Gliding mycoplasmas are inhibited by cytochalasin B and contain a polymerizable protein fraction

Studies are presented on the effect of cytochalasin B (CB) on the growth of five Mycoplasma species, three Acholeplasma species, and one Spiroplasma species. The three gliding mycoplasma species (M) gallisepticum, M pneumoniae and M pulmonis are the only mycoplasmas inhibited by CB. These are the only prolaryotes reported to be inhibited by CB. This suggested that these three mycoplasmas might have some sort of cytoskeletal structure. A protein fraction has been isolated from M gallisepticum which polymerizes in 0.6 M KC1 and depolymerizes when KC1 is removed. This fraction contains a major 58,000-dalton protein, a 46,000-dalton protein, and a minor 87,000-dalton protein.     

Arabidopsis seedlings over-accumulated indole-3-acetic acid in response to aminooxyacetic acid

Previously we identified aminooxy compounds as auxin biosynthesis inhibitors. One of the compounds, aminooxyacetic acid (AOA) inhibited indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) biosynthesis in rice and tomato. Here, we found that AOA induced auxin over-accumulation in Arabidopsis. The results suggest that auxin-related metabolic pathways are divergent among these plant species.     

Arabidopsis Seedlings Over-Accumulated Indole-3-acetic Acid in Response to Aminooxyacetic Acid

Previously we identified aminooxy compounds as auxin biosynthesis inhibitors. One of the compounds, aminooxyacetic acid (AOA) inhibited indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) biosynthesis in rice and tomato. Here, we found that AOA induced auxin over-accumulation in Arabidopsis. The results suggest that auxin-related metabolic pathways are divergent among these plant species.     

Anti-proliferative effect of a putative endocannabinoid, 2-arachidonylglyceryl ether in prostate carcinoma cells

Endocannabinoids (ECs), anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), inhibit proliferation of carcinoma cells. Several enzymes hydrolyze ECs to reduce endogenous EC concentrations and produce eicosanoids that promote cell growth. In this study, we determined the effects of EC hydrolysis inhibitors and a putative EC, 2-arachidonylglyceryl ether (noladin ether, NE) on proliferation of prostate carcinoma (PC-3, DU-145, and LNCaP) cells. PC-3 cells had the least specific hydrolysis activity for AEA and administration of AEA effectively inhibited cell proliferation. The proliferation inhibition was blocked by SR141716A (a selective CB1R antagonist) but not SR144528 (a selective CB2R antagonist), suggesting a CB1R-mediated inhibition mechanism. On the other hand, specific hydrolysis activity for 2-AG was high and 2-AG inhibited proliferation only in the presence of EC hydrolysis inhibitors. NE inhibited proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner; however, SR141716A, SR144528 and pertussis toxin did not block the NE-inhibited proliferation, suggesting a CBR-independent mechanism of NE. A peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) antagonist GW9662 did not block the NE-inhibited proliferation, suggesting that PPARγ was not involved. NE also induced cell cycle arrest in G(0)/G(1) phase in PC-3 cells. NE inhibited the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB p65) and down-regulated the expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin E in PC-3 cells, suggesting the NF-κB/cyclin D and cyclin E pathways are involved in the arrest of G1 cell cycle and inhibition of cell growth. These results indicate therapeutic potentials of EC hydrolysis inhibitors and the enzymatically stable NE in prostate cancer.     

