Biologia plantarum, 2010 (vol. 54), issue 4

Article

Alteration in growth and thylakoid membrane lipid composition of Azolla caroliniana under phosphate deficiency

G. S. M. Ismail, H. E. Mohamed

Biologia plantarum 54:671-676, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0119-7

The changes in the fresh biomass accumulation, photosynthetic and anthocyanin pigments, photosystem 2 (PS 2) activity, ultrastructure of chloroplast, total lipids and fatty acid composition of thylakoid membrane were followed in the aquatic fern Azolla caroliniana grown on medium either deficient or supplied with various phosphorus concentrations. The content of photosynthetic pigments and the anthocyanin/chlorophyll ratio increased significantly with increasing PO4 3- concentration. Phosphate deficiency inhibited growth and PS 2 activity and decreased content of total lipids and phospholipids in isolated thylakoids. This...

Salicylic acid increased aldose reductase activity and sorbitol accumulation in tomato plants under salt stress

I. Tari, G. Kiss, A. K. Deér, J. Csiszár, L. Erdei, Á. Gallé, K. Gémes, F. Horváth, P. Poór, Á. Szepesi, L. M. Simon

Biologia plantarum 54:677-683, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0120-1

Increased aldose reductase (ALR) activities were detected in the leaf tissues of tomato plants grown for 3 weeks in culture medium containing 10-7 or 10-4 M salicylic acid (SA), and in the roots after the 10-4 M SA pretreatment. The ALR activity changed in parallel with the sorbitol content in the leaves of the SA-treated plants. Salt stress elicited by 100 mM NaCl enhanced the accumulation of sorbitol in the leaves of control plants and as compared with the untreated control the sorbitol content in the SA-pretreated leaves remained elevated under salt stress. DEAE cellulose anionexchange column purification of the...

Tobacco transcription factor WRKY4 is a modulator of leaf development and disease resistance

X.-J. Ren, W -D. Huang, W.-Z. Li, D.-Q. Yu

Biologia plantarum 54:684-690, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0121-0

The role of tobacco transcription factor WRKY4 in leaf development and biotic stress tolerance was studied using RNAi suppressed transgenic plants. The leaves were more numerous and wider in NtWRKY4 RNAi suppressed transgenic lines compared to the vector control, while the levels of miRNA166 and miRNA396 were reduced in suppressed lines. NtWRKY4 expression was markedly induced in response to salicylic acid (SA), but not to abiotic stresses. When infected by tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), the leaves of the transgenic plants were more twisted and displayed a more obvious mosaic pattern compared to those of vector-transgenic plants. Less TMV...

An EST-SSR marker linked with yellow rust resistance in wheat

S. Ercan, F. Ertugrul, Y. Aydin, F. S. Akfirat, S. Hasancebi, K. Akan, Z. Mert, N. Bolat, O. Yorgancilar, A. Altinkut-Uncuoglu

Biologia plantarum 54:691-696, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0122-z

Expressed sequenced tags containing simple sequence repeats (EST-SSRs) were used to identify molecular markers associated with yellow rust resistance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). A cross between yellow rust resistant (PI178383) and susceptible (Harmankaya99) wheat genotypes was performed and respective DNA pools from the resistant and susceptible F2 seedlings were constructed. 78 EST-SSR primers were used for bulked segregant analysis and one EST-SSR marker (Pk54), identified as 200 bp fragment, was present in the resistant parent and resistant F2 hybrids but not in the susceptible ones. 108 wheat genotypes differing...

Identification and transcriptional analysis of genes involved in Bacillus cereus-induced systemic resistance in Lilium

Y. -H. Liu, C. -J. Huang, C. -Y. Chen

Biologia plantarum 54:697-702, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0123-y

Bacillus cereus C1L was demonstrated to induce systemic resistance in Lilium formosanum against leaf blight caused by Botrytis elliptica. Suppression subtractive hybridization library of L. formosanum triggered by B. cereus C1L were screened and 3 differentially expressed genes were identified. Based on sequence analysis, these genes encoding putative glycine-rich protein, metallothionein-like protein, and PsbR protein of photosystem 2, were designated LfGRP1, LfMT1, and LfPsbR, respectively. The results of Northern blot analysis showed that expressions of LfGRP1, LfMT1 and LfPsbR increased...

