Brassinolide, a growth-promoting steroidal lactone

Brassinolide (BR), a naturally-occurring-steroidal lactone from rape ( Brassica napus L.) pollen, was compared with auxin for activity in a number of bioassay systems. Responses similar to IAA were elicited by BR in bioassays based upon bean hypocotyl hook opening, elongation of maize mesocotyl, pea epicotyl and azuki bean epicotyl sections, and fresh weight increase in Jerusalem artichoke (2,4-D used) and pea epicotyl sections. The azuki bean and dwarf pea epicotyl bioassays were much more responsive to BR than IAA (at 10 μ M ). Responses approximately two-fold greater in magnitude were elicited by IAA in the maize mesocotyl, bean hypocotyl hook and Jerusalem artichoke bioassays. Little or no response was elicited by BR (0.01 to μ M ) in the cress root or decapitated pea-lateral bud bioassays. A powerful synergism between BR and IAA was observed in the azuki bean, pea epicotyl and bean hypocotyl hook bioassays. Although, as previously reported, other steroidal substances are active in some of the bioassay systems tested, none compared with BR in magnitude and diversity of elicited responses.     

Characteristics of hook formation by bean seedlings

Explants were isolated from 6-day-old etiolated bean seedlings (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Black Valentine) containing the cotyledons with 4 mm of hypocotyl just below the node and/or the epicotyl. During incubation on distilled water, uneven growth of the hypocotyl or epicotyl occurred resulting in the formation of a hook. The more rapid growth of the side which became convex was not dependent upon the presence of the slower growing concave side. It was concluded that the main axis has an intrinsic capacity for asymmetric growth. The growth leading to hook formation was inhibited by α-naphthaleneacetic acid at concentrations above 0.2 milligram per liter.     

Influence of Gibberellic Acid on Growth and Endogenous Auxin Level in Epicotyl and Hypocotyl Tissues of Normal and Dwarf Bean Plants

Application of gibberellic acid to the apex of dwarf bean plants (cv. Alabaster) stimulated the elongation growth of epicotyl and hypocotyl but showed no significant effect on elongation growth in a normal cultivar (‘Blue Lake’). Gibberellin-treatment of dwarf plants was characterized by about twofold increase in the level of endogenous auxin. Maximum increase in IAA level was observed after 48 h of GA treatment. There was less increase in IAA content in normal bean plants. — Gibberellin treatment to excised epicotyl and hypocotyl sections of either dwarf or normal cultivar showed no effect on elongation growth. However, a considerable increase in the auxin level was observed in the sections of the dwarf cultivar. The maximum effect occurred with only 1 h incubation in basal medium containing gibberellin. — The indolo-α-pyrone spectro-fluoremetric method for IAA determination was used.     

Effects of Acetylcholine on the Growth of the Vigna Seedling

Acetylcholine applied to cotyledons influenced the growth patternof etiolated seedlings of Vigna sesquipedalis in a specificmanner. The reagent as well as red light suppressed hypocotylgrowth and simultanously promoted epicotyl growth. Such effectswere not found with choline. Neostigmine, a potent inhibitorof cholinesterases from plants, caused fundamentally the sameeffects as acetylcholine. Atropine, an acetylcholine antagonistin animals showed effects opposite to those of acetylcholineor neostigmine. Atropine also partially negated the red light-inducedeffects. Indole-3-acetic acid, kinetin and gibberellic acid could notproduce effects like those of cholinergic reagents. From these results, it was surmised that acetylcholine as agrowth substance in the Vigna seedling regulates the transitionfrom hypocotyl growth to subsequent epicotyl growth. (Received June 14, 1982; Accepted January 26, 1983)     

Distribution of diamine oxidase activity and polyamine pattern in bean and soybean seedlings at different stages of germination

