Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were used to assess the genetic stability of long-term micropropagated plantlets of London plane tree (Platanus acerifolia Willd.). Twenty micropropagated plantlets were chosen from a clonal collection of shoots that originated from a single mother shoot. This clonal collection had been maintained under in vitro culture conditions for at least 8 years, as achieved by axillary branch multiplication. Out of 38 ISSR primers screened, 16 primers were found to produce clear reproducible bands resulting in a total of 103 distinct bands with an average of 6.44 scorable bands per primer. Of these 103 bands, 86 were monomorphic across all 20 of the plants tested and 17 showed polymorphisms (16.5 % polymorphism). Based on the ISSR band data, similarity indices between the plantlets ranged from 0.92 to 1.00. These similarity indices were used to construct an UPGMA dendrogram and demonstrated that all 20 micropropagated plants grouped together in one major cluster with a similarity level of 91 %. A total of 1771 scorable bands were obtained from the full combination of primers and plantlets and only 51 (2.88 %) were polymorphic across the plantlets which indicates that this micropropagated line of P. acerifolia is genetically stable.

To study the effect of sucrose on the sink-source relationship in in vitro-grown plants, Cistus incanus seedlings and plantlets were grown horizontally in a two-compartment Petri dish (split dish), with the root system in one compartment and the shoot in the other. Shoots and roots were exposed to different sucrose concentrations (0-30 g dm^-3), two irradiance levels (25 and 160 µmol m^-2s^-1) and the presence or absence of a minimum medium containing minerals and vitamins (M medium). Root and shoot biomass of the seedlings was enhanced by an increase in irradiance when the growth medium was not supplemented with sucrose indicating the role of photosynthesis in biomass production. When sucrose was added to either organ growth was enhanced as well. In the presence of sucrose in the root compartment, sucrose applied to the shoot compartment enhanced growth of both organs under low irradiance, while under high irradiance, sucrose had no further additive effect. In the absence of sucrose in the root compartment, the enhancement of root biomass by sucrose added to the shoot compartment was lower under high irradiance than under low irradiance. The response of Cistus plantlets to sucrose and irradiance differed from that of seedlings, probably reflecting a greater susceptibility of the plantlets to sucrose feedback inhibition on photosynthesis and biomass accumulation. The decrease in root and shoot growth when M medium was added to the shoot compartment and the relatively better growth of these organs when the roots were supplied with minerals and the shoot with sucrose, indicate that growth of the two organs in our experimental set-up was regulated by opposing fluxes of C and nutrients.

Sucrose concentration in the culture medium affected chlorophyll content, trichome development and amount of solasodine in regenerated plantlets of Solanum trilobatum. High chlorophyll content and glandular trichomes were observed in the plants grown on Murashige and Skoog basal medium supplemented with 131.85 mM sucrose. The solasodine was quantified using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. The plantlets cultivated on this medium yielded 35.97 mg g^-1 (d.m.) solasodine whereas the field plants used as control yielded only 2.32 mg g^-1 (d.m.) of solasodine.

A new micropropagation system for Lycium barbarum (L.) was developed using root explants as starting material. Callus can be produced from root explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 0.2 mg dm^-3 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. After three subcultures on the same medium, callus was then transferred onto the MS medium supplemented with 500 mg dm^-3 lactalbumin hydrolysate to induce somatic embryogenesis (SE). After 20 d, about 60 somatic embryos per 0.25 g(f.m.) of embryogenic callus were obtained but only about 10 % of embryos converted into plantlets. After acclimated in the greenhouse, all of the randomly selected plantlets had survived and were similar phenotypically to zygotic seedlings. In addition, the effects of irradiance, photoperiod, growth regulators, explant age and cold treatment on SE of root-derived callus were evaluated.

