Book reviews

J. Pospíšilová

Biologia plantarum 37:20, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02912993

Expression of several genes encoding chaperone proteins in response to mechanical perturbation inBryonia dioica internodes

J. P. Galaud, G. Barbe, N. Boyer, T. Gaspar

Biologia plantarum 37:1, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02912989

Mechanical stress exerted on youngBryonia dioica internodes which resulted in reduced elongation and increased radial expansion induced a rapid and transient increase in specific mRNAs. Hybridizations were performed using ubiquitin, cyclophilin and heat-shock protein cDNAs as probes on RNA extracted at successive time intervals in control and rubbed internodes. Changes in ubiquitin and cyclophilin were rapidly enhanced after mechanical perturbation. Levels of mRNAs reached a maximum 0.5 h and 1.5 h after rubbing and then decreased. The heat shock protein gene was constitutively expressed; it was however slightly stimulated following the rubbing...

The influence of incorporated bromodeoxyuridine on mutagenicity testing by sister chromatid exchange induction inVicia faba root tip cells

R. Veselská, P. Kuglík, J. Relichová

Biologia plantarum 37:9-14, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02912991

The induction of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) inVicia faba root-tip cells after short-term (2 h) and long-term (24 h) treatments with alkylating agents (N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, ethyl methanesulphonate) and maleic hydrazide was studied. The primary roots were treated with mutagens before or after 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation into DNA and the influence of mutagen application on SCE induction in the cells with non- and BrdU-substituted chromosomal DNA. On the contrary, application of maleic hydrazide after the incorporation of BrdU into DNA strongly increased the rate of SCEs. The lowest limit concentrations of mutagens capable...

Effects of 3-(2-alkoxyphenylcarbamoyloxy)chinuclidium chlorides on repair-deficient strains ofChlamydomonas reinhardtii

E. Miadoková, K. Šepaková, S. Podstavková, D. Vlček

Biologia plantarum 37:15, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02912992

The effect of five 3-(2-alkoxyphenylcarbamoyloxy)chinuclidium chlorides (alkoxy = butoxy-octyloxy) on survival of a wild-type strain and repair-deficient strains ofChlamydomonas reinhardtii was studied. There was a direct relationship with increased toxic effects in the algal strains as a function of the elongation of the alkyl chain of the alkoxy substituents of the phenylcarbamate acid derivatives. Repairdeficient strains were more sensitive than the wild-type strain. The recombination-deficient strain uvs10 expressed the highest sensitivity to the test agents. This suggests that a gene responsible for recombination repair is involved in an...

Temperature shift-induced changes in the antioxidant enzyme system of cyanobacteriumSynechocystis PCC 6803

M. M. El-Sheekh, A. A. Rady

Biologia plantarum 37:21-25, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02912994

The 24 h effect of low (20°C) and high (43°C) temperature on the antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation was investigated in intact cells of the cyanobacteriumSynechocystis PCC 6803 grown at 36°C. At low temperature treated cells, the superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly higher and the protein content lower than in high temperature treated cells. The increase of hydroxyl free radical level and malonyldialdehyde formation, when algal cells were exposed to low temperature, were due to the stimulated production of superoxide radicals O₂ ^- and hydrogen peroxide...

Photosynthesis, lipids and proteins in the cyanobacteriumSynechocystis PCC 6803 as affected by temperature

M. M. El-Sheekh, O. H. Hammouda, H. Kotkat

Biologia plantarum 37:27, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02912995

The cyanobacteriumSynechocystis PCC 6803 was grown photoautotrophically in an inorganic medium at constant growth temperatures of 20, 38 (control) or 43°C for 9 h. The up and down-shift of cultivation temperature decreased the growth as measured by culture absorbance and chlorophylla content. However, high temperature slightly increased the oxygen evolution while temperature lower than control inhibited oxygen evolution during the whole incubation period. The protein synthesis studied by¹⁴C-labeled protein declined under low temperature by about 50%. The fatty acid pattern is characterized as lacking in C₂₀/C₂₂...

