Using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) beet yellows virus (BYV) could be detected reliably in the leaves of sugar beet andTetragonia expansa Pall. and in the roots of sugar beet. Specifio γ-globulin of BYV antiserum was coupled to horse radish peroxidase by periodate oxidation. Optimum dilutions of antigen (extract from infected leaves) were1: 50 to 1: 200 for BYV detection in sugar beet andT. expansa leaves and1: 2 to 1: 5 for detection in sugar beet roots. Extracts from beet roots are not to be purified by ultracentrifugation, however, by the described method virus can be demonstrated only in 80-90% of naturally infected sugar beet roots. The method is specific, no increase of extinction values was found in healthy or beet western yellows virus infected plants. Presence of virus can be demonstrated by visual as well as photometric evaluation. Results confirmed the suitability of peroxidase application for detection of plant viruses by ELISA.

The plants of two herbaceous species, namelyPulmonaria officinalis L. andSymphytum tuberosum L., growing in two deciduous forests in SW. Slovakia, were used for analysis of anatomicphysiological gradients along the insertion level of individual leaves. The gradients were established for six leaf characteristics. Specific leaf area and development of leaf area increased, while leaf tissue hydration, degrees of succulence and consistency decreased with height of insertion of leaves upon the stems. The gradients indicate the decreasing of the leaf water content and dry mass with height of the leaf on the stem. Stomatal resistance was usually the lowest in basal leaves and the highest in apical leaves of the plant. The anatomic-physiological heterogeneity of leaves of a plant is large and cannot be neglected in any anatomical or physiological investigations.

Humic acids in a concentration of up to 100 μg ml^-1 affect the activity of choline esterase of pea only weakly during sinapin (choline ester of sinapic acid) hydrolysis. The inhibition is stronger at higher concentrations. A similar course of inhibition with humic acids was also observed during the synthesis of sinapin catalysed with choline acyltransferase present in the same enzyme extract. The organophosphate malathion is a strong inhibitor of both the hydrolysis and the synthesis of sinapin. Thus, for example, at a 3.5 × 10^-5 M concentration it causes 85% inhibition of pea choline esterase. However, in combination with 100 μg of humic acids this inhibition decreases to about 8%. It was observed that humic acids prevent the inhibition of both the hydrolysis and the synthesis of sinapin with malathion even at low concentrations. The interaction of the organophosphate malathion with humic acids seems specific. Humic acids do not affect the inhibition of choline esterase with physostigmine or the inhibition of the hydrolysis and the synthesis of sinapin with chlorocholine chloride, alar and hexamine either. This is also true of the activation of the processes with the K⁺ ions. Humic acids represent competitive inhibitors of choline esterase. Malathion shows an acompetitive - noncompetitive character of the inhibition. The interaction of humic acids with malathion in the roots of the plants may also be assumed in the soil when malathion is applied as an insecticide.

The absorption of nitrate and the activity of nitrate reductase were much lower in Ca-deficient plants ofCururbita pepo L., cv. 'Kveta' than in normal plants grown in complete nutrient solution for a period of 8 days. After the addition of nitrate to the nutrient medium, nitrate reductase activity in the roots of NO₃-deficient plants sharply rose during the first 6 h and then remained constant during the following 6 h; the content of endogenous NO₃^- rose slowly and continuously. These processes were depressed in (Ca, NO₃)-deficient plants independently of the addition of Ca²⁺ to the medium in the variant with NO₃^-. Thus it seems that the whole nitrogen metabolism,i.e. both NO₃^- absorption and the synthesis of nitrate reductase, is impaired in Ca-deficient plants.

The changes in the levels of growth regulating substances using the wheat coleoptile straight growth test were determined in the leaves of vernalized (flowering) and non-vernalized (non-flowering) plants of sugar-beet, cv. Poly-AG-Poland at two stages; the end of vernalization treatment (210 days from planting) and full-flowering stage. IAA was detected only in the extracts of the leaves of non-vernalized plants after210 days from planting. No inhibitory activity was detected, except in the case of the concentrated extract of the leaves of non-vernalized plants. This growth promoting zone was found at R_f 0.5-0.8 in the leaves of flowering plants after cold treatment and at flowering time. This zone of growth promoting action was suggested to have a major role in the flowering of sugar-beet.

