Book reviews

T. Gichner

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:184 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913207

Growth and tropane alkaloid production inAgrobacterium transformed roots and derived callus ofDatura

J. Palazón, T. Altabella, R. Cusidó, M. Ribó, M. T. Piñol

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:161-168 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913204

Small callus pieces excised from theAgrobacterium transformed root line D₂ ofDatura stramonium, were cultured onto solidified MS medium supplemented with a 1.0 μM kinetin and three different concentrations (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 μM) of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and were examined for their alkaloid productivity in relation to organization level and growth rate. Growth of transformed roots (in a MS liquid medium without plant growth regulators) was greater than that of transformed calli excised from them and cultured separately. The addition of 1.0 μM 2,4-D to the culture medium had a positive effect on callus...

Induction, protein composition and DNA ploidy level of embryogenic calli of silver fir and its hybrids

A. Gajdošová, B. Vooková, A. Kormuťák, G. Libiaková, J. Doležel

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:169 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913205

Somatic embryogenesis was initiated from immature zygotic embryos of intraspecific cross ofAbies alba and interspecific combination ofAbies alba x Abies nordmanniana. The most responsive explants for induction of embryogenic calli were zygotic embryos in precotyledonary stage of development. Biochemically the compared embryogenic lines were uniform irrespective of their morphology or embryogenic potential. The flow cytometric analysis of single embryogenic lines suggests that no changes in ploidy levels occur during induction and culture of embryogenic callus inAbies alba what confirms the convenience of this system for propagation...

Possibilities of insertion of glutenin subunits and gliadin components of glu B1, glu B3 and gli B1 loci fromTriticum turgidum intoTriticum aestivum

Ts. Stoilova, V. Mladenova, G. Ganeva

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:177-183 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913206

An electrophoretic investigation of the glutenin subunits and gliadin components in F₄ progenies between the hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Bezostaya 1) and the wild tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum var.dicoccoides Körn) is carried out. The possibility of inserting subunits and components of Glu B1, Glu B3 and Gli B1 loci fromT. dicoccoides in F₄ progenies ofT. aestivum is investigated. For this purpose parental forms with different allelic variants in these loci are chosen. It is established cytologically that the chromosomal number of progenies is 42. Genotype classes and the...

Identification and relationships of cultivated accessions fromLolium-Festuca complex based on RAPD fingerprinting

I. Wiesner, P. Samec, V. Našinec

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:185 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913208

Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique with 15 arbitrary primers was used to identify and reveal relationships of the accessions comprising 4 species ofLolium-Festuca complex. Altogether 252 RAPD markers were considered in statistical treatment, 60 of which could be identified as potentially taxon-specific. All analyzed taxa were fully distinguishable using RAPD markers.Lolium-Festuca relationships based on RAPD data were evaluated using cluster analysis (UPGMA) and principle coordinate analysis (PCO). The results of UPGMA as well as PCO performed on data pooled from all RAPD profiles support separation of the two generaLolium...

Somatic embryogenesis and analysis of peroxidases inPhoenix dactylifera L

I. El Hadrami, M. Baaziz

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:197-203 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913210

To determine some physiological parameters implicated in somatic embryogenesis in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), peroxidases have been studied. Activated charcoal commonly used in date palm tissue culture as an essential antibrowning factor decreased cellular protein contents and peroxidase activities. During the first months of culture, the conventionally used medium (100 mg dm^-3 of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 3 g dm^-3 charcoal) reduces 2 to 3 and 4 to 6 times protein contents and peroxidase activities, respectively, in comparison with the same one containing only 5 mg dm^-3 of 2,4-D and with or without...

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from shoot-tip explants inPhoenix dactylifera L.

