Changes in soluble sugar content in individual parts (embryo, endosperm and pericarp) of maize caryopses exposed to the influence of 24°, 10° and 6° were studied. At the same time the eluates from sand in which the seeds were planted and exposed for various periods were analysed by paper chromatography.
It was found that the lower was the temperature of exposure the greater were the amounts of sucrose, glucose, raffinose and other sugars diffused from the caryopses into the medium before the start of germination. The exosmose course and the changes in sugar content in kernel tissues proved that the hydrolysis of storage polysaccharides is not inhibited by low temperatures but that under such conditions the use of products of hydrolysis for the growth of the embryo is inhibited.
It is concluded that not only surface parts of endosperm but also the embryo participates in exosmose. The relatively high sugar exosmose found from seeds germinated at low temperatures explains the well-known interaction of pathogenic and parasitic microorganism in cold resistance during emergence.

Beet yellows virus was transmitted by wingless aphidsMyzus persicae (Sulz.) after 16 hrs acquisition feeding on leaves covered with a Parafilm M membrane. Effectiveness of the virus transmission was decreased approximately to half of the original value by acquisition of the virus through the membrane. No virus was transmitted to healthy beet seedlings after 6 or 16 hrs continuous feeding on a concentrated suspension of the purified virus or on crude juice extracted from an infected plant (suspensions contained 15% of sucrose).

The paper deals with the effect of mineral nutrition on the content of free flavonoid glycosides (phloridzin, hyperine) free and bound C₆-C₁ aldehydes (vanillin, syringic aldehyde) in the woody parts of apple shoots of the variety 'Antonovka' and on the content of products oxidized by nitrobenzene (vanillin, syringic aldehyde) in connection with the lignification of cell walls.
It was established that the biosynthesis of phenolic compounds is retarded under the influenco of nitrogenous fertilizer while the biosynthesis of proteins is activated, intensifying growth. Contrary to nitric fertilizer, phosphoric with potassic fertilizers promote formation of phenolic compounds and suppress protein synthesis and growth; at the same time phenylalanine is included in the biosynthesis of lignin, but not in the biosynthesis of proteins.

The root cap develops out of the cells of the caliptrodermatogen. The root apex belongs to the first of Haberlandt's histogen types. The velamen usually consists of three layers of cells, and develops out of the protoderm by periclinal divisions. Funnel-shaped cells later divide tangentially into two cells, and in one of these cells a fibrous body develops. Two to four thick-walled cells alternate, usually with one passage cell in the exodermis. The cortex proper consists of approximately ten to twelve layers of parenchymatic cells in the mature root. There are eight to sixteen xylem poles alternating with the same number of phloem poles in the central cylinder.
In the roots ofDendrobium cunninghamii I observed two types of mycorrhizal infection, which can be classified as transitive types between ptyophagus and tolypophagus mycorrhizae. In my opinion, a state of balanced symbiosis exists between the fungus and the plant; a part of the time the plant acts as a parasite on the fungus.

Evidence for the effect of sterols on plant mycoplasma is presented. Two essential sterolsi.e. cholesterol and stigmasterol were applied in the following way: grafts from tomato plants infected with potato witches'broom, wedge-shaped at the base were dusted on the cut surfaces with the corresponding sterol in the amount of 4 mg to one graft, inserted in freshly cut wedges of stock plants and firmly tightened with rubber tubes. Both sterols stimulated growth of diseased grafts and delayed symptom manifestation. The stimulation was more evident with stigmasterol and the delay in symptom manifestation and intensity was more distinct with cholesterol. Supplying tomato plants with sterols externally probably enables additional multiplication of mycoplasma in already infected grafts, and the plants need not provide the grafts with essential metabolites which they themselves need for the development of reproductive organs. Stigmasterol, a metabolite peculiar to the tomato plant, is probably more rapidly consumed than cholesterol which may remain in the plant as a metabolic pool of sterols for mycoplasma propagation.

