Studies performed on seeds of several cultivars of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var.lutescens) revealed differences in the studied seed dehydration tolerance affecting seed germination and seedling emergence. Among the cultivars studied, seeds of Kolibri showed capability to maintain both high germination energy and high emergence rate at diminished water potential of the environment. Seed dehydration tolerance was increased when the parent plants were subjected to drought.

The induction of gametogenesis has its beginning in the most diluted cell suspension after the transfer of the cells to a nitrogen-less medium. Here, the highest percentage frequencies of zygotes are formed within the same period of time in comparison with the less diluted cell suspensions. The zygotes formed in the mostly diluted cell suspensions mature relatively very slowly and germinate very irregularly. The induction of gametogenesis retards in the denser cultures probably due to the strongest homeostatic forces trying to return the cell population to its initial stage. In our experiments up to now, the effects of the changing irradiance of the cells inside the suspension were not separated from the effects of the changing number of the cells in the given volume of the culture. Neither were the ratios of distilled water to the amount of the zygotes, nor to the vegetative cells constant. Thus, it is necessary to consider the mentioned effects as the result of an interaction of both factors under consideration. Each of the cell populations behaved as an autonomous whole. Also the populations, starting after the transfer to a nitrogen-less medium of the same culture density, may sometimes differ significantly in the observed characteristic features at various phases of their growth. The discontinued supply of nitrogen obviously causes a change of the cell metabolism in favour of the nitrogen-less substances, especially in the more diluted cell suspension. This work completes and explains some earlier results obtained from the study of the life cycle inChlamydomonas geitleri.

Toluidine blue is known to induce gynogenic haploids in significant numbersin Populus]. Because the efficacy of a chemical in inducing gynogenesis depends largely on its effeot on pollen germination, on pollen tube growth, and on male gamete formation, the effect of toluidine blue (0, 1, 10 and 100 mgl-1) on these processes was studied in treated pistils ofSolatium nigrum (4 X), as well as on cultured pollen grains ofS. nigrum andTrigonella foenumgraecum.
Irrespective of the time of application, toluidine blue (1 and 10 mg I-1) had no effect on pollen germination or pollen tube growth in pistils ofS. nigrum; at 100 mg I-1 it invariably inhibited both the processes. Almost similar responses were elicited by cultured pollen grains. InT. foenum-graecum toluidine blue had no effeot on pollen germination and suppressed tube growth. Gamete formation was inhibited, to various degrees, at all the concentrations tested; at 100 ing I-1 hardly any pollen tube showed gamete formation. Based on our results, and those on other systems, the potentiality of toluidine blue as an inducer of gynogenesis has been analysed.

Barium chloride at 0.1 mM concentration inhibited elongation of mungbean (Phaseolus aureus) roots more strongly than elongation of hypocotyls. Root growth was completely inhibited at 80 mM and there was no germination at 100 mM. Respiration rates which were directly proportional to seedling vigour declined at varying degrees at the growth-inhibitory concentrations of BaCl₂. Barium retarded senescence in isolated leaf discs ofCephalandra indica by maintaining the chlorophyll level in darkness. The carotenes were similarly protected from degradation by Ba in darkness whereas xanthophylls were retained both in darkness and light. Ba also protected anthocyanin pigments in the staminode discs ofCanna indica flowers and reduced to a variable extent the leakage of betacyanin pigment fromBeta vulgaris root discs caused by various membrane active chemicals. Applied either alone or in combination with IAA, Ba inhibited cell enlargement in wheat (Triticum aestivum) coleoptile sections. Barium-induced inhibition of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) hypocotyl elongation was largely overcome by GA₃.

Maize seeds were allowed to germinate in the presence of different nitrogenous salts for 72 h. Changes in the ethanol soluble and insoluble nitrogen were studied in the embryo and in the endosperm. Supply of Ca(NC₃)₂ enhanced germination and protease activity in the endosperm resulting in greater solubilisation of protein to soluble nitrogen in the seeds. NH₄NO₃ and (NH₄)₂SO₄ were less effective as compared to Ca(NO₃)₂. Cycloheximide inhibited germination and protease activity.
Pretreatment also resulted in increase in growth, soluble and insoluble nitrogen, and nitrate reductase activity in the primary leaves. Ca(NO₃)₂ was more effective than NH₄NO₃ and (NH₄)₂SO₄.