Effect of Cyclanilide on Auxin Activity

Cyclanilide is a plant growth regulator that is registered for use in cotton at different stages of growth, to either suppress vegetative growth (in combination with mepiquat chloride) or accelerate senescence (enhance defoliation and boll opening, used in combination with ethephon). This research was conducted to study the mechanism of action of cyclanilide: its potential interaction with auxin (IAA) transport and signaling in plants. The activity of cyclanilide was compared with the activity of the auxin transport inhibitors NPA and TIBA. Movement of [³H]IAA was inhibited in etiolated corn coleoptiles by 10 μM cyclanilide, NPA, and TIBA, which demonstrated that cyclanilide affected polar auxin transport. Although NPA inhibited [³H]IAA efflux from cells in etiolated zucchini hypocotyls, cyclanilide had no effect. NPA did not inhibit the influx of IAA into cells in etiolated zucchini hypocotyls, whereas cyclanilide inhibited uptake 25 and 31% at 10 and 100 μM, respectively. Also, NPA inhibited the gravitropic response in tomato roots (85% at 1 μM) more than cyclanilide (30% at 1 μM). Although NPA inhibited tomato root growth (30% at 1 μM), cyclanilide stimulated root growth (165% of control at 5 μM). To further characterize cyclanilide action, plasma membrane fractions from etiolated zucchini hypocotyls were obtained and the binding of NPA, IAA, and cyclanilide studied. Cyclanilide inhibited the binding of [³H]NPA and [³H]IAA with an IC₅₀ of 50 μM for both. NPA did not affect the binding of IAA, nor did IAA affect the binding of NPA. Kinetic analysis indicated that cyclanilide is a noncompetitive inhibitor of both NPA and IAA binding, with inhibition constants (K _i) of 40 and 2.3 μM, respectively. These data demonstrated that cyclanilide interacts with auxin-regulated processes via a mechanism that is distinct from other auxin transport inhibitors. This research identifies a possible mechanism of action for cyclanilide when used as a plant growth regulator.     

NO and IAA Key Regulators in the Shoot Growth Promoting Action of Humic Acid in Cucumis sativus L.

Previous studies have reported that a purified sedimentary humic acid (PHA) was able to increase the concentration of nitric oxide (NO), indole-acetic acid (IAA) and ethylene in cucumber roots. Here, we investigated if these effects are functionally related to the ability of PHA to improve shoot growth. The effect of specific inhibitors of NO, IAA and ethylene functionality and signaling on PHA-induced shoot growth was studied. Likewise, the effect of these inhibitors on the synthesis and activity of the phytoregulators concerned by PHA action in cucumber roots was also explored. The results show that shoot growth promoted by PHA is due to an increase of IAA concentration in the root through both a NO-dependent and a NO-independent pathway. In addition, the increased ethylene production in the root is regulated by an IAA-dependent pathway. Finally, results also showed that the increase of ABA concentration in the root is regulated through both IAA- and ethylene-dependent pathways. In summary, the shoot growth promoting action of PHA involves a complex hormonal network. On one hand, the PHA action is functionally linked to increments in NO and IAA concentration in roots. And on the other hand, PHA action also increases ethylene and ABA root concentration mediated by NO-IAA dependent pathways.     

Growth inhibition of Mycoplasma by inhibitors of polyterpene biosynthesis and its reversal by cholesterol

Smith, Paul F. (University of South Dakota, Vermillion), and Carl V. Henrikson. Growth inhibition of Mycoplasma by inhibitors of polyterpene biosynthesis and its reversal by cholesterol. J. Bacteriol. 91:1854-1858. 1966.-Compounds which inhibit enzymatic reactions in the biosynthetic pathway to carotenoids inhibited growth of a sterol-nonrequiring species, Mycoplasma laidlawii, strain B, and M. hominis, strain 07. Since M. hominis lacks the enzymes for polyterpene biosynthesis, the inhibitory compounds must act also at other sites. Most inhibitors exerted a lytic effect at bactericidal levels. The inhibition of M. laidlawii is reversed by exogenous cholesterol. M. laidlawii exhibited a greatly increased content of cholesterol and a greatly decreased content of carotenoids when grown in the presence of phenethylbiguanide and cholesterol. These results are considered as further evidence for a common function for sterols and carotenols in Mycoplasma.     

Isolation and characterization of a novel banana rhizosphere bacterium as fungal antagonist and microbial adjuvant in micropropagation of banana

AIM: Isolation and characterization of a bacterial isolate (strain FP10) from banana rhizosphere with innate potential as fungal antagonist and microbial adjuvant in micropropagation of banana. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bacterium FP10 was isolated from the banana rhizosphere and identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa based on phenotypic, biochemical traits and sequence homology of partial 622-bp fragment of 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) amplicon, with the ribosomal database sequences. Strain FP10 displayed antibiosis towards fungi causing wilt and root necrosis diseases of banana. Production of plant growth hormone, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), siderophores and phosphate-solubilizing enzyme in FP10 was determined. Strain FP10 tested negative for hydrogen cyanide, cellulase and pectinase, the deleterious traits for plant growth. Screening of antibiotic genes was carried out by polymerase chain reaction using gene-specific primers. Amplification of a 745-bp DNA fragment confirmed the presence of phlD, which is a key gene involved in the biosynthesis of 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG) in FP10. The antibiotic produced by FP10 was confirmed as DAPG using thin layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography and Fourier transform infrared and tested for fungal antibiosis towards banana pathogens. Procedures for encapsulation of banana shoot tips with FP10 are described. CONCLUSIONS: Strain FP10 exhibited broad-spectrum antibiosis towards banana fungi causing wilt and root necrosis. DAPG by FP10 induced bulb formation and lysis of fungal mycelia. Encapsulation of banana shoot tips with FP10 induced higher frequency of germination (plantlet development) than nontreated controls on Murashige and Skoog basal medium. Treatment of banana plants with FP10 enhanced plant height and reduced the vascular discolouration as a result of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense FOC. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Because of the innate potential of fungal antibiosis by DAPG antibiotic and production of siderophore, plant-growth-promoting IAA and phosphatase, the strain FP10 can be used as biofertilizer as well as a biocontrol agent.     

