Plant Pyruvate Kinase

P.K. Ambasht, Arvind M. Kayastha

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:1-10 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015173724712

Pyruvate kinase is an important enzyme of glycolytic pathway that also functions in providing carbon skeleton for fatty acid biosynthesis. It has been purified to near homogeneity from Ricinus communis, Selenastrum minutum, Cynodon dactylon, Brassica campestris and B. napus, and characterised. Partially purified preparations are reported from several other sources. A phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) phosphatase accompanies pyruvate kinase. In plants, two isozymes of pyruvate kinase are reported, namely cytosolic and plastidic. Isoforms of cytosolic pyruvate kinase have also been reported from spinach. In most cases pyruvate kinase is a tetrameric...

A New Somaclone of Prunus Avium Shows Diverse Growth Pattern under Different Spectral Quality of Radiation

C. Piagnani, C. Iacona, M.C. Intrieri, R. Muleo

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:11-17 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015182608782

The aim of this research was to set up a regeneration protocol from mature explants of Prunus avium L. cv. Hedelfinger and to develop an early screening method for selection of putative somaclones based on morphological and physiological traits regulated by the spectral quality of radiation. DNA analyses of a new somaclone named HS, conducted using Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR), revealed a polymorphism between the somaclone HS and wild type propagated by microcuttings. When grown under different spectral quality of radiation, somaclone HS showed a different pattern of growth and development compared to the wild type with the main modifications...

Dafni, A., Hesse, M., Pacini, E. (ed.): Pollen and Pollination

J. Tupý

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:18 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015162305999

Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Regeneration in Pigeonpea

M.L. Mohan, K.V. Krishnamurthy

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:19-25 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015134725621

Somatic embryogenesis in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] has been achieved using cotyledon segments of mature seeds as explants. A large number of globular somatic embryos were induced directly from cotyledons of genotypes T-15-15, GAUT-82-90 and GAUT-82-99 when cultured on EC6 basal medium supplemented with 2.22, 4.44, 13.32 or 22.2 μM N⁶-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.45, 1.36, 2.27, 4.54 and 13.62 μM thidiazuron. Somatic embryos developed into cotyledonary stage when the globular embryos were transferred to Murashige and Skoog's (MS) basal medium containing 2.89 - 14.43 μM gibberellic acid. Maturation of somatic...

Harwood, J.L., Quinn, N. (ed.): Recent Advances in the Biochemistry of Plant Lipids

N. Wilhelmová

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:26 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015170524654

An Assessment of Genetic Integrity of Micropropagated Plants of Plumbago Zeylanica by RAPD Markers

G.R. Rout, G. Das

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:27-32 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015186709691

Clones of Plumbago zeylanica were micropropagated using nodal culture. The application of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) in assessing the genetic integrity of the micropropagated plants was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction. Twenty arbitrary decamers were used to amplify genomic DNA from in vitro and in vivo plant material to assess the genetic fidelity. All RAPD profiles from micro-propagated plants were monomorphic and similar to those of field grown mother plants. No polymorphism was detected within the micropropagated plants.

Influence of ABA and 4PU-30 on the Growth, Proteolytic Activities and Protein Composition of Maize Seedlings

Y.M. Angelova, S.G. Petkova, N.I. Popova, B.J. Stefanov, L.K. Iliev

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:33-37 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015138816051

The experiments were carried out with germinating maize seeds (Zea mays L.), grown 6 d in the dark at 26°C. Before germination the seeds were soaked for 4 h in solutions containing 1 mM abscisic acid (ABA), 0.1 mM N₁-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N₂ phenylurea (4PU-30) and their combination. The influence of plant growth regulators on the length, fresh (FM) and dry (DM) masses, proteolytic activities and soluble protein fractions in shoots, roots and endosperm were studied. As compared to control the seedlings treated with ABA showed lower length, FM and DM of shoots and roots, and lower proteolytic activities. As a consequence...