Diamine oxidase (DAO, EC 1.4.3.6.) activity and polyamine content were measured in the shoot apex, leaves, epicotyl, cotyledons, hypocotyl and roots of light-grown bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Lingot) and soybean ( Glycine max L. cv. Sakai) seedlings at 3 different stages of germination (5, 8 and 14 days) as well as in embryos and cotyledons from soaked seeds. No DAO activity was detected in embryos and cotyledons of either plants. In bean seedlings DAO activity was only detectable in the shoot apex, primary leaves and cotyledons, while in soybean the activity was only detectable in the hypocotyl and roots. During seedling growth, in both plants, a different pattern of DAO activity was observed. In both species spermidine and spermine were the most abundant polyamines in embryos and cotyledons. Cadaverine, absent in bean, was only detected in soybean embryos. In the seedlings of both plants, increasing gradients of putrescine, spermidine and spermine from base to shoot apex were found. A high concentration of cadaverine was present in soybean hypocotyls and roots. A possible correlation between DAO activity and the endogenous content of the preferential substrate is discussed in relation to the possible involvement of the enzyme in regulating the cellular level of polyamines.     

Reversal of auxin induced inhibition by ethrel

The interaction between exogenous 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (Ethrel, CEPA) and auxin (both native and synthetic—IAA) was studied on pea and bean seedlings, potato tubers, and processed flax plants. After the addition of ethrel the inhibiting effect of IAA was decreased in all objects and it was found that the concentration of the growth of the regulators played an important role. The growth response of a part of flax hypocotyl, as induced by exogenous auxin produced in the cotyledon, was reversed by ethrel, too. The application of ethrel on the epicotyl apex in beans resulted in the lost of apical dominance of epicotyl and in the growth of lateral buds together with the epicotyl. When stimulating the growth, ethrel reverses the inhibitions through the decrease in the auxin content (from an inhibiting, supraoptimum level to an optimum one which already stimulates growth). In objects with a low content of endogenous auxin the ethrel induced the decrease in the auxin content and shows an inhibiting effect on growth.     

Roles of auxin and gibberellic acid in growth and maturation of epicotyls of Vigna angularis: Cell wall changes

The effects of auxin and gibberellic acid on cell wall composition in various regions of epicotyls of azuki bean ( Vigna angularis Ohwi and Ohashi cv. Takara) were investigated with the following results. (1) Young segments excised from apical regions of the epicotyl elongated in response to added 10⁻⁴ M indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). When the segments were supplied with 50 m M sucrose, the IAA-induced segment growth was accompanied by enhanced overall synthesis of cell wall polysaccharides, such as xyloglucans, polyuronides and cellulose. This IAA effect on the cell wall synthesis is a consequence of extension growth induced by IAA. Gibberellic acid (GA) at 10⁻⁴ M synergistically enhanced the IAA-induced cell wall synthesis as well as IAA-induced extension growth, although GA by itself neither stimulated the cell wall synthesis nor extension growth. In the absence of sucrose, cell wall synthesis was not induced by IAA or GA. (2) In mature segments excised from basal regions of the epicotyl, no extension growth was induced by IAA or GA. GA enhanced the synthesis of xylans and cellulose when the segments were supplied with 50 m M sucrose. IAA had no effect on the cell wall synthesis. These findings indicate that synthesis of polyuronides, xyloglucans and cellulose, which occurs during extension growth of the apical region of the epicotyl, is regulated chiefly by auxin whereas synthesis of xylans and cellulose during cell maturation in the basal region of the epicotyl is regulated by GA.     

Comparison of the effects of epibrassinolide and steroidal estrogens on adventitious root growth and early shoot development in mung bean cuttings

Concentrations of 24-epibrassinolide as low as 0.1 μ M consistently inhibited adventitious root formation and elongation in both hypocotyl and epicotyl cuttings from mung bean ( Phaseolus aureus L.). Similar, but less pronounced, inhibitory effects on root elongation were also observed with estrone sulphate and estradiol sulphate. With regards to root number, estrone sulphate enhanced this in both types of cutting, whereas estradiol sulphate was stimulatory in hypocotyl cuttings but inhibitory in epicotyl cuttings. Brassinolide caused a marked stimulation of epicotyl (but not hypocotyl) elongation and a swelling and splitting of the epicotyl in both types of cutting, whereas estrogens varied in their effect from inhibition of epicotyl growth to no effect. Root-applied brassinolide and estrogen sulphates brought about similar morphological abnormalities in shoots viz. epinasty and inrolling of primary leaves and delayed expansion of the first trifoliate leaf.     

