High frequency plant regeneration from protoplasts in cotton via somatic embryogenesis

J. Wang, Y. Sun, S. Yan, M. K. Daud, S. Zhu

Biologia plantarum 52:616-620, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0121-5

A highly reproducible system for efficient plant regeneration from protoplast via somatic embryogenesis was developed in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivar ZDM-3. Embryogenic callus, somatic embryos and suspension culture cells were used as explants. Callus-forming frequency (82.86 %) was obtained in protoplast cultures from suspension culture cells in KM₈P medium with 0.45 µM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 0.93 µM kinetin (KIN), 1.5 % glucose and 1.5 % maltose. Protocolonies formed in two months with plating efficiency of 14 %. However, the callus-forming efficiencies from other two explants were...

Factors affecting plant regeneration from immature inflorescence of two winter wheat cultivars

M. Kavas, H. A. Öktem, M. Yücel

Biologia plantarum 52:621-626, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0122-4

Inflorescence explants of two winter wheat cultivars, Triticum durum cv. Kiziltan-91 and T. aestivum cv. Bezostaja-01, were used to evaluate the effects of vernalization period of donor plants, callus age and medium composition on regeneration capacity. Donor plants were grown for 7 d and they were exposed to 4 °C for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks. The maximum inflorescence formation was observed as 79 % at 4 weeks and 73 % at 5 weeks of vernalization period for Kiziltan-91 and Bezostaja-01, respectively. Among 6 different callus induction and regeneration mediums, I₁-R₁ and I₃-R₃ have to be the best...

Genetic diversity in in vitro-conserved germplasm of Curcuma L. as revealed by RAPD markers

Z. Hussain, R. K. Tyagi, R. Sharma, A. Agrawal

Biologia plantarum 52:627-633, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0123-3

A set of 30 accessions of five Curcuma species-C. latifolia, C. malabarica, C. manga and C. raktakanta and 13 morphotypes (identified on the basis of morphological markers) of C. longa conserved in the In Vitro Genebank at National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, were subjected to RAPD analysis. Of the 200 RAPD primers screened, 21 polymorphic primers were selected for further study. Mean genetic similarities based on Jaccard's similarity coefficient ranged from 0.18 to 0.86 in accessions of cultivated species, i.e., C. longa and from 0.25 to 0.86 in wild species. The dendrogram derived from the...

The differences in cell wall composition in leaves and regenerating protoplasts of Beta vulgaris and Nicotiana tabacum

E. Wiśniewska, A. Majewska-Sawka

Biologia plantarum 52:634-641, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0124-2

Cell wall composition in leaves and regenerating leaf-derived protoplasts was studied in Beta vulgaris L. and Nicotiana tabacum L. Several oligosaccharides that characterize arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) and pectins were visualized in situ by a series of immunocytochemical reactions. The most conspicuous difference between the two species involved the expression of AGP epitopes that bind LM2 and MAC207 in only sugar beet cells; both epitopes being characterized by the presence of glucuronic acid (GlcA). Moreover, B. vulgaris leaves and protoplast-derived cells showed lower content of pectin side-chains bearing (1→4)-β-D-galactose...

Genetic diversity assessment in Portugal accessions of Olea europaea by RAPD markers

A. I. Cordeiro, J. F. Sanchez-Sevilla, M. C. Alvarez-Tinaut, M. C. Gomez-Jimenez

Biologia plantarum 52:642-647, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0125-1

Eighty seven olive (Olea europaea ssp. sativa L.) cultivar accessions from Portugal were characterized by means of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Of the 11 arbitrary 10-mer primers tested a total of 92 polymorphic bands were obtained, representing 87.6 % of the total amplification products. Twenty nine different genotypes were clearly discriminated. Differences were not found among the amplification profiles from different individuals of the same cultivar. All the genotypes could be identified by the combination of three primers: OPR-1, OPK-14 and OPA-1, seven genotype-specific markers being detected. Genetic relationships...

