Cucumis sativus L. seedlings were pretreated 1 h with 10 μM paraquat (PQ) and then were subjected to normal (25/18 °C) or elevated (42/38 °C) temperature to investigate whether PQ can protect plants against heat stress. Heat stress inhibited fresh and dry masses of the second leaf, root dry mass and shoot fresh mass. In leaves, the stress disintegrated membranes of 84.97 % chloroplasts and elevated contents of malondialdehyde, superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide. In contrast, PQ pretreatment altered antioxidant activities in leaves, even after PQ was rinsed off before seedlings were exposed to different temperatures. Under heat stress, PQ pretreatment improved plant growth, decreased percentage of abnormal chloroplasts (53.03 %) and reduced contents of malonaldehyde, superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide due to increased activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase and glutathione reductase.

Telomere-binding proteins have recently been recognised not only as necessary building blocks of telomere structure, but namely as components which are of central importance to telomere metabolism being involved in regulation of telomere length as well as in protective (capping) function of telomeres. Although the knowledge on plant telomeric DNA-binding proteins lags behind that in human and yeast, recent data show both analogies and plant-specific features in the composition and interactions of telomeric proteins. This review focuses primarily on proteins with known amino acid sequence. These can be classified into following groups: 1) the family of proteins with Myb domain at C-terminus, 2) proteins with Myb domain at N-terminus, both binding double-stranded DNA of telomeric repeats TTTAGGG, 3) the single-stranded DNA-binding proteins, and 4) other proteins that act also in non-telomeric chromatin regions. Proteins with C-terminal Myb domain reported as IBP family were previously found in human, whereas Smh family representing proteins with Myb domain at N-terminus was identified only in plants. Also RRM family of the single-stranded DNA-binding proteins is likely to be plant specific.

The response of Arabidopsis thaliana plants to elevated sulfur dioxide could be related to their endogenous salicylic acid (SA) content and signaling. The wild type (WT, ecotype Columbia) and its mutant snc1 with high SA content, npr1-1 with a blockage in SA signaling, transgenic line nahG with low SA content and double mutant snc1nahG plants were exposed to 0.5 mm³ dm^-3 SO₂ for 3 h d^-1 for 14 d in a growth chamber. Under unstressed conditions, total SA contents in snc1 and npr1-1 were 7- and 2-fold higher than those in WT, respectively, but in nahG SA content was only 28 % of that in WT. The expression of nahG in snc1 plants decreased SA content to the WT level. Increased SA contents were observed in snc1, npr1-1 and WT after 12-h SO₂ exposure, whereas no major changes were detected in nahG and snc1nahG plants. The snc1 plants exhibited higher tolerance to SO₂ exposure than snc1nahG plants and especially nahG and npr1-1 plants according to plant biomass, total chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate. The SO₂ exposure decreased net photosynthetic rate, maximum photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m) and actual quantum efficiency of photosystem 2 (Φ_PS2). SO₂-induced oxidative damage in the tested plants was confirmed by increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content and electrolyte leakage. Increases in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activity, reduced glutathione (GSH) content and a ratio of reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSSG) might be responsible for the decreased contents of H₂O₂ and alleviation of oxidative injury in snc1 plants compared with other lines exposed to SO₂. These observations implied that endogenous SA content and signaling may play an essential role in plant responses to SO₂ stress.

We study apical dominance in Alstroemeria, a plant with an architecture very different from the model species used in research on apical dominance. The standard explant was a rhizome with a tip and two vertically growing shoots from which the larger part had been excised leaving ca. 1 cm stem. The axillary buds that resumed growth were located at this 1-cm stem just above the rhizome. They were released by removal of the rhizome tip and the shoot tips. Replacement of excised tips by lanolin with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) restored apical dominance. The auxin transport inhibitors 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) and N-1-napthylphthalamic acid (NPA) reduced apical dominance. 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) enhanced axillary bud outgrowth but the highest concentrations (> 9 μM) caused fasciation. Thidiazuron (TDZ) did not show improvement relative to BAP. Even though the architecture of Alstroemeria and the model species are very different, their hormonal mechanisms in apical dominance are for the greater part very similar.

