Book review

M. Barták

Biologia plantarum 38:176, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873841

Book review

F. Šrámek

Biologia plantarum 38:184, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873843

Book review

T. Gichner

Biologia plantarum 38:222, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873849

Book review

T. Gichner

Biologia plantarum 38:252, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873854

Book review

D. Součková

Biologia plantarum 38:260, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873856

Book review

J. Pospiśïlová

Biologia plantarum 38:268, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873858

Germination of dormant seeds ofStylosanthes humilis as related to heavy metal ions

C. A. Delatorre, R. S. Barros

Biologia plantarum 38:269, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873859

Cadmium, copper and zinc ions at high concentrations partially released scarified freshly-harvested seeds ofStylosanthes humilis from physiological dormancy. This response to toxic metals increased along with seed postharvest ageing. Cobalt and silver ions, and abscisic acid impaired metal-promoted germination.

Effect of plant growth regulators and basal media onin vitro shoot proliferation and rooting ofMyrtus communis L.

R. Parra, J. B. Amo-Marco

Biologia plantarum 38:161, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873839

The influence of macronutrients and growth regulators on in vitro shoot proliferation and rooting of an East Spanish population ofMyrtus communis L. were studied. Preincubation of field material on a medium without mineral salts prevented the browning from phenolic exudates. For multiplication, nodal segments of 5 mm fromin vitro produced shoots were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS), Schenk and Hildebrandt (SH) and Heller (H) media (full strength or diluted to 1/2 or 1/4), with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) at concentrations 4.4, 13.3 and 22.2 ΜM or kinetin (K) at concentrations 4.7, 14.0 and 23.2 ΜM. The optimum shoot proliferation...

Micropropagation ofDalbergia sissoo from nodal explants of mature trees

A. Gulati, P. K. Jaiwal

Biologia plantarum 38:169-175, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873840

A method for micropropagation ofDalbergia sissoo has been developed. Single node segments obtained from coppice shoots of a mature tree (20 - 25 year old) produced 3-4 shoots per explant on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 4.4 x 10^-6 M benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 4.4 × 10^-7 M of Β-naphthoxy acetic acid (NOA) (shoot multiplication medium) within 4 weeks. Thein vitro regenerated shoots were 3 - 4 cm in length and provided 2 to 3 culturable nodal segments which on shoot multiplication medium again produced 3-4 shoots. Following this procedure 18-24 shoots were produced from single nodal segment within...

Effect of NaCI on nitrate reductase, glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamate synthase inVigna radiata calli

A. Gulati, P. K. Jaiwal

Biologia plantarum 38:177, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873842

The effect of NaCI stress on the activities of nitrate reductase (NR), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT) in callus lines ofVigna radiata which differ in salt resistance, was studied at weekly intervals upto 28 d of growth. After 28 d, the NaCI resistant callus (selected at 300 mM NaCI) at NaCI concentrations higher than 200 mM maintained higher NR activity than non-selected line. NaCI stress also affects aminating and deaminating activities of GDH. The NADH-GDH activity in the presence of NaCI was higher in the resistant than non-selected line. On the other hand, NAD-GDH activity in both the lines was completely inhibited...

Effect ofCalotropis latex on laticifers differentiation in callus cultures ofCalotropis procera

S. S. Suri, K. G. Ramawat

Biologia plantarum 38:185-190, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873844

Laticifers differentiation in callus cultures of Calotropis procera (Asclepiadaceae) as affected by own latex and its fractions incorporated in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium is described. Callus cultures have been maintained on MS medium with 2.3 ΜM 6-furfurylaminopurine (FAP) and 3.0 ΜM 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA). Marked increase in laticifers differentiation (from 10.1 to 28.4 %) was observed on this medium supplemented with 1 % (v/v) of latex. Latex fractions containing proteins + complex polysaccharides or inorganic salts also increased laticifers differentiation (by 21.8 % and 24.1 %, respectively). Other fractions (free amino...

