Book review

R. Podlipna

Biologia plantarum 49:332, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0002-0

Somatic embryogenesis in Pinus nigra: embryogenic tissue initiation, maturation and regeneration ability of established cell lines

T. Salajova, J. Salaj

Biologia plantarum 49:333-339, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0003-z

The effect of plant growth regulators (PGR), 6-benzyladenine (BA), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and sugars (sucrose, maltose, glucose, fructose) on the initiation of somatic embryogenesis of Pinus nigra Arn. was investigated. Megagametophytes containing immature zygotic embryos have been used as explants. The experiments were done in the years 2000 and 2001. Higher initiation frequencies were obtained in 2001 when the zygotic embryos showed uniformity, being in the precotyledonary stage of development. Embryogenic tissue initiation occurred on all the media tested, including PGR-free medium. Relatively...

Book review

V. Žárský

Biologia plantarum 49:340, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0004-y

Propagation of Haemaria discolor via in vitro seed germination

Y.-J. Shiau, S. M. Nalawade, C.-N. Hsai, H.-S. Tsay

Biologia plantarum 49:341-346, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0005-x

In vitro propagation protocol for Haemaria discolor (Ker) Lindl. var. dawsoniana by artificial cross-pollination and asymbiotic germination of seeds has been developed. Fruit set (100 %) was obtained when the pollinia and ovules of various aged flowers were used for pollination. In vitro germination of seeds obtained from capsules of various ages was achieved on half-strength Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with 3 % sucrose and 0.85 % agar. The germinated seedlings were cultured on half-strength MS medium with 0.2 % activated charcoal, 8 % banana homogenate, 0.1 mg dm^-3 1-phenyl-3-(1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl)urea...

Changes in protein profiles associated with somatic embryogenesis in peanut

A. Roja Rani, V. D. Reddy, P. Prakash Babu, G. Padmaja

Biologia plantarum 49:347-354, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0006-9

The somatic embryogenesis potential of zygotic embryo axes of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. cv. DRG-12) at different stages of development was evaluated by culturing on MS medium with 18.1 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). A 100 % frequency with 18.3 somatic embryos per explant was observed from 4 mm long immature zygotic embryo axes collected 31 - 40 d after pollination. Medium supplemented with 16.6 μM picloram resulted in slow development of somatic embryos whereas in the presence of 21.5 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), the explants underwent maturation with induction of roots after 30 d. The changes in protein profiles...

Photoperiod affects the growth and development of yam plantlets obtained by in vitro propagation

V. Vaillant, P. Bade, C. Constant

Biologia plantarum 49:355-359, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0007-8

The effects of photoperiod on the development of in vitro grown plantlets of yam (Dioscorea alata L.), were investigated. Plantlets were transplanted into pots, acclimatizated until they reached vegetative stages V₁ (3 leaves) or V₂ (8 leaves), and then grown under 12-h or 16-h photoperiod. The formation and development of underground tubers was only induced under 12-h photoperiod. Tuber initiation was not related to the initial vegetative stage of plants, and the tubers were visible at about 18 - 24 d. On the contrary, a 16-h photoperiod inhibited tuber formation and stimulated vine and leaf growth. The total dry...

Book review

H. Štorchová

Biologia plantarum 49:360, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0008-7

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Pisum sativum in vitro and in vivo

L. Švábová, P. Smýkal, M. Griga, V. Ondřej

Biologia plantarum 49:361-370, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0009-6

Six pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivars (Adept, Komet, Lantra, Olivin, Oskar, Tyrkys) were transformed via Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 with pBIN19 plasmid carrying reporter uidA (β-glucuronidase, GUS, containing potato ST-LS1 intron) gene under the CaMV 35S promoter, and selectable marker gene nptII (neomycin phosphotransferase II) under the nos promoter. Two regeneration systems were used: continual shoot proliferation from axillary buds of cotyledonary node in vitro, and in vivo plant regeneration from imbibed germinating seed with removed testa and one cotyledon. The penetration of Agrobacterium...