I. El Hadrami, R. Cheikh, M. Baaziz

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:205 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913212

For maximum avoidance of somaclonal variation risks, the commonly used medium for somatic embryogenesis inPhoenix dactylifera has been lowered in growth regulators and activated charcoal. When initially cultured on MS basal medium containing only 150 mg dm^-3 charcoal, 5 mg dm^-3 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 5 mg dm^-3 benzylaminopurine (BAP), 10 to 20% of shoot-tip explants developed into embryogenic calli. The embryogenic potential has been maintained for over 24 months with no decline. In addition, this medium has been found to be more efficient than conventionaly one containing 3 g dm^-3...

The decrease in polyamine levels is not associated with growth inhibition in suspension-cultured rice cells under nitrogen deficiency

H. -I. Sung, L. -F. Liu, C. H. Kao

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:213 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913214

The effects of nitrogen deficiency on the growth and polyamine levels of suspensioncultured rice cells were investigated. Nitrogen deficiency markedly inhibited cell growth and resulted in lower levels of putrescine, spermidine and spermine than in the control culture supplied with nitrogen. The growth inhibition of rice cells induced by nitrogen deficiency could be recovered by the addition of a mixture of amino acids (glycine, L-aspartic acid, L-glutamic acid and L-arginine), but not by polyamines (putrescine, spermidine or spermine). Our results indicate that the decline of polyamine levels is not a factor causing growth inhibition of suspension-cultured...

Growth, photosynthetic pigment content and oil yield ofPogostemon cablin grown under sun and shade conditions

M. Misra

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:219-223 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913216

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin Benth.) plants grown under shade (LI) showed an increased height due to internodal elongation, leaf area, leaf area index, and chlorophyll (Chl)b, Chl (a+b) and carotenoid (Car) contents compared to the plants grown in sunlight (HI). The number of branches and green leaves decreased under LI treatment, with a marginal variation in the patchouli oil yield. A comparison between the relative contents of photosynthetic pigments indicated that Chlb and Car accumuled preferentially over Chla in the LI grown plants.

Ontogenetic changes in growth and net photosynthetic rate of two peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars

V. Ravindra, P. C. Nautiyal, Y. C. Joshi

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:225-232 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913218

The ontogenetic changes in growth, and the diurnal changes in net photosynthetic rate (P_N) and stomatal conductance were studied in two peanut cultivars of different habit groups. Significant cultivar differences were noticed: the prostrate cv. M 13 was found superior to the erect cv. J 11 in all the parameters studied. Specific leaf mass and the rates of gross photosynthesis and respiration were higher in cv. M 13 than in cv. J 11. In vegetative phase, the maximum P_N was in cv. J 11, but in pod filling phase, it was in cv. M 13. The differences in growth and P_N of the cultivars were significant after the onset of reproductive...

Effects of cadmium and kinetin on chlorophyll content, saccharides and dry matter accumulation in sunflower plants

M. A. A. Gadallah

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:233 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913219

Cadmium (Cd) and kinetin (Kin) significantly affected the growth and contents of chlorophyll (Chl) and of soluble and reserve (hydrolysable) saccharides in sunflower plants. Cd-treated plants had lower contents of Chl and soluble saccharides and produced less dry matter than control (Cd-untreated) plants. Chla stability to heat (CSI) increased at all Cd concentrations. The same was true for Chlb stability (0-10 μM Cd). Spraying sunflower shoots with Kin solutions counteracted the deleterious effects of Cd. Kin application enhanced the Chla andb contents, Chla/b ratio, content of soluble saccharides and dry matter,...

Synergistic effects of cadmium and NaCl on the growth, photosynthesis and ion content in wheat plants

E. Abo-Kassem, A. Sharaf-el-Din, J. Rozema, E. A. Foda

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:241-249 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913220

The addition of NaCl to cadmium had significant synergistic effect on the wheat root and shoot fresh mass, relative growth rate and net assimilation rate, while showed no significant effects on the dry mass production, leaf area, leaf area ratio, leaf mass ratio and specific leaf area. Additive depression of the rate of photosynthesis and the stomatal conductance was recorded, while no significant effect on the transpiration rate was observed. The Cd stress disturbed the mineral nutrition of the wheat plants either directly or indirectly, NaCl markedly reduce the uptake and internal concentration of K and Ca in the shoot. The combination of cadmium...

