Effects of Nitrogen, Sucrose, IAA and Kinetin on Explants of Beta vulgaris Grown in vitro

Hypocotyl explants of Beta vulgaris L. were grown on defined agar media with different combinations of IAA and kinetin at varying concentrations of nitrogen or sucrose. The cultures were kept in light (18 h a day) at 27°C for 5 weeks. Root initiation and callus growth were recorded and the callus tissue was analysed for N and K. Root formation was found to increase with increasing nitrogen concentration (from 5 mM to 23.3 mM) in the medium at 10.0 mg/1 of IAA, whereas no stimulation was found at 0.1 mg/1 of IAA. When raising the sucrose level from 20 g/1 to 100 mg/1 at 10.0 mg/1 of IAA and 1.0 mg/1 of kinetin, root initiation was also stimulated. At a lower kinetin and auxin level, however, no increase was recorded. Callus growth was affected by changes in the nitrogen or sucrose concentration of the culture media. The nitrogen content of the callus tissue increased with rising nitrogen concentration of the media. When raising the sucrose level instead of the nitrogen level, the nitrogen content of the tissue decreased.     

Isolation of Vacuoles from Root Storage Tissue of Beta vulgaris L

Morphologically intact and osmotically active vacuoles were isolated from root storage tissue of the red beet Beta vulgaris L., and the factors influencing both yield and stability of the vacuoles were determined. Successful isolation depended upon slicing the tissue in an apparatus specifically designed to cut open plant cells without the use of high shear forces and to liberate cellular organelles into an undisturbed reservoir of osmoticum. The resulting brei was centrifuged at 2,000g for 10 min to yield a pellet which contained many vacuoles but which also contained tissue fragments, nuclei, mitochondria, and plastids. The vacuoles were further purified by accelerated flotation through a Metrizamide step gradient. Biochemical assays, light microscopy, and electron microscopy confirmed that there was only trace contamination of the final vacuole preparation by other organelles. Isolated vacuoles were intact and retained their in vivo coloration.     

Callus Induction from Explants of Crocus sativus

Saffron calli were induced from ovary explants on Murashige-Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with beyzyladenine (BA) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) as growth factors. MS medium with 5 mg l^?1 BA and 10 mg l^?1 NAA was selected for calli induction and undifferentiated calli growth, while MS medium with 1 mg l^?1 BA and 1 mg l^?1 NAA was the most appropriate for stigma differentiation. On this medium, stigma-like structures measuring 0.5–1.5 cm were obtained. Initially they were colourless, but yellow pigmentation, due to the presence of crocin, progressively increased with calli growth. Extracts of stigma-like structures were analysed by HPLC and the presence of saffron secondary metabolites was demonstrated. In addition, calli also showed yellow pigmentation.     

Enzymes Involved in the Postharvest Degradation of Sucrose in Beta vulgaris L. Root Tissue

The reducing sugar content of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) roots increased during 30 days of storage at 21 C and 160 days at 5 C as a result of an increase in acid invertase activity. Sucrose synthetase and neutral invertase activities were high at harvest but declined during storage, thus showing no relationship with postharvest reducing sugar accumulation in sugar beet roots. Acid α-glucosidase activity was detected in fresh roots but showed no activity with sucrose as a substrate.     

栽培甜菜大孢子发生的超微结构

栽培甜菜（Beta vulgaris）的大孢子发生为蓼型。减数分裂时,大孢子母细胞核中出现核液泡,形成联会复合体,细胞壁上有胼胝质加厚,并存在细胞质改组现象。大孢子母细胞减数第1次分裂形成二分体,2个细胞均被较厚的胼胝质壁包裹。合点端的二分体细胞中细胞器丰富,线粒体和质体的形态正常,表明完成了再分化。在大多数情况下,珠孔端的二分体细胞在减数第2次分裂前（或分裂的过程中）退化,合点端的细胞分裂产生大小不等的2个细胞,形成三分体。三分体合点端的大孢子体积较大,发育成单倍体的功能大孢子。     

