Using water culture technique, some experiments have been performed to investigate the effect of 60 days salinization treatments (0.0-100 meq 1^-1 NaCl) on dry weight and on the content of some nutrient elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, N) in castor bean, sunflower and flax plants. In general the content of sodium increased progressively with the rise of salinity level. The relatively low and moderate salinization levels (20 and 40 meq I^-1 NaCl) resulted in a promotion rather than inhibition of the dry weight and in the content of most of the investigated elements in the different organs of the test plants. However with the rise of salinization level from 60 to 100 meq l^-1, the dry weight and the content of these nutrient elements were mostly reduced.

Flower initiation takes place during a rise of peroxidase activity following a peak of minimum activity which marked the completion of the flowering inductive phase. Since basic isoperoxidases underwent an inverse variation of activity in the course of successive inductive and initiative phases, it was hypothesized that the induction of flowering led to a temporary peak of maximum auxin level in the leaves. Our analyses and available literature data support the view. They also show the different capacity of non-induced and induced material to respond to external auxin application. Since some aspects of the physiological state characterizing induced plants can be simultaneously obtained in all plant parts as a result of rapid interorgan communication, the classical florigen theory is seriously challenged.

Chlorides, nitrates, and sulfates of alkali metals, ammonium, calcium, and magnesium inhibit P_i uptake into maize root cortex segments. The concentration 100 mM brought about 50-100% inhibition, whereas 10 mM concentration (with the exception of salts of NH₄+, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) about 15-55%. Also potassium benzenesulfonate (100 mM) dramatically decreases P_i uptake.
Osmotic shock also inhibits P_i uptake. Marked decrease of P_i uptake ability proceeds in concentration range 0.12-0.13 M NaCl. Concomitantly, proteins are released into rehydration medium and their amount is proportional to the degree of P_i uptake inhibition.
The effect of 0.13 M NaCl on P_i uptake and protein release is about the same in roots of intact plants, excised roots, root segments and segments of isolated cortex and stele. Roots of intact plants and excised roots are more responsive to osmotic shock than studied segments.
The degree of salt tolerance of glycophytes is in correlation with NaCl concentration, which brings about 50% inhibition of P_i uptake.

³H-labelled zeatin riboside (ZR) was applied to pod walls of intactLupinus luteus L. plants. Metabolites present in mature, dry seeds were zeatin nucleotide (ZNT), zeatin riboside (ZR) and zeatin (Z), zeatin O-glucosides and lupinic acid (LA), and the corresponding dihydro-derivatives of the cytokinins listed. Endogenous cytokinins were rapidly metabolised in germinating seeds. In seeds labelled with [³H]ZR for 90 min following a 2 h period of imbibition in water, ZR was actively converted to ZNT and dihydro-ZNT but the prevailing CTK was Z in cotyledons and ZR in embryo axes (EA); later LA and dihydro-LA, and O-glucoside metabolites accumulated. When [³H] zeatin was introduced into imbibing seeds, it was converted to dihydro-ZNT, ZNT, dihydro-ZR, ZR and dihydro-Z; in EA of the Z-labelled seeds, dihydro-ZR and ZR were the main cytokinins. After incubation of the Z-labelled seeds for 6 h in water, the ratios of dihydro-ZNT: ZNT and dihydro-ZR: ZR were, respectively, 20: 1 and 3.4: 1 in EA, and 3.5: 1 and 1.4: 1 in cotyledons.

After infection ofNicotiana tabacum cv. Samsun with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) crude extracts from dark-green spots of upper leaves had a more strongly marked inhibitory effect upon TMV addedin vitro than crude extracts from the surrounding light-green tissue. Likewise, crude extracts from leaves ofNicotiana tabacum cv. Samsun showing recovery after infection with tobacco ringspot virus (TRV) were seen to have a marked inhibitory effect on TMV addedin vitro. The results obtained suggest that virus inhibitors are produced after virus infections not only in hypersensitive hosts but also in systemic hosts. Necrotizing processes are not an indispensable prerequisite of the production of virus-induced virus inhibitors.