Limitations on photosynthesis under environment-simulating culturein vitro

J. Čatský, J. Pospíšilová, J. Solárová, H. Synková, N. Wilhelmová

Biologia plantarum 37:35, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02912996

Limitations on photosynthesis, characterized by leaf CO₂ exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, and thylakoid structure, were studied under environmental conditions simulating culturein vitro. These were simulated by growingPhaseolus vulgaris plants in nutrient solution under high relative humidity of air (>90%), and CO₂ concentrations (c_a) that decreased with the development of photosynthetic activities during plant ontogeny (1200 to 300 mg m^-3). The ontogeny of such model plants was more rapid, primary leaves reached photosynthetic maturity 2 to 3 d earlier and their life span was 7 to 14...

Effects of temperature on growth, morphology, and photosynthesis in wheat

O. H. Sayed

Biologia plantarum 37:49, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02912997

Several morphological characteristics differed when wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Doha 88) was grown under a cool (10 °C), warm (20 °C), and hot (30 °C) regime. Development of leaves was linearly related to shoot meristem temperature, and the time between appearance of successive leaves on the main culm was independent of growth temperature. Area and dry mass of leaves and roots increased exponentially with time, and variations between growth temperature regimes were reduced when plants were compared at a similar developmental age. In isolated thylakoids thermal stability of photosystem 2 and of whole electron transport chain was enhanced...

Effect of form and level of applied nitrogen on nitrogenase and nitrate reductase activities in faba beans

A. M. Abdel Wahab, M. H. Abd-Alla

Biologia plantarum 37:57, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02912998

The effects of nitrogen applied at increasing levels of 0, 4, 8, 16 and 32 mM N (KNO₃ or NH₄Cl) were studied in faba bean (Vicia faba) nodulated byRhizobium leguminosarum bv.viceae RCR lool. Nitrogenase activity was higher at 4 and 8 mM N than the zero N treatment (control), but 16 and 32 mM N significantly reduced the efficiency of nodule functions. Nitrate reductase activities (NRA) of leaves, stems, roots, nodules and nodule fractions (bacteroid and cytosol) were increased with rising the NO₃ ^- or NH₄ ⁺ levels. NRA decreased in the order of nodules>leaves>stems>roots....

Flaveria pringlei (C₃) andFlaveria trinervia (C₄) under NaCl stress

P. Apel, M. Peisker, E. Pfündel, K. Mühle

Biologia plantarum 37:65, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02912999

The C₄ speciesFlaveria trinervia is obviously better adapted to saline environments than the C₃ speciesF. pringlei. Treatment with 100 mM NaCl diminished crop growth rate inF. pringlei by 38% but not inF. trinervia. Under saline conditions, more assimilates were invested in leaf growth inF. trinervia but not inF. pringlei. Electrolyte concentration inF. trinervia in control and salt treated plants is lower than inF. pringlei. Fluorescence data do not indicate a damage of PS 2 charge separation in both species. Whether the C₄ photosynthetic pathway inF. trinervia...

Cu-ions mediated changes in growth, chlorophyll and other ion contents in a Cu-tolerantKoeleria splendens

G. Ouzounidou

Biologia plantarum 37:71, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913000

The effects of Cu²⁺ on growth, chlorophyll and other ion contents ofKoeleria splendens originated from Cu-contaminated soil have been investigated in nutrient solution. The most evident Cu²⁺ effects concern the root growth, especially the root length. Since in plants grown under lower Cu²⁺ concentrations (4 and 8 μM) root elongation, biomass, chlorophyll, Mg²⁺, Fe²⁺, Ca²⁺ and K⁺ content were increased compared with the control, the development of an adaptive mechanism ofK. splendens to Cu²⁺ is suggested. High Cu²⁺ concentration (160 μM)...

Action of selected heavy metal ions on the photosystem 2 activity of the cyanobacteriumSpirulina platensis

S. D. S. Murthy, P. Mohanty

Biologia plantarum 37:79, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913001

Addition of different concentrations of heavy metal ions (Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Pb²⁺) inhibited the photosystem 2 catalyzed electron transport activity (H₂O→p-benzo-quinone) of the cyanobacteriumSpirulina platensis. Hg²⁺ caused the inhibition in electron transport activity in very low concentrations compared to the other metal ions. Hg²⁺ at this low concentration specifically altered the spectral properties of phycocyanin of the phycobilisomes in the intact cells ofSpirulina, whereas other heavy metal ions were ineffective in this sense.

