The life-history characteristics of Convallaria keiskei Miq. (Convallariaceae), an Asian lily of the valley, are described. This is a perennial species of temperate broad-leaved deciduous forests in the Japanese islands and adjacent Far East regions. Convallaria keiskei is a clonal plant and depends on two reproductive modes, sexual reproduction via seeds and clonal growth. New aerial shoots (sheath leaves) elongate and appear above ground in late April to May, and subsequent flowering takes place in late May to June On the forest floor, there are two distinct vegetative aerial shoots, shoots with a single leaf and those with two leaves, as well as two-leaved shoots that bear an inflorescence. As found in two other Convallaria species, Convallaria montana of North America and Convallaria majaris of Europe, flowers of C. keiskei have a mild fragrance, and nectar-glands are developed at the base of the corolla. The number of ovules per flower ranges from 3 to 17 with an average of 12. Convallaria keiskei is a typical insect-pollinated outbreeder and, in general, pollinators belong to the orders Coleoptera and Diptera. In addition, the observed self-incompatibility suggests that pollen from ramets of a genet have little importance in the reproduction of this species, and that sexual reproduction requires pollen from different genets. The fruits ripen in July to August, and are globose berries, approximately 6 mm in diameter, and red or reddish brown when matured. The number of seeds produced per fruit ranges from 1 to 14 (average 4), and the fruit-setting and seed-setting rates are 32% and 11%, respectively. Fruit sets are distinctly influenced by the numbers of neighboring compatible flowers.

Plant Species BiologyVolume 20, Issue 2 p. 149-153 Breeding system and floral visitors of Convallaria keiskei KIWAKO ARAKI, KIWAKO ARAKI Laboratory of Ecology and Genetics, Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, JapanSearch for more papers by this authorETSUKO YAMADA, ETSUKO YAMADA Laboratory of Ecology and Genetics, Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, JapanSearch for more papers by this authorMASASHI OHARA, Corresponding Author MASASHI OHARA Laboratory of Ecology and Genetics, Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, JapanMasashi Ohara Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author KIWAKO ARAKI, KIWAKO ARAKI Laboratory of Ecology and Genetics, Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, JapanSearch for more papers by this authorETSUKO YAMADA, ETSUKO YAMADA Laboratory of Ecology and Genetics, Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, JapanSearch for more papers by this authorMASASHI OHARA, Corresponding Author MASASHI OHARA Laboratory of Ecology and Genetics, Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, JapanMasashi Ohara Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author First published: 05 August 2005 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-1984.2005.00134.xCitations: 13Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Citing Literature Volume20, Issue2August 2005Pages 149-153 RelatedInformation

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) derivative having both carboxylic acid-, and lactose-side chains (Lac-PEG-C) deposited onto the surface of DNA/protamine (PRT) complex, and the self-assembled ternary complex was obtained. The diameter of the complexes was 180-200 nm, and they showed good size stability even in the high ionic strength solutions. Lac-PEG-C coating reduced their surface electric potential, and effectively avoided the albumin-induced aggregation. DNA/PRT/Lac-PEG-C complex did not coagulate the red blood cells, and their cytotoxicity evaluated by WST-1 was very low. Lac-PEG-C added to the plasmid/PRT complex prior to the incubation with HepG2 cells extremely enhanced the gene-expression, and by the plasmid/PRT/Lac-PEG-C complex prepared at 1:1.5:8 in weight, 56-fold higher expression of luciferase than that without Lac-PEG-C was observed. The treatment with asialofetuin or phenylarsine oxide evidently interfered with the gene-expression. The high gene expression by the plasmid/PRT/Lac-PEG-C ternary complex on the hepatocyte would be attributed to the asialoglycoprotein receptor-mediated endocytosis.

Novel poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) derivatives having both carboxylic acid, and sugar side chains were synthesized. These polymers were used to coat DNA/poly(ethyleneimine) complexes, and effectively protected them against albumin-induced aggregation. They presented carbohydrate moieties on the DNA complex surfaces as a cell-binding ligand, and the galactose-bearing polymer remarkably enhanced the poly(ethyleneimine) mediated gene transfection on HepG2 cells.