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The article presents an interview with Colin Brownlee, a member of the journal's editorial board. He talks about his parents' and teachers' encouragement as the inspiration behind his interest in plant science. He discusses his education, his career achievements, his decision to pursue a career in research, his role model(s), the motivation that keeps him going, his favorite papers published in the journal, and the Venus flytrap and the cacti as his favorite plants.

The article presents a list of names of the persons acknowledged for their expertise, and thanked for the time given in refereeing papers for the December 1, 1996 issue of the journal The New Phytologist. Some of the names included in the list here are L.K. Abbot, S. Avery, G. Bateman, C. Bell, C. Blom, L. Boddy, P. Bonfante, A. Davelos, J. Digby, J. Dightonm E. Dumas, J. Dunlop, R.D. Finlay, M. Pearson, H. Pourter, R. G. West, P.J. Temple, M.A. Tester, K. Thompson, J. Townend, T. Walton and P. Van Dijk.

An interview with plant physiologist Stan D. Wullschleger is presented. Topics covered include the experiences and people who have shaped his interest in plant science, reason for his decision to pursue a career in research and scientific discovery as his primary motivating factor in his day-to-day life as a plant scientist.

The factors driving the evolution of the relative embryo length in Apiaceae were examined. We tested the hypothesis that seeds with large relative embryo length, because of more rapid germination, are beneficial in dry and open habitats and for short-lived species. We also analyzed to what extent delayed germination as a result of embryo growth can be considered a dormancy mechanism., Hypotheses were tested by correlating the relative embryo length with other plant traits, habitat and climatic variables. The adaptive nature of the relative embryo length was determined by comparing the performance of a pure drift, Brownian motion (BM) model of trait evolution with that of a selection-inertia, Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (OU) model., A positive correlation of the relative embryo length with germination speed and negative correlations with the amount of habitat shade, longevity and precipitation were found. An OU model, in which the evolution of longer embryos corresponded to a transition to habitats of high light, or to a short life cycle, outperformed significantly a BM model., The results indicated that the relative embryo length may have evolved as an adaptation to habitat and life cycle, whereas dormancy was mainly related to temperature at the sampling sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

•Here, we used barley ( Hordeum vulgare) grown in normal and compartmented pots to investigate sensitivity to arsenic (As) in the absence of a positive growth response to arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM). •We tested the hypothesis that upon inoculation with AM fungi downregulation of HvPht1;1 and HvPht1;2 genes (encoding high-affinity inorganic orthophosphate (Pi)-uptake systems in a direct pathway via root epidermis and root hairs) and upregulation of the AM-induced HvPht1;8 (encoding the Pi-uptake system responsible for transfer of Pi from the symbiotic interface to cortical cells) play a role in decreased As uptake and hence reduced As sensitivity in AM plants. •Barley did not respond, or responded negatively to colonization by Glomus intraradices in terms of growth. In terms of specific phosphorus (P) uptake (P uptake per g of root) barley was nonresponsive. There was a significant interaction between As treatment and colonization, resulting in a lower As concentration and uptake in AM compared with nonmycorrhizal (NM) plants. •The decreased uptake of As and higher P : As molar ratios in the AM barley can be explained by the operation of the AM pathway as indicated by induction of HvPht1;8 and by down-regulation of HvPht1;1 and HvPht1;2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For three decades, hypotheses relating to the occurrence and function of cyclic nucleotides in higher plants have been highly controversial. Although cyclic nucleotides had been shown to have key regulatory roles in animals and bacteria, investigations with higher plants in the 1970s and early 1980s were criticized on the basis of (i) a lack of specificity of effects apparently elicited by cyclic nucleotides, (ii) the equivocal identification of putative endogenous cyclic nucleotides and (iii) ambiguity in the identification of enzymes connected with cyclic nucleotide. More recent evidence based on more rigorous identification procedures has demonstrated conclusively the presence of cyclic nucleotides, nucleotidyl cyclases and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases in higher plants, and has identified plant processes subject to regulation by cyclic nucleotides. Here we review the history of the debate, the recent evidence establishing the presence of these compounds arid their role; future research objectives are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen and macrofossils of Picea from the Chelford Interstadial (Early Devensian) of England are described. All leaves and cones were referred to P. abies (L.) Karsten and the unimodal size distribution of pollen also suggests only this species was present. The fossil leaves are mostly similar to those of P. abies subspecies obovata(Ledeb) Hulten but the cones are intermediate between subspecies obovata and abies. Occurrence of forms approaching the north-east European subspeicies obovata does not necessarily imply immigration of Piceainto England from the east or north-east during the Early Devensian because similar intermediate forms also occur on the Alps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of Chondropsis semiviridis (FvM. ex Nyl.) Nyl. was mapped for Australia. Studies in gas exchange physiology demonstrated that length of drought is likely to limit distribution of the species. Similarly, it is shown that sensitivity to heat when wet is likely to prevent the species from establishing in arid areas with a summer rainfall season. The surge of respiration upon wetting of lichen thalli noted by other workers was so short for C. semiviridis that it could not affect the limits of its distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]