Effect of wounding on nucleotide pools inBidens pilosa L.

C. Henry-Vian, A. Vian, G. Ledoigt, M. -O. Desbiez

Biologia plantarum 38:191, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873845

Wounding both cotyledons ofBidens pilosa (var.radiatus) induces the inhibition of hypocotyl growth. The wound signal is transmitted very rapidly from cotyledon to hypocotyl and can be visualized by the change in nucleotide pools. First we have shown that the irradiance of the plant can change the ATP level without plant wounding. Therefore, plants were harvested at the start of the light period. Under these conditions, we have determined in hypocotyl the levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), guanosine triphosphate (GTP) and non adenylic triphosphates (NTP), and adenylate energy charge (AEC) after wounding. We have observed a transient...

Effect of air humidity on the development of functional stomatal apparatus

J. PospíšILOVá

Biologia plantarum 38:197, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873846

Phaseolus vulgaris L. seedlings were grown under different air humidities simulating conditions during micropropagation (very high humidity duringin vitro cultivation and low air humidity after transferex vitro). The functional stomatal apparatus developed after a short period of growth at low air humidity at the beginning of plant ontogeny or after transfer from high to low air humidity, but not in plants grown steadily under high air humidity. The ability of stomata to regulate gas exchange was not persistent and disappeared after transfer of plants from low to high humidity.

Effects of ultraviolet-B enhanced radiation and temperature on growth and photochemical activities inVigna unguiculata

N. Nedunchezhian, G. Kulandaivelu

Biologia plantarum 38:205, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873847

Changes in growth characteristics and photochemical activities inVigna unguiculata L. Walp seedlings maintained at constant temperature of 10, 20, 30 and 40 ‡C under control and ultraviolet-B enhanced radiation (UV-B) were investigated. UV-B retarded the shoot elongation and also leaf expansion to a great extent at 30 ‡C but produced only marginal changes at 20 and 40 ‡C. Similar response was also observed with respect to changes in leaf fresh and dry masses and total chlorophyll (Chl) content under these temperatures. At 10 ‡C the total Chl content was 3-fold higher under the treatment than under control conditions....

Dynamics of CO₂ evolution by plants at low pressure

T.P Astafurova, Yu.N Ponomarev, B.G Ageev, V.A Sapozhnikova, T.A Zaitseva, A.P Zotikova

Biologia plantarum 38:215, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873848

Dynamics of CO₂ evolution at low pressure was studied in barley, maize, pea, wheat and pine seedlings using the gas exchange system with laser photoacoustic spectrometer. The CO₂ evolution from plant surfaces to environment increased with decreasing air pressure. Simultaneously the changes in activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase, alcohol-dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase in pea and maize leaves were observed. The response depended on plant species used as well as on air pressure and period of its action

Grain growth in wheat ears cultured in saccharose solution

A. Arora

Biologia plantarum 38:223, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873850

Ears of uniculm wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Gigas) grown in liquid medium for 11d absorbed more solution when the saccharose concentration was 2 % than when it was 10 %. When the ears were grown in 6 % saccharose solution, the rate of uptake from the solution was between that from the 2 and 10 % saccharose medium. Dry mass per grain increased with the saccharose concentration in the medium and the reduced uptake of solution did not decrease the moisture percentage of the grain. The culture of ears decreased pH of the solution with 2 % saccharose more than with 10 %. Addition of 0.5% chloramphenicol to the culture solution had no adverse...

Enzymatic determination of ascorbic acid in leaf cell walls using acidic buffer during infiltration

H. Moldau, I. Bichele, H. Kollist, E. Padu

Biologia plantarum 38:229, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873851

A modification of the procedure of extraction of cell wall solution for enzymatic determination of ascorbic acid and its reduction level in the apoplast of leaf cells is proposed. The modification consists in infiltration of leaves with citric acid/sodium phosphate buffer, pH 3, instead of customarily used neutral solutions. In acidic media autooxidation of ascorbic acid is effectively suppressed, so that infiltration could be performed at laboratory temperatures. Using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and infiltration solutions of pH down to 1.5 it is shown, that at pH 3 the extracted fluid is not contaminated with intracellular substances if appropriate...

