Bohdan Slavík - 80th Anniversary of Birthday

J. Krekule

Biologia plantarum 48:I-II, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047140.11833.2c

Differences in Anatomical Structure and Lignin Content of Roots of pedunculate Oak and Wild Cherry-Tree Plantlets During Acclimation

A. Soukup, J. Malá, M. Hrubcová, J. Kálal, O. Votrubová, M. Cvikrová

Biologia plantarum 48:481-489, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047141.49470.77

The lignin contents and anatomical structure of roots of wild cherry (Prunus avium L.) and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) plantlets were compared to explain differences in response during transfer from in vitro to ex vitro conditions. Lignification of cell walls increased significantly in both oak and cherry roots during the period of acclimation and finally lignin content of root tissues of in vitro propagated plantlets reached the levels not significantly different from seedlings grown in soil. Later on when secondary tissues appeared, lignified secondary xylem constituted most of the tissues of both species....

Metz, M. (ed.): Bacillus thuringiensis: the Cornerstone of Modern Agriculture. (Published Co-Simultaneously as Journal of New Seeds Vol. 5, No 1 and Nos 2/3, 2003.)

M. Ondřej

Biologia plantarum 48:490, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047187.68884.46

High Frequency Somatic Embryogenesis in Cotton

Y. Aydin, Z. Ipekci, T. Talas-Oğraş, A. Zehir, K. Bajrovic, N. Gozukirmizi

Biologia plantarum 48:491-495, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047142.07987.e1

A highly reproducible system for efficient somatic embryogenesis was developed to regenerate plantlets from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars (Nazilli M-503 and Nazilli 143). Shoot apices, hypocotyls and nodes of 10-d-old seedlings were used as explants. High frequency (100 %) embryogenic calli was initiated from all tested explants on Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) media supplemented with 1 g dm^-3 polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), 1 mg dm^-3 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), 0.5 mg dm^-3 kinetin for Nazilli M-503 and 1 g dm^-3 PVP, 2 mg dm^-3 BAP, 0.5 mg dm^-3 kinetin for Nazilli-143....

Lawton, B.P.: Mints. A Family of Herbs and Ornamentals

F. Šrámek

Biologia plantarum 48:496, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047188.88389.7b

Selection and Characterization of Nickel-Tolerant Tobacco Cells

R. Nakazawa, Y. Kameda, T. Ito, Y. Ogita, R. Michihata, H. Takenaga

Biologia plantarum 48:497-502, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047143.23646.18

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. BY-2) cell lines tolerant to 700 μM Ni in which unselected cells can not grow, were selected. The Ni-tolerant cells were also more tolerant to Co, but not to Cd than unselected cells. Ni concentrations in Ni-tolerant cells were always higher than those in medium. Since buthionine sulfoximine did not affect their Ni-tolerance, it is suggested that phytochelatins are not involved in Ni-tolerance of Ni-tolerant cells. On the other hand, histidine contents in Ni-tolerant and unselected cells, which were treated with Ni, were higher that those treated without Ni, and the degree of the elevation of histidine contents...

Genetic Variability in the Progeny of Androgenic Dihaploid Plants and Selection of High Agronomic Performing Lines in Brassica Juncea

P.K. Agarwal, S.S. Bhojwani

Biologia plantarum 48:503-508, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047144.83261.8e

Androgenic lines of Brassica juncea cv. PR-45 raised by anther culture, were screen for genetic variation. 393 androgenic plants were transferred to pots to study the R₀ generation. These plants showed substantial variation for different characters. Seed progenies of 27 lines of R₀ plants were sown in the field to study R₁ generation. Androgenic plants within lines were significantly homogeneous for the various agronomic characters studied. Two lines were shorter (18 - 20 %) than the control plants, with a remarkable feature of early maturation. Three lines showed 27 - 31 % higher yield than the parent cultivar.

Expression of a Novel Antiporter Gene from Brassica napus Resulted in Enhanced Salt Tolerance in Transgenic Tobacco Plants

J. Wang, K. Zuo, W. Wu, J. Song, X. Sun, J. Lin, X. Li, K. Tang

Biologia plantarum 48:509-515, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047145.18014.a3

Tobacco leaf discs were transformed with a plasmid pBIBnNHX1, containing the selectable marker neomycin phosphotransferase gene (nptII) and Na⁺/H⁺ vacuolar antiporter gene from Brassica napus (BnNHX1), via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Thirty-two independent transgenic plants were regenerated. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot analyses confirmed that the BnNHX1 gene had integrated into plant genome and Northern blot analysis revealed the transgene expression at various levels in transgenic plants. Transgenic plants expressing BnNHX1 had enhanced salt...

