Irradiation with X-rays and gamma rays reduced the speed of germination of seeds of jute cultivars,viz., JRO 632, JRO 620, Sudan Green ofCorchorus olitorius and JRC 212, Fanduk, D 154 ofC. capsularis. Though the first phase of germination(i.e. seed variability) remained apparently unaffected, the second phase (i.e. the sprouting ability) and the third phase(i.e. the attainment of autotrophic status) were found to be the best indicators of radiation injury and provided dependable data for the assessment of radiosensitivity.
The jute cultivars have not shown accountable intervarietal differences in radiosensitivity in respect of LD 50 and LD 100 for the second and the third phases of germination.

Rhynchosia capitata possesses a hard seed coat dormancy. Three types of seeds were marked out of this species on the basis of colour and mottling on the seed coat. The three different types behave differently when they were tested for germination.

Similarity of seed protein spectra of 13 representatives of the genusAllium, subgenusRhizirideum, was estimated by means of immunochemical analysis; the species investigated were divided into four groups more or less corresponding to the contemporary systematic division of species into sections.

Pigeon pea cultivars AL 15 (early-) and T₂₁ (late-maturing) were compared for dry matter accumulation in fruit parts pod wall (PW), seed coats (SC) and seed at various seed developmental stages. Significant water loss and dry matter accumulation in the fruit parts commenced much earlier in cv. AL 15 as compared with cv. T₂₁. The pod wall accumulated starch, reducing sugars and N-substances up to 21 and 28 days after anthesis (DAA) in cultivars AL 15 and T₂₁, respectively, which was later distributed to the seed. Growth of pod wall and seed was sequential, not concurrent, as the pod wall lost significant dry matter when the seeds within them reached their maximum dry matter. The fruit parts of cv. AL 15 accumulated more photosynthates than cv. T₂₁ at all comparable stages.

Abscisic acid was analysed in seeds of oak, at. five stages of development in threeweek intervals, starting on the 6th week after anthesis until maturation in the 18th week after anthesis. The physico-chemical methods and bioassays were used for a closer characterization and quantification of the examined compounds. Differentiation of the ABA level depending upon the stages of seed development has been observed in various parts of acorn.

Embryos ofAgrostemma githago seeds blocked by higher temperature are suitable objects for the study of the regulation of gen expression independent of transeriptional processes. Germination of afterripened seeds can be prevented by imbibing at 30°C, whereas at 20°C germination will be completed after 30 h of soaking (BORRISS 1956). In temperature-blocked embryos RNA is synthesized with undiminished intensity, whereas DNA and protein syntheses are remarkably reduced. Equal amounts of poly(A)-RNA (probably mRNA), enriched by affinity chromatography on oligo(dT)-ceIlulose columns, are detected in blocked and activated embryos.
We suggest that in blocked embryos not synthesis itself, but the availability of mRNA to polysomal fraction is reduced. Benzylaminopurine is able to break secondary dormancy ofAgrostemma githago seeds. In benzylaminopurine-treated seeds there is only a slight increase of the incorporation of¹⁴C-L-leu-cine in protein.

Results obtained by comparison of similarity of seed protein spectra of 15 species of the genusAllium (in 22 samples) by means of immunochemical methods more or less correspond to the contemporary division of this genus. Species belonging to the sectionCepa (according to Vvedenskiy) andPhyllodolon have very similar spectra, which suggests that they either should be allocated to one sectionCepa or to two subsections (Cepa andPhyllodolon). Species belonging to the subgenusRhizirideum considerably differ in seed proteins. The investigated species of the subgenusMelanocrommyum show the most distinct spectrum of all the other analyzed representatives, less marked differences were found in the case of the representatives of the subgenusAllium.

The β-Amylase activity was high in seeds of pre-Milk and milk stages but low in seeds of half seed and dough stages and very low at fully ripe stage of seed development. Zymogen (latent β-Amylase) was absent in half seed stage but appeared at pre-Milk stage. The content of zymogen increased progressively with advance in ripening time. No α-Amylase activity was detected at any stages of seed development in wheat.

The clone SJ ofSpirodela polyrhiza (L.) Schleiden forms turions under various nutritive conditions. As compared to 1500 μmol 1^-1 phosphate (P+), growth and frond yield of mixotropic cultures decreased, when 60 μol 1^-1 phosphate (P-) were available. By contrast, P-conditions increased the number, individual size, dry matter content, and total turion yield (mg turions per ml of the nutrient medium) of P-turions as compared to P+ ones. Germination behaviour of P-turions is characterized by fairly low zero levels in the controls, and by low heterogeneity in individual size as well as in the response patterns concerning the influence of light and/or phytoactive substances. P-turions from youngSpirodela cultures are extremely dormant. However, they undergo an after-ripening process if kept inside ageing cultures.