To better understand the mechanisms involved in aluminum toxicity and tolerance in plants, microarray technology was used to evaluate changes in gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana under Al stress. With the use of Affymetrix Arabidopsis ATH1 Genechip, a comparison of RNA expression profiles was made between control and Al-treated Arabidopsis seedlings. A total of 256 genes were identified as Al-responsive. Ninety-four genes were shown to be up-regulated and 162 were down-regulated; comprising 1.1 % of the 24 000 Arabidopsis genes. Real-time RT-PCR was used to confirm the microarray data. The analysis showed that a large number of transcription factors and several putative signaling components were up-regulated by aluminum. Chloroplast structural and photosynthetic genes were, in general, down-regulated. A number of previously identified Al-responsive genes, e.g. GST, Auxin-regulated, Peroxidase, and Chitinase, were up-regulated by Al-stress, whereas Wali 3 and Wali 4 were down-regulated. We also identified several up-regulated genes involved in vacuolar signaling, sorting and docking. Three genes were also up-regulated by Al-stress, Ras GTP-binding protein, ABC-cassette binding, and the AtELP1 receptor genes, have previously been documented as responsive to drought and/or oxidative stress and may play important roles the detoxification of Al ions by transportation and storage into root vacuoles. Ultrastructural changes in the roots tips cells of Arabidopsis were evaluated using transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis with scanning electron microscopy and results showed Al accumulation in the root tips of Arabidopsis.

Somatic embryos differentiated from hypocotyl explant in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) exhibited very divergent morphologies. Six different types of somatic embryos based on cotyledon development were observed. The growth hormones (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and kinetin) used in induction and maintenance media did not affect embryo rooting and germination. The 95 % conversion of normal embryos (with two cotyledons) was achieved, while an overall conversion was only 38 %. Horn shaped embryos failed to exhibit shoot growth. Poorly developed apical meristems were responsible for lower conversion percentages in some of embryo classes. However, regenerated plants phenotypically resembled to seed grown control plants regardless of somatic embryo morphology.

In grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) leaf chlorophyll (Chl) a and Chl b and carotenoid contents were higher in plants grown at low photon flux densities (PFD) than in those grown at medium and high PFD. The highest Chl a variable to maximum fluorescence ratio F_v/F_m was observed in plants grown at medium PFD while the minimum fluorescence F₀ was highest in those at high PFD. In isolated thylakoids, both high and low PFD caused marked inhibition of whole chain and photosystem 2 (PS2) activities. The artificial exogenous electron donor diphenyl carbazide significantly restored the loss of PS2 activity in low PFD leaves.

Seedlings (70-d-old) of two tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) genotypes, heat-tolerant Jaguar 3 and heat-sensitive TF 66, were exposed to a high temperature stress of 35/30 °C (day/night) for 20 d and both light-saturated and CO₂-saturated leaf stomatal conductance decreased, especially in TF 66. Higher reductions of quantum efficiency, carboxylation efficiency and maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem 2 in dark adapted leaves (measured as F_v/F_m) occurred in TF 66 than in Jaguar 3. High temperature stress increased photorespiration in the two plants, but more in TF 66. Moreover, high temperature stress also reduced the growth, chlorophyll content and caused cell membrane injuries in the two cultivars, the changes were again more pronounced in TF 66 than in Jaguar 3.

Two rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars differing in chilling sensitivity, Changbaijiu (chilling-tolerant) and Zhongjian (chilling-sensitive) were pre-treated with 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mM salicylic acid (SA) for 24 h before chilling at 5°C for 1 d. Chilling induced SA accumulation, particularly conjugated SA in both leaves and roots of the two rice cultivars. After SA administration, SA accumulated in the roots of both cultivars at a concentration-dependent manner, whereas only a slight increase was observed in their leaves. Conjugated SA accounted for most of the increase. The beneficial effect of SA treatment on protecting rice seedlings from chilling injury was not observed at any concentration in either cultivar. Pre-treatment with SA even decreased their chilling tolerance confirmed by increased electrolyte leakage and lipid peroxidation. Further, most of the activities of antioxidant enzymes decreased or remained unchanged in leaves and roots of SA pre-treated seedlings after chilling. These results implied that down-regulation of antioxidant defence might be involved in the reduction of chilling tolerance in SA-pre-treated plants.

Diurnal cycle of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters was done in Colocasia esculenta L. (swamp taro) grown in marshy land under sun or under shade. The sun leaves maintained higher electron transport rate (ETR) and steady state to initial fluorescence ratio (F_s/F₀) than shade leaves. In spite of lower ETR, higher photochemical quenching (PQ), and effective quantum yield of photosystem 2 (Φ_PS2) was evident in shade plants compared to plants exposed to higher irradiance. ETR increased linearly with increase in irradiance more under low irradiance (r ² = 0.84) compared to higher irradiance (r ² = 0.62). The maximum quantum yield of PS 2 (F_v/F_m) did not differ much in sun and shade leaves with the exception of midday when excess of light energy absorbed by plants under sun was thermally dissipated. Hence swamp taro plants adopted different strategies to utilize radiation under different irradiances. At higher irradiance, there was faster decline in proportion of open PS 2 centers (PQ) and excess light energy was dissipated through non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). Under shade, absorbed energy was effectively utilized resulting in higher Φ_PS2.

