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This study explored the potential of three local microalgal isolates as feed for oyster larvae in laboratory‐rearing experiments, towards the optimisation of seed production of Crassostrea tulipa to support its large‐scale farming along the West African coast. Three species of local microalgae—Rhodomonas sp., Nannochloropsis sp. and Pseudanabaena sp.—were isolated from waters off the coast of Ghana, West Africa, following a serial dilution technique. The growth performance of the isolates was assessed in the laboratory through daily estimation of cell density until the stationary phase was observed. Characterisation of the microalgal isolates was carried out by estimation of their biovolume, carbon content and energy content. Biovolumes of the microalgae were calculated from the estimated equivalent spherical diameters using proposed geometric shapes and formulae. Carbon weight and carbon energy content were subsequently calculated using derived conversions. The three microalgal isolates showed potential for large‐scale cultivation in the laboratory with marked differences in daily increases in cell densities. Nannochloropsis sp. and Rhodomonas sp. recorded the highest and the lowest peak densities of 2.4 × 105 and 1.5 × 105 cell mL−1, respectively, from an initial inoculating cell density of 1.05 × 105 cell mL−1. The estimated mean biovolumes of Rhodomonas sp., Nannochloropsis sp. and Pseudanabaena sp. were 238.9, 8.182 and 42.42 µm3, respectively, and the corresponding derived carbon energy contents were 1.7 × 10−6, 7.13 × 10−8 and 1.05 × 10−7 J, respectively. Results from a laboratory rearing experiment indicated that the individual microalgal isolates supported the growth and survival of oyster larvae at different scales, but a mixed diet of the three promoted superior growth and survival of C. tulipa larvae. The three local microalgal isolates‐ Rhodomonas sp., Nannochloropsis sp., and Pseudanabaena sp.‐ were well adapted to laboratory culture conditions, and the observed differences in growth and survival of the oyster larvae fed on these algal diets could be due to the differences in diet properties and biochemical compositions of the different species. A combination of the three algal diets, however, provided complementaery nutrients for the optimal growth and survival of C. tulipa larvae. The outcome of this study shows that local microalgal isolates have the potential to support hatchery rearing of C. tulipa, which is essential for the development of commercial mangrove oyster aquaculture in West Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The floral coloration of tulip flowers is one of the most prominent traits contributing to its high ornamental value. The molecular mechanisms of petal coloration remain elusive in tulip species. In this study, we performed comparative metabolome and transcriptome analyses using four tulip cultivars with distinguished petal colors. Four types of anthocyanins were identified, including cyanidin derivatives and pelargonidin derivatives. Comparative transcriptome analysis identified 22,303 differential expressed genes (DEGs) from the four cultivars, and 2589 DEGs were commonly regulated in three comparison groups (colored vs. white cultivar), including anthocyanins biosynthesis‐related genes and regulatory transcription factors. Two basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors, TgbHLH42‐1 and TgbHLH42‐2, with differential expression levels among cultivars and petal developmental stages, have high homology to TRANSPARENT TESTA 8 (AtTT8) of Arabidopsis. The anthocyanins accumulation in TgbHLH42‐1 overexpressing (OE) seedlings was markedly greater than that in wild‐type seedlings in the presence of methyl jasmonate (MeJA), but not for TgbHLH42‐2 OE seedlings. Both TgbHLH42‐1 and TgbHLH42‐2 restored pigmentation defects in tt8 mutant seeds after complementation assay. TgbHLH42‐1 could interact with MYB protein AtPAP1 to synergistically activate the transcription of AtDFR, whereas TgbHLH42‐2 failed to. Silencing TgbHLH42‐1 or TgbHLH42‐2 individually could not, but simultaneously silencing both TgbHLH42 could reduce the anthocyanin in tulip petals. These results indicate that TgbHLH42‐1 and TgbHLH42‐2 function partially redundantly to positively regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis during tulip petal coloration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the effects of environmental parameters on the reproductive cycle of shellfish is an essential tool for successful hatchery conditioning management and, consequently, for seed supply to the industry. For the tropical oyster, Crassostrea tulipa, little is known about the factors affecting the maturation process and reproduction, but there are indications that salinity may be of importance. Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of salinity on the reproductive cycle of broodstock of C. tulipa. In the first experiment, oysters were reared in five salinities (40, 35, 30, 25, and 20) for 40 days and gonad histological samples were collected regularly. In a follow up experiment, oysters were reared in variable salinity conditions changing from 40 to 30 or from 20 to 30 over a period of 40 days. Salinity was found to affect the reproductive cycle of C. tulipa. Oysters kept in constant salinity of 30 showed a higher condition index compared to animals in other salinities, with most of the animals in the prespawning stage. Salinity variation was also shown to affect C. tulipa maturation. The prespawning stage was the most observed reproductive stage in low salinity, and high salinity induced a resting stage in the female animals. The results are considered the first step towards developing a protocol for the conditioning of C. tulipa in hatchery conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alsop's first business partner of two decades, John Lyall describes their formative years as students at the Architectural Association in London, the influence of various members of Archigram, and sharing a house in Southeast London's not‐so‐salubrious Ladywell district. He recounts a world of music gigs, designing events and parties, and the offices they worked for as young architects before forming their fledgling practice in the 