Small‐molecule auxin inhibitors that target YUCCA are powerful tools for studying auxin function

Auxin is essential for plant growth and development, this makes it difficult to study the biological function of auxin using auxin‐deficient mutants. Chemical genetics have the potential to overcome this difficulty by temporally reducing the auxin function using inhibitors. Recently, the indole‐3‐pyruvate (IPyA) pathway was suggested to be a major biosynthesis pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana L. for indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA), the most common member of the auxin family. In this pathway, YUCCA, a flavin‐containing monooxygenase (YUC), catalyzes the last step of conversion from IPyA to IAA. In this study, we screened effective inhibitors, 4‐biphenylboronic acid (BBo) and 4‐phenoxyphenylboronic acid (PPBo), which target YUC. These compounds inhibited the activity of recombinant YUC in vitro, reduced endogenous IAA content, and inhibited primary root elongation and lateral root formation in wild‐type Arabidopsis seedlings. Co‐treatment with IAA reduced the inhibitory effects. Kinetic studies of BBo and PPBo showed that they are competitive inhibitors of the substrate IPyA. Inhibition constants (K_i) of BBo and PPBo were 67 and 56 nm , respectively. In addition, PPBo did not interfere with the auxin response of auxin‐marker genes when it was co‐treated with IAA, suggesting that PPBo is not an inhibitor of auxin sensing or signaling. We propose that these compounds are a class of auxin biosynthesis inhibitors that target YUC. These small molecules are powerful tools for the chemical genetic analysis of auxin function.     

Effects of a brassinosteroid on growth and electrogenic proton extrusion in Azuki bean epicotyls

Brassinolide, a plant hormone newly isolated from pollen, promotes growth of the stem of a number of plant species. Similar effects are induced by a brassinosteroid (BR), the synthetic 24-epibrassinolide. In this paper the effects of BR on acid secretion and transmembrane electrical potential difference in Azuki bean ( Vigna angularis , Ohwi and Ohashi cv. Takara) epicotyls were determined in short term experiments and compared with the effects on growth. At concentrations between 10^-7 to 10^-5 M , BR stimulates, similarly to indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), growth and H⁺ extrusion and hyperpolarizes the transmembrane electric potential (PD). These effects of BR, as well as those of IAA, are suppressed by inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis. All these effects of BR and IAA appear roughly additive, even when both hormones are present at their optimal concentrations. The data are interpreted as showing that the action of BR on growth is at least in part mediated by its capability to activate electrogenic proton extrusion. The additivity of the effects of BR and IAA suggests that the primary mechanism of action of the two hormones is different.     

Role of protein and RNA synthesis in the initiation of auxin-mediated growth in coleoptiles of Zea mays L.