5-Methyltryptophan (5MT), a tryptophan analog, resistant M4 rice mutants with high free amino acid contents were obtained through in vitro mutagenesis. To evaluate the 5MT resistance mechanism, a cDNA library was constructed by using the leaves and roots of the 5MT resistant mutant plants. Expressed sequenced tags (ESTs) of 1 019 randomly selected clones were analyzed and then assembled 588 unigens. A total of 389 unigenes had significant homologies with known protein sequences at the NCBI database and the remaining 199 unigenes were designated unidentified genes. These unigens were grouped into 13 categories according to their putative functions. Of the 233 randomly selected clones, 25 were identified as differentially expressed genes between 5MT resistant and 5MT sensitive wild type plants. For further study of the differential expression of the genes, expression patterns of 12 genes related to various biological functions were evaluated in response to 5MT treatment in both the resistant plants and sensitive plants. All of the tested 12 genes exhibited higher expression levels in mutant plants than wild type plants under the 5MT inhibition. These expression patterns of the 12 genes suggested that the genes related to 5MT resistance in the rice mutants have a variety of functions, and yield remarkably diverse expression patterns upon 5MT treatment. Many genes that were identified tend to be related to defense and stress responses, suggesting "cross-talking" between biotic/abiotic stresses including the 5MT treatment. Therefore, 5MT resistant mutants might be of value for identifying genes related to plant defenses and stresses.

Black gram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] cv. IPU 94 plants grown in sand culture with deficient zinc (0.1 µM Zn) nutrition and those deprived of normal (1 µM) Zn supply at the initiation of flowering, showed decrease in dry matter production and especially seed yield. These plants showed a decrease in the size of anthers and stigmatic heads, pollen producing capacity of the anthers and stigmatic exudations. Zn deficiency caused structural alterations in exine and retarded germination of pollen grains and tube growth. The pollen extracts and stigmatic exudates of the Zn-deficient plants showed increase in activity of acid phosphatase isoforms and inhibition of esterase isoforms. Zn deficiency led to decrease in number of pods, seeds per pod and seed mass, altered seed coat topography and reduced seeds germinability. Low seed yield under Zn deficiency is attributed to a role of Zn in pollen function, as also in pollen-pistil interaction conducive to fertilization and development of seeds.

Multiple shoots of Spilanthes acmella Murr. were induced from nodal buds of in vivo and in vitro seedlings on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 1.0 mg dm^-3 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 0.1 mg dm^-3 α-naphthalene-acetic acid (NAA). Adventitious shoots were successfully regenerated from the leaf explants derived from the above mentioned multiple shoots. The efficiency of shoot regeneration was tested in the MS medium containing BA, kinetin, or 2-isopentenyl adenine in combination with NAA, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and gibberellic acid. Maximum number of shoots per explant (20 ± 0.47) was recorded with 3.0 mg dm^-3 BA and 1.0 mg dm^-3 IAA. An anatomical study confirmed shoot regeneration via direct organogenesis. About 95 % of the in vitro shoots developed roots after transfer to half strength MS medium containing 1.0 mg dm^-3 IBA. 95 % of the plantlets were successfully acclimatized and established in soil. The transplanted plantlets showed normal flowering without any morphological variation.

In 7-d-old seedlings of Brassica juncea chromium (VI) promoted photosystem 2 (PS 2) mediated photoreactions. The increase in PS 2 activity in the thylakoids from Cr-treated seedlings, in the presence of uncoupler (5 mM NH₄Cl), was similar to that recorded with the control thylakoids. Thus Cr enhanced PS 2 activity was not due to uncoupling of electron transport from photophosphorylation. Photon saturation kinetics revealed that the PS 2 activity of thylakoids from Cr-treated seedlings was significantly higher at almost all irradiances in comparison to that of controls. PS 2 activity of thylakoids from Cr-treated plants at 25 % of the saturating irradiance was in par with the PS 2 activity of the thylakoids from control plants at saturating irradiance. Thylakoids from both control and Cr-treated seedlings exhibited maximum PS 2 activity at pH 7.5. The PS 2 activity of thylakoids from Cr-treated plants remained high even at pH 8.0 and 8.5, demonstrating Cr enhances tolerance of PS 2 to alkaline pH.