Original Papers

Factors affecting in vitro propagation and field establishment of Chlorophytum borivilianum

A. Kumar, D. Aggarwal, P. Gupta, M. S. Reddy

Biologia plantarum 54:601-606, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0109-9

The effect of plant growth regulators (PGRs), gelling agents, sucrose and heat shock on shoot multiplication, shoot growth, rooting and subsequent survival of Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant. et Fernand was evaluated. Benzyladenine (BA) was found to be better cytokinin over kinetin (KIN) for shoot multiplication. Sucrose concentrations from 116-290 mM in the basal medium (BM) promoted shoot multiplication. Heat shock (50 °C, 1 h) also promoted shoot multiplication at these sucrose concentrations on both BM medium and BM supplemented with 5.0 μM BA. Beneficial effect of sucrose was also observed on rooting of shoots on BM as well as...

Effect of abscisic acid on heat stress tolerance in the calli from two ecotypes of Phragmites communis

W. Ding, L. Song, X. Wang, Y. Bi

Biologia plantarum 54:607-613, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0110-3

Dune reed (DR) and swamp reed (SR) are two ecotypes of reed (Phragmites communis Trin.) that displayed differences in stress tolerance. To uncover the molecular basis for such difference, the effects of heat stress were studied using the calli derived from the two ecotypes. Heat stress caused increased ion leakage, inhibited growth, decreased cell viability, and elevated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the calli of both ecotypes, but DR callus showed better heat tolerance than SR callus. In DR callus, heat stress caused significant increase in the endogenous ABA content but not in SR callus....

Overexpression of tomato tAPX gene in tobacco improves tolerance to high or low temperature stress

W. -H. Sun, M. Duan, F. Li, D. -F. Shu, S. Yang, Q. -W. Meng

Biologia plantarum 54:614-620, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0111-2

In order to investigate the function of chloroplast ascorbate peroxidase under temperature stress, the thylakoid-bound ascorbate peroxidase gene from tomato leaf (TtAPX) was introduced into tobacco. Transformants were selected for their ability to grow on medium containing kanamycin. RNA gel blot analysis confirmed that TtAPX in tomato was induced by chilling or heat stress. Over-expression of TtAPX in tobacco improved seed germination under temperature stress. Two transgenic tobacco lines showed higher ascorbate peroxidase activity, accumulated less hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde than wild type plants under stress condition....

CDPK gene expression in salt tolerant rolB and rolC transformed cell cultures of Panax ginseng

K. V. Kiselev, O. V. Grishchenko, Y. N. Zhuravlev

Biologia plantarum 54:621-630, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0112-1

CDPKs (calcium-depended protein kinases) are of great importance for the activation of defense reactions in plants. In this study, we aimed to find a connection between CDPK expression and increased salt tolerance in Panax ginseng. Treatment of P. ginseng cell cultures with W7 (CDPK protein inhibitor) showed that CDPK proteins were necessary for salt tolerance. Expression of PgCDPK1c, PgCDPK2c and PgCDPK4a was significantly increased in the cells treated with 60 mM NaCl compared to control cells, whereas expression of PgCDPK1b and PgCDPK3a was decreased. In the NaCl-treated cells, new CDPK transcripts...

Functional characterization of the apple MdSAMDC2 gene by ectopic promoter analysis and over-expression in tobacco

L. -L. Zhao, L. -Q. Song, C. -X. You, T. Moriguchi, Y. -J. Hao

Biologia plantarum 54:631-638, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0113-0

The expression of MdSAMDC2 gene, which encodes S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC) in apple, was up-regulated by low temperature, salt and drought stresses. To identify its in vivo biological functions in the responses to stresses, the promoter region of MdSAMDC2 was isolated and characterized by analyzing the cis-acting regulatory elements and GUS reporter gene by an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. GUS activity was enhanced upon salt and cold stresses, indicating that MdSAMDC2 promoter region controls gene transcription under stresses. In parallel, several lines of the transgenic tobacco...