An isolate of wisteria vein mosaic virus (WVMV) obtained fromWisteria sinensis in Prague resembled in its properties WVMV isolates described in Italy and Holland.Nicotiana megalosiphon is reported as a new host of WVMV. Other known host plants showed reactions similar to those described formerly. The incubation period extended in some hosts up to two or four weeks. Pea plants showed symptoms within five to seven days. Species ofApium, Brassica,Datura and others were not susceptible. TIP of Prague isolate of WVMV was 61 °C, at a dilution 1: 5000 47% of plants were infected, and 48 h > LIV > 28 h. Modal particle length was 743 nm. Massive granular inclusions were seen in pea epidermal cells, usually adhering to nuclei that did not show alterations. No serological relation to turnip mosaic virus could be established.

Twenty three isolates of turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) obtained from spontaneously infected plants ofSiaymbrivm loeaelii JUSL. were serologically related, but differed in reactions of eleven host plants. Susceptibility and sensitivity of each host for each TuMV isolate were classified by one of six degrees (0 to 5) respectively. Similarities of isolates (as compared in 253 pairs) were evaluated by means of a computer; for this purpose the source program MINDIF has been elaborated using the universal program language Algol 60. A table of differences between isolates was obtained and distribution of isolate pairs dependent upon the difference values was stated. The fitness of hosts for differentiating TuMV isolates was ascertained quantitatively. No relation of isolate similarity to geographical indices could be established.

Vicia faba plants cv. 'Erfordia' were treated with single application of CCC at 250 mg l^-1, 7 days before extraction. Such a concentration resulted in a 10.4, 14, 5 and 3.3 fold, respectively, increase in the levels of endogenous IAA, ABA, gibberellins and cytokinins relative to the controls. The results obtained indicate that a single application of CCC at a low concentration was sufficient to enhance the endogenous growth hormones in the treated plants. The results were obtained using GLC analyses for IAA, ABA and cytokinins, and the lettuce hypocotyl and soybean callus bioassay for gibberellins and cytokinins, respectively.

The 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) applied in solution (10μg per plant) on a leaf of lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa, cv. Grosse Blonde Paresseuse) decrease the translocation of⁴²K from the treated leaf, both in pretreatment and in simultaneous action if the interval of time is sufficiently long between the foliar applications. The metabolic action of 2,4-D seems to be located in the treated leaf. The results may be explained by a stimulation of the metabolic activity and consequently of the retention, already observed by several authors, with 2,4-D and other phytohormones. The 2,4-D had not a comparable effect on translocation of⁴²K from the leaves of maize plants (Zea mays Dekalb 202) even if the amount applied is higher and the duration of the pretreatment more important than previously. However, it must be noted for this species a light stimulation with 2,4-D on the retention of⁴²K in the sheath of the treated leaf. The results obtained with lettuce and maize might be fitted in a pattern of selectivity which appears for other aspects of the metabolism.

The occurrence of beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV) on feeding- and sugar-beet in Czechoslovakia has been proved. The virus was transmitted by aphidMyzus persicae (Sulz.) on indicator plantsSinapis alba L.,Capsella bursa-pastorisMedik, andClaytonia perfoliataDonn and from these plants back to sugar-beet cv. 'Dobrovická A.' A weed plantRaphanus raphanistrum L. was identified as a new natural host plant of BMYV. The virus was identified in ten of twelve biologically examined samples of beet with BMYV-like symptoms, which were collected at various places in Czechoslovakia

Benzylaminopurine (BA) caused an enhancement of chlorophyll and protein content and a reduced elongation of primary barley leaves. BA did not change the rhythmic pattern of¹⁴CO₂ fixation and activities of RuBP carboxylase, RuBP oxygenase, glycolate oxidase and phosphoglycolate phosphatase, but the enzyme activities were enhanced and the level of¹⁴CO₂ fixation was reduced. Light/dark¹⁴CO₂ evolution ratio was affeoted by BA only in older leaves. BA acts sequentially on the activities of photosynthetic and photorespiratory enzymes.

