Harnessing Senescence Delaying Gases Nitric Oxide and Nitrous Oxide: A Novel Approach to Postharvest Control of Fresh Horticultural Produce

Y.Y. Leshem, R.B.H. Wills

Biologia plantarum 41:1-10, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001779227767

The effects of ethylene on postharvest horticultural produce are a major limiting factor in their orderly and efficient marketing. Nitric oxide and nitrous oxide have recently been shown to inhibit ethylene action and synthesis in higher plants and their potential for commercial use to extend the storage and marketing life of fruits, vegetables and flowers is reviewed.

Callus Induction and Protoplast Isolation from Tissues of Cucumis Sativus L. and C. Melo L. Seedlings

M. Fellner, A. Lebeda

Biologia plantarum 41:11-24, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001791812746

Hypocotyls, cotyledons and true leaves of in vitro seedlings of 10 cucumber and melon genotypes resistant to downy and powdery mildew were cultured on several combinations of initiation and multiplication media to produce callus and subsequently cell suspensions as suitable sources for isolation and culture of protoplasts. Cotyledons of both species were shown to be the most responsive to variation in culture media. However, calli and cell suspensions derived from hypocotyls generally provided higher number of protoplasts by treatment with several enzymatic solutions. The protoplasts formed new cell walls after 12 h of culture in liquid culture medium...

Phenotypes of Tobacco Plants Expressing Genes for the Synthesis of Growth Regulators

E. Hlinková, B. Obert, D. Filipp

Biologia plantarum 41:25-37, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001748129584

The expression of genes for synthesis of auxin (iaaM and iaaH) and cytokinins (ipt) was studied in tobacco plants transformed by two Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains C 58 and LBA 4404. The strain LBA 4404 carried binary vector plasmid pCB 1334 (ipt gene) and plasmid pCB 1349 (iaaM, iaaH and ila genes). Both plasmids carried reportered gene for npt II. Obtained plants expressed incorporated genes. New proteins with molecular masses of about 74, 40, 26, 25, 21 and 17 kDa for wild plasmid pTi C58; 60, 36, 31.5, 27, 26 and 17 kDa for binary vector plasmid pCB 1334 and 74, 49, 36, 31.5, 26 and 25 kDa for binary vector plasmid pCB 1349 were found in the...

Anderson, H.M., Barlow, P.W., Clarkson, D.T., Jackson, M.B., Shewry, P.R. (ed.): Plant Roots - From Cells to Systems

J. Pospíšilová

Biologia plantarum 41:38, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001749524558

Cultivar Identification and Relationships in Pisum Sativum L. Based on RAPD and Isoenzymes

P. Samec, Z. Pošvec, J. Stejskal, V. Našinec, M. Griga

Biologia plantarum 41:39-48, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001700213655

Two approaches were used to detect variability within 23 pea cultivars. Eight random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers produced 163 bands (114 polymorphic), whereas five isoenzyme systems produced 25 bands (20 polymorphic). Both methods provided good results in finger-printing and identified all cultivars tested. Genetic similarity analysis (UPGMA) gave different results from RAPD and isoenzyme data. This could reflect different properties of both marker types. These data were also analysed using the bootstrap method, which supported the idea of one common progenitor of cultivated peas.

Changes in Nuclear Ultrastructure during Callus Development in Tissue Culture of Allium Sativum

H.-L. Wang, Y.-Q. Kang, C.-J. Zhang, Y. Ma, T.-K. Wang

Biologia plantarum 41:49-55, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001752214563

The changes in nuclear ultrastructure during garlic development were investigated. In quiescent cells, the nucleus was oblate and small, full of heterochromatin, and without nucleolus. In the active phase cells, the nucleus moved toward the center of the cell, and was enlarged with many deep fissures, and the heterochromatin in the nucleus turned to be euchromatin. One or more nucleoli were seen in active phase cells. Cell divisions were by means of amitosis. Relatively large nuclei with small distortions were seen in the callus cells. These results suggest that the metabolism of the active cells was higher than that of callus and quiescent cells.

