Genetic analysis with T-DNA mutants often brings difficulties resulting from instability of the transgenic phenotype. In this work three different Arabidopsis thaliana T-DNA embryonic lethals and one T-DNA morphological mutant were analyzed in F2 progeny after 15 different crosses with marker lines for individual chromosomes. F2 analysis of 44 segregation ratios revealed segregation distortion of similar character consisting in abnormal excess of nontransgenic plants to the detriment of transgenic ones. We quantified this phenotypic drift (d) on the basis of phenotypic ratios given the respective formulas. The d values indicate the rate of F1 gametes which loose the T-DNA mutation or ability of its expression. The obtained d value were relatively high, 0.4 to 0.9 for individual crosses. It makes the standard recombination analysis with insertional mutants very problematic or even impossible.

Wheat plants were grown from sowing to day 18 in 26-dm³ chambers at three different CO₂ concentrations: 150 (-CO₂), 350 (C, control), 800 (+CO₂) μmol mol^-1. Afterwards, plants of the three variants were grown at the same natural CO₂ concentration. Plant characteristics were measured just before the transfer (0 days after CO₂ treatment, DAT), and at 5 - 8 DAT on the 1^st leaf, and at 12 - 22 DAT on the 4^th leaf. Decreased or increased CO₂ concentrations caused acclimations which persisted after transplantation to natural CO₂ concentration. At 5 - 8 DAT, stomatal density, stomatal conductance (g_s), CO₂ saturated net photosynthetic rate (P_Nsat0), radiation saturated net photosynthetic rate (P_Nsat1), and carboxylation efficiency (τ) were higher in -CO₂ plants and lower in +CO₂ plants than in C plants. As compared with C plants, the photochemical efficiency (α) was lower in -CO₂ and higher in -CO₂ plants, however, chlorophyll (Chl) a, Chl b, Chl a-b and carotenoid contents were lower in both -CO₂ and +CO₂ plants. On the 4^th leaf, which emerged on plant after finishing CO₂ treatments, at 12 - 22 DAT, no differences in stomatal density and g, between treatments were observed. In -CO₂ plants, pigment content and P_Nsat0 were higher, α was lower, and P_Nsat1 and τ were not different from C plants. In contrast, in +CO₂ plants, pigment content, P_Nsat1 and τ were lower, and P_Nsat0 and α were unchanged. Leaf area, dry mass, and tiller development increased in +CO₂ plants and decreased in -CO₂ plants. In the interval between 8 and 22 DAT, lower net assimilation rate in +CO₂ than in -CO₂ plants was observed.

Pea plants were more susceptible to long-wave UV-B irradiation (305 - 320 nm, 7.7 kJ m^-2 d^-1, 4 weeks) in comparison with the triticale. This difference was more apparent from the changes in total area of leaves and dry mass of shoots, rather than from the parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence and net photosynthetic rate.

The medium forin vitro culture of green and SANDOZ herbicides-treatedChenopodium rubrum L. plants contained saccharides and hormones in different concentrations. Five days after sowing, the plants were exposed to non-inductive (15 long days-LD) or inductive (6 short days-SD + 9 LD) photoperiodic conditions. The length of hypocotyl and cotyledon blade were measured and percentage of flowering was scored. Gibberellic acid (GA₃) stimulated hypocotyl growth of green and photobleached plants under SD and inhibited under LD conditions. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) slightly stimulated hypocotyl growth of green plants only under LD conditions. Benzylaminopurine (BAP) inhibited hypocotyl growth regardless of photoperiodic regime. The optimal concentration of glucose or saccharose for flowering in green and SANDOZ-treated plants was 5%. In green SAN 9785-treated plants exogenous saccharides compensated lack of photosynthates to bring about full flowering, but SAN 9789-treated plants needed in addition GA₃.

Anatomical changes of leaf epidermes of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. INCA 9) submitted to water stress in the preflowering stage were studied. 20 d after germination, plants were subjected to three treatments: 1) 100 % of evapotranspired water was applied every day, 2) from 100 up to 10 % of evapotranspired water was applied every day, and 3) water supply was completely suppressed. Trichome density was similar in apical, middle and basal zones, and adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces. Stomatal density and length, and epidermal cell length and width had similar values on the same leaf surface, but the values were higher on the abaxial than on the adaxial leaf surface. The water deficit had little effect on number of trichomes, length and width of epidermal cells and length of stomata, and decreased the stomatal density especially on adaxial surface.