Ectopic over-expression of two apple Flowering Locus T homologues, MdFT1 and MdFT2, reduces juvenile phase in Arabidopsis

W. M. Li, Y. Tao, Y. X. Yao, Y. J. Hao, C. X. You

Biologia plantarum 54:639-646, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0114-z

To get insight into mechanism by which apple tree (Malus domestica Borkh.) regulates flowering, two apple flowering locus T (FT) homologues, MdFT1 and MdFT2, were isolated from the leaf cDNAs of cultivar Gala. The open reading frames (ORFs) of two MdFTs encoded 174 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of MdFT1 and MdFT2 showed 94.3 % similarity to each other, while 72.6 and 76.0 % to AtFT protein, respectively. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR indicated their specific expression in leaves. Visualization of MdFT2-GFP fusion protein demonstrated its localization on membrane. Ectopic overexpression...

Metabolic engineering using mtlD gene enhances tolerance to water deficit and salinity in sorghum

M. Maheswari, Y. Varalaxmi, A. Vijayalakshmi, S. K. Yadav, P. Sharmila, B. Venkateswarlu, M. Vanaja, P. Pardha Saradhi

Biologia plantarum 54:647-652, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0115-y

Sorghum bicolor L. Moench cv. SPV462 was transformed with the mtlD gene encoding for mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase from E. coli with an aim to enhance tolerance to water deficit and NaCl stress. Transgene (pCAM mtlD) integration and expression were successfully confirmed by PCR, Southern, RT-PCR and Western analysis. Segregation analysis based on germination of T0 seed on hygromycin-supplemented medium revealed an expected Mendelian ratio 3:1 in lines 5, 72 and 75. Retention of leaf water content was remarkably higher in transgenic leaf segments when exposed to polyethylene glycol 8000 (-2.0 MPa), as compared to the...

Genetic diversity of elite sweet sorghum genotypes assessed by SSR markers

Z. Pei, J. Gao, Q. Chen, J. Wei, Z. Li, F. Luo, L. Shi, B. Ding, S. Sun

Biologia plantarum 54:653-658, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0116-x

To determine genetic diversity among 47 elite sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor ssp. bicolor L.) genotypes, 46 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers evenly distributed on all 10 chromosomes were selected. All SSR markers used were polymorphic among the genotypes studied. A total of 228 alleles were identified with an average of 4.96 alleles per marker. Furthermore, the genotypes studied showed medium genetic diversity. Clustering analysis grouped the 47 genotypes into 5 distinct clusters.

Induction of tetraploidy in Juncus effusus by colchicine

L. Xu, U. Najeeb, M. S. Naeem, M. K. Daud, J. S. Cao, H. J. Gong, W. Q. Shen, W. J. Zhou

Biologia plantarum 54:659-663, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0117-9

Tetraploidy was induced in vitro in mat rush (Juncus effusus L.) cultivar Nonglin-4 by exposure to colchicine (0, 50, 100 and 500 mg dm-3) for 6, 12 and 24 h. Flow cytometric analysis was used to confirm the ploidy level. Anatomical and ultrastructural analyses at cellular and subcellular levels in tetraploid and diploid control plants revealed differences between diploid and tetraploid plants. The leaf epidermis had larger stomata but lower stomatal density in tetraploid plants. In addition, mesophyll cells in tetraploid plants appeared more compact and showed less intercellular spaces along with increased size of vascular...

Tissue- and genotype-specific ascorbate peroxidase expression in sweet potato in response to salt stress

K. H. Lin, S. F. Pu

Biologia plantarum 54:664-670, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0118-8

The aim of this work was to study the short-term effects of salt stress on the antioxidant system and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) expression in two salt sensitive sweet potato cultivars Tainung 57 (TN57) and Tainung 66 (TN66), and one salt-tolerant cultivar Hsusu 18 (HS18). Plants were grown in plastic pots in a greenhouse for 30 d followed by NaCl treatments (0, 150, 300, and 450 mM) for 0, 24 and 48 h in a growth chamber. Young, fully expanded leaves of each treatment and period of time were clipped for enzyme activity measurements. In addition, different tissues (leaves, stems, and roots) were also harvested to analyze the tissue-specific APX...

