Biologia plantarum, 1995 (vol. 37), issue 3

Original Papers

Detection of DNA polymorphism among pea cultivars using RAPD technique

P. Samec, V. Našinec

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:321-327 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913972

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/BF02913974

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/BF02913975

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/BF02913976

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/BF02913977

Net photosynthetic rate (PN), 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 PN during summer than in winter and these rates differed from one species to the other. A positive correlation was found between PN of different tree species and their Chl content or biomass...

Growth,14CO2 fixation, activites of photosystems, ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and nitrate reductase in trees as affected by simulated acid rain

K. Muthuchelian, C. Murugan, R. Harigovindan, N. Nedunchezhian, G. Kulandaivelu

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:355 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913978

In seedlings of the tropical tree speciesErythrina variegata Lam. andHardwickia binata Roxb. exposed to different acidic mist (H2SO4, pH 5, 3 and 2) for 5 d significant reduction in seedling growth, biomass accumulation and14CO2 fixation were determined. In isolated chloroplasts a decrease in the activities of photosystem 2 and whole electron transport chain was observed only at pH 3 and 2, but no significant change in photosystem 1 activity was observed. SDS-PAGE analysis of crude leaf extracts of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPC) indicated a significant loss of 55 and 15 kDa polypeptides...

NaCl-induced amoeboid plastids and mitochondria in meristematic cells of barley roots

Yan Xian Xi

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:363 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913979

The barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seeds were germinated in the non-saline conditions after 12 h imbibition in 2 % of NaCl solution. The results of treatment were: (l) the membrane system in meristematic cells of root tips developed well; (2) many profiles of endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi bodies appeared; and (3) the quantities of amoeboid plastids and amoeboid mitochondria increased. Thus the inhibitory effects of short-term NaCl stress on plants were reversible, and simultaneously NaCl treatment enhanced the metabolic activities in cells. The amoeboid form may be an adaptive form of plastids or mitochondria to an enhanced...

Gas exchange and leaf water relations in two peanut cultivars of different drought tolerance

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

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:371-374 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913981

In summer seasons of 1991 and 1992 the gas exchange and leaf water relations were analysed in two peanut cultivars: drought tolerant cv. GG 2 (DT) and drought sensitive cv. JL 24 (DS). Soil moisture stress was imposed by withholding irrigation at pod development phase. The decrease in photosynthesis (PN) under stress was associated with a decrease in stomatal conductance (gs) and relative water content (RWC). The PN and RWC were significantly higher under stress in DT than DS. On relief of stress the gs and RWC recovered more quickly in DT than DS. The maintenance of higher RWC (>80 %), gs and...

Tissue-specific expression of esterase isoenzymes inLinum usitatissimum L.

S. I. Yurenkova, L. V. Khotyleva, Y. V. Tsebrikov

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:375-379 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913982

Esterase isoenzyme spectra of different organs of seedlings and field-grown plants of fiber flax (Linum usitatissimum L., cv. Belinka) were studied by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel for estimating ontogenetic variability of gene expression. Formation of individual isoesterases depended on the type of tissue and the stage of its development. Isoesterases characteristic of exclusively one or some tissues of the same developmental stage were revealed simultaneously with basic esterase isoforms active in all analysed parts of seeds, seedlings and field-grown plants. The revealed changes of esterase isoenzyme spectrum during germination show...

Kinetics of phosphate uptake in excised maize root

P. Kumar, U. S. Mishra, R. C. Pant

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:381 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913984

The short term uptake of phosphate involving 10 min absorption followed by 5 min desorption, both at 30 °C, in the concentration range 1.0×10-9 to 7.5×10-2 M KH2PO4 by fresh and washed maize (Zea mays L. cv. Ganga Safed-2) roots can be described by a single isotherm having five phases (0 and I-IV) with regularly spaced kinetic constants. Almost identical kinetics were observed in both fresh and washed maize roots. The kinetics of phase 0 in the concentration range 1.0×10-9-3.0×10-5 M. was sigmoidal in fresh maize roots, however, in washed tissue exhibited 2 phases termed here...

The effects of electric field on the growth of intact seedlings and coleoptile segments ofZea mays L.

W. Karcz, Z. Burdach

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:391 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913986

The experiments were carried out with 96-h-old intact maize seedlings and 10 mm long coleoptile segments cut 4 mm below the tip. The electric fields were applied longitudinally along the seedlings. The electric field (15 V) caused inhibition of the elongation growth of intact seedlings which was dependent on both the polarity and the duration of the applied voltage. The growth inhibition was greater when the tip of the shoot was positive relative to the roots. The electric field also caused inhibition of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and fusicoccin (FC) induced growth of maize coleoptile segments excised from electrically treated seedlings. IAA-induced...