1970s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tulipa suaveolens Roth is a decorative bulbous, polycarpic species in the Liliaceae family. Currently, the species populations are declining due to the degradation of natural steppes. In the present article, we evaluated the genetic diversity of 216 specimens from 22 natural T. suaveolens localities in the European part of the species range using 10 inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) yielded 250 unambiguous and reproducible polymorphic bands with a mean polymorphism information content (PIC) value of 0.27. Neither the principal component analysis nor the clustering method split the dataset. However, the Bayesian model‐based STRUCTURE analysis detected two genetic clusters of T. suaveolens. The analysis of the biogeographical distributional pattern of the revealed genetic groups confirmed our hypothesis that the evolution and distribution of T. suaveolens were likely affected by the Early Khvalynian transgression of the Caspian Sea and the following Enotayevsk regression. Furthermore, this hypothesis was supported by the results of the NEW HYBRIDS analysis identifying the specimens from the populations located outside the Early Khvalynian flooding limit as pure parents, while the specimens of the populations within the flooding limit were classified as backcrosses and second generation hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a research article published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Dillip Kumar Chand and his team from the Molecular Architecture Laboratory at IIT Madras demonstrate a cyclically operated three-state supramolecular switching phenomenon. The states A and B, represented by guest-bound Pd2L4-type coordination cages, can be interconverted by adding a suitable base or acid. The cover of the journal features an image of the Kashmir Tulip garden, with the cationic pyrylium units in the coordination cage mapped with the polycyclic pyrylium pigments of tulips. The article provides valuable insights into self-assembled coordination cages and their transformations. [Extracted from the article]

In this article from Angewandte Chemie, Dillip Kumar Chand et al. from the Molecular Architecture Laboratory at IIT Madras demonstrate a cyclically operated three-state supramolecular switching phenomenon. The states A and B, represented by guest-bound Pd2L4-type coordination cages, can be interconverted by adding a suitable base or acid. The cover of the article features an image of the Kashmir Tulip garden, with the cationic pyrylium units in the coordination cage mapped with the polycyclic pyrylium pigments of the tulips. The authors of the article are Vellaiyadevan Sivalingam, Minaz Parbin, Shobhana Krishnaswamy, and Dillip Kumar Chand. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Purple tulip extract is a rich source of flavonoids which are powerful antioxidants and can hence be considered as an ideal candidate for use in skin care products. Aims: We aimed to evaluate the effects of purple tulip extract on skin quality and to determine its molecular modes of interaction. Methods: A pangenomic study on human skin fibroblasts was carried out to analyze multiple changes in gene expression. Ex vivo studies of human skin explants exposed to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation or H2O2 were performed to assess modulations of protein expression. Finally, a clinical assay was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of purple tulip extract on skin appearance and condition of aged women. Results: Genetic modulation analyses led us to infer the induction of many biological functions including cell differentiation, proliferation, migration, inflammatory responses, and matrix remodeling. The ex vivo studies revealed an enhancement of the collagen network and increased expression of glycosaminoglycans (GAG), fibronectin, and collagen VI. Finally, the clinical study highlighted the potential anti‐aging properties of the purple tulip extract which decreased the relaxation of the oval face and improved skin elasticity after 28 days of treatment. Significant reductions of the length and depth of the nasolabial wrinkles were also observed. Conclusion: Our genomics data on the effect of purple tulip extract on the ex vivo UV‐challenged skin showed that genes responsible for, among others, the upkeep of the skin, such as collagen induction, immune cell proliferation, and epidermal repair, were all up‐regulated. More importantly, the clinical study corroborated these data by the visible and measurable effects of the topical purple tulip extract on the aged skin of 22 women, further demonstrating the beneficial impact of the extract on aged skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tulip poplar is an important component of the eastern deciduous forest and one of the few diffuse‐porous tree species with indeterminate apical growth in North America for which there are substantial dendroecological data. This dendroecological study evaluated correlations between radial growth of tulip poplar and monthly, seasonal, and annual climate variables and how these correlations varied across time and spatial climate gradients. The strongest and most spatially consistent correlations were with climate variables related to site water balance, especially precipitation. Growth was positively correlated with climate variables related to site water balance during the months of May through July of the year the annual ring forms and during the previous year growing season and autumn. Growth was negatively correlated with prior year growing season maximum temperature, but positively correlated with prior winter minimum temperature. There was some evidence of temporal variation in growth–climate associations between 1900 and 2016, but the climate variables with the strongest associations were consistent across different time periods. Correlations with climate variables related to water stress increased from east to west as precipitation decreased, but there was no spatial trend in correlations with growing season temperature from north to south as temperature increases. Strength of positive correlations with winter temperature increased from north to south. Growth of tulip poplar will likely be adversely affected if drought frequency or severity increases during