Brief Communications

Microwave treatment induced mutations and altered gene expression in Vigna aconitifolia

R. K. Jangid, R. Sharma, Y. Sudarsan, S. Eapen, G. Singh, A. K. Purohit

Biologia plantarum 54:703-706, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0124-x

Primary leaf explants of aseptically grown seedlings of moth bean [Vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) Marechal] immersed in water or not were treated in microwave oven (2450 MHz, 800 W cm-2) for 1, 3, 5 and 7 s before culturing. Callusing and shoot emergence from these explants were enhanced up to microwave exposure lasted 5 s while longer treatment of water-immersed explants delayed callusing. One polypeptide (26.6 kD) was up regulated in the callus derived from microwave treatment in water-immersed explants. RAPD analysis detected alteration in DNA sequences due to microwave treatment in water-immersed explants for 7 s. The frequency of...

Isolation and expression of gene encoding leucoanthocyanidin reductase from Diospyros kaki during fruit development

Y. Wang, Q. L. Zhang, Z. R. Luo

Biologia plantarum 54:707-710, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0125-9

Leucoanthocyanidin reductase (LAR) converts leucoanthocyanidin to (+)-catechin, a precursor of proanthocyanidins abundant in Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) fruits. A putative LAR gene (DkLAR) was isolated by rapid amplification of cDNA ends from young fruits. The full-length cDNA of DkLAR gene was 1 356 bp long and encoded an open reading frame of 349 residues. The deduced DkLAR protein was closely related to the homolog in other plant species. The expression of the DkLAR gene in Chinese pollination-constant non-astringent (PCNA) genotype was coincident with the tannin cell development, but was not in...

Production of transgenic Pinus armandii plants harbouring btCryIII(A) gene

X. Z. Liu, Z. Liu, Y. M. Yang, H. Y. Zhang

Biologia plantarum 54:711-714, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0126-8

A synthetic chimeric gene SbtCryIII(A) encoding the insecticidal protein btCryIII(A), was transformed into Pinus armandii embryos and embryogenic calli using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Polymerase chain reaction and genomic DNA Southern blot analysis showed that the SbtCryIII(A) gene was integrated into the genome of transgenic Pinus armandii plants, and Northern blot analysis indicated that the SbtCryIII(A) gene was transcribed.

Analysis of the role of mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum localized small heat shock proteins in tomato

P. C. Nautiyal, M. Shono

Biologia plantarum 54:715-719, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0127-7

This communication examines the role of small heat shock proteins (sHsps) targeted to mitochondria (Mt) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) under heat stress. Genetic response of transgenic and wild type plants varied under optimum, moderately elevated and elevated temperature. In optimum temperature higher biomass was recorded in wild type than the transgenic lines, whereas in moderately elevated temperature biomass increased in Mt-sHsp line. Also, net photosynthetic rate (PN) increased in Mt-sHsp line in both the elevated temperatures, though higher in moderately elevated. Cell membrane...

Expression of hepatitis B small surface antigen in Santalum album embryogenic cell suspension cultures

U. K. S. Shekhawat, T. R. Ganapathi, L. Srinivas

Biologia plantarum 54:720-724, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0128-6

Embryogenic cell suspension cultures of Santalum album were transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens harboring pD35SHER plant expression vector having hepatitis B small surface antigen (HBsAg) with a C-terminal ER retention signal. The transformed colonies were selected on culture medium supplemented with kanamycin and subsequently the transgenic nature of these colonies was confirmed by PCR analysis. The expression of HBsAg was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis and Western blot analysis and the expression was quantified using monoclonal antibody-based ELISA. Cell suspension cultures were initiated from the colony with expression of 11.09...

Isolation and functional analysis of cDNAs similar to Hyp-1 involved in hypericin biosynthesis from Hypericum erectum

M. L. Jin, J. C. Ahn, B. Hwang, H. -S. Park, H. S. Lee, D. -W. Choi

Biologia plantarum 54:725-729, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0129-5

Hypericin, a naphthodianthrone, has been identified as the principal active compound found in St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.). To generate a gene resource for hypericin and other valuable metabolites, we generated expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from H. erectum. Analyses of the ESTs enabled us to select three cDNAs, HeHyp1, HeHyp2, and HeHyp3, evidencing significant sequence homology to Hyp-1 that were involved in hypericin biosynthesis from H. erectum. The deduced amino acid sequence of HeHyp1 cDNA exhibits 95 % identity with Hyp-1. The HeHyp2 and HeHyp3 polypeptides also exhibit 81.1...

