The cells of some pea, tobacco and haplopappus callus strains reveal considerable variability in nuclear morphology (polymorphous nuclei, differences in nucleolar size and number, enlarged chromocentres) and chromosome counts. The specific features in the nuclear morphology of callus cells are related with some pecularities in the reproduction activity of these cells (amplification, amitosis, fragmentation, various deviations from normal mitosis) under cultural conditions including both the definite action of the culture system and the absence of the regulatory control by the intact organism.

The influence of pretreatment with some cations on anaerobic nitrite production (in an assay medium lacking nitrate) by excised primary roots of pea (Pisum sativum L., ov. Raman), detached from six-day-old seedlings germinated in distilled water, was investigated. When the excised roots were precultivated in one-salt-solutions of KNO3, then these roots produced at 9 mM and 15 mM NO3- concentrations under anaerobic conditions significantly more NO2-, than those precultivated in a nutrient solution containing besides K+ ions also Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions, and they produced nitrite for a longer time. The KNO3 dependent increase in anaerobic NO2- production was counteracted most by Ca2+ and to a lesser extent by Mg2+; Na+ was without effect. NH4+ at higher concentrations (12 and 15 mM) significantly depressed nitrite production both by roots precultivated in a solution containing besides NH4+ only K+, and by roots precultivated in a full nutrient solution containing K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+, however at lower NH4+ concentrations (0.6 and 2mMNH4+; 15mMNO3-) the decrease was more conspicuous in the KNO3 solution than in the full nutrient solution. Nitrate reductase level was not influenced by this pretreatment. When 6% and 7.5% n-propanol, which increases membrane permeability and causes mixing of storage and metabolic nitrate pools in the cells, was added to the assay medium lacking nitrate, anaerobic nitrite production increased and the differences caused by the precultivation disappeared. These results show that higher K+ concentrations in unbalanced one-salt-solutions of KNO3 can cause higher membrane permeability by accentuating Ca8+ deficiency, which results in a faster penetration of NO3- from the storage pool to the sites of its reduction and in an easier penetration of NO2- out of the roots, and that higher NH4+ concentrations can change nitrate compartmentation and diminish the metabolic NO3- pool which results in a slower nitrate reduction. Besides that, lower NH4+ concentrations in KNO3 solutions (15mMNO3-) probably partially counteract the K+ dependent increase in membrane permeability.
The results obtained show that there is no simple, direct relationship between the so-called metabolic pool of nitrate (i.e. anaerobic nitrite production) and the level of nitrate reductase, but that the velocity of nitrate reduction can be influenced by nitrate compartmentation in the cell.

Hormone-directed transport is shown in a detached adult leaf ofPelargonium zonale, after a local application of solution (0.1 ml) of various groups of phytohormones (GA3 -BAP-AIA-ANA-2,4-D). Importance of isolated leaf as a simplified experimental system is underlined by the positive results obtained with³⁵S (or³²P).
The idea of competition between two attractive foliar centers, induced by hormones is illustrated:
i) with regard to the concentration of the same hormone (higher effect at 25 mg than at 2.5 mg.l-1 with GA₃ for example);
ii) when two different hormones are competitive on the same leaf. In this respect, GA3 appears to be the most effective hormone tested on this material.
Finally, the idea of a hormone-directed transport, independent of the antisenescence effect is supported by the fact that an orientated translocation remains induced after general pretreatment with an alternative hormone (BAP and GA₃, for instance).

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.

The investigations carried out to find the role of abscisic acid in the phenomena of abscission of flower buds and bolls of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. 'H-14') have shown abscisic acid content to be low in retained bolls as compared to that in the abscising ones of the same age, suggesting that relatively higher endogenous abscisic acid content to be promotive of abscission. Abscisic acid applied exogenously either to intact flower buds/bolls or boll explants promoted their abscission. Naphthalene acetic acid not only reduced abscission but also could erase completely the promotive effect of abscisic acid on abscission. Gibberellic acid promoted abscission in intact buds and boll explants but applied to intact bolls it reduced their shedding even more than naphthalene acetic acid. Gibberellic acid could also counteract the promotive effect of abscisic acid in the case of intact bolls but enhanced that of boll explants. All the cytokinin-furfurylamino-purine treatments given other than at the abscission zone promoted abscission. Furfurylaminopurine applied in combination with abscisic acid showed some antagonistic effect in the case of intact bolls and boll explants abscission zone treatments. Ascorbic acid applied at a relatively lower dose (0.025 mM) reduced shedding but applied at a higher dose it showed promotion. Ascorbic acid could erase the promotive effect of abscisic acid on abscission to a significant extent.

