Role of phytohormones in organogenic ability of elm multiplicated shoots

J. Mala, A. Gaudinova, P. Dobrev, J. Eder, M. Cvikrova

Biologia plantarum 50:8-14, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0068-8

The study presents the comparative analyses of endogenous contents of auxin (IAA), cytokinins (CKs), polyamines (PAs), and phenolic acids (PhAs) in apical and basal parts of elm multiplicated shoots with regard to the organogenic potential. The shoot-forming capacity was higher in the apical part than in the basal part. However, the timing of root formation was in the apical type of explant significantly delayed (compared with the organogenic potential of basal part). Significantly higher contents of free bases, ribosides and ribotides of isopentenyl adenine, zeatin and dihydrozeatin that were found in the apical segments, might be considered as the...

Evaluation of heterologous promoters in transgenic Populus tremula × P. alba plants

C. Studart-Guimaraes, C. Lacorte, A. C. M. Brasileiro

Biologia plantarum 50:15-20, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0069-7

The pattern and expression level of β-glucuronidase (gus) reporter gene regulated by six heterologous promoters were studied in transgenic Populus tremula × P. alba plants obtained by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Binary vector constructs used contained the following promoter sequences: the CaMV35S from cauliflower mosaic virus; its duplicated version fused to the enhancer sequence from alfalfa mosaic virus; CsVMV from cassava vein mosaic virus; ubiquitin 3 from Arabidopsis thaliana (UBQ3); S-adenosyl-L-methionine synthetase (Sam-s) from soybean; and the rolA from Agrobacterium rhizogenes. Histochemical...

Extent of ipt gene expression and resulting amount of cytokinins affect activities of carboxylation enzymes in transgenic plants

J. Kveton

Biologia plantarum 50:21-30, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0070-1

Three types of transgenic plants of Solanum tuberosum cvs. Kamyk and Oreb, and Nicotiana tabacum cvs. Maryland Mammoth and Trapezond were selected according to intensity of introduced ipt gene expression and resulting amount of synthesised cytokinins (CKs). In comparison with controls, original transgenic regenerants grown in vitro showed a massive increase of CK contents, in tobacco by 379 % and in potato by 159 % (MAS). Potato grown in soil from tubers of transgenic plants demonstrated a moderate increase (44 %) of CK contents (MOD). Transgenic tobacco grown from seeds in vitro did not show any significant change...

Cytokinin-induced activity of antioxidant enzymes in transgenic Pssu-ipt tobacco during plant ontogeny

H. Synková, Š. Semorádová, R. Schnablová, E. Witters, M. Hušák, R. Valcke

Biologia plantarum 50:31-41, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0071-0

Cytokinin (CK) content and activities of several antioxidant enzymes were examined during plant ontogeny with the aim to elucidate their role in delayed senescence of transgenic Pssu-ipt tobacco. Control Nicotiana tabacum L. (cv. Petit Havana SR1) and transgenic tobacco with the ipt gene under the control of the promoter of small subunit of Rubisco (Pssu-ipt) were both grown either as grafts on control rootstocks or as rooted plants. Both control plant types showed a decline in total content of CKs with proceeding plant senescence. Contrary to this both transgenic plant types exhibited at least ten times higher content of...

Modifications of the activity of nitrate reductase from cucumber roots

M. Reda, G. Klobus

Biologia plantarum 50:42-47, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0072-z

The regulatory properties of NADH-dependent nitrate reductase (NR) in desalted root extracts from hydroponically grown cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings were examined. The lowest activity of NR was detected in extracts incubated with Mg²⁺ and ATP. An inhibitory effect of Mg-ATP was cancelled in the presence of staurosporine (the protein kinase inhibitor) and completely reversed after addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) as well as AMP into reaction mixture. Reactivation of enzyme due to AMP presence, contrary to the chelator-dependent NR activation, was sensitive to microcystin LR (the protein phosphatase inhibitor)....