The effects of NaCl on the H₂O₂ content and the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were studied in diverse group of plants, such as a unicellular alga, Chlorella sp., an aquatic macrophyte, Najas graminea, and a mangrove plant, Suaeda maritima, all showing high tolerance to NaCl. Significant accumulation of H₂O₂ was observed in all the tested plants upon their exposure to 255 mM NaCl. The activity of both CAT and SOD increased significantly in response to the NaCl treatment. Growing the plants in presence of 255 mM NaCl also resulted in the synthesis of new isoforms of both CAT and SOD.

To gain a comprehensive understanding of plant response to Cd, physiological and proteomic changes in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) leaves exposed to a range of Cd concentrations (10, 100 and 200 μM) were investigated. Leaf elongation was decreased, whereas the H₂O₂ and malondialdehyde content increased significantly at higher Cd concentrations. Changes in protein profiles were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Twenty-one proteins which showed 1.5-fold change in protein abundance in response to Cd were identified. These proteins can be functionally grouped into three groups: 1) oxidative stress response, 2) photosynthesis and sugar metabolism and 3) protein metabolism and others. These results provide a new insight into our understanding of the molecular basis of heavy metal response in plants.

Metallothioneins are involved in detoxification of heavy metals. A cDNA encoding type 3 metallothionein (PcMT3) was isolated from the salt stressed leaf cDNA library of Porteresia coarctata (Roxb.) Tateoka (wild rice) that grows well in the heavy metal laden estuarine soils. The PcMT3 cDNA (581 bp) encodes a protein of 64 amino acids. PcMT3 is highly homologous (82 %) to OsMT-I-3a of rice, but is unique from other type 3 plant MTs due to the presence of an additional glycine residue in the C-terminal domain. Analysis of the 5' upstream region of PcMT3 showed the presence of cis-acting elements like the CG box and STRE previously reported to be involved in gene expression under heavy metal stress. Southern analysis suggested the presence of more than one copy of PcMT3-like sequences in the P. coarctata genome. Analysis of genomic clone of PcMT3 revealed the presence of two introns. A comparison of the genomic sequence of PcMT3 with closely similar type 3 MTs from rice and mangrove species revealed conservation in the number and position of introns. Transcript profiling for PcMT3 in P. coarctata leaves in the presence of Cd, Cu and Zn showed an increase in transcript accumulation.

The growth and ion content of salt sensitive Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. M82 and salt tolerant L. pennellii Correll accession LA716 were examined under both control and stress conditions (150 mM NaCl). L. esculentum grew more vigorously than L. pennellii under optimal conditions, however, L. pennellii was able to maintain its growth better than cultivated tomato when the plants were exposed to salinity. Sodium content of both L. esculentum and L. pennellii increased as a result of NaCl stress. In addition, both species showed reduced potassium and calcium content due to salinity. The physiological traits were also measured in a population of 52 L. pennellii introgression lines grown under both normal and stress conditions. A total of 311 quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified for the studied traits: plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, leaf and root fresh and dry mass, and sodium, potassium and calcium contents. Some of the loci (124) were identified under both control and stress conditions while 86 QTL were identified only under non-stress conditions and 101 loci were identified only under NaCl stress.

In this study we identified and characterized a major latex lectin - designated as EtLLH - with antimicrobial activity from the succulent African milk tree Euphorbia trigona. The lectin is highly concentrated in the latex of E. trigona and appears to be composed of at least two subunits with a molecular mass of 32 kDa. EtLLH shares significant similarities to known plant lectins - ricin from Ricinus communis and agglutinin from Viscum album coloratum - which specifically bind D-galactose and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, the major building blocks of many fungal cell walls. Antimicrobial activity assays revealed an impact of EtLLH on three phytopathogenic filamentous ascomycetes. The germination of the conidiospores and the hyphal growth of Aspergillus niger and Fusarium graminearum were severely inhibited by EtLLH already at concentrations below 0.1 mg cm^-3, while the effect on germination of the melanized conidiospores of Botrytis cinerea was less significant.

