Book reviews

T. Gichner

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:542 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921175

Alleviation of browning in oak explants by chemical pretreatments

K. Tóth, T. Haapala, A. Hohtola

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:511-517 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921170

Meristems from 25-90-year-old oak (Quercus robur L. andQ. petraea Matt.) trees and seed embryos were pretreated with polyvinyl pyrrolidone, ascorbic acid, cysteine and citric acid solutions. Tissues were cultured mostly on a WPM medium supplemented with different combinations and concentrations of growth regulators. All the different pretreatments showed a positive effect against the otherwise very rapid and harmful browning of the explants but ascorbic acid (100 mg dm^-3) proved to be the most effective. Shooting was induced from seed embryos and meristems originating from adult trees. Rooted plantlets were obtained from explants...

In vitro propagation ofWrightia tinctoria

S. D. Purohit, G. Kukda

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:519-526 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921172

In vitro method has been developed for propagation ofWrightia tinctoria R.Br. using cotyledonary node segments. Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with 5.0 mg dm^-3 of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.01 mg dm^-3 of naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) induced up to eight shoots per explant with an average shoot length of 1.4 cm in 21 d. Three fold multiplication rate was achieved during every subculture of regenerated shoots on the same medium producing an average of 230 shoots per node within 84 d. Reduction in BAP concentration from 5.0 to 1.0 mg dm^-3 during subculture promoted shoot length without...

Micropropagation ofAsparagus cooperi as affected by growth regulators

B. Ghosh, S. Sen

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:527-534 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921173

For clonal propagation ofAsparagus cooperi, shoot tips and node explants of 7, 20 and 35 d old spear from the region within 10 cm and below 25 cm from the apex were cultured in modified Murashige and Skoog's (1962) medium containing 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). The required concentration of BAP varied in explants of different ages and types. In shoot tip culture, the rate of shoot multiplication was higher after 40 d than 60 d of culture. The maximum mumber (62-65) of shoots were obtained from shoot tip explants of 20 d old spear in the medium containing 2.0 mg dm^-3 of BAP, 80 mg dm^-3 of adenine and 0.02 mg dm^-3...

Isoperoxidase and isopolyphenol oxidase spectra in male and female tissues ofActinidia deliciosa in vitro

O. Auxtová, J. Šamaj, B. Cholvadová, E. Khandlová

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:535 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921174

The isoperoxidase and isopolyphenol oxidase patterns were studied in undifferentiated calli and regenerated shoots and roots of two cultivars ofActinidia deliciosa: one female cv. Hayward and one male cv. Matua. One characteristic, very stable isoperoxidase band (0.85<Rf<0.90) was found only in the male callus, shoots and roots cultured on media supplemented with zeatin (ZEA) or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). In contrary, one isopolyphenol oxidase band (0.35<Rf<0.40) was typical for male callus and shoots cultured on the medium enriched with ZEA and another one (0.85<Rf<0.90) for male shoots and roots cultured on the medium with...

Production of ethylene, its precursors and implied enzyme activities in isolated chickpea embryonic axes during the onset of growth

M. M. Delgado, A. J. Matilla

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:543-552 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921176

The embryonic axes of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) seeds were used to quantify 1-(malonyl)aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (MACC), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), ethylene and some related enzymes during the initial 18 h imbibition period (anaerobic growth phase). Longer cold storage (stratification) of seeds produced higher levels of MACC and ACC. Maximum accumulation of MACC and malonyl-transferase activity occurred after 5 h of growth but MACC levels later became insignificant. ACC-synthase activity and endogenous ACC seem to reach a maximum 2 h after MACC accumulation. MACC-hydrolase activity was measured"in-vitro" and...

Axillary bud proliferation and ethylene production as controlled by radiation of different spectral composition and exogenous phytohormones

M. Panizza, F. Tognoni, B. Lercari

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:553 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921177

The effect of radiation of different spectral composition on axillary proliferation of lavandin (Lavandula officinalis Chaix ×Lavandula latifolia Villars cv. Grosso) was studied in combination with application of exogenous benzyladenine (BA) and putrescine (Put) and endogenous ethylene production. The effect of BA was predominant over the radiation. Continuous far-red showed a fluence rate-dependent promotion of shoot proliferation in the presence of BA. On BA-free medium, shoot number was enhanced under blue, white, and red radiation, at low photon fluence rates. BA, however, could reduce the inhibiting effect of blue and ultraviolet...

Effect of photoperiod and gibberellic acid on the plasma membrane H⁺ATPase activity of spinach leaves

J. Bellamine, C. Penel, H. Greppin

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:565 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921179

Plasma membrane H⁺ATPase extracted from leaves of spinach plants induced to flower by gibberellic acid treatments or by a transfer to a photoperiod of 24 h had a lower Km_app than that from vegetative plants grown in short days. The Km_app obtained after inhibition by vanadate was decreased in vegetative plants and increased in induced ones showing a differential effect of this inhibitor on the kinetic properties of the enzyme between vegetative and induced plants. The phospholipid fatty acid analysis of the purified plasma membrane showed an increase of C18:1/C18:2 fatty acid ratio upon induction by light or by gibberellic...