Ahmed, F.E. (ed.): Testing of Genetically Modified Organisms in Food

M. Ondřej

Biologia plantarum 48:516, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047189.54667.fc

Semi-Automated Simple Sequence Repeat Analysis Reveals Narrow Genetic Base in Indian Potato Cultivars

V.P. Chimote, S.K. Chakrabarti, D. Pattanayak, P.S. Naik

Biologia plantarum 48:517-522, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047146.69936.ed

A study was conducted to generate fingerprints of thirty-two Indian potato cultivars using capillary electrophoresis based semi-automated simple sequence repeat analysis. Five fluorescent-tagged primer pairs (STPOACUTR, LEGAST1, STPOAC58, STM0030 and STM0031) used in this study yielded 43 alleles at 16 different loci, showing multi-loci resolving character. The estimated similarity between the cultivars was in the range of 0.72 to 0.98 indicating narrow genetic relationship. None of the primer set alone could differentiate all 32 cultivars included in this study. However, two primer sets STM-0031 and STPOAC58 amplifying 12 and 9 polymorphic alleles,...

The Role of Cytokinins and Ethylene in Bean Cotyledon Senescence. The Effect of Free Radicals

N. Wilhelmová, D. Procházková, I. Macháčková, M. Vágner, M. Srbová, J. Wilhelm

Biologia plantarum 48:523-529, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047147.29552.fd

During ageing of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cotyledons in plants with modified life span the time-course of four cytokinins, ethylene, and the end products of free radical attack, lipofuscin-like pigments (LFP), were studied. UV irradiation shortened cotyledon life span, while epicotyl decapitation prolonged it. In controls, LFP increased at the senescence onset but at the end of life span it returned to the initial level. Ethylene increased more than 3-fold at the time of abscission. The content of individual cytokinins (zeatin, zeatin riboside, isopentenyl adenine, isopentenyl adenine riboside) varied differently during ageing but they did...

Koopowitz, H.: Clivias

M. Blažek

Biologia plantarum 48:530, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047190.35161.f2

Purification and Characterization of S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine Nicotinic Acid-N-Methyltransferase from Leaves of Glycine max

X. Chen, A.J. Wood

Biologia plantarum 48:531-535, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047148.20309.88

Trigonelline (TRG), which act as a cell cycle regulator and a compatible solute in response to salinity and water-stress, is the N-methyl conjugate of nicotinic acid the formation of which is catalyzed by S-adenosyl-L-methionine nicotinic acid-N-methyltransferase. The enzyme was purified 2650-fold from soybean (Glycine max L.) leaves with a recovery of 4 %. The purification procedure included ammonium sulfate (45 - 60 %) precipitation, linear gradient DEAE-Sepharose chromatography, adenosine-agarose affinity chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography and gel filtration (Sephacryl-S-200). The purified enzyme preparation showed...

Pandey, A. (ed.): Concise Encyclopedia of Bioresource Technology

J. Čatský

Biologia plantarum 48:536, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047191.74103.79

Comparison of Two Methods for Preparing Mitochondria from Tomato Leaves to Study the Ascorbate-Glutathione Cycle Activity

E. Kuźniak, M. Skłodowska

Biologia plantarum 48:537-542, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047149.57946.a5

Mitochondria were purified from tomato leaves by a differential centrifugation method and a Percoll density-gradient method. A comparative study on the ascorbate-glutathione cycle activity revealed that there was no difference in the specific activity of the antioxidative enzymes and ascorbate and glutathione concentrations between mitochondria prepared by these two methods. However, the contents of dehydroascorbic acid and oxidised glutathione in Percoll-separated organelles were 260 and 210 %, respectively, of those found in mitochondria purified by the differential centrifugation method.

Combined Effects of CO₂ and O₃ on Antioxidative and Photoprotective Defense Systems in Needles of Ponderosa Pine

M. Tausz, D.M. Olszyk, S. Monschein, D.T. Tingey

Biologia plantarum 48:543-548, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047150.82053.e9

Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.) seedlings were exposed to near ambient or elevated CO₂ (average concentrations during the last growing season 446 versus 699 μmol mol^-1), combined with low or elevated O₃ for three seasons. Ozone exposure during the last growing season (accumulated dose above threshold 0.06 μmol mol^-1) was 0.05 versus 26.13 μmol mol^-1 h. Needles of the youngest age class were harvested after the dormancy period. Ozone exposure decreased needle contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and ascorbate, and resulted...

