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.

No proportional changes in the photosynthetic rate,P, (measured as the dry weight increments in leaf discs) as related to the specific leaf weight,SLW (i.e. leaf dry weight per unit leaf area) were found because of different variation inP andSLW, respectively, with the age and insertion level of individual sugar beet leaves as well as with the age of the whole plant.

Neither the incubation of the flower scapes of garlic (Allium sativum L.) in tetracycline solution nor the extirpation of the bulblets from the inflorescences led to the development of fertile binuclear pollen. Higher tetracycline concentrations than 125 mg per litre showed a clearly phytotoxic effect. The removal of the bulblets from the inflorescences improved the survival of flowers but it enabled only the initial stages of seed development. The seeds obtained were defective and not able to germinate. The hypothesis on infectious nature of the factors causing sterility in garlic is discussed.

Humus substances synthesis was investigated in the course of birch wood decomposition by a brown-rot fungusPiptoporus betulinus. With progressing decomposition of wood by brown rot the proportion of high molecular weight humic acids is gradually increased at the expense of fulvic acids, the amount of which is proportionally lowered. The high molecular weight humus constituents are not accumulated in wood decomposed by a laccase producing white-rot fungi despite the availability of suitable phenolic substrates; the low molecular weight fraction of fulvic acids is permanently higher than the fraction of humic acids. The function of laccase in lignin degradation and in biosynthesis of humic acids is problematic.

Pollination induced dissolution of nucellar cells at the micropylar end forming a passage for pollen tube entry even when the pollen tubes are in the stylar region.

Virus origin of lilac ringspot and chlorotic ringspot of lilac was identified serologically by means of double gel diffusion method. The former of these diseases is due to Arabis mosaic virus, the latter to a mixture of Arabis mosaic virus and cherry leaf roll virus. The occurrence of these viruses has been detected for the first time in Czechoslovakia.

Anomocytic stomata and stomata with single subsidiary cells are commonly observed Sometimes a stoma appears anisocytic. Double cytoplasmic connections between nearby stomata and division of guard cells with persistent or degenerating nuclei are seen in GA. One or more divisions of guard cells, displaced guard cells and single guard cells with or without pore are noticed in SUC. Formation of single guard cells is a common feature in TIBA. Paracytic stomata, one and a half stomata and persistent stomatal initials are seen in SUL. COUM seems to be not inhibitory inCucumis sativus. In COL stomata with unequal guard cells, unequal stomatal cells with thickening in between but without intervening pore, stoma with double pores, persistent stomatal initials which may be solitary or in groups with varying shapes and with one or two nuclei of different shapes are noticed. The growth regulators affect the frequency of stomata, epidermal cells; stomatal index; size of guard and epidermal cells.

The uptake and translocation of³²P applied to nutrient solutions, as influenced by (2-chloroethyl) trimethylammonium chloride (CCC) and 2, 4-dichlorobenzyltributylphosphonium chloride (Phosfon), were investigated in growth chambers. Specific effects depended on the "Retardin", the method of application, and the concentration.
Foliar applications of CCC had no significant effect on³²P uptake 5 h after feeding. At 20 and 80h after feeding, CCC at 100 and at 1 000 mg l^-1 decreased P uptake. With root applications of CCC the same concentrations decreased P uptake as early as 5h after feeding, while the 1 mg l^-1 concentration enhanced P uptake by 40% after 20h. Both the foliar and the root applications of Phosfon influenced P uptake 5h after feeding. With foliar applications the low Phosfon concentration of 0.01 mg l^-1 increased P uptake throughout the experimental period of 80h, but the magnitudes of enhancement declined from 109% at 5h to 63% at 80h. Similarly, the enhancement of P uptake due to the 0.1 mg l^-1 foliar treatment declined from 132% at 5h to 80% at 80h.
100 mg l^-1 CCC enhanced P translocation to the shoot in 5h, with magnitudes of 29% (foliar application) and 64% (root application). At 20 and 80h the stimulations were nullified. The highest concentrations (100 mg l^-1 CCC; 10 mg l^-1 Phosfon) enhanced P translocation 80h after feeding. There were thus general enhancements of P uptake at low concentrations and suppressions at high concentrations, but these effects diminished with time, indicating transitory influences.

Populations ofScenedesmus quadricauda grown in a continuous chemostatic regime and synchronized by light and dark intervals were exposed to continuous illumination. The effect of light on synthetic and reproduction processes during the time of the omitted dark period and in the subsequent cell cycle was studied. In general, the sequence of cellular processes and their mutual coupling remain the same as in the darkened population. Synthetic processes and photosynthetic activity are depressed during the period of protoplast fission also in the light. The synchronizing effect of the dark period in chlorococcal algae consists in reducing the developmental variability in the population. The developmental state of daughter cells at the end of the dark interval varies in the span of two (as a rule) or four (at maximum) genomic cycles, while at the end of the light period this variability comprises up to eight genomic states. The more advanced autospores start the next cycle with a greater lag.