Assessment of genetic diversity of pigeonpea cultivars using RAPD analysis

P. Ray Choudhury, I. P. Singh, B. George, A. K. Verma, N. P. Singh

Biologia plantarum 52:648-653, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0126-0

In our present study assessment of genetic diversity and identification of pigeonpea cultivars has been done by employing 76 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers. Out of 796 amplified products, 587 showed polymorphism (73.7 %) and an average of 10.47 bands were amplified per primer. Cluster analysis based on Jaccard's similarity coefficient using UPGMA grouped all the cultivars into three clusters. The cluster I consists of 7 cultivars, cluster II of 11 cultivars in 4 sub-clusters and cluster III 4 cultivars. Two cultivars were not included in any cluster. The clustering was strongly supported by high bootstrap values. Furthermore, high...

Detection of DNA ladder during cotyledon senescence in cotton

Q. E. Xie, I. D. Liu, S. X. Yu, R. F. Wang, Z. X. Fan, Y. G. Wang, F. F. Shen

Biologia plantarum 52:654-659, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0127-z

The asynchronous programmed cell death (PCD) in different regions of the cotton cotyledon was studied during senescence. We showed that changes in chlorophyll contents do not occur at the same time in different parts of the cotyledon. By using light microscopy (LM) and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end in situ labelling (TUNEL) methods, the symptoms of cell death were detected in cotyledon margins earlier than in the central part. DNA ladders were detected by gel electrophoresis in senescent cotyledon margins and in the centre respectively, but not in the whole cotyledons.

Dormancy and germination in wheat embryos: ribonucleases and hormonal control

C. Spanò, R. Buselli, I. Grilli

Biologia plantarum 52:660-667, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0128-y

Acidic and neutral ribonucleases (RNases) were studied in embryos of Triticum durum cv. Cappelli and the effects of abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellic acid (GA₃) were analysed. RNases activities increased during germination and were comparable in dormant and non-dormant embryos imbibed for 24 h. ABA generally inhibited ribonucleolytic activities, while GA₃ only affected dormant embryos. To assess whether changes in RNase activities during germination or following hormonal treatment required new transcriptional or translational action, cycloheximide or cordycepin were used. The action of inhibitors of acidic RNase activity...

Characterization of a rice metallothionein type 3 gene with different expression profiles under various nitrogen forms

G. H. Zhu, J. J. Zhang, J. S. Chen, X. X. Peng

Biologia plantarum 52:668-673, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0129-x

A cDNA sequence OsMT3 was initially isolated from the subtractive cDNA library of ammonium-fed rice (Oryza sativa L.) leaves, which was further confirmed by Northern blot to be highly ammonium-up-regulated as compared to nitrate. Its full-length cDNA was cloned by RT-PCR, and in silico analysis reveals that the cDNA includes an open reading frame of 186 bp and encodes a rice metallothionein type 3 peptide. Northern blotting analysis showed that OsMT3 gene predominantly expressed in rice leaves, weakly in stems, and barely in buds and roots. The gene transcripts in leaves were significantly induced by polyethylene glycol...

Effect of different oxygen availability on the nitrate reductase activity in Cucumis sativus roots

M. Reda, G. Kłobus

Biologia plantarum 52:674-680, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0130-4

The effect of different oxygen availability on the nitrate reductase (NR, EC 1.6.6.1) activity in cucumber roots was studied. NR activity measured in the presence of Mg²⁺ (actual NR activity) as well as activity measured with EDTA (maximum NR activity) increased distinctly after 30 min of root incubation in a medium flushed with N₂ (anaerobic conditions). In contrast, aeration of roots (aerobic conditions) decreased both enzyme activities. Such inactivation of NR was rapidly reversed after transferring the roots to anaerobic conditions. An air-induced decrease of the actual enzyme activity was prevented by staurosporin, a protein...