The Influence of Radiation Quality on the in vitro Rooting and Nutrient Concentrations of Peach Rootstock

C. Antonopoulou, K. Dimassi, I. Therios, C. Chatzissavvidis

Biologia plantarum 48:549-553, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047151.26284.5f

The effect of radiation quality (350 - 740 nm) and darkness (D) on in vitro rooting, and chemical composition of the peach rootstock GF 677 was studied. Shoot explants were exposed for four weeks to cool white (control) (W), red (R), blue (B), green (G) or yellow (Y) radiation from fluorescent tubes. Some of the explants were kept in D during the rooting stage and others were maintained only for the first 2- or 4-d under R, B, G, Y or D, and subsequently were transferred to W. W was the most effective radiation source for adventitious root formation of GF 677 explants. Rooting was inhibited in those plants that remained in continuous D, and...

Antioxidant Enzyme Responses to NaCl Stress in Cassia angustifolia

S. Agarwal, V. Pandey

Biologia plantarum 48:555-560, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047152.07878.e7

Seeds of Cassia angustifolia Vahl. were subjected to 0, 20, 50, 100 mM NaCl for 7 d in order to study the effect of salt stress on growth parameters, endogenous Na⁺ and Cl^- concentrations, antioxidant system, lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide, and proline contents. Salinity affected all of the considered parameters and caused a great reduction in plant biomass. The root and shoot length, fresh and dry mass and germination percentage were inhibited by NaCl treatments. These changes were associated with an increase in the Na⁺ and Cl^- contents in the seedlings and increased activities of superoxide...

Response to Chilling of Zea mays, Tripsacum dactyloides and their Hybrid

J.R. Jatimliansky, M.D. García, M.C. Molina

Biologia plantarum 48:561-567, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047153.23537.26

Maize (Zea mays ssp. mays) and eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) are known for their susceptibility to chilling injuries. Their hybrid (Z. mays × T. dactyloides) showed higher tolerance to low temperatures (-2 °C) in the field than its parents. Exposure to 5 °C for 2 or 3 d reduced the variable to maximal chlorophyll fluorescence ratio (F_V/F_M), an indicator of the maximum photochemical efficiency of the photosystem 2, and the variable to minimal fluorescence ratio (F_V/F₀) more in maize and eastern gamagrass than in hybrid plants. Chlorophyll contents for rewarming plants...

Calcium Ameliorates Effects of Lead in Protonema of Funaria hygrometrica Hedw.

M. Krzesłowska, A. Woźny, J. Konieczna-Koperska

Biologia plantarum 48:569-574, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047154.16119.32

Two-days-old in vitro grown protonemata of Funaria hygrometrica Hedw. were treated with a mixture PbCl₂ (4 μM Pb²⁺) and CaCl₂ (16 μM Ca²⁺) (Ca+Pb) for 48 h. The results were compared with the control: distilled water (H₂O) and the solution of PbCl₂ (4 μM Pb²⁺) (Pb). Protonemata treated with Ca+Pb were longer and contained more cells than those treated with Pb. Moreover, a lower number of cells showed apical cell deformations typical for lead toxicity: swollen tips and wall thickenings at the apex. If deformations were present they were not as extended...

Effects of NaCl and Mycorrhizal Fungi on Antioxidative Enzymes in Soybean

M. Ghorbanli, H. Ebrahimzadeh, M. Sharifi

Biologia plantarum 48:575-581, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047157.49910.69

The effects of different concentrations of NaCl on the activities of antioxidative enzymes in the shoots and roots of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr cv. Pershing) inoculated or not with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus etunicatum Becker & Gerdemann, were studied. Furthermore, the effect of salt acclimated mycorrhizal fungi on the antioxidative enzymes in soybean plants grown under salt stress (100 mM NaCl) was investigated. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) were increased in the shoots of both mycorrhizal (M) and nonmycorrhizal (NM) plants grown under NaCl salinity. Salinity increased...

Screening Antimicrobial Activities of Basic Protein Fractions from Dry and Germinated Wheat Seeds

T. Talas-Oğraş

Biologia plantarum 48:583-588, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047155.53756.63

Two small cationic peptide fractions (5 kDa) were isolated from dry and germinated seeds of wheat, named WAP and GWAP, respectively. The antifungal and antibacterial activities of the peptides were analyzed using disk diffusion and turbidity measurement assays. The peptides in vitro exhibited effective antifungal activity against four plant pathogenic fungi at minimum concentration of 15 μg(protein) cm^-3. Their antimicrobial activity was negatively affected by the presence of 5 mM CaCl₂. The peptides were less effective against Gram-negative bacterium Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora, but they demonstrated...