Expression of modified 7SL RNA gene in transgenic Solanum tuberosum plants

L. Vrba, J. Matousek

Biologia plantarum 49:371-380, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0010-0

A modified plant 7SL RNA gene from Arabidopsis thaliana designated AHIIA63M was introduced into potato plants via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. No transgenic plants could be obtained using pGPTV-based binary vectors where AHIIA63M gene driven by polIII promoter was located close to the polII promoter of the selection gene. Special binary vectors with matrix attachment region (MAR) elements had to be used for transformation to insulate polII and polIII promoters within T-DNA. The level of AHIIA63M RNA in transgenic plants was lower than the levels of transcripts of transgenes driven by RNA polymerase II. The level of AHIIA63M...

Genome size variation in some representatives of the genus Tripleurospermum

S. Garcia, H. Inceer, T. Garnatje, J. Valles

Biologia plantarum 49:381-387, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0011-z

Genome size has been estimated by flow cytometry in 14 populations belonging to eight taxa (seven species, one of them with two varieties) of the genus Tripleurospermum. 2C nuclear DNA amounts range from 4.87 to 9.22 pg, and nuclear DNA amounts per basic chromosome set from 1.99 to 2.75 pg. Statistically significant differences depending on ploidy level, life cycle or environmental factors such as altitude have been found. Also, genome size is positively correlated with total karyotype length. The presence of rhizome is related to nuclear DNA content in these species.

Book review

L. Burketova

Biologia plantarum 49:388, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0012-y

An amine oxidase in seedlings of Papaver somniferum L.

A. Bilková, L. Bezáková, F. Bilka, M. Pšenák

Biologia plantarum 49:389-394, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0013-x

Amine oxidase (AO) from 4-d-old seedlings of Papaver somniferum L. (Papaveraceae) was purified (58-fold) by using ammonium sulphate precipitation and chromatography on Sephadex G-150 and HA-Ultrogel columns. The most readily oxidized substrate was tyramine and other aromatic amines, while aliphatic amines cadaverine and putrescine were oxidized more slowly. Cu chelating and carbonyl reagents are the most effective inhibitors of poppy amine oxidase. Immunoblotting analysis showed cross reactivity of AO protein from poppy seedlings with polyclonal antisera against AO from pea. Obtained Mr value for AO from poppy (83 kDa) corresponds...

The effects of ozone on growth and stomatal response in the F₂ generation of hybrid poplar (Populus trichocarpa × Populus deltoides)

S. Y. Woo, T. M. Hinckley

Biologia plantarum 49:395-404, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0014-9

Thirty-six F₂ hybrid poplar (Populus trichocarpa × P. deltoides) clones were fumigated with ozone to record its effects on growth, correlate them with stomatal response and screen for ozone sensitivity. Fumigation was applied for 6 to 9 h each day for approximately 3 months at ozone concentrations of 85 to 128 μg g^-1 using open-top chambers. Height, diameter, number of leaves, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, total biomass, biomass components and root/shoot ratios were reduced by ozone stress. Percent of leaf fall in ozone-treated plants was nearly three times higher than in control plants exposed to charcoal-filtered...

Effect of aluminium on endosperm reserve mobilization in germinating rice grains

J.-W. Wang, C. H. Kao

Biologia plantarum 49:405-409, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0015-8

The effect of AlCl₃ on endosperm reserve mobilization of rice grains or dehulled rice grains during germination was investigated. AlCl₃ had no effect on grain fresh and dry masses, protein and starch contents, and α-amylase and protease activities in endosperm of germinating rice grains. However, when dehulled rice grains were treated with AlCl₃, AlCl₃ inhibited the decrease in fresh mass, dry mass, and starch and protein contents, and the increase in α-amylase and protease activities in endosperm. Evidence is provided to show that the hull is a barrier against influx of Al to endosperm.

