Sugar cane buds as an efficient explant for plantlet regeneration

D. E. Vazquez Molina, A. De Los Santos, K. A. Lecona Guzman, O. Sumano Muniz, M. Velazquez Mendez, R. Rincon Rosales, M. A. Oliva Llaven, L. Dendooven, F. A. Gutierrez-Miceli

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:481-485 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0035-4

An efficient and reproducible protocol for regeneration of plantlets at a high frequency was developed by using sugar cane buds. Disinfected buds were firstly submerged in ethanol sodium hypochlorite solution with 0.1 % polyvinylpyrrolidone, 1.5 % ascorbic acid and 1.75 % citric acid as antioxidants and subsequently treated with solution of agrimicin:captan (1:1). The upper stalk segment was better to obtain bud in vitro culture compared to lower segments. The medium for induction of multiple shoots consisted of Murashige and Skoog basal medium (MS) supplemented with 2 mg dm^-3 thidiazuron and 1 mg dm^-3 naphthalene acetic...

Book review

J. Kutik

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:486 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0036-3

Optimalization of the peroxidase production by tissue cultures of horseradish in vitro

P. Soudek, R. Podlipna, P. Marsik, T. Vanek

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:487-492 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0037-2

Tissue cultures of Armoracia rusticana L., both transformed with Agrobacterium rhizogenes and nontransformed, were screened for peroxidase activity. Most of the derived and tested strains exhibited 20 times higher activity [from 99 to 723 U g^-1(d.m.)] than the root of the intact plant [(30 U g^-1 (d.m.)]. The highest peroxidase activity was found in tumour culture growing on the medium without growth regulators. The influence of the addition of sugars and heavy metal ions in the medium on peroxidase production was tested. Increase in peroxidase activity was observed after cultivation of horseradish culture with cadmium,...

Genetic transformation of Coffea canephora by particle bombardment

A. F. Ribas, A. K. Kobayashi, L. F. P. Pereira, L. G. E. Vieira

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:493-497 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0038-1

Stable transformation of Coffea canephora P. was obtained by particle bombardment of embryogenic tissue. Leaf explants were cultured on medium supplemented with 5 µM isopentenyl-adenosine to induce direct embryogenesis. Explants with somatic embryos were transferred to half strength MS medium with 9 µM 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. After 2 weeks, the explants with somatic embryos and embryogenic tissue were bombarded with tungsten particles (M-25) carrying the plasmid pCambia3301 (containing the bar and uidA genes) using a high pressure helium microprojectile device. The bombarded explants were submitted to selection...

Book review

J. Pospisilova

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:498 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0039-0

Isolation of a differentially spliced C-type flower specific AG-like MADS-box gene from Crocus sativus and characterization of its expression

A. S. Tsaftaris, K. Pasentsis, A. N. Polidoros

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:499-504 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0041-6

We have cloned and characterized the expression of Crocus sativus AGAMOUS1 (CsAG1), a putative C-type MADS-box gene homologous to AGAMOUS (AG) from a triploid monocot species crocus (Crocus sativus L.). The typical domain structure of MIKC-type plant MADS proteins was identified. Phylogenetic analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence indicated that the isolated gene forms a clade with the AGAMOUS homologs from the monocots Hyacinthus orientalis and Phalaenopsis equestris. A differential splicing event altering the amino acid sequence at the C terminus was identified, leading to the formation...

Seed protein electrophoresis of some cultivated and wild species of Chenopodium

A. Bhargava, T. S. Rana, S. Shukla, D. Ohri

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:505-511 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0042-5

Seed protein profiles of 40 cultivated and wild taxa of Chenopodium have been compared by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The relative similarity between various taxa, estimated by Jaccard's similarity index and clustered in UPGMA dendrogram, is generally in accordance with taxonomic position, crossability relationships and other biochemical characters. Eight accessions of C. quinoa studied are clustered together and show genetic similarity with closely related C. bushianum and C. berlandieri subsp. nuttalliae. The taxa included under C. album complex are clustered in two groups which...

