Peroxidases during the course of callusing and organ differentiation from root explants ofCichorium intybus

A. Bouazza, S. Rambour, T. Gaspar, B. Legrand

Biologia plantarum 35:481-489, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928019

Growth ofCichorium intybus root explants was accompanied by an important increase of fresh mass during the course of callusing and rooting. The absence of glucose in callus forming medium was compensated for by hydrolysis of storage carbohydrates of the tissues, inducing a decrease in dry mass. Protein content showed similar slight variations in explants during the course of budding and callusing, whereas an important increase of protein content was found during the first 48 h in explants cultured on root forming medium.Specific increase of soluble peroxidase activity during bud and root neoformation was found. A peak of peroxidase activity,...

Book review

M. Ondřej

Biologia plantarum 35:490, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928020

In vitro modification of spinach plasmalemma thickness

P. Crespi, M. Crèvecoeur, C. Penel, H. Greppin

Biologia plantarum 35:491, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928021

Floral induction in the long day plant spinach (Spinacia oleracea) has been shown to be accompanied by a thickening of plasmalemma. This change was observed at early evocation, in both shoot apices and leaves, as well as after inducing GA₃ treatment. To get further information on this thickening, plasma membranes from spinach leaves were isolated, in the present study, using aqueous two phase partitioning and the effect of variousin vitro treatments on their thickness was investigated. The average plasmalemma thickness was unaffected by Na⁺ and K⁺ ions. It was increased upon the effect of either Ca²⁺...

Book review

I. Tichá

Biologia plantarum 35:498, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928022

Plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

S. Eapen, L. George, P. S. Rao

Biologia plantarum 35:499-504, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928023

Somatic embryos were induced from immature cotyledons and immature embryonal axis ofArachis hypogaea L. on L-6 basal medium supplemented with NAA, picloram or 2,4-D at 5-50 mg 1^-1. Immature embryonal axis produced a higher number of somatic embryos in comparison with immature cotyledons. The highest number of responding cultures was produced on medium supplemented with NAA (50 mg 1^-1), while the highest average number of somatic embryos per culture was produced on medium with 2,4-D (10 or 20 mg 1^-1) and picloram (30 mg 1^-1) from cotyledons. The somatic embryos developed into plants on basal medium...

Effects of seasons and hormones on pre- and postfertilization barriers of crossability andin vitro hybrid development betweenVigna unguiculata andV. mungo crosses

S. Shrivastava, H. S. Chawla

Biologia plantarum 35:505-512, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928024

Effect of two different seasons and hormones on pre- and postfertilization barriers in crossability were studied inVigna mungo, V. unguiculata and their crosses. Significant differences between the two seasons for pollen fall, pollen germination, tube growth and pod set were observed. In kharif season with an average temperature of 26 to 30 °C and 75 to 85 % humidity all the characters showed higher values than in the spring season with a higher temperature of 32 to 36 °C and low humidity of 40 to 50 %. Application of gibberellic acid (GA) alone and a combination of gibberellic acid, naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and kinetin (KIN) significantly...

Transport of¹⁴C-IAA from leaves and shoots to different fruit parts

M. J. Grochowska, U. Dzieciol

Biologia plantarum 35:513, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928025

Transport of¹⁴C-IAA was studied in apple spurs of a 20-year-old McIntosh with one fruit and one shoot. Water solutions of IAA were applied to intact, pricked or scratched leaf blades, to decapitated shoots or to petioles (leaf-blade removed) at the end of June, July and August.¹⁴C-IAA (in an unknown form) was transported from intact leaves and shoots to pedicel, pericarp and seeds. Radioactivity of the pedicels increased every month while that of seeds reached maximum at the end of July and then markedly decreased in August. Total radioactivity of whole fruit doubled, at least, with every month due to enlargement of the pericarp....