栽培甜菜大孢子发生的超微结构

栽培甜菜(Beta vulgaris)的大孢子发生为蓼型。减数分裂时, 大孢子母细胞核中出现核液泡, 形成联会复合体, 细胞壁上有胼胝质加厚, 并存在细胞质改组现象。大孢子母细胞减数第1次分裂形成二分体, 2个细胞均被较厚的胼胝质壁包裹。合点端的二分体细胞中细胞器丰富, 线粒体和质体的形态正常, 表明完成了再分化。在大多数情况下, 珠孔端的二分体细胞在减数第2次分裂前(或分裂的过程中)退化, 合点端的细胞分裂产生大小不等的2个细胞, 形成三分体。三分体合点端的大孢子体积较大, 发育成单倍体的功能大孢子。     

菘蓝两种外植体愈伤组织诱导研究

为寻找菘蓝愈伤组织诱导的最佳外植体,最佳培养基及愈伤组织继代增殖的最佳培养基,选用叶片和叶柄两种外植体,在添加不同种类植物激素处理组合的培养基上,对不同外植体进行愈伤组织的诱导和继代增殖研究.结果表明叶片比叶柄愈伤组织的诱导能力强,表现为出愈时间早,诱导率高,出愈多且质量好.叶片愈伤组织诱导培养基:MS 6-BA1.0mg/L 2,4-D0.3～0.5mg/L;继代增殖培养基:MS 6-BA0.5mg/L 2,4-D0.3mg/L.因此,采用菘蓝叶片为外植体,能高效的诱导出愈伤组织并能快速增殖.     

金线莲外植体筛选及愈伤组织诱导研究

以金线莲茎段、叶片、茎片、不定芽为试材,分别在添加6-BA、ZT、NAA、KT 5个不同处理的MS及1/2MS培养基上培养,诱导愈伤组织。结果表明,以茎段、茎片、不定芽为外植体,在MS + 6-BA 2.0 mg/L + NAA0.5 mg/L、MS + NAA 2.0 mg/L + KT 0.1 mg/L和MS + 6-BA 2.0 mg/L + NAA 0.5 mg/L + ZT 0.2 mg/L培养基中培养,均能成功诱导愈伤组织。不定芽为诱导愈伤组织最佳外植体,最佳培养基为MS + 6-BA 2.0 mg/L + NAA 0.5 mg/L + KT 0.2 mg/L。     

In Vitro Shoot Regeneration from Callus, Leaf Axils and Petioles of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

Procedures are described for producing axillary shoots fromseedling apices and adventitious shoots from petioles and leaf-derivedcallus of sugar beet cultivars. The rate of adventitious shootregeneration from petioles was influenced by temperature, BAPconcentration of the medium, and the time in culture of theseedling apices from which the petioles were excised. Petiolesectioning confirmed that adventitious shoots originated inthe sub-epidermal parenchyma. Two distinct types of callus wereproduced from leaf explants, but only white friable callus wascapable of shoot development. This callus developed from browntissue and was composed of thin-walled cells with dense cytoplasmand prominent nuclei. Green compact callus with thick-walledlignified cells developed from green tissue, but did not produceshoots. Successful seed sterilization and shoot regenerationfrom petiole explants and callus was cultivar-dependent. Adventitiousshoots were rooted and successfully transplanted to pottingcompost under glasshouse conditions. Key words: Adventitious shoots, axillary shoots, callus, sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)     

Regeneration from Phylloclade Explants and Callus Cultures of Schlumbergera and Rhipsalidopsis

Phylloclade explants of Schlumbergera and Rhipsalidopsis were cultured in vitro to produce axillary and adventitious shoots. The explants of both species, taken from greenhouse-grown plants, produced only axillary shoots. There was a pronounced improvement in adventitious shoot formation in phylloclade explants of cultivar CB4 of Rhipsalidopsis by increasing numbers of subcultures of axillary shoots used as donor plants. The axillary shoots generated from the explants were either subcultured to produce successive generations of axillary shoot cultures or made into phylloclade explants and tested for adventitious shoot formation at each subculture. The duration of each subculture varied from 6 to 12 weeks. After the first subculture, sporadic adventitious shoot formation began, and after the third subculture 87% explants of cultivar CB4 produced adventitious shoots at a frequency of about 12 shoots per explant. In contrast, there was no improvement in regenerative ability in explants of cultivar Thor-Olga of Schlumbergera up to third subculture. Adventitious shoots could be produced by callus culture too. Cultivar CB4 was highly regenerative, producing as many as 10 adventitious shoots per square cm of callus. In vitro grown plantlets, when transferred to pots continued to show prolific growth.     