Book review

J. Catsky

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:512 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0043-4

Regulation of the structure and catalytic properties of plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase involved in adaptation of two reed ecotypes to their different habitats

K.-M. Chen, H.-J. Gong, S.-M. Wang, W.-J. Zheng, C.-L. Zhang

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:513-519 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0044-3

The properties and kinetics of ATP and p-nitrophenyl phosphate (PNPP) hydrolysis activities of plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase from the two reed ecot ypes, swamp reed (SR) and dune reed (DR), were investigated. The pH optimum of the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase in both reed ecotypes was similar but the sensitivity of the enzyme to the reaction medium pH seemed to be higher in DR than that in SR. Compared to SR, the DR exhibited a higher V_max value for ATP hydrolysis whereas the K_m value was almost similar in both reed ecotypes. The PNPP hydrolysis of the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase was also studied...

Heat stress effects on ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, Rubisco binding protein and Rubisco activase in wheat leaves

K. Demirevska-Kepova, R. Holzer, L. Simova-Stoilova, U. Feller

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:521-525 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0045-2

Changes in chlorophyll content, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) binding protein (RBP), Rubisco activase (RA), Rubisco large (LS) and small (SS) subunits, and electrolyte leakage were investigated in wheat leaf segments during heat stress (HS) for 1 h and for 24 h at 40 °C in darkness or in light, as well as after recovery from heat stress (HSR) for 24 h at 25 °C in light. The 24-h HS treatment in darkness decreased irreversibly photosynthetic pigments, soluble proteins, RBP, RA, Rubisco LS and SS. An increase in RA and RBP protein contents was observed under 24-h HS and HSR in light. This increase was in accordance with their...

Compensation heat-pulse measurements of sap flow for estimating transpiration in young lemon trees

J. J. Alarcon, M. F. Ortuno, E. Nicolas, R. Torres, A. Torrecillas

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:527-532 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0046-1

Potted two-year-old lemon trees [Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f.], cv. Verna grafted on sour orange (C. aurantium L.) rootstock, growing in greenhouse, were subjected to drought for 33 d. Control plants were daily irrigated at field capacity. Values of sap flow (SF) were compared with transpiration (E) rates measured gravimetrically. The results underlined the robustness and high sensitivity of the compensation heat-pulse technique for estimating transpiration on a wide range of SF. Good direct correlations between E and SF rates on an instantaneous and daily basis were obtained in both treatments. On a daily basis, a common calibration curve...

Interactions between abscisic acid and cytokinins during water stress and subsequent rehydration

J. Pospíšilová, M. Vágner, J. Malbeck, A. Trávníčková, P. Baťková

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:533-540 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0047-0

With the aim to contribute to elucidation of the role of phytohormones in plant responses to stresses the endogenous contents of abscisic acid (ABA) and cytokinins (CK) were followed in French bean, maize, sugar beet, and tobacco during water stress and subsequent rehydration. The effects of pre-treatments with exogenous ABA or benzyladenine (BA) before imposition of water stress were also evaluated. The content of ABA increased by water stress, and with the exception of bean plants increased content of ABA remained also after rehydration. In all plant species the ABA content was further increased by ABA pre-treatment, but in bean and maize it decreased...

Changes in antioxidant enzymes activity and oxidative stress by abscisic acid and salicylic acid in wheat genotypes

S. Agarwal, R. K. Sairam, G. C. Srivastava, R. C. Meena

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:541-550 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0048-z

Abscisic acid (ABA) and salicylic acid (SA) were sprayed on leaves of wheat genotypes C 306 and Hira at 25 and 40 d after sowing under moderate water stress (-0.8 MPa) imposed by adding PEG-6000 in nutrient solution. ABA and SA increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and catalase in comparison to unsprayed control plants. Both ABA and SA treatments decreased the contents of hydrogen peroxide and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, a measure of lipid peroxidation, compared to unsprayed plants. The beneficial effect of increase in antioxidant enzymes activity and decrease in oxidative stress...

