Kinetin (KIN) and benzyladenine (BA) stimulate to different extent the germination of apple embryos isolated from dormant seeds or seeds submitted to stratification. KIN is much more active in the replacement of light requirement in apple embryos germination. Both cytokinins decrease the photosensitivity of embryos isolated from the seeds stratified less than one month, but only BA accelerates the appearance of the second photosensitivity maximum, normally occuring on the 70th day of stratification. Both cytokinins stimulate the activity of acid phosphatase between the 30th and 50th day of apple seed stratification. The stimulation between the 50th day and the end of stratification is exerted only by KIN.
These differences allow to discuss the specificity of action of particular cytokinins during the after-ripening and germination of apple embryos.

Starch degradation inNicotiana tabacum cv. Samsun infected with PVY was studied with respect to the formation of Glc-6-P which serves as a starting substrate for glycolysis and pentosephosphate cycle. Enhanced activity of these two metabolic pathways at the time of maximal reproduction of the virus requires an increased content of this substrate which is probably produced mainly by the hexokinases. The results of this paper indicate that Gle-1-P, synthesized during starch degradation, is not the main intermediate enabling an enhanced activity of the pentosephosphate cycle, because despite a high starch content in the tissues only a decreased amylophosphorylase activity was found. However, an appreciable amount of Glc-6-P at the time of maximal reproduction of the virus results from enhanced phosphoglucomutase activity.
As there is not enough Gle-1-P for an enhanced activity of this enzyme due to the lowered activity of amylophosphorylase and because its curve resembles activity curves of the hexokinases (published in the previous paper), this result could be explained by the presence of galactose and by the presence of an enzyme system which would be able to metabolize it to Gle-1-P.Additional index words: Nicotiana tabacum, respiration, glycolysis, pentosephosphate cycle.

13 strains of imperfect fungi have been studied in Lyon according to a biochemical criteria or growth of the studied species in a minimum but nitrogenous medium containing carbon elements. The inoculation is achieved by Api System ensemencement. The germination of the spores showing the carbon assimilation involves the appearance of a trouble. The intensity of this growth is coded by + or -.
The table of the characteristics for the various strains is studied thanks to a taxonomic method based on a relation of proximity by the Euclidean distance. Every strain is represented mathematically by a point in the characteristics-space. The strains are gathered into classes with regard to their proximity, every class being characterized by its centre of gravity. The similar characteristics are studied thanks to a classification tree or dendrogram.
The programme has regrouped the two species pathogenic fungi on the one hand and the ten strains taken in the atmosphere on the other hand, the telluric one having to be set apart.

The area ofPlectranthus fructicosus leaves of different origin and cultivation (seedlings, vegetatively propagated plants from growth chambers with different climates, isolated rooted leaves) fitted in average the equationA=L B k. The coefficientk, however, varies during the ontogenesis of the leaves and the plant according to changes in leaf shape from 0.865 to 0.642.

The development of temporary water stress during the day-light hours, characterized by a decrease of the values of the water potential (ϕ_w) and increase of the values of water saturation deficit (ΔW_sat) was found not only in the leaves of intact kale plants but also in cut leaves with their petioles immersed in water. These results indicate that the leaf resistance to water transport could not be supposed as negligible. The same decrease of ϕ _w was accompanied with the higher increase of ΔW_sat in cut leaves than in leavesin situ.

Aneuploids have been identified cytomorphologically in progenies from triploid and diploid-triploid crosses. 30 trisomics, 2 double trisomics, 1 tetrasomic, and 2 higher aneuploids were obtained. Some of the aneuploids were found to be different from those reported earlier and higher aneuploids carried eight extra chromosomes. The plants with one extra chromosome occurred more frequently (67%) than the other aneuploid types.
The changes in morphological traits such as a reduction in the amount of growth and the size of leaf etc. distinguished aneuploids from diploids. In the higher aneuploids the plant parts were highly exaggerated and pollen sterility was very high. The chromosomal counts in acetocarmine squashes confirmed the presence of extra chromosome(s). Aneuploids particularly trisomics were found to be promising and may lead to the production of commercially viable plants.

InBidens bipinnata, a common composite inhabiting mostly gravelly or rocky habitats, two cypsele types are found within a single capitulum. These dimorphic cypsele types differ in their dormancy periods. Evolutionary implications of this differential intracapitular cypsele dormancy are discussed.