A scanning electron microscopic study of trichomes of IAA-induced tumours in bean embryos (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

A scanning electron microscopic study of trichome morphology of bean embryo, growing in semi-solid synthetic medium, has been undertaken. The work shows some distinct differences in trichome morphology as well as variation in their development, due to the effect of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA).     

Inactivity of Oxidation Products of Indole-3-acetic Acid on Ethylene Production in Mung Bean Hypocotyls

The suggestion that indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-stimulated ethylene production is associated with oxidative degradation of IAA and is mediated by 3-methyleneoxindole (MOI) has been tested in mung bean (Phaseolus aureus Roxb.) hypocotyl segments. While IAA actively stimulated ethylene production, MOI and indole-3-aldehyde, the major products of IAA oxidation, were inactive. Tissues treated with a mixture of intermediates of IAA oxidation, obtained from a 1-hour incubation of IAA with peroxidase, failed to stimulate ethylene production. Furthermore, chlorogenic acid and p-coumaric acid, which are known to interfere with the enzymic oxidation of IAA to MOI, had no effect on IAA-stimulated ethylene production. Other oxidation products of IAA, including oxindole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-carboxylic acid, (2-sulfoindole)-3-acetic acid, and dioxindole-3-acetic acid, were all inactive. 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid was as active as IAA in stimulating ethylene production but was decarboxylated at a much lower rate than IAA, suggesting that oxidative decarboxylation of auxins is not linked to ethylene production. These results demonstrate that IAA-stimulated ethylene production in mung bean hypocotyl tissue is not mediated by MOI or other associated oxidative products of IAA.     

Direct differentiation of somatic embryos on different regions of intact seedlings of Azadirachta in response to thidiazuron

Direct differentiation of somatic embryos occurs in high-frequency and at high density in response to 1.0 microM TDZ, on different regions-hypocotyl, epicotyl, cotyledonary-node, cotyledons and leaves-of intact seedlings of Azadirachta. One-week-old seedlings on this medium exhibited stress symptoms as visible by the loss of root formation and reduction in the elongation of hypocotyl and epicotyl. Globular somatic embryos were more abundant on hypocotyl, epicotyl, stem tip and leaves. The arrest of embryos at this stage was possibly due to their presence in high density. Well-developed somatic embryos were present on the cotyledons and the cotyledonary-node. These embryos on isolation and transfer to hormone-free medium regenerated readily to form plantlets. The possible role of stress in thidiazuron-induced somatic embryo formation is discussed.     

Isolation and expression of an elongation-dependent gene of mung bean (Vigna radiata) hypocotyl

A cDNA clone of an auxin up-regulated gene, ARG8 , was isolated from hypocotyl sections of etiolated mung bean [ Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] seedlings by differential screening. The deduced amino acid sequence suggested that ARG8 may encode a cell wall protein. The steady state mRNA level of ARG8 increased by treatment of hypocotyl sections not only with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) but also with fusicoccin, and the auxin inducibility was inhibited by the addition of 0.3 M mannitol in the incubation medium. This indicated that it was not auxin but elongation that regulated the expression of ARG8 . The promoter activity of the 5'-flanking region of ARG8 was determined by assaying the transient expression of a luciferase fusion gene that was introduced into mung bean hypocotyl sections by the particle bombardment technique. The basal activity of the ARG8 upstream region was about a few tenths of that of a modified cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter, and it was increased a few fold by treatment with IAA. The auxin inducibility was completely suppressed by the addition of mannitol. A 5'-deletion analysis showed that a 53-bp region in the ARG8 promoter was important for the basal and elongation-dependent promoter activities.     