The effect of low temperature on the protein metabolism of wheat primary leaves was examined. In seedlings transferred from 25 to 5 °C, total soluble protein accumulation, in vivo protein synthesis and breakdown, in vitro protein breakdown, and SDS-PAGE profiles of proteinases in gelatine-containing gels were analysed. Leaf protein content increased within a 7-d period (70 % over the initial value) in plants exposed to 5 °C. The fast protein accumulation observed on days 0 - 2 was mainly attributed to a decreased breakdown. In further days, parallelly to a slowdown in the rate of protein accumulation, the leaf proteolytic activity increased. The incubation temperature also had an influence on the proteolytic activity: Q ₁₀ values for the 15 - 5 °C range were 80 - 200 % higher than those observed for the 25 - 15 °C range. On the other hand, the in vivo protein synthesis capacity, at either 25 or 55 °C, was not significantly modified in cold-treated plants. In addition to the enhanced activities of two serine-proteinases (previously found in control plants by SDS-PAGE analysis), cold-treated plants displayed a new proteinase, which had not been detected so far.

Polyphenol oxidase activity was higher in resistant wheat cultivar ACC-8226 than in susceptible cultivar MP-845 in control sets and after inoculation of Alternaria triticina. However, similar polyphenol oxidase isozyme pattern was found in control and inoculated sets of both the cultivars, but the band intensity was higher after inoculation. Three and four peroxidase isozymes were found in ACC-8226 and MP-845, respectively. An extra peroxidase isozyme band was observed in both the cultivars after inoculation. The results suggest an active role of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase in defence mechanism of wheat plants.

The morphogenetic responses of cotyledonary nodal explants of Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper cv. VBN1 cultured on the same Murashige and Skoog's medium, B5 vitamins, and 13.31 µM N⁶-benzylaminopurine showed variations in the pattern of multiple shooting and morphology of leaves in dependence on initial explants (presence/absence of cotyledons). The regenerated shoots elongated in the initial medium and most of them rooted in the presence of 2.41 µM indole-3-butyric acid, and flowered in vitro. Rooted plants could be transferred to the field after hardening.

Cicer arietinum L. plants raised in sand culture under natural light were subjected to salinity stress induced by mixture of NaCl, CaCl₂, MgCl₂ and MgSO₄ (40, 60 or 80 meq dm^-3). Acetylene reduction activity (ARA) of nodules, leghemoglobin content and nodule structure were followed 55, 75 and 85 d after sowing. ARA declined significantly under salt treatments and the lowest ARA was observed at day 85 after sowing. Decrease in ARA was consistent with decreased nodule leghemoglobin content. The leghemoglobin content of control plants decreased by 50 % at day 85 indicating senescence of nodules. This senescence was further accelerated by salt treatment after which the leghemoglobin content fell to negligible levels. The structural changes associated with salt stress were mainly reduction in size of the nodules, decreased meristematic zone, reduced number and degradation of symbiosomes, reduced intercellalar spaces and deposition of electron dense material in the intercellular spaces in the cortex of nodules.

Changes in the content of soluble sugars and starch were determined during the first phase of de novo organogenesis in stem internode segments (SIS), taken either from control plants or from the plants grown on medium with 10^-8 M paclobutrazol (PBZ). Transient accumulation of soluble sugars was observed in both variants during the first two days. Control SIS accumulated higher amount [22.0 mg g^-1(f.m.)] of soluble sugars than the PBZ pretreated SIS [15.2 mg g^-1(f.m.)]. PBZ variant showed four times higher starch content at the start of experiment in comparison with the control. Both variants accumulated starch during cultivation until the beginning of regeneration.

In vitro culture of long-day plant Chenopodium murale L was established. The effects of photoperiod, glucose and gibberellic acid (GA₃) on flowering and growth in vitro were investigated. Oscillatory changes of photoperiodic sensitivity were noticeable with regard to plant age. The plants induced at the phase of the 1^st and the 3^rd pair of leaves flowered to higher degree than those induced at the phase of 2^nd pair. Plants induced at the phase of the 1^st pair of leaves flowered to 17 % on 5 % glucose-containing medium and the addition of 5 mg dm^-3 GA₃ resulted in maximum flowering (43 %). Neither glucose nor GA₃ were able to compensate for photoperiodic requirements for flowering. Hypocotyl growth was decreased and the 1^st internode elongation and development of leaves were increased due to inductive photoperiodic conditions, as compared to non-inductive ones.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Hassan) leaves were used to study the effects of developmental stage and photoperiod on the NAD(P)H-ferricyanide oxidoreductase (NAD(P)H-FeCNR) and on the photosystem (PS) 1 and 2 activities of isolated chloroplasts. From day 6 to day 12, both the PS 1 and NADH-FeCNR activities decreased while NADPH-FeCNR activity remained almost unchanged. Methyl jasmonate had no significant effect on the NAD(P)H-FeCNR activity changes. In 6- to 7- and 14- to 15-d-old plants, the NADH-FeCNR activity was higher during the photoperiod than during the dark period and, in the 14- to 15-d-old plants, the PS 1 activity increased during photoperiod in the same way, but to a lesser extent. The PS 1 activity of plants during a dark-accelerated senescence was low. The simultaneous changes in chloroplast PS 1 and NADH-FeCNR activities support the role proposed for the chloroplast NADH dehydrogenase complex in the cyclic electron transport.