Stylar water potential and unilateral interspecific incompatibility inSolanaceae

V. Žárský, J. Pospíšilová, L. Štrbáňová, L. Říhová

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:575 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921181

Water and osmotic potentials were measured in young and mature styles of selfcompatible (SC) and selfincompatible (SI) species ofSolanaceae. For mature flowers, the stylar water and osmotic potentials were considerably lower in SI speciesNicotiana alata andPetunia hybrida than in SC speciesN. sylvestris andN. tabacum. Stylar water content (in % fresh mass) was also significantly lower in SI species (N. alata, P. hybrida, diploid clones of potato) than in SC species (N. acuminata, N. glauca, N. paniculata, N. sylvestris, N. tabacum). For flower buds younger than 2 d before anthesis, no differences in...

Plant radioresistance and DNA repair efficiency inChlamydomonas reinhardtii andPisum sativum

S. G. Chankova, A. D. Mehandjiev, E. D. Blagoeva, S. N. Ptitsina, S. A. Sergeeva, V. A. Shevchenko

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:583-589 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921183

This paper compares the repair of DNA single strand breaks (ssb) induced by γ-radiation in two strains ofChlamydomonas reinhardtii (137C/+/ and UVS-I) and three lines ofPisum sativum (NN 131, 198, 140) differing in the degree of radioresistance. DNA ssb in cells exposed to γ-rays (50, 100, 200, 500 Gy) were measured by electrophoresis and alkaline unwinding method with subsequent chromatography on hydroxyapatite immediately after irradiation and after 30 min of post-irradiation incubation at 25°C. An increase of double-strand DNA (in%) was found in cells after 30 min post-irradiation incubation.C. reinhardtii strains...

Effect of Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Pb²⁺ on H⁺/K⁺ fluxes in excisedPistia stratiotes roots

G. Tsala Ndzomo, D. Omokolo Ndoumou, M. Tita Awah

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:591 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921185

Pistia stratiotes is used for the epuration of domestic sewage in the Biyem Assi phytopurification station. During the process, Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Pb²⁺ are absorbed in substantial amounts by the plant. These metals modify the H⁺/K⁺ exchange system at the root level. H⁺ efflux is inhibited by Fe²⁺ and by Zn²⁺ and enhanced by Mn²⁺ and Pb²⁺. K⁺ influx is inhibited by Fe²⁺, by Zn²⁺ and by Pb²⁺ and enhanced by Mn²⁺. It is shown that the purification capacity ofPistia stratiotes...

Effect of Mg, Zn and Mo salts on nitrate reductase activity and soluble protein content in leaves ofQuercus serrata

M. K. Ghosh, R. C. Srivastava

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:599 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921187

Leaves ofQuercus serrata seedlings were sprayed with solutions of different concentrations of Mg, Zn and Mo-salts and activity of nitrate reductase (NRA) and soluble protein contents were determined in fresh leaves of different ages. The optimum dose for magnesium sulphate and zinc sulphate was 2.5 mM while for ammonium molybdate it was 0.01 mM. Under optimum doses of these nutrients high levels of NRA and protein contents were maintained upto 28 d of spray. Observations on NRA were further confirmed by leaf direct treatment and excised shoot-dipping experiments which showed maximum NRA at comparatively much lower concentrations of ions than...

Enzyme activities ofChlorophyllum molybditis andCortinarius melliolens at different sporophore stages

M. Kadiri, I. O. Fasidi

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:607 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921189

The intracellular enzyme activities ofChlorophyllum molybditis (Mayerex. Fr.) Massee andCortinarius melliolens Fries were determined at different stages of sporophore maturity. In both mushroom species, total amylase, α-amylase, proteinase, lipase, peroxidase, catalase and polyphenol oxidase activities were increased with sporophore maturity. In contrast, glucose-6-phosphatase activity was higher in the young sporophore than in very young and mature ones. All the enzymes assayed except cellulase and β-amylase showed greater activity in the pilei than in the stipes.C. molybditis showed greater total amylase, α-amylase,...

Protein utilization and release of extracellular proteinase by two root-rot fungi

F. A. Sayed, F. F. Abdelaleem, S. M. Goda

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:613 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921191

Sclerotium rolfsii andSclerotium bataticola could utilize protein and produce extracellular proteinase. In protein-deficient media no extracellular proteinase was detected. In protein-containing media addition of glucose stimulated enzyme synthesis; in absence of glucose addition of ammonium to the protein-media decreased enzyme activity. The rate of protein hydrolysis was higher in media contained glucose but not ammonium. The rate of glucose depletion from the culture filtrates was faster in treatments received protein with glucose or with glucose and ammonium, and addition of sulphur showed slight decrease in glucose utilization.