The effect of manganese chloride (10 mg Mn l^-1), EDTA (18 mg l^-1) and a mixture of these compounds on the nitrogen balance in maize xylem exudate was investigated. The compounds were applied as experimental solutions to the roots of 20 day old plants 24 h before excision. Application of Mn resulting in a lowered nitrogen level in the xylem exudate increased the relative content of the organic N-compounds in the exudate, particularly that of free amino acids. EDTA appreciably enhanced the content of total nitrogen in xylem exudate, however no significant changes were found in the proportion of inorganic and organic N-compounds in comparison with the water control. The significant features of the free amino acid exudate fraction of all experimental variants were, among others, the relatively high lysine content and the absence of proline arid sulphur containing amino acids. By gel filtration on Sephadex G-25 of xylem exudates UV (254 nm) absorbing fractions, four in the water control, five in Mn and six in EDTA variants were isolated. The UV absorbing fractions with the exception of one in each experimental variant (K_av 0.73 in water control, K_av 0.61 in Mn-variant, K_av 0.75 in EDTA and Mn + EDTA variant) were of peptide character, proline and sulphur-containing amino acids were missing in them. In the exceptional UV absorbing fractions (K_av 0.61-0.75) in spite of their high N-content (10.23%) after hydrolysis practically no amino acid could be detected.

Both chlorcholinchloride and ethrel are used as growth retardants in cereal cultivation. Wheat seedlings were cultivated in nutrient solutions containing 10^-3M CCC, CEPA or 5 × 10^-4M CCC and CEPA, respectively. The epidermis of full-grown primary leaves was analysed.
CCC relatively equally decreases the length of leaves and long epidermal cells, whereas CEPA mainly inhibits cell division. Leaf growth is always a little more inhibited than the number of stomata and trichomes is reduced by CCC or CEPA. This results in an increased frequency of stomata and trichomes by about 14 to 16 per cent. This means that retardants can strongly influence the length of leaves and the length or number of long epidermal cells but, due to the mechanism of programmed determination, the frequency of stomata and trichomes is kept constant within relatively narrow limits. Furthermore it can be concluded that long epidermal cells function as pace-makers in the growth of leaves of monocotyledonous plants.

Virus isolates resembling the dandelion yellow mosaic virus (synonym: lettuce necrosis virus) were obtained from dandelion plants in twenty five localities of Bohemia and also of Norway, Sweden and Finland. All isolates were sap transmissible merely to lettuce, but some of them also toChenopodium quinoa; other test plants could not be infected. Attempted serological and biological identification of the isolates with some viruses presumed to be able to infect spontaneously dandelion plants have failed.

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

Apparent photosynthesis (P_n) and root respiration (R_n) of 8 to 10 d old intact bean plants were studied separately at different temperatures and oxygen concentrations acting on the roots using IRGA technique. P_n is reversibly decreasing during 3 h root cooling (+ 5 °C) in accord with bending down of the primary leaves, and closing of the stomata. Plants adapted to low root temperatures show no effect of increasing the latter on P_n. Even 3 h oxygen deficit in the root medium has no influence on P_n but is increasing R_r in consequence of alteration in ' metabolism from respiration to fermentation. One must distinguish between short time reaction and long time adaptation of the plant on root stress.

Globular embryoids were continually produced in anther cultures of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Samsun) from the pool of resting microspores if the iron-free medium was used. The supplement of iron stopped the development of fresh early embryoids still inducing continual conversion of the resting globular embryoids into torpedo-shaped embryoids, and into haploid plants. Globular embryoids in the anthers responded to the iron supply even after eight months' cultivation on iron-free media. Isolated embryoids showed the same response. Haploid plants were regenerated from the anthers on the minimal medium consisting of agar, sucrose, iron and distilled water. Iron requirements of preglobular, globular and postglobular embryoids are discussed.

