Rooting of Eucalyptus globulus shoots was influenced by the concentration of the indole butyric acid (IBA) and NH₄ ⁺ in the root-induction medium. Optimum plantlet vigor and survival were achieved using low concentrations (1 - 2.5 μM) of IBA and when NH₄NO₃ was removed. Removal of NH₄ ⁺ also had a significant effect on medium pH, its presence caused a decrease in pH as the culture period proceeded. When different nitrate compounds (excluding NH₄NO₃) were used as the nitrogen source, the medium pH was more stable and this was associated with higher root production. The higher root production, in association with appropriate IBA concentrations, produced plantlets with higher survival and better growth on transfer to soil.

Experiments were conducted under field conditions to assess the growth, physiological and biochemical responses of wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.) to supplemental UV-B radiation (7.1 kJ m^-2) and enhanced ozone (0.07 μmol mol^-1) separately and in combination. Enhanced UV-B radiation and O₃ reduced biomass, yield, photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll, carotenoid and ascorbic acid contents and catalase activity, whereas increased total phenol content and peroxidase activity. Contents of flavonoids increased due to UV-B treatment. The interactive effects were, however, less than additive.

Rhododendron shoot regeneration was accomplished using either flower explants (each consisting of ovary with pedicel) of Rhododendron cvs. Nova Zembla and Irina or leaves isolated from in vitro grown Rhododendron catawbiense Michx. Multiple shoot tip clumps were obtained on Anderson's medium containing 0.5 to 1.5 mg dm^-3 thidiazuron (TDZ) in combination with 12 to 15 mg dm^-3 N⁶-[2-isopentenyl]adenine (2iP) and 1 to 3 mg dm^-3 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). After 16 weeks on the regeneration media, explants with shoot tip clumps were transferred for shoot elongation to Anderson's medium with 3 mg dm^-3 2iP. Two months later, the shoots have reached 5 to 40 mm in length and were fit for subcultivation.

Activities of ammonium assimilating enzymes glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamate synthase (GOGAT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) as well as the amino acid content were higher in nodules compared to roots. Their activities increased at 40 and 60 d after sowing, with a peak at 90 d, a time of maximum nitrogenase activity. The GS/GOGAT ratio had a positive correlation with the amino acid content in nodules. Higher activities of AST than ALT may be due to lower glutamine and higher asparagine content in xylem. The data indicated that glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthase function as the main route for the assimilation of fixed N, while NADH-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase may function at higher NH₄ ⁺ concentration in young and senescing nodules. Enzyme activities in lentil roots reflected a capacity to assimilate N for making the amino acids they may need for both growth and export to upper parts of the plant.

Freshly-added iron only slightly affected the growth of iron-sufficient cells of the green alga Scenedesmus incrassatulus Bohl, strain R-83, but induced accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) in cells and excretion of MDA in the medium. These effects were stronger in response to Fe²⁺ as compared to Fe³⁺, but Fe³⁺ induced the release of more iron-binding chelators from these cells than Fe²⁺. Fe³⁺ added either in dark or in light induced release of equal concentrations of iron-complexing agents, part of which formed strong chelates with iron in the medium. Exogenously added hydrogen peroxide inhibited iron-induced release of chelators but the effect was removed by addition of the hydroxyl radical scavenger dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Malondialdehyde also inhibited the release of chelators. Release of chelators was induced in the absence of iron salts by photoexcited chlorophyll (Chl). The Chl-induced release was efficiently inhibited by singlet oxygen scavengers such as dimethylfuran, β-carotene, sodium azide and vitamin B₆, and stimulated in D₂O or DMSO. Exogenously added catalase inhibited the release more than added superoxide dismutase. The Fe³-induced release of chelators was also inhibited by scavengers of singlet oxygen, but was not affected by sodium azide and by ethanol. Hence both H₂O₂ and singlet oxygen were involved in induction of chelator release in the absence of iron in light. The induction of chelator release by iron in dark involved H₂O₂, but not singlet oxygen.