Ascorbate and glutathione metabolism in embryo axes and cotyledons of germinating lupine seeds

M. Garnczarska, Ł. Wojtyla

Biologia plantarum 52:681-686, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0131-3

Changes in ascorbate and glutathione contents and the activities and isoenzyme patterns of enzymes of the ascorbate-glutathione cycle were investigated in embryo axes and cotyledons of germinating lupine (Lupinus luteus L.) seeds. Ascorbate content was not significantly affected over the initial 12 h of imbibition in embryo axes, but afterwards increased, with the most rapid accumulation coinciding with radicle emergence. A somewhat similar trend was observed for glutathione with significant increase in embryo axes shortly before radicle protrusion followed by decline in the next hours. In cotyledons the ascorbate pool rose gradually during...

Involvement of exopeptidases in dehydration tolerance of spring wheat seedlings

A. Miazek, B. Zagdańska

Biologia plantarum 52:687-694, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0133-1

The observed inability of 6-d-old seedlings of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to tolerate the same water deficit as compared to the 4-d-old seedlings seems to be associated with the higher carboxypeptidase and lower aminopeptidase activities. Free amino acid pools differentiated also the 4-d-old seedlings from the older ones. Dehydration decreased the amino acid content in 4-d-old seedlings, increased it in 6-d-old seedlings and changed composition of amino acid pool. In tolerant phase of wheat seedling growth carboxypeptidase activity increased in response to water deficit and aminopeptidase activity increased in dehydrated seedlings,...

The ubiquitin/proteasome pathway from Lemna minor subjected to heat shock

A. S. Caeiro, P. C. Ramos, A. R. Teixeira, R. B. Ferreira

Biologia plantarum 52:695-702, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0134-0

Exposure of Lemna minor L. to high temperatures leads to an initial decrease in the ubiquitin (Ub) monomer pool size and the accumulation of high molecular mass Ub-protein conjugates, possibly reflecting an increment in the supply of protein substrates to the Ub/proteasome pathway. Alternative explanations include, for example, changes in the transcription rates of one or more pathway components. To measure the effect of heat shock on the simultaneous rates of transcription of selected genes encoding five Ub pathway components (Ub, E1, E2, β subunit and ATPase subunit of the 26S proteasome), a semi-quantitative RT-PCR method was developed...

Differential expression of wheat transcriptomes in response to varying cadmium concentrations

O. Cebeci, B. Kokturk, N. Ergen, L. Ozturk, I. Cakmak, H. Budak

Biologia plantarum 52:703-708, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0135-z

This study aims to understand the changes in the transcriptome of durum wheat (Tricitum durum cv. Balcali-85) upon exposure to varying Cd concentrations using mRNA differential display (mRNA DD) technique. Sequence analyses of the two heavily induced genes upon exposure to Cd showed high homology to NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (EC907725) and PsaC gene encoding a photosystem 1 (PS 1) 9 kDa subunit protein (EC907731). Additionally, three differentially expressed genes (EC907726, EC907729 and EC907730) were identified. Their sequence analyses revealed no significant homologies to known genes. The expressions of NADH dehydrogenase...

The relationship between vernalization-and photoperiodically-regulated genes and the development of frost tolerance in wheat and barley

K. Kosová, I. T. Prášil, P. Vítámvás

Biologia plantarum 52:601-615, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0120-6

The review summarizes the level of current knowledge of impacts of vernalization and photoperiod on the induction and maintenance of frost tolerance (FrT) in wheat and barley. The phenomenon of vernalization is briefly described and the major vernalization (VRN) loci are characterised. Vernalization requirement and the three major growth habits of Triticeae (facultative, winter and spring) are defined on the basis of the two-locus VRN-2/VRN-1 epistatic model. Major photoperiodically regulated genes, which influence the transition to flowering, are characterised and their interactions with VRN genes are briefly discussed....