Øvstedal, D.O., Lewis Smith, R.I.: Lichens of Antarctica and South Georgia. A Guide to their Identification and Ecology

J. Gloser

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:38 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015130808724

Brassinolide Effect on Growth of Apical Meristems, Ethylene Production, and Abscisic Acid Content in Potato Tubers

N.P. Korableva, T.A. Platonova, M.Z. Dogonadze, A.S. Evsunina

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:39-43 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015167616960

Treatment of intact potato (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Nevskii) tubers with 24-epibrassinolide (EB) resulted in prolonged deep dormancy, increased production of ethylene and higher contents of free and bound abscisic acid (ABA) in buds. EB at the most efficient concentration 0.021 mg dm^-3, applied immediately after tuber harvest, inhibited sprouting by 36 - 38 d, increased ethylene formation after 1 and 7 d of storage by almost 300 and 150%, respectively, and increased the content of both free and bound ABA during the whole period of storage (on average by about 80%). Electron microscopic and morphometric studies showed that EB brings...

Schulze, E.-D. (ed.): Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in European Forest Ecosystems

J. Čatský

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:44 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015182809633

High Irradiance Induced Pigment Degradation and Loss of Photochemical Activity of Wheat Chloroplasts

R.K. Behera, N.K. Choudhury

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:45-49 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015171701030

Loss of chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoids (Car) of leaves and changes in Chl fluorescence emission and polarisation, malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, and 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol (DCPIP) photoreduction in chloroplasts of wheat seedlings grown under different irradiance and subsequently exposed to high irradiance stress (HIS; 250 W m^-2) were studied in mature and senescent primary wheat leaves. Faster rate of pigment loss was observed in leaves of moderate irradiance (MI; 15 W m^-2) grown plants, compared to high irradiance (HI-1 and HI-2; 30 and 45 W m^-2) ones when exposed to HIS. A relatively lower loss of Car...

Griffiths, A.J.F., Miller, J.H., Suzuki, D.T., Lewontin, R., Gelbart, W.M.: An Introduction to Genetic Analysis

M. Bunček

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:50 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015187026471

Does the Response of Perennial Ryegrass to Elevated CO₂ Concentration Depend on the Form of the Supplied Nitrogen?

V. Gloser, M. Frehner, A. Lüscher, J. Nösberger, U.A. Hartwig

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:51-58 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015123817869

To test whether different nitrogen form (nitrate or ammonium) in substrate can alter the response to elevated partial pressure of CO₂ (pCO₂) plants of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. Bastion) were grown from seeds in growth chambers under pCO₂ of either 35 Pa (ambient, CA) or 70 Pa (elevated, CE) in a hydroponic system (with nutrient and pH control) for 24 d. Nitrogen was supplied as ammonium, nitrate or an equimolar mixture of both N forms. Under CE plants grew faster than their counterparts under CA during the first 14 d but after 23 d of cultivation stimulation disappeared. Despite the strong positive...

Light-Dark Changes in Proline Content of Barley Leaves under Salt Stress

I.S. Fedina, K. Georgieva, I. Grigorova

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:59-63 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015175802847

Proline accumulation in leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Alfa) seedlings treated with 150 mM NaCl was promoted in the light and suppressed in the dark. The light/dark changes of proline content was enhanced with each 12 h light/12 h dark cycle and the proline content increased steadily. Root and shoot concentrations of Na⁺ and Cl^- in salt treated plants increased about 10 to 25 times as compared to the control. The content of these ions and the content of malondialdehyde were higher in the shoot of seedlings exposed to salt stress for 4 d in the light in comparison with the seedlings exposed to NaCl for 4 d in darkness....

Wise, D.L., Trantolo, D.J., Cichon, E.J., Inyang, H.I., Stottmeister, U. (ed.): Bioremediation of Contaminated Soils

R. Podlipná

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:64 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015139127380

Alleviation of Negative Effects of Water Stress in Two Contrasting Wheat Genotypes by Calcium and Abscisic Acid

H. Nayyar, S.K. Kaushal

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:65-70 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015132019686

The individual and interactive role of calcium and abscisic acid (ABA) in amelioration of water stress simulated by polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 was investigated in two contrasting wheat genotypes. PEG solution (osmotic potential -1.5 MPa) was applied to 10-d-old seedlings growing under controlled conditions and changes in photosynthetic rate, activities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, water potential and stomatal conductance were observed in the presence of 0.1 mM ABA, 5 mM calcium chloride, 1 mM verapamil (Ca²⁺ channel blocker), and 1 mM fluridone (inhibitor of ABA biosynthesis). ABA and...