Germination was increasingly inhibited at concentrations above 5 and 20 mM and stopped altogether at 80 and 50 mM NaF in rice and jute respectively, whereas the inhibition of seedling growth began at much lower concentrations. Of the enzymes, RNase activity was increased by fluoride, while α-amylase, protease, phytase and ATPase activities exhibited distinct inhibition from the control.

The capacity of pollen tubes to utilize exogenous uridine during 8 h of cultivation in shaken suspension in a sugar-mineral medium was examined by continuous and pulse labelling with³H-uridine. The increase of uptake with increasing concentration of the nucleoside indicated a saturable transport system with an approximate K_m of 9.4 × 10^-6 M and 12.5 × 10^-6M as determined in 1-h and 6-h cultures, respectively. Maximal uptake took place at the beginning of germination reaching a rate of about 2 nmol h^-1 per 1 mg of dry pollen at 0.1 mM external uridine. The uptake activity decreased with the time of pollen tube growth to less than one third during the 8-h cultivation period. Moreover, the level of radioactivity taken up initially decreased later on during continuous cultivation in the presence of³H-uridine. The uptake took place against a concentration difference and the onset and rate of uridine release depended on its exogenous concentration.
The activity of the nucleoside incorporation into RNA increased during the first 4 h of cultivation, decreasing later on. The proportion of RNA radioactivity in continuously labelled pollen tubes grew steadily during 6 h and reached 2.5% with respect to soluble pool at 0.4 μM uridine. The time course of RNA labelling was independent of uridine concentration within the range of 0.4 μM to 40 μM but this concentration rise resulted in an about fiftyfold increase of the total amount of external uridine incorporated.

Macromolecule syntheses, especially incorporation of radioactive labelled precursors into proteins, RNA and DNA were investigated. Some results on the action of phytohormones applied to dormant seeds and on the influence on water stress conditions by interruption of imbibition even before the radicle protrudes, on germination as well as on RNA and DNA synthesis were analysed. Benzylaminopurine and ethylene, applied in combination, could break dormancy of dormant seeds; a process which is correlated with the onset of DNA synthesis. Interruption of the imbibition during the time of onset of DNA synthesis (after 16 h of imbibition) did not impair the germination, and the protein, RNA and DNA syntheses started after reimbibition at that level which was reached at the interruption point. Only after a break in later phases (after 22 h of imbibition) a weak impairment of germination could be observed.

Ten taxa of the genusPisum were examined by disc electrophoresis in gels according to Davis and to Reisfeldet al. For evaluation of band patterns the Jaccard Index was applied.
The results in both types of gels show thatPisum abyssinicum and especiallyP. fulvum have biochemically a relatively isolated position.Pisum elatius and its subspeciescaspicum andpalestinicum form a subgroup withP. cinereum;P. sativum var.zeylanicum and cv. Jupiter form another subgroup withP. syriacum.
Our results are in good agreement with the results of Przybylskaet al. (with the exception ofP. cinereum) and also with immunoelectrophoretic analyses performed by Turkováet al. (1980), with the same exception.

Morphactin-butylester (a flourene-9-carboxylic acid derivative) inhibited seed germination of two strains of lettuce. Morphactin induced inhibition of germination could be partially or wholly reversed by simultaneous addition of gibberellic acid. However, gibberellic acid played very little part in reversing the inhibitory effect of morphactin on seedling growth. It is concluded that gibberellin can not reverse all the growth effects induced by morphactin.

The plant growth regulator 2-ohloroethylphosphonic acid inhibited the elongation of growth inPhaseolus aureus seedlings. In comparison to the control, the polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activity of treated seedlings was low up to 24 and 48 h of germination, respectively and that of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and tyrosine ammonia-lyase was slightly less at 120 h and that of α- and β-glucosidases were less at 48 and 72 h, respectively. At other stages of germination, it greatly stimulated the activities of these enzymes.