Jones, J.B.: Tomato Plant Culture. In the Field, Greenhouse, and Home Garden

M. Koudela

Biologia plantarum 52:686, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0132-2

Merchant, S., Briggs, W.R., Chandler, V.L. (ed.): Annual Review of Plant Biology. Vol. 59, 2008

Z. Šesták

Biologia plantarum 52:799-800, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0157-6

In vitro cormlet development in Crocus sativus

K. D. Sharma, R. Rathour, R. Sharma, S. Goel, T. R. Sharma, B. M. Singh

Biologia plantarum 52:709-712, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0136-y

An improved protocol for generation of viable cormlets from tissue culture derived shoots of saffron has been developed. Multiple shoots were generated from apical buds, small corms and in vitro developed single shoots. Bunches of two to three shoots when cultured on half strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 3 mg dm^-3 benzyladenine (BA) and 80 g dm^-3 sucrose developed 1.89 cormlets per shoot bunch with an average fresh mass of 1.18 g. It took nine months from culture of apical buds to the harvest of cormlets but under field conditions 22 months. Sucrose appeared to be essential for cormlet induction as no...

Efficient regeneration of Eucommia ulmoides from hypocotyl explant

R. Chen, S. Namimatsu, Y. Nakadozono, T. Bamba, Y. Nakazawa, K. Gyokusen

Biologia plantarum 52:713-717, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0137-x

A rapid and efficient method for the regeneration of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver has been developed. The ability of hypocotyl segments to produce adventitious buds varied depending upon their position, seedling age and culture medium. The most adventitious buds were induced from the hypocotyl segments near to the root of 2-week-old seedlings on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 10 µM benzylaminopurine (BAP). However, the MS medium with 6 µM BAP and 6 µM gibberellic acid (GA₃) was most suitable for shoot multiplication and further growth. Shoots longer than 2 cm cultured on the half-strength...

Specific activation of PR-10 pathogenesis-related genes in apple by an incompatible race of Venturia inaequalis

M. Chevalier, L. Parisi, B. Gueye, C. Campion, P. Simoneau, P. Poupard

Biologia plantarum 52:718-722, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0138-9

Apple (Malus × domestica Borkh. cv. Golden Delicious) trees were inoculated with fungal pathogens, corresponding either to an incompatible strain of Venturia inaequalis or to non-host pathogens (Venturia pyrina, Alternaria brassicicola) in order to characterize the regulation of PR-10 genes in these different situations in relationship to symptom development. Macro-and microscopic observations of the plant-fungus interactions revealed typical symptoms of resistance with V. inaequalis and symptoms of hypersensitivity (HR) on around 5 % of leaves with V. pyrina. No HR was microscopically observed with...

Induction of in vitro flowering in the orchid Dendrobium Sonia 17

C. S. Tee, M. Maziah, C. S. Tan

Biologia plantarum 52:723-726, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0139-8

In this study, Dendrobium Sonia 17 plantlets were used to induce in vitro flowering. Inflorescences were induced and rooting was inhibited in the half-strength Murashige and Skoog medium containing 20 µM N ⁶-benzyladenine (BA). The medium with high P and low N contents was effective to induce inflorescences while the medium with low P and high N contents was only effective to promote forming of shoots. In addition, the induced in vitro inflorescences were able to multiply and maintain without exhibiting a distinctive vegetative phase. Different morphologies of in vitro flowers such as incomplete flower...

Antioxidative response to cadmium in roots and leaves of tomato plants

W. B. Ammar, I. Nouairi, M. Zarrouk, M. H. Ghorbel, F. Jemal

Biologia plantarum 52:727-731, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0140-2

Treatment of tomato seedlings (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. 63/5 F1) with increasing CdCl₂ concentrations in the culture medium resulted in Cd accumulation more important in roots than in leaves. Biomass production was severely inhibited, even at low Cd concentration. Cd reduced chlorophyll content in leaves and enhanced lipid peroxidation. An increase in antioxidative enzyme (superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase, glutathione reductase) activities was more pronounced in leaves than in roots, while catalase activity increased only in roots. In addition, changes in isoenzyme composition were observed...