Barley seedlings were pre-treated with 1 and 5 µM H₂O₂ for 2 d and then supplied with water or 150 mM NaCl for 4 and 7 d. Exogenous H₂O₂ alone had no effect on the proline, malondialdehyde (MDA) and H₂O₂ contents, decreased catalase (CAT) activity and had no effect on peroxidase (POX) activity. Three new superoxide dismutase (SOD) isoenzymes appeared in the leaves as a result of 1 µM H₂O₂ treatment. NaCl enhanced CAT and POX activity. SOD activity and isoenzyme patterns were changed due to H₂O₂ pre-treatment, NaCl stress and leaf ageing. In pre-treated seedlings the rate of ¹⁴CO₂ fixation was higher and MDA, H₂O₂ and proline contents were lower in comparison to the seedlings subjected directly to NaCl stress. Cl^- content in the leaves 4 and 7 d after NaCl supply increased considerably, but less in pre-treated plants. It was suggested that H₂O₂ metabolism is involved as a signal in the processes of barley salt tolerance.

This paper describes rapid propagation of Sesbania drummondii using nodal explants isolated from seedlings and young plants. The nodal segments proliferated into multiple shoots on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with 22.2 μM benzyladenine. MS medium containing 2.2 and 4.5 μM thidiazuron induced 5 - 6 shoots per stem node from 3-month-old plants. Nodal explants when cultured on MS medium containing combinations of benzyladenine (8.8 and 11.1 μM) and indole-3-butyric acid (0.24 - 2.46 μM) or indole-3-acetic acid (0.28 - 2.85 μM) gave lesser number of shoots. Callus induced on cotyledonary explants when subcultured on 2.2 μM thidiazuron containing medium resulted in its mass proliferation having numerous embryoid-like structures. Indole-3-butyric acid (0.24 - 2.46 μM) was found suitable for root induction. In vitro regenerated plants were acclimatized in greenhouse conditions.

Leaf tissues of 38 genotypes, derived from four accessions, of the hexaploid species Helianthus tuberosus (2n=6x=102) responded to growth regulators (BA, NAA) chiefly by forming callus, while aventitious organogenesis or somatic embryogenesis were induced occasionally. A remarkable regeneration frequency (about 30 %) was achieved only from leaves of genotype HTPI-15. Explants of many regenerated plants of HTPI-15 subjected to a second culture cycle in vitro displayed a high morphogenetic potential (regeneration frequency > 90 %). White globular structures were initiated on the adaxial surface of these leaves without a callus phase. Somatic embryogenesis was asynchronous and embryoids, of different developmental stage, were simultaneously detected on each explant. Although many embryos developed single or malformed cotyledons or germinated precocciously, without the differentiation of a complete root system, phenotypically normal plants were regenerated after rooting on regulator-free half-strength MS medium.

Nodal explant cultures from field-grown five jojoba genotypes (EC 99690, EC 99692, EC 99692, EC 267779 and EC 171284; male and female plants), could be established on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. The nodal explants of different genotypes as well as sex elicited differential requirements of N⁶-benzyladenine (BA) for optimum shoot regeneration and medium-term conservation. Female nodal explants of EC 99692 produced maximum shoots (10 shoots per explant) followed by male of EC 171284 (9.3 shoots per explant) on MS + 10 μM BA. The pulse treatment of 50 μM indole-3-butyric acid for 20 min caused in vitro rhizogenesis in 44 - 67 % cultures of various genotypes tested. A significant difference was observed for the conservation period of male and female cultures of all the genotypes. MS + 10 μM BA supported the shoot cultures of EC 99690, EC 99691 and EC 267779 for maximum conservation period, while MS + 5 μM BA proved to be optimum for conserving the shoots of EC 99692 and EC 171284. Generally, the female shoot cultures of genotypes survived for longer period than male ones.

Embryogenic, friable and small (ca. 3 mm) calli showed optimum gus expression and were best suited for selection during genetic transformation of rice through particle bombardment. Through prolonged culture of mature seeds on original callus induction medium, this type of calli could be produced in large numbers across several elite rice genotypes. To minimize the non-transformed escapes 50 mg dm^-3 hygromycin and 8 mg dm^-3 glufosinate ammonium were found to be critical during selection. Addition of selection marker during regeneration was essential. Regular and frequent (every 15 d) transfer of calli to fresh selection medium for three cycles was also important. A simple and economic procedure for screening large number of putative resistant plants was described.