A new method of sap flow rate determination in stems of adult trees is described in which mass flow (the transpiration flux in the present case) is estimated from a heat-transfer measurement. The device used includes a couple of thermometers in a differential connection and plate electrodes, through which a controlled heat input flows into a denned studied segment of the xylem. The present method was tested first with a laboratory simulating system, then with the stem of a living adult treePrunus avium L. The data are registered continually and automatically; continuous measurement of sap flow rate of long duration with a greater number of trees is thus made possible.

In field experiments, the competition among plants of two distinct wheat genotypes in binary mixtures, and among three genotypes being grown in adjacent rows was investigated. The competition greatly affected the over-ground dry weight, weight of stem and grain per plant. This effect was undercompensatory, the depression in poor competitor was higher than the enhancement of strong competitor for all these characteristics. From final components of grain yield per plant, the number of fertile stems and number of grains per ear were more affected than weight per grain. More expressively than weight of grain on the main-stem ear, the weight of grain per average secondary ear-bearing stem was affected by competition in binary mixture. The enhancement in standard height-a strongly competitive genotype- reached in binary mixture about 10% for this last characteristic in comparison with the value from the pure stand. Some morphological characteristics of plants being in relation with competition for grain yield per plant are discussed in these experiments.

The flowering ofSalvia splendensSellow under noninductive short days is promoted by exogenous application of estrogen fraction isolated from flowering sage plants, gibberellin GA₄₊₇ and to some extend N⁶-benzyladenine and estradiol. The most active is the combination of GA₄₊₇ with estrogen fraction. No synergistic action of GA₄₊₇ with N⁶-benzyladenine estradiol was found.

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) plants were grown for 55 days in dilute nutrient solution at varying concentration of potassium. Data are recorded for the rate of uptake of potassium, magnesium and growth response. Over the concentration range studied, the rate of absorption of potassium followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a Michaelis constant (K_m) of 0.06×10^-3M. Identical response curves were observed for either total growth or total uptake. Maximum yield was obtained at a concentration of about 200 μM potassium. Increasing concentrations of potassium depressed the uptake of magnesium.

On the basis of immunochemical analyses of the main reserve protein ofPh. vulgaris, euphaseolin, in numerous cultivars ofPh. vulgaris, in additional 23Phaseolus species, and several representatives of further genera of Viciaceae and on the basis of the comparison of these data with morphological and genetical data the authors propose to separate the sectionEuphaseolus characterized by the presence of the protein euphaseolin. The species characterised by euphaseolin are closely related and capable of being crossed. The proposal requires an additional formal completion from the point of view of the conventions of classical systematies. Further the questions of the taxonomical extent of various protein characters and the problematies of the so-called large and small protein characters are discussed.
Na základě imunochemických analys hlavní zásobní bílkovinyPh. vulgaris euphaseolinu u velkého počtu kultivarůPhaseolus vulgaris, dalších 23 druhůPhaseolus a několika zástupců dalších rodůViciaceae a srovnáváním těchto údajů s údajl morfologickými a genetickými autoři navrhují vydělení sekceEuphaseolus, charakterisované přítomností bílkoviny euphaseolinu. Druhy charakterisované euphaseolinem jsou si blízce příbuzné, jsou křižitelné. Návrh vyžaduje ještě formální doplnění z hlediska zvyklostí klasické systematiky.
V článku jsou dále diskutovány otázky taxonomické šíře různých bílkovinných znaků.

Growth regulators, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA₃), and kinetin (KIN), were used in different concentrations to stimulate the initiation and further development of the fruiting bodies of the fungusLentinus tigrinus. Vegetative mycelium of the fungus was cultivated on cellulose cylinders soaked with a synthetic nutrient solution or with a 3% malt extract. When the mycelium covered the surface of the cylinders, further cultivation was carried out in graduated concentrations of the growth regulators mentioned above. The number of developed fruiting bodies showed that the optimum IAA and GA₃ concentrations were in both media 300 p.p.m. The optimum concentration of kinetin was 400 p.p.m.
The individual growth regulators influenced characteristically also the shape of the fruiting bodies and changed in them the natural level of endogenous growth regulators. The addition of IAA into the medium raised the level of endogenous auxins in the cap. The presence of gibberellic acid and of kinetic in the medium resulted in an increase in the level of these regulators in the fruiting bodies.

