Book reviews

Radomíra Vaňková

Biologia plantarum 1990, 32:48 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02897342

Book review

T. Gichner

Biologia plantarum 1990, 32:76 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02897347

The effect of exogenous phosphate deficiency on the activity of acid phosphatase of the root of two maize genotypes

Marie Kummerová, Ivana Burešová

Biologia plantarum 1990, 32:1 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02897335

In two maize genotypes, the effect of exogenous phosphate deficiency on acid phosphatase activity of the apical part of primary root was followed in dry and imbided grains. Higher acid phosphatase activity was found in the genotype LG 5. The enzyme activity increased after 18 h grain imbibition in the two genotypes. After 48 h germination no differences were found between the genotypes. After 24 h cultivation of root segments in a solution of 0.25 mM CaSO₄.2H₂O,0.1 mM MgSO₄.7H₂O, and further after 3,6 and 24 h cultivation in solutions with and without phosphate genotypic differences were found in acid phosphatase...

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration inCoronilla varia L. (crownvetch) long-term tissue cultures

Jiřina Duškova, Z. Opatrný, Marie Sovová, J. Dušek

Biologia plantarum 1990, 32:8-13 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02897336

Spontaneous recovery of regeneration abilities was observed in a long-term (about two-year-old) crownvetch (Coronilla varia L.) tissue culture permanently grown on MS medium containing 1 mg 1^-1 IAA. Somatic embryos and later complete plants differentiated from initially regenerating roots. The formation and development of embryos was accompanied by a 10- to 20-fold increase in the content of cardioactive glycosides hyrcanoside and deglucohyrcanoside in the culture biomass. The effect of auxins (IAA, NAA, 2,4-D) and cytokinins (6-BAP) on calogenesis and somatic embryogenesis was examined; further development of somatic embryos was...

Histological-anatomical studies of the structure of the organogenic callus inPapaver somniferum L.

J. Šamaj, M. Bobák, K. Erdelský

Biologia plantarum 1990, 32:14-18 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02897337

Organogenic callus cultures ofPapaver somniferum L. were studied with the aim of describing the morphology of the callus and observing the changes occurring during differentiation and induction of organogenesis. The morphology of the cells and the formation of meristemoid areas were studied on a light microscopic level. Histological evidence showed that from the inner meristematic centres, protracheal elements are differentiated, from the surface meristematic centres meristemoids are formed and therefrom green leaf-like organoids.

Changes in the content of phenolic compounds and IAA-oxidase activity during the growth of tobacco crown gall suspension culture

Zofia Chirek

Biologia plantarum 1990, 32:19 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02897338

Phenolic content and IAA-oxidase (IAA-o) activity have been assayed in cells and medium of tobacco crown gall suspension culture in several stages of culture cycle. The highest content of total phenolics in the cells were found prior to cell division and in the middle stage of intensive growth. The beginning of intensive growth is accompanied by temporary reduction in phenolic level in the cells as well as their intensive secretion to the medium. In the second part of the culture cycle, when the phenolic production was weaker, the majority of these compounds were maintained in the cells.
The highest activity of IAA-o in the cells was detected in...

Preliminary studies on the mechanisms of action of phosphonic analogues of morphactins on plants and bacteria

H. Sztajer, E. Zboińska, I. Zbyryt, J. Kleleczawa, B. Lejczak, P. Kafarski

Biologia plantarum 1990, 32:28-34 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02897339

Two classes of phosphonopeptides, those containing P-terminal 9-aminofluoren-9-ylphos-phonic acid and those of dialkyl 9-aminofluoren-9-ylphosphine oxides, influence plant growth according to different mechanisms. The effect of these compounds on the growth of several bacterial species, including the photosynthetic bacteriumRhodospirillum rubrum, as well as on the activity of photosystems 1 and 2 in isolatedPisum sativum andSpirodela oligorrhiza chloroplasts was studied. The peptides of free, unblocked 9-aminofluoren-9-ylphosphonic acid acted in a morphactin-like manner, whereas those of dialkyl 9-aminofluoren-9-ylphosphine oxides...