Chalcone synthase homologues from Humulus lupulus: some enzymatic properties and expression

P. Novak, K. Krofta, J. Matousek

Biologia plantarum 50:48-54, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0073-y

The enzymatic properties of four chalcone synthase homologues CHS_H1, VPS, CHS 2 and CHS 4 from Humulus lupulus L. were investigated after heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. It was found that both VPS and CHS_H1 can utilize isovaleryl-CoA and isobutyryl-CoA as substrates producing compounds with positions in thin layer chromatography characteristic for phloroisovalerophenone and phloroisobutyrophenone. These reactions are accompanied by the formation of associated byproducts. The formation of naringenin chalcone can be catalyzed primarily by CHS_H1. Comparatively the ability of VPS to perform chalcone synthase reaction is very...

The effect of soil drought and rehydration on growth and antioxidative activity in flag leaves of triticale

R. Baczek-Kwinta, W. Filek, S. Grzesiak, T. Hura

Biologia plantarum 50:55-60, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0074-x

Changes in the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase, together with growth parameters were investigated in flag leaves of four winter triticale cultivars. Water stress was applied during shooting (D_s) or heading (D_h) stage. Dry matter of the main shoot and tillers was similarly restricted by both drought periods. The length of the main shoot was more constrained by D_s, in contrast to the number of tillers, restricted strongly by D_h. The resumption of growth after rehydration was clearer in cvs. Bogo and Tewo, and hence these two cultivars were considered more drought-resistant than Presto and Ugo....

Antioxidant and anatomical responses in shoot culture of the apple rootstock MM 106 treated with NaCl, KCl, mannitol or sorbitol

A. N. Molassiotis, T. Sotiropoulos, G. Tanou, G. Kofidis, G. Diamantidis, E. Therios

Biologia plantarum 50:61-68, 2006

To determine whether the major influence of high salinity is caused by the osmotic component or by salinity-induced specific ion toxicity, we compared the effects of mannitol, sorbitol, NaCl and KCl (all in concentratuions corresponded to osmotic potential -1.0 MPa) on the antioxidant and anatomical responses of the apple rootstock MM 106 explants grown in the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. All the compounds had a significant influence on explant's mineral composition and reduced the leaf water content, whereas mannitol and salts decreased chlorophyll (Chl) content and increased proline content. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and non-enzymatic...

The effect of elevated CO₂ concentration on leaf chlorophyll and nitrogen contents in rice during post-flowering phases

M. Moynul Haque, A. Hamid, M. Khanam, D. K. Biswas, M. A. Karim, Q. A. Khaliq, M. A. Hossain, D. C. Uprety

Biologia plantarum 50:69-73, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0076-8

The effect of elevated CO₂ concentration (CE) on leaf chlorophyll (Chl) and nitrogen (N) contents and photosynthetic rate (P_N) was evaluated during the post-flowering stages of rice grown at CE (570 ± 50 µmol mol^-1) in open top chamber (OTC), at ambient CO₂ concentration (∼ 365 µmol mol^-1) in OTC and at open field. Thirty-five day old seedlings were transplanted in OTCs or in field and allowed to grow till maturity. Chl and N contents were highest at the time of flowering and thereafter it started to decline. The rate of decline in Chl and N contents was faster in plants...

Water transport in maize roots under the influence of mercuric chloride and water stress: a role of water channels

I. F. Ionenko, A. V. Anisimov, F. G. Karimova

Biologia plantarum 50:74-80, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0077-7

The influence of inhibitor of water channels, HgCl₂, on water diffusion in maize (Zea mays L.) seedling roots was investigated with the pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method. Blocking of water channels decreased the water permeability of cell membranes by 1.5 - 2 times. This effect of HgCl₂ was exhibited only in the roots of seedlings grown in a nutrient solution containing Ca²⁺ and was reversed with Hg-scavenging agent β-mercaptoethanol. Subsequent incubation of Ca²⁺-deficient roots in the nutrient solution with Ca²⁺ recovered the sensitivity to HgCl₂. The water...

Polypeptide markers for low temperature stress during seed germination in sunflower

A. Kumar, S. C. Bhatla

Biologia plantarum 50:81-86, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0078-6

Sunflower seeds behaved as chilling and freezing sensitive and also exhibited acclimation under low seed moisture content (< 1 %). At high seed moisture content (approx. 22 %) they tolerated chilling stress but failed to acclimate under freezing temperatures. Pre-imbibitional chilling (5 °C) or freezing (-5 or -10 °C) stress significantly enhanced total soluble protein (TSP) content. Chilling treatment after imbibition (in contrast to pre-imbibition) enhanced germination and this was accompanied by increase in 30, 24 and 21.9 kDa TSPs content (3 d after germination). Freezing at -5 and -10 °C suppressed seed germination and increased content of...