Henry, R.J.: Practical Applications of Plant Molecular Biology

I. Babůrek

Biologia plantarum 41:56, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001701625467

Influence of GA3 and 4-PU-30 on Leaf Protein Composition, Photosynthetic Activity, and Growth of Maize Seedlings

B.J. Stefanov, L.K. Iliev, N.I. Popova

Biologia plantarum 41:57-63, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001756315472

The effects of gibberellic acid (GA3) and N1-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N2 phenylurea (4-PU-30) on maize seedling growth, photosynthetic parameters, and leaf protein composition were investigated. The agents used alone or in combination increased leaf growth and photosynthetic rate of the seedlings. Chlorophyll and total nitrogen contents in leaves as well as the quantity of individual protein fractions increased simultaneously. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of soluble proteins (albumins and globulins) revealed quantitative differences between 4-PU-30-treated plants and the other experimental variants. They differed in polypeptide...

Murray, D.R.: Carbon Dioxide and Plant Responses

J. Pospíšilová

Biologia plantarum 41:64, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001705709537

Stimulation of Antioxidant Enzymes and Lipid Peroxidation by UV-B Irradiation in Thylakoid Membranes of Wheat

S. Dawar, T. Vani, G.S. Singhal

Biologia plantarum 41:65-73, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001760432310

In wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L. cv. 2329) oxidative stress caused by UV-B radiation led to lipid peroxidation of thylakoid membrane; it was expressed in term of malondialdehyde (MDA) formation. The peroxidation of lipids of thylakoid membrane in isolated chloroplasts was prevented when flavonoids quercetin and rutin were supplied into the incubation medium. The activities of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase increased during the first hours of UV-B exposure. A comparative study of UV-B and temperature effects showed different profiles of the antioxidant enzymes and MDA, suggesting that these two stresses have distinct...

Slavík, B. (ed.): Květena České republiky 5

V. Zelený

Biologia plantarum 41:74, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001757826375

Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate Phosphatase Facilitates Dark Reduction of Nitrate: Regulation by Nitrate and Ammonia

D. Pattanayak, S.R. Chatterjee

Biologia plantarum 41:75-84, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001712500451

Leaves of 15 - 30-d-old plants of sunflower and jute were harvested at 10.00 or 23.00 (local time) and measured immediately, or those harvested at 10.00 were incubated for one hour in sunlight either in water or 5 mM methionine sulfoximine (MSX) solution and then for three hours in dark either in water or 15 mM KNO3 solution. Nitrate feeding during dark incubation, in general, increased nitrate reductase (NR) and nitrite reductase (NiR) activities, and NADH and soluble sugar contents. Increase in tissue nitrate concentration in MSX fed but not in control samples suggested reduction of nitrate in dark. NADPH-dependent NR activity increased considerably...

Rootstock-imposed Alterations in Nitrate Reductase and Glutamine Synthetase Activities in Leaves of Rose Plants

H. Agbaria, B. Heuer, N. Zieslin

Biologia plantarum 41:85-91, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001716617289

The activities of nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase in leaves of greenhouse grown rose plants (Rosa hybrida cvs. Ilseta and Mercedes) grafted on various rootstocks were compared with those in leaves of non-grafted, own-root plants of these cultivars. The results obtained showed that the enzymatic activities as well as nitrate content in the leaves were altered by the grafting and by type of the rootstock used. These rootstock-imposed alterations differed between the two cultivars used in the study.

