Ascorbic Acid Oxidase: An Enzyme in Search of a Role

M.C. De Tullio, R. Liso, O. Arrigoni

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:161-166 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033439.34635.a6

Ascorbic acid oxidase (AAO) has been fully characterized at molecular level, yet its functional role is unclear. The properties of the enzyme and the main hypotheses on its function are discussed. Recent data and reappraisal of previous observations suggest that AAO could be part of a dynamic mechanism operating whenever plant cells have to control oxygen availability.

Effect of Radiation Spectral Composition on Nicotiana spp. Seedlings Grown in vitro

M.C. Intrieri, R. Muleo, M. Buiatti

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:167-172 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033440.86626.42

The aim of this work was to assess the responses of seedlings of five species of Nicotiana genus to red and far red radiation. N. acuminata exhibits positive photoblastic behaviour and germination was completely inhibited under far red and darkness. In N. glauca germination was reduced under far red and darkness, but the other species showed neutral behaviour. The hypocotyl elongation was inhibited in N. glauca and N. tabacum under white and far red radiation. In N. langsdorffii and N. debneyi hypocotyl was elongated under far red radiation. Only in N. acuminata red radiation promote greater hypocotyl...

Mutagenesis of Embryogenic Cultures of Soybean and Detecting Polymorphisms Using RAPD Markers

N.E. Hofmann, R. Raja, R.L. Nelson, S.S. Korban

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:173-177 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033441.46242.94

Embryogenic suspension cultures of soybean (Glycine max L. cv. Iroquois) were subjected to mutagenesis using varying concentrations (1, 3, 10, and 30 mM) of ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). Depending on the concentration of EMS used, the mean survival rate of embryogenic cultures decreased from 74 % (1 mM EMS) to 43 % after 30 mM EMS treatment. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was used to determine whether induction of genetic variability in embryogenic cultures in response to the different EMS treatments may result in identification of polymorphic markers. Two of 35 'core' primers tested revealed polymorphisms. One of the primers,...

Campbell, A., Anderson, W.W, Jones, E.W. (ed.): Annual Review of Genetics. Volume 37

T. Gichner

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:178 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033499.41618.34

Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation and Plant Regeneration of Triticum aestivum L.

N. Mitić, R. Nikolić, S. Ninković, J. Miljuš-Djukić, M. Nešković

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:179-184 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033442.15611.7d

The use of two Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains for transformation of Triticum aestivum L. cv. Vesna was studied. Immature embryos, isolated 15 d after pollination, were co-cultivated with the super-binary LBA4404/pTOK233 and the binary AGL1/pDM805 vectors. While the transient GUS-intron expression was high (69.9 and 80.0 %), the number of plants regenerated on selective media containing hygromycin or phosphinotricin did not exceed 0.4 and 0.13 %, respectively. Nevertheless, the regenerated plants were fertile and produced seeds. The T₀ plants, as well as the T₁ seedlings, displayed the activity in the β-glucuronidase...

Transformation of Tobacco Plants with cDNA Encoding Honeybee Royal Jelly MRJP1

J. Júdová, R. Šutka, J. Klaudiny, D. Lišková, D.W. Ow, J. Šimúth

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:185-191 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033443.60872.f1

For expression of MRJP1 - the most abundant protein of honeybee royal jelly - in plants, plasmid carrying the expression cassette composed of CaMV 35S RNA promoter, cDNA encoding MRJP1 with its native signal peptide, and nos3' as transcription terminator in binary vector pBin19 was prepared. The plasmid was introduced into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Wi38) plants by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Transgenic F₁ and F₂ generation was grown from the seeds of the primary obtained transgenic tobacco plants. Immunoblot analyses of protein leaf extracts from transgenic plants showed expression of MRJP1.