Flowering ofChenopodium rubrum seedlings fed different sugars at a concentration of 0.6 and 0.4 M, reap, during a single inductive cycle was stimulated or inhibited in dependence on the conditions of germination and initial growth. Plants allowed to germinate at alternating temperatures of 28 °C and 5 °C showed a slower initial growth and their development was stimulated by some sugars as compared to controls induced in the absence of sugars. Plants germinated at alternating temperatures of 32 °C and 5 °C exhibited a rapid initial growth and flowering was inhibited after induction in the presence of sugars. On the other hand, development proceeded more rapidly in control plants induced in the absence of sugars after germination at the higher temperature than after germination at the lower one. The differences between the two variants quoted above could be observed also after induction by two 16 h dark cycles. Glucose and sucrose were most effective in stimulating flowering under appropriate conditions of germination. Fructose was less effective and the action of maltose was very weak. Xylose, ribose and galactose were innocuous, while arabinose, glucoso-6-phosphate and mannitol were toxic to the plants. The sugars inhibited root growth in all cases and led to an increase in starch accumulation in the underground and overground plant organs. At a concentration of 0.6 M they mostly inhibited the length of the cotyledons and, especially, of the first leaf; at a concentration of 0.4 M growth of the overground organs was stimulated. The results are discussed with respect to the possible ohanges in photoperiodic sensitivity brought about by the rate of initial growth.

In pea alcohol dehydrogenase (PADH) four isoenzymes were detected with the same mobility in one-and two-day germinating seeds; in three-and four-day seedlings the isoenzyme fastest moving towards the anode was lacking. These isoenzymes did not differ in substrate specificity to ethanol, propanol, butanol, and allyl alcohol, but only three of them reacted with isobutanol, and two with cyclohexanol.
On germination of seeds in actinomycin D at a concentration of 30 μg ml^-1 two isoenzymes disappeared and the activity of the other two was considerably lower.

The treatment of rice seeds with 0.02% proline increased the germination under saline conditions.

The germination of the pollen from11 individuals of six wildRosa species was studied. The presence of calcium resulted in increased pollen germination, longer pollen tubes, and in a decrease of the requirement of sucrose concentration in cultivation media. Pollen germination in the medium with Ca reached the values of pollen viability estimated by tetrazolium test in all cases except with roses with balanced heterogamy, of the sectionCaninae. The stimulating effect of calcium was generally most pronounced in the pollen from roses of hybrid nature, such asR. jundzillii, R. canina, and especially in the case of the calciphilous speciesR. eglanteria.

Trends in the time course, changes in the moisture, soluble amino acids, proline, abscisic acid contents and nitrate reductase activity determined byin vivo method in the developing seeds of wheat were studied. Maximum dry matter augmentation in the seed took place in the period between 10-30 days after anthesis. Per cent moisture and moisture content started declining 15 days and 25 days after anthesis, respectively. Levels of soluble amino acids, proline and nitrate reductase activity were higher during initial stages of seed development, but decreased with increasing magnitude of dehydration and accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA) in the maturing seeds.

Esterase isoenzyme patterns were studied in seeds of 6 cultivars ofAllium cepa L. and of14 species ofAllium, namelyAllium aflatunense B. Fedtsch.,A. altaicum (Pall.) Reyse,A. Cristophii Trautv.,A. fistulosum L.,A. jajlae Vved.,A. Karsianum Fom.,A. nutans L.,A. porrum L. cv. Gigant,A. praemixtum Vved.,A. pskemense Vved.,A. ramosum L.,A.rotundum L.,A. schoenoprasum L.,A. stipitatum Regel. The cultivars differ in their isoenzyme patterns, the cultivar Kaštická stands apart from all the other cultivars, probably due to the high alkalinity of its seed extract. The examined species, arranged according to their mutual similarity of isoenzyme patterns, form several groups corresponding to individual sections of the genus. Our results corroborate the recognizing of the sectionCepa and the subsectionPhyllodolon. The maintaining ofA. jajlae andA. rotundum as well described species fits better with our results, than degrading them to subspecies ofA. scorodoprason.
Our results agree in main features with those obtained by the immunological method. Some few differences appear concerning individual species. It is evident that esterase isoenzyme patterns can be used in chemotaxonomy ofAllium on an infrageneric level, and, at least inA. cepa, also on an infraspecific level.

