pilot membrane fabrication system. Novel adopted post-treatment schemes involved soaking in glycerol, magnesium sulphate (MgSO4), sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), and isopropanol for different durations. All fibers were characterized for morphology using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), surface roughness using atomic force microscope (AFM), elemental composition by examining Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), water contact angle (CA°) and porosity. The performance of the fibers was evaluated for pure water permeation flux (PWF). Post-treatment with MgSO4 gave the highest both tensile modulus and flux. Assessment of properties and performance revealed comparable results with other organic-inorganic separators, HF or flat. In spite of few reported data on post treatment using MgSO4 in presence of TEOS, this proves the potential of low cost treatment without negative impact on other membrane properties. The flux is also comparable with hypochlorite which manifests substantial precaution requirements in actual industrial use.The relatively high values of flux/bar for sample treated with TEOS, post treated with MgSO4 and hypochlorite are 88 and 82 LMH/bar respectively.

Achene wall anatomy and surface sculpturing of Launaea Cass. (Compositae: Cichorieae) with notes on their systematic significance

  • Zareh, Momen Mustafa;Faried, Ahmed Mohamed;Mohamed, Mona Hassan
    • Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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    • v.46 no.2
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    • pp.187-198
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    • 2016
  • This is the first study to deal in-depth with the achene ultra-structure of the genus Launaea Cass. in Egypt. It focuses on 12 taxa belonging to 10 species of this genus. The achene wall anatomy and surface sculpturing of those taxa were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Important aspects of the investigated taxa based on the achene characters as well as SEM micrographs of the achene surface and anatomical sections are given. Main and secondary costa of the inner achenes are used for easy differentiation between L. intybacea and L. massauensis.

Morphology and Protein Pattern During Microspore-derived Embryogenesis of Brassica napus (유채 소포자 유래 배의 발달과정에 따른 형태와 단백질 양상)

  • 윤석준
    • Journal of Plant Biology
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    • v.36 no.4
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    • pp.399-406
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    • 1993
  • 유채(Brassica napus L. cv. Topas) 소포자 배양에 의한 기내 배발생 과정을 관찰하고 발생과정에 따른 총단백질의 변화 양상을 이차원 전기영동을 통하여 분석하였다. 배양에 적합한 소포자의 발달 단계는 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) 형광염색으로 핵상관찰을 통하여 결정하였다. 최초의 소포자 생존율은 63.9%였으며 이러한 생존율의 차이로 배양초기에 소포자의 이형성이 나타났다. 배 발달 경로에 따른 최초의 세포분열은 화분벽 안에서 균등분열로 시작되어 배병의 발달이 선행된 후 배 발생이 일어났으며, 구형, 심장형, 어뢰형으로의 배 발달은 여러 조직의 분화와 더불어 빠르게 진행되었다. 소포자배 발달과정을 치상단계의 소포자, 배양 3일째의 초기 분열세포, 구형 및 심장형배, 어뢰형배, 성숙한 자엽단계의 배 등의 5단계로 나누어 각각 2차원 전기영동을 수행한 결과, 최초 소포자 단계에서 나타났던 23개의 단백질들은 배 달달 경로로 진행됨에 따라 사라지고, 배양 3일째에는 8개의 단백질이 특이적 또는 지속적으로 발현되었다. 배의 발달과 더불어 20∼50 kD 사이에서 총 42개의 단백질이 급격히 나타나거나 또는 후기 배로 진행하면서 점차적으로 발현되었다.

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Phylogenetic analysiccccccccc of the genus Stemphylium based on elongation factor -1 alpha and calmodulin gene squences

  • Kong, D.W.;Cho, H.S.;Yu, S.H.
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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    • 2003.10a
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    • pp.117.2-117
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    • 2003
  • The importance and diversity of the genus Stemphylium highlights the need for accurate identification of species. However, many Stemphylium isolates have been misidentified due to the use of spore size as the only identifying character. Molecular phylogenetic analyses were performed on fifty-four isolates covering 9 Stemphylium species collected in Korea. Phylogenetic analysis of the translation elongation factor -1 alpha (EF-1) and the calmodulin gene sequence data showed that Stemphylium species were segregated into seven distinct groups, most of w hichcorrelated with species identified by morphology. Analysis of EF-1 in particular was useful for establishing well- supported relationships among the species of Stemphylium.

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