Biologia Plantarum founded 50 years ago

J. Krekule

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:601-602 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0110-3

Somatic embryogenesis and regeneration of Cenchrus ciliaris genotypes from immature inflorescence explants

C. B. Yadav, P. Jha, C. Mahalakshmi, V. Anjaiah, V. Bhat

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:603-609 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0111-2

An efficient, highly reproducible system for plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis was developed for Cenchrus ciliaris genotypes IG-3108 and IG-74. Explants such as seeds, shoot tip segments and immature inflorescences were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.0-5.0 mg dm^-3 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 0.5 mg dm^-3 N⁶-benzyladenine (BA) for induction of callus. Callus could be successfully induced from all the three explants of both the genotypes. But the high frequency of embryogenic callus could be induced only from immature inflorescence explants. Somatic...

A comparison of plants regenerated from a variegated Epipremnum aureum

C. Y. Hung, J. H. Xie

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:610-616 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0112-1

In order to study chloroplast biogenesis, we chose natural variegated Epipremnum aureum (golden pothos) and regenerated pale yellow, variegated and green plants from all three types of tissue explants. The percentage of three types of regenerated shoots from three different explants was very close. Regenerated plants have been maintained for a year and show no sign of a colour switch. By comparing their protein profiles, two major differences between pale yellow and green plants were observed at the 15 and 40 to 50 kDa proteins. Moreover, pale yellow plants had unexpected high molecular mass proteins (greater than 60 kDa). Both variegated and...

Improvement of ex vitro transfer of tobacco plantlets by addition of abscisic acid to the last subculture

J. Pospíšilová, D. Haisel, H. Synková, P. Baťková-Spoustová

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:617-624 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0113-0

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plantlets were grown on Murashige and Skoog medium in ventilated Magenta boxes and for the last subculture 10 µM ABA was added to the medium. After three weeks plantlets were transferred into pots with Perlite moistened with water and grown in controlled conditions (16-h photoperiod, day/night temperature 25/20 °C, air humidity about 45 %) either under low or high irradiance of 150 (LI) and 700 (HI) µmol m^-2 s^-1, respectively. Content of endogenous ABA was 271.7 pmol g^-1(f.m.) in ABA treated plantlets, while in control plantlets it was only 53.3 pmol g^-1(f.m.)....

cDNA cloning and expression analysis of a Poncirus trifoliata CBF gene

H. L. Wang, J. J. Tao, L. G. He, Y. J. Zhao, M. Xu, D. C. Liu, Z. H. Sun

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:625-630 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0114-z

The transcription factors CBF/DREB play an important role during low temperature, drought and high-salt stress in higher plants. A new CBF (CRT/DRE binding factor) gene was cloned from trifoliate orange [Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.] by RT-PCR with degenerate primers and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) techniques. The full-length cDNA of CBF gene from trifoliate orange (designated as Ptcbfb) was 847 bp containing a 732 bp open reading frame (ORF), encoding a 243 amino acid protein. The predicted protein (designated as PtCBFb) had over 60 % identity to CBFs from some other plant species. Bioinformatical analysis...

Overexpression of the γ-TMT gene in Codonopsis lanceolata

E. S. Seong, B. K. Ghimire, E. J. Goh, J. D. Lim, M. J. Kim, I. M. Chung, C. Y. Yu

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:631-636 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0115-y

A cDNA-encoding γ-tocopherol methyltransferase (γ-TMT) from Arabidopsis thaliana was overexpressed in deoduck (Codonopsis lanceolata L.) to improve the tocopherol composition. Deoduck (T₂) containing the γ-TMT transgene was produced by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgene expression was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and RNA gel blot analysis. The transgenic plants produced more leaves than control plants. In addition, the transgenic plants showed higher levels of the CSOD, CTRX, CAPX, CNADP ⁺-IDCH, and CSO transcripts and higher SOD-like activity...