Two wheat cultivars, Hesheng 2 with large grain yield potential, and Shannong 505 with small grain yield potential, were used for investigating the responses of postanthesis photosynthesis, dry matter accumulation and allocation, and grain growth to source/sink changes. At the initial grain filling stage, Hesheng 2 was sensitive to source reduction leading to an increase of net photosynthetic rate (P_N) by 10 %; however, little effect of sink reduction was observed. In Shannong 505, P_N was obviously decreased by sink reduction, and changed a little after source reduction. At the rapid grain filling stage, Hesheng 2 was sensitive to both source and sink reduction resulting in the increase or decrease of P_N, respectively. However, the response of P_N in Shannong 505 to source/sink changes was similar to that in previous stage. The dry matter (DM) accumulation after anthesis was affected by source/sink changes. In Hesheng 2, the decrease in DM was higher than that in Shannong 505 after the same source or sink reduction. Source reduction caused a decrease in the allocation of DM to the sheath and stem, and promoted the reserve photosynthates to be reallocated to grain. The effect of sink reduction was contrary. The grain mass of Hesheng 2 was more easily regulated by source/sink changes than that of Shannong 505. The effect source/sink changes on grain mass was in order upper > basal > middle spikelets on spike. As for a spikelet, the effect was found mainly in the grain mass at the positions 3 and 4 from base of the spikelet.

A spontaneously embryogenic cell line of the coumarin producing angelica [Angelica archangelica (L.) subsp. archangelica] was established via callus formation from seedlings grown from sterilized seeds on semi-solid, hormone-free modified B5 medium. The cell line has retained its embryogenic capacity for 5 years. The highest coumarin production for the cell line after 3 weeks of cultivation was achieved in the medium containing 3.0 % sucrose. Jasmonic acid had no statistically significant effect on the biomass or coumarin production. The established embryogenic cell line could be stored using cryopreservation. Plantlets grown in an air-sparged bioreactor were transferred directly to soil and vermiculite, and 63 % of them grew to maturity through two growth seasons. The coumarin content in the regenerated plants was comparable to that in wild plants. Thus this cell line could be used for in vitro propagation.

Black plum (Syzygium cuminii) explants were grown in vitro on Murashige and Skoog medium. Among the various saccharides tested, the best caulogenic response was afforded by sucrose both in terms of explant response and shoot developing potential. Within monosaccharides, mannose was totally inhibitory as on the medium supplemented with this the shoot buds failed to develop, while, fructose and xylose completely inhibited the opening as well as the elongation of shoot buds. Glucose and galactose did not completely inhibit the caulogenic response. Among disaccharides, other than sucrose, maltose totally inhibited the elongation of the developed shoot buds while lactose supported it to a limited extent. Sugar alcohols, though not as good as sucrose, proved better sources of carbon and energy than the other tested sugars. Sucrose at concentration 4 % proved to be the best in developing 4.2 shoots per explant.

Salt tolerance was studied in the callus cultures of Suaeda nudiflora Moq. a dicotyledonous succulent halophyte. Growth was significantly inhibited at 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM NaCl. Inorganic ions and proline accumulated in response to salinity. Ion accumulation pattern reflected the utilization of Na⁺ as an osmoticum. Na⁺/K⁺ ratio rose steadily as a function of external NaCl concentration. Salt stress enhanced the activity of peroxidase, whereas it decreased activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase.

A study of the genetic variability of a population of Hypericum brasiliense was made using several isozyme systems as well as an investigation of the morphogenic potential of apical buds from plants at different development stages (juvenile and adult) using in vitro culture. The results from nine isozymes systems showed low polymorphism in the alleles. Apical buds from juvenile plants originated plantlets with apical dominance and fast growth while those from adults led to the development of flower buds.

A protocol was developed for direct differentiation of multiple shoot buds from leaf explants of Cajanus cajan. In a modified Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with 2.22 µM benzyladenine (BA), 0.57 µM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 41 µM adenine sulphate (AdS), the segments of basal halves of the first two leaves of a young seedling incubated on filter paper bridges in liquid medium took 20 - 25 d to differentiate shoot buds. The explants after transfer to solidified medium, with lower concentration of BA (0.22 μM) resulted in fast growing healthy shoots. The developed shoots (measuring ca. 3 cm) were rooted in a medium supplemented with 1.42 µM IAA. They were subsequently grown in pots with soil with more than 80 % transplantation success.

Trigonelline (TRG) is a conjugate of nicotinic acid, and is postulated to function as a compatible solute in response to salinity- and water deficit-stresses. TRG concentrations and several agronomic characteristics were measured under irrigated field and non-irrigated field conditions within 18 soybean (Glycine max) genotypes using leaves taken from different growth stages (vegetative, flowering and pod development). Under irrigation, relative water content (RWC) ranged from 90.0 to 99.6 %. Under non-irrigation, RWC ranged from 86.3 to 97.5 %. TRG concentration ranged from 364 to 555 μg g^-1(d.m.) under irrigation, and from 404 to 570 μg g^-1(d.m.) under non-irrigation. TRG concentrations increased in the majority of genotypes (15 of 18) under non-irrigation even though RWC did not significantly differ in many genotypes between treatments. TRG decreased as plants progressed to pod development and seed filling. Mean seed yield under non-irrigated conditions declined 55 % relative to the irrigated controls. TRG concentrations among all genotypes were significantly correlated with seed yield.