Effect of growth regulators onVicia faba plants irrigated by sea water Leaf area, pigment content and photosynthetic activity

H. S. Aldesuquy, A. M. Gaber

Biologia plantarum 35:519, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928026

The antagonistic effects of some growth regulators [i.e. indol-3-yl-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA₃) or kinetin] on stress imposed by sea water on leaf area, pigment and photosynthetic activity in leaves of broad bean plants at different stages of development were investigated. Seed priming with GA₃ alleviated either partially or completely the effects induced by the two levels of sea water (10 and 25 %) used on leaf area at all experimental stages. However, IAA, GA₃ and kinetin inhibited leaf growth by themselves in almost all measurements. Seed pretreatment with kinetin alleviated the inhibition of...

Book review

N. Wilhelmová

Biologia plantarum 35:528, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928027

Gradient of electrical characteristics along roots of wheat seedlings under oxygen deprivation

E. M. Wiedenroth, J. Černohorská, M. DvoŘák

Biologia plantarum 35:529-536, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928028

The current-response method was used to characterize effect of oxygen deficiency on functional state of membranes along the roots of wheat seedlings. The results show apical parts of older roots being most affected by hypoxia, while the youngest roots behaved as effectively adapted.

Biosynthesis of carthamin in florets and cultured cells ofCarthamus tinctorius

K. Saito, T. Kanehira, M. Horimoto, N. Moritome, A. Komamine

Biologia plantarum 35:537, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928029

Phenylalanine labelled by¹⁴C was administered to the cultured cells and the intact flowers ofCarthamus tinctorius, and the biosynthetic activity of carthamin in these two materials was compared. The cultured cells took up positively the fed substrate, but they could not incorporate the label into carthamin, while incorporation of the radioactivity from phenylalanine into the red pigment occurred in the intact flowers. The activities of polyphenol-oxidizing enzymes were screened in the cell cultures and the intact tissues from the herbal plant. Polyphenol-oxidizing enzymes were operative normally in the mother explant, whereas their...

Compartmentation of ions and organic compounds inSalicornia brachiata Roxb.

M. P. Reddy, S. Sanish, E. R. R. Iyengar

Biologia plantarum 35:547, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928030

The actively growing stems ofSalicomia brachiata (60-d old) were dissected into three major tissue layers: vascular, spongy mesophyll and palisade. Each layer was analysed for chlorophyll, protein, amino acids, and sugar contents and the activities of ATPase and phosphatase (alkaline and acid). The differences in organic compounds and enzyme activities in these different tissues have been correlated with the ion content of the corresponding tissues.

Book review

N. Wilhelmová

Biologia plantarum 35:554, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928031

Counteraction of NaCl with CaCl₂ or KCl on pigment, saccharide and mineral contents in wheat

H. M. Abd El-Samad

Biologia plantarum 35:555-560, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928032

NaCl salinity affected growth, the contents of chlorophyll, carotenoids, saccharides and some minerals (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P) in wheat (Triticum vulgaris L.) plants. Irrigation of soil with CaCl₂ or KCl greatly ameliorated the adverse effects of NaCl salinity. This counteraction was associated with an increase in contents of saccharides, proteins and Ca, Mg and P which might explain their role in osmotic adjustment.

Counteraction of NaCl with NaH₂PO₄ and NaNO₃ on pigment, saccharide and protein contents in broad bean

H. M. Abd el-Samad

Biologia plantarum 35:561-566, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928033

Salinity inhibited growth, and affected the contents of chlorophylls, carotenoids, saccharides, amino acids, proteins, DNA and RNA in broad bean plants. Foliar application of NaH₂PO₄ and NaNO₃ greatly ameliorated the adverse effects of NaCI. This counteraction was associated with an increase in contents of saccharides, proteins, DNA and RNA.

A mathematical model to predict the tissue response to parthenin - An allelochemical

R. K. Kohli, D. Raní, R. C. Verma

Biologia plantarum 35:567, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928034

Parthenin - a sesquiterpene lactone fromParthenium hysterophorus L. is an allelochemical that prevents the germination ofPhaseolus aureus Roxb. cv. ML-5 seeds. The response of the seed has been attributed to the inhibition of the respiratory electron transport ability of its embryo. It has been shown to depend directly not only upon concentration of parthenin, but simultaneously on the duration of exposure of the seeds to the chemical as well. A strong correlation exists between the quantum of the response and the product of the period of exposure and the concentration of parthenin. In order to predict the maximum possible germination...