Book review

N. Cerovska

Biologia plantarum 49:410, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0016-7

Target sites of aluminum phytotoxicity

S. J. Zheng, J. L. Yang

Biologia plantarum 49:321-331, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0001-1

The primary phytotoxic effect of aluminum (Al) is confined to the root apex. It is a matter of debate whether the primary injury of Al toxicity is apoplastic or symplastic. This review paper summarizes our current understanding of the spatial and metabolic sites of Al phytotoxicity. At tissue level, the meristematic, distal transition, and apical elongation zones of the root apex are most sensitive to Al. At cellular and molecular level, many cell components are implicated in Al toxicity including DNA in nucleus, numerous cytoplastic compounds, the plasma membrane, and the cell wall. Although it is difficult to distinguish the primary targets from...

Establishment of callus and cell suspension cultures of Centella asiatica

S. Nath, A. K. Buragohain

Biologia plantarum 49:411-413, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0017-6

Methods for induction of callus and cell suspension cultures have been developed for the medicinally important herb Centella asiatica (L.) Urban. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed the presence of asiaticoside in the in vitro grown leaves, callus and cell suspension cultured cells.

An efficient and rapid in vitro regeneration system for metal resistant cotton

E. Bicakci, A. R. Memon

Biologia plantarum 49:415-417, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0018-5

In this report we describe the most suitable protocol for callus formation and plant regeneration for cotton. We screened 15 cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes for metal resistance and two of them, Nazilli M-503 (M503) Nazilli 143 (N-143) selected as Cd, Cu and Ni resistant. The cotyledonary nodes from these genotypes were the best explants for regeneration of shoots (more than 90 %) and roots (50 to 70 %). Shoot apex also gave good shoot regeneration (more than 90 %) but their root regeneration efficiency was low (35 %). These results show that Murashige and Skoog (MS) media containing 0.44 μM naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 0.98...

Mapping of esterase loci in Aegilops uniaristata and homoeologous group 3 chromosomes of wheat

N. Iqbal, M. Asghar, R. Arshad, A. Hameed

Biologia plantarum 49:419-422, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0019-4

This study was planned to identify the chromosomal location of esterase loci in wheat (Triticum aestivum), in comparison to Aegilops uniaristata, using wheat Ae. uniaristata disomic addition and translocation lines. Two loci (Est-N1 and Est-N8) were identified on 3N chromosome of Ae. uniaristata and their probable homoeoloci were, for the first time, mapped close to three RFLP probes (Xpsr56, Xpsr394, and Xpsr1196) on homoeologous group 3 wheat chromosomes.

Plant regeneration in vitro directly from cotyledon and hypocotyl explants of Perilla frutescens and their morphological aspects

T. Zhang, X. Y. Wang, Z. Y. Cao

Biologia plantarum 49:423-426, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0020-y

A rapid plantlet regeneration system for Perilla frutescens was established from cotyledon and hypocotyl explants. A maximum of 91.06 % cotyledon and 76.4 % hypocotyl explants could directly produce shoots (3.09 ± 0.18 shoots per explants) on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. The optimum hormone combinations were 4.44 μM 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) for cotyledon and 2.22 μM BA + 2.85 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) for hypocotyls. Rooting was induced on half-strength hormone-free MS medium. After transplantation to soil, approximate 80 % of the regenerated plantlets could survive, flower and fruit. Moreover, some morphological abnormalities...

Thidiazuron induced adventitious shoot regeneration in Hyoscyamus niger

S. Uranbey

Biologia plantarum 49:427-430, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0021-x

A high frequency adventitious shoot regeneration protocol was developed for henbane (Hyoscyamus niger L.) using thidiazuron (TDZ). Hypocotyl, cotyledon and stem explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of N⁶-benzylaminopurine and TDZ. MS medium supplemented with 16 μM TDZ was the most effective for providing 100 % regeneration frequency associated with a 19.53 shoots per hypocotyl explant. Plantlets were rooted on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid. High rooting and survival was achieved...

The effect of low temperature on germination of androgenic embryos of Aesculus hippocastanum L.