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the effect of 25, 50, 75, and 100 mM NaCl on growth, ion accumulation, seed yield, and seed oil content in 67-d-old plants of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Increasing NaCl concentration caused a significant reduction in fresh and dry masses of both shoots and roots as well as seed yield. Na⁺ and Cl^- in both shoots and roots increased, whereas K⁺ and Ca²⁺ decreased consistently with the increase in NaCl concentration. Plants maintained markedly higher Ca²⁺/Na⁺ ratios in the shoots than those in the roots, whereas that of K⁺ /Na⁺ ratios remained almost uniform in both shoots and roots. Proline content in the shoots increased markedly at the highest NaCl concentration. Oil content in the seed decreased progressively with increase in salinity.

Resistance to herbicide Basta® was introduced into pure inbred lines of Savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. sabauda) by cocultivation of cotyledon and hypocotyl explants with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains AGL1/pDM805 and LBA4404/pGKB5 (LB5-1). Shoot regeneration occurred on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 1 mg dm^-3 6-benzyladenine and 0.5 mg dm^-3 indole-3-butyric acid at 42.3 % and 71.4 % of hypocotyl explants treated with AGL1/pDM805 and LB5-1, respectively. Putative transformants that survived selection on 10 mg dm^-3 phosphinothricin (L-PPT) supplemented medium were confirmed by GUS assay and PCR analysis. The transformation rate was 58 % with AGL1/ pDM805 and 25 % with LB5-1. Rooted plantlets were acclimated and then again screened for Basta®-resistance by spraying with 15 - 60 mg dm^-3 L-PPT. Surviving plants were selfed and Basta®-resistance was demonstrated in T₁ progeny.

Contents and functioning of photosynthetic pigments and gas exchange of Nicotiana tabacum L. leaves were studied in platlets cultivated in vitro under different CO₂ supply. The plantlets were grown for six weeks either in glass vessels tightly closed with aluminium foil (G-plants) or in polycarbonate Magenta GA-7 vessels covered with closures with microporous vents (M-plants). M-plants (better supplied with CO₂) had higher contents of chlorophyll (Chl) a. Chl b. and β-carotene, higher photochemical activities of photosystem 2 and whole electron transport chain, and lower contents of xanthophyll cycle pigments. Differences in Chl a fluorescence kinetic parameters between G-plants and M-plants were not statistically significant. M-plants had higher net photosynthetic rate, and lower transpiration rate and stomatal conductance than G-plants.

Seed germination and micropropagation protocols of the medicinal species Maytenus canariensis (Loes.) G. Kunkel & Sunding were optimized. In vitro seed germination occurred (86 to 94.7 %) only after treatment of the seeds with H₂SO₄, followed by surface sterilization and culture on solid nutrient medium without any growth regulators. Micropropagation failed when explants were taken from mature trees, and browning of the nutrient medium frequently occurred despite testing many growth media. Nonetheless, adventitious shoot regeneration was achieved employing axillary or apical buds taken from 2-2.5 months old plantlets obtained after in vitro germination of seeds, following culture on nutrient media supplemented with benzylaminopurine, kinetin and naphthalenacetic acid (NAA), attaining up to 3.9 shoots per explant, after 4-6 months. Root induction was best on a medium containing 4.0 mg dm^-3 NAA, achieving a 100 % induction. After hardening of rooted plants, survival after transfer to soil was 71.43 %.

A near isogenic line (NIL) of Brassica oleracea var. botrytis with resistant and susceptible lines C712 and C731, was used in this study. More than 100 differentially expressed cDNA fragments were obtained from black rot resistant cauliflower plants obtained using cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) after infection with the pathogen. Thirteen of these fragments were cloned and subjected to reverse Northern blot analysis using both infected and control cDNA pools. Two positive clones, M2 and M6, were isolated. Northern dot blot and Northern blot analyses showed that M2 was constitutively expressed, whereas M6 contained a gene that was differentially expressed during pathogen infection. Moreover, M6 cDNA fragment was also highly expressed 16-24 h after H₂O₂ treatment. Southern blots showed that M6 is a single copy gene in the cauliflower genome, and encodes a protein with 84 % homology to gene on Arabidopsis chromosome 1. The deduced M6 protein has 91 % positive homology with the Arabidopsis 2A6 protein, which regulates ethylene synthesis; 76 % homology with a 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase (ACO), the last enzyme in ethylene synthesis; and 70 % homology with an ethylene induced DNA binding factor. These results suggest that M6 gene fragment is a new H₂O₂ downstream defense related gene fragment and can be induced by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris and H₂O₂.