Effect of lead on the lipid metabolism in spinach leaves and thylakoid membranes

K. L. Stefanov, S. D. Pandev, K. A. Seizova, L. A. Tyankova, S. S. Popov

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:251-256 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913222

The effects of lead and sodium acetate treatment on the lipid composition of leaves, thylakoid membranes and cell debris of spinach were investigated. The concentration of lead in leaves and cell debris was higher than that in thylakoid membranes, probably due to a protection of photosynthetic apparatus. The lead treatment lead to decrease of contents of monogalactosyl diacylglycerols and phospholipids and to increase of the other glycolipids in the thylakoid membranes. There were no statistically significant differences between the total lipids of thylakoid membranes after incubation with lead and sodium acetate, which was an indication that in this...

The effects of hormones and saccharides on growth and flowering of green and herbicides-treatedChenopodium rubrum L. plants

B. Živanović, Lj. Ćulafić, A. Filipovic

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:257 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913223

The medium forin vitro culture of green and SANDOZ herbicides-treatedChenopodium rubrum L. plants contained saccharides and hormones in different concentrations. Five days after sowing, the plants were exposed to non-inductive (15 long days-LD) or inductive (6 short days-SD + 9 LD) photoperiodic conditions. The length of hypocotyl and cotyledon blade were measured and percentage of flowering was scored. Gibberellic acid (GA₃) stimulated hypocotyl growth of green and photobleached plants under SD and inhibited under LD conditions. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) slightly stimulated hypocotyl growth of green plants only under LD conditions....

Sodium and chloride ions contribute synergistically to salt toxicity in wheat

P. K. Martin, R. M. D. Koebner

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:265-271 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913224

The effects of supplying excess mineral salts, involving sodium as a cation and a range of counteranions, including chloride, on the growth and photosynthetic capacity of a salt susceptible bread wheat were studied. Plant performance was much more affected by the NaCl treatment than by the same concentration of either of the two component ions. With the exception of K⁺, other alkali metal chlorides also greatly inhibit plant growth and the electron flow through photosystem 2. The ranking of toxicity of these cations is Li⁺>Na⁺>K⁺. The synergistic effect of sodium (and other alkali and alkaline earth...

Salinity-induced changes in the structure and ultrastructure of bean root cells

P. Cachorro, E. Olmos, A. Ortiz, A. Cerdá

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:273-283 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913226

The effect of 80 mM NaCl on the structure and ultrastructure of root cells ofPhaseolus vulgaris plants has been investigated. Roots of plants treated with NaCl were shorter and had less secondary roots than control plants. In control plants, epidermal cells were isodiametric and uniformly placed forming a thin layer, whereas in stressed plants, the shape and disposition of epidermal cells was less regular. The cortical cells of control plant were round-shaped and distributed allowing large and well defined intercellular spaces, whereas stressed plants presented irregular cells, which were interdigitated, thus decreasing the volume of the intercellular...

Biosynthesis of tobacco mosaic virus RNA in tobacco protoplasts

L. Šindelář, M. Šindelářová

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:285 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913227

Changes in the number of protoplasts, viability, protein and chlorophyll contents and ribonucleases activity were studied in tobacco mesophyll protoplastsin vitro inoculated with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). The number of protoplasts slowly increased during the cultivation period and the viability decreased from 95 to 67% in the control noninoculated protoplasts, and to 55% in the infected protoplasts. 30 h after inoculation the protein and chlorophyll contents strongly decreased to 25-30% and 17-19%, respectively, in comparison with contents 3 h after inoculation. The chlorophylla/b ratio decreased from 2.11 and 2.02 to 0.79 and 0.60...