Response of grape rootstocks to salinity: changes in root growth, polyamines and abscisic acid

K. K. Upreti, G. S. R. Murti

Biologia plantarum 54:730-734, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0130-z

Effects of salinity (0, 50, 100 and 250 mM NaCl) on growth, root:shoot dry mass ratio, osmotic potential (ψx), electrolyte leakage and contents of Na+ and K+, polyamines and abscisic acid (ABA) were studied in the grape rootstocks Dogridge, 1613, St. George and Salt Creek. In control rootstocks, the root length was highest in Dogridge and contents of K+ and ABA in Salt Creek. Salinity treatments increased root Na+ and decreased K+ content and St. George exhibited highest Na+ content and Na+:K+ ratio. The root:shoot dry mass ratio in all rootstocks...

Effect of photoperiod during growth of Chenopodium rubrum mother plants on properties of offspring

A. Mitrović, J. Bogdanović, Z. Giba, L. Ćulafić

Biologia plantarum 54:735-739, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0131-y

Using in vitro culture, we determined the effect of photoperiod during growth of Chenopodium rubrum mother plants on vegetative and reproductive development of offspring. Photoperiod during flowering induction of mother plants (the first 6 d after the germination) has the key influence on seed germination and offspring growth, while offspring flowering and seed maturation is determined by photoperiod their mothers experienced during, and shortly after, flowering induction. The mechanism can be through changes in seed protein pattern which we found dependent on photoperiod experienced by mother plants.

Effect of gibberellic acid combined with saponin on shoot elongation of Asparagus officinalis

V. Saharan

Biologia plantarum 54:740-742, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0132-x

Effect of gibberellic acid (GA3) combined with saponin on shoot elongation of Asparagus officinalis was evaluated in tissue culture. Addition of saponin to GA3 supplemented Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium showed a dose depended effect on shoot length of Asparagus officinalis. However, increasing concentration of saponin above 3.0 mg dm-3 decreased shoot length and showed yellowing and thinning of shoots. Saponin (3.0 mg dm-3) + GA3 (0.2 mg dm-3) mixture treated by variable duration of sonication (0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 min) were evaluated for shoot elongation...

Hydrogen sulfide alleviated chromium toxicity in wheat

H. Zhang, L. -Y. Hu, P. Li, K. -D. Hu, C. -X. Jiang, J. -P. Luo

Biologia plantarum 54:743-747, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0133-9

Effects of H2S on seed germination under chromium (Cr) stress were investigated in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Under Cr stress, the percentage of germination of wheat seeds decreased, but this decrease could be alleviated by pretreatment with NaHS, an H2S donor, in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, NaHS significantly enhanced the activities of amylase, esterase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and guaiacol peroxidase in Cr-stressed germinating seeds, whereas reduced the Cr-induced increase in lipoxygenase activity and over-production of malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2, and...

Direct plant regeneration from encapsulated nodal segments of Vitex negundo

N. Ahmad, M. Anis

Biologia plantarum 54:748-752, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0134-8

An efficient protocol for encapsulation of nodal segments of Vitex negundo L. has been developed for the production of non-embryogenic synthetic seeds. The encapsulations of nodal segments were significantly affected by the concentrations of sodium alginate and calcium chloride. A 3 % Na2-alginate with 100 mM CaCl2 has been found to be optimum concentration for the production of uniform synthetic seed. For germination, the synseeds were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with kinetin (KIN) and α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) either singly or in various combinations. MS medium containing...

The effect of 5-azacytidine on wheat seedlings responses to NaCl stress

L. Zhong, Y. H. Xu, J. B. Wang

Biologia plantarum 54:753-756, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0135-7

The effect of 5-azacytidine (5-azaC) on the alleviation of damaging effects of NaCl treatment was studied in two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars differing in salt tolerance (salt-tolerant Dekang-961 and sensitive Lumai-15). The plants were pre-treated or not with 50 μM 5-azaC and then subjected to salt stress induced by 100 or 150 mM NaCl. Salinity caused reduction in biomass accumulation and increase in malondialdehyde content in root tissues in both cultivars, but less in pre-treated seedlings. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) in the roots of both cultivars increased during salt stress,...