Spector, D.L., Goldman, R., Leindwand, L. (ed.): Cells: A Laboratory Manual. Volume 3: Subcellular Localization of Genes and Their Products

I. Babůrek

Biologia plantarum 41:92, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001709910445

Changes in Growth and Nitrogen Assimilation in Maize Plants Induced by NaCl and Growth Regulators

M.G. Khan, H.S. Srivastava

Biologia plantarum 41:93-99, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001768601359

Experiments were conducted to determine the interactive effects of salinity and certain growth regulators on growth and nitrogen assimilation in maize (Zea mays L. cv. GS-2). 100 mM NaCl inhibited the biomass accumulation, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents in leaves, nitrate content and uptake and nitrate reductase activity. The application of kinetin, ascorbic acid and 10 and 50 µM abscisic acid in the first experiment and 50 and 100 µM abscisic acid in the second experiment induced a substantial increase in the above parameters, the effect was highest with abscisic acid in salinized as well as non-salinized plants.

Dehne, H.-W., Adam, G., Diekmann, M., Frahm, J., Mauler-Machnik, A., Van Halteren, P. (ed.): Diagnosis and Identification of Plant Pathogens

N. Čeřovská

Biologia plantarum 41:100, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001714011354

Birren, B., Green, E.D., Klapholz, S., Myers, R.M., Roskams, J.: Genome Analysis: A Laboratory Manual. Volume 1 Analyzing DNA

K.J. Angelis

Biologia plantarum 41:100, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001761927284

Impacts of Boron Application on Maize Plants Growing under Flooded and Unflooded Conditions

S.A. Sayed

Biologia plantarum 41:101-109, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001720702268

Plants of maize (Zea mays L.) were waterlogged for 7 d and irrigated (root application) or sprayed (foliar application) with 0, 1, 3 and 6 mg dm-3 of boron. The stability of leaf membranes was assessed by determining leakage of electrolytes from leaf discs exposed to heat (51 °C) and dehydration (40 % PEG). Leaf membranes were more stable to heat than to dehydration. The membranes of waterlogged plants were more injured than those of control plants. Waterlogging reduced contents of dry mass, chlorophyll, soluble proteins, total free amino acids and soluble sugars and leaf relative water content (RWC). Application of boron increased the stability of...

Martínez-Zapater, J. M., Salinas, J. (ed.): Arabidopsis Protocols

J. Relichová

Biologia plantarum 41:110, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001766012263

A Cytochemical Study on the Mycorrhizae of Spathoglottis Plicata

S. Senthilkumar, K.V. Krishnamurthy

Biologia plantarum 41:111-119, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001724803177

This paper describes the hitherto unreported aspects of orchid mycorrhizae. The host cells harbour upto 4 generations of fungal pelotons which are formed after each peloton is digested. There are two types of hyphae in a host cell, one forming the pelotons, and the other which lies close to the host cell wall and separated from the former by a callosic wall. The later, called non-pelotonic hyphae form the fresh peloton when the former is digested. Consequently, there are also cytochemical differences between these two types of hyphae.

Effect of Potassium on Potato Microtuber Production in vitro

P.S. Naik, D. Sarkar

Biologia plantarum 41:121-125, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001729020924

The role of potassium nutrition in microtuber production was investigated in two potato cultivars belonging to different maturity groups. Alterations were made in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium to obtain seven concentrations of potassium (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 mM), and their effects were studied on microtuber number, microtuber mass and harvest index. In late cultivar Kufri Sindhuri, an increase in potassium concentration beyond 25 mM decreased the number of microtubers. Whereas, potassium did not show any inhibitory effect on microtuber number in early cultivar Kufri Ashoka. Potassium showed promoting effect on microtuber mass in both the...

Changes in Saccharide Metabolism Induced by Infection of Camellia Sinensis by Exobasidium Vexans

P.K. Pius, K.V. Krishnamurthy, R. Nelson

Biologia plantarum 41:127-132, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001785104994

Changes in saccharide contents of tea leaves during infection with blister blight fungus Exobasidium vexans Masse was studied. Saccharose and glucose contents decreased in the blistered portions when compared to the normal regions until sporulation and remained constant during the entire period of sporulation. Fructose content increased abruptly during the initiation of sporulation and remained constant up to the end of sporulation in both blistered and non-blistered regions. Starch content continuously decreased in the blistered region. Peroxidase activity was highly enhanced during the final stages of leaf senescence. The activity of acid invertase...