Effects of salinity and heat-shock on wheat seedling growth and content of carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids

A. M. Hamada, E. M. Khulaef

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:399 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913988

The effects of salinity (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM NaCl) and heat-shock (42°C) and their interactions on germination, seedling growth, and some relevant metabolic changes of two cultivars (cv. Giza 155 and cv. Stork) of wheat (Triticum vulgaris L.) were studied. Germination studies indicate that plants tolerated salinity up to 100 mM NaCl. The lengths of roots and shoots and their water content, as well as fresh and dry matter yield of cv. Giza 155 seedlings remained more or less unchanged up to 100 mM NaCl and of cv. Stork up to 50 mM NaCl. Salinity induced progressive increase in soluble carbohydrates, soluble proteins and proline in cv....

Alleviation of salinity stress in chickpea byRhizobium inoculation or nitrate supply

D. L. N. Rao, P. C. Sharma

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:405-410 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913989

Influence of inoculation with efficient rhizobia or nitrate fertilization in alleviating salinity (NaCl, CaCl2 and Na2SO4) stress was investigated in sand culture experiments. Shoot dry mass declined beyond salinity level corresponding to electrical conductivity (EC) 5.6 dS m-1 in control or in inoculated plants and after EC 7.4 dS m-1 in nitrate fed ones. Root growth was more sensitive and decreased at EC 3.3 dS m-1. Nitrate reductase activity in leaves reduced at EC 3.3 dS m-1 but in inoculated and nitrate fed plants it reduced at EC 5.6 dS m-1. Na+...

Effect of copper on germination and seedling growth ofMinuartia, Silene, Alyssum andThlaspi

G. Ouzounidou

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:411 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913990

The influence of increasing copper concentrations on seed germination, seedling survival and radicle length ofMinuartia hirsuta, Silene compacta, Alyssum montanum andThlaspi ochroleucum was studied. Seed germination was highly affected by the higher Cu2+ concentrations (80 and 160 μM), while lower Cu2+ concentrations seemed to be necessary for seed germination, even for the plants originated from non-Cu2+-rich soils (i.e. A. montanum). Nevertheless, plants originated from Cu2+-rich soils (M. hirsuta, S. compacta) showed a higher demand of Cu2+ for rapid seed germination....

Purification and some properties of a lectin from the seeds ofTrichosanthes anguina

K. R. Shanavas, K. K. Elyas, D. M. Vasudevan

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:417 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913991

A galactose-binding lectin was isolated in electrophoretically pure form from the seeds of the snake gourd,Trichosanthes anguina, by affinity chromatography on an immobilised lactose column, as well as on a cross-linkedGuar Gum column. The lectin agglutinates native erythrocytes of human A, B and 0 phenotypes and of rabbit, rat and mouse. The molecular mass of the lectin, as estimated bySephadex G-200 gel chromatography, is 49 kDa. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, after reduction with β-mercaptoethanol, revealed two polypeptide chains linked by disulphide bonds in the lectin molecule. It contains...

Changes in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and ribonucleases activities during PVY-RNA biosynthesis in infected potato plants

L. Burketová

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:423-428 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913992

Changes in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, ribonucleases activities and chlorophyll content were studied in leaves of plants systemically infected by potato virus Y, necrotic strain (PVYN). Potato cultivars Jara and Adretta differing in resistance to potato virus Y were used. No statistically significant differences were observed between healthy and infected plants of both cultivars in chlorophyll content. Activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase slowly increased in connection with virus multiplication and reached 203.4% of the values of non-infected control in susceptible cv. Jara and 160.4% in the resistant cv. Adretta. Differences...

Variation and inheritance of peroxidase activity and phenol and saccharide content in cacao in relation to susceptibility to black pod disease

D. Omokolo Ndoumou, P. F. Djocgoue, L. Nana, M. Debost

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:429-436 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913993

The relationship between susceptibility to black pod disease and activity of peroxidases in crude extracts and soluble phenols and saccharides contents was studied in the pod cortex and in the seeds of three cacao clones: SNK413 (lowly susceptible), SNK10 (highly susceptible) and ICS95 (mildly susceptible) and in the F1 (SNK413×SNK10) and the F'1 (SNK10×SNK413) progeny. Phenol content and peroxidase activity in seeds increased as the pods matured; they were not the same in the proximal, middle and distal parts within the same pod at maturity. This variation could be correlated to the stage of development of the seeds. Total soluble saccharides and...

Book Review

Aitkin-Chistie, J., Kozai, T., Smith, M.A.L. (ed.):Automation and environmental control in plant tissue culture

T. Gichner

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:328 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913973

Fritig, B., Legrand, M. (ed.):Mechanisms of plant defense responses (Developments in plant pathology, Vol. 2)

L. Burketová

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:370 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913980

McKersie, B.D., Leshem, Y.Y.: Stress and stress coping in cultivated plants

I. Macháčková

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:380 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913983

Malik, V.S., Lillehoj, E.P. (ed.): Antibody techniques

N. Čeřovská

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:390 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913985

Research in photosynthesis Vol. 2. (Proceedings of the IXth International Congress on Photosynthesis, Nagoya, Japan, August 30-September 4)