Micropropagation of a Local Olive Cultivar for Germplasm Preservation

M. Zacchini, M. De Agazio

Biologia plantarum 48:589-592, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047156.57328.27

In vitro shoot culture was applied to an Italian local cultivar Nebbiara of olive (Olea europaea L.) to preserve its endangered germplasm. This cultivar showed a notable difficulty for the in vitro establishment due to heavy pathogen contamination. Mercury chloride and sodium hypochloride in the sterilisation step and antibiotics in culture media allowed to overcome the problem. Proliferation of shoot apical bud on olive culture medium with 36 g dm^-3 mannitol and 4.56 μM zeatin appeared very satisfactory. All the explants tested rooted during a subculture (1 month) preceeded by a 5-d long dark pre-treatment.

Effect of Ethylene and its Antagonist 1-MCP on the Senescence of Detached Leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana

V.S. Alexieva, I.G. Sergiev, D.A. Todorova, E.N. Karanov, A.R. Smith, M.A. Hall

Biologia plantarum 48:593-595, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047162.32603.d0

1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) applied alone did not influence significantly the chlorophyll and carotenoid content of the older leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh., but retarded the senescence of the younger ones (6^th and 7^th leaf nodes). However, 1-MCP effectively blocks the ethylene induced senescence of excised rosette leaves. The preliminary application of 1-MCP (3 h in advance to the treatment by Ethrel) almost totally eliminated the ethylene action. Similar trend was also observed after simultaneous application of Ethrel and 1-MCP, and the effects of both treatments on the chlorophyll and carotenoid...

Responses of Camellia sinensis to Drought and Rehydration

H. Upadhyaya, S. K. Panda

Biologia plantarum 48:597-600, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047158.53482.37

The effects of drought and rehydration on tea seedlings were significant. After five days of drought imposition the contents of chlorophylls, carotenoids, ascorbate and glutathione, and activities of guaiacol peroxidase and glutathione reductase decreased. Simultaneously, contents of proline, H₂O₂ and superoxide anion, lipid peroxidation and activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase increased. These parameters recovered to different degrees during subsequent rehydration.

Seed Storage Proteins in Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae Species

R. Vladova, V. Tsanev, K. Petcolicheva

Biologia plantarum 48:601-603, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047159.91119.c5

Electrophoretic analyses of non-reduced and reduced seed storage proteins from Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae species and cultivars were performed. High molecular disulfide bonded complexes between intermediary subunits of 11S globulins previously detected in Capsicum annuum cultivars, were found in Solanum melongena cultivars as well. The data obtained might be used for further elucidation of peculiarities of the 11S globulins in dicotyledonous plants.

Cadmium Toxicity: The effect on Macro- and Micro-Nutrient Contents in Soybean Seedlings

G. Dražić, N. Mihailović, Z. Stojanović

Biologia plantarum 48:605-607, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047160.79306.b7

The effect of Cd (10, 100, and 200 μM) on tissue contents of macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) and micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn) was investigated in hydroponically grown soybean (Glycine max) seedlings. Concentration changes of analysed elements observed against increasing Cd accumulation indicated that acute Cd-phytotoxic effect monitored through chlorophyll content was not a consequence of nutrient deficiency.

Growth Performance of Cuttings Raised from in vitro and in vivo Propagated Stock Plants of Rosa damascena Mill.

P.K. Pati, O. Prakash, M. Sharma, A. Sood, P.S. Ahuja

Biologia plantarum 48:609-611, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047161.16944.b3

Comparative studies on rooting and growth performance of cuttings raised from in vitro and in vivo grown plants of Rosa damascena are described. Cuttings were treated with different auxins and upon transfer to soil their growth performance was recorded. Overall, the auxin treated cuttings of in vitro raised plants responded better than the cuttings of in vivo raised plants. Optimal response for percentage of rooting, root number, root length and bottom breaks was observed at 100 mg dm^-3 IBA. The cuttings derived from in vitro raised plants showed a significantly better response for percent rooting,...

Effect of NaCl on Biomass and Contents of Sugars, Proline and Proteins in Seedlings and Leaf Explants of Nicotiana tabacum Grown in vitro

V. Niknam, M. Bagherzadeh, H. Ebrahimzadeh, A. Sokhansanj

Biologia plantarum 48:613-615, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047163.70240.69

Effects of NaCl on growth in vitro and contents of sugars, free proline and proteins in the seedlings and leaf explants of Nicotiana tabacum cv. Virginia were investigated. The fresh and dry mass of the seedlings decreased under salinity. These growth parameters in leaf explants decreased at 50 mM NaCl and increased up to 150 mM NaCl and then decreased at higher level of salinity. Free proline content in both seedlings and leaf explants increased and polysaccharide content decreased continuously with increasing of NaCl concentration. Reducing sugars, oligosaccharides, soluble sugars and total sugars contents in both seedlings and leaf...