Tryptophan, tryptamine, or indolepyruvic acid were applied to 2 systems: a bacterial (pea stem sections containing the epiphytic bacteria) and a plant system (pea stem sections under sterile conditions).
In the plant system, the production of indoleacetic acid and indoleethanol (tryptophol) from each applied indole derivative is clearly reduced by the aldehyde reagents bisulfite and dimedon, respectively. Indoleacetaldehyde is chromatographically detected after alkaline liberation from its bisulfite addition product.
In the bacterial system, the production of indoleacetic acid and indoleethanol is likewise reduced by bisulfite and dimedon. However, after tryptophan or tryptamine application, we could not detect indoleacetaldehyde in the described way.
In one case only, namely tryptamine application to the bacterial system, indoleethanol production (contrary to indoleacetic acid production) is scarcely reduced by the aldehyde reagents. This indicates a bacterial pathway tryptamine → indoleethanol which bypasses indoleacetaldehyde.

Kinetin, coumarin and four growth retardants including Phosfon D (2,4-dichlorobenzyltributylphosphonium chloride), CCC [(2-chloroethyl) trimethylammonium chloride], B-Nine (N-dimethylaminosuccinamic acid) and AMO-1618 (2-isopropyl-4-dimethylamino-5-methylphenyl-1-piperidinecarboxylate methyl chloride) arrested chlorophyll, protein and RNA degradation in the leaf discs of maize kept in darkness; GA₃ was without effect. Coumarin and Phosfon D markedly lowered the level of TCA soluble nitrogen compounds in the tissue; other compounds were inactive in this respect. Puromycin, 4-fluorophenylalanine, actinomycin D, 5-diazouracil and 2-thiouracil also retarded the loss of chlorophyll from the leaf discs of maize; chloramphenicol was without effect on yellowing. The inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis slightly decreased, increased or had no influence on the chlorophyll preserving effect of coumarin and growth retarding chemicals. 2-Thiouracil markedly decreased the loss of protein content from the discs.
Coumarin and growth retardants inhibited the synthesis of chlorophyll in the leaf tissue of etiolated seedlings of maize.
It is suggested that synthesis of some specific protein(s) is required for senescence in the detached leaf tissue. Synthesis of this protein(s) was possibly arrested by the compounds which were under examination.

In the present paper RNA from apple-tree callus tissue labelled with 6-benzyl-minopurine¹⁴) was studied. The RNA isolated from this tissue was prepared as sample for electron microscopic studies and was also used as biochemical control. The electron microscopic autoradiograms obtained showed the labelled structure of RNA, sRNA and rRNA. The incorporation of labelled purine rings was confirmed in all three RNA types by the radioactivity, which was also proved in nucleotides after hydrolysation of RNA fractions. The results were compared with RNA isolated from tissue cultivated on a non-radiactive medium.

The importance of various correlative influences on growth and vegetative or floral development of cotyledonary buds inScrofularia argutaSol. is shown. The terminal bud, on the one hand, inhibits growth of cotyledonary buds and, on the other hand, induces their early flowering. The cotyledon stimulates growth of its axillary bud, but has no action on its floral development. Leaves above the cotyledonary node have the same effect as the cotyledon. Finally, roots stimulate vegetative growth of cotyledonary buds and suppress floral expression, but only when apical dominance has been removed at an early stage of development.

