Isolation and Preliminary Characterization of ATPase from Olive Calli Grown at Different Auxin/Cytokinin Ratio

S. Astolfi, M.G. De Biasi, E. Rugini, Z. Varanini

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:321-330 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001853120799

ATPase activity was studied in calli from olive (Olea europaea L.) petioles cultured in media modified in their auxin/cytokinin ratio in order to induce different morphogenetic responses. Addition of 0.54 µM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or 14 µM zeatin (ZEA) did not induce any morphogenesis in calli and proton pump activity in vivo was very low, while calli produced roots at 27 or 11 µM NAA + 0.28 µM ZEA and possessed clearly detectable proton pump activity. ATPase activity associated with microsomes isolated by differential centrifugation from different callus cultures had the same pH optimum and similar sensitivity...

Direct Organogenesis in Hypocotyl Cultures of Tamarindus Indica

P.K. Jaiwal Sonia, A. Gulati, S. Dahiya

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:331-337 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001873604870

Direct differentiation of shoot buds from hypocotyl segments of 12-d-old seedlings of Tamarindus indica was obtained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with or without growth regulators. The highest regeneration (66 %) and the maximum number of shoots (3 - 4) per explant were obtained from the explants on MS medium containing 6-benzylaminopurine (5 × 10-6 M). A maximum roots per shoot were produced on medium containing 3-indole butyric acid (5 × 10-6 M). The resulting plantlets were hardened and transferred to soil in pots where 75 % of them survived and resumed growth. Histological examination of explants suggests that the shoots were of de novo origin...

Elmerich, C., Kondorosi, A., Newton, W.E. (ed.): Biological Nitrogen Fixation for the 21st Century

K. Novák

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:338 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001827200752

Quick Identification of the Members of the Glutamine Synthetase Gene Family from Sunflower by Simultaneous Amplification of cDNA with Degenerate Primers

M. Montenegro, J. M. Maldonado, R. Pérez-Vicente

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:339-355 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001825706687

A single degenerate glutamine synthetase (GS)-specific primer was used to amplify the 3' end of cDNAs derived from different GS genes that are expressed in leaves and roots of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Peredovic). Four types of GS cDNA (I, II, III and IV) were simultaneously amplified from leaves and five types (I, II, V, VI, VII) from roots with a minimum investment of time and experimental work. cDNAs II, III and IV encode chloroplastic isoforms as deduced by the presence of chloroplastic GS-specific features in their sequences. The rest of cDNAs codifies cytosolic isoforms. Using cDNA-specific probes and primers, homologous sequences to...

Francis, D., Duditz, D., Inzé, D.: Plant Cell Division.

M. Strnad

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:356 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001831317590

Repression of Genetic Activity in Root Meristem Cells by Peptidic Factor Derived from Male Sex Organs of Chara

J. Maszewski, A. Kaźmierczak

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:357-368 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001834007595

Present autoradiographic investigations using 3H-uridine and 3H-leucine incorporation indicate that preincubation of primary roots of Melandrium noctiflorum with antheridial chromatin condensation factor (ACCF), a low molecular mass peptidic factor (4.5 kDa) obtained from maturing male sex organs of Chara tomentosa, leads to a marked reduction of transcription and translation in G1, G2 and endopolyploid cells (8C DNA level). Moreover, silver staining of cells reveals considerable decrease in number and sizes of nucleoli. The similarities that exist between the "innate" processes within developing antheridial filaments of Chara and the genetic repression...

Light Regulation of Diurnal Variation of Sucrose-Phosphate Synthase in Potato

D. Pattanayak

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:369-376 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001838125342

Light regulation of diurnal variation of sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS) activity was studied in potato leaves during pre-tuber initiation stage. SPS activity was greatest at 14:00 and coincident with highest irradiance [2 000 µmol(PAR) m-2 s-1], and lowest at 18:00 during lowest irradiance (200 µmol m-2 s-1). In contrast, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) activity was greatest at 12:00 (irradiance 1 700 µmol m-2 s-1). Inhibition of SPS activity by phosphorylation was least at 14:00 and highest at 18:00. Considerable inhibition was also observed at 10:00. SPS showed hyperbolic saturation kinetics in response to varying UDP-glucose...

Dependence of Arabidopsis Thaliana Floral Stem Growth and Architecture on Photoperiod

L. Jouve, Y. Charron, C. Couderc, H. Greppin, R. Degli Agosti

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:377-386 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001894226251

The influence of the applied photoperiod during floral stem development has been studied. A clear relationship between the length of the photoperiod, the frequency of light/dark switches, and the dynamic of growth and the subsequent morphology and architecture has been found. An increase in the day length (L/D = 16/8) or an increase in frequency of light/dark transitions (L/D = 7/7) stimulated the inflorescence growth. The two treatments induced the same enlargement in the early inflorescence, but the L/D = 7/7 condition causes a greater increase in the late one. The treatments induced also a diminution in the number of lateral inflorescences, principally...