Vymazal, J. (ed.): Wetlands - Nutrients, Metals and Mass Cycling

J. Gloser

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:192 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033500.70533.d5

Sequence Comparison of Plant Ornithine Decarboxylases Reveals High Homology and Lack of Introns

J.F. Jiménez-Bremont, Y.M. Camacho-Villasana, J.L. Cabrera-Ponce, A.P. Barba de la Rosa, N. Ochoa-Alejo

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:193-198 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033444.17603.f2

We have designed and constructed four oligonucleotides corresponding to the most conserved regions of ornithine decarboxylases (ODC; EC 4.1.1.17) of plant origin. These oligonucleotides were used for the amplification of homologous fragments from several plants (Zea mays, Capsicum annuum, Sorghum bicolor, Phaseolus vulgaris, Carica papaya and Daucus carota). The amplified fragments were cloned and sequenced, revealing high homology to other ODCs. Peptide sequences coded by these fragments were compared by Clustal analyses. These analyses identified the location of the conserved sequences corresponding to the binding sites of substrate...

Isolation of Chromosomes from Picea abies and their Analysis by Flow Cytometry

I. Überall, J. Vrána, J. Bartoš, J. Šmerda, J. Doležel, L. Havel

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:199-203 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033445.15336.04

A high-yield method for preparation of suspensions of intact Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] chromosomes was developed for the first time. To accumulate meristem root tip cells at metaphase, actively growing roots were subjected to subsequent treatments with 0.625 mM hydroxyurea for 18 h and after 8 h recovery in distilled water with 0.05 % (m/v) colchicine for 8 h. These treatments resulted in 50 % metaphase indices. Synchronized root tips were fixed in 2 % formaldehyde for 10 min and chromosomes were released into a lysis buffer by mechanical homogenisation, producing 5 × 10⁵ chromosomes from 50 root tips, at average. The...

Webster, R.K., Shaner, G., Van Alfen, N.K. (ed.): Annual Review of Phytopathology. Volume. 40

M. Šindelářová

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:204 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033501.58307.4c

Estimation of Genetic Variability of Vigna radiata Cultivars by RAPD Analysis

S. Betal, P. Roy Chowdhury, S. Kundu, S. Sen Raychaudhuri

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:205-209 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033446.43495.0c

DNA was isolated from 14 cultivars of Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek and subjected to RAPD analysis using 14 random decamer primers. These cultivars revealed polymorphism with respect to RAPD markers and were subjected to hierarchical cluster analysis. A dendrogram was prepared based on these data. Analysis of banding patterns confirmed that two strongly aromatic cultivars IC1, IC4, were closely linked. But another aromatic cultivar, B1, formed a separate cluster. The high yielding cultivars were closely related to B1. The phylogenetic tree constructed by the neighbour joining method showed that RAPD results were correlated with morphological characters...

Webster, R.K., Shaner, G., Van Alfen, N.K. (ed.): Annual Review of Phytopathology. Volume. 41

M. Šindelářová

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:210 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033502.17483.dc

Cell Cycle Activity and β-Tubulin Accumulation During Dormancy Breaking of Acer platanoides L. seeds

T.A. Pawłowski, J.H.W. Bergervoet, R.J. Bino, S.P.C. Groot

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:211-218 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033447.27149.85

Cell cycle events in embryo axes of Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.) seeds were studied during dormancy breaking by flow cytometric analyses of the nuclear DNA content and by immunodetection of β-tubulin. Most embryonic nuclei of dry, fully matured seeds were arrested in the G₂ phase of the cell cycle. In addition, the lowest content of β-tubulin was detected in dry, mature seeds. Imbibition in water and cold stratification resulted in a decrease in the number of nuclei in G₂, and a simultaneous increase in β-tubulin content. In germinated seeds the content of β-tubulin was the highest and the number...

Molecular Cloning and Different Expression of a Vacuolar Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter gene in Suaeda salsa Under Salt Stress

X.-L. Ma, Q. Zhang, H.-Z. Shi, J.-K. Zhu, Y.-X. Zhao, C.-L. Ma, H. Zhang

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:219-225 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033448.96998.44

A Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter catalyzes the transport of Na⁺ and H⁺ across the tonoplast membrane. We isolated a vacuolar Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter cDNA (SsNHX1) clone from a euhalophyte, Suaeda salsa. The nuclear sequence contains 2262 bp with an open reading frame of 1665 bp. The deduced amino acid sequence is similar to that of AtNHX1 and OsNHX1 in rice, with the highest similarities within the predicted transmembrane segments and an amiloride-binding domain. Northern blot analysis shows that the expression of the S. salsa gene was increased by salt stress. The results...

