Growth-phase dependent morphological alteration in higher plant thylakoid is accompanied by changes in both photodamage and repair rates.

Thylakoid membranes of young leaves consist of grana and stroma lamellae (stroma-grana [SG] structure). The SG thylakoid is gradually converted into isolated grana (IG), almost lacking the stroma lamellae during growth. This morphological alteration was found to cause a reduction in maximum photosynthetic rate and an enhancement of photoinhibition in photosystem II (PSII).

Significance of structural variation in thylakoid membranes in maintaining functional photosystems during reproductive growth.

Structural variation in the stroma-grana (SG) arrangement of the thylakoid membranes, such as changes in the thickness of the grana stacks and in the ratio between grana and inter-grana thylakoid, is often observed. Broadly, such alterations are considered acclimation to changes in growth and the environment. However, the relation of thylakoid morphology to plant growth and photosynthesis remains obscure.

Cloning of a FLOWERING LOCUS T ortholog in Wasabia japonica (Matsum).

A FLOWERING LOCUS T ortholog (WjFT) was identified in Wasabia japonica. Heterologous expression of WjFT remarkably promoted the flowering of Arabidopsis. The expression of WjFT was examined in field-grown wasabi in October and November of 2009, and February of 2010 because the differentiation of flower buds occurs in autumn in field-grown wasabi.

Development of simple and efficient in Planta transformation method for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var. Shiranekomugi) seeds were soaked in water at 22 degrees C for 1 d.

Development of simple and efficient in planta transformation method for rice (Oryza sativa L.) using Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

Seeds of rice (Oryza sativa L. var. Koshihikari) were soaked in water for 2 d.

In planta transformation of kenaf plants (Hibiscus cannabinus var. aokawa No. 3) by Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

Kenaf was transformed by inoculation of Agrobacterium tumefaciens onto the meristems of young plants in pots. The transformation was demonstrated by three lines of evidence: a phenotypic inheritance from T(0) to T(1) plants, detection of the transgene in both T(0) and T(1) plants, and rescue of plasmids composed of T-DNA of the binary vector and flanking plant genomic DNA from T(1) plants.