The metabolism of D-and L-tryptophan-3-¹⁴C (Try-3-¹⁴C) was studied and compared for three different plant species, cabbage, maize and pea. Apical segments of the seedlings were incubated for 6 hours in solutions of L- or D-Try-3-¹⁴C (1.5 μc/ml) with the addition of chloramphenicol (10^-4g/ml) and then allowed to stand for another 20 hours in moist chambers. The methanolic extract of the tissues was analyzed radiochromatographically and by paper electrophoresis in combination with biological tests. Chloramphenicol in a concentration of 10^-4 g/ml had little influence on the growth of the segments, though the antibiotic slightly decreased the uptake of L-Try, it did not prevent the formation of IAA from L-Try. In the segments of cabbage the following metabolites were formed from L-Try-3-¹⁴C (accounting for 52% of the activity of the chromatographically separated extract): glucobrassicin (26.0%), neoglucobrassicin (3.6%), a spot corresponding according to its Rf to 3-indolylacetamide (IAAmide-10.9%), β-glucoside of 3-indolylacetic acid (IAGluc-3.3%) and traces of 3-indolylacetonitrile (IAN), IAA and indole-3-carboxylic acid (total 5%). In maize segments L-Try-3-¹⁴C (53.0%) was transformed to several unidentified hydrophilic substances, one of them possessing auxin activity (total amount 6.9%), IAGlue (9.3%) accompanied by a small amount of tryptamine, a spot corresponding according to its Rf to IAAmide (16.5%), IAA and another unidentified hydrophobic substance (4.1%). In pea segments L-Try-3-¹⁴C (66.7%) gave a zone corresponding according to its Rf to IAAmide (20.0%), a substance similar to IAGluc (10.5%) and also hydrophobic substances (3.1%) containing traces of IAA, which could be demonstrated only by bioassay.
D-Try is metabolised in the three plants by the virtually exclusive formation of malonyltryptophan.

The tapetal layer of anthers inCapsicum annuum L. is differentiated from the archesporial complex during the early development stage of the anthers. Further development of tapetum proceeds according to the scheme of the cellular polynuclear type. The high rate of polyploidy is characteristic of the whole layer (from 4n to 8n). Cytokinesis does not follow karyokinesis which conditions the inception of two or three-nuclear cells. The majority of the mononuclear cells show the typical plant endomitosis without the chromosome spiralization, accompanied by the structural nuclear change-over. In other cells chromosome spiralization in the prophase and, after passing through the metaphase, restitution of the cell nuclei were observed. The tapetum development has been studied in 12 cultivars of sweet pepper which did not differ in the course of the karyological processes. The subtle differences during the temporal course of degeneration of the whole layer in the postmeiotic period of development were observed.

The 3-(3-indolyl)-aorylic acid previously found in ether or ethylaoetate extracts of lentil seedlings is proved to be formed during extraction from an indolic precursor.

The author describes the testing method for clonal selections from the original strainScenedesmus quadricaudaGreifswald/15 in biomass production. This method served for testing the clones in greater series. It was applied to clonal cultures selected on a solid medium after treatment of the coenobia with UV-light before their inoculation. The production characteristic of the clones was expressed by the temperature dependence of the constant μ from Simmer's growth equation in the last step of the testing process used. Some significant differences of this kind were found among the evaluated clonal cultures. This way of characterization facilitates a more detailed evaluation of clones in comparison with values obtained by an oneshot testing method under standard conditions.

Values of the water saturation deficit (WSD) for hydroactive stomatal movements of kale leaves were estimated using the method of transpiration curve analysis.
Stomata of young leaves started closing at WSD values of 5 to 6 per cent and were completely closed at 18 to 20 per cent WSD. During maturation and ageing of leaves these WSD values increased to 12.5 and 18 to 23 per cent respectively. Thus the stomatal reaction is more sensitive to changes in WSD in adult leaves than in young ones. After maturation is attained both values decrease. In apparently withering leaves the individual phases of transpiration curves can barely be distinguished, probably for the reason that even under optimal conditions their stomata remain half-closed and at high WSD values an incomplete closing of the aperture occurs. The injured cuticle of withering leaves affects the shape of the transpiration curve as well.

Activities of five enzymes were followed in electrophoreograms of extracts from three growth zones of broad bean root. With ascorbate oxidase (L-ascorbate: oxygen oxidoreductase, E.C. 1.10.3.3) one new fraction was found in the electrophoreograms of extracts from the maturation zone, electrophoreograms of α-glucan phosphorylase (α-l,4-glucan: orthophosphate glucosyltransferase, E.C. 2.4.1.1), amylase (α-l,4-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase, E.C. 3.2.1.1), sucrose glucosyltransferase (disaccharide glucosyltransferase, E.C. 2.4.1.7) and leucine aminopeptidase (L-leucyl-peptide hydrolase, E.C. 3.4.1.1) were identical for all three investigated growth zones. Ascorbate oxidase activity occurred in the same regions of electrophoreograms as peroxidase activity.