D. Calic, S. Zdravkovic-Korac, D. Pemac, Lj. Radojevic

Biologia plantarum 49:431-433, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0022-9

Treating androgenic embryos of Aesculus hippocastanum L. with low temperatures (6 °C) improved their germination and regeneration into plantlets. The embryos derived from anther cultures showed better results than those derived from microspore cultures.

Secondary embryogenesis in androgenic embryo cultures of Aesculus hippocastanum L.

D. Calic, S. Zdravkovic-Korac, Lj. Radojevic

Biologia plantarum 49:435-438, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0023-8

Secondary somatic embryos appeared on the cotyledons and radiculi of embryos derived from suspension and anther cultures of Aesculus hippocastanum L. The highest number of secondary somatic embryos formed on a hormone-free medium.

Micropropagation of Lavandula dentata from axillary buds of field-grown adult plants

S. Echeverrigaray, R. Basso, L. B. Andrade

Biologia plantarum 49:439-442, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0024-7

Axillary buds from adult field-grown plants of Lavandula dentata L. were used to evaluate the effect of growth regulators and culture media on the in vitro shoot proliferation and growth. The highest multiplication rate was obtained using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with a combination of 2.2 μM of benzyladenine and 2.5 μM indole-3-butyric acid. The best condition for rooting was MS medium plus 2.5 μM naphthaleneacetic acid. Rooted plantlets were successfully transferred to soil. Short-term culture derived plants (6 month) exhibited a normal development, but a low frequency of not heritable morphological changes...

Effects of L-arginine and L-cysteine on growth, and chlorophyll and mineral contents of shoots of the apple rootstock EM 26 cultured in vitro

T. E. Sotiropoulos, K. N. Dimassi, I. N. Therios

Biologia plantarum 49:443-445, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0025-6

1, 5, or 10 mM arginine and 25, 50, or 100 μM cysteine were added in the Murashige and Skoog medium. By increasing arginine concentration the number of shoots per explant increased. Inclusion of 50 μM cysteine in the medium resulted in maximum number of shoots but it was not significantly different in comparison to 10 mM arginine. The chlorophyll content was significantly increased in explants treated with 10 mM arginine in comparison to the control, 1 mM arginine and 25 μM cysteine. By increasing arginine and cysteine concentrations of the medium, N, K, and Ca contents of explants increased but no significant changes in P, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn,...

Effect of jasmonic acid on endogenous gibberellins and abscisic acid in rice under NaCl stress

H. S. Seo, S. K. Kim, S. W. Jang, Y. S. Choo, E. Y. Sohn, I. J. Lee

Biologia plantarum 49:447-450, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0026-5

Content of endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) increased in rice plants under salt stress. Pre- or post-treatment by jasmonic acid (JA) mostly further increased ABA content. In the presence of salt stress also content of gibberellins (GAs) mostly increased more after treatment by JA. Endogenous content of bioactive GA₁ was higher in post-treatment by JA than in pre-treatment by JA.

Somatic embryogenesis from zygotic embryos of Schisandra chinensis

A. Smiskova, H. Vlasinova, L. Havel

Biologia plantarum 49:451-454, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0027-4

We describe the multi-step regeneration system of medicinal plant Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. The seeds were pre-treated with 0.005 μM thidiazuron. Subsequently the zygotic embryos of the early heart stage were cultured on medium with 50 μM of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and after three weeks the embryogenic calli were transferred to a medium with 10 μM of 2,4-D and 4 μM of 6-benzyladenine and were sub-cultured at the 4-week intervals. Abscisic acid (30 μM) and polyethyleneglycol (3 %) significantly influenced the synchronization of development of the somatic embryos (SEs) to the globular stage. The following...

Seasonal changes of cytokinins in upper and lower leaves of a sugar maple crown

M. A. Held, P. E. Quesnelle, R. J. N. Emery

Biologia plantarum 49:455-458, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0028-3

Although it is well accepted that cytokinins (CKs) regulate processes such as leaf senescence and stomatal conductance, data on CKs in the canopy of mature trees are lacking in the literature. Here we report the first in situ sampling for determination of CKs in mature sugar maple (Acer saccharum) canopy layers. The upper canopy showed a distinct seasonal pattern in total CK content, while the lower canopy remained relatively unchanged.