Diurnal and Seasonal Modulation of Sucrose Phosphate Synthase Activity in Leaves of Prosopis juliflora

U.V. Pathre, A.K. Sinha, P.A. Shirke, S.A. Ranade

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:227-235 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033449.19251.8a

Diurnal changes of sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS) activity in different seasons were measured in Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC. leaves. SPS activity showed large variations with two distinct peaks, one around 09:00 and another at 21:00. The diurnal pattern was apparently not due to circadian rhythm since the activities were directly related to the changes in environmental parameters (irradiance, temperature, and leaf to air vapour pressure deficit) in different seasons. During the day, the enzyme showed changes in kinetic properties, differential sensitivity to allosteric modulators, differential response to ATP concentration, to concentration...

Protein Patterns, Characterized by Computer Image Analysis, of Lentil Embryo Axes Germinating Under Salt Stress

A. Dell'Aquila

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:237-242 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033450.16985.07

Following 16, 40 and 64 h exposure to 0.33 M NaCl given after 8 h water imbibition, lentil seeds showed a gradual decrease of germination upon their transfer to water. These salt related changes were accompanied by modifications in the protein patterns of embryo axes as revealed by two-dimensional electrophoresis separation and by the computer image analysis of protein spots. In comparison with 8 h water imbibed seeds, prominent proteins comprised between the 5.1 - 7.6 pH isoelectric point in the first dimension and 75 - 50 kDa molecular mass in the second dimension showed a significant increase in their abundance as salt exposure increased. On transfer...

Antioxidant Systems in Sunflower as Affected by Oxalic Acid

Dj. Malenčić, D. Vasić, M. Popović, D. Dević

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:243-247 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033451.96311.18

Changes in antioxidant systems in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) inbred lines were studied in relation to different concentrations (0, 2, 3 and 4 mM) of oxalic acid. A great variability of the total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was observed in different genotypes after application of oxalic acid. Genotypes showing no change in SOD activity, as well as those with decreased and increased activities, have been found. The highest guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) activity was recorded in the leaves of Ha-26A genotype where the activity of SOD was low. In genotypes with increased GPX activity the malonyldialdehyde content was low. The increase in...

Salt Stress Injury Induces Oxidative Alterations and Antioxidative Defence in the Roots of Lemna minor

S.K. Panda, R.K. Upadhyay

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:249-253 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033452.11971.fc

Lemna minor L. roots were treated with different concentrations of NaCl. Lipid peroxidation was investigated histochemically and biochemically. At higher NaCl concentrations an increase in staining was observed in the root apices as compared to control for lipid peroxidation and loss of membrane integrity as well as an increase in contents of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and peroxide. Both the non-enzymic antioxidants, ascorbate and glutathione increased with the NaCl concentration in the roots. Whereas an increase in superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activities were marked, catalase activity decreased...

Zinc-Induced Changes in Morpho-Physiological and Biochemical Parameters in Artemisia annua

T. Khudsar, Mahmooduzzafar, M. Iqbal, R.K. Sairam

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:255-260 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033453.24705.f5

Responses of Artemisia annua to different concentrations of zinc [50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 μg g^-1(soil dry mass)] were studied during plant ontogeny. Total leaf area, dry mass of leaves, length and dry mass of shoots and roots increased with the age of the plant but the magnitude of increase declined significantly under the influence of Zn treatment. Net photosynthetic rate, intercellular carbon dioxide concentration and stomatal conductance were highest at flowering stage in control and treated plants and decreased at post flowering stage. Contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, proteins and nitrate...