Auxins (NAA, IAA) inhibited the seed germination of lettuce cv. Cabbage. The auxin-indueed inhibition of seed germination could be overcome if 2-chlorethanephosphonic acid (CEPA, ethrel) or kinetin was added simultaneously. Thus ethylene can also modulate the action of endogenous inhibitors in seed germination.

Seed germination studies onTrichodesma amplexicaule were carried out. Seeds show abnormal behaviour of germination which is termed "Chalazal germination". This abnormal behaviour of germination is due to the presence of an obturator at the micropylar end. Seeds showed maximum (60 per cent) germination with 110 min concentrated H₂SO₄ treatment.

³H-thymidine incorporation and DNA-polymerase activity during early hours of wheat embryo germination at two viability levels have been studied. The patterns of two biosynthetic activities, as well as the dependence of DNA synthesis on protein synthesis, indicated the presence of a delay in the early phase of imbibition of the aged embryos with respect to viable germs.

Seeds of mung bean (Phaseolus aureus Roxb.) cv. Pusa Baisakhi were surface sterilized and sown both in Petri dishes and sand culture containing aqueous solutions of four different saltsviz. NaCl, KC1, Na₂SO₄ and K₂SO₄ each at 5 and 10 m ώ^-1 cm^-1. Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) isoenzymes were studied in different plant parts of mung bean at suitable intervals during germination under four different salts. In cotyledons, 96 h after sowing only one isoenzyme was left in control as compared to three under salt treatment. In the embryo axis, 96 h after sowing, sulphate salts resulted in the disappearance of isoenzymes with R₁ 0.43 and 0.62, whereas isoenzyme with R₁ 0.62 was missing only at a higher concentration of chloride salts. Chloride salts also resulted in the disappearance of band with R₁ 0.15, both in the embryo axis and leaves. However, in the roots the isoenzymic pattern remains the same with all the salt treatments.

The effect of various sodium salts at the early developmental stages of wheat cultivars was studied. Germination was not affected by the presence of salts but cv. H-68 was more tolerant than Mexipak during later growth. The roots were more sensitive than the shoots. The salts under study could be divided into two groups. Bicarbonate, carbonate, acetate and citrate were more toxic for growth than sulphate, nitrate, phosphate and chloride of sodium. The individual members of each group did not vary much from one another.

Using immunochemical methods a comparison was made of a complex of water soluble (albumins) and salt soluble (globulins) seed proteins, especially vicilin and legumin, in selected species of the genusPisum, to determine the degree of their taxonomic relationship.
Within the genusPisum the interspecific differences betweenP. abyssinicum, P. cinereum,P. elatius, P. fulvum, P. sativum, andP. syriacum are much smaller, and thus the taxonomic distances are shorter than is the casee.g. in the genusPhaseolus. In spite of this fact one may state thatPisum sativum, P. elatius andP. syriacum constitute a definite group, whereasP. abys-sinicum, P. cinereum and P.fulvum have longer taxonomic distances.

Proteins from two species of the genusArtocarpus (A. integrifolia L. andA. incisa L.) were compared by ammonium sulphate fractionation, molecular sieve chromatography and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, with special attention to the lectins. The protein content and hemagglutinating activity were markedly different in the two seeds. The protein pattern obtained by both molecular sieve chromatography and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were quite different. The only similarities found were the elution volume of the lectins in the Sephadex G-100 column and the lectin bands (11 500 and 15 000 daltons) in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Proteolytic activities were studied in cotyledons of germinated and mature dry seed and axis of mature dry seed ofVigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. cv. Seridó using the following substrates: hemoglobin (pH 3.5), casein (pH 6.0), LPA (pH 7.0), and BAPA (pH 7.6). During the germination period (six days) examined, the total activities of LPA-ase and BAPA-ase decreased progressively in cotyledons corresponding to protein depletion. Consequently, the specific activities of the above proteases remain practically constant. In the case of caseinase and hemoglobinase, total activities increased in the cotyledons up to the third day of germination. Thereafter there was a decrease in these activities (total) but an increase in specific activities. Higher values than in the cotyledons for all the activities were obtained with the axis of mature dry seed. A 25 to 50 % ammonium sulfate fraction of a buffered extract from mature dry seed was used as source of enzyme for all the substrates used. Sephadex G-100 chromatography of the 25 to 50 % (NH⁴)²SO⁴ fraction gave two main peaks which correspond to relative molecular mass of 100 000 and 60 000 and contained all the activities.