In vitro regeneration of Solanum nigrum with enhanced solasodine production

M. A. Bhat, A. Mujib, A. Junaid, Mahmooduzzafar

Biologia plantarum 54:757-760, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0136-6

High frequency of shoot formation was achieved from Solanum nigrum L. leaves on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium without any callusing stage. Shoot forming ability was more pronounced on leaves positioned dorsally. For shoot induction, 2.0 mg dm-3 benzylaminopurine and 1.5 mg dm-3 kinetin were observed to be the most effective plant growth regulators (PGRs). The present paper also describes first successful induction of in vitro flowering in S. nigrum. The leaf derived shoots were excised and treated with various root promoting PGRs and 0.25 mg dm-3 indole-3-butyric acid produced maximum number of...

Photosynthesis, respiration and antioxidant enzymes in pepper leaves under drought and heat stresses

W. H. Hu, Y. A. Xiao, J. J. Zeng, X. H. Hu

Biologia plantarum 54:761-765, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0137-5

Leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and activities of antioxidant enzymes were studied in two pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars grown under drought (D) and heat (H), as well as under drought and heat in combination (HD). The drought-tolerant cv. Zhengjiao 13 exhibited greater net photosynthetic rate (PN) and cytochrome respiratory pathway activity (RSHAM), and lower contents of superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide, as compared to the drought-sensitive cv. Longkouzaojiao. The PN and RSHAM decreased and ROS production increased under D and HD in both cultivars. As compared to the Longkouzaojiao,...

Citrate transporters play an important role in regulating aluminum-induced citrate secretion in Glycine max

J. F. You, N. N. Hou, M. Y. Xu, H. M. Zhang, Z. M. Yang

Biologia plantarum 54:766-768, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0138-4

To further understand the process of Al-induced citrate secretion from soybean roots, the effect of protein synthesis inhibitor, anion channel blockers, and citrate carrier inhibitors on Al-induced citrate exudation was investigated in Al-resistant soybean cultivar PI 416937. Citrate exudation from roots increased with the increase of Al concentration from 10 to 50 μM and initiated after 4 h of Al exposure. Protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide (CHM; 25 μM) completely inhibited Al-induced citrate secretion during 12-h exposure, suggesting that novel protein synthesis was necessary in Al-induced citrate efflux. Also both anion channel blocker...

Is heterosis noticeable in the callus response of winter durum wheat F1 hybrids?

A. Ozbay, M. Özgen

Biologia plantarum 54:769-772, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0139-3

The effect of heterosis on callus induction, callus mass and number of regenerated plants from mature embryo cultures of winter durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) hybrids was studied. A total of 14 F1 hybrids and their parents were used for mature embryo culture. The statistical analysis of the results revealed that positive heterosis in callus mass was determined in only one F1 hybrid and in number of regenerated plants in two F1 hybrids. Plants regenerated in vitro were successfully established in soil. Hybrid genotypes may be used to obtain callus and regenerated plants with vigour comparable to their...

Stem respiration of Norway spruce trees under elevated CO2 concentration

M. Acosta, R. Pokorný, D. Janouš, M. V. Marek

Biologia plantarum 54:773-776, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0140-x

Measurements of stem respiration were conducted for a period of four years (1999-2002) in 14-year old Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst) trees exposed to ambient (CA) and elevated CO2 concentration (CE; ambient plus 350 μmol mol-1). Stem respiration measurements of six trees per treatment were carried out 2-3 times per month during the growing season. Stem respiration in CE treatment was higher (up to 16 %) than in CA treatment. Temperature response of stem respiration (Q10) for the whole experimental period ranged between 1.65-2.57 in CA treatment and 2.24-2.56 in CE treatment. The mean stem respiration...

Efficient biolistic transformation of the moss Physcomitrella patens

M. Šmídková, M. Holá, K. J. Angelis

Biologia plantarum 54:777-780, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0141-9

High rates of homologous recombination (HR) in comparison to other plants make the moss Physcomitrella patens an attractive model organism for genetic studies as well as biotechnological applications. We describe a simple protocol for the efficient biolistic transformation of protonemal tissue with minimum tissue handling steps. The transformation efficiency depends on the biolistic conditions. The bombardment of tissue with 1 μm gold particles yielded between 20 and 40 stable transformants per 1 μg of DNA. Transformation with circular plasmids generates higher frequencies of random transgene integration, whereas linear plasmids are more...

