Book review

J. Pospíšilová, T. Gichner

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:372 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920934

Book reviews

T. Gichner

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:422 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920942

Solute contents in roots and root calli of NaCl-tolerant and NaCl-sensitive tissues ofLycopersicon

G. Guerrier, P. Bourgeais-Chaillou

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:321-328 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920925

Biomass, relative growth rate (RGR), organic and inorganic solute contents in control and NaCl (50-100 mM) affected roots or calli of the wild tomato genotypeLycopersicon pennellii and theLycopersicon esculentum wilty mutantflacca were compared. Under NaCl-stress, the RGR of calli fromL. pennellii was higher than that of the mutantflacca, while the root biomass of the former was lower than that of the latter. Constant water contents were found in calli and roots, irrespective of the genotypes and NaCl concentrations. Taking into account the solute contents of the apoplasm, Na⁺ accumulation was similar in...

Cleavage polyembryonyin vivo andin vitro

O. Erdelská, Z. Vidovencová

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:329-334 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920926

The development of cleavage polyembryos of wheat, maize and radishin vivo andin vitro was compared. Some frequent features (such as common suspensors or suspensor-like structures, "concrescences", enlarged radicular meristems) suggest a similar origin of cleavage polyembryos inducedin vivo and those inducedin vitro from the proembryo. Cleavage of the original zygotic or somatic proembryo may occur either at a few-celled stage or later in the phase of radicular meristem establishment.

Effect of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid on nuclear division in stem segments ofPisum sativum L. cultivatedin vitro

L. Gantchev, W. Bleiss

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:335 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920927

We have investigated the influence of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on the appearance of nuclear fragments, caused by direct nuclear division, as well as on mitotic activity in cultivated internodial stem segments ofPisum sativum L., cv. Bördi, during 180 d of cultivation. Direct nuclear fragmentation (dNF) was indicated by the shape and structure of the nucleus as well as by the occurrence of 1C- and 3C-values of DNA, investigated cytophotometrically. The dNF occurred during the whole cultivation period in segments treated by 2,4-D in concentrations from 4 to 32 mg 1^-1. In the presence of 2 mg 1^-1 of 2,4-D the...

Somatic embryogenesis inCicer arietinum L: Influence of genotype and auxins

S. Eapen, L. George

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:343 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920928

Plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis was obtained in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) using immature cotyledons and immature embryonal axes as explants. 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 4-amino-3.5-6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) and 3.6-dichloro-0-anisc, acid (dicamba) in concentrations 1, 2, 5, 10 mg dm^-3 were found better than naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (10-20 mg dm^-3) for the induction of globular and heart-shaped somatic embryos. The embryos developed upto the dicotyledonary stage on medium supplemented with saccharose, mannitol and silver nitrate (AgNO₃) and developed further into...

Flow cytometric estimation of nuclear DNA amount in diploid bananas (Musa acuminata andM. balbisiana)

J. Doležel, M. Doleželová, F. J. Novák

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:351 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920930

Cell nuclei were isolated from leaf tissues of wild banana (Musa balbisiana, M. acuminata ssp.banksii andM. acuminata ssp.errans) and of the two vegetative clones of diploid cultivar "Pisang Mas". Relative fluorescence intensity was measured on propidium iodide-stained nuclei by flow cytometry. Nuclei isolated fromGlycine max with known nuclear genome size were used as internal standard to determine nuclear DNA content ofMusa in absolute units. The results of the study showed that the size of nuclear genome ofMusa is smaller than previously estimated. In general, it is smaller in comparison with many...

Aspartate aminotransferase isozymes in plants: Comparison of two staining methods in polyacrylamide gels

J. Stejskal

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:359-364 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920932

Two staining methods for aspartate aminotransferase were compared after electrophoretic resolution of its isozymes in polyacrylamide gels. The first one uses L-aspartic acid and Fast Blue BB salt (classical method), the second uses L-cysteine sulfinic acid and a redox system with phenazine methosulfate and 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide. The seeds of pea, horse bean and soybean were used as a model plant source of the enzyme. The staining method with L-cysteine sulfinic acid is very reliable and more sensitive than the Fast Blue BB method and allows detection at very low isozyme activities in the gel.

Amelioration of the effects of ageing in onion seeds by osmotic priming and associated changes in oxidative metabolism

A. S. Basra, B. Singh, C. P. Malik

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:365 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920933

Osmotic priming of aged onion seeds with 25% polyethylene glycol-8000 for 5 d resulted in a marked increase in the rate of germination and early seedling growth. Priming reduced electrolyte leakage as well as lipid peroxidation in seeds implying the activation of membrane repair processes. Priming was also associated with increased levels of antioxidants,i.e. ascorbic acid and tocopherols particularly the latter and the activities of catalase and peroxidase involved in the mitigation of oxidative damage. In comparison with the priming of unaged seeds, the aged seeds experienced a diminution of response in terms of changes in the levels of antioxidants...

