Polyamine metabolism in hants : Arginine and omithine decarboxylase activity in ripeningTrlticum durum seeds

M. Cecilia Anguillesi, Isa Grilli, C Floris

Biologia plantarum 31:81, 1989 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02907235

The pattern of the activity of arginine decarboxylase (ADC) and omithine decarboxylase (ODC) involved in polyamine synthesis in ripening wheat seeds was examined. The aim was to study the polyamines and the activity of the two enzymes in correlation with the growth processes occurring in the developing wheat seeds. The results obtained showed a very different pattern of polyamine content in the two organs of caryopsis, and that the two enzymes in the embryos have a higher activity than in the endosperms. Moreover, while in the embryos the ADC exhibits higher activity than the ODC, in the endosperms the activity of ODC is about similar to that of ADC....

Book review

J. Velemínský

Biologia plantarum 31:87, 1989 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02907236

Membrane permeability to electrolytes in relation to frost hardiness in bromegrassBromus inennis Leyss) Cell Suspension Culture

M. I. N. Zhang, J. H. M. Willison

Biologia plantarum 31:88, 1989 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02907237

Bromegrass cell suspension cultures, varying in frost hardiness, were immersed ìn distilled water and electrical conductivity of the bathing solutions was measured at various intervals after immersion. It was found that tissue frost-hardened by maintenance at 2‡C leaked more electrolytes than the relatively frost-sensitive tissue grown at 20‡C, but that tissue frost-hardened by abscisic add treatment displayed decreased leakage, despite comparable levels of frost-hardiness having been achieved. It is concluded, in contrast with the conclusion of a previous report, that changes in membrane permeability to electrolytes may not be...

Changes in the cellular permeability of the embryonic axis inGcer arietinum L. seeds during germination

Josefa Babiano, G. Nicolas, A. Matilla

Biologia plantarum 31:92, 1989 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02907238

The effect of short chain fatty acids on the cellular permeability of embryonic axis inGcer arietinum seeds was studied. Octanoic (OCT) and nonanoic (NON) adds, which reduce both germination and growth of the embryonic axis and raise the inhibitor effects of the supraoptimal temperatures (30‡C), induce a greater ionic efflux into the medium (conductivity). NON reduces glucose (3-0-MG) and K⁺ (⁸⁶Rb) uptake during the germinative process, this action being counteracted by fusicoccin (FC) at optimal (25‡C) and supraoptimal temperatures (30 ‡C). Tonoplast and plasmalemma increase their permeability to the...

Acidic phiorogludnol test positive reaction in Cultures of isolated mesophyll protoplasts ofBrassica napus L. and with secreted brown exudates

B. M. Heil, H. W. Kohlenbach

Biologia plantarum 31:100-103, 1989 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02907239

Cultures of isolated mesophyll protoplasts ofBrassica napus L.have shown a positive reaction with the acidic phloroglucinol test for lignin (Wiesner reagent) 30 h after the beginning of the culture period. The reaction was observed in protoplasts and in a very early stage connected with divisions, in which acidic phloroglucinol positive material was primarily deposited like a girdle surrounding the division plane. Brown exudates, which are a serious problem even in young cultures derived from isolated protoplasts, have been secreted into the medium by cells, and also showed a positive reaction. The same staining pattern has been found with toluidine...

The 'glucose effect' in callus cultures ofNicotiana plmmbaginifolia is enzyme specific

F. M. Restivo, Francesca Tassi, Elena Maestri, G. Cacco, Alessandra Bottacin

Biologia plantarum 31:104, 1989 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02907240

We have studied the effect of glucose on different enzyme activities in callus cultures of N.plumbaginifolia. We provided evidence that the increase in glucose concentration represses the synthesis of GDH, AcPh and MDH whereas ADH and LDH are unaffected. When glucose repressed cultures were transferred to the low glucose concentration medium the activity of GDH and AcPh resumed to the level shown by non repressed cultures. Sucrose and fructose were as effective as glucose in repressing GDH activity. These results support the hypothesis of the existence of a catabolite dependent regulation of enzyme synthesis in higher plants.

Analysis of Nuclear DNA content in plant cells by Flow cytometry

J. Doležel, Pavla Binarová, S. Lucretti

Biologia plantarum 31:113-120, 1989 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02907241

Flow cytometry was used to analyse the DNA content of nuclei isolated from intact plant tissues and from callus and cell suspension cultures invitro. Cell nuclei were isolated either mechanically (chopping, syringing) or by a hypotonic lysis of isolated protoplasts. Although both methods gave similar results, a slight shift to lower ploidy levels was observed after protoplast isolation from intact tissues and calli. No differences were observed if the two methods were compared using cell suspension cultures. The results showed that flow cytometry is a rapid method of nuclear DNA content analysis in intact plant tissues and variousin vitro...