the twenty‐first century. Increased winter temperature would likely have a positive influence on growth during the subsequent growing season in some parts of the species range. Radial growth of tulip poplar is most affected by climate conditions during a narrow time period early in the growing season, similar to results obtained for multiple oak species and a few other diffuse‐porous species in eastern North America. Simulation modelers might consider the phenology of these correlations to formulate more biologically realistic tree climate response functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Crab spiders (Thomisidae) are common flower‐visiting spiders that ambush prey on inflorescences. As such, they require specific flowers or substrates for hunting, which are most often selected using sensory cues (e.g. vision). However, few studies have examined the visual preference of crab spiders for particular flowers. In this study, the visual preferences of the crab spider Ebrechtella tricuspidata for different inflorescence characteristics (e.g. colour and shape) were investigated. 2. The results showed that adult spiders explored all colours and shapes, whereas juvenile spiders displayed an overall preference for long (red) and short (purple) wavelength colours. Thus, differences in colour were not particularly important for E. tricuspidata with regard to visual attractiveness and selection. 3. However, inflorescence shape (e.g. tulip) was found to be a more desirable trait for selection, which was probably due to the provision of shelter. 4. These results also suggest that male preference for female spiders depended somewhat on the background colour (wavelength) of the flower on which the female was located. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We found functionally male individuals in an otherwise hermaphroditic population of Tulipa pumila (Liliaceae) located in Tuscany (central Italy). We investigated the sex ratio of this population, followed by morphometric analyses of the scape, leaves and flowers, and tests on pollen germinability and seed number and mass, in order to infer which sexual strategy produced the observed co‐occurrence of male and hermaphrodite individuals. We found that sex ratio deviated from 1:1, and functionally male individuals showed a smaller plant size and a reduced pollen fitness (germinability and siring ability) compared to hermaphrodites. These findings point to a resource‐dependent sexual allocation strategy, probably associated with gender diphasy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the preparation of the treatment of the genus Tulipa for the Flora of Iran, a problem was encountered in the delimitation of species linked to T. schrenkii by previous authors. These include the taxa T. armena, T. faribae and T. gesneriana sensu Hall, which are similar in tunic hairiness and perianth size and colour. The most important herbaria of Iran were visited and the species of the genus were studied in the field during excursions to different parts of Iran. Based on available materials, including herbarium specimens, type specimens photographs and comparison with descriptions, the following results were obtained. T. schrenkii was not found in Iran, although previously recorded in the Flora Iranica. T. armena is recognized from Iran and is well distributed there. The taxa previously recognized as T. faribae and T. gesneriana sensu Hall cannot be distinguished from T. armena and the later name T. faribae thus becomes a synonym. A key is provided to the twelve species recognized for Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Fritillaria forbesii Baker from south‐western Turkey is illustrated and the history of its discovery and present distribution around Fethiye are given. It is compared with the recently‐described Fritillaria mughlae Tekşen & Aytaç, a serpentine endemic from nearby Marmaris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cover Image Tulipa pumila. This photo was taken by Sandro Pratesi at Doccino at the municipality of Riparbella, province of Pisa, Tuscany, Italy (DOI: 10.1111/1442-1984.12267). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Tulip, belonging to the genus Tulipa and family Liliaceae, is a spring-blooming perennial that grows from bulbs. Owing to manual handling, contact dermatitis can occur in professionals at any stage of the growth cycle of the tulip plant. Objectives To determine the clinical pattern of contact dermatitis resulting from tulip plant cultivation, and to assess contact allergy in workers coming into contact with this plant. Methods One hundred and sixty-four tulip workers were screened, and 48 patients with suspected contact dermatitis were patch tested with 39 allergens, including haptens from the Indian baseline series, a plant series, and extracts from different parts of the tulip plant. Results Thirty-nine positive patch test reactions were observed in 21 patients. Seventeen patients showed positive reactions to either α- methylene-γ-butyrolactone or to tulip plant extract. Clinical relevance was observed for 13 of 17 positive patch test reactions. Conclusions Contact dermatitis is an important health hazard in workers dealing with tulip bulbs. Further studies to identify and isolate other possible tulip allergens, and to quantify the amounts of allergens in different parts of the tulip plant, are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moreover, a comparison of these taxon names in the Plant Search tool of Botanic Garden Conservation International (BGCI) reveals that under I T. tarda i 106 ex-situ collections are noted, while under I T. urumiensis i only 60 ex-situ collections are recorded (BGCI, 2022). For these reasons, we here propose the rejection of the name I T. urumiensis i , so that I T. tarda i will become the correct name of this species. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents case studies of 37-year-old female and 59-year-old female who were diagnosed with contact dermatitis developed due to Eucalyptus species. It mentions that flowers such as chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum cultivars), tulips (Tulipa cultivars), and Peruvian lilies (Alstroemeria cultivars) are frequent and potent plant sensitizers. It presents information on constituent of eucalyptus oil.