Physiological responses of mangrove seedling to triacontanol

P. Moorthy, K. Kathiresan

Biologia plantarum 35:577, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928035

In viviparous hypocotyls ofRhizophora apiculata Blume the triacontanol treatment enhanced the growth of root and shoot (number of primary and secondary roots, length of roots, shoot height and biomass) protein and energy contents of leaves and roots,in vivo nitrate reductase activity, contents of chlorophylls and carotenoids in leaves as well as the amount of chlorophylls present in photosystems 1 and 2 and in the light harvesting complex of chloroplasts. These promotory effects were recorded at 40 and 80 mg m^-3 triacontanol, but they decreased with increasing growth regulator concentration.

Effect of cadmium and nickel on mobilisation of food reserves and activities of hydrolytic enzymes in germinating pigeon pea seeds

N. R. Bishnoi, I. S. Sheoran, R. Singh

Biologia plantarum 35:583, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928036

Inclusion of cadmium as cadmium chloride and nickel as nickel chloride in media differentially induced dry matter mobilisation from cotyledons of germinating pigeon pea seeds. Cadmium depressed the activities of total amylase, protease, acid phosphatase and peroxidase in germinating seeds. The activities of these enzymes were stimulated at the lower concentrations of nickel and suppressed at the higher ones. This dual response of hydrolytic enzymes to cadmium and nickel is postulated to account for the promotory and inhibitory effects of these heavy metals on dry matter mobilisation.

Mycological studies on the angiosperm root parasiteCynomorium coccineum L. and two of its halophytic hosts

S. A. Ouf

Biologia plantarum 35:591-602, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928037

The fungal colonization of the angiosperm root parasiteCynomorium coccineum and the halophytic hostsLimonium delicatulum andArthrocnemum glaucum were investigated in a Mediterranean salt marsh in March 1992. The main fungal inhabitants on the leaves or shoot surface of the test plants wereAspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum andCladosporium herbarum. The qualitative analysis of the fungal species associating the parasite, the hosts and the non-infected plants showed similar pattern. However, the total population exhibited quantitative differences coupled with the amount and the chemical composition of the exudates...

Transpiration and dry matter allocation in the angiosperm root parasiteCynomorium coccineum L. and two of its halophytic hosts

G. M. Fahmy

Biologia plantarum 35:603-608, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928038

The angiosperm root parasiteCynomorium coccineum and the halophytic hostsLimonium delicatulum andArthrocnemum glaucum were invesrigated under natural conditions in a Mediterranean salt marsh in March 1992. The diurnal transpiration rate of the parasite was low and parallel to the climatic factors. The non-infected plants showed higher transpiration rates than the parasite and its hosts. Compared to the non-infected plants, it is apparent that the perennial herbL. delicatulum is more sensitive to infection since its reduction in the fresh and dry mass was higher than that found inA. glaucum.

Soluble pathogenesis-related proteins ofCapsicum annuum leaves induced by cucumber mosaic virus infection

M. E. Candela, A. Espín, M. D. Alcázar

Biologia plantarum 35:609, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928039

Eight major pathogenesis related (PR) proteins were found in a soluble extract of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) infectedCapsicum annuum leaves. None of them was present in the soluble extract of sham-inoculated controls. The proteins were detected by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using (2D-PAGE)PhastSystem, native-PAGE in the first dimension and SDS-PAGE in the second. Two major acidic PR-proteins were identified on the basis of their relative molecular mass (M_r), PR1 of 15.3 kD and PR2 of 29 kD. Six proteins were basic and were identified as PRla of 15.9 kD, PRlb of 15.0 kD, PRlc of 15.9 kD, PR2 of 27.0...