Production of transgenic Podophyllum peltatum via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation

V. R. Anbazhagan, Y. -S. Kim, Y. -E. Choi

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:637-642 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0116-x

Transgenic Podophyllum peltatum plants were successfully produced by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Embryogenic callus was co-cultivated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens harboring a binary vector pBI 121 carrying β-glucuronidase (GUS) and neomycinphosphotransferase (NPT II) gene. GUS-histochemical analysis revealed that, 50 µM acetosyringone treatments during Agrobacterium infection and 3 d co-cultivation with Agrobacterium showed enhanced transformation efficiency. Percentage of GUS positive callus increased rapidly as the subculture time proceeded on selection medium containing...

Isolation and characterization of a novel AP2/EREBP-type transcription factor OsAP211 in Oryza sativa

F. Gao, J. -M. Chen, A. -S. Xiong, R. -H. Peng, J. -G. Liu, B. Cai, Q. -H. Yao

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:643-649 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0117-9

AP2 (APETALA2)/EREBPs (ethylene responsive element binding proteins) are the primary members of a family of transcription factors and OsAP211 was isolated from Oryza sativa L using the yeast one-hybrid system. It can specifically bind to the promoter containing three tandem repeats of DRE core sequence: TACCGACAT and activate the transcription of the downstream lacZ gene in the yeast one-hybrid system. OsAP211 contained a single open reading frame of 225 amino acids and encoded a protein containing a conserved AP2/EREBP domain featuring the DREB family. The semi-quantitative RT-PCR (s-Q RT-PCR) analysis indicated OsAP211...

The effect of yeast extract and methyl jasmonate on rosmarinic acid accumulation in Coleus blumei hairy roots

N. Bauer, D. Kiseljak, S. Jelaska

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:650-656 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0118-8

The leaves of axenically grown Coleus blumei were inoculated with Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain A4 and hairy root were established. PCR and Southern hybridization analysis confirmed transgenic nature of hairy root clones. Cultures of normal roots, induced by α-naphthaleneacetic acid on leaf explants, and hairy roots were evaluated for growth and rosmarinic acid content. Significantly better growth and up to 2.8 higher amount of rosmarinic acid was detected by HPLC analysis in hairy root clones. Methyl jasmonate stimulated rosmarinic acid accumulation in 6 out of 11 tested clones, while yeast extract induced RA accumulation in...

QTLs mapping of physiological traits related to salt tolerance in young rice seedlings

H. Sabouri, A. M. Rezai, A. Moumeni, A. Kavousi, M. Katouzi, A. Sabouri

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:657-662 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0119-7

Oryza sativa L. F₂ population and F_2:3 derived from a cross between salt tolerance cv. Tarommahali and salt sensitive cv. Khazar were used in this study. A linkage map based on F₂ population was constructed (74 SSR markers on 192 individuals), which covered a total of 1231.50 cM with an average two locus interval of 19.83 cM. Two QTLs related to Na⁺/K⁺ ratio were found on chromosome 3 and 6. qDM-3 and qDM-8 (for dry mass of shoot) are major QTLs with very large effects explained 20.90 and 17.72 % of the total phenotypic variance, respectively. Major locus for DM (qDM-3) was bracketed by...

Effects of salicylic acid on the photosystem 2 of barley seedlings under osmotic stress

M. -H. Luo, S. Yuan, Y. -E. Chen, W. -J. Liu, J. -B. Du, T. Lei, M. -B. Wang, H. -H. Lin

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:663-669 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0120-1

The effects of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) on photosystem 2 (PS 2) in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seedlings were investigated. SA pretreatment provided protection against subsequent osmotic stress. The highest protective effect of 0.25 mM SA was confirmed by determination of chlorophyll fluorescence, electrolyte leakage, malonyldialdehyde contents, PS 2 mRNAs and proteins. SA pretreatment increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), decreased net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance immediately, but prevented ROS accumulation during subsequent osmotic stress by activating antioxidant enzymes. Elimination of H₂O₂ during...