Interactive effect of heavy metals and temperature on the growth, and chlorophyll, saccharides and soluble nitrogen contents inPhaseolus plants

M. A. A. Gadallah

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:373 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920935

The effect of combinations of different concentrations of copper (Cu) and mercury (Hg) ions with different constant temperatures (T) onPhaseolus vulgaris plants was studied. Criteria investigated included shoot and root length, dry mass, chlorophyll content (Chl) and stability index (CSI), and contents of soluble (SS) and hydrolysable saccharides (HS), soluble proteins (SP) and total free amino acid (AA). Each of the factors (T, Cu and Hg) significantly affected the parameters tested with exception of T effect on Chlb content as well as on Chla/b ratio. Bifactorial interactions (T×Cu) or (T×Hg) were also significant, except the...

Growth, water relations, and CAM induction inSedum album in response to water stress

O. H. Sayed, M. J. Earnshaw, M. Cooper

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:383 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920936

Growth analysis indicated that carbon gain in the alpine succulentSedum album tended to take place early during the growing season. Leaf water potential remained unchanged for a considerable length of time after the imposition of water stress in the field. Induction of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) by protracted water stress occurred before any signs of stress could be observed in the leaves, and appeared to be influenced by a complex interaction of environmental conditions including temperature and duration of sunshine. Increased levels of proline and betaine towards the end of the growing season appeared to reflect seasonal changes.

Membrane stabilization and survival of dehydratedChlorella fusca cells induced by calcium

R. Abdel-Basset, A. A. Issa

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:389-395 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920937

Chlorella fusca was subjected to evaporative dehydration under air humidity of 72%. Ca²⁺ pretreated cultures lost water as rapidly as untreated cultures. Nevertheless, an ameliorative effect of Ca²⁺ pretreatment in droughted cells was found as membrane stability index was improved and K⁺ leakage was reduced. In addition, higher chlorophyll content and stability was observed. These parameters enabled droughted cells to recommence growth upon rewatering. Thus Ca²⁺ might increase survival ofC. fusca cells subjected to drought through membrane stabilization.

Biointeraction between precarthamin and cell components in florets ofCarthamus tinctorius L.

K. Saito

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:397 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920938

The relative rate of precarthamin extractability and floret protein inactivation by organic solvents were compared. Upon trituration of the floral tissues ofCarthamus tinctorius L., usually less extractable precarthamin is released at a markedly high level, while the releasability rate is changed conspicuously by macerating the florets in the test solvents of increased concentrations; the amount of releasable precarthamin also varies according to the solvents used. 30% (v/v) acetone promotes the pigment solubility about twice, whereas, its capacity decreases abruptly in reverse proportion to the increment of acetone content. Methanol accelerates...

The enzymatic mobilization of bound precarthamine from the flower florets ofCarthamus tinctorius L.

K. Saito, T. Yamamoto

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:403 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920939

Floret pieces prepared from the methanol-treated and air-dried flowers of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) were subjected to an enzymatic hydrolysis in a buffered solution and the rate of precarthamine solubilization was assessed spectrophotometrically. The amount of precarthamine was risen by treating the floral pieces with a β-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21), supporting a previous assumption that precarthamine is in the floral tissues associated with cellular components. The enzyme activity was reduced by various inhibitors. On the basis of the experimental data, it is proposed that the precarthamine may be bound through 0-β-glucosyl...

Purification and characterization of phosphorylase from tubers ofDioscorea dumentorum

U. Olooha, E. N. Ugochukwu

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:409 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920941

Phosphorylase from tubers ofDioscorea dumentorum was fractionated by (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitation and further purified to apparent homogeneity. Two forms of phosphorylase, Dd₁ and Dd₂ were obtained with different K_m, optimum temperatures and pH values. They obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, they were activated by AMP, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ but inhibited by ATP, ADP, ADP-glucose and Na₂SO₄. The molecular masses found for Dd₁ and Dd₂ were 102 000 and 195 000 respectively. SDS gel electrophoresis indicated that Dd₂ is...

Seasonal variations in water relations of roses (Rosa hybrida cv. Sonia)

L. Urban, R. Brun, P. Pyrrha

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:423 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920943

Parameters of water relations were measured throughout the season in phenologically identical leaves of rose plants grown in a heated greenhouse. The increase in osmotic potential observed from spring to early autumn seems to result from the decrease in the non-osmotic water fraction, and, conversely, its decrease from early autumn to winter seems to be due to an increase in the non-osmotic water fraction. These observations support the hypothesis that the non-osmotic water fraction may be correlated to starch concentration in rose leaves.

Changes in growth, osmotic potential and cell permeability of wheat cultivars under salt stress

M. M. F. Mansour

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:429 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920944

10-d-old wheat seedlings were grown hydroponically in presence and absence of 100 mM NaCl for 7 d. Salt stress decreased growth of shoots and roots of both cultivars; fresh mass of sensitive cultivar being more affected. NaCl increased membrane permeability to urea, methylurea and ethylurea and decreased membrane partiality in root cortex cells of sensitive cultivar. Neither parameter changed by NaCl in resistant cultivar. NaCl treatment decreased water permeability and osmotic potential in both cultivars; sensitive cultivar was more affected. The results extends our previous data that cell membrane properties are different in salt sensitive and resistant...