Contribution of physiological and morphological adjustments to drought resistance in two Mediterranean tree species

L. Serrano, J. Penuelas

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:551-559 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0049-y

Plant water potential (ψ), its components, and gas exchange data of two Mediterranean co-occurring woody species (Quercus ilex L. and Phillyrea latifolia L.) were measured in response to seasonal changes in water availability over two consecutive years. The relative contribution of physiological and morphological adjustments to drought resistance was assessed through Principal Component Analyses. There were large adjustments in stomatal conductance (∼36 % of accounted variance). Net photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency were closely tuned to water availability and accounted for ∼17 % of variance. The slope of the water...

Role of enzymes of sucrose-starch conversion in seed sink strength in mung bean

J. Chopra, N. Kaur, A. K. Gupta

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:561-566 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0050-5

Changes in the activities of sucrose synthase (SuSy), ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGPase), alkaline inorganic pyrophosphatase, 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA) phosphatase and amylases were monitored in relation to accumulation of starch in developing pods of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.). With the advancement in the seed development, the contents of starch rose with a concomitant fall in the branch of inflorescence and podwall after 10 d after flowering. The activity of UDPase in all the three pod tissues remained higher than the activity of AGPase showing it to be an important enzyme controlling carbon flux....

Cannabis sativa L. growing on heavy metal contaminated soil: growth, cadmium uptake and photosynthesis

P. Linger, A. Ostwald, J. Haensler

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:567-576 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0051-4

The effects of different cadmium concentrations [17 mg(Cd) kg^-1(soil) and 72 mg(Cd) kg^{- 1}(soil)] on Cannabis sativa L. growth and photosynthesis were examined. Hemp roots showed a high tolerance to Cd, i.e. more than 800 mg(Cd) kg^-1(d.m.) in roots had no major effect on hemp growth, whereas in leaves and stems concentrations of 50 - 100 mg(Cd) kg^-1(d.m.) had a strong effect on plant viability and vitality. For control of heavy metal uptake and xylem loading in hemp roots, the soil pH plays a central role. Photosynthetic performance and regulation of light energy consumption were analysed using...

Expression of a Bacillus subtilis protoporphyrinogen oxidase gene in rice plants reduces sensitivity to peroxidizing herbicides

Y. I. Kuk, H. J. Lee, J. S. Chung, K. M. Kim, S. B. Lee, S. B. Ha, K. Back, J. O. Guh

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:577-583 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0052-3

Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (Protox) in the porphyrin pathway is the target site of the peroxidizing herbicides such as carfentrazone-ethyl and oxyfluorfen. In an attempt to develop herbicide-resistant plants, transgenic rice plants were generated via expression of herbicide-insensitive Bacillus subtilis Protox gene fused to the transit sequence for targeting to the plastid using Agrobacterium-mediated gene transformation. Homozygous transgenic rice lines of T₃ generation selected by hygromycin resistance test were examined if they are resistant to the herbicides carfentrazone-ethyl and oxyfluorfen. The homozygous transgenic...

Cell death behind invisible symptoms: early diagnosis of ozone injury

F. Faoro, M. Iriti

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:585-592 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0053-2

A simple histo-cytochemical method, combining Evans blue staining to assess cell death and in vivo 3,3'-diaminobenzidine uptake for H₂O₂ localisation, has been used to evaluate O₃ damages in leaf tissues of three Phaseolus vulgaris L. cultivars (Cannellino, BLF, Saxa) with different sensitivity to the pollutant. Bean plants were exposed to a single pulse of O₃ (150 ± 10 mm³ m^-3 × 3 h) and leaves were examined at different time-span after fumigation. Cannellino proved to be the most sensitive, showing chlorotic spots 2 h after fumigation and chlorotic lesions 24 h...