The ultrastructure of differentiating epidermal cells of maize root (within the distance of 1 and 2 mm from the root body apex) were studied under conditions of non-lethal and lethal osmotic stresses of nutrient medium containing polyethylene glycol 4000, as well as regeneration of their ultrastructure following rehydration. The structural response to water deficit of the cells investigated was dependent on both the stress duration and the stage of their ontogenic development. Following non-lethal stress, in younger cells investigated (1 mm), condensation of nuclear chromatin, decrease of polyribosomes and increased density of free ribosomes in cytoplasm, reduction of mitochondrial cristae and occurrence of intramitochondrial inclusions, less compact dictyosomes were observed. Pastid structure remained unchanged. Microtubules were lacking in treated cells. In the more differentiated cells (2 mm) protoplast retreat from cell walls was also observed as well as a general decrease of ribosomes and ER elements in parietal cytoplasm, an increased number of intramitochondrial inclusions and mitochondrial membrane fragmentation. In these cells, Golgi apparatus was also lacking. The ultrastructure regeneration of the more differentiated cells was less pronounced. Lethal osmotic stress would cause more severe structural damage in all the cell components investigated.

The study deals with the absorption and translocation of Ca²⁺ by án intact plant of pumpkinCucurbita pepo L. and with the effect of various concentrations of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) on these processes. The absorption of Ca²⁺ was reduced by the application of this inhibitor, but not completely stopped. The translocation of Ca²⁺ into shoots was affected more expressively: it was almost completely inhibited by higher DNP concentrations. The uptake of Rb⁺ is aubstantially more influeneed than that of Ca²⁺: higher inhibitor concentrations caused its complete cessation.

Crystal-containing organelles in cells of virus infected plants lying at chloroplasts and mitochondria are identical with single membrane-bound microbodies containing crystals of catalase described in healthy plants. Massive complex inclusions caused by turnip mosaic virus very frequently contain the same microbodies with crystal inclusions; that phenomenon may be related to some pathophysiological changes of virus infected plants. Comparable proteinaceous crystals, but not lying within microbodies limited by a membrane, may also be found in cytoplasm of infected cells. These crystals are sometimes surrounded by a substance resembling the microbody matrix. Disintegrated cytoplasm of virus infected cells may also contain the same crystals lying free in "empty spaces". Cytopathological effects responsible for this phenomenon and possible artifacts as well are discussed.

The syndrome of a new apricot disease - "witches broom" is described. Diseased trees have an abnormally high number of lateral, thin shoots, which again have many abnormal secondary shoots at a very narrow angle. Witches broom shoots are without any blossom buds. We may assume therefore that the apricot witches broom - according to the syndrome - may be listed among the group of witches broom diseases which are caused by a mycoplasma like organism. Some of the witches broom shoots are characterized by very small leaves.

CCC in either absence or presence of salinity slightly and irregularly affected the shoot dry weight, but consistently increased the seed cotton yield. The extent of such positive effect upon yield tended to be larger in the presence rather than in the absence of salinity when using CCC as a seed-soaking medium alone, but the reverse if applied as a spray after seed-soaking.

The presence of synthetic auxins (2,4-D at a concentration as low as of 0.5 to 5.0 mg I^-1, NAA at least at 5 mg I^-1) in the cultivation medium was essential for the induction of callogenesis in anther cultures ofZea mays L. The application of IAA was ineffective. Kinetin induced bursting, darkening and a rapid anther necrosis, but at an appropriate concentration ratio with 2,4-D it stimulated pollen maturation at the same time.

Sodium azide, reported to be a strong mutagen in barley, revealed a very weak mutagenic activity inArabidopsis.

Jerusalem artiohoke (Helianthus tuberosus L. cv. D-19) dormancy is normally broken by a 16-week treatment with 4 °C. A thermoperiod of 2 °C-12 h, 8 °C-12 h allows one to reduce this time to 12 weeks. Anoxy applied at 24 °C is effective after 4 weeks. By coupling anoxy and low températures varying daily between 2 °C - 12 h and 8 °C - 12 h, the breaking of dormancy is obtained after a one-week treatment.

Various types of meiotic anomalies in Mi generation such as multivalents, fragments, bridges, mioronuclei, polyads and in particular the multispindle formation, were observed after seed X-ray irradiation inCapsicum annuum L. As the dose increased there was a gradual increase in the number of aberrations.

Net photosynthetic CO₂ uptake (P _N ) and transpiration (E) rates through adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces were measured gasometrically on the area of maize leaf blades of different insertion levels in the phase of male florescence and in the phase of spadices development. The distribution pattern of gas exchange on the area of all measured leaf blades found in the phase of male florescence (significantly lower value in the basal parts) was changed in the phase of spadices development: P_N andE of abaxial surfaces of older leaves,i.e. 9th, 10th (under which the spadices were growing) and 11th, rapidly increased in the basal parts in comparison with the middle ones and positively influenced the gas exchange of the whole leaves. It appears that P_N may be maintained or increased in the older leaves in the phase of spadices development to prevent shortage of photosynthates.

The course of the transpiration flow rate (Q_w), of transpiration flow acceleration (Q_w/dt) and of the integrated transpiration flow was determined during an average summer day by repeated measurements according to the method of heat balance and the free water capacity of the tree trunk was estimated. The relations between the transpiration flow rate and the temperature and relative humidity of the air and the vapour pressure deficit measured at the same time in their diurnal course, as well as at the single diurnal terms during the whole time at which measurements were carried out were determined by correlation analysis. The problems linked with the effect of various meteorological conditions during different times of the day, of rain showers, solar radiation and soil water content are discussed. The possibilities of explaining the midday depression of transpiration on the basis of repeated measurements of the transpiration flow rate are evaluated.