Effect of Aluminium on Oxidative Stress Related Enzymes Activities in Barley Roots

M. Šimonovičová, L. Tamás, J. Huttová, I. Mistrík

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:261-266 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033454.95515.8a

The impact of aluminium stress on activities of enzymes of the oxidative metabolism: superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD), NADH peroxidase (NADH-POD) and oxalate oxidase (OXO) was studied in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Alfor) root tips. SOD appeared to be involved in detoxification mechanisms at highly toxic Al doses and after long Al exposure. POD and APX, H₂O₂ consuming enzymes, were activated following similar patterns of expression and exhibiting significant correlation between their elevated activities and root growth inhibition. The signalling role of NADH-POD in oxidative stress...

Accumulation of Four Metals in Tissues of Corchorus olitorius and Possible Mechanisms of Their Tolerance

A.M.A. Mazen

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:267-272 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033455.11107.97

Corchorus olitorius plants treated by 5 μg cm^-3 of Cd, Pb, Al or Cu in hydroponic culture accumulated in leaves 190, 150, 350 and 325 μg g^-1(d.m.) of these metals, respectively, after 6 d of exposure. Exposure of Corchorus plants to tested metals resulted in a sharp rise in content of amino acids in leaf tissues, however the magnitude of accumulation was different from one metal to another. Presence of sulphur in the growth medium significantly increased uptake of Cd and Pb and cysteine (cyst) was more effective than K₂SO₄. Similarly, addition of salicylic acid (SA) in the growth medium...

Methyl Jasmonate is a Potent Elicitor of Multiple Defense Responses in Grapevine Leaves and Cell-Suspension Cultures

V. Repka, I. Fischerová, K. Šilhárová

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:273-283 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033456.27521.e5

Treatment with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) stimulates a multicomponent defense response in leaves and suspension-cultured cells of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Limberger). MeJA induces development of necrotic lesions, similar to that normally associated with resistance to avirulent pathogens. Sustained exposure of both leaves and cell-suspension cultures to 50 μM MeJA provoked hypersensitive cell death, stimulated medium alkalinization accompanied by massive callose deposition, but did not induce accumulation of hydrogen peroxide from the oxidative burst. Transcripts of genes encoding diverse families of the pathogenesis-related proteins...

Benzyladenine Induced Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Regeneration of Leptadenia reticulata

K.P. Martin

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:285-288 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033457.09115.f3

Plant regeneration through indirect somatic embryogenesis was attempted from leaf, internode, node and shoot-tip derived callus of Leptadenia reticulata. Somatic embryos at the highest frequency was induced on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 8.87 μM benzyladenine (BA) and 2.46 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). From different explants, only shoot-tip and node explant derived calli induced somatic embryos. Transfer of the embryogenic callus to suspension cultures of the same concentration of growth regulators facilitated the development of embryos. Suspension cultures with reduced concentration of BA (2.22 μM) either alone...

Micropropagation of Sesbania rostrata from the Cotyledonary Node

A.K. Jha, S. Prakash, N. Jain, K. Nanda, S.C. Gupta

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:289-292 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033458.88441.67

Multiple shoots were induced from the cotyledonary nodes derived from seedling of Sesbania rostrata on Nitsch (1969; N) medium supplemented with various concentrations of benzyladenine (BA). 1 mg dm^-3 BA proved to be the best, eliciting 5.8 ± 1.0 shoots per explant in 100 % cultures. The elongation of shoots was best at 2.0 mg dm^-3 BA. The shoot proliferation capacity increased to 7.5 shoots per explant following transfer of explants to the fresh shoot multiplication medium (MS + 1.0 mg dm^-3 BA), after an initial incubation of 30 d. To further enhance number of shoots per explant an alternative strategy...

Detection of Proteins Possibly Involved in Self-Incompatibility Response in Distylous Buckwheat

J. Miljuš-Đukić, S. Ninković, S. Radović, V. Maksimović, J. Brkljačić, M. Nešković

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:293-296 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033459.48057.8b

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) is a heterostylous plant displaying heteromorphic sporophytic self-incompatibility (SI). In order to detect proteins involved in SI, pistils from both long and short styles were isolated and then selfed or cross-pollinated. One-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed that short pistils 2 h after selfing contained an unique 50 kDa protein. In the two-dimensional electrophoresis two distinct groups of proteins possibly involved in SI response were detected in the short, and one in the long pistils.