Transgenic tobacco plants carrying the non-structural P3 gene of potato virus A

S. Nováková, Ľ. Mazúrová, N. Čeřovská, Z. W. Šubr

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:593-598 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0054-1

Transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum) plants carrying the gene coding for potato virus A (PVA) non-structural P3 protein were prepared by inoculation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Seeds from self-pollinated flowers (T₁ generation) were collected. To estimate the effectiveness of vertical transfer of the introduced gene and usefulness of respective plant lines for further experiments, the T₁ generation was characterized by testing its ability to grow in the presence of kanamycin (Km) and by PCR of both neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII) and PVA P3 genes. Eight and ten of 29 lines showed Mendelian segregation of...

Acibenzolar-S-methyl induced resistance to Phytophthora capsici in pepper leaves

O. Baysal, C. Turgut, G. Mao

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:599-604 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0055-0

The leaves of pepper (Capsicum anuum L.) were inoculated with Phytophthora capsici Leonian 3 d after treatment with acibenzolar-S-methylbenzo [1,2,3]thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid-S-methyl ester (ASM) and resistance to Phytophthora blight disease was investigated. Results showed that P. capsici was significantly inhibited by ASM treatment by up to 45 % in planta. The pepper plants responded to ASM treatments by rapid and transient induction of L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), increase in total phenol content and activities of chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase. No significant increases in enzyme activities were...

Random amplified DNA polymorphism of Nicotiana tabacum L. cultivars

H. Y. Zhang, X. Z. Liu, C. S. He, C. M. Zheng

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:605-607 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0056-z

The polymorphism, similarities and relationships among Nicotiana tabacum L. cultivars were assessed with RAPD analyses. One hundred and forty-nine bands were detected, of which 94 were polymorphic (63.1 %). A primer distinguishing all of the tested cultivars was found. High similarity between cultivars was revealed, and cultivar relationships were estimated through cluster analysis (UPGMA) based on RAPD data.

Effects of salicylic acid on ethylene induction and antioxidant activity in peach rootstock regenerants

A. Molassiotis, G. Diamantidis, I. Therios, K. Dimassi

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:609-612 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0057-y

Ethylene concentration in the culture tubes of peach rootstock regenerants of three genotypes (Cadaman, GF-677, Myrobalan 29C) was increased by the inclusion of 20 µM salicylic acid (SA), methionine (METH) and ethephon (ETH) in the MS medium whereas it was decreased in regenerants exposed up to 20 µM AgNO₃. In leaves of the regenerants the increase of ethylene concentration was accompanied with an increase of non-enzymatic antioxidant activity while remarkable genotype-depended changes in the activities of catalase, peroxidase and their isoenzymes were recorded suggesting that ethylene accumulation imposes oxidative stress responses....

Different responses of two contrasting wheat genotypes to abscisic acid application

X. Zhang, T. Wang, C. Li

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:613-616 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0058-x

Purpose of this study was to investigate different responses of two wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L.) from the wet and dry climate regions to exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) application under well-watered and water-stressed conditions. Exogenous ABA was applied to the leaves by spraying and changes in dry matter accumulation and allocation, endogenous ABA content and carbon isotope ratio (δ¹³C) were monitored. The ABA application significantly decreased stem height, total biomass, total leaf area, total grain mass and leaf area/mass ratio, and significantly increased root/aboveground biomass ratio, endogenous ABA content...

Influence of lead on membrane permeability and lipoxygenase activity in lupine roots

R. Rucinska, E. A. Gwozdz

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:617-619 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0059-9

Lead nitrate at concentration of 150 mg dm^-3 inhibits root growth of Lupinus luteus seedlings by bout 20 %, which is accompanied by an increase of K⁺ leakage from the root cells. Non-denaturing isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide slab gel has shown that lead stimulates the activity of most lipoxygenase isoenzymes and induces one additional isoenzyme with pI 6.9.