The aim of this study was to investigate the drying kinetics and thermal degradation of anthocyanin and other phenolic compounds of tulip and poppy petals, as potential source of natural colorant, under both oven and vacuum drying processes at 45, 55 and 65C. The novelty of the study is to be the first attempt on the anthocyanin degradation and drying characteristic of tulip and poppy petals during drying process. Drying rate in vacuum drying was greater than that of oven drying. Drying characteristic of the petals was described by selected six thin layer models. Midilli-Kucuk model was found to be the best model (R² > 0.99). Vacuum drying at 55C was the best suitable drying condition for the preservation of anthocyanin content. Total color differences (ΔE) significantly changed, depending on the drying temperature. Lowest ΔE values were obtained in samples dried at 45C for tulip petals and at 65C for poppy petals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tulips were grown under field conditions from mid-November through early-June. Plants were harvested and dissected into eight organs on twenty-one dates. These parts were dried, weighed, and analyzed for N, P, K, Ca, and Mg. A transition (as determined by curve join points) from a linear to a steep negative cubic response occurred prior to shoot emergence for N (82 days after planting (DAP)), at shoot emergence for K (93 DAP) and Ca (94 DAP), and after shoot emergence for Mg (102 DAP) and dry matter (118 DAP). A transition from a linear to a steeper linear response occurred at shoot emergence for P (93 DAP). Growth, organ development, and nutrient accumulation occurred continuously from planting to maturity (188 DAP), except for K which did not accumulate during the initial linear phase. Since the increase in accumulation of all five nutrients preceded the dry matter accumulation, these nutrients could be used as predictors in growth models. Practical implications from this study include the importance of maintaining soil Ca levels through liming and applying the N, P, and Mg as split applications with smaller rates at planting and larger rates at emergence. The entire K application may be applied at emergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

6-Tuliposides A (PosA) and B (PosB), which are the major secondary metabolites in tulip ( Tulipa gesneriana), are enzymatically converted to the antimicrobial lactonized aglycons, tulipalins A (PaA) and B (PaB), respectively. We recently identified a PosA-converting enzyme ( TCEA) as the first reported member of the lactone-forming carboxylesterases. Herein, we describe the identification of another lactone-forming carboxylesterase, PosB-converting enzyme ( TCEB), which preferentially reacts with PosB to give PaB. This enzyme was isolated from tulip pollen, which showed high PosB-converting activity. Purified TCEB exhibited greater activity towards PosB than PosA, which was contrary to that of the TCEA. Novel cDNA ( Tg TCEB1) encoding the TCEB was isolated from tulip pollen. Tg TCEB1 belonged to the carboxylesterase family and was approximately 50% identical to the Tg TCEA polypeptides. Functional characterization of the recombinant enzyme verified that Tg TCEB1 catalyzed the conversion of PosB to PaB with an activity comparable with the native TCEB. RT- qPCR analysis of each part of plant revealed that Tg TCEB1 transcripts were limited almost exclusively to the pollen. Furthermore, the immunostaining of the anther cross-section using anti-Tg TCEB1 polyclonal antibody verified that Tg TCEB1 was specifically expressed in the pollen grains, but not in the anther cells. N-terminal transit peptide of Tg TCEB1 was shown to function as plastid-targeted signal. Taken together, these results indicate that mature Tg TCEB1 is specifically localized in plastids of pollen grains. Interestingly, PosB, the substrate of Tg TCEB1, accumulated on the pollen surface, but not in the intracellular spaces of pollen grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity and distribution of the genus Tulipa in Uzbekistan are discussed; 34 taxa of Tulipa are recognized in Uzbekistan. The taxa were mapped using GIS software and their distributions were analyzed. Six species are endemic to the country. A national check-list of Tulipa was created based on the classification developed by Zonneveld (2009). 'Hot spot' areas of tulip diversity in Uzbekistan are western Tien-Shan (18 taxa), the western Pamir-Alay mountains (18 taxa) and the Turan lowland (5 taxa). An assessment of rare tulip species according to IUCN red list categories and criteria was performed for the first time for Uzbekistan. Evaluation of the latest classification of Tulipa clearly shows that further studies are required to arrive at a natural classification of the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Tulipa intermedia, collected in the Ferghana Depression is described. The new species belongs to section T. sect. Kolpakowskianae Raamsd. ex Zonn. & Veldkamp. It is similar to T. scharipovii Tojibaev and T. talassica Lazkov but is distinguished by morphological characters of bulbs and flowers and by its ecology, growing only in Artemisia steppe on plains and in low foothills with gravelly slopes. From T. scharipovii, the new species differs by non-coriaceous and strongly prolongated bulb tunics, pubescence of tunics, shorter stem, shape of outer petals and filaments, and by its pale yellow (not green) bottle-shaped ovary. Two varieties of T. intermedia differing in the colour of tepals and filaments were observed growing together and are formally described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporal flower closure is a non-morphological floral character of adaptive significance for growth of some species in extreme environments, and it has important implications for plant reproductive success. Flowers of Tulipa species responded to changes in temperature and closed temporarily at low temperatures, but they reopened when temperatures increased. In this study, we determined the effects of temporal flower closure of Tulipa iliensis Regel. on mating pattern, flower microenvironmental temperature, and sexual organ functions during exposure to low temperatures, rainfall, and wind. First, flowers of T. iliensis were incompletely herkogamous with stamens longer than the pistil. Floral closure resulted in the contact of dehisced anthers with the stigma and auto-pollen deposition on the stigma, thus facilitating automatic self-pollination. Second, floral closure maintained the temperature inside the flower, providing a stable microenvironment that promoted pollen germination and avoided a decline in stigma receptivity. Third, flower closure of T. iliensis before rainstorms avoided flushing of pollen from anthers and helped maintain both pollen