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

The three plant types ofAmaranthus namely,A. caudatus f.albiflorus, A. caudatus f.caudatus andA. tricolor var.tristis are qualitative short day plants with critical photoperiods 16.0, 15.5 and 15.0 h, respectively. Gibberellins A₃, A₄₊₇ and A₁₃ affect extension growth, leaf differentiation and floral induction differently. Thus, in all the three plant types ofAmaranthus, whereas, GA₃ and G₄₊₇ enhanced extension growth, GA₁₃ was completely ineffective under both, 24- and 8-h photoperiods. None of the three gibberellins could affect the leaf differentiation. In all the three plant types, flowering was promoted by GA₁₃ and not by other gibberellins tried. GA₁₃ caused promotion was manifested in two manners, firstly by lowering the critical dark period requirement in each inductive cycle, and secondly by shortening the total period taken for the initiation of inflorescence primordia under inductive photoperiods. The floral induction by gibberellins inAmaranthus is contrary to the gibberellin-anthesin concept of Chailakhyan. It is suggested that gibberellins other than GA₃ may be playing an important role in floral morphogenesis of short day plants.

The transpiration rate of intact spring barley plants, cv. Profesor Schiemann resistant to powdery mildew was studied separately in light and in darkness. At the first stage of pathogenesis the fungus temporarily reduced the transpiration rate of the host plants in light (E₁). The transpiration rate in darkness (E_d) was not influenced in this period and only in the period of formation of necrotic spotsE_d in the host plants was somewhat higher than that in the control plants.E₁ of the host plants gradually reached the level of the control plants in this period. The fungus considerably reduced the rationE₁/E_d. The differences in this ratio between infected and control plants increased in the susceptible cultivar but were moderated in the course of necrobiosis.

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

The participation of the genotype and of organ specifity effect in the quality of morphogenetic response (callogenesis, bud and root formation) of primary maize explants has been investigated. The presence of synthetic auxins - especially 2,4-D at 1 to 5 mg 1^-1 conc. - in cultivation medium was essential for both callus formation and continuous growth of tissue and suspension cultures. Anatomic structure of callus cultures is permanently heterogeneous, their growth is ensured by the action of meristems of the type found in root tips, and by repeated callogenesis from malformed roots. Adventive buds and plants could be regenerated only from cultures of embryonal origin (of one line). The presence or absence of the endosperm gene "opaque" did not influence callogenesis intensity in cultures of isolated embryos; however the morphogenetic response was clearly "line specific".

The effect of different growth substances on the development of normal and abnormal stomata are presented. Anomocytic, paracytic, anisocytic and stoma with a single subsidiary cell are observed. Abnormal developments like persistent stomatal cells, degeneration of guard cells, unusual thickening, unequal guard cells, single guard cells and size and shape of the pore are noticed in various growth substances. The growth substances also affect the stomatal frequency, stomatal index, epidermal frequency and size of guard and epidermal cells in both the plants. The highest meristematic activity is found in MOR 100 ppm in brinjal and in GA 25 ppm in tomato. The largest size of stomata is found in COL 25 ppm in brinjal and in MH 50 ppm in tomato. The same growth substance responds differently in the two plants.

Spraying the growth retardant (B-9) ranging from 500 to 4000 ppm, on caraway and fennel plants reduced stem height, whereas increased the umbel number per plant. There was a slight increase in seed-yield as well as weight of 1000 seeds of the two umbelliferae plants, induced by B-9. The largest values of volatile oil, crude fat, and carbohydrate in the seeds of the two plants resulted from 4000 ppm B-9. Whereas, the crude protein was not affected by B-9 treatments in both plants.