A decreased germination capacity of the seeds ofChenopodium bonus- henricut collected at high altitude is not due to an embryo dormancy. It is caused by a seed coat inhibition. The seed coats contain large amount of strongly oxidisable phenolic compounds which deprive the embryo of oxygen.

Influence of high intensive flashes on the yield of free radicals in intact seeds and excised embryonic axis, endosperm, and seed coat, and its resulting effect on seedling growth, total biomass production and phosphorus metabolism in wheat (Triticum aeativum), vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and onion (Allium cepa L.) was studied. Free radicals (f.r.) were formed mainly in seed coat and not in the endosperm. Vetch seeds after irradiation had 20.76 X 10¹³ f.r. g^-1 dry intact seed and 17.30 X 10¹³ f.r. g^-1 dry seed coat. Excised seed coats exposed to irradiation also yielded 17.28 × 10¹³ f.r. g^-1 dry matter. High irradiance "white light" flashes induced more f.r. than a monochromatic one of the same photon content. Red (650 nm), farred (750 nm) and even infra-red (1100 nm) radiation did not initiated f.r. formation but resulted in their decay in samples irradiated earlier by "white", blue and green parts of the spectrum. Blue irradiation of seeds led to the decrease in the length of shoots and roots in comparison to "white", green and red irradiation but their biomass increased faster than in the seedlings obtained from non-irradiated or irradiated with "white" and green radiation. The quantity of total acid soluble phosphorus followed a sequence with respect to wavelength of radiation: 436 nm > 650 nm> > 540 nm > non-irradiated > 300-800 nm. Quantity of inorganic phosphorus remained unaffected by different spectral character of radiation. The quantity of organic acid soluble nucleic phosphorus and acid insoluble polyphosphates was higher in samples irradiated with red beams (650 ± 6 nm).

The effects of some growth regulators on the dark-germinating seeds ofCucumis anguria have been investigated. GA₃, 6-BA and ethrel strongly promoted the germination of seeds kept in white light. GA₃ had no effect in counteracting the far red effect, but did counteract partially the blue light. Ethrel partially counteracted both the far red and blue light effect. No interaction could be found between red light and GA₃ or 6-BA.

The relationships between protein- and RNA synthesis and the germination behaviour of lettuce seeds were studied. Protein synthesis starts right at the beginning of imbibition and increases until the radicle protrudes. According to our results the causes for a blocked development of scotodormant lettuce seeds cannot be seen in a generally reduced protein or RNA synthesis.

A low reproducibility of some characteristics in the life cycle of the volvocal algaChlamydomonas geitleri was observed in repeated experiments. The sets of the cultures were very similar in the number of the studied characteristics, but some of them differed significantly in one or several characteristics whereas the others agreed in a whole set. This is documented by the growth in a nitrogenless medium, the formation of zygotes, and their maturation and germination. The results of a small representative set of experiments were treated by an analysis of variance. Some possible explanations are discussed.

Using biospecific chromatography on fetuin D-Glc-Separon H 1.000, lectins were isolated from the seeds of six representatives of the speciesPhaseolus vulgaris ssp.aborigineus of different geographical origin. The lectins of all the six representatives exhibit the agglutinating activity against rabbit erythrocytes (non-treated, tryp3in-treated and pronase-treated) as well as against human erythrocytes (irrespective of blood group) but of different quantity. Lectins isolated from 4 seed types showed mitogenic activity against lymphocytes of murine spleen, whereas in two seed types mitogenic activity was not proved. Isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels revealed in the different seed types 2 to 5 bands of lectins within the range of pI 4-6. Differences in the composition of lectin spectra were proved by means of immunoelectrophoresis and double diffusion. The presence of α-D-galactosidase has not been established in any isolated lectin.

The study of certain conditions for the extraction of seed proteins ofAllium cepa revealed that the best extractibility of proteins is obtained by the use of a buffered physiological solution at 20 °C in comparison with TRIS-glycine buffer at 5 °C. Using potassium phosphate buffer with 0.01 M mercaptoethanol and 0.4 M NaCl, an amount of proteins by up to 25 per cent higher passes into solution as compared with the physiological solution, but these extracts are unsuitable for the electrophoretic separation in polyacrylamide gels. The defatting of the seed meal under low temperature did not affect the qualitative composition of the protein complex studied, the addition of a 1 per cent soluble starch to the polyacrylamide gel. improved its resolution.