Regeneration responses of callus from different expiants and changes in isozymes during morphogenesis in wheat

H. S. Chawla

Biologia plantarum 31:121-125, 1989 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02907242

Immature embryo and root meristem expiants of wheat were cultured on modified medium of Murashige and Skoog and Gamborg's medium supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid. Morphogeriic callus cultures were obtained from both the expiants. The frequency of shoot formation varied from 22% to 48% from callus obtained from embryos while only root formation could be induced from root meristem expiants. Cultures from young and old non-differentiating calli, and calli with shoot and/or root formation at different intervals were analysed for isozymes of esterase, peroxidase and acid phosphatase for studying the morphogenic capacity. With the development...

Developmental and Dimensional Changes in the Cambial Fusiform Initials ofHoloptelea integrifolia (Roxb.) Planch.

K. S. Rao, A. R. S. Menon, Yash Dave

Biologia plantarum 31:126, 1989 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02907243

Divisional activity, intrusive growth of the cell wall and loss of fusiform initials have been studied in Holoptelea integrifolia. The dimensional changes in relation to mean length, length frequency, mean width and length variation in relation to fibre length have also been analysed.

Book review

Noemi čeřovská

Biologia plantarum 31:132, 1989 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02907244

The effect of continuous gamma irradiation on formation of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and chromosomal aberrations in meristematic cells ofVicia faba

P. Kuglík, Jana Šlotová, Z. Karpfel

Biologia plantarum 31:133-138, 1989 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02907245

Germinated seeds ofVicia faba were continuously irradiated at low dose rate of gamma rays (0.05 Gy h-¹) up to a total accumulated dose of 2 Gy. The FPG (fluorescence plus Giemsa) technique of differential chromatid staining was used to monitor the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in irradiated root tip meristem cells. The results of the experiments have demonstrated that SCE frequency is raised by continuous gamma irradiation only in plant cells containing BrdU in the chromosomal DNA. No effect concerning SCE formation was recorded at continuous irradiation of meristematic cells of Vicia faba with native, i. e. BrdU-nonsubstituted,...

Book review

J. Dobr

Biologia plantarum 31:138, 1989 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02907246

Abscisic acid as a potent regulator of the transition from juvenile to mature stage inXanthium strumarium

V. Z. Podolnyi, Zuzana Josefusova, Ina F. Khmelnitskaya, S. P. Verenchikov, J. Krekule, M. Kh. Chailakhyan

Biologia plantarum 31:139-144, 1989 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02907247

The cotyledons ofXanthium strumarium plants are of low sensitivity to photoperiodic treatment and contain only trace amounts of ABA under long-day conditions. The first pair of leaves, very sensitive to photoperiodic treatment, contains a higher level ofABA, decreasing with age of the plant. Prolonged short-day photoperiodic treatment increases the ABA level in the cotyledons but this is still 10times lower than in the first two leaves. Exogenous 10^-4M ABA increases the ABA level in the cotyledons to the level corresponding to that in the first leaves, and enhances the photoperiodic sensitivity of cotyledons. In contrast to...

Estimation of mutagenicity and metabolic activation after recurrent exposures ofnicotiana tabacum L. var.xanthi to 14 pesticides

J. Bříza

Biologia plantarum 31:145-151, 1989 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02907248

Recurrent application (17 administrations in 38 days) of 14 pesticides (Karathane FN 57, Fundazol 50 WP, Dithane M 45, Topsin M 70 WP, Perozin 75 B, Fademorf EK 20, Novozir MN 80, Metation E 50, Pirimor DP, Decemtion EK 20, Zeazin 50 DP, Fatex EK 80, maleic hydrazide and Ethrel) did not increase (with the exception of maleic hydrazide) the frequency of somatic mutations in a heterozygous chlorophyll mutant ofNicotiana tabacumL. var.xanthi n. c. None of the four tested pesticides (Fademorf EK 20, Decemtion EK 20, maleic hydrazide and Ethrel) were transformed in tobacco plants to a stable mutagenic or promutagenic product active in theSalmonella...

Book review

P. Žák

Biologia plantarum 31:151, 1989 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02907249

Book reviews

Jana Pospíšilová, T. Gichner, J. Tupý, Helena Zárubová, C. Záruba, M. Frolíšek, V. Škrdleta, M. Šťastný

Biologia plantarum 31:156-160, 1989 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02907251

Induced Mutation inPetunia nyctaginiflora JUSS.

S. K. Mahna, Rashmi Garg

Biologia plantarum 31:152-155, 1989 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02907250

Seeds ofPetunia nyctaginifloraJuss. a common ornamental garden plant, were treated with two alkylating agents (methyl methane sulphonate and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine). Six morphological and seven chlorophyll mutants were isolated from M₂ segregating families. The isolated induced mutants are described and genetically analysed.