The study deals with the distribution of non-specific esterase in germinating pollen grains ofPortulaca grandiflora. Intense activity of the enzyme is seen in small granules distributed homogeneously in pollen grains stigma hairs and throughout the length of pollen tubes. Further the walls of pollen grains also demonstrate intense activity. The functional significance of the enzyme in these locales has been discussed.

The interaction between exogenous 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (Ethrel, CEPA) and auxin (both native and synthetic-IAA) was studied on pea and bean seedlings, potato tubers, and processed flax plants. After the addition of ethrel the inhibiting effect of IAA was decreased in all objects and it was found that the concentration of the growth of the regulators played an important role. The growth response of a part of flax hypocotyl, as induced by exogenous auxin produced in the cotyledon, was reversed by ethrel, too. The application of ethrel on the epicotyl apex in beans resulted in the lost of apical dominance of epicotyl and in the growth of lateral buds together with the epicotyl. When stimulating the growth, ethrel reverses the inhibitions through the decrease in the auxin content (from an inhibiting, supraoptimum level to an optimum one which already stimulates growth). In objects with a low content of endogenous auxin the ethrel induced the decrease in the auxin content and shows an inhibiting effect on growth.

Lactate as well as ethanol is formed in seeds of soybean, maize, pea, bean, lentil and broad-bean in the course of germination during the so-called natural anaerobiosis. After 0 to 30 h of germination a concentration peak of lactate appears. Maximum in ethanol content is found after 40 h. The amount of ethanol is higher big more than one order of magnitude as compared to the amount of lactate. Both products of anaerobiosis occur in germinating seeds irrespective of the type of reserve substances.
In contrast to alcohol dehydrogenase lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1. 1. 1. 27) is present in the dry seeds too. Its activity decreases during the first 12 h of germination. It is in this stage that its substrate, lactate, is usually present at a maximal concentration. During the later stages of germination the amount of lactate decreases and enzyme activity rises. There exists a reciprocal relationship between enzyme activity and substrate concentration. In the case of alcohol dehydrogenases (EC 1. 1. 1. 1) the maximum concentration of ethanol precedes the peak of enzyme activity.

An increase in the number of amino acids inAmaranthus viridis plants infected with pigweed mosaic virus was found.

Using starch gel electrophoresis, a group of anodic isoperoxidases which is revealed byo-dianisidine (not by guaïcol) in the soluble fraction of roots proteins from lentil, pea, sugarbeet and maize is never found in corresponding extracts from stems. These root specific peroxidases do not show IAA-oxidase activity as revealed byp-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde on the gels. They could not serve as a rhizogenesis index since they do not appear from the early beginning of root growth.

The technique of trees production from the undifferentiated poplar callus tissue is described. The best root formation was observed on the modifiedWolter andSkoog medium when NAA in concentration 0.2 to 0.4 mg l^-1 was used as an auxin and cytokinins were omitted. The induction of leafy shoots from the undifferentiated callus was the most effective on the modifiedLinsmaier andSkoog medium in the absence of auxin and with 0.15 to 0.70 mg l^-1 of BAP. The best development of roots at the basal end of excised shoots was achieved when shoots were transferred into the sterile mixture of perlit and sand (3: l, v/v) containing a modifiedWolter andSkoog medium.

CO₂ uptake (P _N ) and water vapour efflux (E) through adaxial and abaxial surfaces were measured separately and the corresponding diffusive resistances for water vapour (r₁) were calculated in leaves of different insertion levels during vegetative growth of tobacco plants. Relatively higher values of the abaxialP_N/E ratio in comparison with the adaxial one were found in agreement with relatively higherE_ad/E_ab coefficients and the distribution of the gas exchange in plants in all measurements carried out. Because of the more rapid decrease of theP _N rates as compared with theE rates theP_N/E ratios of both surfaces decreased gradually from young to old leaves. The decreasing values ofE_ad/E_ab andP_N,ab/P_N,ab coefficients showed thatr_1,ab increased with the age of the leaves more quickly thanr_1,ab.

Excised stamens ofLilium regale were grownin vitro. From the cut end of the filament a callus is produced and from it several buds and plantlets arise.