Protein analysis of dwarfed transgenic rice plants overexpressing GA2-oxidase gene

M. Hajduch, H. Tanaka, Y. Morinaka, Y. Otake, H. Nakamura, T. Kayano, Y. Koga-Ban

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:621-624 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0061-2

Using 2-D electrophoresis, we analyzed proteins from transgenic rice overexpressing gibberellin acid (GA) catabolic enzyme, GA2-oxidase. These results indicate eight specific proteins differentially expressed in the transformed rice stems of T₁ generation, but non in case of T₂ generation. Proteins isolated from different stages of leaves of T₁ generation showed no significant differences, except one-month-old leaf, where five differentially expressed proteins are visible.

Effect of γ-radiation on development, yield and quality of microtubers in vitro in Solanum tuberosum L.

H. Z. Li, W. J. Zhou, Z. J. Zhang, H. H. Gu, Y. Takeuchi, K. Yoneyama

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:625-628 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0062-1

Explants obtained from in vitro-propagated plantlets of two potato cultivars, Shepody and Atlantic, were treated with five doses of γ-radiation (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 Gy) to investigate the stimulating effects of low irradiation on the production and quality of microtubers in vitro. Microtubers of both cultivars treated with γ-radiation initiated 5 d earlier than in the non-irradiated control. The whole period of microtuberization was prolonged by 10 - 15 d with 4, 6 and 8 Gy irradiation treatment for cv. Atlantic. Irradiation of the plantlets (4 Gy) led to a significant increase not only in the microtuber number (116.7 and 34.5...

In vitro regeneration and bulblet growth from lily bulbscale explants as affected by retardants, sucrose and irradiance

S. Kumar, M. Kashyap, D. R. Sharma

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:629-632 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0064-z

Bulbscales of oriental lily hybrid Star Gazer were used as the explants. Bulblets were formed on the basal portion of the excised bulbscales on MS medium supplemented with growth retardants, different sucrose concentrations and exposed to continuous light or dark. ^{Alar, Cycocel} and Paclobutrazol in concentration 1 mg dm^-3 produced higher number of bulblets as compared to the control. The number of bulblets, however, decreased with the increase in concentration of the growth retardants. The number of bulblets was higher at 90 than at 60 g dm^-3 sucrose and when the bulbscales were exposed to continuous light than...

Zirconium induced physiological alterations in wheat seedlings

M. Fodor, A. Hegedus, E. Stefanovits-Banyai

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:633-636 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0065-y

The effects of zirconium ascorbate (Zr-ASC), a water-soluble complex of Zr, were examined on wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L. cv. MV. 20). Hydroponically grown plants were exposed to 10, 33, 55, 100 and 550 µM Zr-ASC (Zr₁₀, Zr₃₃etc.). After 9 d of treatment inhibition of germination, retarded root and shoot growth, and increased activities of antioxidant enzymes (guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase) showed that Zr-ASC was only harmful at and over a concentration limit of 100 µM. Chlorophyll (Chl) content of plants was only decreased by Zr₅₅₀. Zr-ASC at...

High frequency in vitro regeneration of Lathyrus sativus L.

D. P. Barik, U. Mohapatra, P. K. Chand

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:637-639 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0066-x

A simple and efficient protocol for high frequency plant regeneration of a grain legume grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is described. Of different explant types tested epicotyl segments were most responsive. Murashige and Skoog's (1962) medium augmented with 17.76 µM 6-benzyladenine + 10.74 µM α-naphthaleneacetic acid showed the highest percentage of direct shoot regeneration. Among cultivars IC-120487 showed the highest regeneration frequency (80 %) with maximum shoot numbers (8.2 shoots per explant) and maximum average shoot length (4.1 cm). About 78 % of the regenerated shoots were rooted in half-strength MS medium containing...

P7-9: A study of variation in high sensitivity hormone measurement

B. Veierskov, J. Hansen-Moeller, H. N. Rasmussen, R. Noerbaek

Biologia plantarum 2005, 49:620 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0060-3