In vitro Propagation of Ginkgo biloba by Using Various Bud Cultures

F. Tommasi, F. Scaramuzzi

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:297-300 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033460.75432.d1

The purpose of this research is micropropagation of Ginkgo biloba L. Apical and nodal meristems removed from plantlets or apical buds from a tree were used as explants. Meristems produced an extensive callus and single or rare multiple shoots on Murashige and Skoog medium with different growth regulators and endosperm extract (En) obtained from mature seeds of the same species. For successful root production it was necessary to transfer the shoots to a rooting medium with En.

Changes in the Leaf Polypeptide Patterns of Barley Plants Exposed to Soil Flooding

R.Y. Yordanova, K.G. Kolev, Zh.G. Stoinova, L.P. Popova

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:301-304 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033461.68221.5f

Exposure of barley plants (Hordeum vulgare L.) to soil flooding for 72 - 120 h led to decrease in the content of the both subunits of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase. The effect was more pronounced on the small subunit. Further, the changes in protein pattern were observed, mainly proteins with molecular masses 30 - 85 kD were down-regulated.

Induction of Ageotropic Response in Lettuce Radicle Growth by Epicuticular Flavonoid Aglycons of Dittrichia viscosa

E. Levizou, P. Karageorgou, Y. Petropoulou, G. Grammatikopoulos, Y. Manetas

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:305-307 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033462.71065.93

Thirteen flavonoid aglycons, contained in the strongly allelopathic epicuticular exudates of Dittrichia viscosa, were investigated for their effects on lettuce seedling radicle growth. Concerning radicle length and mass, variable results were obtained, with most of the substances having no effect, some being inhibitory and some even promotive. Shoot mass was slightly reduced in four cases. Seed germination rates, root hair and lateral root formation were not affected either. Three of the compounds (namely quercetin 3,3-dimethylether, naringenin and eriodictyol) induced a strong ageotropic response in radicle growth.

Variation in the Amino Acid Concentration During Development of Canavalia ensiformes

L.S. Camargos, L.F. Aguiar, R.A. Azevedo

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:309-312 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033463.98440.db

The distribution of amino acids in distinct tissues of Canavalia ensiformes was determined during the life cycle of the plant. Glycine was shown to be the main amino acid in mature seeds, while the nonprotein amino acid canavanine exhibited a high concentration in 7-d-old seedlings. Canavanine was lower in the seeds when compared to other tissues analyzed. This does not support the nitrogen-storage function of canavanine, however, it suggests that it is involved in the translocation of amines during the early stages of the development.

Regeneration Capacity of Calli Derived from Immature Embryos in Spring Barley Cultivars

E. Halámková, J. Vagera, L. Ohnoutková

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:313-316 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033464.36078.24

Callogenesis, somatic embryogenesis and regeneration capacity in twenty-three agronomically important spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars on induction media with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) or 3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid (dicamba) and on modified regeneration media were studied. The frequency of zygotic embryos exhibiting callogenesis varied from 88 to 100 % according to genotype. Dicamba was more suitable for somatic embryogenesis induction and exhibited a higher frequency of regenerants than did 2,4-D. Green regenerants were obtained in all cultivars, and there were no albino plants. Except for cv. Victor all cultivars...

Sucrose Metabolism in Lupinus albus L. Under Salt Stress

F.M. Fernandes, M.C. Arrabaça, L.M.M. Carvalho

Biologia plantarum 2004, 48:317-319 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000033465.59361.d2

Salt stress (50 and 150 mM NaCl) effects on sucrose metabolism was determined in Lupinus albus L. Sucrose synthase (SS) activity increased under salt stress and sucrose phosphate synthase activity decreased. Acid invertase activity was higher at 50 mM NaCl and decreased to control levels at 150 mM NaCl. Alkaline invertase activity increased with the salt stress. Glucose content decreased with salt stress, sucrose content was almost three times higher in plants treated with 150 mM NaCl and fructose content did not change significantly. The most significant response of lupin plants to NaCl excess is the increase of sucrose content in leaves, which...