Amelioration of NaCl Stress by Triadimefon in Soybean Seedlings

R. Panneerselvam, M. Muthukumarasamy, S.N. Rajan

Biologia plantarum 41:133-137, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001737221832

NaCl stress decreased root growth, shoot length and dry matter production of Glycine max seedlings. It has also caused accumulation of proline and amino acids and decreased protein and nucleic acid contents of the seedlings. Addition of triadimefon to NaCl stressed seedlings partially restored the growth and increased the protein, amino acid, proline and nucleic acid contents of the seedlings. The root biomass production under combination of triadimefon and NaCl was even larger than control. Thus triadimefon can ameliorate the effect of NaCl stress in soybean.

Influence of intra- and inter-specific Interference on Terpene Emission by Pinus Halepensis and Quercus Ilex Seedlings

J. Peñuelas, J. Llusià

Biologia plantarum 41:139-143, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001789222741

Seedlings of two common Mediterranean trees, Pinus halepensis L. and Quercus ilex L., were grown alone and together with seedlings of the same or of the other species in the same pot during one year to test the effects of intra- and inter-specific interference on terpene emission. Light, nutrients and water were amply supplied. There were higher emission rates in P. halepensis than in Q. ilex. The emission increased when the neighbour was a pine and decreased when the neighbour was a holm oak. Volatile organic compound and terpene emission rates followed inverse trends to foliar biomass or growth, which decreased when the neighbour was a pine.

Photoautotrophic in vitro Multiplication of the Orchid Dendrobium under CO₂ Enrichment

A. Mitra, S. Dey, S.K. Sawarkar

Biologia plantarum 41:145-148, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001793306811

An attempt to reduce the production cost on tissue cultured plants, photoautotrophic culture of a high value orchid Dendrobium was established under CO2-enriched conditions. The shoot length and the number of leaves were almost equal in plantlets grown on medium with 2 % sucrose or without sucrose and under normal or enhanced (40 g m-3) CO2 concentration, whereas the fresh and dry masses were higher in cultures grown in sucrose containing media or under CO2 enrichment. Development of roots was observed only on media without sucrose, but CO2 enrichment did not have significant effects on in vitro rootings.

Effect of Substrate Moisture and Potassium on Water Relations and C, N and K Distribution in Vigna Radiata

A.S. Nandwal, A. Hooda, D. Datta

Biologia plantarum 41:149-153, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001745423649

The Vigna radiata L. plants were grown in greenhouse at moisture content of sand (SMC) of 12.0 ± 0.5 %. At flower bud initiation stage, i.e. 45 - 50 d after sowing, the SMC was decreased to 3.5 ± 0.5 %, and the effects of applied potassium (0, 2.56 and 3.84 mmol dm-3) were studied. During water stress, K-fed plants maintained higher leaf water potential and relative water content (RWC) of leaves and nodules and lower osmotic potential as compared to untreated plants. The proline content was higher in nodules than in leaves showing their difference in degree of stress. A partial recovery was found after re-irrigation. When subjected to...

Effect of Cytokinin 4-PU-30 on the Lipid Composition of Water Stressed Bean Plants

A.P. Ivanova, K.L. Stefanov, I.T. Yordanov

Biologia plantarum 41:155-159, 1998 | DOI: 10.1023/A:1001797407720

Fourteen days-old bean plants, grown on sand with Knop's nutrient solution were subjected to water stress (three days without irrigation). The stress led to a decrease in almost all lipid classes except phospholipids in the primary leaves. The content of palmitic acid increased, and that of the linolenic acid decreased. An increase of hexadecenoic acid in phospholipids was also observed. Rewatering for 24 h led to the recovery of the stressed plants including that of the photosynthetic apparatus, but the changes in the lipid composition were insignificant. The spraying of the plants before and after the water stress with 5 × 10-6 M solution of the...