viability and stigma receptivity during exposure to rain. Finally, flower closure maintained pollen clumping in the anthers during exposure to wind, thereby enhancing pollination efficiency by pollinators and/or automatic selfing. Therefore, temporal flower closure of T. iliensis is an important floral strategy in facilitating automatic selfing, extending the functional period of male and female organs, and it thus ensures reproductive success in the unpredictable early spring environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously, we have characterized two tonoplast intrinsic proteins ( TIPs) and four plasma membrane intrinsic proteins ( PIPs) from the 2-day-old petals of tulip ( Tulipa gesneriana). In this study, we analyzed the development of tulip petals and stems, temperature-dependent petal movement, the amount of 3H2O transported into petals and stems during petal movement, and the transcript levels of two TIP ( TgTIP1;1 and TgTIP1;2) and four TgPIP genes in petals and stems, from the first day of petal opening to day 12. The development of the petals and stems was completed by days 6 and 9, respectively, after the first day of petal opening. Temperature-dependent petal movement and the amount of 3H2O that was transported into petals could be detected at significant levels up to day 6 with petal movement reaching a peak at day 3. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that TgTIP1;1 and TgTIP1;2 were expressed ubiquitously in petals, stems, leaves, bulbs and roots. However, the expression level of TgTIP1;2 was very low in bulbs. The expression of both TgTIP1 genes was upregulated in close association with the development of petals but not with that of the stem. The four TgPIP genes were expressed at almost the same level during the development of the petals and the stem. However, the levels of the TgTIP1 and TgPIP transcripts in petals decreased during the course of petal wilting from day 9 onwards. These results suggest that TgTIP1;1 and TgTIP1;2 may contribute to petal development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new combination Tulipa undulatifolia var. micheliana is made and two Iranian forms are illustrated and described. The history and classification of this tulip are discussed and notes are provided on its distribution, natural habitat and cultivation requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Tulipa koyuncui Eker & Babaç sp. nov. (Liliaceae), is described from Turkey. Diagnostic characters, description, detailed illustration, geographical distribution, conservation status, chromosome number, observations and taxonomic comments on the new species are given. The new species is compared with the closely related species T. biflora Pall. and T. sylvestris L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue color in flowers is due mainly to anthocyanins, and a considerable part of blue coloration can be attributed to metal-complexed anthocyanins. However, the mechanism of metal ion transport into vacuoles and subsequent flower color development has yet to be fully explored. Previously, we studied the mechanism of blue color development specifically at the bottom of the inner perianth in purple tulip petals of Tulipa gesneriana cv. Murasakizuisho. We found that differences in iron content were associated with the development of blue- and purple-colored cells. Here, we identify a vacuolar iron transporter in T. gesneriana ( TgVit1), and characterize the localization and function of this transporter protein in tulip petals. The amino acid sequence of TgVit1 is 85% similar that of the Arabidopsis thaliana vacuolar iron transporter AtVIT1, and also showed similarity to the AtVIT1 homolog in yeast, Ca2+-sensitive cross-complementer 1 (CCC1). The gene TgVit1 was expressed exclusively in blue-colored epidermal cells, and protein levels increased with increasing mRNA expression and blue coloration. Transient expression experiments revealed that TgVit1 localizes to the vacuolar membrane, and is responsible for the development of the blue color in purple cells. Expression of TgVit1 in yeast rescued the growth defect of ccc1 mutant cells in the presence of high concentrations of FeSO4. Our results indicate that TgVit1 plays an essential role in blue coloration as a vacuolar iron transporter in tulip petals. These results suggest a new role for involvement of a vacuolar iron transporter in blue flower color development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Iranian form of Tulipa lehmanniana Mercklin is described and illustrated. The history, classification, natural range and cultivation of this species are discussed and detailed observations on its occurrence and habitat in Iran are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study contrasts the ovipositional profiles of four members of the Papilio glaucus group, P. glaucus, P. multicaudatus, P. canadensis, and P. rutulus. We used seven choice oviposition bioassays containing leaves from hosts in seven plant families utilized by members of the P. glaucus group. Specifically, we contrast the overall ovipositional profiles of these species and their acceptance of a host in a novel plant family ( Populus tremuloides: Salicaceae) and a host in a putatively ancestral host plant family ( Liriodendron tulipifera: Magnoliaceae). Significant differences were observed between the ovipositional profiles of P. glaucus and P. multicaudatus relative to each other and to P. canadensis and P. rutulus. In contrast, no significant differences were observed between the ovipositional profiles of P. canadensis and P. rutulus, which were also the only species that accepted P. tremuloides. Unlike the acceptance of P. tremuloides, the acceptance of L. tulipifera was present throughout the group despite the inability of the larvae of most species in the group to utilize this host. These results support the prediction of the “hierarchical threshold model” that ancestral host plants are likely to be retained in the ovipositional hierarchy while novel hosts should only be accepted by derived populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distinctive Tulipa sprengeri Baker (Liliaceae) is illustrated and described. Its history, classification and cultivation requirements are discussed, including the results of recent research at Kew that establishes its position within the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Central Asian Tulipa korolkowii Regel is illustrated and described. Its history, classification, distribution and cultivation requirements are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature-dependent tulip petal opening and closing movement was previously suggested to be regulated by reversible phosphorylation of a plasma membrane aquaporin ( Azad et al., 2004 a ). Stomatal