Mitochondria from dwarf and tall light-grown peas have been separated from contaminating chloroplasts and other organelles on discontinuous sucrose gradients. A comparison between activities of the mitochondria from the two cultivars of light-grown pea seedlings was made. It was observed that both respiratory control (R.C.) indices and phosphate to oxygen (P : O) ratios were superior in mitochondria from the tall cultivar than the dwarf cultivar. The results are discussed in relation to energy status and possible gibberellic acid content in the two cultivars.

Uridine incorporation into the shoot apex of the short-day plantChenopodium rubrum was investigated during a 16 h period of darkness and the following transfer to light. Uridine incorporation during this single inductive cycle was compared to incorporation under non-inductive conditions of continuous light. After transfer of the plants from light to darkness RNA synthesis was reduced to about half after the first two hours. This occurred not only when the plants were precultivated in continuous light but also after an interruption of the dark period by light for 31/2 h. The low level of uridine incorporation was maintained for the whole duration of the dark period. Incorporation regained its initial level after exposure of the plants to light irrespective of the duration of the preceding dark period. After this immediate rise of uridine incorporation in plants transferred from darkness to light a slight temporary decrease was observed in light. In darkness the decrease of incorporation into the nucleoli was still more marked than the reduction of overall incorporation. After the termination of the dark period incorporation into the nucleolus rose slowly and extranucleolar incorporation was relatively enhanced during the first 10 h of light in induced plants. The fluctuations of RNA synthesis observed in the shoot apex during photoperiodic treatment may be regarded as a necessary condition for the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive state.

An electrophoretically homogeneous lactate dehydrogenase was isolated from soybean seedlings, the specific activity of which was approximately 1800 times higher than the crude extract. From the dependence of the rate of reaction catalyzed by lactate dehydrogenase on substrate concentration, Michaelis constants and Hill coefficients were determined for four natural substrates,i.e. lactate, pyruvate, NAD and NADH. The enzyme from soy-bean plants is non-competitively inhibited by oxalate and mesoxalate,i.e. by the compounds analogous to the substrate. At pyruvate concentrations above 0.8 mM, the rate of reaction catalyzed by lactate dehydrogenase from soy-bean plants decreases, fructose diphosphate and ATP function as inhibitors as well. The inhibition by ATP is pH dependent, which seems to be of importance for the regulation of enzyme activityin vivo.

The paper gives more detailed characteristics of Arabis mosaic virus (AMV) and tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) isolated from lilac, the latter being identified in lilac (from plants suffering from yellow ring disease) for the first time. The isolate of TBSV from lilac, from which an antiserum with a titre of 1024 was prepared, is closely related to the artichoke strain. Information is given about two types of ringspot disease and about chlorotic ringspot of lilac. Whereas in the leaves of lilac suffering from ringspot disease (of ring mosaic type) the presence of AMV was demonstrated, the sap transmission from the leaves diseased with ringspot of linepattern (and wave-like mosaic) type failed; from the leaves affected by chlorotic ringspot a mixture of AMV and cherry leaf roll virus was identified. In addition, the polyetiological nature of "spring" mosaic and necrotic mosaic of lilac, in which bacteriumPseudomonas syringaevan Hall, was found is dealt with. The TBSV was also identified in the isolate of necrotic mosaic.Additional index words: Lilac ringspot, chlorotic ringspot, yellow ring, "spring" mosaic, necrotic mosaic, cherry leaf roll virus,Pseudomonas syringaevan Hall.

InOrobanche aegyptiaca PEES. (Orobanchaceae) the mature seed is tiny and contains a subglobose embryo which is not differentiated into radicle, hypocotyl, plumule, and cotyledons. In aseptic seed cultures on medium TB supplemented with yeast extract or coconut milk, both roots and shoot originated from the morphological radicular pole of the embryo (monopolar pattern). The bipolar mode of seedling formation, that is a shoot originating from the plumular pole and roots from the radicular pole, ensued on the basal medium THS and on TB supplemented with certain concentrations of IAA, kinetin, GA3, or strigol.

The water potential and the osmotic potential in plants which dominate Greek phryganic ecosystems (Phlomis fruticosa, Sarcopoterium spinosum, Gistus sp.) were measured from April to Nowember. Water potential decreased considerably reaching a minimum in September. Higher values of osmotic potential than that of water potential were found during dry period (i.e. negative values of pressure potential). This interesting fact was confirmed by artificial desiccation.

Three days" illumination of tissues cultured previously in darkness decreases their peroxidase activity and increases their content in phenolic compounds; conversely, when tissues cultured under continuous illumination are placed in darkness for three days, their peroxidase activity increases and their content in phenolic compounds decreases. There is an inverse relationship between the quantity of phenol compound and peroxidase activity. The isoperoxidase pattern is the same in both illuminated and not illuminated tissues.