Although crosstalk between cytosolic and plastidic terpenoid pathways has been validated in many plant species, we report here for the first time a striking elevation of the nucleus-encoded artemisinin biosynthesis relevant DBR2 mRNA following the incubation of plants with fosmidomycin (FM). FM decreased singlet oxygen (¹O₂) scavengers such as β-carotene and α-tocopherol and subsequently invoked ¹O₂ burst. The treatment of plants with fluridone (FD) neither decreased α-tocopherol content nor triggered ¹O₂ emission. In conclusion, FM can up-regulate ¹O₂-sensitive nuclear genes responsible for artemisinin biogenesis by mitigating the accumulation of plastidic scavenging terpenoids, thereby eliciting ¹O₂ generation and initiating ¹O₂ retrograde signaling.

The effects of different growth conditions (ventilated and closed vessels, medium with 0, 15 and 30 g dm^-3 sucrose) during proliferation of donor quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) shoots (stage I) on net photosynthetic rate and soluble sugars content were evaluated. In order to assess the influence of these physiological parameters on morphogenesis, leaf explants harvested from donor shoots were induced to form somatic embryos and adventitious roots under ventilated and closed Petri dishes (stage II). Natural ventilation and low sucrose contents (0-15 g dm^-3) promoted the photosynthetic rate of quince shoots whereas biomass accumulation was the highest in those shoots cultured with 30 g dm^-3 sucrose in both vessel types and 15 g dm^-3 sucrose under natural ventilation. Increasing sucrose content in the medium induced greater accumulation of sucrose in leaf tissues of donor shoots. The content of reducing sugars was higher than that of sucrose, and it appeared to be higher in shoots cultured under natural ventilation compared to those in closed vessels. Somatic embryogenesis and root regeneration were influenced by stage I and II treatments. A significant correlation between sucrose content in the leaves of donor shoots and the number of somatic embryos regenerated was found, suggesting that identification of biochemical and physiological characteristics of donor shoots associated with increased regeneration ability might be helpful for improving morphogenesis in plant tissue culture.

Plants are subjected to several abiotic stresses that adversely affect growth, metabolism and yield. The dynamic research in plant genetics complemented by genome sequencing has opened up avenues to address multiple problems caused by abiotic stresses. Though many drought-induced genes have been phytoengineered in a wide range of plants, the drought signal transduction pathways, and the alteration of plant sensing and signaling systems to adverse environments still remain an intriguing subject for comprehensive investigation. To impart enhanced drought tolerance in plants, a thorough perception of physiological, biochemical and gene regulatory networks is essential. Recent functional genomics tools have facilitated the progress in our understanding of stress signaling and of the linked molecular regulatory networks. This has revealed several stress-inducible genes and various transcription and signaling factors that regulate the drought stress-inducible systems. Translational genomics of these drought specific genes using model plants have provided encouraging outcomes, but the in-depth knowledge of the specific roles of various metabolites in plant stress tolerance will lead to evolvement of strategies for the phytoengineering of drought tolerance in plants in future.

Plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis of Areca catechu L. was established using leaf, root and stem segments as explants. Embryogenic callus was induced and maintained on medium supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) or 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid (dicamba) at concentrations 2, 4, 6 and 8 mg dm^-3 in darkness. Somatic embryos were found on primary callus in the presence of 2 and 4 mg dm^-3 dicamba and during subculture on 2 - 8 mg dm^-3 2,4-D or 2 - 4 mg dm^-3 dicamba-containing media. Plantlet conversion from embryos was successfully achieved on growth regulator-free medium. The plants grew well when transplanted to containers in shaded greenhouse.