The kinetics of inhibition by protein- and RNA-synthesis inhibitors (cycloheximide and cordycepin, respectively) of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-induced elongation growth were investigated using abraded coleoptile segments of Zea mays L. Removal of the cuticle — a diffusion barrier for solutes — by mechanical abrasion of the outer epidermal cell wall increased the effectiveness of inhibitors tremendously. In an attempt to elucidate the role of growth-limiting protein(s) (GLP) in the growth mechanism the following results were obtained. The elongation induced by IAA was completely inhibited when cycloheximide (10 mol·l^-1) was applied to abraded coleoptile segments as shortly as 10 min before the onset of the growth response (=5 min after administration of IAA). However, when cycloheximide was applied after 60 min of IAA treatment (when a steady-state growth rate is reached), the time required for complete cessation of growth was much longer (about 40 min). Cycloheximide inhibited the incorporation of [³H]leucine into protein within about 5 min. Cordycepin (400 mol·l^-1) prevented IAA-induced growth when applied as shortly as 25 min before the onset of the growth response (=10 min before administration of IAA) but required more than 60 min for a full inhibition of steady-state growth. The incorporation of [³H]adenosine into RNA was inhibited by cordycepin within 10 min. It is concluded that, contrary to previous investigations with nonabraded organ segments, the initiation of growth by IAA depends directly on the synthesis of GLP. Moreover, the apparent lifetime of GLP is at least four times longer than the time required by cycloheximide to inhibit the initiation of growth by IAA. This is interpreted to mean that GLP is not present before IAA starts to act but is synthesized as a consequence of IAA action starting a few minutes before the initiation of growth. Interpreting the kinetics of growth inhibition by cordycepin in a similar way, we further conclude that GLP synthesis is mediated by IAA-induced synthesis of the corresponding mRNA which starts about 10 min before the onset of GLP synthesis. Inhibition by cycloheximide and cordycepin of IAA-induced growth cannot be alleviated by acidifying the cell wall to pH 4-5, indicating that these inhibitors do not act on growth via an inhibition of auxin-mediated proton excretion.Abbreviations CHI cycloheximide - COR cordycepin - GLP growth-dimiting protein(s) - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - mRNA_GLP mRNA coding for GLP     

DDT降解菌株Chryseobacterium sp. PYR2对小麦的促生作用及其机理

【背景】前期结果表明,DDT降解菌株Chryseobacterium sp. PYR2可高效去除土壤中的DDT等污染物,具有潜在的应用价值,但该菌对植物的影响尚不清楚。【目的】探讨菌株Chryseobacterium sp. PYR2对植物的促生作用及其机理,为后续开发DDT降解及植物促生双效功能菌剂提供理论依据。【方法】配制该菌株的不同梯度稀释菌悬液,用纸卷发芽法和盆栽法研究菌悬液对小麦种子萌发和植株生长的影响;Salkowski法测定PYR2合成吲哚-3-乙酸(Indole-3-acetic acid,IAA)量;单因素实验研究不同培养条件对菌株生长及IAA合成的影响;液相色谱-串联质谱-多反应监测(LC-MS/MS-MRM)方法分析IAA在PYR2菌体内的生物合成途径。【结果】PYR2菌悬液可明显提高小麦种子萌发率并促进小麦植株的生长,小麦的侧根数、株高、鲜重、干重等指标均明显提高。该作用是由于菌株PYR2可以合成植物生长激素IAA。最适IAA合成条件:温度30°C,pH 7.0-8.0,盐浓度0.5%,L-色氨酸50mg/L。代谢液中检测到色醇、色胺和吲哚-3-乙酰胺3种中间代谢产物,推测PYR2体内存在3条IAA合成途径,分别为吲哚-3-丙酮酸(IPy A)、TAM和IAM途径。【结论】菌株PYR2对小麦具有明显的促生效果,是由于其具有多条高效合成IAA的代谢途径,表明其在农药污染土壤的生物修复及作物种植中具有潜在的应用前景。     

Feruloylputrescine and Caffeoylputrescine Are Not Involved in Growth and Floral Bud Formation of Stem Explants from Nicotiana tabacum L. var Xanthi nc

The role of feruloylputrescine (FP) and of caffeoylputrescine (CP) was investigated in an explant system of stem explants from day-neutral Nicotiana tabacum L. var Xanthi nc. Previously, a correlation between cortical callus formation and increase in FP content, as well as between in vitro flower formation and increase in CP content had been shown. During the explant growth in vitro, the increase of both FP and CP was inhibited by 4-fluor-(1-amino-2-phenylethyl)phosphonic acid and 2-amino-indene-2-phosphonic acid, both inhibitors of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (EC 4.3.1.5). dl-α-difluoromethylarginine, an inhibitor of arginine decarboxylase (ADC, EC 4.1.1.19), prevented only the increase in FP, while dl-α-difluoromethylornithine, an inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17), reduced only that of CP. Increase in dry weight and the formation of cortical callus and of floral buds of explants were not affected by any of the inhibitors. We conclude, in contrast to earlier hypotheses, that FP and CP do not trigger growth and differentiation in the explants. It seems more likely that FP and CP increase in response to auxin and cytokinin in the media.     