Studies on thermoprotection induced by heavy metal ions in spring barley seedlings

V. Repka

Biologia plantarum 35:617, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928040

Barley seedlings (Hordeum vulgare L., cv. Fatran) were pretreated with various concentrations of five heavy metal ions (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn) for 3 d. When the subsequent heat shock was administered for 2 h, the heavy metal ions had thermoprotective effect against the sub-lethal (40 °C) and lethal (45 °C) temperature stresses, which were otherwise lethal to control (water grown) seedlings. The effectiveness of each of the heavy metal ions was different, the most effective being Cu. The level of protection provided by these heavy metal ions was dependent on both the time and the concentration that plants were exposed to them. The greatest differences...

Chemical composition of the cell wall in some green algae species

A. M. Abo-Shady, Y. A. Mohamed, T. Lasheen

Biologia plantarum 35:629-632, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928041

Cell walls of two strains ofChlorella vulgaris (from fresh water, F, and saline water, S) and ofKirchneriella lunaris contained various proportion of saccharides and proteins (highest percentage in dry matter was found inK. lunaris). They differed also in presence of individual monosaccharides (5 inC. vulgaris F, 8 inC. vulgaris S and 6 inK. lunaris) and amino acids (11 in C.vulgaris F, 6 in C.vulgaris S and 7 inK. lunaris). Common substances were rhamnose, cystine, proline, glutamic acid and leucine.

Effect of plant growth regulators on the natural and ethylene induced pigmentation in Kinnow mandarin peels

P. K. Nagar

Biologia plantarum 35:633, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928042

Following harvest, Kinnow mandarin (Citrus nobilis × Citrus deliciosa) fruits were variously treated with gibberellins (GA) and cytokinins. Ethylene caused marked chlorophyll (Chl) degradation and its effect was partially reversed by kinetin and benzylaminopurine (BAP) and to a lesser extent by GA₃ and GA₄₊₇. No appreciable accumulation of carotenoids (Car) occurred in these fruits irrespective of treatment. The loss of Chl during natural maturation was significantly reduced by cytokinins. Treatments with gibberellins alone or in combination with cytokinins were much less effective. The reduced loss of Chl in response to...

Transformation of tobacco and birdsfoot trefoil by lupin leghemoglobin I cDNA clone

D. Staykova-Strnadová, M. Przybylska, J. Vlasák, S. Rakouský, J. Štiller, A. B. Legocki, V. NaŠinec

Biologia plantarum 35:637-640, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928043

The full length cDNA clone of leghemoglobin I gene fromLupinus luteus was placed under dual promoter into the plant expression vector pCB1399 and the resulting vector (pCB1415) was transfered into theAgrobacterium strain LBA4404 (pAL4404). The binary system LBA4404 (pAL4404, pCB1415) was then used for transformation ofNicotiana plumbaginifolia andLotus corniculatus. In both species kanamycin-resistant plants have been selected and regenerated. The synthesis of LbI protein in transformed plants has not been shown.

Response of pigeon pea cultivars to water stress

A. S. Nandwal, S. Bharti, M. S. Kuhad, J. Singh

Biologia plantarum 35:641-644, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928044

Decrease in soil water potential during vegetative and flowering stages of two cultivars of pipeon pea (Cajanus cajari) caused higher decrease in relative water content in cv. ICPL-151 than in cv. H-77-216. Both cultivars showed partial recovery during rehydration. Cv. H-77-216 also accumulated more proline and carbohydrates during stress and showed better drought tolerance than cv. ICPL-151.

In vitro induced androgenesis inMelandrium album

D. Paulíková, J. Vagera

Biologia plantarum 35:645-647, 1993 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02928045

Haploid and dihaploid female and rare dihaploid male plants were produced inMelandrium album throughin vitro induced androgenesis. In the seed progeny obtained from cross-hybridization between dihaploid androgenic males (supermales) and standard females only male plants were observed. The microspores containing Y chromosome gave rise to supermales.