Detection of DNA polymorphism among pea cultivars using RAPD technique

P. Samec, V. Našinec

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:321-327 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913234

An influence of some Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) reaction factors on resulting banding pattern and the ability of RAPD technique to detect DNA polymorphism among six economically important pea cultivars was tested. Relatively high level of DNA polymorphism among peas was observed, using polyacrylamide/urea gels and silver staining. Altogether 13 arbitrarily designed primers produced 313 amplification products. In addition 59 polymorphisms were found. These polymorphisms can serve as potential genetic markers. RAPD data were processed using cluster analysis and plotted as dendrogram. Each tested cultivar was clearly distinguished from the...

Overcoming prefertilization barriers in the crossDiplotaxis siettiana ×Brassica juncea using irradiated mentor pollen

B. K. Sarmah, N. Sarla

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:329-334 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913236

Hybridization between the nearly extinct speciesDiplotaxis siettiana andBrassica juncea is prevented because of strong prefertilization barriers. Use of mentor pollen ofD. siettiana irradiated with 1000 Gy gamma radiation before the incompatible pollination led to fertilization. 5 d after pollination 17% ovules showed entry of pollen tubes, 10 d after pollination 27% ovules showed small globular embryos which grew no further. No embryos were found in control pollinations. Thus , use of irradiated mentor pollen brings about fertilization in this difficult cross and hybrids can be obtained if embryos are rescued.

In vitro propagation ofBoswellia serrata Roxb

S. D. Purohit, K. Tak, G. Kukda

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:335-340 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913237

Anin vitro procedure for large scale multiplication ofBoswellia serrata Roxb. has been developed using cotyledonary node segments. In average 4 shoots per node were obtained on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium containing 0.5 mg dm^-3 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.05 mg dm^-3 napthaleneacetic acid (NAA) within 22 d. By repeated subculture technique 90-100 shoots per node could be obtained after 88 d of initial culture. Shoots could be rooted on MS medium containing 1/4 salts, 1% saccharose, and a combination of 0.5 mg dm^-3 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 0.25 mg dm^-3 indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)....

Changes in photosynthetic apparatus during dark incubation of detached leaves from control and ultraviolet-B treatedVigna seedlings

N. Nedunchezhian, K. C. Ravindran, G. Kulandaivelu

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:341 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913238

Changes in various components of photosynthetic apparatus during the 4 d dark incubation at 25°C of detached control and ultraviolet-B (UV-B) treatedVigna unguiculata L. leaves were examined. The photosynthetic apparatus was more degraded in younger control seedlings and for a longer time UV-B treated seedlings than in the older or for a shorter time UV-B treated seedlings. This was shown by determining the losses in chlorophyll (Chl) and protein contents, variable fluorescence yield, photosystem (PS) 2, PS1 and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPC) activities, and photosynthetic¹⁴CO₂ fixation. In contrast, the...

Seasonal pattern of photosynthetic rate and its relationship with chlorophyll content, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase activity and biomass production

C V. Naidu, P. M. Swamy

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:349 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913239

Net photosynthetic rate (P_N), ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPC) activity, chlorophyll (Chl) content and biomass production were estimated at monthly intervals inChukrasia tabularis, Dolichandrone atrovirens, Eugenia jambolana, Gmelina arborea, Lannea coromandelica, Terminalia arjuna andTerminalia bellerica from September 1990 to August 1991. The leaves of all the seven tree species showed significantly higher P_N during summer than in winter and these rates differed from one species to the other. A positive correlation was found between P_N of different tree species and their Chl content or biomass...