Structural and functional alterations in radish plants induced by the phenylurea cytokinin 4-PU-30

E. Z. Stoynova, L. K. Iliev, G. T. Georgiev

Biologia plantarum 38:237, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873852

Single treatment of expanding radish leaves with N₁-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N₂-phenylurea (4-PU-30) lead to the stimulation of root cambial tissue activity and root growth. Leaf thickness, the volume of chlorophyll (Chl) containing cells per unit leaf area, starch content in the chloroplasts, and the Chl content increased simultaneously. These alterations were associated with increased leaf net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance in treated plants.

Ameliorating effect of triacontanol on salt stressedErythrina variegata seedlings. Changes in composition and activities of chloroplasts

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

Biologia plantarum 38:245, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873853

The detrimental effect of NaCl was found at the oxidation site of photosystem 2 (PS2). An impairment of PS2 was caused by damage of the oxygen evolving polypeptides (33, 23 and 20 kDa) of thylakoid membranes as well as by changes in the unsaturated and saturated fatty acids. Application of triacontanol, TRIA (1 mg kg^-1) ameliorated the effect of NaCl and promoted the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids, the rate of¹4CO₂ fixation and the activity of ribulose 1,5-bis-phosphate carboxylase.

Lead uptake, localization and changes in cell ultrastructure ofFunaria hygrometrica protonemata

M. Krzesłowska, A. Woźny

Biologia plantarum 38:253, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873855

The main sites of lead entering the protonemata were spores with broken cell walls and apical cells of protonemata. The lead ions could enter the symplast probably by endocytosis but we can not exclude diffusion as the way of entering. Lead deposits inside a protoplast were observed after 2 h of lead application. After 12 h, Pb deposits were commonly present in all cell structures surrounded by a membrane. Some disturbances in ultrastructure of organelles were found after 8 h. The most frequent were: change of endoplasmatic reticulum configuration from linear to concentric one in many cases surrounding other organelles (e.g. mitochondria) and...

Effects of salinity on uptake and distribution of Na⁺, Cl^- and K⁺ in two wheat cultivars

S. K. Sharma

Biologia plantarum 38:261, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873857

Plants of two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars differing in salt tolerance were grown in sand with nutrient solutions. 35-d-old plants were subjected to 5 levels of salinity created by adding NaCl, CaCl₂ and Na₂SO₄. Growth reduction caused by salinity was accompanied by increased Na⁺ and Cl^- concentrations, Na⁺/K⁺ ratio, and decreased concentration of K⁺. The salt tolerant cv. Kharchia 65 showed better ionic regulation. Salinity up to 15.7 dS m^-1 induced increased uptake of Na⁺ and Cl^- but higher levels of salinity were...

Heavy metal induced changes in the spectral properties ofAnacystis nidulans

A. Gupta, G. S. Singhal

Biologia plantarum 38:275, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873860

Copper caused bleaching of phycocyanin changing the pigment-protein interaction. On cadmium treatment the energy was not efficiently transferred to photosystem (PS) 2 and a spillover of energy occurred to PS1. Thallium treatment induced a general decrease in absorption and fluorescence of chlorophyll and phycobilisomes, whileAnacystis was resistant to lead.

The role of sulphur in detoxication of cadmium in young sugar beet plants

M. Popović, S. KevreŠan, J. Kandrač, J. Nikolić, N. Petrović, R. Kastori

Biologia plantarum 38:281-287, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873861

In young sugar beet plants cadmium suppressed the activity of nitrate reductase, glutamine synthetase and glutamate dehydrogenase, whereas sulphur exhibited a protective role towards activity of these enzymes, except of glutamine synthetase. Protein synthesis was suppressed in the absence of S in nutrient medium; the lowest level was at 10^-3 M Cd²⁺. Chloroplast pigment contents were increased by S while Cd²⁺, even in the lowest concentration, (10^-5 M) showed a repressive effect. The highest concentrations of Cd²⁺ (10-3 M) caused a decrease in dry mass, whereas S induced its increase. Nitrate content...