P. Šiffel

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:398 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913987

Struik, P.C., Vredenberg, W.J., Renkema, J.A., Parlevliet, J.E. (ed.): Plant production on the threshold of a new century

J. Pulkrábek, V. Švachula, D. Hradecká

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:442 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913995

Murata, N. (ed.):Research in Photosynthesis. Vol. I. (Proceedings of the IXth International Congress on Photosynthesis, Nagoya, Japan, August 30-September 4, 1992)

M. Durchan

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:477-478 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02914003

Brief Communications

Effect of Cd and UV-B radiation on polypeptide composition and photosystem activities ofVigna unguiculata chloroplasts

N. Nedunchezhian, G. Kulandaivelu

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:437 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913994

Rates of whole chain and photosystem 2 activities in chloroplasts isolated fromVigna unguiculata L. seedlings grown under ultraviolet-B (UV-B) enhanced radiation were less affected by 3, 6 and 9 mM CdCl2 for 60 min at 0 °C in the dark than the rates in chloroplasts from control plants grown under normal irradiation. The results are in agreement with changes in contents of chloroplast 55, 47, 43, 33, 29, 27-25, 23 and 17 kDa polypeptides that were significantly lowered at 3, 6 and 9 mM CdCl2 only in chloroplasts from control plants. On the other hand, in the simultaneous treatment of chloroplast isolated from control plants...

Morphactin-induced malmorphogenetic effect and its transmission inKalanchoë

S. Sawhney, A. Mahajan

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:443-447 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913996

Morphactin dispensed through shoot apex induced diverse malformations of plant organs in four species ofKalanchoë. The malmorphogenetic effect was freely transmitted to newly emerging axillary branches as well as across leaf lamina to differentiating epiphyllous buds.

Isolation and characterization of NaCl resistant cell line of mulberry

K. Kathiravan, A. Shajahan, A. Ganapathi

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:449 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913997

The selected NaCl tolerant clones ofMorus alba L. cv. MR2 grow better at higher concentration of NaCl than non-selected clones. With increasing NaCl concentration the Na+, Cl- and proline content increased more and K+ and Ca2+ content decrease less in selected clones in comparison with non-selected ones.

Changes in the content of indole-3-acetic acid in the needles of dwarf pine in the course of year

V. Psota, Š. Klíčová, J. Králík

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:453 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913998

The changes in the content of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) were investigated in the youngest needles ofPinus mugo in the course of year. In newly formed needles, the content of IAA increased, starting from July and reaching its maximum in August to October. The IAA content decreased with a decline in the intensity of apical dominance during dormancy but no changes were observed in budbreak (May and June).

Retardation of dark inducedin vitro alterations in photosystem 2 organisation of cowpea leaf discs by combination of Ca2+ and benzyladenine

P. M. Swamy, S. D. S. Murthy, P. Suguna

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:457 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913999

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) leaf discs incubated in the dark in solutions with CaCl2 and benzyladenine (BA) maintained higher concentration of chlorophylls and proteins and higher activity of photosystem 2 (PS2) than controls. The effect of CaCl2 and BA in combination was additive.

Triazine inhibits electron transfer in photosystem 2 and induces lipid peroxidation in thylakoid membrane of maize

F. El-Shintinawy, A. Selim

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:461 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02914000

Triazine treatment of thylakoid membranes isolated from the primary leaves ofZea mays L. showed an 80% inhibition of photosystem (PS) 2 activity. No detectable change of PS 1 activity was found. The inhibited membranes showed a selective reduction of the most unsaturated linolenic acid (C18∶3) biosynthesis by about 15% coupled with a corresponding increase in stearic (C18∶0), oleic (C18∶1) and linoleic (C18∶2) acids. Thus the inhibition of electron transfer of PS 2 induced by triazine treatment was followed by lipid peroxidation and changes in the thylakoid membrane fluidity.

Improvement ofArabidopsis thaliana seed transformation efficiency

D. Pavingerová, M. Ondřej

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:467 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02914001

Agrobacterium tumefaciens induced transgenosis by treatment of germinatingArabidopsis thaliana seed embryos has been achieved with differentAgrobacterium strains including the strain LBA4404, which was ineffective in seed transformation experiments of the other authors. The frequency of transgenosis was increased several times by application of acetosyringone to the growingA. tumefaciens suspension cultures. The DNA demethylating agent 5-azacytidine partly restored the distorted Mendelian segregation ratios in the offspring of transgenic plants.

Influence of low irradiance on chloroplast proteins and photosystem activities in rice cultivars

K. Manian, M. Nagarajan

Biologia plantarum 1995, 37:473 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02914002

In six rice cultivars the relative amounts of 55, 26-28 and 15 kDa polypeptides were mostly lower in plants grown for 15 d under low irradiance than in plants grown under saturating irradiance. This decline in the polypeptides, especially in those related to light-harvesting chlorophyll proteins, was accompanied with a decrease in the whole chain electron transport and the photosystem 2 activity.