Changes inChlorella vulgaris B. populations after chronic influence with chemical and physical mutagenic factors

S. G. Chankova, K. M. Vinarova, S. H. Nikolov, A. D. Mehandjiev, S. A. Sergeeva, S. N. Ptitzina, A. B. Semov, V. A. Shevchenko

Biologia plantarum 1990, 32:35-41 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02897340

The resistance of differentChlorella vulgaris B. strains obtained as a result of chronic influence with chemical and physical factors have been studied. The aim of our work was to establish the relation between the resistance ofChlorella vulgaris populations with ultrastructural cell organization and the level of endogenic thiols. It was established that destructive processes in the cell are reduced to minimum in the more resistant strains and are of a definite recovering character. The higher resistance is accompanied by higher content of endogenic thiols, enlarging of cell pyrenoid and multilayered cell-covering membrane. From the results...

The effect of humic acids and their different molecular mass fractions on germination in sunflower

Ester Casenave de Sanfilippo, J. A. Argüello, G. A. Orioli

Biologia plantarum 1990, 32:42 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02897341

Low molecular mass humic acid fractions caused a decrease in the germination rate. Only the highest concentration of humic acid solution decreases the soaking of fruits. Neither sodium content nor water and osmotic potential can account for that decrease.
Seed respiration was increased in the presence of humic acids and their medium molecular mass fraction. This increase did not produce an increment in embryonic growth possibly as a result of interference in the respiration chain or decoupling in the oxidative phosphorylation.

Changes of chloroplasts density and heterogeneity during the senescence of barley leaves

J. Cuello, Maria N. Aguilar, B. Sabater

Biologia plantarum 1990, 32:49 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02897343

The equilibrium density of chloroplasts from barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Hassan) was analyzed by sucrose gradient centrifugation. Natural and detachment-induced leaf senescence were associated with a decrease in density and an increase in heterogeneity of the chloroplast population. Treatments (with growth regulators and light) which retarded or accelerated senescence, respectively, retarded or accelerated chloroplast density decrease. Accelerators as well as retardants of senescence decreased the heterogeneity of the chloroplast population.

Lead movement in poplar adventitious roots

Malgorzata Książek, A. Woźny

Biologia plantarum 1990, 32:54 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02897344

Lead was detected and located in definite regions of thePopulus adventitious roots with the light microscope. Incubations of 24, 48, and 72 h in solutions of Pb(NO₃)₂ resulted in clear sequences of microscopic images. Interpretation of these images allows the construction of a scheme for lead transport pathways in roots.

Relations between intracellular pH, water relations and morphogenesis in rose plants in vitro

Huguette Begin-Sallanon, A. Coudret, M. Gendraud

Biologia plantarum 1990, 32:58-63 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02897345

Variations in water content, relative water content (RWC), pressure potential and intracellular pH (pH) had been studied as factors of bud growth in rose plantlets grown in vitro for micropropagation. During the phase of healing, pressure potential and pH, were high enough to allow bud growth. During the following growth phase only buds of the lower part of the stem were able to grow. The growth ability of these buds and the growth inhibition of the others, associated with ΔpH, were retained during the last three days of culture, when dry matter content and RWC were the lowest. The results also showed a tight link between pH, and pressure potential....

Purification and properties of phosphorylase from white yam tuber (Dioscorea rotundata)

U. Oluoha

Biologia plantarum 1990, 32:64 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02897346

α-Glucan phosphorylase was extracted fromDioscorea rotundata tubers and purified 55 fold with specific activity of 360 nmol min^-1 mg^-1 protein and a yield of 41.5 %. By electrophoresis of purified enzyme on polyacrylamide gel a single band of phosphorylase activity appeared. The enzyme showed normal Michaelis-Menten kinetics and was activated by AMP. ATP, ADP, ADP-glucose, calcium and magnesium inhibited the enzyme. It is active in the presence and absence of primer. No effects were observed on the addition of glycolytic intermediates or amino acids. Using gel filtration molecular mass of the enzyme determined is...

Time course of electrolyte leakage from various samples killed by frost, liquid nitrogen or boiling

I. Prášil, J. Zámečník

Biologia plantarum 1990, 32:77-80 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02897348

Samples of the same kind (rape leaves, wheat crowns, onion bulbs or spruce needles) killed by a slow freeze-thaw cycle or by immersion in liquid nitrogen showed a similar time course of leakage. Leakage was accelerated in treatments when the sample, immersed in water, was killed by heating for 5, 15 or 30 min in a boiling water bath. The longer the boiling, the sooner the maximum conductivity (L_km) was obtained. The L_km did not depend on the way of killing but in samples killed by freezing, it was achieved after a longer leakage time. The leakage rate decreased from onion to rape, wheat and spruce. The relative conductivity [%]...