The excised shoot tips of Beta vulgaris L. cvs. Ras poly, Gala and Lola were inoculated aseptically on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium with 0.25 mg dm-3 α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 1.00 mg dm-3 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). They produced multiple shoots at relatively high frequency. For shoot multiplication, a concentration of 1.00 mg dm-3 NAA and 0.25 mg dm-3 BA in the culture medium was found to be optimum for all the cultivars. MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg dm-3 3-indolebutyric acid (IBA) and 0.02 mg dm-3 N-isopentenylaminopurine (2ip) was found most effective for rooting of micropropagated shoots. In vitro produced plantlets were successfully transferred to the soil. The percentage of survival was more than 95 % and micropropagated plants showed no morphological differences from those grown naturally.

The effects of modifying local source-sink relations on fruit and leaf characteristics of young pear trees were evaluated during the 1997 - 1998 growing season. The following treatments were applied: early spur ringing (ESR) from 27 days after full bloom (DAFB), late spur ringing (LSR) from 97 DAFB, early 15 % spur leaf area removal (ELAR) and late 15 % spur leaf area removal (LLAR). ESR and LSR significantly inhibited fruit growth, suggesting that the fruiting spurs were not fully autonomous in their carbon economy. ELAR and LLAR had little effect on fruit size; sink strength was demonstrated here, since the presence of the fruit caused an efficient transfer of photoassimilates. ESR treatment decreased specific leaf mass (SLM) by 23.84 % when measured 94 DAFB. ELAR did not significantly influence SLM. Treatments had no marked influence on fruit quality.

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.

A non-destructive method of total vertical projections for estimating the length of rigid root systems, not introduced yet in plant sciences, is described. It is demonstrated on measuring less and more dense root systems of seedlings of Zea mays grown at hypoxic or control conditions. Photographs of six vertical projections (30° apart) of each root system were taken and evaluated. The method being based on proved mathematical formula offers unbiased estimation of the length of a rigid root system, curved in three-dimensional space, by non-destructive means. Thus, it is applicable during ongoing experimentation on plants grown in a solution culture. It was shown that less than 120 intersections between the root projection and test lines in one photograph ensured sufficient precision of the method and that the observer subjectivity could be overcome by presented instructions.

Plant regeneration was achieved from coleoptile tissue of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Kharachia-65). Coleoptiles (1.0 - 3.5 cm long) were excised from 2- to 5-d-old seedlings and cultured on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D - 0.5, 2.5, and 5.0 mg dm^-3). Cream, friable callus was obtained after 6 weeks of inoculation. This callus was sub-cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D (2.5 mg dm^-3) and 5 % coconut water. After 6 weeks of sub-culturing white, cream or pale, friable, nodular callus was obtained. Plant regeneration occurred when this callus was sub-cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg dm^-3 1-naphthalene acetic acid + 1.0 mg dm^-3 6-benzylaminopurine. For rooting, regenerated shoots or plantlets were transferred on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg dm^-3 indole-3-acetic acid. Rooted plantlets were directly transferred into pots and grown under field conditions. Seed setting invariably occurred in all plants.

The effect of combinations of different concentrations of copper (Cu) and mercury (Hg) ions with different constant temperatures (T) onPhaseolus vulgaris plants was studied. Criteria investigated included shoot and root length, dry mass, chlorophyll content (Chl) and stability index (CSI), and contents of soluble (SS) and hydrolysable saccharides (HS), soluble proteins (SP) and total free amino acid (AA). Each of the factors (T, Cu and Hg) significantly affected the parameters tested with exception of T effect on Chlb content as well as on Chla/b ratio. Bifactorial interactions (T×Cu) or (T×Hg) were also significant, except the interaction (T×Hg) in shoot elongation, Chlb content and Chla/b ratio. Statistical treatment of the data lead to three findings: (1) temperature was dominant in affecting CSIa, shoot AA and root SS, (2) Cu and Hg had the predominant effect on growth parameters and Chl content, and (3) interactions (T×Cu and T×Hg) were dominant in affecting CSIb, shoot SP, and root HS.