The increased activity of GOT (E.C.2.6.1.1.) and GPT (E.C.2.6.1.2.) transaminases in maize seedlings found as a marker of genotype opaque-2, was investigated in extirped sprouts of both genotypes, normal and opaque-2. The enzymatic activity was determined in three maize samples from breeding experiments, each sample consisting of a genotype pair, normal and opaque-2, collected from segregating ears of maize plants in the S₁ generation. The seedlings were aseptically grown for 7 days in two variants of cultivation, intact seedlings and sprouts extirped after 4 days of germination.
In the intact seedlings of genotype opaque-2 an increased activity of GOT and GPT, as compared to the intact normal plants, was observed. The extirpation of the sprouts enhanced GOT and GPT activity in the sprouts of both genotypes. However, in extirped sprouts the GOT and GPT activity was found to be still higher in the genotype opaque-2 as compared with the sprouts of normal genotype. Thus it seems that the increased transaminase activity in the sprouts of genotype opaque-2 is genetically determined. The increase does not result from an induction of enzyme synthesis through the supply of amino acids translocated from the endosperm to the sprouts. The absolute level of transaminases in the different breeding samples is dependent on the parenteral lines, the relative level of GOT and GPT activities is higher in the genotype opaque-2.

Changes in the percentage of seed germination, the growth and respiration rate of the seedlings were observed at 15-day intervals from the stage of the full germination capacity of rice (Oryza saliva L.) seeds till they became non-viable. At the beginning, the respiration rate changed but little, but afterwards, with the approach of non-viability, the rate declined sharply. A positive correlation of respiration with a decrease in the germination percentage and the length of seedlings and a negative correlation with days of storage were also established. A strong correlation existed between catalase and peroxidase activity with respiration, indicating that the activity of these enzymes can be used as an indicator of metabolism, and therefore can be considered as part of the respiratory mechanism of rice seedlings.

Decapitation induced an additional formation of secondary shoots and anomalous spikes in all the species. The moan numbers of nodes, spikelets per spike, seeds per spikelet and spike, and the mean length of the stem and spike were reduced on secondary shoots of decapitated plants, while the mean and peak numbers of flowers per spikelet and the peak number of seeds per spikelet increased. The increase in the number of flowers per spikelet was the most striking on spike base; the seeds regularly occurred even in spikelets with an expressively increased number of flowers. The post-decapitation changes of the spike could be well expressed quantitatively according to the increased mean number of the flowers per one seed. Morphological ohanges in anomalous spikes of all the wheat species resemble phylogenetic reversions described in literature. Moreover, the peak numbers of flowers and seeds per spikelet were recorded in 52 varieties belonging to 21 wheat species. As compared with the decapitation trial, the greatest variability and the greatest differences between the speoies were also reoorded in the tetraploid group, and the smallest variability and differences between the species in the diploid group. We suppose that the striking morphological differences in post-decapitation spikes take place because the apical dominance was interrupted before differentiation of the recent form had been controlled in meristems on the decapitated stem base. Ancestral forms were morphologically realized with the help of an assimilating part of the decapitated stem.

Sucrose was markedly superior to fructose and glucose in promoting growth of plantlets from immature maize embryos. The elongation of roots is shown to be more sucrose dependent than that of shoots. On the other hand, the exogenous sucrose was less effective than fructose as substrate for carbohydrate catabolism and for the synthesis of alcohol-insoluble compounds at the beginning of embryo cultivation. The absorbed fructose was found to be rapidly converted to sucrose and the level of endogenous sucrose derived from sugar supplied to the medium was higher in fructosethan in sucrose-fed embryos. The preferential utilization of fructose over sucrose, however, declined with the progress of germination which may be related to the decrease in proportion of scutellum in total mass and physiological activity of the embryo.

The contribution deals with the distribution of β-glucuronidase in the germinating pollen grains ofPortulaca grandiflora. In non-germinating pollen grains the enzyme is localized in the pollen wall; the cytoplasmic activity is subdued. With the initiation of germination, the activity of enzyme increases and the positive granules are richly packed in the pollen grains and pollen tubes. The stigma hairs also have such an activity. The functions of the enzyme in the metabolism of germinating pollen grains are discussed.