The G alpha(o/i)-coupled cannabinoid receptor-mediated neurite outgrowth involves Rap regulation of Src and Stat3

The study of the signaling pathways regulating neurite outgrowth in culture is important because of their potential role in neuronal differentiation in vivo. We have previously shown that the G alpha(o/i)-coupled CB1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) activates Rap1 to induce neurite outgrowth. G alpha(o/i) also activates the Src-Stat3 pathway. Here, we studied the relationship between the G alpha(o/i)-Rap1 and Src-Stat3 pathways and the role of these signaling pathways in CB1R-mediated neurite outgrowth in Neuro-2A cells. The CB1 agonist HU-210 induced pertussis toxin-sensitive Src and Stat3 phosphorylation. Dominant negative (DN) mutants of Src and Stat3 blocked CB1R-induced neurite outgrowth. Constitutively active Rap 1B and Ral-activated Src and CB1R-induced Src phosphorylation was inhibited by Rap1-DN and Ral-DN, indicating that both Rap1 and Ral mediate downstream signaling from G alpha(o/i) for Src activation. Rap1-activated Ral and Ral-DN blocked Rap-induced Src phosphorylation. G alpha(o)-induced Stat3 activation was blocked by Ral-DN, whereas v-Src-induced Stat3 activation was not inhibited by Ral-DN, indicating that the CB1R, through G alpha(o), mediates the sequential activation of Rap1 to Ral to Src to Stat3 in Neuro-2A cells. Downstream of Src, the CB1R also activated Rac1 and JNK, which enhanced CBR1-mediated Stat3 activation. Rac-DN blocked CB1R-induced activation of JNK. Pharmacological inhibition of JNK blocked Src and CB1R activation of Stat3, indicating that Rac and JNK are also involved in CB1R-mediated neurite outgrowth. Overall, this study demonstrated that G alpha(o/i)-coupled CB1R triggers neurite outgrowth in Neuro-2A through the activation of a signaling network containing two pathways that bifurcate at Src and converge at Stat3.     

The pathway of auxin biosynthesis in plants

The plant hormone auxin, which is predominantly represented by indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), is involved in the regulation of plant growth and development. Although IAA was the first plant hormone identified, the biosynthetic pathway at the genetic level has remained unclear. Two major pathways for IAA biosynthesis have been proposed: the tryptophan (Trp)-independent and Trp-dependent pathways. In Trp-dependent IAA biosynthesis, four pathways have been postulated in plants: (i) the indole-3-acetamide (IAM) pathway; (ii) the indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPA) pathway; (iii) the tryptamine (TAM) pathway; and (iv) the indole-3-acetaldoxime (IAOX) pathway. Although different plant species may have unique strategies and modifications to optimize their metabolic pathways, plants would be expected to share evolutionarily conserved core mechanisms for auxin biosynthesis because IAA is a fundamental substance in the plant life cycle. In this review, the genes now known to be involved in auxin biosynthesis are summarized and the major IAA biosynthetic pathway distributed widely in the plant kingdom is discussed on the basis of biochemical and molecular biological findings and bioinformatics studies. Based on evolutionarily conserved core mechanisms, it is thought that the pathway via IAM or IPA is the major route(s) to IAA in plants.     

The effect of cytochalasin B on the rate of growth and ultrastructure of wheat coleoptiles and maize roots

Cytochalasin B (CB) inhibits the elongation growth of maize roots, and that of wheat coleoptile segments incubated in indolyl-3-acetic acid, by over 30% after a lag period of about 60 min. This long lag is not due to poor tissue penetration by the inhibitor, but seems to reflect a property of the process inhibited by CB. The only visible ultrastructural change accompanying growth inhibition is the accumulation of secretory vesicles in the vicinity of dictyosomes, which occurs between 90 and 300 min. However, a massive accumulation of vesicles is seen after 120 min in root cap cells which possess very active dictyosomes. The results indicate that CB does not inhibit elongation growth by interfering with cytoplasmic streaming. Instead, they indicate that the drug acts to inhibit the secretion of cell wall components at some stage after vesicle production, but prior to their transport.Abbreviations CB cytochalasin B - IAA indolyl-3-acetic acid - DMSO dimethyl sulphoxide     