Heat Shock Induced Lipid Changes and Solute Leakage in Germinating Seeds of Pigeonpea

K.V. Madhava Rao, V. Sridevi, N.V. Satyanarayana

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:71-76 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015184004665

Heat shock (HS) reduced total lipid and phospholipid contents and their synthesis in germinating seeds of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh]. Lipid peroxidation was also enhanced with increasing temperature and HS duration. HS influenced lipid metabolism to a higher extent at 45°C than at 40°C. This altered lipid metabolism and lipid peroxidation was associated with the loss of various solutes from the germinating seeds, and modification of growth and development. Pretreatment of germinating seeds at 40°C for 1 h or at 45°C for 10 min followed by incubation at 28°C for 3 h prior to 45°C for 2 h ameliorated solute leakage due to reduced...

Anatomical and Histochemical Changes of Norway Spruce Buds Induced by Simulated Acid Rain

J. Soukupová, J. Albrechtová, H. Svobodová, J. Opatrná

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:77-84 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015140222412

The study was focused on changes of anatomical and histochemical parameters of buds of 4-year-old Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) trees subjected to simulated acid rain (SAR). Solutions of pH 2.9 and 3.9 were applied by spraying on shoot and/or by watering for two years. No macroscopic changes of buds or needles were observed in connection with SAR application and the only induced change was 2-week earlier onset of bud break in all treated variants compared to the control. Two-year treatment caused decrease in number of leaf primordia and increase in number of living bud scales in treated dormant buds while these parameters remained unchanged...

Effects of Cadmium, Lead, Mercury and Zinc on °-Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase Activity from Radish Leaves

V.M. Morsch, M.R.C. Schetinger, A.F. Martins, J.B.T. Rocha

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:85-89 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015196423320

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the in vitro and the in vivo effects of cadmium, zinc, mercury and lead on δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) activity from radish leaves. The in vivo effect of these metals on growth, DNA and protein content was also evaluated. The results demonstrated that among the elements studied Cd²⁺ presented the highest toxicity for radish. 50% inhibition of ALA-D activity (IC₅₀) in vitro was at 0.39, 2.39, 2.29, and 1.38 mM Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺, respectively. After in vivo exposure Cd²⁺,...

West, R.: Plant Life of the Quaternary Cold Stages. Evidence from the British Isles

E. Břízová

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:90,98 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015143228289

Effects of Cadmium on Antioxidant Enzyme Activities in Sugar Cane

R.F. Fornazier, R.R. Ferreira, A.P. Vitória, S.M.G. Molina, P.J. Lea, R.A. Azevedo

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:91-97 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015100624229

Sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L. cv. Copersucar SP80-3280) seedlings were grown in nutrient solution with varying concentrations (0, 2 and 5 mM) of cadmium chloride for 96 h. Leaves were analysed for catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. Although a clear effect of CdCl₂ on plant growth was observed, the activity of SOD was not altered significantly. However, the CAT activity decreased as the concentration of CdCl₂ increased. GR exhibits a significant increase in activity at 2 and 5 mM CdCl₂. CAT and SOD isoenzymes were further characterised by analysis in non-denaturing...

Why Chloroplasts in Apical Cell of Funaria Hygrometrica Protonemata Treated with Lead are Distributed in Different Way than in Control

M. Krzesłowska, A. Woźny

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:99-104 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015104726046

Two-day-old protonemata of Funaria hygrometrica Hedw. growing in vitro were treated with 4 μM Pb (given as PbCl₂) for 48 h. After this time chloroplasts of apical cell were distributed in different way than in control. In the middle part of the cell they formed one line while in the top one, usually swollen, they were crowded and formed irregular group. The reasons of such chloroplast distribution were: 1) increase of plastid size, probably the effect of intensive accumulation of starch and appearance of characteristic protuberances, 2) decrease of cell inner space additionally intensified by thickenings of...