Effect of irradiation and growth regulators on degradation processes in detached soybean leaves

K. Annamalainathan, G. Pathmanabhan, K. Manian, L. Veerannah

Biologia plantarum 38:289, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873862

Changes in soluble protein profile and chlorophyll (Ch1) content in detached soybean leaves incubated in darkness or light were delayed by application of benzyladenine or indole-3-acetic acid and enhanced by abscisic acid. The degradation in light differed significantly from the degradation in darkness. Chl and proteins were lost at a higher rate in darkness than in light.

Cytokinin profile during early phase of germination of gram seeds after application of benzylaminopurine

S. Saha, P. K. Sircar

Biologia plantarum 38:293, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873863

Qualitative and quantitative differences in cytokinin levels of gram seeds were observed during germination of control and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP; 4.44 x 10^t-5 M) treated seeds. Zeatin riboside (ZR), zeatin (Z), dihydrozeatin (DHZ), isopentenyladenosine (iPA) and isopentenyladenine (iP) were determined using high pressure liquid chromatography. In the control seeds the ZR content increased markedly only after 24 h of germination. In BAP treated seeds, the increase in ZR content was stronger than in control seeds and it persisted during further germination. Z content increased during germination in both control and treated seeds. After...

Embolism vulnerability of an evergreen tree

M. A. Sobrado

Biologia plantarum 38:297, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873864

Leaf bearing stems ofCuratella americana L. were very susceptible to induced cavitation: embolisms began at a pressure of 0.5 MPa (15 %) and at 2.0 MPa most of the conductivity was lost (85 %). Nevertheless, in nature similar leaf specific conductivities, of about 90 x 10^-5 kg m^-2 s^-1 MPa^-1 during both wet and dry seasons indicated absence of drought induced embolisms. Leaf water potentials were neither very negative or considerably different between seasons but stomatal conductance decreased from 236 mmol m^-2 s^-1 measured during wet period to 100 mmol m^-2 s^-1...

In vitro regeneration of Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.)

J. Ďurkovič

Biologia plantarum 38:303-307, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873865

Regenerants were produced from axillary buds, but not from petiole segments, greenwood cuttings and leaf discs. Petiole segments and greenwood cuttings responded by massive callus cell proliferation without adventitious shoot formation. The development of induced buds into shoots occurred on WPM medium containing kinetin. Vigorous shoots larger than 2.0 cm in length were successfully rooted in half strength WPM medium supplemented with 1.0 mg dm^-3 indole-3-butyric acid.

Seed germination and salinity tolerance in plant species growing on saline wastelands

K. Mahmood, K. A. Malik, M. A. K. Lodhi, K. H. Sheikh

Biologia plantarum 38:309, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873866

Seven plant species including three chenopods:Suaeda fruticosa, Kochia indica, Atriplex crassifolia and four grasses:Sporobolus arabicus, Cynodon dactylon, Polypogon monspeliensis, Desmostachya bipinnata, varied greatly in their seed germination and growth responses to soil moisture or salinity. The germination percentage of each species was significantly lower at soil moisture level of 25 % of water holding capacity than at the levels ranging from 50 to 125 %. Increase in salinity resulted in gradual decrease in seed germination of each species. Growth responses of species to salinity varied widely from significant decrease with slight...

Effects of citrinin on pigment, protein and nucleic acid contents in maize seeds

K. K. Sinha, G. Prasad

Biologia plantarum 38:317, 1996 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02873867

Citrinin lowered contents of chlorophyll, carotenoids, proteins and nucleic acids during seed germination of maize cv. Suwan composite. The inhibitory effect was concentration dependent.