Dynamics analyses of nutrients consumption and flavonoids accumulation in cell suspension culture of Glycyrrhiza inflata

Y. Yang, F. He, L. J. Yu

Biologia plantarum 52:732-734, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0141-1

The dynamics of biomass accumulation, production of flavonoids and consumption of carbon, nitrogen and phosphate were investigated in Glycyrrhiza inflata Batal cell suspensions cultivated in flasks. Biomass accumulation exhibited a "S"-shape curve in each culture cycle, with the greatest values obtained on day 21 (16.4 and 232.4 g dm^-3 of dry and fresh mass, respectively). Similarly, flavonoids production also got to a peak of 95.7 mg dm^-3 on day 21. Sucrose was decomposed to reducing sugars which were almost used up on day 22. Nitrate and phosphate in the medium were almost exhausted on day 18 and 10, respectively, while...

Assessment of genetic stability of in vitro grown Dictyospermum ovalifolium

M. Chandrika, Thoyajaksha, V. Ravishankar Rai, K. Ramachandra Kini

Biologia plantarum 52:735-739, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0142-0

In the present study, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method namely inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) was employed to assess genetic stability in tissue culture-derived Dictyospermum ovalifolium plantlets. To study genomic stability of micropropagated plants, 14 individuals were randomly tagged among a population of 2500 regenerants and were compared with single donor mother plant. A total of 51 clear and reproducible bands ranging from 200 bp to 2.1 kb were scored corresponding to an average of 3.64 bands per primer. Two of the 51 bands were polymorphic (3.92 %) among 14 individuals, thus indicating the occurrence of low level genomic...

Ca²⁺ reduces the effect of hypoxia in mosses Mnium undulatum and Polytrichum commune

A. Rzepka, J. Krupa

Biologia plantarum 52:740-742, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0143-z

Gametophores of mosses Mnium undulatum and Polytrichum commune were submerged in distilled water or in calcium chloride solution (0.9 mM Ca²⁺) to induce hypoxia. The net photosynthetic (P_N) and dark respiration rate (R_D) were measured in the air containing 300-400 µmol(CO₂).mol^-1(air) and 0.21 mol(O₂).mol^-1(air). P_N of M. undulatum gametophores decreased to 58 % of the control after 1-h submersion in water, whereas to 80 % of the control in P. commune gametophores. A smaller decrease in P_N was observed when the gametophores...

In vitro regeneration of Leucaena leucocephala by organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis

S. Rastogi, S. M. H. Rizvi, R. P. Singh, U. N. Dwivedi

Biologia plantarum 52:743-748, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0144-y

In the present study, in vitro regeneration system for a recalcitrant woody tree legume, Leucaena leucocephala (cvs. K-8, K-29, K-68 and K-850) from mature tree derived nodal explants as well as seedling derived cotyledonary node explants was developed. Best shoot initiation and elongation was found on full-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 3 % (m/v) sucrose, 100 mg dm^-3 myoinositol, 100 mg dm^-3 glutamine, 20.9 µM N ⁶-benzylamino-purine (BAP) and 5.37 µM 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Rooting was induced in half-strength MS medium containing 2 % (m/v) sucrose,...

Starch synthase activity and heat shock protein in relation to thermal tolerance of developing wheat grains

K. V. Sumesh, P. Sharma-Natu, M. C. Ghildiyal

Biologia plantarum 52:749-753, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0145-x

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cvs. HD 2285 (relatively tolerant) and WH 542 (susceptible) were exposed to ambient and elevated temperature (3-4 °C higher) in open top chambers during post anthesis period. The grain yield components were determined at the time of maturity. In order to elucidate the basis of differential tolerance of these cultivars, the excised developing grains (20 d after anthesis) of ambient grown plants were incubated at 15, 25, 35 and 45 °C for 2 h and then analysed for the activities of soluble starch synthase (SSS), granule bound starch synthase (GBSS), kinetic parameters of SSS and content of heat shock protein (HSP 100)....