In an open gas exchange system with a thermocouple psychrometer the transpiration rate of the first leaf in 8-day plants of spring barley was measured in dependence on the water saturation deficit (ΔW _sat). The plants were cultivated in Richter's nutrient solution, either complete, or deficient in nitrogen or phosphorus. The cuticular transpiration (as measured in the dark) was unaffected by N and P deficiency. The N deficiency reduced the transpiration rate by increasing stomatal resistance since full water saturation of the leaf (67% rate of the control variant) up to stomatal closing at Δ W_sat = 14%. The P deficiency does not affect the transpiration rate at initial phases of wilting, but the stomata close only at a higher Δ W_sat (25%) than those in the control.

The effect of sodium humate on phosphorus uptake by maize seedlings devoid of the endosperm was studied. Short-term experiments have shown that a suppression of phosphate ion absorption occurs under the described conditions in the presence of humate without decreasing the weight of experimental plants. The effect reported is delayed and is enhanced by prolonging the preliminary phase of starvation. It varies with the pH of the medium and reduces under extreme conditions the phosphate release from the root to the medium.

Salinity caused a consistent reduction in the growth of cowpea plants and water content in their leaves. The total as well as the pigment fractions, except carotenoids, exhibited lower values than those of control plants at almost all salinity levels. With the rise of salinization, the total nitrogen and potassium contents in the leaves were decreased but the sodium content was increased and phosphorus content was not significantly affected as compared with the controls.
The application of IAA to salt-treated plants increased the water content in the leaves but it had no effect on the number of leaves and the stem length. The pigment contents in the leaves were either promoted or inhibited with the application of IAA, depending upon the level of salinization. The application of IAA to plants irrigated with water of the highest salinity level was effective in increasing the potassium content in the leaves as compared with the control, but it had no effect on the other mineral elements.

The weight of alfalfa plants, especially roots of susceptible strain, decreased when inoculated withCorynebacterium insidiosum. At the 6th week after inoculation the³²P uptake per plant and its translocation into the above-ground organs were considerably decreased in susceptible plants. On the other hand, the³²P uptake was increased and the radiophosphorus was accumulated in above-ground organs in resistant plants.

Adsorption, absorption and translocation of sodium were compared in three species showing an ascending degree in tolerance to salinity: red cabbage (tolerant) shows higher Root Cationic Exchange Capacity than tomato (sensitive) or radish (intermediate). At low NaCl concentrations, tomato accumulates the greatest quantities of sodium; but Na⁺ translocation remains proportional to the quantity absorbed in the three plants. At high salt concentrations, diffusive phenomena explain similar accumulation in every plant, but red cabbage quickly localises 50% of Na⁺ amount in cotyledons, while this element stays stored in tomato roots. The consequence of these three nutrition phases was discussed in relation to the behaviour observed at the germination time of these same plants.

During high altitude acclimatization the highest number of amino acids were found in temperateArtemisia species (A. vestita) and the lowest one in tropical species (A. scoparia). The amount of free amino acids in temperateArtemisia species was higher when this was grown at 3600 m altitude. InA. scoparia, A. vulnaris andA. parviflora, the higher amount of individual amino acids was ascertained in plants grown at lower altitudes.
InA. vestita, the nitrogen contents per unit dry matter was lower in plants grown at high altitude. In the other three species, the contents were significantly higher in the leaves of plants grown at a higher altitude. The nitrogen contents per unit leaf dry matter determined during active growth of plants were minimum inA. parviflora and maximum inA. vestita. With progressing plant senescence the concentration of nitrogen decreased in all species studied.