Annual review of genetics. Volume 24

T. Gichner

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:196 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913209

Food phytochemicals for cancer prevention II

T. Gichner

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:204 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913211

Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants

J. Pospíšilova

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:212 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913213

Annual review of cell biology. Volume 10

T. Gichner

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:218 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913215

Tolérance a la sécheresse des céréales en zone méditerranéenne. Diversité génétique et amélioration variétale

L. Nátr

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:224 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913217

Growth patterns in vascular plants

I. Tichá

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:250 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913221

Plant Structure: Function and Development. A Treatise on Anatomy and Vegetative Development, with Special Reference to Woody Plants

I. Ticha

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:272 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913225

Automation and environmental control in plant tissue culture

T. Gichner

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:328 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913235

Seasonal differences in nitrogen storage in deciduous and evergreen species of a tropical dry forest

M. A. Sobrado

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:291-295 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913228

Reserves of twig nitrogen of drought-deciduous species changed seasonally and provided some of the nitrogen required for canopy reconstruction after drought relief. By contrast, in evergreen species, nitrogen mobilization from old leaves and use in expanding leaves occurred simultaneously at the time of leaf exchange and twig nitrogen remained constant

Leaf bisection for the enzymatic isolation of mesophyll protoplasts fromSaintpaulia ionantha

M. A. Sulzinski, L. M. Cimakasky

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:297-300 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913229

We describe a rapid and efficient procedure for isolating leaf mesophyll protoplasts fromSaintpaulia ionantha (African violet). Because of the unusual surface properties of the leaf, efficient digestion required bisection of the lamina into abaxial and adaxial halves to expose the mesophyll. Enzymatic digestion occurred during a 3 h incubation with 2% (m/v) driselase in 0.50 M mannitol, yielding 2-3 × 10⁵ protoplasts g^-1 (f.m.), with 70% viability. Protoplasts ranged in size from 50 to 100μm, and were derived from mostly non-photosynthetic mesophyll parenchyma.

Proline accumulation inTephrosia purpurea pers

S. R. Erakar, C. V. Murumkar

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:301-304 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913230

Tephrosia purpurea Pers. was found to accumulate high proline content in dry habitat. The proline content was higher in shoots, especially in leaves, than in roots. Pod walls and young seeds showed the highest proline content. The proline content of young leaves was higher than that of mature and old leaves. During leaf senescencein vitro proline content increased rapidly upto 6 h and further decreased in leaves as well as in leachate. High proline content seems to be positively related with 'survival capability' of this plant.

NaCl stress in rice seedlings: effects of L-proline, glycinebetaine, L-and D-asparagine on seedling growth

C. C. Lin, C. H. Kao

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:305 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913231

The effect of L-proline, glycinebetaine, L-and D-asparagine on rice seedling growth under NaCl stress was investigated. Glycinebetaine and L-asparagine were not effective in reducing NaCl inhibition in shoot growth of rice seedlings. L-Proline and D-asparagine were found to be able to reduce shoot growth inhibition under NaCl stress. However, L-proline, glycinebetaine, D- and L-asparagine further enhanced NaCl inhibition of root growth.

Phosphorus content and growth of fenugreek as affected by cadmium application

N. Singal, K. Gupta, U. N. Joshi, S. K. Arora

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:309 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913232

Changes in growth and phosphorus content in plants and seeds of fenugreek with increasing cadmium concentration was evaluated. Root length and shoot length ranged from 11.63 to 27.72 and from 9.70 to 54.78 cm, respectively. With the increasing Cd²⁺ concentration there was a significant decrease in root and shoot length, and fresh mass. Various phosphorus fractions of shoot decreased with increasing Cd²⁺ concentration except lipid P and nucleic acid P which increased at 65 and 95 d after sowing and protein P only increased at vegetative stage. In seeds (60 d after flowering) lipid P increased except at 2.5 μg(Cd²⁺)...

Alleviation of plant virus infection by humic acids

Z. Polák, F. Pospíšil

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:315-317 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913233

K-humates, obtained from oxihumolites, alleviate infection of tobacco with tobacco mosaic virus both in mixture with virus inoculum and by spraying of leaves before inoculation. However, applications of K-humates after inoculation did not influence the virus infectivity.