Rapid and simple method for Al-toxicity analysis in emerging barley roots during germination

L. Tamás, S. Budíková, M. Šimonovičová, J. Huttová, B. Široká, I. Mistrík

Biologia plantarum 50:87-93, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0079-5

The results demonstrate the benefits of using filter-paper-based system for cultivation the germinating barley seeds for Al toxicity or Al tolerance analyses. Due to the high affinity of filter paper to Al monomeric forms, milimolar Al concentrations were required to cause similar Al toxicity symptoms of roots as micromolar Al concentrations in hydroponics: 1 mM Al had no effects on the emerging barley roots, 2 mM Al was moderately toxic but roots showed good recovery, 4 mM Al was highly toxic and 8 mM Al even lethal. Screening of eight barley cultivars revealed different rank of their tolerance to Al. The root growth inhibition positively correlated...

Early defence responses induced by two distinct elicitors derived from a Botrytis cinerea in grapevine leaves and cell suspensions

V. Repka

Biologia plantarum 50:94-106, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0080-z

Two elicitors, termed herein as the botrycin and the cinerein, have been isolated from the crude mycelial cell wall and from culture filtrate preparations, respectively, of a fungal necrotrophic pathogen Botrytis cinerea (Pers. et Fries). In grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Limberger) both elicitors caused the formation of necrotic lesions that mimic a typical hypersensitive response and apoptosis-related events including protoplast condensation and DNA laddering. Infiltration of minute amounts of the respective elicitors into leaves stimulated a rapid transcriptional activation of genes encoding enzymes of the phenylpropanoid...

Book Review

Z. Sestak

Biologia plantarum 50:159-160, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0095-5

Book Review

V. Hejnak

Biologia plantarum 50:160, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0096-4

Plant telomere-binding proteins

M. Kuchar

Biologia plantarum 50:1-7, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0067-9

Telomere-binding proteins have recently been recognised not only as necessary building blocks of telomere structure, but namely as components which are of central importance to telomere metabolism being involved in regulation of telomere length as well as in protective (capping) function of telomeres. Although the knowledge on plant telomeric DNA-binding proteins lags behind that in human and yeast, recent data show both analogies and plant-specific features in the composition and interactions of telomeric proteins. This review focuses primarily on proteins with known amino acid sequence. These can be classified into following groups: 1) the...

Efficient and repetitive production of leaf-derived somatic embryos of Oncidium

Y. J. Su, J. T. Chen, W. C. Chang

Biologia plantarum 50:107-110, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0081-y

Oncidium cultivars gave different embryogenic responses of leaf explants when affected by auxins (2,4-D, IAA, IBA and NAA), cytokinins (2iP, BA, kinetin, TDZ and zeatin), sucrose, NaH₂PO₄, casein hydrolysate, peptone, and glutamine. The best embryogenic responses of cv. Sweet Sugar were at 20 g dm^-3 sucrose, 85 mg dm^-3 NaH₂PO₄ and 3 mg dm^-3 kinetin, respectively. The development of somatic embryos on leaf explants of cv. Sweet Sugar was delayed for about 10 - 20 d in comparison with cv. Gower Ramsey. On growth regulator-free medium, about 40 % of leaf derived embryos...

Assessment of genetic diversity in Coscinium fenestratum

S. Narasimhan, P. Padmesh, G. M. Nair

Biologia plantarum 50:111-113, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0082-x

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to assess the genetic diversity of 14 individuals belonging to 7 populations of Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr. (Menispermaceae). 18 decamer primers used for the analysis generated 99 scorable bands of which 79 were found to be polymorphic. Coefficient of similarity ranged from 0.6604 to 0.9809. Variation within population was slightly higher than between populations. Similarity between individuals within and between populations was found. Dendrogram was obtained by using unwieghed pair-group method analysis (UPGMA). Distinct accession also exhibited higher percentage of...