3-day-old seedlings ofVicia faba L. were put onto a diluted Knop's solution containing the tested substances within the intentional concentration range and left there for 7 days. In comparison with controls in plain nutrient solution, the DHPA treated plants revealed a suppression of shoot and root development. The main root growth was less sensitive than root branching. 8 h exposure was sufficient to gain a distinct effect. Microscopically the block of mitosis and/or cytokinesis, the formation of binucleate cells and local tissue damage were revealed. Under the given conditions, the cytokinins (BAP, (9R)BAP, iP, (9R)iP) proved to be much more powerful inhibitors than DHPA, whereas adenine and adenosine were less impairing.

Radioactive phosphate was applied to the roots of intact alfalfa plants (Medicago sativa L.) on the 49th day after inoculation withCorynebacterium insidiosum (Me Culloch) Jensen and the³²P contents in different fractions of phosphoric compounds were determined. In inoculated plants, susceptible to bacterial wilt, the inorganio phosphate contents (³²Pinorg) was increased markedly and the³²P bound in organic compounds soluble in acids (³²Porg) decreased as compared with control. In roots of the same plants the³²P contents in phospholipid fraction and DNA were decreased. In tolerant inoculated plants the³²Pinorg increase and³²Porg decrease as compared with those changes in susceptible plants were less expressive. No expressive changes in determined³²P fractions have been proved in resistant plants without any visible disease symptoms.

6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), β-indolylbutyric acid (IBA), phenylacetic acid (PAA) and a triazine herbicide (TH) affected the development of vascular bundles both in coleoptiles and the last intemodium below the ear of wheat plants. These substances were applied before the conductive tissues in the organs investigated were fully differentiated, the degree of their effect being dependent not only on the concentration, but also on the developmental stage of the plants and on cultivation conditions. In coleoptiles the area of vascular bundles was increased especially in the dark. In the stalk, BAP, PAA, IBA and IBA + TH increased the area of phloem. BAP also stimulated the activity of parenchymatous cells of xylem. TH had the same effect only on xylem, which became evident by an increase in vascular bundle area, but not in that of phloem. These anatomical aberrations were confirmed by cytological analysis which revealed that the stimulatory effect of the substances investigated consisted in activation both of companion cells of phloem and parenchymatous cells of xylem, whose function is analogous. As a result, both types of cells contained numerous organelles characteristic of meristematic cells, which suggests protein synthesis and an active transport of substances.

The flag and second leaves of wheat showed physiological and biochemical differences in the normal and water stressed plants. Although the flag leaf had lower enzyme activities in the control plants, in stressed plants it could continue nitrate assimilation better than the second and other leaves. The flag leaf also exhibited a higher tendency to resume normal metabolic activity after the release of stress as is indicated by higher NRA, NiRa, lower r_ad and r_ab.

Young seedlings ofGmelina arborea Roxb. were subjected to 2 weeks of drought. Despite the gradual reduction in stomatal conductance, leaf and root growth was not affected until the later part of the stress period. This was attributed to solute adjustment in the roots of the plants. As the severity of water stress increased, root growth was prolific in all the soil segments. As a result, water in the lowest soil segment was used to maintain plant turgor, which in turn sustains the leaf and root growth during the water-stress treatment. The influence of soil water content and soil water potential upon soil water uptake rate was also evaluated on soil profile basis. Rates of extraction began to decline in all soil segments as soon as soil water potential fell below -0.06 MPa, presumably as a result of vapour gaps between the root and soil (root: soil interface resistance). It is suggested that the growth of roots ofGmelina plants away from drying soil will minimize the resistance to water uptake.