Effects of ozone on wild type and transgenic tobacco

J. Guo, X. F. Li, D. M. Qi, S. Y. Chen, Z. Q. Li, I. Nijs, Y. G. Li, G. S. Liu

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:670-676 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0121-0

Tocopherol cyclase (TC, encoded by gene VTE1) catalyzes the penultimate step of tocopherol synthesis. In this study we used wild type and transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing VTE1 from Arabidopsis to examine the role of tocopherol in ozone sensitivity. Wild type plants responded to an 4-h exposure to 300 nmol mol^-1 ozone by severe leaf necrosis while the transgenic lines exhibited limited injury. Compared with the wild type, VTE1-overexpressing plants had lower increase in hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde contents and ion leakage, and lower decrease of net photosynthetic rate 48 h following the ozone exposure....

Cryoproective role of ribitol in Xanthoparmelia somloensis

J. Hájek, P. Váczi, M. Barták, L. Smejkal, H. Lipavská

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:677-684 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0122-z

Thalli of Xanthoparmelia somloensis with natural content of polyols (control) and polyol-free thalli (acetone-rinsed) were used to study ribitol effects at low temperatures. Thalli segments were cultivated in ribitol concentration of 32 or 50 mM for 168 h at temperatures +5, 0, and -5 °C. The chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (potential yield of photochemical reactions in PS 2 (variable to maximum fluorescence ratio, F_v/F_m), effective quantum yield of photochemical reactions in PS 2 (Φ_PS2), and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) were monitored in 24-h intervals using an imaging system. The effect of 32 mM...

Comparison of drought-induced polypeptides and ion leakage in three tomato cultivars

R. Roy, V. Agrawal, S. C. Gupta

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:685-690 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0123-y

An attempt has been made to determine if drought-induced proteins could be used as a selection marker to differentiate between tolerant and sensitive cultivars. Three Indian tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivars (Pusa Ruby, Arka Vikas and Pusa Early Dwarf) were subjected to drought stress in vivo as well as in vitro and the pattern of polypeptide expression was determined using one-dimensional SDS-PAGE. In all the three cultivars, a new 29 kDa polypeptide accumulated in leaves, in response to gradual drought stress and its accumulation was fastest in Pusa Ruby. Drought stress also resulted in an increase in ion leakage...

Antioxidant protection during ageing and senescence in transgenic tobacco with enhanced activity of cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase

D. Procházková, N. Wilhelmová

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:691-696 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0124-x

We studied changes in physiological parameters of whole leaves and in antioxidant protection of chloroplasts during ageing and senescence of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Samsun NN) leaves with enhanced cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase activity (CKX) or without it (WT). Old leaves of CKX plants maintained higher pigment content and photosystem 2 activity compared to WT leaves of the same age. Chloroplasts of old CKX plants showed better antioxidant capacity represented by higher superoxide dismutase, dehydroascorbate reductase and glutathione reductase activities.

Leaf morphology and anatomy of transgenic cucumber lines tolerant to downy mildew

M. Szwacka, T. Tykarska, A. Wisniewska, M. Kuras, H. Bilski, S. Malepszy

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:697-701 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0125-9

The objective of the present paper was to investigate the reason of increased tolerance to the pathogenic fungus Pseudoperonospora cubensis found in transgenic cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) lines 210 and 212 bearing 35S:cDNA preprothaumatin II gene construct. The tolerance investigation was accomplished by comparing the morphological and anatomical structure of plant leaves. The results obtained demonstrate that leaves of both lines exhibited some anatomical and morphological characteristics (e.g. wax load and composition, cuticle ultrastructure, ultrastructure of secondary wall, arrangement of mesophylll cells) which may...