Relationship between plant type and canopy apparent photosynthesis in maize (Zea mays L.)

Qing-cheng Wang, Yu-zhen Niu, Qing-zhang Xu, Zhong-xiao Wang, Xiu-qing Zhang

Biologia plantarum 37:85-91, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913002

Experiments were conducted to study the effect of plant type on canopy photosynthesis under field conditions. A chamber made of aluminium frame covered with clear plastic material was used to estimate canopy CO₂-exchange rates over a land area of 1.33 m². The plant type of maize "Shendan 7" [planophile type, original-type (OT)] was changed to erectophile type [altered-type (AT)] at silking stage. The rates of canopy apparent photosynthesis (CAP) were measured in both types of maize grown at five plant densities during the reproductive phase. It was shown that AT canopies had greater rates (about 17.2%) of CAP than did OT canopies...

Alleviation of cadmium toxicity on maize seedlings by calcium

A. E. El-Enany

Biologia plantarum 37:93-99, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913003

The rate of germination, radicle and plumule length, fresh and dry mass of maize seedlings were increased as Ca²⁺ was added to the nutrient solution, which contained different levels of Cd²⁺, especially at low concentration of Ca²⁺ (5 mM) and high concentrations of Cd²⁺ (1.4 and 1.8 mM). The biosynthesis of pigments, respiration rate and content of soluble saccharides in endosperm were reduced sharply as the concentration of Cd²⁺ in the medium increased. This effects was alleviated by Ca²⁺ addition. Cd²⁺ content in seedlings was increased as the Cd²⁺ concentration...

Changes in nitrogen metabolism enzyme activities ofVicia faba in response to aluminum and cadmium

A. M. Shalaby, S. A. M. Al-Wakeel

Biologia plantarum 37:101, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913004

Nodules of faba bean (Vicia faba L. cv. Giza 3) plants grown in pots containing clay-loam soil for 90 d have an active nitrate reductase (NR), while the leaves did not show detectable activity. Spraying the plant with increasing concentrations of Al³⁺ or Cd²⁺ (0-1000 μM) significantly inhibited the nodules NR activity, the decline being more pronounced in Cd²⁺ treatment. The specific activity of glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were more prominent in the 60- than in 90-d-old plants; GOT was always higher than GPT. Furthermore, GOT was more sensitive to Al³⁺...

Adaptability to drought in sugar beet cultivars

D. Štajner, N. Mimica-Dukić, O. Gasić

Biologia plantarum 37:107, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913005

The effects of NaCl and polyethylene glycol (PEG) on superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (P) activities, lipid peroxidation (LP) and proline content in seeds and leaves of drought tolerant (FC-506 and MS-100) and drought sensitive (MS-612 and MS-13) sugar beet cultivars were examined. After PEG and NaCl treatment in tolerant cultivars both in seeds and leaves SOD activity mainly increased, though P activity increased only in leaves of tolerant cultivars. In drought sensitive cultivars the decrease of SOD and P activity was mostly observed. LP increased in seeds and leaves of all examined cultivars. The proline content increased in the leaves...

Response of nodulating and non-nodulatingPisum sativum L. to nitrate

V. Škrdleta, K. Novák, L. Lisá

Biologia plantarum 37:113, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913006

This study examined whether 'Risnod2' and 'Risnod27' non-nodulating mutants of pea (Pisum sativum L.) provided with increasing concentrations of nitrate could achieve a growth and nitrogen accumulation comparable to their parental N₂-fixing cv. Finale. In the cv. Finale, nodule number, nodule dry mass accumulation, total C₂H₂-reducing activity of nodulated roots (TAR) and estimated N₂ fixation were considerably inhibited at 5.0 and 10.0 mM root medium NO₃ ^- concentrations. In contrast a 0.63 mM level stimulated both the nodule dry mass and TAR. The cv. Finale N₂-fixing...

