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At least 757 records · Page 42Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Prevention and control of pests and diseases.

A well-controlled growth environment with plants that are not unduly stressed is essential for Arabidopsis molecular biology research. Even if they do not kill the plants outright, insect pests and microbial pathogens can cause subtle changes in gene expression or plant metabolism that affect experimental results. Therefore, regular scouting for infestations, frequent cleaning of plant growth areas, proper disposal of dead or diseased plant material, and controlled access to the greenhouses or growth chambers will help to make experiments more reproducible. Powdery mildew, a fungal pathogen, and arthropod pests, including aphids, thrips, fungus gnats, and spider mites, are the most common greenhouse problems. Biological control methods such as parasitoid wasps and Bacillus thuringiensis crystal toxin can be used to contain some insect infestations. However, if an infestation gets out of hand despite reasonable precautions, insecticide or fungicide spraying by a licensed applicator may be necessary. Bacterial and viral infections of Arabidopsis, though they do occur, tend to be less common and can usually be controlled by maintaining optimal growth conditions and promptly disposing of dead or diseased plant material.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Beta-glucuronidase as reporter gene: advantages and limitations.

The beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene is used extensively in plant biology studies; this analysis summarizes its advantages and limitations. With the advances in genomic sequencing and computational analyses (including bioinformatics), its application in the study of plant gene expression is now an integral component of modern day plant science. This chapter focuses on the detailed challenges of carrying out GUS studies for both qualitative and quantitative analyses, including the increasing employment of GUS from Bacillus strains, rather than E. coli; the Bacillus GUS genes encode proteins with enhanced properties, such as both increased thermostability and stability in the presence of crosslinking fixatives.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed2006

Growth of plants and preservation of seeds.

This chapter focuses on growth of plants on agar and soil in various environmental settings and especially in growth chambers and greenhouses. Harvesting, seed quality, and seed preservation are also considered. In addition, this chapter elaborates the conditions that are critical to the growth and development of healthy plants that produce high quality and quantity of seeds. The plant and seed management methods are discussed in the chronological order in which they would normally be utilized.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed2006

RNA extraction.

RNA extraction is a routine technique in a molecular biology lab. High quality of RNA extracted from plants is a prerequisite to succeeding in subsequent experiments such as reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Northern hybridization, cDNA library construction, and microarray analysis. Two methods for RNA extraction in Arabidopsis, small-scale and large-scale, are described here. RNA isolated by using the small-scale method can be applied in most downstream applications. The large-scale RNA preparation is recommended to extract RNA for Northern hybridization only.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed2006

Grafting.

Grafting provides a simple way to generate chimeric plants with regions of different genotypes, and thus to assess the cell autonomy of gene action. The technique of grafting has been widely used in other species, but in Arabidopsis, its small size makes the process rather more complicated. However, there are now several well-established grafting procedures available, which we described here, and their use has already contributed greatly to understanding of such processes as shoot branching control, flowering, and disease resistance.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed2006

Synchronization, transformation, and cryopreservation of suspension-cultured cells.

We have recently described the selection of rapidly dividing Arabidopsis cell suspension cultures MM1 and MM2d that provide a powerful platform for plant cell-cycle research. Here we provide detailed protocols and procedures to achieve high levels of synchronization, either by starving the cell cultures of sucrose or by applying the toxin aphidicolin. Cell-cycle activity during cell-cycle reentry (starvation-induced synchrony) or further cell-cycle progression (aphidicolin-induced synchrony) can be conveniently followed by using various validation procedures, such as determination of labeling index and metaphase/anaphase index or flow cytometry. We also describe a procedure that allows clonal transformed cell-suspension lines to be produced using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, and an optimized and straightforward method for the cryopreservation and recovery of both parental and transformed lines which is applicable both to Arabidopsis and the tobacco BY2 cell lines. Cell-cycle synchronization capacity of the parental lines is maintained after both transformation and recovery from cryopreservation. The techniques described here require no specialized equipment and are suitable for routine laboratory use, greatly facilitating the handling and maintenance of cell cultures. The ability to store easily large numbers of transformed lines opens the possibility of using Arabidopsis cell suspension cultures for future high-throughput cell-cycle analysis.