The effect of 0.5 mM salicylic acid (SA) pretreatment and of growing at hardening temperatures on chilling-induced changes in 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) and malonyl 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (MACC) was investigated in young maize (Zea mays L.) plants grown in hydroponic solution at 22/20 °C. Chilling at 5 °C caused an increase in ACC content;however, this increase was less pronounced in plants cold acclimated at 13/11 °C 4 d before the chilling treatment, and in those which were pretreated with SA for 1 d before the cold stress. Changes in MACC at low temperature showed no correlation with chilling tolerance in maize.

The dynamics of seed storage protein biosynthesis was studied under field conditions during two vegetative seasons. Two soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) genotypes were examined: BOSA (drought tolerant) and L 121 (drought susceptible). Seed samples were taken from plants at three stages of seed maturation (50 and 70 d after flowering, and at full maturity). The earlier synthesis of the β-subunit of the 7S protein occurred in the drought susceptible cultivar. We have not found such differences in the synthesis of the α- and α'-subunits of the 7S protein. Our results did not confirm significant genotypic differences in protein composition of the mature seeds between the cultivars studied, but have pointed out to the differences in the dynamics of protein biosynthesis during seed maturation and desiccation.

The effect of benzothiadiazole (BTH) on protein synthesis was studied in sugar beet plants. Extracellular proteins induced by 0.025 % BTH were examined and their pattern was compared with that induced by sodium salicylate, chitosan, paraquat, AgNO₃, and by tobacco necrosis virus. BTH induced synthesis of at least 9 acidic and 6 basic proteins; three of them appeared as acidic chitinase isozymes, three as acidic β-1,3-glucanase isozymes, three as basic chitinase isozymes, and one as a basic β-1,3-glucanase isozyme. One of the basic chitinase isozymes was found also in control plants. The most of the newly formed proteins was also induced by the other inducers under study regardless of the necrotic or symptomless reaction of plants. The benzothiadiazole proved to be an efficient inducer of proteins in sugar beet.

The increase in water use efficiency (the ratio of photosynthetic to transpiration rates) is likely to be the commonest positive effect of long-term elevation in CO₂ concentration (CE). This may not necessarily lead to decrease in long-term water use owing to increased leaf area. However, some plant species seem to cope better with drought stress under CE, because increased production of photosynthates might enhance osmotic adjustment and decreased stomatal conductance and transpiration rate under CE enable plants to maintain a higher leaf water potential during drought. In addition, at the same stomatal conductance, internal CO₂ concentration might be higher under CE which results in higher photosynthetic rate. Therefore plants under CE of the future atmosphere will probably survive eventual higher drought stress and some species may even be able to extend their biotope into less favourable sites.

Activities of host ribonucleases and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were studied in three cultivars (Monosvalof, Steffi and Rimini) of sugar beet differing in their resistance to beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV). No differences were found in the susceptibility of cultivars to BNYVV between mechanically inoculated and Polymyxa betae (a natural fungal vector of the virus) infected plants, but the culmination of reproduction curves of BNYVV in mechanically inoculated plants was observed one week earlier than in plants inoculated by means of P. betae. The activities of ribonucleases corresponded with virus multiplication. In roots, activities of ribonucleases reached a maximum at day 7; in leaves, maximum activity was found at day 21 in cv. Monosvalof, and at day 14 in cv. Steffi. The relatively resistant cultivar Rimini showed much lower activities. The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was only slightly increased at the time of culmination of the BNYVV reproduction curve in cvs. Monosvalof and Steffi.