Hydrogen Peroxide Generated Via the Octadecanoid Pathway is Neither Necessary nor Sufficient for Methyl Jasmonate-Induced Hypersensitive Cell Death in Woody Plants

V. Repka

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:105-115 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015112926955

Exogenously applied methyl jasmonate (MeJA) might induce the formation of necrotic lesions that closely resemble hypersensitive response lesions. Cellular damage, restricted to the infiltrated zone, was accompanied with the production of H₂O₂ from the oxidative burst. H₂O₂ generated in response to MeJA can be histochemically detected in cells surrounding the necrotic lesions as well as in the vascular tissues. The response is systemic and maximizes with time. Among 12 plant species from different families that were assayed for both hypersensitive reaction (HR)-like response and H₂O₂...

Leshem, Y.Y.: Nitric Oxide in Plants. Occurrence, Function and Use

N. Wilhelmová

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:116 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015147312359

Enhancement of Green Gram Nodulation and Growth by Bacillus Species

S.S. Sindhu, S.K. Gupta, S. Suneja, K.R. Dadarwal

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:117-120 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015117027863

Rhizobacteria belonging to Bacillus sp. were isolated from the rhizosphere of green gram (Vigna radiata). Seed inoculation with the rhizobacteria showed stunting effect on root growth whereas four Bacillus strains caused stimulation of shoot growth at both 4 and 7 d of observations. Coinoculation of some Bacillus strains with effective Bradyrhizobium strain S24 resulted in enhanced nodulation and plant growth of green gram. The shoot dry mass (ratio to uninoculated control) varied from 1.32 to 6.33 at day 30 and from 1.28 to 3.55 at day 40 of plant growth. Nodule promoting effect after 40 d of plant growth was observed...

In Vitro Long-Term Storage of Date Palm

S.A. Bekheet, H.S. Taha, M.M. Saker

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:121-124 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015121111934

A reliable method for the long-term conservation of date palm tissue cultures is described. In vitro shoot bud and callus culture were successfully stored for 12 months at 5°C in the dark. At this conditions high percent of cultures remained viable without serious signs of senescence. However, the growth rate decreased as storage period increased. The role of sorbitol as osmotic agent in storage was examined. Health shoot bud cultures were obtained after 6 months of storage on medium containing 40 g dm^-3 sorbitol. This period extended for 9 months in case of callus cultures.

Impact of Lead and Cadmium on Enzyme of Citric Acid Cycle in Germinating Pea Seeds

P. Bansal, P. Sharma, V. Goyal

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:125-127 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015173112842

The present investigations were conducted to ascertain the influence of Pb₂₊ and Cd₂₊ both individually and in combination on selected enzymes of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. All the enzymes of TCA cycle examined (α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase) were affected deleteriously by Pb₂₊ as well as Cd₂₊ and these metals in combination gave more or less an additive effect.

Miller, G.T.: Living in the Environment. Principles, Connections, and Solutions

J. Gloser

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:128 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015199330106

Direct Organogenesis from Mature Leaf and Petiole Explants of Eryngium Foetidum L.

S. Arockiasamy, S. Prakash, S. Ignacimuthu

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:129-132 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015177330589

Eryngium foetidum L. plants were regenerated from mature leaf and petiole explants through direct organogenesis without intervening callus phase. From leaf explants, adventitious multiple shoots raised on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 4.43 μM benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.57 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), whereas in petiole explants shoot regeneration occurred at 8.86 μM BAP and 0.57 μM IAAA. 80% of the leaf explants and 44% of petiole explants produced shoots after four weeks of culture. The regenerated plants were rooted on MS medium supplemented with 2.46 μM indole-3-butyric acid and 2.88 μM gibberellic...

Seed Germination in Relation to Salinity and Temperature in Sarcobatus Vermiculatus

M.A. Khan, B. Gul, D.J. Weber

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:133-135 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015133515568

Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Hook) Torrey is a leaf succulent, sodium-accumulating shrub usually found in saline substrates of the Great Basin desert, Utah, USA. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effect of salinity (0, 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 mM NaCl) and temperature (day/night: 5/15, 10/20, 15/25, 20/30, and 25/35°C) on seed germination. S. vermiculatus showed 100% germination in non-saline controls, at all thermoperiods. Percentage and rate of germination decreased with increases in salinity and few seeds germinated at even 1000 mM NaCl. High salinity exposure caused the loss of viability at higher temperature regimes,...