Effects of medium composition and culture duration on in vitro morphogenesis of sweet potato

L. Chen, A. Bhagsari, J. Carter

Biologia plantarum 50:114-117, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0083-9

In vitro morphogenesis of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) shoot explants after cultures in callus initiation medium (CIM) with two sucrose contents and plant regeneration medium (PRM) with three growth regulator combinations for different durations was studied. After 4 weeks, explants on 5 % sucrose CIM had significantly more shoots but similar or lower root fresh mass and callus fresh mass than those on 3 % sucrose CIM subsequent to transfer for 6 weeks on all three PRM. Cultures transferred to growth regulator-free PRM after 4 and 12 weeks on 5 % sucrose CIM formed plants through organogenesis and embryogenesis, respectively. Embryogenic...

In vitro propagation of Cassia angustifolia through leaflet and cotyledon derived calli

V. Agrawal, P. R. Sardar

Biologia plantarum 50:118-122, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0084-8

High efficiency shoot regeneration was achieved through leaflet and cotyledon derived calli in Cassia angustifolia - an important medicinal plant. Dark brown compact callus was induced at the cut ends of the explants on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium augmented with 1 µM N⁶-benzyladenine (BA) + 1 µM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Such callus pieces on transfer to cytokinins (BA or kinetin) supplemented medium differentiated shoots within 10 - 15 d. Of the two cytokinins, 5 µM BA was optimum for eliciting morphogenic response in 83.33 and 70.83 % cultures with an average of 4.16 ± 0.47 and 3.70 ±...

In vitro organogenesis and plant formation in cucumber

N. Selvaraj, A. Vasudevan, M. Manickavasagam, A. Ganapathi

Biologia plantarum 50:123-126, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0085-7

In vitro organogenesis was achieved from callus derived from hypocotyl explants of Cucumis sativus L. cv. Poinsett 76. Calli were induced from hypocotyl explants excised from 7-d-old seedlings grown on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 87.64 µM sucrose, 0.8 % agar, 3.62 µM 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid and 2.22 µM 6-benzyladenine (BA). Regeneration of adventitious buds from callus (25 shoots explant^-1) was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 8.88 µM BA, 2.5 µM zeatin and 10 % coconut water after two subcultures in the same medium at 30-d interval. Gibberellic acid (1.75 µM)...

Evaluation of genetic relationship in Typhonium species through random amplified polymorphic DNA markers

G. R. Rout

Biologia plantarum 50:127-130, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0086-6

Studies were undertaken to identify genetic relationships in three species of Typhonium and to evaluate the genetic variance within populations of Typhonium trilobatum, Typhonium roxburghii and Typhonium flagelliforme by using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. A total of 193 distinct DNA fragments ranging from 0.2 to 3.2 kb, were amplified using 22 selected random decamer primers. The cluster analysis indicated that the three species of Typhonium formed two clusters: the first one consisted of T. trilobatum and T. roxburghii, the second one was represented by T. flagelliforme. A maximum similarity...

Production of human lactoferrin in transgenic cell suspension cultures of sweet potato

S. R. Min, J. W. Woo, W. J. Jeong, S. K. Han, Y. B. Lee, J. R. Liu

Biologia plantarum 50:131-134, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0087-5

Shoot apical meristem-derived calli were transformed with a hLF cDNA in an attempt to produce human lactoferrin (hLF) in transgenic cell suspension cultures of sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.]. Calli were bombarded with tungsten particles coated with the binary vector pLSM1 containing a hLF cDNA under the control of the 35S promoter and the neomycin phosphotransferase gene as a selection marker. Calli were then transferred to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 4.52 µM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 100 mg dm^-3 kanamycin. Kanamycin-resistant calli were selected at four-week intervals and subcultured....

Changes in protein profile of pigeonpea genotypes in response to NaCl and boron stress

S. K. Bishnoi, B. Kumar, C. Rani, K. S. Datta, P. Kumari, I. S. Sheoran, R. Angrish

Biologia plantarum 50:135-137, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0088-4

Two pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] genotypes, a salt tolerant Manak and a salt sensitive ICPL 88039 were subjected to stress treatment of 3 mM boron, 60 mM NaCl and boron + NaCl at the seedling stage. Radicle and plumule proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Boron treatment increased 28.3 kDa proteins in plumule and 38.3 and 51.9 kDa proteins in radicle of Manak, however, there was no specific protein in ICPL 88039 either in plumule or in radicle. In NaCl treatment 95.6 kDa proteins appeared in plumule and 67.5 kDa proteins in radicle of Manak. Conversely content of some proteins decreased by boron treatment alone or in combination with...