Role of Antioxidant Systems in Wheat Genotypes Tolerance to Water Stress

R.K. Sairam, P.S. Deshmukh, D.C. Saxena

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:387-394 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001898310321

The role of plant antioxidant systems in stress tolerance was studied in leaves of three contrasting wheat genotypes. Drought imposed at two different stages after anthesis resulted in an increase in H2O2 accumulation and lipid peroxidation and decrease in ascorbic acid content. Antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and catalase significantly increased under water stress. Drought tolerant genotype C 306 which had highest ascorbate peroxidase and catalase activity and ascorbic acid content also showed lowest H2O2 accumulation and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde content) under water stress in comparison to susceptible...

Responses to chilling stress in French bean seedlings: antioxidant compounds

H. M. El-Saht

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:395-402 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001850427160

French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Contender) plants at five developmental stages (4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 d after sowing) were exposed to one of three treatments: 1 - 25 °C (control), 2 - exposure to chilling at 10 °C only for 2 d prior to sampling, and 3 - long-term exposure to chilling at 10 °C. Short- and long-term chilling decreased plant growth. Higher concentrations of ascorbate and glutathione were found in the chilling-treated plants throughout the different period of growth in comparison with those in the control plants. The activities of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase increased in the chilling-treated...

Chilling-induced changes in membrane fluidity and antioxidant enzyme activities in Coffea arabica L. roots

C.G.S. Queiroz, A. Alonso, M. Mares-Guia, A.C. Magalhães

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:403-413 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001802528068

Exposure of coffee to low temperatures caused growth inhibition, changes in metabolic rates, and membrane alterations. Root tissue exposed to 10 °C evolved significantly lower rates of metabolic heat compared with controls grown at 25 °C, and the values were closely associated with the observed root growth inhibition. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of intact tissues showed that the spin probe 5-doxylstearic acid was capable to intercalate within the cellular membrane lipids. Indeed, at the depth of the 5th carbon atoms of the alkyl chains, the nitroxide radical detected more rigid membranes in seedlings exposed to 10 °C compared with 25 °C...

Jain, M., Brar, D.S., Ahloowalia, B.S. (ed.): Somaclonal Variation and Induced Mutations in Crop Improvement.

T. Gichner

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:414 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001883318499

Spudich, A.J., Gerhart, J., McKnight, S.L., Schekman, R. (ed.): Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology.

T. Gichner

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:414 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001887402569

Effect of aluminium on the NAD+ kinase activity of Euglena gracilis grown heterotrophically

O. Delumeau, M.-A. Pou, F. Montrichard, D.L. Laval-Martin

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:415-425 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001806612138

The effect of 2 mM AlCl3 on NAD+ kinase (E.C. 2.7.1.23) activity was studied using Euglena gracilis strain Z grown heterotrophically in darkness at pH 3.5 in the presence of lactate as sole carbon source. The Al-treatment slowed down the culture growth and suppressed the peak of NAD+ kinase activity, which characterizes the beginning of the exponential phase of growth of the control cell cultures. There are two possible explanations of the Al effect: it 1) either prevents the enzyme activation by the Ca-calmodulin (CaM) complex; or 2) suppresses the CaM-dependent NAD+ kinase form. In Euglena cells, a part of the NAD+ kinase activity is enhanced by...

Ort, D.J., Yocum, C.F. (ed.): Oxygenic Photosynthesis: the Light Reactions.

N. Wilhelmová

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:426 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001839619407

Redistribution of cobalt and nickel in detached wheat shoots: effects of steam-girdling and of cobalt and nickel supply

S. Zeller, U. Feller

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:427-434 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001858728977

Detached wheat shoots (ear with peduncle and flag leaf) were incubated for 4 d in a solution containing 1 mM RbCl and 1 mM SrCl2 as well as 10, 40 or 160 µM NiCl2 and CoCl2. The phloem of some plants was interrupted by steam-girdling the stem below the ear to distinguish between xylem and phloem transport. The phloem-immobile Sr flowed mainly to the leaf lamina and to the glumes via the xylem. The Sr transport was not sensitive to steam-girdling. In contrast, the phloem-mobile Rb accumulated during the incubation time mainly in the stem and the leaf sheath. The Rb transport to the grains was impaired by steam-girdling as well as by elevated Ni...