Determination of bark contraction due to tapping made simultaneously at different positions on the trunk ofHevea trees (young PR 107, S/2 ↓) provided information about the flow area and the speed of contration spreading.
The relation between truck contraction at the given distance from the cut and the amount of latex tapped was experessed in mathematical terms. A quantitative relation was also established between the yields of latex and the linear dimension of flow areas in longitudinal direction below the middle of tapping cut.
From the contraction curves it is deduced that the lateral flow of latex becomes relatively more important with increasing yields.

The authors succeeded in demonstrating accumulation of tyrosine and p-coumaric acid in three day-old roots of maize (Zea mays L.) fed with L-phenylalanine and cinnamic acid. Phenylpyruvic acid applied under the same conditions gave rise to phenylalanine, indicating the presence of the corresponding transferase activity. Even simultaneous application of inhibitors of transaminase activity-hydroxylamine and isonicotinic acid hydrazide-did not result in the formation of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid.

Stomatal frequency in leaves of plants of Iris hollandica, cultivated under four light intensities, about 12%, 37%, 75% and 100% of natural daylight, was studied. The stomatal frequency decreases with lower light intensities. The gradients of stomatal frequency of successive leaves show an increase up to the third or fourth leaf with a subsequent decrease of values up to the highest leaf. The total number of stomata per leaf is not constant; differences exist in successive leaves of a shoot as well as among the leaves of plants growing under various light intensities. The character of gradients was changed at lower light intensities. The largest reaction to the light intensity appeared in leaves with higher stomatal frequency. The gradients in individual leaves depend on the insertion of the leaf. Both the shape and the slope of these gradients are influenced by the light intensity.

Various methods for extracting nucleic acids from pollen were tested to find a suitable procedure for obtaining a pure preparation of nucleic acids uncontaminated by polysaccharides and polyphosphates without the use of ion exchangers. Extraction was carried out with perchloric acid, potassium hydroxide, ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease, sodium tetraborate, and combinations of these. In all fractions, residues of precipitates and residues of extracted pollen matter, the quantity of RNA, DNA, proteins and concomitants,i.e. Polysaccharides and polyphosphates, was determined. The purity of preparations was checked by means of UV-spectra. The criterion of nucleic acid purity was agreement between the nucleic acid amounts calculated on the basis of measurement of absorption in UV-region, orcinol reaction and content of phosphorus. It was found that in our material only a few methods would be applicable and with great limitation, because many polysaccharides and polyphosphates appeared in nucleic acid fractions.

Vicia faba seeds (cv. Giza 1) were planted in the Inshas gamma radiation field where they were chronically irradiated during the whole life of the plant. The percentage of the induced abnormal P.M.Cs, as well as the frequency of abnormal P.M.Cs in the different meiotic stages were proportional with the given doses. The main types of chromosome aberrations were anaphase and telophase bridges, fragmentation and lagging chromosomes. The nearest plants to the source showed an inhibition of shoot growth, flower and seed sterility and irregular branching. At the dosage levels used irradiation had no effect on pollen fertility.
Seeds of the 1st filial generation were used for both mitotic and meiotic studies. The percentage of the mitotic abnormalities was proportional with the doses. The most dominant type of anomaly was the presence of micronuclei in the different stages of mitosis and in the resting cells. Irradiation affected also other types of anomaliese.g. lagging chromosomes, fragments, bridges...etc.
Meiosis, and pollen fertility (2nd generation) were normal.