The effect of 50 to 200 mM NaCl on two lines (CP with solid stem and CV with hollow stem) of ×Haynaldoticum sardoum was studied. NaCl significantly reduced root and shoot fresh and dry masses, root length and less markedly shoot length of CP and CV plants. The sodium accumulated in the leaves in relation to the concentration of NaCl and length of the treatment; CP leaves contained twice as much sodium as CV leaves. The leaf chlorophyll a/b ratio was not affected by NaCl. NaCl decreased the leaf water and osmotic potentials. The pressure potential increased due to the increased concentration of dissolved solutes in the leaf, particularly sodium. The proteinase and exopeptidase activities increased during NaCl treatment.

Water relations of two rapidly expanding species in deforested localities, Calamagrostis epigeios and Calamagrostis arundinacea, were compared. After short- or long-term water stress, water content and specific leaf area were more reduced in C. epigeios than in C. arundinacea. After short-term stress, osmotic potential was similar in both species, but after long-term stress, it was much lower in C. epigeios plants. Abscisic acid and proline contents were higher in stressed plants of C. epigeios than in those of C. arundinacea.

Increasing soil acidity (from pH 6.5 to pH 2.0) decreased chlorophyll (Chl)a andb contents, dry matter accumulation by plants and the transpiration coefficient. Chl stability to heat significantly increased with increased soil acidity. The Chla/b ratio was increased significantly at pH 5 and 4 and decreased at pH 3 and 2. SprayingSorghum shoots with kinetin solutions counteracted the above adverse effects on Chl content and dry matter accumulation. Kinetin-treated plants showed a lower transpiration coefficient than the untreated plants.

Addition of 0.5 and 2.5 gm^-3 of metribuzin into Hoagland nutrient media, either alone or in combination with NaCl, induced significant decreases in nitrate-, amino-, ammonia-, and total soluble-N contents, whereas significant increases in these nitrogen fractions were apparent in maize and castor bean seedlings and plants treated with high concentrations (5 and 10 g m^-3) of the herbicide, again either alone or in combination with NaCl. Protein- and total-N contents increased and decreased at low and high concentrations of the herbicide, respectively. The contents of chlorophyllsa andb, as well as carotenoids of both castor bean and maize seedlings and plants treated with low concentration of herbicide, either alone or supplemented with NaCl, were unaffected, whereas at high concentrations of the herbicide a significant decrease in chloroplast pigments was found. Nitrate reductase activity (NRA) was increased significantly at low concentrations of the herbicide alone and decreased significantly at high levels. Inclusion of NaCl into the herbicide media induced significant decreases in NRA of both castor bean and maize seedlings and plants. Unlike NRA changes, protease activity was increased significantly with high concentrations (5 and 10 g m^-3) of metribuzin and decreased significantly with its low (0.5 and 2.5 g m^-3) concentrations.

Whole sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L. cv. Ras poly) plants were grown in the greenhouse from the same seed stock used for an in vitro shoot tip culture. In vitro produced sugar beet plants exhibited a high content of chlorophylls a and b, carotene, and total and soluble sugars. On the other hand, total protein content of in vivo plants was higher than that of in vitro plants. No differences were found by SDS-PAGE analysis in the nature and contents of soluble proteins of in vitro propagated plants and greenhouse-grown plants. Surfaces of epidermal cells were larger and palisade and spongy paranchyma tissues were thicker in leaves of regenerants than in leaves of seedlings. Vascular tissues in leaf petioles in regenerants were flat and more differentiated than in seedlings. Closed and undeveloped stomata were found on the abaxial leaf surface of regenerants, whereas in seedlings the stomata were open.

Micropropagation and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation were developed in Kalmia latifolia cv. Ostbo Red. The transformation of Kalmia latifolia plants was carried out by an Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain containing the nptII and gusA genes in its T-DNA. Shoots were regenerated on kanamycin selection medium and the expression of the gusA reporter gene was verified by fluorogenic β-glucuronidase (GUS) assay in a few vegetative generations after regeneration. The presence of the gusA gene in regenerated kanamycin resistant plants was detected by polymerase chain reaction.

The effect of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellic acid (GA₃) applications on parthenocarpic fruit set in Rosa canina and Diospyros lotus was investigated. GA₃ induced parthenocarpic fruit set in both plants, but IAA only in D. lotus. Maturation of seedless fruits was earlier than the seeded fruits. GA₃ caused a decrease in the fresh mass and size of both fruits. IAA induced an increase in the fresh mass and size in parthenocarpic fruit of D. lotus.