The preparation of antisera against S alleles of homozygous incompatible lines of the marrow-stem kale (Brassica oleracea var.acephala DC.) is described. The antisera obtained reacted specifically with homologous antigens on using the serological method of double diffusion into agar. The results confirmed the specificity of S alleles of incompatible lines of the marrow-stem kale.

A method of enzymatic separation of protoplasts from long-term tissue culture ofNicotiana tabacum L. is described. The efficiency of this method is dependent on conditions of separation and on the portion of meristematic cells in the tissue culture. This portion can be increased by pre-cultivations of the tissue on medium containing suitable concentration of hormones. The knowledge of the micromorphology of the filamentous culture enables us to investigate the course of release of protoplasts from various cell types. A preferential lysis of cell walls was observed between neighbouring cells in filaments and the fusion of their protoplasts was recorded. The preservation of cell walls which are not in a contact with other cells may be a result of the cell wall heterogeneity.

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.

Phototropic sensitivity of forest wood seedlings to lateral illumination was proposed as an early assay for distinquishing various ecotypes of woody plants of the same species. Statistical analysis showed that results were significantly influenced by heterogenity of experimental material caused by an interference of phototropic movements and natural oscillations of hypocotyl. Both movements of pine seedlings (Pinus silvestris L.) were registered by phase photography and their mechanism was analyzed. The apical part of growing hypocotyl illuminated from above oscillates in a space spiral with frequency 3.3 h at mean growth rate 0.66 mm h^-1. The mean size of spiral amplitudes is 2.9 mm. The oscillation rhythm is disturbed after the lateral illumination and a phase shift was observed as a result. A new oscillation rhythm with frequency 3.9 h and mean growth rate 0.69 mm h^-1 was stabilized after a period of time equal to one nutation turn. Oscillation amplitudes were increased to 4.3 mm.
In addition to the radiation intensity the appearance of the phototropic response to light pulse is first of all effected by the actual position of the apical part of hypocotyl in the course of endogenous circumnutations. A uniform plant material for the early assay may be obtained by selection of seedlings which are at the beginning of lateral illumination in the same phase of nutation rhythm. Under such conditions the deviations of longitudinal axis of oscillating spirals characterize the actual phototropic curvature.

Metabolic changes in tomato plants infected with potato leafroll virus were followed. The virus was transferred by grafts taken from diseased tomato plants. Sharp changes in the respiration rate and in the activities of the investigated enzymes observed before the concrescence of the graft with the stock are obviously connected with the defence reactions of the plant. In the roots of the experimental plants a nearly complete correspondence of the course ofo-diphenol oxidase and ascorbic acid oxidase activities with the respiration rate occurs. In the shoots the respiratory chain with ascorbic acid oxidase as terminal oxidase is involved, whereas both chains probably take part in the respiration in the roots by which a link with sugar degradation is achieved. The rate of glycolysis and that of pentose phosphate cycle in the roots of experimental plants are nearly identical. The comparison of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity with ascorbic acid oxidase activity reveals that both curves show the same course, which indicates the presence and action of a respiratory thain with ascorbic acid oxidase functioning as terminal oxidase.

A new method enabling to localize recessive alleles controling lethal embryonal or chlorophyll mutations in linkage groups has been devised and verified. The information on the linkage was obtained in B₁ in repulsion after the crosses with recessive visible markers representing the individual linkage groups. The distinction of four B₁ genotypes was achieved by means of Müller's embryotest. Altogether eight mutant alleles were localized. The allelesch 2411, ch 4062 andX 3 are carried by the first linkage group, the allelesM 33 andM 25 by the third and the allelech 1378 by the fourth linkage group. The mutant allelesch 42 andM 4-6-18 showed the linkage with the markers of the fifth and the sixth linkage groups simultaneously. The possibilities of further development and use of this method are discussed.

The excretion of cytokinins into the cultivating medium, which are produced by the phytopathogenic fungiMonilia sp. andCytospora sp. has been investigated. All the isolates of the fungi used in the experiments (Monilia fructicola, Monilia fructigena, isolate 2 and 4,Monilia laxa isolate 3 andCytospora sp. isolate CPL and C₁) have been found to produce cytokinins. The production is increased during the formation of the fructification organs. Among the isolates investigatedMonilia fructigena isolate 4 andCytospora sp. isolate CPL showed the highest production of cytokinins. After chromatographic separation, cytokinin activity was found at R_F 0.7-0.8 values by the biological test as well as by identification according to UV spectra. Application of purified cytokinins produced by the fungi evoked the formation of "green islands" on isolated barley leaves underin vitro conditions.