The localization of peroxidase in cells of horse-radish (Armoracia lapathifolia Gilib.) tumour and teratoma tissues was studied. Both tissue lines were derived from the same primary crown-gall tumour induced on the leaf fragments by a wild type of Agrobacterium tumefaciens B6S3. Enzymatic activity was measured in cell walls, high-density heterogeneous membrane fraction, microsomal and soluble (no particulate) fractions. The subcellular localization of enzymatic activity was distinct for each transformed tissue. Both tumour and teratoma showed similar isoenzyme patterns, but one soluble acidic isoperoxidase could be considered as a marker of cell differentiation.

The effect of 2 mM AlCl3 on NAD+ kinase (E.C. 2.7.1.23) activity was studied using Euglena gracilis strain Z grown heterotrophically in darkness at pH 3.5 in the presence of lactate as sole carbon source. The Al-treatment slowed down the culture growth and suppressed the peak of NAD+ kinase activity, which characterizes the beginning of the exponential phase of growth of the control cell cultures. There are two possible explanations of the Al effect: it 1) either prevents the enzyme activation by the Ca-calmodulin (CaM) complex; or 2) suppresses the CaM-dependent NAD+ kinase form. In Euglena cells, a part of the NAD+ kinase activity is enhanced by EGTA and lowered by Ca2+: this peculiar NAD+ kinase activity is unaffected by the Al treatment.

The influence of phosphate deficiency on the sugar accumulation and sugar partitioning in the root cells of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was studied. Bean plants were cultured 17 - 19 d on a phosphate-sufficient and phosphate-deficient nutrient medium. Phosphate deficit in the growth medium resulted in increased sugar concentration for about 30 % in the apoplastic and cytoplasmic compartments as well as in the vacuoles of root cells. However, the distribution of sugars between apoplast and cytoplasm compartment and vacuole was not affected by decreased phosphate concentration. About 20 % of sugars were found in the apoplast and cytoplasm, about 80 % in the vacuole. Low phosphate concentration enhanced influx of exogenous ¹⁴C-sucrose into meristematic and elongation zones of root. The ¹⁴C-labelled sugar content in the root tips increased for about 60 % as compared to control plants. Phosphate deficiency increased also ¹⁴C-glucose uptake and content in the root tips. However, the amount of ¹⁴CO₂ liberated during respiration of P-deficient roots (after feeding with uniformly labelled ¹⁴C-glucose) was lower than ¹⁴CO₂ respired by control plants, thus a large part of accumulated sugars seems to be metabolically inactive.

In the present work we try to determine optimum conditions for callus induction in anther culture of Oenothera hookeri and O. picensis. The anther callus yield was increased when the anthers were cultured on modified MS medium supplied with 2 mg dm^-3 2,4-D and 2 mg dm^-3 NAA, in both species. In O. hookeri, best results were obtained when anthers were excised from 7.2 - 9 mm buds at the stage of vacuolated microspores, then pretreated at 4 °C for 2 d and grown under 16-h photoperiod. The response to anther culture of O. picensis was generally very poor compared with that of O. hookeri. The higher yield of calli was obtained when anthers were excised from 6.2 - 8 mm buds at the stage of vacuolated microspores and grown under continuous light. The cold pretreatment of buds decreased anther response in this species.

Changes in growth and anatomical structure of vascular tissues in stem, root and leaf of safflower plants grown in NaCl and CaCl2 solutions having different osmotic potentials (ΨS from 0 to -0.9 MPa) with addition of 0, 10 and 20 mg dm-3 zinc were studied. Shoot and root lengths, fresh and dry masses and fresh/dry mass ratio were lower in salt-stressed plants compared to unstressed plants. Salinity induced structural changes in stem, root and leaf tissues; few xylem vessels with smaller size were noticed in stressed plants. The higher concentration of Zn improved growth especially in roots and enhanced xylem formation in comparison to stressed plants grown at the same osmotic potential without Zn. Zn also protected xylem distructure by salinity in leaves.

Proline accumulation in leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Alfa) seedlings treated with 150 mM NaCl was promoted in the light and suppressed in the dark. The light/dark changes of proline content was enhanced with each 12 h light/12 h dark cycle and the proline content increased steadily. Root and shoot concentrations of Na⁺ and Cl^- in salt treated plants increased about 10 to 25 times as compared to the control. The content of these ions and the content of malondialdehyde were higher in the shoot of seedlings exposed to salt stress for 4 d in the light in comparison with the seedlings exposed to NaCl for 4 d in darkness. Light stimulated both ions and proline accumulation in the leaves and has no effect in the roots. Oxygen uptake was higher in the seedlings kept 4 d in the light which have higher endogenous free proline content. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements showed that the photochemical activity of PS 2 slightly decreased as a result of salt stress and was not influenced by light regimes during plant growth.