Transcriptional profiles of immature ears and tassels in maize at early stage of water stress

Y. L. Zhuang, G. J. Ren, Y. Zhu, G. H. Hou, X. Qu, Z. X. Li, G. D. Yue, J. R. Zhang

Biologia plantarum 52:754-758, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0146-9

In the reproductive organs of maize (Zea mays L.), the changes in transcription that occur during meiosis at early stage of water deficit were characterized. We used oligo microarray analysis, which included 57452 transcripts representing more than 30 000 genes, and combined this with reverse Northern blot analysis. After 1 d stress, 1 809 transcripts were differentially expressed (by 2-fold or greater) with 34 % of them being upregulated in the tassels, while in the ears 861 transcripts were differentially expressed with 41 % being upregulated. Of these, 33 transcripts were upregulated in both organs, including those involved in protective...

Expression of a phenylcoumaran benzylic ether reductase-like protein in the ovules of Gossypium hirsutum

R. B. Turley

Biologia plantarum 52:759-762, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0147-8

Two dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) was used to identify differentially expressed proteins in wild-type (DP 5690) and fiberless (SL 1-7-1) cotton ovules. One protein, designated V2 was unique to ovules of the fiber producing DP 5690 line. The protein was purified from 2D-PAGE of 4 d post anthesis DP 5690 ovules and partially sequenced. The short amino acid sequence was nearly identical to the deduced amino acid sequence for cotton phenylcoumaran benzylic ether reductase (PCBER) protein. A consensus sequence was assembled from ESTs encoding cotton PCBER genes, primers were designed, and a full length gene was amplified from...

Exploration on the vacuum infiltration transformation of pakchoi

H.-J. Xu, H. Zhao, X.-F. Wang, F. Liu

Biologia plantarum 52:763-766, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0148-7

Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated vacuum infiltration transformation in planta has been established in pakchoi, a kind of Chinese cabbage, but the transformation frequency in harvested seeds has varied in the range of 0.5 to 3.0 × 10^-4 over several years and is much lower than the transformation frequency in Arabidopsis thaliana. To understand that, the distribution and vitality changes of A. tumefaciens in plant tissues were examined. Results revealed that there was a majority of A. tumefaciens in the flower compared with that in the stem and in the leaf at all times after infiltration. As fact of transformants...

Effects of 28-homobrassinolide on nickel uptake, protein content and antioxidative defence system in Brassica juncea

P. Sharma, R. Bhardwaj, N. Arora, H. K. Arora, A. Kumar

Biologia plantarum 52:767-770, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0149-6

The effects of 28-homobrassinolide (HBL) on nickel uptake, protein content and activities of antioxidative enzymes were determined in the seedlings of Brassica juncea L. The seeds were treated with different concentrations (0, 0.01, 1 and 100 nM) of HBL for 8 h and then sown in the Petri plates containing various concentrations (0, 25, 50 and 100 mg dm^-3) of nickel. After 7 d, observations were made on shoot and root length, Ni uptake, protein content and activities of antioxidative enzymes (guaiacol peroxidase, catalase, glutathione reductase, ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase). The growth of seedlings was inhibited by...

Flooding tolerance and genetic diversity in populations of Luehea divaricata

M. C. C. G. De Carvalho, D. C. G. Da Silva, P. M. Ruas, M. E. Medri, E. A. Ruas, C. F. Ruas

Biologia plantarum 52:771-774, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0150-0

We investigated some aspects of flooding tolerance in two riparian populations (exposed and no exposed to flooding) of Luehea divaricata C. Martius. Plants derived from seeds collected in each population were submitted to flooding (30 and 60 d), submergence and re-aeration treatments. Plants exposed to flooding showed development of aerenchyma, hypertrophic lenticels and new adventitious roots. Interestingly, whereas the plants originated from population naturally exposed to flooding developed some of these alterations more markedly, they could not survive when totally submerged. The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, showed a...

Interspecific hybridization of Cucumis anguria and C. zeyheri via embryo-rescue

D. Skálová, M. Dziechciarková, A. Lebeda, E. Křístková, B. Navrátilová

Biologia plantarum 52:775-778, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0151-z

Embryo-rescue was used to facilitate interspecific hybridization of Cucumis anguria L. and C. zeyheri Sond. Embryos were excised from developing fruits at one week intervals for six weeks after hand pollination. Medium containing coconut water was the most suitable for initial germination, and a medium with ascorbic acid was the best for embryo development and plant recovery. Viable plants were obtained from embryos and these plants showed morphological characteristics different from both parents. The analysis of the leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) locus revealed three hybrid types, H1.1, H1.2 and H2.