Matured somatic embryos of different embryogenic cell lines of Picea abies formed as a response to abscisic acid and polyethylene glycol were categorised into three main groups: well-developed, less-developed and undeveloped type. Only the well-developed embryos were able to convert into normal plants. They were positively influenced by prolonged proliferation up to 4 months in contrast to the less-developed ones. Seed extract positively affected both well-developed and less-developed embryos, but only in the beginning of tested period. Intermediate cell lines after a peak of acquisition of maximum maturation competence decrease the maturation frequency with prolonged culture.

Increasing salinity of growth medium induced a reduction in growth and transpiration rate. The concentrations of chlorophylls and carotenoids were increased in most cases in broad bean leaves while in pea plants they remained more or less unchanged with the rise of salinization up to 80mM NaCl. Thereabove a significant decrease in these contents was observed. A stimulation of the net photosynthetic rate of pea was observed at the lowest levels of NaCl but at the highest levels inhibitory effect was recorded. In broad bean all salinization levels inhibited photosynthetic activity, but dark respiration of both plant species was stimulated. The content of Na⁺ in the roots and shoots of both species increased at increasing salinity. In broad bean, Ca²⁺ concentration in shoots and K⁺ and Ca²⁺ contents of roots increased at increasing salinization, while in pea plants, the content of K⁺ and Ca²⁺ was almost unaffected by salinity. Salinity induced an increase in the content of these ions in pea roots. Mg²⁺ content in shoots and roots of both broad bean and pea decreased at increasing salinity except in roots of pea, where it was generally increased.

The influence of phosphate deficiency on the sugar accumulation and sugar partitioning in the root cells of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was studied. Bean plants were cultured 17 - 19 d on a phosphate-sufficient and phosphate-deficient nutrient medium. Phosphate deficit in the growth medium resulted in increased sugar concentration for about 30 % in the apoplastic and cytoplasmic compartments as well as in the vacuoles of root cells. However, the distribution of sugars between apoplast and cytoplasm compartment and vacuole was not affected by decreased phosphate concentration. About 20 % of sugars were found in the apoplast and cytoplasm, about 80 % in the vacuole. Low phosphate concentration enhanced influx of exogenous ¹⁴C-sucrose into meristematic and elongation zones of root. The ¹⁴C-labelled sugar content in the root tips increased for about 60 % as compared to control plants. Phosphate deficiency increased also ¹⁴C-glucose uptake and content in the root tips. However, the amount of ¹⁴CO₂ liberated during respiration of P-deficient roots (after feeding with uniformly labelled ¹⁴C-glucose) was lower than ¹⁴CO₂ respired by control plants, thus a large part of accumulated sugars seems to be metabolically inactive.

Spirodela polyrhiza L. Schleid. plants developed anthocyanin (AC) on the abaxial frond surface when grown on Hoagland nutrient solution diluted 1:≥40; AC content was maximum at 1:80 dilution. Till 1:20 dilution there was no or very little AC formation. The formation of AC seems to rely on the availability of excess carbon skeleton in relation to nitrogen in plants. Thus, addition of saccharose to 1:20 diluted medium resulted in a concentration-dependent AC formation. Also fructose, glucose, mannitol, and sorbitol induced AC synthesis. Conversely, urea and ammonium nitrate, when added to the 1:80 diluted medium, suppressed the AC formation. Omission of micronutrients from the growth medium led to the formation of a little amount of AC whereas polyethylene glycol and Cd treatments were ineffective. AC produced under starvation (7 d on distilled water) did not get turned over upon the transfer of plants to nutrient sufficient (1:5 diluted medium) conditions indicating that AC formed does not serve as a reversible C-reserve.

The effect of combinations of different concentrations of copper (Cu) and mercury (Hg) ions with different constant temperatures (T) onPhaseolus vulgaris plants was studied. Criteria investigated included shoot and root length, dry mass, chlorophyll content (Chl) and stability index (CSI), and contents of soluble (SS) and hydrolysable saccharides (HS), soluble proteins (SP) and total free amino acid (AA). Each of the factors (T, Cu and Hg) significantly affected the parameters tested with exception of T effect on Chlb content as well as on Chla/b ratio. Bifactorial interactions (T×Cu) or (T×Hg) were also significant, except the interaction (T×Hg) in shoot elongation, Chlb content and Chla/b ratio. Statistical treatment of the data lead to three findings: (1) temperature was dominant in affecting CSIa, shoot AA and root SS, (2) Cu and Hg had the predominant effect on growth parameters and Chl content, and (3) interactions (T×Cu and T×Hg) were dominant in affecting CSIb, shoot SP, and root HS.