Query: Biology of water Lily

title: Morphogenesis and reproductive biology of water lily (Nymphaea spp.
abstract: OF THE THESIS Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE Faculty of Agriculture Kerala Agricultural University DEPARTMENT OF PLANT BREEDING AND GENETICS COLLEGE OF HORTICULTURE VELLANIKKARA, THRISSUR 680 656 KERALA, INDIA 2015

title: A theoretical morphological model for quantitative description of the three dimensional floral morphology in water lily (Nymphaea)
abstract: Water lilies (Nymphaea spp. have diverse floral morphologies. Water lilies are not only commonly used as ornamental plants, but they are also important for understanding the diversification of basal angiosperms. Although the diversity in floral morphology of water lily provides useful information for evolutionary biology, horticulture, and horticultural science, it is difficult to describe and analyze the three dimensional morphology of flowers. In this study, we propose a method to describe the floral morphology of water lily using a three dimensional theoretical morphological model. The theoretical model was constructed based on three components, i.e. (1) the gradual change in size of floral organs, (2) spiral phyllotaxis, and (3) the interpolation of elevation angles, which were integrated into the model. We generated three dimensional representation of water lily flowers and visualized theoretical morphospaces by varying each morphological parameter. The theoretical morphospace is a mathematical space of morphological spectrum generated by a theoretical morphological model. These morphospaces seems to display the large part of morphological variations of water lily. We measured morphological parameters of real flowers based on our theoretical model and display the occupation pattern of morphological parameters. We also surveyed the relation between morphological parameters and flower shape descriptions found in a catalog. In some parameters, we found breeders' description can link to our morphological model. In addition, the relationship between the global features of floral morphology and the parameters of the theoretical model was calculated with flower silhouettes simulated with a range of parameter values and the global features of the silhouette. We used two simple indices to assess the global morphological features, which were calculated with the convex hull. The results indicated that our method can effectively provide an objective and quantitative overview of the diversity in the floral morphology of water lily.

title: Floral biology and ovule and seed ontogeny of Nymphaea thermarum, a water lily at the brink of extinction with potential as a model system for basal angiosperms.
abstract: Nymphaea thermarum is a member of the Nymphaeales, of one of the most ancient lineages of flowering plants. This species was only recently described and then declared extinct in the wild, so little is known about its reproductive biology. In general, the complete ontogeny of ovules and seeds is not well documented among species of Nymphaea and has never been studied in the subgenus Brachyceras, the clade to which N. thermarum belongs.  Flowers and fruits were processed for brightfield, epifluorescence and confocal microscopy. Flower morphology, with emphasis on the timing of male and female functions, was correlated with key developmental stages of the ovule and the female gametophyte. Development of the seed tissues and dynamics of polysaccharide reserves in the endosperm, perisperm and embryo were examined.  Pollen release in N. thermarum starts before the flower opens. Cell walls of the micropylar nucellus show layering of callose and cellulose in a manner reminiscent of transfer cell wall patterning. Endosperm development is ab initio cellular, with micropylar and chalazal domains that embark on distinct developmental trajectories. The surrounding maternal perisperm occupies the majority of seed volume and accumulates starch centrifugally. In mature seeds, a minute but fully developed embryo is surrounded by a single, persistent layer of endosperm.  Early male and female function indicate that N. thermarum is predisposed towards self pollination, a phenomenon that is likely to have evolved multiple times within Nymphaea. While formation of distinct micropylar and chalazal developmental domains in the endosperm, along with a copious perisperm, characterize the seeds of most members of the Nymphaeales, seed ontogenies vary between and among the constituent families. Floral biology, life history traits and small genome size make N. thermarum uniquely promising as an early diverging angiosperm model system for genetic and molecular studies.

title: The Feminist Plant: Changing Relations with the Water Lily
abstract: Water lilies flourish in clusters and hormonally communicate together within their community. They can self reproduce and have mobility across the water surface, being both earthed and waterborne. The capacities of water lilies are further evidence that plants require critical and cultural examination, as companion species, and that plants require an accompanying shift in human perception of their vegetal status. This paper addresses the feminist nature of the water lily and develops a connection between plant biology and the creation of models for cultural practice, ethical living and a better understanding of plants.

title: Microautoradiographic investigations of sulfate uptake by glands and epidermal cells of water lily (Nymphaea) leaves with special reference to the effect of poly l lysine
abstract: SummaryThe uptake of35S labelled sulfate ions into hydropote cells (densely cytoplasmic gland cells) and into epidermal cells (highly vacuolated cells) ofNymphaea leaves is dependent on metabolic energy. Only a very small fraction of the accumulated35S is incorporated into organic macromolecules during the experimental period. Both cell types exhibit a hyperbolic isotherm for35S uptake from labelled K2SO4 solutions over an external concentration range of 0 to 0.5mm. Although the gland and epidermal cells behave qualitatively similarly, the glands generally absorb about twice as much35S per unit area of sections of the cells as do the epidermal cells. At 3 degC, poly l lysine concentrations of 10 8m and up to 10 7m enhance35S uptake by the epidermal and gland cells for the first 7.5 hr after application of the poly l lysine. Samples treated with 5x10 7m poly l lysine are indistinguishable from the controls over the same period. After longer periods of treatment with poly l lysine (7.5 to 24 hr) the rates of35S uptake were reduced by all poly l lysine concentrations between the range 10 8 to 5x10 7m. After 7.5 hr of35S uptake, the control samples contained the smallest amount of label, but after an uptake period of 24 hr the amount of label in the controls is considerably larger than in samples treated with poly l lysine. The results suggest that poly l lysine increases the membrane permeability and alters the metabolic uptake of sulfate in both hydropotes and epidermal cells.