Acetylsalicylic acid ameliorates negative effects of NaCl or osmotic stress in Solanum stoloniferum in vitro

F. Daneshmand, M. J. Arvin, K. M. Kalantari

Biologia plantarum 54:781-784, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0142-8

The role of acetylsalicylic acid (0, 1 and 10 μM) pre-treatment in amelioration of salt and osmotic stress in a wild species of potato (Solanum stoloniferum) was investigated. We compared the effects of iso-osmotic concentrations of polyethylene glycol 6000 (15 %) and NaCl (80 mM) on the physiological responses of this species in explants grown in the liquid Murashige and Skoog medium. Both salt and drought reduced shoot growth parameters, photosynthetic pigment contents and increased lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage, H2O2 content and lipoxygenase activity. The effect of NaCl was more severe than that of polyethylene...

The effects of brassinosteroids on photosynthetic parameters in leaves of two field-grown maize inbred lines and their F1 hybrid

M. Kočová, O. Rothová, D. Holá, M. Kvasnica, L. Kohout

Biologia plantarum 54:785-788, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0143-7

The effect of foliar spray with 10-12 M aqueous solutions of 24-epibrassinolide or a synthetic androstane analogue of castasterone on the activity of photosystem (PS) 1, the Hill reaction activity, the content of photosynthetic pigments and the specific leaf mass was examined for three different leaves developed after brassinosteroid (BR) treatment in two inbred lines of field-grown maize and their F1 hybrid. The brassinosteroids significantly affected neither the efficiency of photosynthetic electron transport, nor the content of chlorophylls or carotenoids.

Two enzymatic sources of nitric oxide in different organs of apple plant

H. J. Gao, H. Q. Yang, J. Y. Wang, J. X. Wang

Biologia plantarum 54:789-792, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0144-6

Nitric oxide production, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and mitochondrial nitrite-reducing activities in roots, leaves and stems of different developmental stages were investigated, using potted 3-year-old apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) trees. The arginine-dependent NOS activity is sensitive to NOS inhibitor L-NAME and aminoguanidine (AG), with L-NAME being more effective than AG. Endogenous NO production, NOS and mitochondrial nitrite-reducing activities are predominately presented in young leaves and especially in young white roots and young stems. Root and stem mitochondria can reduce nitrite to nitric oxide at the expense of NADH, however,...

Clonal propagation of Zephyranthes grandiflora using bulbs as explants

M. Gangopadhyay, D. Chakraborty, S. Dewanjee, S. Bhattacharya

Biologia plantarum 54:793-797, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0145-5

Zephyr lily (Zephyranthes grandiflora), an important ornamental plant has been micropropagated in vitro after controlling microbial contamination by a pretreatment with 0.2 % Bavistin and 0.1 % Pantomycin for 4 h before final sterilization with 0.1 % mercuric chloride. In 67 % of the sterile cultures, 11 shoots on average were regenerated directly from basal half of bulb scales in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 3 % sucrose and 2 mg dm-3 benzylaminopurine (BAP). Shoots emerged in bunches on a basal achlorophyllous bulbous part. Combination of 2 mg dm-3 BAP with 1 mg dm-3 gibberellic...

Chromosomal location of 45S rDNA and dfr gene in Citrus sinensis

X. Lu, W. Zhou, F. Gao

Biologia plantarum 54:798-800, 2010 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-010-0146-4

Dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) is a key enzyme in the anthocyanin biosynthesis. In this study, the localization of 45S rDNA and dfr gene (named as CsDFR-bo) of the blood orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck cv. Ruby) on chromosomes was investigated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). A karyotype of C. sinensis was reconstructed based on the length of mitotic metaphase chromosomes. The 45S rDNAs were localized on chromosomes 2p and 7q. The detection ratios of 45S rDNA in the two chromosomes were 69.5 and 77.3 %, respectively. The CsDFR-bo was proved to be a single-copy gene and localized on chromosome...