Nitrogen contents were determined in 20 species of "resurrection plants",i.e. plants with leaves which are able to revive from an air-dry state (viz. Boea hygroscopica, Borya nitida, Cheilanthes sieberi, Coleochloa pallidior, C. setifera, Craterostigma plantagineum, Myrothamnus flabellifolia, Oropetium capense, Pellaea calomelanos, P. falcata, P, viridis, Polypodium polypodioides, Ramondia pyrenaica, Selaginella lepidophylla, Sporobolus stapfianus, Talbotia elegans,Tripogon loliiformis, Xerophyta retinervis, X. villosa, X. viscosa), and in three desiccation sensitive species (Eragrostis tenuifolia, Selaginella kraussiana andSporobolus pyramidalis).
In a preponderance of resurrection plants insoluble nitrogen content fell during dehydration of intact plants and soluble non-protein N rose. Both changes were particularly marked in species which lose chlorophyll and thylakoid structure during drying. These trends were usually only partially reversed after 24 h rehydration. Recovery of¹⁴C-leucine incorporation in rehydrating leaves was slow.
Leaves of desiccation sensitive vascular plants tended on the average to lose soluble protein rather than insoluble N during drying, and tended to have higher soluble non-protein N contents than tolerant plants.
However, similarity in the changes in N-contents inXerophyta villosa leaves killed by airdrying compared to leaves surviving air-drying, opposes the view that death was due to excessive loss of protein.

The increase in epidermal conductance of primary bean leaves started within 10 min after irradiation by 1200 μmol m^-2 s^-1 of darkened plants. The rate of stomatal opening increased toa maximum and then decreased till a steady-state value of epidermal conductance was reached. Stomata on the abaxial epidermis always started to open sooner and opened faster than stomata on adaxial epidermis. Both water stress and ageing of leaves delayed the beginning of opening and decreased the opening rate as well as the steady-state values of epidermal conductance.

Nitrate (20 mM) applied to the root medium of 28-day-old nodulated pea plants (Pisum sativum L., cv. Jupiter) immediately retarded nodule growth and inhibited root nodulation. Acetylene-reducing and H₂-evolving nitrogenase activities were also significantly inhibited. The inhibitory effect of nitrate on nodule respiration was less pronounced while the respiration of roots was increased after the addition of nitrate. The levels of cytosol glutamine synthetase and nitrate reductase in nodule cytosol were permanently decreased from the 4th day after nitrate application. These results indicate that the inhibitory effect of high nitrate concentration on whole nodule metabolism is nonspecific in nature.

Regeneration of complete plants is possible from free-cell derived colonies ofIndigofera enneaphylla. In addition to factors such as plating density and composition of the nutrient medium, carbon dioxide is essential for the growth of free-cells whereas changing the light intensity had no effect. Cell colonies were obtained at a plating density of 2.5 × 10³ cells/ml on medium containing benzylaminopurine, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and casein hydrolysate and plantlets were obtained on medium containing only BAP.

Water-stress for 10d at different developmental stages, affected relative water content and leaf water potential of plants. Subsequent rewatering removed these effects. Water stress lowered the contents of chlorophyll, protein, RNA and the activity of catalase, while it increased free proline accumulation and activities of protease, RNase and peroxidase. An overall improvement in biochemical parameters was achieved as soon as the stress was withdrawn by watering and this was reflected in subsequent developmental stages. Water-stress at the reproductive stages induced similar changes as in the vegetative stage but the removal of stress could not improve these parameters to the same extent as at the vegetative stage. In consequence, stress applied at the vegetative stage augmented yield parameters but when applied at the reproductive stage it significantly reduced the yield.

Under increasing water saturation deficit of leaves of young bailey plants, the proportion of the cuticular transpiration may be higher than 10%, as usually anticipated. In this case the calculation of the intercellular CO₂ concentration on the basis of the premise, usually employed, that the resistance of stomata equals that of the leaf, is affected by a considerably high error.

Rapid multiplication of axillary shoots of oak and linden has been achieved on broad-leaved tree medium (BTM) and woody plant medium (WPM) containing low level of cytokinin (BAP 0.2-1.0 mg l^-1). High rooting percentages (80-95%) were obtained on low salt, low sucrose media, containing low level of auxins. Rooted plants were transplanted into pots containing a mixture of peat and perlite. Most of the plants (90-95%) survived the transfer. After the hardening off period the new plants were planted in the field.