Antimetabolites↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Richard Spruce, botanist-South America's explorer].

Between 1849 and 1864, the English botanist and explorer Richard Spruce carried out a detailed study of the Amazon flora and the costumes of the peoples who inhabited the region. To date a large part of the existing knowledge about several botanical families in the region stems from this scientist's efforts. His comprehensive interests, his detailed and precise descriptions were outstanding: nothing seems to have been left out of his scrutiny and recording aptitude. Not only was Spruce a remarkable botanist but he was also a distinctive anthropologist, linguist (he knew French, Spanish and Portuguese), geologist and geographer, as well as an acute sociological observer of the political systems and habits of the Amazonian and Andean trips in which has has been. He could thus make a considerable contribution to the understanding of indigenous beliefs and practices, as well as to the knowledge and uses of plants within the Amazonian context. Also important was his participation in the economic exploration of local species, particularly as regards the Hevea and the Cinchona genera.

Anthropology↗
PubMed1975

An overview of botanical clearing technique.

Clearing techniques are outlined with reference to their action on the chemical constituents of plant tissue. The most general technique would include pretreatment with solvents, dissolution of protoplasm, dissolution of other substances, bleaching, infiltration with a dense fluid, and staining. Extensive chemical changes go on during these steps and may prevent satisfactory clearing, an important example being the discoloration of phenolic compounds. Rational design of clearing methods for the chemically distinct cell types and tissue seems a likely future development.

Alkalies↗
PubMed1980

Methods for the study of leaf anatomy in palms.

Large size, hardness, combinations of thick-walled fibers and sclereids with thin-walled parenchyma cells, and the occurrence of silica, calcium oxalate, and tannins make anatomical preparations of palm leaves difficult. Samples for anatomical study should encompass one-half a pinna or a comparable portion from palmate and entire leaves including the midrib, all large ribs, and the margin. Similar pieces from herbarium specimens are reconstituted in glycerin alcohol, aerosol OT and distilled water (10:3:90). All samples are fixed in formol-acetic-alcohol (FAA) but stored in glycerin alcohol to minimize hardening. Transverse and longitudinal sections 15 microns thick, epidermal macerations, and pieces for clearing and for scanning electron microscopy are prepared from the FAA fixed material. Samples for electroscanning are gradually changed to 100% acetone, critical point dried with CO2, and coated with 100-300 angstroms of gold. Leaf material for microtomy is treated with hydrofluoric acid, embedded in Paraplast, and sectioned at 15 microns at a temperature of 7.2 C. Paraplast sections are floated directly on a modification of Sass' Adhesive III, mounted unstained or stained in safranin and fast gaee, and observed in polarized light. Epidermal peels are prepared by soaking pieces 5 mm square for 12-24 hours in undiluted bleach. Pieces for observation of transverse veins are cleared by treatment in 5% sodium hydroxide in a 60 C oven, washed rapidly in three changes of distilled water, and placed in one-third strength commercial bleach until clear. The same procedures can be used to prepare reproductive material for anatomical observations, but time schedules must be increased for larger specimens.

Botany↗
PubMed1990

Microcomputer-assisted telephone identification of plants in response to poison control calls.

Plant identification in response to poison control inquiries poses problems for medical staff and botanists alike. Lack of a specimen for verification combined with a limited description by an untrained lay person hinders confident identification of the plant. In view of these problems a computer identification system has been developed for use in answering poison control calls. A database has been compiled for 103 common houseplants described in lay terms, with respect to 56 features each possessing a number of possible states. The database is used with the MS-DOS polyclave program ONLIN6. Identifications are made by entering data for available features, so as to eliminate taxa until a single taxon remains. This system has been used in 112 mock calls in which the resulting identification could be checked. These trials resulted in correct identifications 65% of the time. Errors were attributed primarily to problems related to translation of character states into lay terminology. Revision of the database is planned that will eliminate these problems. Use of the system by hospital personnel is recommended only after graphics screens have been added to the database, and where staff have been specially trained in botanical terminology and in use of the ONLIN6 program.

Botany↗