A simple and efficient protocol for the micropropagation of Drosera intermedia, using cultures initiated from in vitro produced seedlings, is described. Shoot proliferation was significantly influenced by Murashige and Skoog (MS) macronutrient concentration, showing higher multiplication rates for 1/4 MS (the lowest concentration), but was not affected by the addition of 0.1 mg dm^-3 kinetin. In all cases a multiplication percentage above 90 % was recorded. High rooting percentages (up to 100 %) were obtained in multiplication phase on 1/4 MS medium without growth regulators. In average 15.8 plantlets per initial shoot was produced after 8 weeks of culture. All plantlets were successfully acclimatized to ex vitro conditions, exhibiting normal development.

The role of glutathione (GSH) in the adaptation of wild type Arabidopsis thaliana plants to Cd stress was investigated. The nutrient solution (control or containing 50 or 100 μM Cd) was supplemented with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO; 50, 100, 500 μM, to decrease the GSH content in plants) or GSH (50, 100, 500 μM, to increase its content in plants) in order to find how GSH content could regulate Cd stress responses. BSO application did not influence plant biomass, while exogenous GSH (especially 500 μM) reduced root biomass. BSO (500μM) in combination with Cd (100 μM) increased Cd toxicity on root growth (by over 50 %), most probably due to reduced GSH content and phytochelatin (PC) accumulation (by over 96 %). On the other hand, combination of exogenous GSH (500 μM) with Cd (100 μM) was also more toxic to plants than Cd alone despite a significant increase in GSH and PC accumulation (up to 2.7 fold in the roots). This fact could indicate that the natural content of endogenous GSH in wild type A. thaliana plants is sufficient for Cd-tolerance. A decrease in this GSH content led to decreased Cd-tolerance of the plants but an increase in GSH content did not enhance Cd-tolerance, and it showed even toxic effect on the plants.

Mature pollen grain represents a highly desiccated structure with an extremely tough cell wall. Thanks to it, it resists common proteomic protocols. Instead, a robust homogenization has to be performed since proteins are needed to burst out of the cell to be included in the extracted proteome fraction. Here, a novel way of pollen homogenization employing Roche MagNA Lyser Instrument is presented, sparing time and laborious work. However, plant proteomics does not rely solely on perfect homogenization; also the choice of the extraction protocol is of key importance. The composition of the extraction buffer has a decisive influence on which proteome fraction will be extracted. Therefore the second part of our study is dedicated to the comparison of different extraction protocols with respect to subsequent proteomic analyses.

Biotechnological improvement of monocots is often hampered by the lack of efficient regeneration systems, requisite wound responses and low cell competence. Despite these limitations, the biolistic and Agrobacterium methods have been successfully used to produce several transgenic monocots by adjusting the parameters that govern efficient delivery and integration of transgene(s) into plant genome. It is now possible to transform even difficult monocots using tailor-made gene constructs and promoters, suitable A. tumefaciens strains and a proper understanding of the entire process. This success has been reviewed in the present article and a special emphasis was laid on the measures that were taken in overcoming the difficulties that arise due to the differential responses of monocots and dicots. This information is necessary for biotechnological improvement of still newer monocotyledonous plants that have been hitherto difficult to transform.

Polygalacturonases are enzymes involved in plant cell wall growth and reorganization. Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants with a Saccharomyces cerevisiae endopolygalacturonase gene (PGU1) were obtained. The yeast gene was properly expressed in the plants as it has been shown by RT-PCR as well as by the increase in the endopolygalacturonase activity. The transgenic plants showed conspicuous malformations in early stages of development probably due to a weak cell adhesion. On the other hand, adult plants exhibited almost no phenotypic differences as compared to the wild type plants, this suggesting the appearance of some mechanisms on the plant side to counteract the effect of the overexpressed polygalacturonase.

Leaves of the scab-susceptible apple (Malus domestica) cultivar Golden Delicious were harvested from May to August 2008 and 2009. Some leaves were healthy and some infected with fungus Venturia inaequalis. The phenolic compounds were analysed in healthy leaves, infected leaves and in the scab spot tissue. In comparison to healthy leaves, the infected leaves showed higher contents of hydroxycinnamic acid, flavanols and phloridzin, while lower contents on procyanidins, quercetins and phloretin. The total amount of phenolic compounds in the infected tissue was 10 to 20 % higher than in the healthy leaves. Accumulation of phenolic compounds is a post-infection response, and probably their further transformation is a prerequisite for plant resistance.

