824 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Studies on lycopin and its relations with chlorophyll, W. Lubimenko 

 {Rev. Q6n. Bot., 25 his (lOUf), pp. J,7 5-^93). —The author has followed up work 

 previously done, partly in association with Monteverde {B. S. K.. 31, pp. 128, 

 020), investigating herein more particularly the relations of lycopin within 

 plants. 



The results of the investigation, the author states, showed a striking coinci- 

 dence between the physiological conditions favoring the formation of lycopin 

 and lycopinoi^s and those which favor the decomposition of chlorophyll. He 

 regards them as products of a particular chlorophyll oxidation, occasioned, prob- 

 ably by the activity of enzyms. 



The absorption and excretion of electrolytes by Lupinus albus in dilute 

 simple solutions of nutrient salts, R. H. True and H. H. Babtlett (Abs. in 

 ,'ick'nce, n. ser., J,l (1915), No. lOJjS, pp. 180, 181). — ^A study was made, by 

 means of water cultures, of the behavior of seedlings of L. albus toward dis- 

 tilled water and simple solutions of salts containing ions regarded as essential 

 to the normal nutrition of the higher green plants. The plants were kept in 

 darkness and the absorption of ions from the solution measured in terms of 

 electrical conductivity. 



The plants were found to give up their salts to distilled water at a variable 

 rate until death resulted from exhaustion. Solutions of potassium phosphate 

 and potassium chlorid acted essentially like distilled water. In potassium sul- 

 phate and potassium nitrate a slight absorption phase was observed in the 

 most favorable concentrations; otherwise the results differed little from those 

 seen in phosphate and chlorid solutions. Sodium chlorid v.-a.s found to affect 

 permeability and growth essentially the same as potassium nitrate and potas- 

 sium sulphate. In the most favorable concentrations of magnesium nitrate 

 and magnesium sulphate there was a slight but clearly developed absorption 

 phase, resulting in a net gain of electrolytes to the plant. A net loss took 

 place in the more dilute solutions and. in the greater concentrations toxic action 

 developed. In calcium nitrate and calcium sulphate solutions all concentra- 

 tions studied supported active absorption of electrolytes, and apparently en- 

 abled the plants not only to retain the salts already present but also to make 

 net gains from the solutions. 



The absorption and excretion of electrolytes by Lupinus albus in dilute 

 solutions containing mixtures of nutrient salts, R. H. True and H. H. Babt- 

 lett (Abs. in Science, n. ser., J^l {1915), No. IO48, p. 181). — ^Under conditions 

 similar to those described above the authors grew seedlings of L. albus in 

 graded solutions of pairs of nutrient salts. The results obtained showed that 

 the gain or loss of the electrolytes by the plants was influenced by the antago- 

 nistic action of ions. 



The process of anthocyanin pigment formation, R. Combes {Rev. G6n. Bot., 

 25 bis {1914), pp. W-i 02). —Summing up results of recent studies (E. S. R., 

 31, p. 128), the author states that pigmentation is a continuous process. In 

 some cases red is formed from the first ; in others the original product is yel- 

 low, and it may persist, or it may disappear wholly or partly with the produc- 

 tion (from its own body or otherwise) of the red pigment. The greater part 

 of the anthocyanin is thus formed in place, a small ])ortion resulting from the 

 transformation of yellow into red pigment. 



Relation of transpiration to the composition of white pine seedlings, G. P. 

 Burns (.4.6s. in Science, n. ser., 41 {1915), No. lOJfS, p. 181). — In continuation 

 of work previously reported (E. S. R.. 30, p. 726) the author repeated experi- 

 ments there described and in addition noted the effect of transpiration as in- 

 lluenced by one and two covers of cheese cloth. The seeds were sown in May 

 and the first analysis made of seedlings gathered August 11. 