Nodule structure and functioning in Cicer arietinum as affected by nitrate

S. Sheokand, S. Babber, K. Swaraj

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:435-443 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001810813047

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cv. C-235 inoculated with Rhizobium sp. (Cicer) strain cv4Az was raised in sand culture under natural conditions with nitrogen-free nutrient solution. 45-d-old plants were treated with 20 and 50 mM KNO3 and sampling made 2 and 6 d after treatment. KNO3 application induced premature nodule senescence. Light microscopic investigations showed that KNO3 treatments resulted in structural degradation of the central bacteroidal tissue. The mass of green nodules increased by 35 % under these treatments. This was accompanied by a rapid decline in leghemoglobin (Lb) content of the nodules being 51 - 67 % lower than in control. The...

Becher, G., Wascher, W. (ed.): Perspektiven der Biotechnologie. Mittelständische Unternehmen am Standort Deutschland.

I. Tichá

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:444 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001891603478

Effect of simulated acid rain on nodulation and nitrogen metabolism in Vigna radiata cultivars

G. Kumaravelu, M.P. Ramanujam

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:445-450 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001862829885

Nodulation was inhibited in plants of green gram (Vigna radiata, cvs. ADT-1 and CO-5) exposed to different levels of simulated acid rain using a mixture of H2SO4, HNO3 and HCl (6:3:1) of pH 2.5, 4.0 and 5.5 in comparison with control (pH 7.0). Protein content of leaves increased in cv. CO-5 but decreased in cv. ADT-1 whereas the nitrate content of leaves increased in cv. ADT-1 but lowered in cv. CO-5. Nitrate reductase activity was increased in the nodular roots of cv. ADT-1 but was decreased in leaves. In cv. CO-5 it was increased in leaves but was insignificantly reduced in the nodules at pH 2.5. The nodule nitrogenase activity increased at pH 4.0...

Accumulation of pathogenesis-related proteins in barley leaf intercellular spaces during leaf senescence

L. Tamás, M. Čiamporová, M. Luxová

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:451-460 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001814930794

Accumulation of the pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins localised in intercellular spaces of barley primary leaves, chlorophyll content, structure of chloroplasts, and photosynthesis were examined during natural and in vitro induced leaf senescence (cultivation of whole plants in the dark or detached leaves under nutrient deficiency). Some of PR proteins accumulated during natural senescence, but their accumulation pattern was different from those of pathogen-induced as well as during in vitro-induced senescence, which indicate different molecular bases of these processes. Photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll content indicate that natural senescence...

Allelopathic potential of Zilla spinosa on growth of associate flowering plants and some rhizosphere fungi

A.A. El-Khatib, G.A. Abd-Elaah

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:461-467 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001819014864

Zilla spinosa plant part extracts exhibited significantly different inhibitory effect on the seed germination and seedling growth of its associate species. Shoot extract reduced the percentage germination and seedling length of different test species more than root extract. Except of Z. coccineum, seedling growth was more sensitive than seed germination. Shoot/root ratio of all test species increased significantly with increase in extract concentration. Mycelia growth of the two rhizosphere fungal species was more significantly reduced by Z. spinosa shoot extract than root extract. The effects of the different extracts on total protein and total carbohydrate...

Twyman, R.M.: Advanced Molecular Biology. A Concise References.

L. Skálová

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:468 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001843721225

Amelioration of lead and mercury effects on germination and rice seedling growth by antioxidants

A. Mishra, M.A. Choudhuri

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:469-473 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001871015773

Germination of two rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars (Ratna and IR 36) in the presence of 10 µM PbCl2 and 10 µM HgCl2 decreased germination percentage, germination index, shoot/root length, tolerance index and dry mass of shoots and roots. Mercury was more toxic than lead. Reduced glutathione (GSH), cysteine (Cys), ascorbic acid, and α-tocopherol alleviated the adverse effects of these metals on plants in the order GSH > Cys > ascorbic acid > α-tocopherol. The effects were more pronounced in tolerant cultivar IR 36 than in the relatively susceptible cultivar Ratna.

Wickens, G.E.: Ecophysiology of Economic Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands.

I. Prášil

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:474 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001899822133

The metabolism of inhibitor of flowering and prostaglandin biosynthesis, acetylsalicylic acid, in Pharbitis nil cotyledons

E.G. Groenewald, A.J. Van Der Westhuizen

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:475-479 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001875132611

Acetylsalicylic acid, which applied to cotyledons of the short day plant Pharbitis nil prior to an inductive 16-h dark period inhibits flowering by 90 %, is converted to salicylic acid and to a lesser extent to gentisic acid in the cotyledons during this 16-h dark period. Our results confirmed that salicylic acid and gentisic acid are responsible for the inhibition of flowering. They also inhibit prostaglandin biosynthesis.

Williams, J.P., Khan, U.M., Lem, N.W. (ed.): Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plant Lipids.

N. Wilhelmová

Biologia plantarum 1998, 41:480 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001804006204