Stomatal patchiness

J. Pospíšilová, J. Šantrůček

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:481-510 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921169

Different behaviour of small groups of stomata on a single leaf blade (stomatal patchiness) is reviewed. The occurrence of stomatal patchiness depends on plant species, age, leaf position, environmental conditions,etc. The possibility of errors in conventional evaluation of stomatal and non-stomatal (biochemical) limitations of photosynthesis resulting from patchy stomatal closure is analysed. The consequences of stomatal patchiness for leaf and plant photosynthesis and water economy are discussed. A brief survey of the techniques currently used for detection and quantification of stomatal patchiness is presented.

Lumsden, P.J., Nicholas, J.R., Davies, W.J. (ed.): Physiology, growth and development of plants in culture

J. Pospíšilová

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:518 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921171

Kendrick, R.E., Kronenberg, G.H.M.:Photomorphogenesis in plants. 2nd Edition

I. Macháčková

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:564 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921178

Kurata, K., Kozai, T. (ed.):Transplant production systems. (Proceedings of the International Symposium on Transplant Production Systems, Yokohama, Japan, 21-26 July, 1992)

S. Rakouský

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:574 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921180

Pessarakli, M. (ed.): Handbook of plant and crop stress

J. Pospíšilová

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:582 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921182

Vodrážka, Z.: Biochemie [Biochemistry]. Volume 3

N. Wilhelmová

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:590 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921184

Regland, J., Lal, R. (ed.): Technologies for sustainable agriculture in the tropics

J. Gloser

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:598 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921186

Hiatt. A. (ed.): Transgenic plants: Fundamentals and application

M. Ondřej

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:606 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921188

Fahey, G.C., Jr., Collins, M., Mertens, D.R., Moser L.E. (ed.): Forage quality evaluation, and utilization

M. Svobodová, J. Šantrůček

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:612 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921190

Nester, E.W., Verma, D.P.S. (ed.): Advances in molecular genetics of plant-microbe interactions. Volume 2

M. Ondřej

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:618 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921192

Wilhite, D.A.: Drought assessment, management and planning: Theory and case studies.

J. Janáček

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:628 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921195

Turgeon, A.J. (ed.): Turf weeds and their control

M. Svobodová, J. Šantrůček

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:632 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921197

Briggs, W.R., Jones, R.L., Walbot, V. (ed.): Annual review of plant physiology and plant molecular biology. Vol. 44, 1993

Z. Šesták

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:636-637 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921199

Peroxidase activity in leaves ofSyngonium podophyllum following transition fromin vitro toex vitro conditions

N. Salame, N. Zieslin

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:619-622 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921193

A low activity of peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) was found in crude extracts fromin vitro plants ofSyngonium podophyllum cv. Butterfly sealed in the multiplication vessels. Removal of the lids from the vessels increased the POD activity. A greater increase in the POD activity was measured whenin vitro plants were transplanted into a weaning growth medium. The POD activity was further promoted by removal of the phenolic substances from the extracts by polyvinyl-polypyrrolidone (PVPP).

Alleviation of the adverse effects of NaCl on germination of maize grains by calcium

A. M. Hamada

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:623-627 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921194

The lengths of roots and shoots, fresh and dry matter yield, and the contents of insoluble saccharides and free amino acids were reduced with the rise in NaCl concentration. However, under combination of NaCl with Ca²⁺ ions, these parameters generally raised. Contents of soluble saccharides, proline and quaternary ammonium compounds increased with increasing NaCl concentration, but under addition of CaCl₂ or CaSO₄, contents of these compounds were decreased. Low concentrations of NaCl stimulated soluble proteins, production, but higher concentrations decreased the content of soluble proteins. Addition of Ca²⁺...

Biological activity of crenatin, a glucoside from chestnut

A. Vázquez, M. C. Mato, J. Méndez

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:629-631 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921196

Crenatin (3, 4, 5, tri-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, 4-glucoside) isolated from chestnut, was studied for its ability for improvement of rooting in the bean rooting test. Crenatin itself had a positive effect on number of roots. Moreover it enhanced the number of IAA-induced roots. In addition, a retardation of the apical bud growth was observed.

The effect of nutrient medium and age ofErwinia amylovora andErwinia herbicola cultures on their reactivity in agglutination test

I. Mráz

Biologia plantarum 1994, 36:633 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02921198

The influence of the type of nutrient medium (meat-peptone nutrient agar, KING B medium, YDC medium) and the age of bacterial cultures ofErwinia amylovora andE. herbicola on reactivity of their antigens with homologous antisera were examined. In the case ofE. amylovora, the best agglutination reactions were observed with isolates cultivated on the YDC nutrient medium. After 192 h of cultivation, seven outof ten isolates reacted positively. The reactivity ofE. herbicola antigen decreased in dependence on culture age more rapidly than withE. amylovora. The highest rates of positive agglutination reactions were observed...