Gas exchange characteristics and water relations in two cultivars of Hibiscus esculentus under waterlogging

M. Ashraf, M. Arfan

Biologia plantarum 49:459-462, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0029-2

Thirty-day-old plants of two okra cultivars, Sabzpari and Chinese-red, were subjected for 30 d to normal watering or continuous flooding. Continuous flooding did not cause any adverse effect on shoot fresh and dry biomass. Leaf water potential and pressure potential of both cultivars increased significantly due to waterlogging, but there was a slight increase in leaf osmotic potential. Chlorophyll a and b contents decreased significantly and chlorophyll a/b ratio increased. Waterlogging caused a significant reduction in net photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency and intrinsic water use efficiency, but stomatal conductance and...

Production of saponins from Panax ginseng suspension and adventitious root cultures

L. Langhansova, P. Marsik, T. Vanek

Biologia plantarum 49:463-465, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0030-9

Biomass growth and ginsenoside production in cell suspension and adventitious roots of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer cultures cultivated both in Erlenmayer flasks and a 3 dm³ bioreactor were studied. The maximum content of ginsenosides was found in the suspension culture cultivated in the bioreactor (4.34 % dry mass), however the saponin content was limited to two major ginsenosides, Rb₁ and Rg₁. The production of ginsenosides in adventitious roots was lower (1.45 or 1.72 % dry mass), nevertheless, the full range of ginsenosides was detected.

Effects of elevated CO₂ and nitrogen on wheat growth and photosynthesis

M. Pal, L. S. Rao, V. Jain, A. C. Srivastava, R. Pandey, A. Raj, K. P. Singh

Biologia plantarum 49:467-470, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0031-8

The effects of nitrogen [75 and 150 kg (N) ha^-1] and elevated CO₂ on growth, photosynthetic rate, contents of soluble leaf proteins and activities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and nitrate reductase (NR) were studied on wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. HD-2285) grown in open top chambers under either ambient (AC) or elevated (EC) CO₂ concentration (350 ± 50, 600 ± 50 μmol mol^-1) and analyzed at 40, 60 and 90 d after sowing. Plants grown under EC showed greater photosynthetic rate and were taller and attained greater leaf area along with higher total plant...

Changes in key enzymes of viral-RNA biosynthesis in chloroplasts from PVY and TMV infected tobacco plants

M. Šindelářová, L. Šindelář, N. Wilhelmová, D. Procházková

Biologia plantarum 49:471-474, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0032-7

Effects of the infection with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and potato virus Y (PVY) on chloroplasts from susceptible tobacco plants were determined. Changes in ribonucleases (RNases), phosphomonoesterase (PME), phosphodiesterase (PDE), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6P DH), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PG DH), glucokinase (GK), and fructokinase (FK) activities in thylakoid/envelope and stroma fractions were studied. Slight increase in the activities of PME, PDE, G6P DH and 6PG DH of thylakoid/envelope fraction as well as of RNases, PME, PDE, G6P DH, 6PG DH, GK and FK of stroma fraction was found in chloroplasts isolated from leaf tissues infected...

Sucrose accumulation and enzyme activities in callus culture of sugarcane

F. A. Gutierrez-Miceli, M. A. Rodriguez-Mendiola, N. Ochoa-Alejo, R. Mendez-Salas, C. Arias-Castro, L. Dendooven

Biologia plantarum 49:475-479, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-0034-5

The activities of sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), sucrose synthase (SUSY), neutral invertase (NI) and soluble acid invertase (SAI) were measured in callus cultures of four Mexican sugarcane cultivars (Saccharum spp.) with a different capacity to accumulate sucrose in stem parenchyma cells. The results indicated that sucrose accumulation in callus was positively correlated to the activity of SPS and SUSY and negatively to the activity of SAI and NI while SPS explained most of the variation found for sucrose accumulation and NI least.