The frequencies of chlorophyll mutants were investigated in anther cultures derived from mutagen-treated plants ofN. tabacum cv. Samsun (haploid level) and in the seed offspring from the same treated plants (diploid level). Comparison of the induced mutation frequencies at the haploid and diploid levels demonstrated that selection existed against the haploid embryoids with induced chlorophyll deficient mutations. The diploid vegetative stage with phenotypic expression of the chlorophyll mutation was more vital than the haploid one. The suitability of anther cultures for studying induced mutagenesis is discussed.

The endogenous auxin-like substances were analyzed in the shoot extracts of young spinach seedlings, exposed to photoperiodic induction. At least eight indole auxins were found. One of them was identified as tryptophan, the other one is most probably IAA. The plants grown in long days had a higher level of ether soluble auxins than the controls in short days. Separate extractions of plants after each of the eight inductive days showed that the auxin content was not constant, but subjected to irregular oscillations. However, parallel oscillations were also found in control plants grown in short days. Staminate plants were found to contain more endogenous auxins than the pistillate ones. It is concluded that the quantitative changes in auxins during the photoperiodic induction are probably not related to flowering, but to some other growth process, common to all plants in that phase of growth. The higher level of auxins in staminate plants may be the cause of their faster elongation before the onset of flowering.

Calcium deficiency resulted in a 20% increase in the total content of phenolic compounds in the shoots of 10-day-old wheat plants and in a 10% decrease in the roots compared with the control. Differences in specific activities of the lyases of the shikimate pathway (L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, E.C.4.3.1.5, PAL; L-tyrosine ammonia-lyase, TAL) were established between control and Ca-deficient wheat and pumpkin plants. The lyase activities were higher in the shoots of Ca-deficient plants and lower in their roots, compared with the control. Thus, there is a certain correlation between PAL and TAL activities on the one hand and the content of phenolic compounds on the other. The time course of PAL activity during a few first days of growth and the dependence of TAL activity on pH were also investigated.

A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of N doses and row-direction on LAI, light transmission, plant height and dry matter production in the pure and mixed stands of 3 wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars Moti, Sonalika, and NP 824 differing in plant height. The mixed stands gave more transmitted light and shorter plants than the pure stands but dry matter production was not much affected. Nitrogen application increased the plant height, LAI, and dry matter but decreased the transmitted light. Row direction had no influence on plant height, LAI and dry matter production.

It is wellknown that following the amputation, or darkening of one cotyledon in decapitated flax seedlings, the opposite remaining, or illuminated, cotyledon exerts a stimulatory effect on the growth of its axillary bud. For the induction of this stimulating effect a 21-72 h continuous darkening of the cotyledon is sufficient. Endogenous gibberellins take part in the stimulation effect of the illuminated cotyledon, since their level in the illuminated cotyledon increases as early as 12-48 h following the darkening of the opposite cotyledon. The apical part of the cotyledon has a higher growth stimulatory effect on the growth of the cotyledonary axillary bud than the basal half. This again is associated with endogenous gibberellins the level of which is higher in the apical half of the cotyledon than in the basal one.
Upon removal of the root and hypocotyl base in decapitated flax seedlings deprived of one cotyledon, the remaining cotyledon loses its stimulatory influence, so that the bud of the amputated cotyledon grows more vigorously (Dostál 1955). In this growth correlative phenomenon the root may be substituted by cytokinin BA applied in the form of a 0.1-1.0 per cent paste onto the remaining cotyledon, for again in this case the bud of the preserved cotyledon grows more vigorously. Following the decapitation of the axillary of the amputated cotyledon in decapitated pea seedlings with an intact root and deprived of one cotyledon, the axillary of the remaining cotyledon grows more intensively than the serial of the removed one. If the plants operated on in the same way are deprived of the root, the serial of the removed cotyledon gains a correlative growth predominance. If the plants deprived of root are cultivated at the same time in a solution of BA (10-20 mg 1^-1), the correlative predominance is acquired by the axillary of the remaining cotyledon. In growth correlations between cotyledons and their axillary buds in pea seedlings the root may thus be substituted by exogenous cytokinin, as well.