title: Block scheduled versus traditional biology teaching an educational experiment using the water lily
abstract: In this study, we compared a traditional teaching sequence (four distinct lessons) with a block schedule dealing with the ecological adaptations of the water lily. The educational unit contained original plant material and both experimental groups received the same tasks and working sheets. Pupils worked together in groups of three to four pupils in a self regulated manner, carrying out hands on experiments. However, both groups differed in their time schedule (four distinct lessons of 45 min versus one block of 180 min) Pupils from the traditionally scheduled education performed significantly better in the immediate post test while these differences merged in retention.

title: Biology of four species of Notiphila fallen (Diptera: Ephydridae) associated with the yellow water lily, Nuphar luteum (Nymphaeaceae)

title: Biology of Bellura gortynoides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) a Yellow Water Lily Borer, in Indiana
abstract: The biology of Bellura gortynoides Walker was studied from May 1973 to June 1974. There were 2 complete generations per year in the Tippecanoe Co. IN area. Eggs were laid in masses on both upper and lower surfaces of emergent leaves of yellow water lily, Nuphar advena Aiton. First generation eggs were laid in late May to early June and were well covered with brownish hair from the female's anal tuft. Eggs hatched within 6 days. For approximately the 1st 3 instars, larvae were leaf miners; thereafter, they became petiole borers. There were usually 6 or 7 instars and ultimate instars averaged about 5 cm in length. First generation larvae pupated in the water filled tunnels of the petioles. Throughout most of July and August, white tailed females emerged, mated, and laid 2nd generation egg masses covered with white hair. As in the 1st generation, 2nd generation larvae passed through leaf mining and petiole boring stages. Between mid September and November, last instar larvae swam to shore and overwintered under the bark of trees, in wood of dead trees, under logs, or in leaf litter. Pupation occurred on shore in late April or May. Both 1st and 2nd generation eggs were heavily parasitized by Telenomus arzamae Riley (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) First and, to a greater extent, 2nd generation larval populations were limited by the ichneumonid parasite, Campoletis sp. a nuclear polyhedrosis virus, and the microsporidian, Nosema necatrix Kramer. In addition to N. necatrix overwintering larvae were also killed by parasitic nematodes, Neoaplectana sp. and the fungus, Aspergillus parasiticus Speare. N. necatrix killed a small proportio2n of 1st generation pupae. Female moths were significantly larger in wingspread than moths. Second generation adults were found to be larger in wingspread, and duller and paler in color than 1st generation adults. The nature of the vertex of adults and the color of the anal tuft of moths were found to be invalid characters for separating Bellura species.

title: Sucrose accelerates flower opening and delays senescence through a hormonal effect in cut lily flowers.
abstract: Sugars are generally used to extend the vase life of cut flowers. Such beneficial effects have been associated with an improvement of water relations and an increase in available energy for respiration by floral tissues. In this study we aimed at evaluating to what extent (i) endogenous levels of sugars in outer and inner tepals, androecium and gynoecium are altered during opening and senescence of lily flowers; (ii) sugar levels increase in various floral tissues after sucrose addition to the vase solution; and (iii) sucrose addition alters the hormonal balance of floral tissues. Results showed that endogenous glucose levels increased during flower opening and decreased during senescence in all floral organs, while sucrose levels increased in outer and inner tepals and the androecium during senescence. Sucrose treatment accelerated flower opening, and delayed senescence, but did not affect tepal abscission. Such effects appeared to be exerted through a specific increase in the endogenous levels of sucrose in the gynoecium and of glucose in all floral tissues. The hormonal balance was altered in the gynoecium as well as in other floral tissues. Aside from cytokinin and auxin increases in the gynoecium; cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid and salicylic acid levels increased in the androecium, while abscisic acid decreased in outer tepals. It is concluded that sucrose addition to the vase solution exerts an effect on flower opening and senescence by, among other factors, altering the hormonal balance of several floral tissues.

title: NESTING BIOLOGY AND DIET OF THE MADAGASCAR HARRIER CIRCUS MA CROSCELES IN AMBOHITANTELY SPECIAL RESERVE MADAGASCAR LILY ARISON
abstract: ABSTP, ACT. We studied Madagascar Harriers (Circus macrosceles) in the central high plateau at Ambohitantely Special Reserve, Madagascar during the 1997 and 1998 breeding seasons. We located 11 nests and documented eight nesting attempts during the two seasons. All nests were placed on vegetation within marshes (N 9) and averaged 43 cm above water level. Breeding commenced in late August and September, during the middle of the dry season. Egg laying occurred from the middle of September to the end of October, peaking in late September and spanning 40 d for eight clutches. The incubation period was 32 34 d at eight nests and nestlings fledged at 42 45 d of age (N 7) in November and December, at the start of the rainy season. Of 23 eggs laid in eight nests (o* clutch size 2.9) 17 of 23 (74% hatched, and seven (41% of those hatchlings fledged. Overall productivity was 0.9 young fledged per breeding attempt and nest success was 75% (N 8) Only one of six successful nesting attempts fledged two young. The Madagascar Harrier diet from 272 identified prey was composed of insects (48% snakes (21% birds (21% lizards (6% rodents (3% and domestic chickens (1% in terms of biomass based on prey remains and pellets: birds (45% reptiles (35% and mammals (18% made 98% of prey. This is the first breeding study of this species, and it shows this harrier reproduces at a relatively low rate, and has an unusual diet relative to related species.