The investigation of the hormonal nature of plant flowering in connection with their photoperiodic reaction has shown that flowering depends on a bicomponental system of hormones, gibberellins regulating stem formation and growth and substances of the anthesin type regulating flower formation. In agreement with the division of the photoperiodic reaction into a leaf and a stem phase the study of the internal factors acting on plant flowering was carried out by means of leaf and stem (apex, bud and callus) models. The results obtained from work with leaf models proved the presence of two groups of hormones of flowering in plants. The data obtained from the application of stem models pointed to the localization of the action of gibberellin and anthesin in different zones of the shoot apices and characterized the potential capacity for flower formation of isolated callus tissue of neutral and photoperiodically sensitive species.

The time course of the changes in the level of endogenous growth regulators was followed during the stratification at 5 °C of the seeds of 'Panenské české' apples. An increase in the endogenous gibberellin activity was found already during the first and the second week of stratification which is according to it decisive for the release of dormancy in the seeds, as it precedes with the anticipation of approximately two weeks the curve of the release of dormancy in the seeds. The rise in the level of endogenous cytokinins in the seeds is belated one to two weeks behind the rise in gibberellin activity in them and thus approximately coincides with the release of dormancy. The rise in auxin level occurs approximately 4 weeks after the increase in cytokinin level. The increase in auxin level, which is accompanied by an increase in inhibitions, is apparently not connected with the release of dormancy in the seeds during the stratification.

Arabidopsis thaliana was susceptible to eight out of ten investigated viruses with six of which it did not show any symptoms of local infection; this appeared only in two cases.A. thaliana was a symptomless carrier for three viruses. The considerably distinct systemic symptoms after the infection with turnip yellow mosaic, tomato black ring, cucumber mosaic and cabbage black ring viruses make possible a very reliable and specific distinction of the causal agens.A. thaliana could be used for these viruses as a differential host.

Besides IAA, other compounds with auxin activity (of both indole and non-indole nature) can also cause an increase in glutamate dehydrogenase level in excised pea roots. The effect of these substances is probably not mediated by ethylene, depends on proteosynthesis, is independent of the regulatory effect of sugars and need not be influenced by the antagonism between auxins and cytokinins.

The healthy leaves of rice cultivar 'BJ 1' resistant to bacterial leaf streak pathogen (Xanthomonas translucens f. sp.oryzicola) contained higher quantities of total phenolic compounds, reducing and nonreducing sugars than the susceptible cultivar 'IR 8', while the leaves of cultivar 'IR 8' possessed larger concentration of total soluble amino acids than the resistant cultivar 'BJ 1'.
In the leaves of cultivar 'BJ 1', the disease development caused an initial decrease in the concentration of phenols followed by an increase at later stages. As a result of inoculation, soluble carbohydrates and amino acids generally decreased in the leaves of resistant cultivar 'BJ 1', in contrast to an increase in their concentration in the leaves of cultivar 'IR 8'.

The effects of soaking seed in 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (CEPA) for 24 or for 48 h on the cumulative 5-day seedling growth ofCucumis sativus L. (cucumber) andPisum sativum L. (peas) were studied. Each cucumber seed absorbed an average of 0.015 ml of CEPA solution, while pea seed absorbed 0.365 ml, over a 24 h period.
In cucumber, 240 mg l^-1 CEPA concentration decreased radicle length by 23%, regardless of soaking duration. The same concentration increased radicle weight in a 24 h soaking duration, but decreased radicle weight when soaking was for 48 h. At 48 h, CEPA concentrations of 0.24 and 2.4 mg l^-1 increased plumule growth by 26%. In peas, the 240 mg l^-1 decreased the length and the weight of both the radicle and the plumule in a 48 h soaking duration, but had no significant effect at a 24 h soaking. At the low concentration of 0.24 mg l^-1, seedling growth was stimulated by over 30%.
Cucumber was 3 times more efficient than peas in the utilization of CEPA for seedling growth, in terms of total fresh weight of seedling per microgram of CEPA absorbed: 1 127 and 274 mg μg^-1 CEPA in cucumber and peas respectively. Extrapolative calculation, using cucumber responses as standard, suggests from this seedling study that about 12 mg l^-1 CEPA is likely to stimulate growth and/or yield in sprayed pea plants.