Crown galls induced onArabidopsis thaliana plants by octopine or nopaline strains ofAgrobacterium tumefaciens were grownin vitro on different media. Dark growth of all tumor tissues was strictly hormone-dependent. In contrast, hormonal autonomy was observed in the light where crown gall calli readily differentiated into teratomas and (sometimes fertile) plants. Differentiating tissues always grew more vigorously than subtended calli. The growth of transformed calli was stimulated by vitamins and partly inhibited by growth regulators in concentrations used for the maintenance of untransformed calli. Crown gall calli, teratomas and sometimes regenerated plants were shown to express lysopine or nopaline dehydrogenase activities.

The photoacoustic spectroscopic studies of purple pigmented leaves revealed the occurrence of anthocyanins and betalains in some local weed species growing on soils with low moisture levels. The pigmentation intensities were higher in C₄ plants than in C₃ plants. An inverse correlation was observed between pigmentation intensities and soil moisture levels.

Cholinesterase activity was studied in 2 to 10-week-old pea plants cultivated under artificial illumination. Free and membrane-bound forms of the enzyme were separated by extracting the enzyme from pea shoots with buffers differing in ionic strength. The ratio of the free cholinesterase to the membrane-bound one fluctuated between 1 : 1 and 1 : 2.5. The free cholinesterase was inhibited by neostigmine (0.1mmoll^-1) by 50%, the membrane-bound enzyme by 90%. The pH optimum of cholinesterase activity was 8.5, the temperature optimum 37 °C. The enzyme activity was increased by some cations in this order: Mg²⁺ < < K⁺. The K^m value for the substrate S-acetylthiocholine iodide was 250 μmoll^-1, the enzyme activity being inhibited by concentrations higher than 3 mmoll^-1 of this substrate.
The activity of the membrane-bound enzyme was demonstrated in the roots, leaves, stems, fruits, seeds and carpels, but could not be reliably detected in the blossoms. The highest activity expressed per fresh matter was found in older leaves and in the fruits, the lowest in the roots and stems. Cholinesterase activity in plant parts markedly varied during the investigated growth period.

At pollination of maize plants, the old leaves, those of medium age, and young leaves, cut into segments transversally (10 segments) and longitudinally (8 segments and main vein), were sampled and concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg were determined. Then concentration gradients of these elements in maize leaves of different age were evaluated. The results obtained show that concentration gradient of N was the most evident in transversal segments of leaves of different ages, in particular in young leaves, that of K in the old leaves, and the Ca concentration gradient in leaves of medium age. The phosphorus concentration gradient was weakly expressed and in the young leaves not recorded at all. In longitudinal segments, concentration gradients of elements varied in leaves of different ages.

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) isolates obtained from spontaneously infected (1)Chelidonium majus L. and (2)Impatiens parviflora DC. plants growing in the same part of a scree forest in central Bohemia showed differences in ten test plants, but not in further 26 plant species tested and in TIP. Slight quantitative differences between both isolates were obtained in serological tests. Properties of both isolates did not suit precisely any proposed CMV strain classification.

When cultivated in culture solutions salinized with different concentrations (0 to 100 meq I^-1), of either NaCl or Na₂SO₄, the oil producing castor bean, flax and sunflower plants exhibited significant changes in their water relationship parameters (stomatal frequency, rate of transpiration and water content). Although the trend of these changes was nearly the same, their magnitudes depended on the plant treated as well as on the type and level of the salinizing agent. In this respect the values of the stomatal frequency and the rates of transpiration increased significantly with the rise of salinization up to the level 40 meq I^-1. Above this the values of these parameters were generally reduced with the rise of salinization up to the highest level used. In addition a considerable number of stomata in either the lower or upper epidermis was found to be closed at the levels ranging from 60-100 meq l^-1. The water content of leaves of either castor bean or sunflower subjected to low or moderate salinization levels, remained more or less constant, but with a general tendency to decrease at high levels. However, in the case of flax the leaf water content was generally elevated at nearly all salinization levels.