apertures of petals were investigated during petal opening at 20°C and closing at 5°C. In completely open petals, the proportion of open stomata in outer and inner surfaces of the same petal was 27 ± 6% and 65 ± 3%, respectively. During the course of petal closing, stomatal apertures in both surfaces reversed, and in completely closed petals, the proportion of open stomata in outer and inner surfaces of the same petal was 74 ± 3% and 29 ± 6%, respectively, indicating an inverse relationship between stomatal aperture in outer and inner surfaces of the petal during petal opening and closing. Both petal opening and stomatal closure in the outer surface of the petal was inhibited by a Ca2+ channel blocker and a Ca2+ chelator, whereas the inner surface stomata remained unaffected. On the other hand, sodium nitroprusside, a nitric oxide donor, had no effect on stomatal aperture of the outer surface but influenced the inner surface stomatal aperture during petal opening and closing, suggesting different signalling pathways for regulation of temperature-dependent stomatal changes in the two surfaces of tulip petals. Stomata were found to be differentially distributed in the bottom, middle and upper parts of tulip petals. During petal closing, water transpiration was observed by measuring the loss of 3H2O. Transpiration of 3H2O by petals was fivefold greater in the first 10 min than that found after 30 min, and the transpiration rate was shown to be associated with stomatal distribution and aperture. Thus, the stomata of outer and inner surfaces of the petal are involved in the accumulation and transpiration of water during petal opening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary • Changes in the physical state of cellular water and its interrelations with carbohydrate metabolism were studied during preplanting storage of tulip bulbs (Tulipa gesneriana ‘Apeldoorn’). • Magnetic resonance imaging, light and scanning electron microscopy and high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection were used to follow time-dependent changes during bulb storage at 17 or 20°C (nonchilled) or 4°C (chilled). • No visible differences in scale structure and central bud development were observed microscopically between chilled and nonchilled bulbs. However, the scales of the chilled bulbs exhibited higher water content, faster starch degradation and increased concentrations of sucrose and ethanol-soluble fructan. Quantitative measurements of magnetization transfer (MT) indicated a smaller fraction of a solid or a restricted-mobility proton pool in the scales of the chilled bulbs. By contrast, the MT effect was significantly higher in the central bud of the chilled than in the nonchilled bulbs. • Degradation of storage polysaccharides to low-molecular-weight sugar molecules during release from dormancy could be accompanied by local release of water molecules tightly bound to the polysaccharide granules into the bulk water, or by an influx of free water molecules due to increased osmotic potential caused by the raised sugar concentration, or by a combination of both effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isolates of Rhizoctonia solani AG 2 from tobacco (Ntisolates) were reported to anastomose with isolates of AG-BI in high frequency (fusion frequency [FF] ≥ 50%) compared to isolates of AG 2-1 (FF < 50%), even though mature culture and thiamine requirement of the isolates were closely similar to AG 2-1. In this study, whole-cell fatty acid compositions of Nt-isolates (four isolates), isolates of AG 2-1 (eight isolates) and AG-BI (two isolates) were compared by gas-liquid chromatography analysis. Four isolates of AG 2 from tulip (AG 2-t) were also included. Palmitic (16:0), oleic (18: 1 cis9) and linoleic (18 : 2 cis9,12) acids were the three major fatty acids identified which constituted 89.6-93.4% of whole-cell fatty acid content. Myristic (14 : 0), pentadecanoic (15 : 0), palmitoleic (16 : 1 cis9), stearic (18 : 0) and linolenic (18 : 3 cis9,12) acids were present at low levels. Heptadecanoic (17 : 0) and 9-heptadecenoic (17 : 1 cis9) acids were also present in Nt-isolates and isolates of AG 2-1 but not in isolates of AG 2-t and AG-BI. With the exception of oleic acid, percentage composition of fatty acids of Nt-isolates were similar with those of isolates of AG 2-1 and AG 2-t but were different from isolates of AG-BI. Although fatty acid compositions of Nt-isolates and isolates of AG 2-1 were qualitatively and quantitatively similar, principal component and cluster analyses based on all detected fatty acids showed separation of the former from the latter groups indicating that Nt-isolates are a homogenous population in AG 2-1. Additionally, isolates of AG 2-t were closely related to isolates of AG 2-1. Isolates of AG-BI were distinctly separated from isolates of AG 2-1, AG 2-t and Nt-isolates. Results of fatty acid analysis support the designation of Nt-isolates as a member of AG 2-1 based on sequence similarity of rDNA-ITS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the standards for the production of healthy tulips for planting by the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization, as of March 2002. Selection of candidate nuclear stock; Maintenance and testing of candidate nuclear stock; Production of certified cuttings; Execution and administration of the certification scheme.

The effect of CO2 on ethylene-induced gummosis (secretion of polysaccharides), weight loss and respiration in tulip bulbs (Tulipa gesneriana L.) was investigated. A pretreatment with 1-MCP prevented these ethylene-induced effects, indicating that ethylene action must have been directed via the ethylene receptor. Treatment with 0.3 Pa ethylene for 2 days caused gummosis on 50% of the total number of bulbs of cultivar Apeldoorn, known to be sensitive for gummosis. Addition of CO2 (10 kPa) reduced the ethylene-induced gummosis to 18%. In a second experiment the influence of ethylene and CO2 on respiration and FW loss of bulbs of the cultivar Leen van der Mark was studied. A range of ethylene partial pressures (0.003–0.3 Pa) was applied continuously for 29 days. Ethylene caused a transient peak in O2 consumption rate during the first days after the start of application. The relation between O2 consumption rate and ethylene partial pressure could be described by Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Respiratory peaks were reduced by CO2 . This inhibition by CO2 could not totally be due to competition with ethylene at the receptor binding-site, as was indicated by the use of an O2 consumption model. Pre-treatment of bulbs with 1-MCP and subsequent exposure to CO2 showed that CO2 could influence respiration irrespective of any interaction with ethylene. Ethylene and CO2 both stimulated weight loss. The