Chitinases of Coffea arabica genotypes resistant to orange rust Hemileia vastatrix

L. Guerra-Guimarães, M. C. Silva, C. Struck, A. Loureiro, M. Nicole, C. J. Rodrigues Jr., C. P. P. Ricardo

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:702-706 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0126-8

Two Coffea arabica - Hemileia vastatrix incompatible interactions (I₁: coffee cv. Caturra - rust race VI and I₂: coffee cv S4 Agaro - rust race II) and a compatible interaction (coffee cv. Caturra - rust race II) were compared in relation to the infection process and chitinase activity. In the two incompatible interactions the fungus ceased growth in the early infection stages, while in the compatible interaction no fungus growth inhibition was observed. A high constitutive level of chitinase activity was detected in the intercellular fluid of healthy leaves. Upon infection, chitinase isoforms were more abundant...

Role of phytohormones and nitrogen in somatic embryogenesis induction in cell culture derived from leaflets of Azadirachta indica

G. S. Shekhawat, S. Mathur, A. Batra

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:707-710 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0127-7

A protocol for somatic embryogenesis in Azadirachta indica A Juss. has been standardized using in vivo leaflets. Experiments were carried out to examine the effect of various auxins, cytokinins, sucrose, inorganic and organic salts on subsequent somatic embryo induction and maturation. Embryogenic calli were induced on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.5 mg dm^-3 kinetin and 1.5 mg dm^-3 indole-3-acetic acid and subsequently all the stages of somatic embryo development (globular, cordate, torpedo and cotyledonary) were observed. Maturation of these embryos was accomplished with the same growth regulators...

Analysis of genetic variability in two diploid Musa cultivars using RAPD

P. Padmesh, J. V. Reji, C. Benadict Paul, S. Mukunthakumar, G. Praveen, S. Seeni

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:711-714 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0128-6

Twenty accessions of the sparsely cultivated diploid Musa cultivars Matti (AA) and Rasakadali (AB) were subjected to random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay. A total of 14 random primers were used for the estimation of interand intracultivar variations. Out of 86 bands generated, 64 were polymorphic (74.4 % polymorphism). The cluster analysis grouped the cultivars into two major clusters: cluster I with 10 accessions of Matti and 2 of Rasakadali and cluster II comprising the remaining 8 accessions of Rasakadali. The coefficient of genetic similarity (GS) was from 0.73 to 0.99, suggesting low level of intercultivar variation. The accessions...

Adventitious rooting performance in micropropagated Cornus mas

J. Ďurkovič, J. Bukovská

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:715-718 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0129-5

Axillary buds sampled from a mature 27-year-old Cornus mas cv. Macrocarpa were grown in vitro on modified woody plant medium (WPM). Adventitious rooting performance of microshoots was assayed on half-strength WPM supplemented with 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) under various pH. NAA induced significantly higher rooting frequencies than IBA. The pH of 6.8 inhibited rooting, and differentiated roots were extremely thick and fragile. The highest rooting frequency was recorded on half-strength WPM supplemented with 5.37 µM NAA at the pH value adjusted to 6.2 (73 % of rooted shoots). In the presence of...

In vitro production of solasodine from Solanum trilobatum

K. Anirudhan, A. S. Nair

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:719-722 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0130-z

Sucrose concentration in the culture medium affected chlorophyll content, trichome development and amount of solasodine in regenerated plantlets of Solanum trilobatum. High chlorophyll content and glandular trichomes were observed in the plants grown on Murashige and Skoog basal medium supplemented with 131.85 mM sucrose. The solasodine was quantified using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. The plantlets cultivated on this medium yielded 35.97 mg g^-1 (d.m.) solasodine whereas the field plants used as control yielded only 2.32 mg g^-1 (d.m.) of solasodine.

Impairment in reproductive development is a major factor limiting yield of black gram under zinc deficiency

N. Pandey, G. C. Pathak, C. P. Sharma

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:723-727 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0131-y

Black gram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] cv. IPU 94 plants grown in sand culture with deficient zinc (0.1 µM Zn) nutrition and those deprived of normal (1 µM) Zn supply at the initiation of flowering, showed decrease in dry matter production and especially seed yield. These plants showed a decrease in the size of anthers and stigmatic heads, pollen producing capacity of the anthers and stigmatic exudations. Zn deficiency caused structural alterations in exine and retarded germination of pollen grains and tube growth. The pollen extracts and stigmatic exudates of the Zn-deficient plants showed increase in activity of acid phosphatase...