激光预处理可保护蚕豆细胞免受UV—B辐射的损伤

当蚕豆的胚被 He- Ne激光 (632 .8nm,1 .63J· mm- 2 )照射 5min或被 CO2 激光 (1 0 60nm,2 .53J· mm- 2 )照射 1 min后 ,将其置入 Knop营养液中进行恒温培养。当蚕豆的上胚轴长到大约 3cm时 ,在光背景 (PAR)为 70μmol· m- 2 · s- 1条件下 ,分别用 1 .0 2、3.0 3、4.52 k J· m- 2 的 UV- B辐射蚕豆的上胚轴 7h。根据蚕豆丙二醛 (MDA)、抗坏血酸 (As A)和 UV- B吸收物的含量变化 ,来测试激光对 UV- B照射蚕豆的上胚轴的保护作用。结果显示 :激光预处理可保护蚕豆上胚轴对 UV- B辐射的作用。与对照组 (没有用 UV- B或激光照射 )、UV- B单独照射组比较 ,在激光预处理的条件下 ,MDA的含量明显减少 ,As A和 UV- B吸收化合物的含量增加。如先用激光处理 ,然后再用 UV- B辐射 ,UV- B吸收物的含量将比单独用激光和 UV-B处理获得更好的改善。从而认为 ,激光预处理能增强植物对 UV- B的抵抗力。     

THE INFLUENCE OF INDIVIDUAL EMBRYONIC TISSUES ON THE MORPHOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT OF ZEA MAYS (POACEAE) GERMLINGS

Mature embryos of Zea mays L. (inbred A188) were used in this study, which was undertaken to investigate three questions: 1) do all embryonic tissues of Zea, viz., coleoptile, scutellum, epicotyl, mesocotyl, hypocotyl, and coleorhiza, influence germling morphology and growth; 2) if a given tissue does exert an influence, what is it, and 3) what effect does removal of one tissue have on that tissue and on the tissues remaining? Experimental results revealed growth of isolated epicotyls was greater than that of epicotyls still attached to the scutellum, but it was less than that of whole embryo controls. Isolated hypocotyls grew less than any other tissue except scutella, which seemed to have no growth response. Hypocotyls still attached to the scutellum had the greatest growth response of all tissues. Intact embryo axes had a response intermediate to whole embryo controls and isolated epicotyls. Growth of the epicotyl is influenced most strongly by the hypocotyl, and growth of the hypocotyl, by the scutellum. The mesocotyl does not appear to have a regulatory influence on other tissues. It is proposed that the scutellum synthesizes or otherwise provides a growth factor (nutrients, growth regulator, or combination thereof) which is the initial stimulus for hypocotyl and root growth during germination, and that the epicotyl has a regulating influence on this factor in germlings and young seedlings.     

Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate levels in normal and IAA-induced tumours in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) embryos.

Endogenous levels of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate in indole-3-acetic acid induced tumours, and control bean embryos were measured with Gilman protein binding assay. No significant differences in cAMP concentrations were found in IAA-induced tumours, which suggests that IAA does not mediate cAMP synthesis in bean embryos.     

表油菜素内酯对绿豆上胚轴内源IAA及其氧化酶的影响

用0.5ppm表油菜素内酯处理绿豆幼苗,显著促进上胚轴伸长生长,若切除真叶则可抑制表油菜素内酯诱导的效应。三碘苯甲酸(TIBA)也可抑制表油菜素内酯促进的伸长生长。外源IAA能部分恢复TIBA的抑制效应。经处理的上胚轴内源IAA含量明显高于对照。暗示表油菜素内酯可能通过对内源IAA的调节来促进绿豆上胚轴的伸长生长。 表油菜素内酯处理的绿豆上胚轴组织中,与生长素降解密切相关的IAA氧化酶以及过氧化物酶活性均明显低于对照。     

Auxin Activity of Glucobrassicin

The indole-glucosinolate, glucobrassicin, which is found in large amounts in members of the genus Brassica, was subjected to tests in the standard Avena curvature bioassay. Both the tetramethylammonium salt of glucobrassicin and the non-crystallizted material induced curvature at a concentration of 5 × l0^?4M. The curvature from the salt was, however, only half of that induced by the acid form. Bioassays of chromatograms of fresh methanolic extracts of savoy cabbage indicated the presence of indole-3-acetic acid as well as indole-3-acetonitrile in small amounts along with large amounts of glucobrassicin. Segments of green hypocotyl tissue of savoy cabbage respond with limited growth to high concentrations of glucobrassicin. Segments of etiolated hypocotyls or green epicotyls give no growth response to glucobrassicin. Pea stem segments which do not respond to indoleacetonitrile responded with similar growth to glucobrassicin and indoleacetic acid. Nitrilase activity was found in savoy hypocotyl and epicotyl tissue by chromatography of incubation media. The growth regulation in savoy cabbage in conjunction with data on the distribution of glucobrassicin in the plant, leads to the conclusion that glucobrassicin is a special, inactive storage and transport form of the active auxin in cabbage.     