The role of cell wall synthesis in sustained auxin-induced growth

The dependence of auxin-induced growth on continued cell wall synthesis was investigated in stem segments of etiolated pea ( Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska) seedlings using the cell wall synthesis inhibitors monensin and 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile (DCB). Monensin (5 μ M ) potently inhibited indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-induced growth, particularly during the second hour of treatment, whereas growth in fusicoccin (FC) was inhibited much less effectively. Incorporation of [¹⁴C]-glucose into both matrix and cellulose fractions of the wall showed a sharp increase beginning after about 60 min, this rise being promoted by both IAA and FC. Monensin inhibited this rise in incorporation of label and completely removed the promotion of this by IAA, although some promotion by FC remained. Monensin inhibited incorporation into cellulose in a manner similar to that into matrix, but the use of the apparently specific cellulose synthesis inhibitor DCB showed that cellulose synthesis could be strongly inhibited without effect on growth, at least in the short term. The results support the view that sustained auxin-induced growth depends upon the incorporation of new matrix cell wall components into the wall.     

DIFFERENT SPECIES,SUCROSE, AND LIGHT IN PLANT SECTION ELONGATION TESTS

Sections from both dark- and light-grown seedlings of 11 species were used to test responses to IAA (indoleacetic acid), sucrose, and an inhibitor prepared from cabbage seedlings. Variability among species was great; however, results indicate that many species, light-grown as well as dark-grown, could prove useful in bioassays and probably should be investigated. Although elongation of segments from high-intensity-light-grown cabbage and cucumber hypocotyls and oat coleoptiles had essentially stopped by the time of cutting, their growth and response to IAA as sections were considerable. Neither oat coleoptile nor pea internode sections can be considered representative because of differences in responses to sucrose, of dark-grown sections to light, and to an inhibitor prepared from cabbage. Sucrose generally did not stimulate and even inhibited response of most hypocotyls to IAA. Sucrose was absorbed by sections, increasing final dry weight while not affecting elongation. Sucrose reduced the rate of respiratory decay in cabbage and sunflower, but IAA did not affect respiration. Changes in length and fresh weight of cucumber hypocotyl sections were comparable.     

Allelopathy of rice (Oryza sativa L.) root exudates and its relations with Orobanche cumana Wallr. and Orobanche minor Sm. germination

Allelopathy has been considered not only as an environmentally friendly approach for weed control but also a potential reason causing autotoxicity in crop production. In this study, the responses of seeds of lettuce, wheat, rice, clover broomrape (CB), and sunflower broomrape (SB) to the root exudates of rice cultivars were studied. Lettuce germination was promoted by root exudates of Yliangyou 3218 and I-Kung-Pao. Wheat seedling growth was inhibited by all nine rice species. I-Kung-Pao and Ganxin 203 exerted greater autotoxicity than other cultivars. Yongyou 15 and I-Kung-Pao induced the highest germination rate of CB, while Yongyou 13, Zhongzao 22, and I-Kung-Pao induced the highest germination rate of SB. A significantly correlation was noted between germination-inducing ability on broomrape seeds and allelopathic effects on target plants. It is suggested that using broomrape seeds germination is a better receptor for the identification of rice allelopathic potential.     

Relationship between IAA-induced elongation growth and plasma membrane NADH oxidase in soybean (Glycine max Merr.) hypocotyls

A relationship between the activity of NADH oxidase of the plasma membrane and the IAA-induced elongation growth of hypocotyl segments in etiolated soybean (Glycine max Merr.) seedlings was investigated. The plasma membrane NADH oxidase activity increased in parallel to IAA effect on elongation growth in hypocotyl segments. Actually, NADH oxidase activity was stimulated 3-fold by 1 u,M IAA, and the elongation rate of segments was stimulated 10-fold by 10 iM IAA. The short-term elongation growth kinetics, however, showed that the IAA-induced elongation of hypocotyl segments was completely inhibited by plasma membrane redox inhibitors such as actinomycin D and adriamycin, at 80 μM and 50 μM respectively. In addition, 1 mM actinomycin D inhibited the IAA-stimulated NADH oxidase activity by about 80%. However, adriamycin had no effect on NADH oxidase activity of plasma membrane vesicles. Based on these results, the plasma membrane redox reactions seemed to be involved in IAA-induced elongation growth of hypocotyls, and the redox component responding to IAA was suggested to be NADH oxidase.