Low concentration of exogenous abscisic acid increases lead tolerance in rice seedlings

L. Zhao, J. Xiong, L. P. Li, C. Zhu

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:728-732 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0132-x

The effects of exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) on lead tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings were investigated. Pre-treatment with 0.1 g m³ ABA for 2 d restricted amount of Pb translocated from roots to shoots, decreased malondialdehyde and H₂O₂ contents in leaves, and alleviated Pb-induced decrease in plant growth and leaf chlorophyll content. Further, ABA pre-treatment adjusted leaf antioxidative enzyme activities (increased ascorbate peroxidase and catalase activities while decreased superoxide dismutase activity) and so alleviated oxidative stress.

An efficient regeneration system of barley cultivars from leaf base segments

H. -P. Li, T. Huang, C. -X. Wang, Y. -C. Liao

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:733-736 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0133-9

A simple and reliable regeneration system from leaf bases of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) has been developed. The in vitro regeneration frequencies of seven commercial barley genotypes were compared using segments from the first leaves of 5-d-old seedlings. The regeneration frequency ranged from 31.56 to 72.22 % among the barley genotypes. Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 6-benzyladenine (0.5 mg dm^-3) and kinetin (0.5 mg dm^-3) was optimum for the regeneration. Longitudinal cut of the segments or the removal of coleoptiles further increased plantlet regeneration frequency.

Responses of Camellia sinensis cultivars to Cu and Al stress

S. K. Yadav, P. Mohanpuria

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:737-740 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0134-8

The response of Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze cultivars Chinary and Assamica to Cu and Al stresses was investigated. Exposure to 100 µM CuSO₄ or 100 µM AlCl₃ led to accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) more in Assamica than in Chinary. Proline content was higher in Chinary compared to Assamica, while chlorophyll and protein contents decreased upon Cu and Al exposure in both the cultivars. Expression of glutathione biosynthetic enzymes γ-glutamylcysteinyl synthetase (γ-ECS) and glutathione synthetase (GSHS) was elevated. Phytochelatin synthase (PCS), an enzyme involved in phytochelatins...

AFLP analysis of somaclonal variations in Eucalyptus globulus

X. Y. Mo, T. Long, Z. Liu, H. Lin, X. Z. Liu, Y. M. Yang, H. Y. Zhang

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:741-744 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0135-7

DNA variations of forty-eight Eucalyptus globulus plants, regenerated by successive culture from seven different explants were assessed by AFLP analysis using 18 primer combinations. At least one variation showed 66.7 % of the analyzed plants, and the numbers of polymorphic bands per plant ranged from 1 to 22. The proportion of polymorphic fragments did not correlate with the numbers of the regenerated plants. However, the more times of successive culture were done the more of polymorphic bands were found within the groups. On average, between 97.39 and 99.88 % of all fragments were shared within the same group. AMOVA analysis showed...

Improved shoot regeneration system through leaf derived callus and nodule culture of Sansevieria cylindrica

A. Shahzad, N. Ahmad, M. A. Rather, M. K. Husain, M. Anis

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:745-749 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0136-6

Long-term culture establishment and efficient in vitro regeneration protocol for Sansevieria cylindrica Bojer ex Hook was developed using leaf derived callus and nodule culture. Profuse callus induction on leaf discs was achieved on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 10 µM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), while a high frequency of nodulation was induced on 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) containing media. Shoot regeneration ability from cultured tissues occurred at varying degrees on all media. Through callus culture a maximum of 17.6 ± 0.14 shoots per...

An efficient in vitro regeneration system for Lythrum salicaria

A. U. Turker, B. Yucesan, E. Gurel

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:750-754 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0137-5

This report describes an efficient plant regeneration system for the medicinal plant Lythrum salicaria via direct adventitious shoot development from leaf and stem explants. Leaf explants were much more responsive to regeneration than stem segments. Of the hormonal combinations tested, those involving thidiazuron (TDZ; 0.1, 0.3 or 0.5 mg dm^-3) were more effective than the combinations of other hormones and 0.1 mg dm-3 TDZ combined with either indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) was the most productive. Rooting was readily achieved when multiple shoots were singled out and cultured on medium containing different...