Effect of native and introduced arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth and nutrient uptake ofLygeum spartum andAnthyllis cytisoides

G. Díaz, M. Honrubia

Biologia plantarum 37:121-129, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913007

The interaction between native and introduced fungi and their effect on plant growth and mineral uptake were studied. The host plants wereLygeum spartum andAnthyllis cytisoides, the introduced fungus wasGlomus fasciculatum. The four soils used were selected from disturbed and contaminated by mining activities areas. Inoculated and uninoculated plants were grown in the unsterilized and sterilized soils (with and withouth native microflora, respectively). Plants inoculated withG. fasciculatum were higher and had higher tissue P concentration than uninoculated plants, especially inA. cytisoides. However, this inoculation...

Survival ofRhizobium leguminosarum biovarviceae subjected to heat, drought and salinity in soil

M. H. Abd-Alla, A. M. Abdel Wahab

Biologia plantarum 37:131-137, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913008

Two strains (RCR 1001 and 1044) and a commercial inoculant (Okadin) ofRhizobium leguminosarum biovarviceae were tested for their ability to survive in autoclaved clay soil for up to four months under heat, salinity and drought stress. Resistance to heat was tested by incubating rhizobia in soil at 27, 37 and 42 °C. Tolerance of rhizobia to salinity was investigated by growing rhizobia in soil salinized with 1 and 2 % NaCl (m/m). Drought resistance was tested by subjecting bacteria to soil moisture contents of 20, 10 and 5%. Strain RCR 1001 was more resistant to heat and nodulated faba bean better than other tested strains. A commercial...

Plastochron index in relation to water stress in cowpea

B. M. Jamadagni, R. B. Patil, S. P. Birari

Biologia plantarum 37:139, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913009

Plastochron index (PI) in two genotypes of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) showed a remarkable sensitivity to water stress. A linear expression PI = 4.6179 + 0.7451 S (r² = 0.93) summarised the degree of sensitivity and predictability of PI to different stress levels (S). PI could be regarded as a stress sensitive trait in cowpea.

Changes in cell membrane permeability and lipid content of wheat root cortex cells induced by NaCl

M. M. F. Mansour

Biologia plantarum 37:143-145, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913010

Wheat seedlings were grown hydroponically in absence and presence of 100 mM NaCl for 7 d. Cell membrane permeability to nonelectrolytes and water was determined by the plasmometric method for individual intact cells. NaCl increased membrane permeability to urea, methylurea and ethylurea and decreased permeability to water. Membrane lipid partiality was decreased by NaCl. The effects of NaCl on cell permeability parallel changes in the lipid composition of the plasma membranes induced by NaCl stress suggesting that nonelectrolyte permeability is a useful tool to probe alterations in the lipid matrix of the membrane.

Effect of DTNB on glutamate dehydrogenase activity in root and shoot extracts of maize seedlings

R. S. Sengar, H. S. Srivastava

Biologia plantarum 37:147, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913011

NADH specific glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity was examined in roots and shoots of maize seedlings grown in half-strength Hoagland's solution containing NH₄NO₃ as sole nitrogen source under irradiance of 60 W m^-2 and temperature of 25±2°C. When 5,5'-dithio-bis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) was supplied to the assay mixture, it inhibited NADH-GDH activity in both roots and shoots, irrespective of whether the enzymes were extracted from light- or dark-treated roots and shoots. In each case the inhibition increased with the increase in DTNB concentration. At the maximum concentration of DTNB used (20 μM)...

Stimulation of growth and nitrate assimilation inLeucaena leucocephala seedlings in response to spermidine supply

S. Pandey, H. S. Srivastava

Biologia plantarum 37:153, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02913012

Supply of 100 μM spermidine (Spd) in the nutrient solution containing 10 mM nitrate as the sole nitrogen source, increased growth of roots and shoots, total nitrogen content andin vivo orin vitro nitrate reductase (NR) activity of leaves of 10-d oldLeucaena leucocephala seedlings. Spd and the cytokinins benzyladenine or kinetin also increased growth, total nitrogen andin vivo NR activity of isolated cotyledons. The synergistic effects of nitrate, kinetin and Spd in increasing NR activity, indicate that the Spd acted at different level than the nitrate or cytokinin.

IARC monorgraphs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans. Volume 59. Hepatitis viruses

T. Gichner

Biologia plantarum 37:8, 1995 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02912990