Effects of drought stress on photosynthetic gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and stem diameter of soybean plants

Y. Ohashi, N. Nakayama, H. Saneoka, K. Fujita

Biologia plantarum 50:138-141, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0089-3

Changes in plant growth, photosynthetic gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and stem diameter of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] plants under drought stress were studied. Total plant dry mass was reduced by 30 % compared to well-watered control plants. Leaf water potential was slightly decreased by water stress. Water stress induced daytime shrinkage and reduced night-time expansion of stem. Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were significantly declined by water stress, while the intercellular CO₂ concentration was changed only slightly at the initiation of stress treatment. The maximum photochemical...

Secretion of a chitinase-like protein in embryogenic suspension cultures of Dactylis glomerata L.

M. I. Tchorbadjieva, I. Y. Pantchev

Biologia plantarum 50:142-145, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0090-x

A chitinase-like 32 kDa acidic protein with a potential chitinase activity has been identified in the medium of embryogenic suspension cultures of Dactylis glomerata L. using an antiserum raised against endochitinase EP3 from Daucus carota L. The presence of this protein discriminates between Dactylis glomerata L. embryogenic and nonembryogenic suspension cultures and thus could be possibly used as a marker for embryogenic potential.

Radiation as a tool to remove selective marker genes from transgenic soybean plants

M. L. Tinoco, G. R. Vianna, S. Abud, P. I. M. Souza, E. L. Rech, F. J. L. Aragao

Biologia plantarum 50:146-148, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0091-9

The present study evaluated the use of γ-radiation to physically remove selective marker genes previously introduced into the soybean genome. Homozygous seeds from a transgenic soybean line carrying the gus and ahas transgenes were irradiated with γ-rays. Six plants presenting a deleted gus gene were analyzed by Southern blot to confirm removal of both ahas and gus genes. Line 1A presented an absence of the gus gene cassette and presence of the ahas gene cassette.

Effects of arsenic on phosphorus content in different organs and chlorophyll fluorescence in primary leaves of soybean

D. B. Milivojevic, B. R. Nikolic, G. Drinic

Biologia plantarum 50:149-151, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0092-8

The effect of arsenic (32 - 96 µM) on the phosphorus content and Chl fluorescence was studied in soybean (Glycine max Merril) grown in the nutrient solution with and without phosphorus. The increased concentration of As led to the decrease in P content in plant organs. Parameters of Chl fluorescence of soybean leaves in the presence of these As concentrations did not show significant changes.

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in diploid and triploid Arachis pintoi

H. Y. Rey, L. A. Mroginski

Biologia plantarum 50:152-155, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0093-7

Plants of two cytotypes (2n=2x=20, and 2n=3x=30) of pinto peanut (Arachis pintoi Krapov. & W.C. Gregory) were regenerated through somatic embryogenesis. Embryogenic calli were induced from shoot tips or immature leaves dissected from in vitro growing plants. In the case of the diploid peanut the best somatic embryogenesis was achieved when shoot tips were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 10 mg dm^-3 Picloram (PIC) and 0.1 mg dm^-3 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) or when explants from immature leaves were cultured on MS + 10 mg dm^-3 PIC + 0.01 mg dm^-3 BAP. In the...

Allelopathic effects of sunflower extracts on mustard seed germination and seedling growth

R. Bogatek, A. Gniazdowska, W. Zakrzewska, K. Oracz, S. W. Gawronski

Biologia plantarum 50:156-158, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0094-6

The allelopathic potential of two cultivars of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Lech and Ogrodowy was studied. Leaf aqueous extracts of sunflower at 2.5, 5, and 10 % (m/v) concentrations were applied to determine their effect on mustard (Sinapis alba) seed germination and seedlings growth under laboratory conditions. Increasing concentration of aqueous extracts of sunflower inhibited seed germination, up to almost complete failure of germination, observed in the presence of 10 % extract from sunflower cv. Ogrodowy. The decrease in germinability was well correlated with increased membrane deterioration, assayed as electrical conductivity...