The relationships between DNA synthesis and germination capacity ofAgrostemma seeds have been studied. Protein synthesis and RNA synthesis are activated at the very beginning of imbibition, whereas DNA synthesis starts in the second part of the imbibition phase.
Agrostemma seeds inhibited by higher temperature (30° C), or aged seeds with a low germination capacity are characterized by a remarkably reduced protein synthesis. DNA synthesis is also reduced. The inhibition of protein-synthesis ofAgrostemma embryos fed with cycloheximid or actinomycin D causes a depression of DNA synthesis. These results indicate that the initiation of DNA synthesis of imbibingAgrostemma seeds depends on the synthesis of special proteins. Abscisic acid inhibits growth as well as DNA synthesis of isolatedAgrostemma embryos. Mitomycin inhibits germination and DNA synthesis to the same extent. Dormant seeds with an undiminished intensity of protein synthesis also show a reduced incorporation of³H-thymidine in DNA. We suggest that DNA synthesis of imbibed seeds, which is a necessary prerequisite for the radicle protrusion, is involved in the mechanism of afterripening of theAgrostemma seeds.

Complexes of water soluble proteins (albumins) were investigated in three cultivarsof Phaseolus vulgaris, viz: Yeltruská Saxa, Vainica Saavegra B, and Krupnaya sakharnaya. The first two cultivars exhibit haemagglutinating activity against rabbit erythrocytes, but have different elution profiles on Sephadex G-100. Their individual peaks have a different subunit composition, as revealed by SDS gel electrophoresis, as well as a different immunoelectrophoretic pattern, although proteins I and II of the specificity Veltruská Saxa are present in both cultivars. The cultivar Krupnaya sakharnaya expressively differs from the preceding lectin cultivars; it has no erythroagglutinating activity, its albumin complex has a high-molecular component, absent in the preceding ones, and has no lectin peak in the region of molecular mass of 100 000 to 200 000. Immunoelectrophoresis gave no evidence of protein I and II of the specificity Veltruská Saxa.

Germination ofCucumis anguria was inhibited by white, blue (B), and far-red (FR) irradiation and promoted by darkness and red (R) irradiation. The effect of white light was greater when supplied after rather than before the dark period. Darkness was more effective in reversing the effect of FR than FR in reversing the effect of darkness. FR was also more effective than B. When darkness followed B pretreatments, final germination percentage was higher than with FR pretreatment. R fully reversed the inhibitory effect of FR.

Using biospecific chromatography on D-Glc-Separon-fetuin, lectins were isolated from seed albumin complexes of four cultivars ofPhaseolus vulgaris (Veltruská Saxa, Vainica Saavegra, Krupnaya sakharnaya, Olympia) andPhaseolus vulgaris ssp.aborigineus (wild form, considered to be one of the ancestors of cultivated beans). In the lectins isolated the agglutinating activity against human erythrocytes of the A, B, and O groups was estimated, as well as against trypsin-treated and non-treated rabbit erythrocytes. Further analyses involved their mitogenic activity against lymphocytes of murine spleen, their isoelectric points by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels, and eventually their immunospecific similarity with the lectins of the standard cultivar ofPhaseolus vulgaris, Veltruská Saxa.
The lectins of all taxa were mitogenic, but differed from one another in their agglutinating activity and in the number and isoelectric points of the zones, as revealed by both isoelectric focusing and immunoelectrophoresis. In the case of the cultivar Vainica Saavegra, which is a seggregating population, even the lectins of individual seed groups were different.

The variability of some seed proteins ofPhaseolus vulgaris was followed in individual seeds of 26cultivars of this species. Polymorphism was established with two proteins showing completely different immunochemical specificities which have previously been classified as the protein I and the protein II of the specificity Veltruská Saxa and Krupnaya sakhamaya respectively. Various combinations of these proteins occur in several cultivars. It was further found that the protein II of the specificity Veltruská Saxa had phytohaemagglutinating activity.

Three different treatments by calcium (10²M), namely seed treatment, foliar spraying and their combination were applied on field-grown rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Ratna) under both water stressed and non-stressed conditions in the course of plant development. The relative water content and leaf water potential decreased with increase in age of stressed and non-stressed plants. Pretreatment of seeds with Ca improved the water status of the plants most prominently at the vegetative stage but the effect gradually faded away with plant development. The foliar spraying by Ca was more effective in improving the water status of the plants at the reproductive stage. The combined Ca treatment significantly improved water status of the plants both at the vegetative and reproductive stages. The contents of chlorophyll and protein decreased and the activities of protease and RNase increased in the course of plant development in both non-stressed and even more in stressed plants. Ca treatments of seeds or plants or their combination inhibited the decline in chlorophyll and protein contents and the rising trends of protease and RNase activities, the combined treatment being most effective. During plant development free proline content increased significantly more in water stressed plants. In non-stressed plants there was a marked increase in the free proline content at the mature fruit stage. Ca treatment inhibited the rise of free proline in stressed plants. A significant reduction in yield components and yield of the crop in water stressed plants was increased by Ca treatment.