Book reviews

T. Gichner, Z. Šesták, Helena Zárubová, V. Herout, Ingrid Tichá, O. D. Bykov

Biologia plantarum 28:237-240, 1986 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02894604

The seminal root primordia in barley and the participation of their non-meristematic cells in root construction

Mária Luxová

Biologia plantarum 28:161, 1986 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02894591

In addition to the primary seminal primordium, the so-called secondary seminal root primordia are also initiated in a barley embryo. The primary root primordium is developmentally most advanced. It is formed by root meristem covered with the root cap, and by a histologically determined region with completed cell division. On germination, the restoration of growth processes begins in this non-meristematic region of root primordium by cell elongation, with the exception of the zone adjacent to the scutellar node, the cells of which do not elongate but continue differentiating. In the root primordia initiated later, the zone with completed cell division...

Turion formation and behaviour inSpirodela polyrhiza at two levels of phosphate supply

F. Jungnickel

Biologia plantarum 28:168, 1986 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02894592

The clone SJ ofSpirodela polyrhiza (L.) Schleiden forms turions under various nutritive conditions. As compared to 1500 μmol 1^-1 phosphate (P+), growth and frond yield of mixotropic cultures decreased, when 60 μol 1^-1 phosphate (P-) were available. By contrast, P-conditions increased the number, individual size, dry matter content, and total turion yield (mg turions per ml of the nutrient medium) of P-turions as compared to P+ ones. Germination behaviour of P-turions is characterized by fairly low zero levels in the controls, and by low heterogeneity in individual size as well as in the response patterns concerning...

The effect of pyruvic acid thiosemicarbazone on ornithine carbamoyl transferase of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill

J. Miersch, G. -J. Krauss, K. Grancharov, F. Bublitz, N. Spassovska, E. Golovinsky

Biologia plantarum 28:174-179, 1986 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02894593

The pyruvic acid thiosemicarbazone was found to inhibitin vitro the soluble ornithine carbamoyl transferase as well as the enzyme in a mitochondria-rich cell fraction. For proving the inhibition of ornithine carbamoyl transferase in mitochondria-rich fraction a new method for DEAE-thin-layer chromatography of radiocarbon labelled citrulline and ornithine was used. The mitochondria prepared by discontinuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation are physiologically active and oxidized succinate under state 3 conditions. The respiratory control ratio was determined to 3.3. The results obtained show that this analogue of pyruvic acid is an inhibitor...

Circumnutation oscillations of the hypocotyl and hypocotyl hook formation: A comparison of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.)Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus silvestris L.) seedlings

J. Hřib, Blanka Lánícková

Biologia plantarum 28:180, 1986 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02894594

Circumnutation oscillations of hypocotyls were studied in Norway spruce and Scots pine using time-lapse cinematography. It was found that the circumnutations were specific in species. The analysis of hypocotyl ontogeny (100 h) revealed a different duration of the phases I, II and III of nutation oscillations in the first and second taxon. From the quantitative point of view it can be stated that during the phase I of nutation oscillations the Norway spruce hypocotyls exhibited higher frequency activity (corrections in direction of the hypocotyl by an elongation-controlling system corrected by a feedback mechanism), while in the phase III of nutation...

Adaptive values of genotypes ofArabidopsis thaliana (L.)Heynh. Carrying one mutant allele on different genetic backgrounds

Jiřzna Relichová, J. Michálek

Biologia plantarum 28:187, 1986 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02894595

InArabidopsis thaliana the relative measure of Darwinian fitness - the adaptive values of the two homozygotes related to the reference heterozygous genotype in one locus system were estimated on the original and on three changed genetic backgrounds. It was stated that the change of the genetic background with different gene-modifiers of the pleiotropic effect of a given gene on fitness may be important for the existence of mutations in populations, especially if we take into consideration not only the selection pressure against the homozygotes but also a certain real percentage of outcrossing. Special attention is paid to statistical elaboration...

Effects of inhibitors on carotenoids biosynthesisin vivo inCapsicum annuum fruits

M. E. Candela, M. Lopez, F. Sabater

Biologia plantarum 28:196, 1986 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02894596

Diphenylamine (DPA), 2-hydroxybiphenyl (OHBP) and 9-fluorenone (9-F), known inhibitors of carotenoids (car) synthesis, altered the pattern of incorporation of 2-¹⁴C-mevalonate into car in ripening fruits ofCapsicum annuum. OHBP was the most powerful inhibitor of the whole process of biosynthesis, followed by DPA and 9-F. The most sensitive step was the dehydrogenation of phytofluene. Cyclization of β-carotene and isomerizations yielding the structure of hydroxy-cyclopentane were also affected, although to a lesser extent.