Prell, H.H., Day, P. (Ed.): Plant-Fungal Pathogen Interaction. A Classical and Molecular View

L. Burketová

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:136 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015155531014

Content of Oxalate in Actinidia Deliciosa Plants Grown in Nutrient Solutions with Different Nitrogen Forms

C. Rinallo, G. Modi

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:137-139 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015189616477

Kiwifruit plants (Actinidia deliciosa cv. Hayward) were grown in Hoagland nutrient solution with calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, ammonium nitrate or ammonium chloride as the nitrogen source. Plants grown in the solution with nitrate nitrogen displayed a higher oxalate content, greater shoot length and leaf area, and higher content of ascorbic acid and NO₃^- ions in the leaves. Plants grown in the solution with ammonium nitrate, and particularly with ammonium chloride, showed low oxalate content, low content of ascorbic acid and NO₃^-, high content of Cl^- and Na⁺, low shoot length...

Effects of Increased Supply of Potassium on Growth and Nutrient Content in Pearl Millet under Water Stress

M. Ashraf, M. Ashfaq, M.Y. Ashraf

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:141-144 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015193700547

Influence of increased K supply on growth and nutrient content in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) under severe water stress was assessed in a pot experiment under glasshouse conditions. Nineteen-day-old plants of two lines, ICMV94133 and WCA-78 were subjected for 30 d to 235, 352.5, and 470 mg(K) kg^-1(soil) and two water regimes (100 and 30% field capacity). Increasing soil K supply did not alleviate the adverse effect of water deficit on the growth of two lines of pearl millet. Accumulation of N and K in the shoots of both lines was higher under water deficit than that under well-watered conditions, but such effect was not observed...

Identification and Analysis of Proteins Sharing Dehydroascorbate Reductase Activity

M.C. De Tullio, C. Paciolla, O. Arrigoni

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:145-147 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015145818294

Dehydroascorbate (DHA)-reducing proteins were observed using a native-PAGE/activity staining method, and identified in soybean and rice by Western analysis using antibodies against homologous protein known to catalyse DHA reduction. Administration of 1 mM DHA apparently did not trigger DHA reductase activity in lupin and onion, whereas activity was increased in rice and barley.

In Vitro Regeneration of European Linden

I. Sarvašová, J. Ďurkovič

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:149-152 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015102019203

The regeneration of European linden (Tilia × europaea L.) in vitro was successful. When using axillary buds as primary explants it was possible to induce a new shoot growth. The highest number of shoots per explant (2.13 ± 1.09) was recorded at the presence of 0.2 mg dm^-3 6-benzylaminopurine. Up to 50% of elongated shoots rooted in the presence of 2.0 mg dm^-3 α-naphthaleneacetic acid.

Seed Viability and Biochemical Changes Associated with Accelerated Ageing in Dendrocalamus Strictus Seeds

R. Ravikumar, G. Ananthakrishnan, S. Girija, A. Ganapathi

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:153-156 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015106203273

Accelerated ageing of Dendrocalamus strictus Ness seeds at 42 ± 1°C and 100% relative humidity for 1 to 8 d was conducted. Seeds lost viability and changed their biochemical constituents. Reductions in the contents of sugars, starch, proteins and lipids were found. Decrease in the activity of the peroxidase as well as acid and alkaline phosphatase were also observed. Increase in total free amino acids content and the activity of amylase confirmed the degradation of seed reserves.

Inhibition of Pigments and Phycocolloid in a Marine Red Alga Gracilaria Edulis by Ultraviolet-B Radiation

K. Eswaran, O.P. Mairh, P.V. Subba Rao

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:157-159 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015158204181

Vegetative fragments of the subtidal macroalga Gracilaria edulis (Gmel.) Silva cultured under field conditions at Thonithurai were subjected in the laboratory to UV-B radiation (280 - 320 nm). UV-B inhibited the accumulation of chlorophyll and phycobiliproteins, and lowered agar yield (23 to 43%) and its gel strength (22 to 36%) under 12 to 72 h exposure. The longer the exposure to UV-B radiation the more significant impact on pigments and phycocolloid properties of Gracilaria edulis was observed.

Jan Krekule; septuagenarian

I. Macháčková

Biologia plantarum 2002, 45:I-II | DOI: 10.1023/A:1015285326125