The dynamics of the uptake by barley plants of trimer phosphonitrile-amide [PN(NH₂)₂]₃ labelled with³²P was studied. It was shown experimentally that the covalent compound [PN(NH₂)₂]₃ enters the plants more rapidly than (NH₄)₂HPO₄. Hence it was concluded that the mechanisms of the transport of [PN(NH₂)₂]₃ and (NH₄)₂HPO₄ into the cells, across the cell membranes, are different.

Phosphorus-nitrogen compounds characterized by the direct P-N bond, represented by trimeric and tetrameric phosphorus nitridoamide-[PN(NH₂)₂]_3-4, phosphorus oxytriamide-PO(NH₂)₃ and ammonium diamidophosphate-NH₄PO₂(NH₂)₂, were applied as fertilizers in a vessel experiment with barley and their agrochemical effectiveness was compared with that of ammonium phosphate-(NH₄)₂HPO₄. The results obtained indicate that the above compounds are of nutritive value for plants.

The light regime effect on the growth rate variability of clones of one chlorococcal alga strain growing on the surface of a solid medium was studied from the point of view of the clone selections manifesting the desired grade of this complex character. Several combinations of light regimes used for the cultivation of coenobia treated by UV-light and untreated control on two types of solid media proved the significance of manifestation degree changes of this character due to the given light conditions. The sizes of the alga colonies after a certain growth time on the surface of solid medium were evaluated statistically and the values obtained indicated the degree of growth rate manifested by the clones of a given population. The x and s_x values of their growth rate variability were considered as the indicators facilitating the choice of selec-tion type and screening level. This paper is a partial contribution to the solution of the problems concerning the primary selection of alga clones on the surface of solid media.

The minimum concentration of polyethyleneglycol (PEG) with molecular weights 4000, 6000, and 15000 necessary for precipitation of S, M, X and Y potato viruses was determined. An excessive amount of PEG causes the precipitation of other protein compounds from potato leaf cell sap. In order to obtain highly purified samples, it is necessary to use just the minimum sufficient amount of PEG. Using the minimum quantity of PEG is, also, advisable from an economical point of view. The minimum concentration of PEG of given molecular weight differs for different potato disease viruses. The concentration of PEG necessary for precipitation of a given potato virus depends on the molecular weight of PEG used-4000, 6000 and 15000. As the molecular weight increases, the concentration of PEG necessary for precipitation decreases.

We studied the significance of actual accessibility of ions for presence of α-amylase in roots and cotyledons of young pumpkin plants. We considered α-amylases to be-in agreement with published data-amylolytic enzymes which lose their activity after being dialysed against EDTA or a dilute solution of hydrochloric acid and which can be reactivated by addition of Ca²⁺. N connection with activity and Ca²⁺ nutrition appeared in cotyledons; it did, however, in roots: Ca-deficient plants revealed after preparation either completely inactive enzymes or enzymes with slight activity. It was, however, possible to reactivate them by addition of Ca²⁺ during preparation.
So, using polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis we present evidence for the appearence of amylase with typical characteristics for α-amylases of other sources. Its relative mobility was the same for isolates from both roots and cotyledons. Its biosynthesis was not dependent upon metal which is associated with enzyme. No conclusion can be drawn as to whether Ca-deficient α-amylases are activein vivo; therefore it was impossible to judge whether α-amylase activity is subject to feed-back regulation.

The effect of phenols and simple phenolic glycosides on the activity of IAA-oxidase isolated from gherkin seedlings was studied in experimentsin vitro. Phenol stimulated the enzyme system activity, eugenol and quinol were proven as inhibitors. Simple phenolic glycosides (arbutin, gein and phenol glucoside) influenced IAA-oxidase activity only if β-glycosidase was present: rree phenols released from their bound form increased or decreased the IAA level. The potential fegulatory effect of simple phenolic glycosides on the IAA level in plants has been discussed; this effect is thought to be mediated by free phenols and by influence on the IAA-oxidase system.