effect of combined treatments of ethylene and CO2 on weight loss was at least as strong as the sum of the separate effects, which implies that competition between ethylene and CO2 at the receptor binding-site was unlikely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taxonomy, relationships, distribution and cultivation requirements of Tulipa regelii Krasn. (Liliaceae) are discussed. A full description is provided, accompanied by a colour plate and floral dissection drawings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amylase activity extracted from tulip (Tulipa gesneriana L. cv. Apeldoorn) bulbs that had been stored for 6 weeks at 4°C was resolved to 3 peaks by anion-exchange chromatography on diethylaminoethyl-Sephacel. These 3 amylases exhibited different relative mobilities during non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The most abundant amylase form (amylase I) was purified to apparent homogeneity using hydrophobic interaction chromatography, gel filtration and chromatofocusing. The apparent molecular mass of the purified amylase was estimated to be 51 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE and 45 kDa by gel filtration chromatography. The purified amylase was determined to be an endoamylase (EC 3.2.1.1) based on substrate specificity and end-product analysis. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 6.0 and a temperature optimum of 55°C. The apparent Km value with soluble starch (potato) was 1.28 mg ml-1. The presence of Ca2+ increased the activity and thermal stability of the enzyme. The presence of dithiothreitol enhanced the activity, while β-mercaptoethanol and reduced glutathione had no significant effect. When pre-incubated in the absence of the substrate, N-ethylmaleimide and 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) partially inhibited the enzyme. α-cyclodextrins or β-cyclodextrins had no effect on enzyme activity up to 10 mM. In addition to CaCl2, CoCl2 slightly enhanced activity, while MgCl2 and MnCl2 had no significant effect at a concentration of 2 mM. ZnCl2, CuSO4, AgNO3 and EDTA partially inhibited enzyme activity, while AgNO3 and HgCl2 completely inhibited it at 2.0 mM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tepals of cut flowers of Tulipa hybrida cv. Golden Apeldoorn and Tulipa kaufmanniana cv. Shakespeare abscise 3–4 days after harvest. The weakening of the abscission zones is accompanied by cell wall breakdown and the separation of 3–4 rows of intact cells at the base of the tepal. During senescence, there is no ethylene climacteric and ethylene production rates remain low, between 0.07 and 0.4 nl g-1 fresh weight h-1. Adding 3–5 μl l-1 ethylene slightly accelerated the weakening of the abscission zones but had no effect on the time of first abscission. Neither 0.5 mM silver thiosulphate nor 5 mM aminoethoxyvinylglycine delayed the time to abscission. It is concluded that tulip tepal fall does not involve primary regulation by ethylene, unlike the majority of other abscission systems that have been studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The content of tuliposides and tulipalins were determined in Tulipa species and cultivars by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), using a water:methanol gradient as mobile phase. The compounds were detected by a diode array detector employed at 208 nm. The investigation revealed, in addition to 1- and 6-tuliposide A, tuliposide D and the lactonized aglycones tulipalin A and (-)-tulipalin B, the new tuliposide F and 6-tuliposide B, the latter being a new acyl derivative of the known 1-tuliposide B. All compounds were isolated by preparative RP-HPLC and identified by NMR and mass spectroscopy. The predominant compounds were 6-tuliposide A and B present in amounts up to 1.5% and 1.3% of fresh weight, respectively. 6-Tuliposide A and tulipalin A seem to be the major allergens in tulips, although tuliposide D and F may also contribute to the allergenic properties. Tulipalin A and (-)-tulipalin B occur in intact tulips and are not only produced in response to fungal attack or after excision of the plants. A few species were found to have very low allergen content and a relatively high level of tuliposide B, indicating it should be possible to breed non-allergenic and disease-resistant tulips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We report on IgE‐mediated asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and contact urticaria to two Liliaceae plants, tulip and Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum), diagnosed in a floral shop worker. Methods: Occupational asthma was diagnosed according to patient history, PEF monitoring, and a work‐simulating provocation test. Flower‐specific IgE was studied, and RAST inhibition tests were performed. Results: Skin prick testing showed positive reactions to tulip, Easter lily, and chrysanthemum. Total IgE was 180 kU/l, and specific IgE to tulip was 2.6 and to Easter lily 6.5 kU/l. In the RAST‐inhibition test, no cross‐reactivity was found. Occupational asthma was diagnosed by peak flow monitoring at work and at home, as well as specific inhalation challenge with Easter lily, with an immediate 18% reduction in PEF. In addition, contact urticaria and conjunctivitis were diagnosed. After a 9‐year follow‐up without exposure to lilies, the skin prick tests to L. longiflorum and tulip were still positive, but the specific IgE had disappeared. Conclusions: A case of IgE‐mediated occupational asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and contact urticaria caused by L. longiflorum and tulip is presented. RAST inhibition tests indicated concomitant sensitization to the two Liliaceae plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organic carbon content and the amount and identity of [SUP14]C-labelled compounds derived from the [SUP14]C-leaf assimilates fixed in the previous season were examined in various organs of tulip bulbs at replanting, on transfer to the glasshouse and at anthesis. Differences in the partition of reserves to various organs were related to the timing of their development and growth, their sink strengths and to their position relative to source organs (initially the bulb scales, later also the leaves). Leaves and roots were the major sinks which received 75% of the [SUP14]C-reserves exported from the scales in the first three months at low temperature (the first period). After 21 days at 18°C up to anthesis (the second period), the new leaves were a further source of carbon for the continued growth of the flower, stem and daughter bulbs. Daughter bulbs appeared to be the only organs still receiving carbon from the scales during the second period, and this was stored mainly as starch. A high rate of respiratory loss of carbon by the whole tulip plant, and