Comparison of twoPisum sativum nodulation mutants with their parental cultivar

V. Škrdleta, K. Novák, L. Lisá

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:435-441 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920945

In comparison with the parental cv. Finale the 'RisfixC' supernodulator exhibited higher, continuously increasing nodule number and fresh mass accumulation, but substantially lower individual nodule fresh mass, leghemoglobin concentration, and specific acetylene reduction activity of nodule tissue. There were no substantial differences between Finale and 'RisfixC' in total acetylene reduction, nodule leghemoglobin accumulation per nodulated root, total and specific CO₂ evolution from nodulated roots and gross CO₂ respiratory costs of acetylene reduction. The 'RisfixC' also exhibited a substantially lower plant dry mass production...

Chlorophylls and carotenoids in a fully habituated nonorganogenic callus ofBeta vulgaris

B. Bisbis, E. Dujardin, C. Kevers, D. Hagege, T. Gaspar

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:443 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920947

A fully habituated (H) nonorganogenic sugar beet callus, subcultured in the light, did not contain detectable chlorophyll (Chl) nor carotenoid (Car). It accumulated some Car in the dark. Fluorescence spectra indicated that this H callus also accumulated some protochlorophyllide which, however, was not well integrated into the protochlorophyllide-NADPH-photoreductase complex, and therefore not transformed into chlorophyllide in the light. The H callus showed no variable fluorescence which indicated absence of photosynthesis, and therefore it suggested a full heterotrophic behaviour of this peculiar callus line. A green hormone-dependent callus of the...

Growth, carbohydrates and associated invertase and amylase activities in castor bean and maize as affected by metribuzin and NaCl

M. N. A. Hasaneen, H. M. El-Saht, F. M. Bassyoni

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:451-459 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920948

Growth parameters (leaf area, length of shoot and root, water content and dry matter accumulation), contents of reducing sugars and saccharose as well as activities of α- and β-amylases of castor bean and maize seedlings and adult plants supplemented with 0.5 μg g^-1 and 2.5 μg g^-1 of metribuzin either alone or in combination with 50 μg g^-1 NaCl, were increased significantly whereas at high concentrations (5 and 10 μg g^-1) of herbicide, an opposite response was apparent. On the other hand, polysaccharide content and invertase activity of castor bean and maize seedlings and adult plants...

Subcellular localization of ribonuclease isoenzymes in tobacco mesophyll protoplasts and their changes induced by infection of PVY

M. Šindelářová, L. Šindelář

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:461 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920949

Changes in the content and subcellular localization of ribonuclease isoenzymes were determined in mesophyll protoplasts prepared fromNicotiana tabacum L. cv. Samsun from healthy and potato virus Y (PVY) infected plants. Intact chloroplasts, mitochondria and soluble cytosolic proteins were obtained after protoplast disintegration by means of differential centrifugation. The 1 000g pellet from healthy protoplasts contained 7.3 %, the 15 000g pellet 13.5 % and 15 000g supernatant 82.1 % of the total activity of ribonucleases. The 1 000g pellet from infected protoplasts contained 10.4%, the 15 000g pellet 10.0%...

Fatty acids compositions of polar and non-polar lipid fractions of wheat leaves inoculated with three brown rust races during progressive pathogenesis

R. S. Saini, H. K. L. Chawla, D. S. Wagle

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:469 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920950

The fatty acids composition of the polar and non-polar lipid fractions of wheat leaves was affected due to progressive brown rust infection during early stages of pathogenesis,i.e. 0, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h after inoculation. The three races ofPuccinia recondita differentially affected the composition of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and their relative occurrence in wheat leaves. The infection of wheat by race 77 resulted in a relative decrease in fatty acid chain length as measured through C₁₆∶C₁₈ fatty acid ratio. An increase in the relative degree of unsaturation (18∶2/18∶3 acids...

Baenziger, P.S., Kleese, R.A., Barnes, R.F.(ed.): Intelectual property rights: Protection of plant materials

M. Ondřej

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:350 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920929

Gesteland, R.F., Atkins, J.F. (ed.): The RNA world

H. Štorchová

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:358 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920931

Soltis, D.E., Soltis, P.S. (ed.):Isozymes in plant biology. (Advances in Plant Sciences Series, Vol. 4)

I. Macháčková

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:408 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920940

Sundqvist, C., Ryberg, M. (ed.):Pigment-Protein Complexes in Plastids: Synthesis and Assembly.

P. Šiffel

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:442 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920946

Effect of some benzothiazolium salts on chlorophyll production inChlorella vulgaris

K. Kráľová, L. Mitterhauszerová, J. Halgaš

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:477 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02920951

Effects of benzothiazolium salts on chlorophyll (Chl) production inChlorella vulgaris (inhibition or stimulation) are closely connected with the applied effector concentration and with the character of the substituents.