Oscillation movements of primary roots of pea seedlings were investigated after low- and high-energy irradiation (10^-2 and 10⁶ W m^-2) which was applied continuously and in pulses at intervals of 3 and 30 min. Oscillation amplitudes of control roots grown in darkness were lower (1 mm) than those of irradiated ones recorded in our previous experiments. The elongation rate of roots grown under scattered and low-energy irradiation as well as their mean oscillation amplitude (2.6 mm) and frequency (8 h) correspond to the standard values recorded in previous experiments. The same effects on root growth and oscillations had scattered electronic flash irradiation.
Side-irradiation did not influence the oscillation movements of growing roots. Their frequency and oscillation amplitudes were not changed. Their longitudal axis was, however, deflected 2.75° from the vertical one due to the negative phototropic response of the root.
The growth oscillations may be, according to present results, interpreted as consequences of tropic growth controlling system. External factors, like irradiation, may influence oscillation parameters,i.e. their amplitudes and after application of side-irradiation also the direction of longitudinal axis of oscillation spirals. The resultant trajectory is composed from movements which resulted from geotropic and phototropic responses of the roots.

Ribonuclease (RNAse) activity was investigated in cotyledons ofChenopodium rubrum plants subjected to various conditions of illumination (photoperiodic induction, continuous light, induction cancelled by interrupting the dark period by a light-break). At the end of the dark period of the single inductive cycles RNAse activity of induced plants was inferior to that of plants grown in continuous light. At the end of the first two cycles the activity was lowest after the interruption of the dark period by light. The investigation of the enzyme in 6h intervals showed rhythmic changes in activity to occur in induced plants. Enzyme activity followed a pattern opposed to this of nucleic acid (NA) synthesis in the cotyledons. In plants from continuous light the enzyme activity did not show any rhythm and in plants having obtained a light-break during the inductive period the rhythm was less distinct than in the induced ones. The period length of the endogenous rhythm of NA synthesis in the cotyledons is about half as long as this of flowering and the peaks of flowering coincide with the throughs of NA synthesis.

The effect of the removal of cotyledons on the growth of etiolated pea plants and on the changes in diamine oxidase activity were followed. Plants with removed cotyledons showed higher diamine oxidase activity both in the shoots and in the roots when expressed per fresh weight unit. Higher diamine oxidase activity can be found also in the remaining cotyledon when one of the two cotyledons is removed (when expressed per fresh weight unit and per cotyledon).
The plants belonging to those experimental variants in which a higher diamine oxidase activity was established (plants without cotyledons) had simultaneously a high content of its substrates. These plants at the same time contained in the shoots and in the roots smaller amounts of potassium. On the other hand, these findings cannot be applied when comparing individual organs (shoots and roots), as higher diamine oxidase activity can be found in the shoots than in the roots, but the content of its substrates is in the shoots lower.
These data indicate that the relationship between the activity of diamine oxidase and the content of its substrates is probably rather complicated. In the connection with the fact that a high diamine oxidase activity can occur in the plant simultaneously with a high content of its substrates, it is possible to assume that (a) changes in the pattern of substrates may occur after the removing of the cotyledons, (b) the synthesis of diamine oxidase may be induced owing to a higher accumulation of substrates, (c) the enzyme may be spacially separated from the substrates in the cells.

Ascorbic acid (AA) turnover, and levels of RNA and protein were determined during germination ofCicer arietinum cv. Chafa under-(i) normal watering; (ii) water stress of six days; and (iii) revival upto next stage of seedling growth after water stress. Water stress lowered significantly AA, ascorbigen, ascorbic acid-macromolecule complex, RNA and protein content in embryo axis while a reverse trend was seen after revival. In the cotyledon, AA, RNA and protein contents were higher during water stress. However on revival only AA and protein contents decreased, whereas the RNA content showed further enhancement. It is suggested that increased synthesis of AA in the cotyledon during water stress may trigger enhanced synthesis of RNA and consequently of enzymic proteins, thus bringing about rapid mobilization of reserve materials during revival.

It has been shown that intensive elongation of wheat coleoptile sections is correlated with indoleacetic acid-1-¹⁴C metabolism. In tissues actively growing the disappearance of indoleacetic acid-1-¹⁴C and formation of conjugates and metabolites (indoleacetamide, indoleacetyl-β-D-glucose, indoleacetyl aspartic acid) is twice as high as in sections where growth has been stopped by physical constraint (plaster) or in tissue which did not elongate by an unknown reason.