particularly by the scales, was indicated in the second period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1974 a severe outbreak of grey bulb rot (Rhizoctonia tuliparum Whetzel & Arthur) occurred on tulips in Lincolnshire in a field not planted with a highly susceptible crop for six years. A long-term experiment on the survival of R. tuliparum showed that about 10 per cent of sclerotia can remain viable for at least 10 years. Where severe outbreaks of disease have occurred, longer intervals between susceptible crops are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbofuran, phoxim and thiofanox dips and aldicarb, carbofuran, phenamiphos and thiofanox granular applications were compared with a thionazin dip in pot experiments in a glasshouse to control stem nematode (Ditylenchus dipsaci (Kühn) Filipjev) in narcissus and tulip bulbs. Carbofuran and phoxim controlled stem nematode as effectively as thionazin. Treatment of bulbs with thionazin, carbofuran or phoxim prevented stem nematodes laying eggs in the bulbs. Phoxim has the advantage of low mammalian toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The involvement of gibberellins (Gas) in the regulation of floral stalk elongation and flower development has been studied in tulip. The biological activity of GA4 and GA9, both endogenous in tulip bulb sprouts, and GA1, was tested in vitro on sprouts of cooled and non-cooled tulip bulbs (Tulipa gesneriana L. cv. Apeldoom), in the presence or absence of the GA biosynthesis inhibitor paclobutrazol. At early starting dates of incubation, floral stalks from both cooled and non-cooled bulbs hardly showed any elongation in the absence of exogenous GA. Paclobutrazol had no effect on floral stalk elongation, and the response to Gas of sprouts from cooled bulbs was greater than that of sprouts from non-cooled bulbs. At later starts of incubation, considerable floral stalk elongation occurred without GA application. Paclobutrazol inhibited this floral stalk elongation, and the growth of sprouts from both cooled and non-cooled bulbs was stimulated by GA application. The effect of paclobutrazol was reversed by simultaneous application of GA4 or GA9. Application of GA with and without paclobutrazol resulted in the same elongation of the floral stalk, indicating the absence of substantial side effects of the inhibitor. The isolated sprouts did not develop a full-grown flower without the addition of GA. GA4 was more effective than GA9 in stimulating this flower development. The results demonstrate that both sprouts from cooled and non-cooled bulbs are responsive to exogenous Gas in vitro, and may be a site of GA biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrolysis of seven peptidase substrates by petal extracts of tulip (Tulipa sp. cv. Guillaume Tell) was assayed at four stages in the life cycle of the petals. During senescence pronounced increases from three- to sixfold took place in all the activities. At the same time the amount of soluble protein decreased about 75% and there was a simultaneous increase in free amino acids. The activity levels (on a dry weight basis) in the petals at the beginning of withering were rather similar to those present in normal leaves. Despite their different pH-optima (5-9), all the peptidases probably act in the mobilization of protein amino acids in the senescing petals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explores the properties of lectin from Tulipa gesneriana. Isolation of lectin from a tulip bulb through affinity chromatography; Agglutination of yeast cells of the Saccharomyces genus by the lectin; Evidence of the lectin as a tertamer by its molecular mass; Observance of little binding with yeasts other than S. cerevisiae, bacteria and animal erythrocytes; Types of potent inhibitors identified; Importance of hydroxyl group for lectin binding.

Leaves of tulip plants were treated with [SUP14]CO[SUB2] on three occasions during flowering, one week apart--at the bud stage, at early flowering and when flowers were fully opened. The amount of [SUP14]C fixation was examined 5 min after a pulse application of [SUP14]CO[SUB2] and the organic carbon and [SUP14]C contents of various organs were examined 24 h later. Total carbon in the mother-bulb scales fell over 14 days to only 40% of the initial value, whilst that of all new organs increased by 71%. A negligible amount of [SUP14]C was recovered from scales or from roots. The [SUP14]C recovered from the flower and stem accounted for 83% of [SUP14]C exported from leaves at the early flowering stage. The total carbon content of the daughter bulbs increased uniformly with time but the [SUP14]C recovered from the daughter bulbs was initially small but increased to 59% of the exported [SUP14]C when the flower was fully opened. The imported [SUP14]C in flower and stem was mainly recovered from the soluble and residual (non-starch, insoluble) fractions, whilst that in daughter bulbs was from the soluble and starch fractions. The amount of [SUP14]C lost by respiration fell from 20% to 10% of initial [SUP14]C uptake over the 3-week period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcription factor IIIA (TF IIIA) binds and specifically activates transcription of eukaryotic 5S rRNA genes. It also forms a 7S ribonucleoprotein complex with mature 5S rRNA. Here, we describe the purification and properties of pTF IIIA from higher plants. The purified protein from tulip (Tulip whittalii) has a molecular mass of about 40 kDa and also binds 5S rRNA and 5S rRNA genes. PTF IIIA also facilitates the transcription of a 5S rRNA gene in a HeLa cell extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two lectins were isolated from the bulbs of Tulipa cv. Apeldoorn and their corresponding cDNA clones analyzed. The first, called TxLMII (second mannose-binding Tulipa hybrid lectin), is a novel mannose-binding tulip lectin. Based on its molecular structure, carbohydrate-binding specificity and amino acid sequence, TxLMII belongs to the superfamily of mannose-binding monocot lectins which are also found in representatives of the plant families Amaryllidaceae, Alliaceae, Orchidaceae and Araceae. Molecular cloning of the second lectin, called TxLCI (first Tulipa hybrid lectin with complex specificity), allowed determination unambiguously of the molecular structure of this previously described protein. In addition, evidence is presented that each TxLCI subunit possesses a mannose-binding site and an N- acetylgalactosamine-binding site, which act independently of each other. Both binding sites are located in a separate domain of the lectin polypeptide. Since the first domain of TxLCI shows sequence similarity to TxLMII, it is suggested that their genes evolved from a common ancestor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]