Induction of high-frequency somatic embryogenesis in geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum Bailey cv Ringo Rose) cotyledonary cultures

Summary The cv Ringo Rose of hybrid seed geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum Bailey), previously shown to be recalcitrant in culture, produced somatic embryos when cotyledonary explants were cultured on regeneration medium containing thidiazuron (TDZ), forchlorfenuron (CPPU), or a combination of indole-3-acetic acid and N⁶ benzylaminopurine (IAA+BAP). Amendment of the basal medium with TDZ (0.5 M) was the most effective treatment. Addition of amino acids to the medium promoted the growth of somatic embryos. Retention of the proximal region of the cotyledon was crucial for regeneration, but the removal of the distal 1/3 to 1/2 cotyledon had no significant effect on somatic embryogenesis. Cotyledonary explants formed somatic embryos in higher frequency and much earlier than hypocotyl explants cultured on the same medium. The somatic embryos induced on cotyledonary explants were germinated on basal medium. More than 70% of the somatic embryos were converted into plants and transferred to soilAbbreviations BAP N⁶-benzylaminopurine - CPPU N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N'-phenylurea (forchlorfenuron) - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - TDZ N-phenyl-N'-1,2,3,-thiadiazol-5ylurea (thidiazuron)     

Circumnutation and distribution of phytohormones in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna angularis</Emphasis> epicotyls

Circumnutation is a plant growth movement in which the tips of axial organs draw a circular orbit. Although it has been studied since the nineteenth century, its mechanism and significance are still unclear. Greened adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) epicotyls exhibited a clockwise circumnutation in the top view with a constant period of 60 min under continuous white light. The bending zone of circumnutation on the epicotyls was always located in the region 1–3 cm below the tip, and its basal end was almost identical to the apical end of the region where the epicotyl had completely elongated. Therefore, epidermal cells that construct the bending zone are constantly turning over with their elongation growth. Since exogenously applied auxin transport inhibitors and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) impaired circumnutation without any effect on the elongation rate of epicotyls, we attempted to identify the distribution pattern of endogenous auxin. Taking advantage of its large size, we separated the bending zone of epicotyls into two halves along the longitudinal axis, either convex/concave pairs in the plane of curvature of circumnutation or pre-convex/pre-concave pairs perpendicular to the plane. By liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, we found, for the first time, that IAA and gibberellin A₁ were asymmetrically distributed in the pre-convex part in the region 1–2 cm below the tip. This region of epicotyl sections exhibited the highest responsiveness to exogenously applied hormones, and the latent period between the hormone application and the detection of a significant enhancement in elongation was 15 min. Our results suggest that circumnutation in adzuki bean epicotyls with a 60 min period is maintained by differential growth in the bending zone, which reflects the hormonal status 15 min before and which is shifting sequentially in a circumferential direction. Cortical microtubules do not seem to be involved in this regulation.     

On the Relationship between the Activity of O-Methyltransferase and the Content of Lignin in Various Organs of Kidney Bean

The activity of O-methyltransferase (OMT) and the content of lignin in various organs of 12- to 14-day-old seedlings of kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgarisL., cv. Saksa) were determined. The epicotyl and hypocotyl were characterized by the highest OMT activity, and the leaves, by the lowest OMT activity. At the same time, the lignin content gradually increased in the following order: leaves < epicotyl < hypocotyl < roots. Thus, in kidney bean seedlings, there is no direct relationship between the OMT activity and the lignin content. It is suggested that lignin biosynthesis is limited by biosynthetic steps other than O-methylation of caffeic and 5-hydroxyferulic acids affected by OMT.