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Despite being neglected by the emperor for a jewel-studded bird, the little nightingale revives the dying ruler with its beautiful song.

ABSTRACT: Our understanding of starch synthesis in plants has benefitted from a broadening base of species studied. Discoveries made in one species may often translate to others. Previous work with potato tuber ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase (AGP), the enzyme responsible for synthesizing the substrate for starch synthesis, showed that a mutation from glutamate to lysine at position 38 in the large subunit of the enzyme increased sensitivity to 3-phosphoglycerate activation and reduced inhibition by phosphate. Since the enzyme is highly conserved among species, this research tested the effect of this mutation in the maize endosperm AGP. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to change threonine to lysine at position 93 (comparable to the previously mentioned mutation in potato), and the resulting mutant enzyme was partially purified and molecularly and biochemically characterized. The mutation in maize did not affect the enzyme's affinity for substrates or phosphate, the inhibitor. Activation by 3-phosphoglycerate did increase by 27%. This amino acid position appears to be less important to allostery in maize endosperm AGP than it is to allostery in potato tuber AGP.

Book description to come.

Plants, as is now becoming widely recognised, exploit animals in almost as many ways as animals use plants; only rarely, however, do they eat animals in the sense of catching, holding, and devouring prey. The manner, however, in which they function as carnivores grants insights into plant form, function, and evolution not otherwise readily available. The diversity of morphological, biochemical, and commensal features generates both the lay and the scientific interest in this diverse group. The carnivorous plants exhibit features which are common to many other non-carnivorous plants. However the extent to which these features have developed and the combination of different features in small organs is unique and therefore, can be exploited by using these plants as models for scientific research.

Average marketable yield under SUR, SUB, and SEP irrigation treatments for 'Fabula' were 17, 10, and 17 Mg ha-1; 'Red LaSoda' produced 13, 13, and 24 Mg ha-1; 'Atlantic' produced 27, 20, and 28 Mg ha-1. Drip treatments required 48% and 88% less irrigation water compared to seepage in 2011 and 2012, respectively, which was translated into average irrigation efficiency (IWUE) of 8, 6, and 3 kg m-3 for SUR, SUB, and SEP, respectively. Aboveground biomass was higher under seepage compared to drip. There were no differences in root distribution among irrigation treatments for 'Atlantic'. 'Atlantic' showed yield and quality improvement under SUR. Drip irrigation increased internal quality. Particularly, SUR reduced incidence of brown center disorders, hollow heart and internal heat necrosis. It was concluded that SUR drip irrigation increased IWUE while maintaining 'Atlantic' and 'Fabula' yield, and enhancing tuber quality.