Among different populations of monogerm sugarbeet fruits, those characterized by the lowest percentages of germination exhibited the lowest percentages of mechanical deoperculation (removal of the fruit cap under the sole imbitition pressure). X-ray radiography of dry fruits allowed a classification based on the space occupied by seeds inside the fruit cavity and further established a correlation between the fruit type (filled, semi-filled, empty), passive deoperculation and germination. The degree of correlation depended on the amount of bedding water which further conditioned the fruit surrounding water film.

Isoenzyme pattern of peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and catalase at different intervals during germination and in different plant parts during early development of 'C-306' and 'Hira' cultivars, representing tall and dwarf wheats, respectively were investigated. The number of isoenzymic components of the three enzymes increased progressively with the concomitant increase in the stage of germination. The isoenzymic patterns, in general, were more clear and better developed during the later stages of germination. Different tissues or organs of the wheat plant possessed specific isoenzymic pattern of these enzymes. Differences between cultivars were observed both in the number and relative intensity of the various isoenzymic fractions.

Studies on seeds of 40 arid zone plant species have revealed that seeds exhibit differential specificity in water inhibition percentage. Most of these seeds show very poor imbibition capacity and that takes place within the first three hours, after which this uptake becomes very slow. This low hydrature and quick water uptake wherever it takes place is correlated with the erratic rainfall in the Indian arid zone. Most of the leguminous seeds are impermeable to water because of hard seed coatedness. However, those seeds which imbibed showed a very high percentage of water uptake.

Experiments were aimed at checking whether the non-stratified apple embryos are sensitive to growth factors and light. The effect of growth regulators on light sensitivity was also studied. The stimulating or inhibiting effect of GA3, benzyladenine and IAA or coumarin on the dynamics of apple embryo germination was demonstrated. Seasonal fluctuations of the effect of the growth factors were noted. The stimulating effect of light on the germination of non-stratified apple embryos was demonstrated. This effect is independent of season and seems to be independent of the effects of growth regulators.

Phloridzin level and phloridzin β-glucosidase activity were estimated during apple seed cold stratification and during the culture of apple embryos isolated from seeds after different times of stratification. Both these factors were found to increase parallel to the progress of stratification as well as to the increasing ability of seeds/embryos to germinate. However, in the seed coats phloridzin dissappears during the progress of stratification despite the increasing β-glucosidase activity.
Phloridzin formation in the embryos is postulated to be under light and gibberellin control, when isolated embryos germinate, and under temperature and gibberellin influence during the cold stratification of the seeds. The same factors control β-glucosidase activity development, which is also stimulated by the substrate itself. It is postulated that phloridzin accumulation and its glucosidase activity are indirectly related to the after-ripening process and directly to the germination of the embryos.

Gamma radiation in doses 0.13 to 0.77 C kg^-1 (0.5 to 3.0 kR) significantly (P ≥ 0.01) stimulated seed germination, seedling height, and length of primary leaves of French bean cv. 'Blue Lake'; these doses did not affect chlorophyll content per leaf area unit. Doses of 1.16 to 1.93 C kg^-1 (4.5 to 7.5 kR) induced inhibition of the four parameters studied.

In the cultivar ofPhaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Vainica Saavegra B a protein was found in the seeds having a more or less reduced electrophoretic mobility on the cathodic side in comparison with standard cultivars. This protein which has phytohaemagglutinating activity loses this property at a greatly decreased mobility, whereas at partially reduced mobility the phytohaemagglutinating activity is maintained. The protein with a partially decreased mobility is immunochemically identical with the protein having normal mobility, whilst the protein with strongly reduced mobility is immunochemically only partly similar.

3 peaks of DNA synthesis were observed in the barley embryo of seeds, germinating for 49 h in running tap water at 25°C. The first peak, found after 22h, was formed by S-cells in the roots and in the 1st leaf meristem. The second peak (after 34-37h) and third peak (after 46-49 h) represents the S-cells in the roots, apex and 1st, 2nd and 3rd leaf meristems. Application of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea for 3 h at the onset of germination inhibited the rate of DNA synthesis and postponed the peaks of DNA synthesis in individual meristems of the embryo.