The present paper deals with the possibility of using growth regulators for the physiological emasculation of rye flowers and utilizes our knowledge of the higher sensibility of stamens to the auxin level. By means of bioassays it has been found that a relatively low content of auxins and a definite level of gibberellins and inhibitors are characteristic for normal rye spikes at the time of stamen differentiation. The higher level of auxins and expressive inhibitions occur in the later course of pistil differentiation.
Two sprayings of plants with mixed solutions of MH and NAA and two further sprayings with a solution of NAA only before the stamen differentiation change slightly the natural character of endogenous regulators in spikes and cause the destruction of mother pollen cells in anthers and the sterility of anthers in the majority of rye florets. The anthers in the basis of spikes sometimes contain pollen grains after treatment, but their fertility is substantially lowered because the spray evidently disturbed the accumulation of reserve substances in pollen grains. The development of pistil was not affected by the exogenous application of growth regulators. Normal kernels arose in the majority of flowers after supplementary pollination. Some accidental effects of exogenous application of growth regulators, as for example reduced stem growth and disorder of lodicule function were lowered to a great extent by adding GA_S to the last two sprayings of NAA.

The effect of phenolic substances isolated earlier from cabbage, maize and pea on L-tryptophan-3-¹⁴G (L-Try-¹⁴C) metabolism in those plants was investigated. For the sake of comparison the effect of diethyldithiocarbamate (DIECA) on cabbage was also observed. A phenolic substance of unknown structure isolated from cabbage was utilised in a 0.5 mg/ml concentration, p-coumarie acid (PCA) from maize in 0.7 mg/ml concentration and quercetin-glucosyl-coumarate (QGC) found in pea in 8 mg/ml concentration were used. The chosen concentrations were on the limit of their inhibitory effect on the growth of the respective plant apical segments. The effect of DIECA was investigated at 0.1 mg/ml concentration. Using non-labelled L-Try as substrate (5 × 10^-3 M) biological tests have shown that QGC and DIECA have a weaker but distinct effect on the increase in auxin level (+ 17% and + 15%, respectively). All phenolic compounds, as well as DIECA increase the intake of L-Try-¹⁴C from the incubation solutions. Phenolic substances decrease the conversion of L-Try-¹⁴C to its metabolites. The changes were studied after a 20 hour period of L-Try-¹⁴C metabolism. On chromatograms changes in the proportion of L-Try-¹⁴C metabolites took place, especially in the areas of substances of complex character from which IAA splits off easily,i.e. in the areas of 3-indolylacetylglucose and 3-indolylaeetamide. The radioactivity of these areas is generally decreased (e.g. the decrease of radioactivity in the 3-indolylacetylglucose area under the influence of the phenolic substance ofBrassica plants is -7,4%, under the influence of PCA in maize it is -8.9% and under the influence of QGC in pea it is -17.1% DIECA also decreased the radioactivity of this zone, by -10,5%. In cabbage a large part of L-Try-¹⁴C was transformed to glucobrassicin; its biosynthesis increases in the presence of the phenolic substance of cabbage by +3%, in the presence of DIECA by +27%. The results are discussed in a working hypothesis based on the key formation of IAA, accompanied by its oxidation and detoxication.

Separate selection indices were constructed for various combinations of selective characters, in which together with components of economic yield also four separate subcharacters, yield prerequisites were used, namely: flag leaf area, length of the flag leaf, angle of the second leaf (from the top) and length of plant at heading time. Maximum genetic advance in weight of grains per plant (yield) from selections may be expected in selection indices in which three economic yield components together with flag leaf area or angle of the second leaf were used.
When as criteria for selection the flag leaf area together with yield components were used, selection indices with six different sets of economic weights for yield and weight of one grain were also computed. For the ratio of economic values 1∶1, the total expected advance was the highest, but separate advance in yield was approximately only 57% in comparing with selection made according to yield as complex character. For the ratio of economic values 1∶0.03 to 1∶0 the expected genetic advances in yield were about 22 and 24 per cent higher in comparing with selections according to yield. It may be expected that yield improvment will not be acquired by means of a great number of small, inferior grains.