Effects of Boron on Growth, and Chlorophyll and Mineral Contents of Shoots of the Apple Rootstock MM 106 cultured in vitro

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

Biologia plantarum 48:617-619, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047169.13304.67

The in vitro cultures of apple rootstock MM 106 produced the highest fresh mass (FM) when 0.1 mM B was included in the culture medium. By increasing B concentration of the culture medium from 0.1 to 6.0 mM, FM and contents of B, P, Ca, and Mg in explants increased, whereas K, Fe, Mn, and Zn contents decreased. SPAD units of leaves characterizing chlorophyll contents declined as B concentration of the culture medium increased from 0.1 to 6.0 mM.

In vitro Growth and Shoot Multiplication of Achras zapota in a Controlled Carbon Dioxide Environment

N. Dave, S.D. Purohit

Biologia plantarum 48:621-624, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047164.06779.27

The culture vessels with multiplying shoots of Achras zapota L. on Schenk and Hildebrandt (SH) medium containing 8.88 μM 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) with or without sucrose were kept under varied CO₂ concentrations ranging from 0.6 to 40.0 g m^-3 using different concentrations of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃), sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃), potassium bicarbonate (KHCO₃), and potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) in small acrylic chambers. Complete absence of carbon source caused death of shoots within 20 d. Under elevated concentrations of CO₂ (10.0 and 40.0 g...

Comparative Performance of Micropropagated and Seed-Grown Tomato Plants

P. Bhatia, N. Ashwath

Biologia plantarum 48:625-628, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047165.52040.d0

Morphological, physiological, fruit yield and quality related traits were compared between the seed-grown and tissue-cultured plants of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cv. Red Coat in a greenhouse. No significant differences were observed for any of the traits studied except for the number of leaves and branches, which were higher in the seed-grown plants than in tissue-cultured plants at the later stages of growth. No phenotypic abnormality of the tissue-cultured plants was observed suggesting that genetic fidelity of tissue cultured plants can be maintained if appropriate plant growth regulators are used with fewer member of subcultures...

In vitro Propagation of the Peach Rootstock: The Effect of Different Carbon Sources and Types of Sealing Material on Rooting

S. Fotopoulos, T.E. Sotiropoulos

Biologia plantarum 48:629-631, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047166.26010.ef

The in vitro cultures of the PR 204/84 peach rootstock (Prunus persica×P. amygdalus) produced the higher rooting percentage, mean root number, mean root length, fresh, and dry mass of roots when grown on media containing 88 mM sucrose or 88 mM glucose. Parafilm, rubber and aluminum foil as sealing materials were not significantly different in terms of rooting percentage, fresh, and dry mass of roots after 24 d in culture. The use of cotton as sealing material induced lower root number per shoot, length of roots, fresh, and dry mass of roots than the rest treatments.

Micropropagation of Endangered Species Daphne cneorum

J. Malá, V. Bylinský

Biologia plantarum 48:633-636, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047167.18592.f7

A new protocol for micropropagation of endangered Daphne cneorum through multiple shoot formation has been developed. Two different types of explants (dormant apical buds and in vitro seed-derived young seedlings) from plants in two different localities were used for the initiation of multiple shoots on agar woody plant medium (WPM) with 0.2 mg dm^-3 benzylaminopurine (BAP), 0.1 mg dm^-3β-indolebutyric acid (IBA), 200 mg dm^-3 glutamine, and 200 mg dm^-3 casein hydrolysate. From 10 seeds only one germinated and the multi-apex culture bearing 12 shoots sprouted out from in vitro seed-derived...

The Effect of Various Lipids on Flowering of Pharbitis nil in in vitro Culture

E.G. Groenewald, A.J. Van Der Westhuizen

Biologia plantarum 48:637-639, 2004 | DOI: 10.1023/B:BIOP.0000047168.78207.21

The effect of applied arachidonic acid, prostaglandin (PGE₁) and various sterols and combinations of arachidonic acid + sterols, on flowering of Pharbitis nil were ascertained by using a tissue culture technique. It was found that arachidonic acid, PGE₁ stigmasterol, testosterone, cholesterol, stigmasterol + arachidonic acid, β-sitosterol + arachidonic acid and cholesterol + arachidonic acid all caused earlier flowering. Four inhibitors of prostaglandin biosynthesis (gentisic acid, acetylsalicylic acid, salicylic acid and oleic acid), inhibited flowering completely. The results confirm that the compounds tested could...