Kröpfl AI¹, VA Deregibus², GA Cecchi³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 390-396, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.390

Abstract We developed a functional model for a shrub steppe vegetation of the eastern Monte Phytogeographical Province in Río Negro (Argentina) with six stable states and 12 transitions, based on the woody encroachment degree, characteristics of the herbaceous layer and the soil surface, and biological crust cover. Information was obtained from letters of naturalists and travelers along the region since the late eighteenth century, reports of old settlers, and our own research work. On the Monte, different functional groups can be distinguished. Our work focused on the three most conspicuous to analyze the dynamics of the system: shrubs, grasses and biological… More >

Pompa-García M¹, E Jurado²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 385-389, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.385

Abstract Arctostaphylos pungens HBK is a dominant species with increasing abundance and distribution in chaparral ecosystems as a result of range management and, possibly, changes in climate. The value of this species for carbon (C) sequestration is unknown, and the standard 50% C out of total tree biomass is used as an approximate value. In this study, we aim to determine the C concentration of the primary components of A. pungens. The total C expressed as a percentage of biomass was determined with a Solids TOC Analyzer. We found the C concentration to vary among components. Leaves exhibited the highest C… More >

Osorio-Córdoba J¹, LL Rodriguez-Verástegui¹, F Díaz de León-Sánchez², E Bosquez-Molina¹, JR Verde-Calvo¹, HB Escalona-Buendía¹, LJ Pérez-F lores², C Pelayo-Zaldívar¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 375-384, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.375

Abstract Cactus stems, the cladodes of Opuntia spp. cacti, are consumed in Mexico and other countries due to their fresh and herbaceous flavor, and because of their widely known nutraceutical benefits. In order to extend the postharvest life of this vegetable, the effect of a modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) was studied in cactus stems of the cultivar Atlixco stored at 4 ± 1 °C for 20 days under three types of atmospheres: (1) air (passive atmosphere), (2) 5 kPa O₂ + 4 kPa CO₂, and (3) N₂. During storage, the titratable acidity decreased and the color of cladodes became darker and… More >

Chen XJ¹, RJ Guo², YJ Tao², X Hu², QL Xu²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 368-374, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.368

Abstract PttKN1 gene (Populus tremula × P. tremuloides KNOTTED1) was isolated from the vascular cambium of a hybrid aspen. Previous studies on transformed plants with the PttKN1 gene suggested that it plays roles in plant development (typically in meristem initiation), maintenance and organogenesis in simple-leaved species. To investigate the gene functions further, sequence analysis of the deduced amino acid was conducted. The results suggested that the gene belongs to the class I KNOX gene (KNOTTED1-like homeobox genes) family and might play important roles in plant development by coding a transcription factor. The gene was introduced into Cardamine hirsuta using the floral… More >

Sinagawa-García SR¹, A Gutiérrez-Díez¹, A Mora-Olivo², MC Juárez-Aragón², JA Torres-Castillo²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 358-367, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.358

Abstract A general biochemical description of an aqueous extract obtained from Ibervillea sonorae root was reported; furthermore, a histological description for the root is included. A bromatological analysis was carried out, and it indicated that the study nutritional variables were similar to those reported in other edible tuberous roots including sweet potatoe, mandioca, bean yam and arracacha. For the first time, the presence of an active proteinase at alkaline pH and the inhibitory activity of trypsin were reported for this root. Several medical and bioactive properties have been attributed to the wereke root. Nevertheless, deeper studies are needed to determinate the… More >

Guan Z-J^1,3,4*, S-B Lu^2*,Y-L Huo⁵, B Guo³, Z-P Guan⁶, Y-H Wei³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 351-357, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.351

Abstract Leaf explants of the HBsAg-transgenic cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) mutant were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium, supplemented with 1.0 mg/L 6-BA and 0.05 mg/L IAA for callus induction, to clarify the physiological and biochemical characteristics of morphogenesis development. Therefore, the physiological and biochemical changes during the development of organogenic shoots and somatic embryos in the mutant were studied. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities of the mutant had only one peak value on the 21st day. Peroxidase (POD) activities of the mutant declined less sharply since the explants were cultured. IAA oxidase activity of the mutant increased steadily until… More >

González-Mendoza D¹, A García-López¹, C Ceceña Duran¹, O Grimaldo-Juarez¹, M Aviles-Marín¹, Y Pérez-Luna², P Álvarez-Gutiérrez²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 345-350, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.345

Abstract We studied the changes in the number of leaves, roots and height on three cultivars of Capsicum anuumm (Jalapeño, Serrano and De árbol) after inoculation with Glomus intraradices FS18 and Glomus Zac-19. Results indicated that Glomus intraradices FS18 produced greater effects on height (6.12 and 5.63 cm) and number of leaves (10.66 and 5.84) in the cultivars “Jalapeño” and “De árbol”, respectively. On the other hand, Glomus zac-19 stimulated the number of leaves and roots in “Serrano” pepper (6.17 leaves and 15.31 roots) and “Arbol” (6.52 leaves and 26.32 roots). Our results demonstrate the capacity of Glomus intraradices FS18 and… More >

Siliquini OA¹, GA Orioli², JC Lobartini²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 338-344, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.338

Abstract Onion (Allium cepa) is an important horticulture crop because of its value as a food with a long shelf life being a relatively non-perishable product. It is very helpful to understand the growth response of the seeded onion crop to conduct appropriate field practices in attaining the highest or optimum yields. A three year field experiment was conducted using a variety of onion Valcatorce INTA, in a randomized block design with five replicates. Treatments were two plant densities and three rates of N application. The bulb growth followed a classical sigmoid curve. During the rapid growing period, the crop had… More >

López-Elías JA, R González-Vega, E Márquez-Ríos, W Torres-Arreola

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 331-337, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.331

Abstract Proteins are one of the major metabolites in biomass from microalgae that constitute the diet of marine organisms grown in aquaculture, and are essential for their growth. The quantity of this component is influenced by nutrients, temperature and light intensity, among others. We examined the growth, biomass production and protein of Chaetoceros muelleri with two sources of nitrogen (nitrate and urea) at three concentrations, using the medium f/2 (0.88 mol/L) (nitrates) as control. The treatments were the medium 2f (3.53 mol/L) and 4f (7.05 mol/L) with NO_3^-, and the medium f/2 (0.88 mol/L), 2f (3.53mol/L) and 4f (7.05 mol/L) with… More >

Díaz López E¹, A Morales Ruíz¹, EJ Vargas Ramírez¹, P Hernández Herrera¹, RC Reséndiz Melgar¹, I Brena Hernández², JM Loeza Corte²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 319-330, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.319

Abstract The effect of six phosphorus levels (0, 40, 80, 120, 160 and 200 kg/ha) on the duration of cumulative leaf area, biomass and agronomic yield was determined in the maize cultivars: Amarillo Almoloya, Cacahuacintle and Condor in 2010 and 2011. Such cultivars were sown in the Cerrillo Piedras Blancas Mexico. A completely randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement was utilized. High phosphorus levels (120, 160 and 200 kg/ha) positively affected the duration of cumulative leaf area; greatest values were obtained in Cacahuacintle. A greater duration of accumulated leaf area contributes to determine high values of biomass accumulation and grain… More >