Effects of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) on plant growth, contents of Na, K, Ca and Mg, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase (CAT), and contents of ascorbate and glutathione were investigated in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) plants treated with 100 mM NaCl. NaCl treatment significantly increased H₂O₂ content and lipid peroxidation indicated by accumulation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). A foliar spray of 1 mM SA significantly decreased lipid peroxidation caused by NaCl and improved the plant growth. This alleviation of NaCl toxicity by SA was related to decreases in Na contents, increases in K and Mg contents in shoots and roots, and increases in the activities of SOD, CAT, GPX and DHAR and the contents of ascorbate and glutathione.

More than 500 isolates of bacteria were obtained from the aerial part and rhizosphere of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants harvested from different places in the Region of Murcia (Spain). The isolates were purified and assayed in vitro against Phytophthora capsici and Alternaria alternata. Sixty isolates (12 %) produced an inhibition zone against at least one of the pathogens, while ten had a strongly inhibitory effect on both pathogens assayed. Microscopic observation of interactions zone showed cell vacuolisation, hyphae lysis and spilling of cytoplasm content of the pathogens in the culture media. These ten isolates were then chosen for biocontrol of Phytophthora root rot and Alternaria leaf spots of pepper plants in vivo. Four of them denominated HS93, LS234, LS523 and LS674 reduced P. capsici root rot by 80, 51, 49 and 54 %, respectively, and A. alternata leaf spots by 54, 74, 62 and 53 %. HS93 belongs to the genus Bacillus and probably the species subtilis, while LS234, LS523 and LS674 belong to the genus Bacillus and probably the species licheniformis. Dry mass of plants treated with these bacteria was significantly higher than that of non-treated and inoculated plants.

Gas exchange in paclobutrazol-treated triticale plants during water stress and rehydration was studied. Seed treatments with the retardant (1 and 25 mg dm^-3) alleviate negative effect of PEG-induced water stress. Net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, relative water content, and leaf water potential were higher while peroxidase activity and free proline concentration were lower in the paclobutrazol-treated plants than in control plants. This confirmed our assumption that paclobutrazol possessed a protective effect against water stress.

Effects of high night temperature on the lipid and protein compositions in the tonoplasts isolated from the leaves of two Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants, Ananas comosus (pineapple) and Kalanchoë pinnata were studied. The results showed that the phospholipids/protein ratios in the tonoplasts isolated from pineapple and K. pinnata leaves decreased from 1.82 to 1.21 and 2.63 to 1.50, respectively, as the night temperature increased from 20 to 37 °C. Under high night temperature, relative amount of total unsaturated fatty acids in K. pinnata was increased by 6 %, which was mainly caused by increased C18:2 and C18:3, whereas unsaturated fatty acids, C18:2 and C18:3 in pineapple did not show significant change. The distribution patterns of tonoplast proteins in the two CAM species were different between normal and high night temperature and in K. pinnata, especially those with molecular mass ranging from 66.2 to 97.4 KDa. Compared with normal night temperature, more proteins were found in pineapple, but no difference was found in K. pinnata. Thus, above result indicated that the pineapple tonoplasts could keep higher rigidity under high night temperatures compared to the K. pinnata.

We have determined a 1778 base sequence which includes the complete ndhCKJ operon of barley plastid DNA. This operon contains the ndhC, ndhK and ndhJ genes encoding the polypeptides NDH-C, NDH-K and NDH-J, respectively, of the thylakoid Ndh complex. Poly-and mono-cistronic transcripts were identified, with an increase in the latter under oxidative stress induced by herbicide Paraquat. Complete sequencing of transcript cDNAs and of the corresponding regions of five additional monocots revealed that the 13^th C (cytosine) base of ndhC is edited to U (uracil) converting the CAC codon (encoding histidine, H) to UAC (encoding tyrosine, Y). Dicots having the appropriate TAC codon at the genome sequence do not require editing. The new editing site can not be predicted by comparison with the Marchantia sequence (that has a C at the 13^th position) because, in contrast to Angiosperms, the amino-terminal sequence in lower plants is highly variable in NDH-C.