A putative PhODO1 homologous MYB transcription factor gene, MdMYBB, is not involved in the regulation of aroma volatile biosynthesis in apple

Y. Ban, H. Bessho, T. Moriguchi

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:755-758 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0138-4

To get deeper insight on the molecular mechanism underlying production of volatile compounds in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.), we performed the isolation and expression analysis of one R2R3-type MYB gene named MdMYBB. The amino acid sequence and the structural features of MdMYBB highly resembled those of PhODO1, which is a key regulator for floral scent biosynthesis in petunia. The expression of MdMYBB was repressed concomitantly with the inhibition of ethylene production, which regulates the volatile synthesis in apple. However, MdMYBB expression was not detected in the flesh from nearly ripened apple fruits, although...

Different maternal genome donor to Kengyilia species inferred from chloroplast trnL-F sequences

C. Zhang, X. Fan, H. Q. Yu, L. Zhang, X. L. Wang, Y. H. Zhou

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:759-763 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0139-3

To reveal the maternal donor of species in genus Kengyilia, the chloroplast trnL-F sequences of 14 Kengyilia species and several related diploid species were analyzed by using Maximum Parsimony (MP) and Bayesian Inference (BI) methods. The species in Kengyilia were clustered in different clades, which indicated that Agropyron (P) is the likely maternal genome donor to Kengyilia melanthera, K. mutica and K. thoroldiana, while the maternal donor to Kengyilia batalinii, K. nana, K. kokonorica, K. kaschgarica, K. hirsuta, K. alatavica, K. gobicola, K. zhaosuensis, K. rigidula, K. longiglumis and K....

Involvement of cation channels and NH₄⁺-sensitive K⁺ transporters in Na⁺ uptake by cowpea roots under salinity

E. L. Voigt, R. F. Caitano, J. M. Maia, S. L. Ferreira-Silva, C. E. C. De Macêdo, J. A. G. Silveira

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:764-768 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0140-x

Na⁺ accumulation was investigated in the roots of 11-d-old cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] plants. The relative contribution of different membrane transporters on Na⁺ uptake was estimated by applying Ca²⁺, K⁺, NH₄ ⁺, and pharmacological inhibitors. Na⁺ accumulation into the root symplast was decreased by half in the presence of 1 mM Ca²⁺ and it was almost abolished by 100 mM K⁺. The inhibitory effect of external NH⁴⁺ on Na⁺ accumulation was more pronounced in the roots of NH₄ ⁺-free growing plants....

High frequency plant regeneration from cotyledon and hypocotyl explants of ornamental kale

X. G. Dai, X. P. Shi, Y. M. Ye, Q. Fu, M. Z. Bao

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:769-773 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0141-9

A high frequency shoot regeneration system for ornamental kale [Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala (D.C.) Alef.] was firstly established from seedling cotyledon and hypocotyl explants. The ability of cotyledon and hypocotyl to produce adventitious shoots varied depending upon genotype, seedling age and culture medium. The maximum shoot regeneration frequency was obtained when the explants from cv. Nagoya 4-d-old seedlings were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 3 mg dm^-3 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 0.1 mg dm^-3 naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The frequency of shoot regeneration was 65.0 %...

Micropropagation and conservation of endangered species Plantago algarbiensis and P. almogravensis

S. Gonçalves, N. Martins, A. Romano

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:774-778 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0142-8

Plantago algarbiensis and P. almogravensis are endemic Al tolerant species from the Western-centre of the Algarve region (South of Portugal) and Portuguese Southwest coast, respectively, which are in risk of global extinction. The aim of this work was to establish an efficient protocol to in vitro propagate these species using shoots obtained from in vitro germinated seeds. The best results in terms of multiplication response were afforded in Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzyladenine (8.5 and 9.2 shoots per explant in P. algarbiensis and P. almogravensis, respectively). Shoots of both...

