These authors equally contributed to this work. SummaryFructokinases catalyze the key step of fructose phosphorylation in plants. LeFRK2, the major fructokinaseencoding gene in tomato plants, is abundantly expressed in roots, stems, and fruits. To analyze the role of LeFRK2 in plant development, we analyzed transgenic tomato plants with sense and antisense expression of StFRK, the potato homolog of LeFRK2. Increased fructokinase activity had no effect. However, plants in which LeFRK2 was speci®cally suppressed, either via antisense suppression or via co-suppression, exhibited growth inhibition and wilting of young leaves at daytime. Grafting experiments indicated that a stem interstock of antisense plants was suf®cient to inhibit growth and cause leaf wilting. Stem secondary xylem exhibited particular suppression of LeFRK2 and the area of active xylem, estimated by eosin uptake, was signi®cantly smaller in antisense stem compared to that of wild-type plants. These results suggest that LeFRK2 might be required for proper development of xylem that affected growth and wilting.

BSGI has the highest sensitivity for the detection of invasive lobular carcinoma with a sensitivity of 93%, whereas mammography, sonography, and MRI showed sensitivities of 79%, 68%, and 83%, respectively. BSGI is an effective technique that should be used to evaluate patients with suspected cancer and has a promising role in the diagnosis of invasive lobular carcinoma.

The form of N supplied to the plant (NH4+ or NO3–) affects growth, morphology and a range of physiological processes in the plant. Little information is available concerning the effects of N form on development, production or quality of cut-flowers. The present study investigated for the first time the effects of N form and quantity on growth, flower production and flower quality of Ranunculus asiaticus L. The plants were cultivated in an inert mineral soilless medium (perlite) and were exposed to two levels of nitrogen fertilization (50 or 100 ppm) and three levels of NH +4 (10%, 20%, or 30%, under 100 ppm nitrogen fertilization). Larger shoots and increased shoot/root ratios were obtained in the lowest (50 ppm) N treatment. This treatment also excelled in flower yield production, resulting in higher numbers of total flower produced as well as higher numbers of long flowers. The results demonstrate an effect of N ferlilization treatments on cut-flower quality. Flowers grown under 50 ppm N application characterized by almost double vase life duration compared to flowers grown under the various 100 ppm N treatments. However, flower quantity and quality were not affected by the level of NH4 applied. The R. asiaticus L. root was less sensitive to the N fertilization treatments than its shoot. Contents of organic N, NO –3, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Cl, Fe, Cu, Zn, B, and Mo in the leaves were not affected by the fertilization treatments. Taken together, our results suggest a low requirement of R. asiaticus L. for N fertilization, and insensitivity to ammonium concentrations in the range of 10 to 30 ppm, 10% to 30% of the total N supplied. Detrimental effects in terms of growth, production and cut flower quality were apparent already under 100 ppm N supply.

Escherichia coli introduced into the hydroponic growing medium of maize plants was detected 48 h later in the shoot. Decapitation of root tips or severing of the plant root system at the root-shoot junction enhanced bacterial internalization. The density of the bacteria in shoots of plants with damaged roots or removed root systems was 27.8 and 23.9 times higher than that in plants with intact roots, respectively. The concentration of viable cells in the hydroponic solution decreased over time from 9.3 x 10(6) CFU/ml at the time of inoculation to 8.5 x 10(1) CFU/ml 4 days thereafter. The number of E. coli cells associated with the roots also decreased with time, but a significant decline appeared only at 4 days postinoculation. At the time of sampling for E. coli presence in the shoot, 10(2) CFU/ml was present in the nutrient solution and 8 x 10(3) CFU/g was associated with the roots. The present study is the first to demonstrate internalization of E. coli via the root in a monocotyledonous plant.