Reciprocal effects in anther cultures of wheat hybrids

M. Yildirim, B. Bahar, İ. Genç, R. Hatipoğlu, S. Altintaş

Biologia plantarum 52:779-782, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0152-y

This study was conducted to determine the reciprocal effects for anther culture response in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using a set of 4 × 4 full diallel crosses. Both reciprocal and nuclear genetic effects were highly significant for anther culture response and useful for selection and breeding purposes. General combining ability (GCA) effects were predominant for all investigated anther culture traits. Also, significant differences for specific combining ability (SCA) effects were detected between reciprocal crosses. Although significant reciprocal differences for responding anther, callus number and green plant regeneration were recorded...

Plant regeneration from callus culture of Curcuma aromatica and in vitro detection of somaclonal variation through cytophotometric analysis

S. Mohanty, M. K. Panda, E. Subudhi, S. Nayak

Biologia plantarum 52:783-786, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0153-x

Callus cultures initiated from shoot base explants of Curcuma aromatica Salisb. were maintained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with 2 mg dm^-3 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid alone or with 0.5 mg dm^-3 kinetin. Plantlets were regenerated from 60 and 180-d-old callus on MS media supplemented with 3 mg dm^-3 benzyladenine and 0.5 mg dm^-3 α-naphthalene acetic acid. Approximately 8-10 plantlets were produced after 30-40 d of culture per 50 mg of callus inoculated. Out of 113 regenerants analyzed 85 plants were exclusively diploid and 28 were predominantly diploid revealing presence of...

Post-pollination changes in the floral organs of two Cymbidium species

L. K. Attri, H. Nayyar, R. K. Bhanwra, A. Pehwal

Biologia plantarum 52:787-791, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0154-9

It was observed that the unpollinated flowers of Cymbidium pendulum (Roxb.) Sw. and C. aloifolium (L.) Sw. stayed fresh for 20 and 18 d, respectively, but attained senescence in 8 and 7 d, respectively, after pollination. The higher content of total soluble sugars, reducing sugars and free amino acids was observed in all the floral organs of pollinated flowers than in unpollinated ones. Pollination also up-regulated the activity of hydrolytic (α-amylase, β-amylase, invertase) and proteolytic enzymes (proteases) in floral organs. Amongst floral organs, the lip and perianth possessed highest contents of metabolites. Application...

Exogenous salicylic acid alleviates NaCl toxicity and increases antioxidative enzyme activity in Lycopersicon esculentum

Y. He, Z. J. Zhu

Biologia plantarum 52:792-795, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0155-8

Effects of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) on plant growth, contents of Na, K, Ca and Mg, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase (CAT), and contents of ascorbate and glutathione were investigated in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) plants treated with 100 mM NaCl. NaCl treatment significantly increased H₂O₂ content and lipid peroxidation indicated by accumulation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). A foliar spray of 1 mM SA significantly decreased lipid peroxidation caused...

Contribution of putrescine degradation to proline accumulation in soybean leaves under salinity

G. X. Su, X. Bai

Biologia plantarum 52:796-799, 2008 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0156-7

Proline accumulation was studied in the leaves of Glycine max (L.) Merr. subjected to salt stress in the presence of aminoguanidine (AG, a specific inhibitor of diamine oxidase, DAO) and exogenous putrescine (Put). Both DAO activity and proline content were increased while endogenous Put content was decreased in soybean leaves under 50 to 150 mM NaCl. There was a negative correlation between proline accumulation and endogenous Put content. The addition of AG during NaCl stress inhibited DAO activity, caused Put accumulation and a 15 to 20 % decrease in proline content. Application of 1 mM Put to NaCl solution markedly increased proline content....