The effect of phenyl acetic acid on shoot bud induction, elongation and rooting of chickpea

S. Kiran Ghanti, K. G. Sujata, M. Srinath Rao

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:779-783 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0143-7

A highly efficient protocol for plant regeneration from cotyledonary node of two chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars ICCV-10 and Annigeri used phenylacetic acid (PAA). The Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.0 mg dm^-3 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 1.0 mg dm^-3 PAA was used for induction of bud formation. Buds were elongated on MS medium supplemented either with only 0.75 mg dm^-3 gibberellic acid (GA₃) or 0.2 mg dm^-3 GA₃ + 0.6 mg dm^-3 PAA. The elongated shoots were then transferred onto rooting medium containing 1 mg dm^-3 PAA. The frequency...

Nitric oxide alleviates Fe deficiency-induced stress in Solanum nigrum

J. Xu, H. X. Yin, X. J. Liu, T. Yuan, Q. Mi, L. L. Yang, Z. X. Xie, W. Y. Wang

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:784-788 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0144-6

The possible involvement of nitric oxide in response of Solanum nigrum seedlings to Fe deficiency was investigated. Iron deficiency resulted in decreased shoot height and chlorophyll content and increased proliferation of root hairs and H₂O₂, K⁺ and Ca²⁺ content. NO donor S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) was effective in preventing Fe deficiency-induced increase in content of H₂O₂ and the ion uptake. The protective effects of GSNO were reversed by cPTIO, an NO scavenger, and tungstate, a nitrate reductase (NR) inhibitor.

Evaluation of zinc accumulation potential of Hydrilla verticillata

S. Srivastava, S. Mishra, S. Dwivedi, R. D. Tripathi, P. K. Tandon, D. K. Gupta

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:789-792 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0145-5

Biofortification of foods with essential micronutrients and phytoremediation of the contaminated sites are the two sides of the same coin for metals like zinc. In the present study, Zn accumulation potential, growth and antioxidant status of Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle plants were studied upon supplementation of Zn (0-5 000 µM) for 2 and 7 d. At 5000 µM Zn, plants accumulated about 7.60 and 18.07 mg(Zn) g^-1(d.m.) after 2 and 7 d, respectively. Plants exposed to Zn concentrations up to 500 µM showed significantly increased contents of low molecular mass antioxidants and activities of antioxidant enzymes in...

Development of novel chloroplast microsatellite markers for Cucumis from sequence database

J. -B. Hu, X. -Y. Zhou, J. -W. Li

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:793-796 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0146-4

The development of chloroplast microsatellite (cpSSR) markers in Cucumis species and analysis of their polymorphism and transferability were reported. Fifteen microsatellite markers, represented by mononucleotide repeats, were developed from the complete sequence of Cucumis sativus chloroplast genome. Intraspecific variation was successfully detected in C. sativus and C. melo and revealed mean 1.6 and 1.9 alleles per cpSSR locus, respectively. With the exception of two exon region-located cpSSR markers being monomorphic, each of the others amplified polymorphic fragments in C. sativus or C. melo. A total of...

The influence of thidiazuron on shoot regeneration from leaf explants of fifteen cultivars of Rhododendron

D. Pavingerová

Biologia plantarum 2009, 53:797-799 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0147-3

The influence of cytokinin thidiazuron (TDZ) and auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) on in vitro shoot organogenesis of fifteen Rhododendron genotypes was investigated and a protocol for high frequency adventitious shoot regeneration from leaf explants was developed. High genotypic variation was observed and regeneration frequencies ranged from 0 to 100 %. Genotype Ovation had the highest number of shoots (26.4 per explant) after 12 weeks on medium with 0.57 µM IAA and 1.20 µM TDZ, but only 65 % of explants regenerated. Catawbiense Grandiflorum had 17.7 shoots per explant and 75 % regeneration on medium with 5.70 µM IAA...