Accumulation of two peripheral membrane polypeptides (20 and 28 kDa) in roots of Al-sensitive (cv. Alfor) and Al-resistant (cv. Bavaria) barley cultivars were analysed during Al stress. Both cultivars were subjected to Al concentration ranging from 0 to 150 µM for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Accumulation of both polypeptides was determined 24 h after exposure of plants to Al and content of both polypeptides showed only small depedence upon Al concentration and duration of Al treatment. Although, based on root growth test, Bavaria showed significantly greater resistance to Al than Alfor, analysis of 20 and 28 kDa polypeptide pattern has not revealed significant difference between the two cultivars. However, accumulation of 20 and 28 kDa polypeptides in Alfor was selectively induced by Al treatment because different pH of the root media (pH 3.5 to 6.5) or application of other metals (Cu, Co, or Cd) failed to induce these two bands. On the other hand, accumulation of these polypeptides in Bavaria was induced not only by Al, but also by Cd and in a lesser extent by Co treatment.

Increasing NaCl concentration (0, 50, 100 and 150 mM) progressively decreased growth and seed yield of clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Taub.) which was associated with decreased concentrations of potassium and calcium and increased concentration of sodium in the shoots. Supplemental calcium (2.5 and 5.0 mM) significantly ameliorated the adverse effects of NaCl due to enhanced Ca and K uptake and reduced Na uptake. Calcium also alleviated the negative effects of NaCl on activities of nitrogen metabolism enzymes as well as on contents of soluble protein and free amino acids.

Four physiologically and phenotypically diversified tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Samsun) plantlet variants had been generated by cultivation on media either lacking or containing sucrose (0 and 3 %, m/v) under two different photon flux densities (PFD), 50 µmol m^-2 s^-1 (LL) and 200 µmol m^-2 s^-1 (HL). Plantlets were transferred into soil without any pre-acclimation and grown either under PFD of 200 µmol m^-2 s^-1 or 700 µmol m^-2 s^-1. Sucrose feeding in vitro resulted in reduced degree and duration of wilting after transfer. The highest readiness for ex vitro acclimation was found in 3 % HL plants, in which changes of photosynthetic apparatus and stress responses were the smallest. On the contrary, the steepest decline of Fv/Fm ratio on the first day after transplantation, doubled chlorophyll content and almost tripled D1/LHC 2 ratio after 7 d of ex vitro growth under 700 µmol m^-2 s^-1 characterized 0 % HL plants, which had suffered chronic photoinhibition in vitro. Remarkably high abscisic acid content at the end of in vitro cultivation and during acclimation as well as increased synthesis of both D1 and LHC 2 proteins even at the end of analyzed acclimation period were found only in 0 % LL plants. Increase of D1/LHC 2 ratio and chlorophyll contents demonstrate that in vitro developed leaves of all plant variants are able to acclimate to new environment. The most surprising result in the whole study is the drop of D1 protein synthesis in all plants on the 3^rd day. Five times decline of photoprotection level of xanthophylls in plants after ex vitro transfer into the same PFD showed stress character of in vitro cultures.

Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) leaf size and shape, glandular and covering trichomes, stomatal density, stomata shape, pore area and epicuticular waxes during micropropagation stages were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and morphometric analysis with the aim to improve the survival rate after transfer to greenhouse conditions. Leaves from in vitro shoots at the proliferation stage showed a spatular shape, ring-shaped stomata, a large number of glandular trichomes and juvenile covering hairs, but failed to show any epicuticular waxes. Leaves from in vitro plants at the root elongation stage showed a lanceolated elliptic shape with a serrated border, elliptical stomata, decreased pore area percentage, stomatal density, and mature covering trichomes. One week after transfer to ex vitro conditions, epicuticular waxes appeared on the leaf surface and stomata and pore area were smaller as compared to in vitro plants. Artichoke acclimatization may be improved by hormonal stimulation of root development, since useful morphological changes on leaves occurred during root elongation.

Developing fruits on lower nodes were major reproductive sink for photosynthates in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). The removal of these fruits resulted in faster growth of other fruits on upper nodes. Sink manipulated plants have the higher rate of net photosynthetic rate at the later stages of plant development.