The Nicotiana tabacum transgenic plants expressing a Cucurbita pepo antisense PHYA RNA were obtained. The seedlings of transgenic tobacco with reduced phytochrome A (PHYA) content displayed decreased sensitivity to continuous broad-band far-red radiation (λ > 680 nm). Under far-red irradiance transgenic seedlings showed less elongation of the hypocotyls, more rapid plastid development, more chlorophyll accumulation, less repression of lightdependent NADPH:protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase than wild-type plants that was in accordance with PHYA control of plant development. Dynamics of the far-red radiation dependent changes in low temperature chlorophyll fluorescence spectra for the transgenic and wild-type seedlings were consistent with the more rapid formation of photosynthetic apparatus in the seedlings with reduced PHYA.

Vigna Δ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) cDNA was transferred to chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivar Annigeri via Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation. Following selection on hygromycin and regeneration, 60 hygromycin-resistant plants were recovered. Southern blot analysis of five fertile independent lines of T0 and T1 generation revealed single and multiple insertions of the transgene. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis of T0 and T1 progeny demonstrated that the P5CS gene is expressed and produced functional protein in chickpea. T1 transgenic lines accumulated higher amount of proline under 250 mM NaCl compared to untransformed controls. Higher accumulation of Na⁺ was noticed in the older leaves but negligible accumulation in seeds of T1 transgenic lines as compared to the controls. Chlorophyll stability and electrolyte leakage indicated that proline overproduction helps in alleviating salt stress in transgenic chickpea plants. The T1 transgenics lines were grown to maturity and set normal viable seeds under continuous salinity stress (250 mM) without any reduction in plant yield in terms of seed mass.

The structural features of flavonoids which are involved in the modulation of auxin distribution in Arabidopsis thaliana were evaluated. An auxin-inducible promoter IAA2 fused to a reporter gene (GUS) was used to monitor the tissue responsiveness to auxins. The following aspects were investigated: 1) the influence of flavonoids (quercetin, naringenin, kaempferol, myricetin and isorhamnetin) on the distribution of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in roots and leaves, 2) differences in flavonoid uptake into roots and shoots depending on flavonoid concentration in the medium, and 3) influence of structurally different flavonoids on the gravitropic response and growth of roots. The same flavonoids differently affected IAA and IBA distribution in leaves and roots. There were several structural requirements for the flavonoids which resulted in the changes of auxin response/distribution. Great differences between the ability of shoots and roots to take up quercetin were showed. Also, flavonoids influenced gravitropism and root growth of Arabidopsis seedlings in a structure-dependent manner.

Hairy roots of Rhamnus fallax Boiss. were induced using Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain A4M70GUS. The culture established on Woody plant media (WPM) showed a typical hairy root phenotype: rapid growth, reduced apical dominance and root plagiotropism. Seven clones of R. fallax were selected on the basis of their differences in colour and the root branching. The growth of hairy root culture, measured through gain in fresh mass, was done under 16-h photoperiod or in the dark. An increase in anthraquinone (AQ) content was obtained in clones with yellow and less branched roots, like clone 1 [16.43 mg g^-1(d.m.)] and clone 7 [14.21 mg g^-1(d.m.)], compared with other analysed transformed and non-transformed tissue. This study presents the first report of successful transformation of any species from family Rhamnaceae by A. rhizogenes and analysis of AQ production in transformed tissue.