Induction of flowering ofImpatiens balsamina treated with gibberellic acid and resorcinol

Kamlesh Kanwar, K. K. Nanda

Biologia plantarum 28:202, 1986 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02894597

Under strictly non-inductive photoperiods (24-h photoperiods) floral buds were initiated on plants receiving 25 treatments with Reso (resorcinol) or 8 treatments with GA₃ (gibberellic acid) or GA₃ + Reso, while water treated control plants did not flower at all. Although a single treatment of plants with GA₃ or GA₃ + Reso is not adequate to cause induction under LD conditions, its effect is added to the sub-threshold induction caused by one SD (short day: 8-h photoperiod) cycle. The initiation of floral buds was hastened with an increasing number of SD cycles accompanying respective number of treatments,...

Composition of the stigmatic secretions of long and medium styled flowers ofEichhornia

M. K. Kandasamy, M. Vivekanandan

Biologia plantarum 28:207-210, 1986 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02894598

Like wet stigmas, the stigmatic secretions of dry stigmas ofEichhornia also have proteins, sugars, amino acids, phenols and fatty acids. No significant difference could be observed in the composition of stigmatic secretions of long and medium styled flowers except that the components were marginally higher in concentration in the former than the latter. The UV absorption profiles of the stigmatic secretions also showed no difference. Stigma surface esterases could be detected in both the stigmas from a very early stage of development.

The effects of light, cycloheximide and incubation medium on the senescence of detached seagrass leaves

S. Strother, R. Vatta

Biologia plantarum 28:211, 1986 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02894599

The senescence of detached leaves of the Australian seagrassZostera muelleri Irmisch ex Aschers was associated with decreased levels of chlorophyll, soluble protein, and alkaline pyrophosphatase and catalase activities. Senescence was faster in artificial seawater than in distilled water. Irradiance has a retarding effect on senescence while cycloheximide did not retard senescence appreciably. The action of cycloheximide was studied usingCyperus rotundus L.,Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser.,Solandra maxima (Sesśe & Moc.) P. S. Green, andDatura suaveolens Humb. & Bonpl., and the cycloheximide sensitivity...

Auxin activity of 3-hydroxymethyl oxindole and 3-methylene oxindole in oat

R. N. Bhattacharyya, K. K. Chattopadhyay, P. S. Basu

Biologia plantarum 28:219, 1986 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02894600

Two photooxidation products of indol-3-ylacetic acid (IAA), 3-hydroxymethyl oxindole (HMO) and 3-methylene oxindole (Meox) were almost as effective as IAA in stimulation of growth of oat (Avena saliva cv. Kent) coleoptile sections. The IAA failed to give stimulation of growth after pretreatment of the coleoptiles with chemicals inhibiting oxidation of IAA, but the growth promoting effects of HMO or Meox remained unaffected by such pretreatment. After pretreatment with the chemicals which can form an adduct with Meox, the growth promoting activities of IAA, HMO or Meox were lost showing the involvement of the oxindole pathway of IAA metabolism...

Localization of the beet mild yellowing virus inSinapis alba L.

J. Polák, M. Jokeš

Biologia plantarum 28:227, 1986 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02894601

Virus particles of isometric shape with a diameter of 26 nm were found in the sieve tubes and accompanying phloem cells in ultrathin sections prepared from the nerves of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) leaves and roots infected with the beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV). BMYV particles were much more frequent in the roots ofSinapis alba plants. Isometric particles were not found in the leaves and roots of healthy mustard plants.

The uptake of³H-thymidine and its transport inDatura stramonium L.

Marie Sovová, V. Šeda, Věra Spurná

Biologia plantarum 28:230, 1986 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02894602

Exogenous³H-thymidine is absorbed by the primary root of young plants ofDatura stramonium L. and gradually translocated into shoots: following a 3 to 72-h application of³H-thymidine the radioactivity was revealed, using the autoradiographic technique, especially in the region of primary and secondary meristems and in proximity to vascular bundles of the primary root, stem, hypocotyl and leaves. These regions may be considered as the sites of active DNA synthesis. The intensity of incorporation was dependent on the time of plant incubation in labelled thymidine.

CAM-Like carbon pathway in submerged aquatic plants

K. Aulio

Biologia plantarum 28:234-236, 1986 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02894603

CAM-like photosynthesis was found in the isoetid aquatic plantsLittorella uniflora andIsoetes lacustris, but not in the isoetid speciesLobelia dortmanna or in the elodeidElodea canadensis. Of the taxa studied, the first three are known to utilize sediment-borne CO₂, whereasElodea is dependent on bicarbonate.

Symposium announcement

Biologia plantarum 28:240, 1986 | DOI: 10.1007/BF02894605