A reproducible protocol has been developed for high frequency plant regeneration from immature embryos of Argyrolobium roseum Jaub & Spach, an important medicinal legume. Green nodular calli were initiated from immature embryos excised from 10-d-old pods in 70 % of cultures within 3 weeks when grown on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.5 mg dm^-3 benzylaminopurine (BAP) + 0.25 mg dm^-3 indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Subsequent transfer of 5 mm² callus pieces to MS medium supplemented with BAP (0.5 mg dm^-3) alone or in combination with IAA (0.25 mg dm^-3) facilitated regeneration of multiple shoots. Organogenic calli bearing multiple shoots when transferred to MS medium supplemented with BAP (0.5 mg dm^-3) + IAA (0.25 mg dm^-3) supported rapid shoot elongation. Shoot propagules subcultured to Gamborg's medium (B5) with 0.5 mg dm^-3 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) rooted with 80 % frequency and developed into phenotypically normal plants. Plantlets were successfully acclimatized in a sterile mixture of sand and garden soil (1:1) under greenhouse and thereafter transferred to field beds.

Hairy root cultures of Hypericum perforatum were obtained following inoculation of aseptically germinated seedlings with A. rhizogenes strain A4M70GUS. Effect of sucrose on the growth and biomass production of hairy root cultures was investigated. Hairy root cultures spontaneously regenerated shoots buds from which a number of shoot culture clones was established. Transformed shoot cultures exhibited good shoot multiplication, elongation and rooting on a hormone-free woody plant medium. Plants regenerated from hairy roots were similar in appearance to the normal, nontransformed plants.

The induction of haploid plants by in vitro gynogenesis is a promising practice in onion breeding. In order to increase the frequency of embryo regeneration and haploid plant production in Valcatorce INTA, Cobriza INTA and Navidena INTA cultivars, putrescine and CCC were used, either as a component of the culture media or by spraying or injecting them to the umbels. Additionally, two concentration of gellam gum were tested. A higher number of gynogenic embryos was achieved by using 7 g dm^-3 gellam gum, and this number was not affected by the addition of putrescine to the media. CCC sprayed at the umbels significantly increased the gynogenic embryo rate, which was more than three times higher than the control. Cobriza INTA showed the highest induced embryo rate (4.76 %).

An analysis of the effect of metabolic inhibitors, sugars, and fusicoccin on the trans-plant electrical potential difference arising across one-week-old green or herbicide-treated Chenopodium rubrum L. plants was performed. The substances were applied either to the solution bathing the root or in the form of drops to the stem. The respiratory inhibitors (KCN and salicylhydroxamic acid), sulfhydryl agents (N-ethylmaleimide and p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonic acid) and proton ionophore (carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone) affected the electrical potential, the kinetics of the induced changes varying with different inhibitors and site of application. None of the applied sugars (sucrose, glucose or sorbitol), ATPase stimulator fusicoccin or inhibitor vanadate exerted any appreciable effect on the electrical potential. An effect of sucrose could be observed in the case of its application immediately following de-rooting, especially in the case of herbicide-treated plants. These results we explain by non-participation of the sucrose transporter or the proton ATPase in the generation of the electrical potential difference across intact plants (apoplast-apoplast configuration).

A method for determination of oxalate with oxalate oxidase (OxO, EC 1.2.3.4) prepared from wheat bran, is based on specific oxidation of oxalate to produce H₂O₂. The H₂O₂ formed was colorimetrically determined using horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of 4-aminoantipyrine and N,N-dimethylaniline by H₂O₂. The new method was tested on rice, buckwheat, soybean and oxalis leaves, showing it is precise, sensitive, inexpensive, highly reproducible and simple to perform. Good agreement could be obtained between this method and the HPLC.

The effect of thidiazuron (TDZ) was studied on in vitro axillary shoot proliferation from nodal explant of Psoralea corylifolia - an endangered medicinal plant. Proliferation of shoots was achieved on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 μM TDZ. The maximum number (13.6 ± 1.4) of shoots per explant were obtained from nodal segment cultured on 2 μM TDZ for 4 weeks and this increased to 29.7 ± 2.1 on hormone free MS medium after 8 weeks. The in vitro proliferated and elongated shoots were transferred individually on a root induction medium containing 0.5 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and within 4 weeks 4.5 ± 0.5 roots per shoot were produced. The regenerated plantlets were transferred to 1:1 soil and vermiculite mixture and acclimatized with 80 % survival rate. Fully acclimatized plants were grown in garden soil in greenhouse and their morphological and physiological parameters were comparable with seedlings.