Callus Initiation and Organized Development from Zamia pumila Embryo Explants

Explants derived from Zamia pumila embryos were cultured ona Murashige and Skoog basal medium supplemented with naphthaleneaceticacid (NAA), N⁴-benzylaminopurine (BAP), or combinations of thetwo at 27 °C in darkness. NAA was invariably required forcallus initiation, and its minimal effective concentration was0.1 mg l^–1. BAP was not always required, and dependingon the explant type and NAA concentration, BAP either enhanced,suppressed, or had little effect on the frequency of callusinitiation. High frequency of callus initiation occurred with1.0 mg l^–1 NAA combined with 0.01 or 1.0 mg l^–1BAP. When the concentration of NAA was high relative to thatof BAP, friable callus was produced. As the relative BAP concentrationwas increased, a more compact callus formed. Compact-nodularcallus developed at equal concentrations of NAA and BAP overa wide range of absolute concentrations. Friable callus formedroots only. Compact-nodular callus formed roots, shoots andembryo-like structures. Root and shoot formation predominatedand were of nearly equal frequency. Formation of embryo-likestructures was infrequent. Zamia pumila, callus differentiation, callus formation, embryo culture, naphthaleneacetic acid, N⁴-benzylaminopurine     

栽培甜菜花粉发育过程的超微结构

利用透射电镜技术对栽培甜菜（Beta vuigaris）花粉发育过程进行了超微结构观察。结果表明,在小孢子母细胞减数分裂期间,细胞内发生了“细胞质改组”,主要表现在核糖体减少,质体和线粒体结构发生了规律性变化。末期1不形成细胞板,而是在2个子核间形成“细胞器带”。“细胞器带”的存在起到类似细胞板的作用,暂时将细胞质分隔成两部分。四分体呈四面体型,被胼胝质壁包围。小孢子外壁的沉积始于四分体晚期,至小孢子晚期外壁已基本发育完全。单核小孢子时期,细胞核大,细胞器丰富。二细胞花粉发育主要表现在生殖细胞壁的变化上,生殖细胞壁上不具有胞间连丝。成熟花粉为三细胞型,含有1个营养细胞和2个精细胞。精细胞具有短尾突,无壁,为裸细胞,每个精细胞通过2层质膜与营养细胞的细胞质分开。生殖细胞与精细胞里缺乏质体。     

Changes in Respiratory Metabolism during Callus Growth and Adventitious Root Formation in Jerusalem Artichoke Tuber Tissues

The CN-resistant alternative oxidase pathway was examined inrelation to the formation of callus and adventitious roots ofJerusalem artichoke tuber tissues. During the early stage ofincubation at 28?C, respiration was significantly activatedand the O₂-uptake rate via the Cyt pathway increased 2.5–2.6times by the second day of culture regardless of the presenceof 2,4-D. However, further increases and preservation of highlevels of Cyt pathway activities were observed only in the callusformingtissues. The capacity of the alternative pathway also increased,but the actually operating fraction was very small (0–4%of total respiration). On the other hand, during the later stagesof culture in which adventitious roots emerged from the callus,activation of the alternative pathway was observed. These resultssuggested that the alternative pathway was not involved in callusgrowth but was related to root formation in callus tissues ofJerusalem artichoke tubers. (Received October 29, 1986; Accepted April 20, 1987)     

Endogenous Inhibitors and Germination of Beta vulgaris

The nature and importance of endogenous germination inhibitorsin rubbed triploid monogerm sugar beet fruits were studied.Experimental evidence suggests that germination inhibitors donot play an important role in the prevention of germinationof rubbed fruits. Putative inhibitory compounds known to occurin sugar beet extracts were found to have little effect on germination.Measures to leach out water soluble compounds also had littleeffect on germination. Concentrated fruit extracts were foundto inhibit the germination of sugar beet seeds by virtue oftheir osmotic potentials, and this was related to the salt contentof the fruit extracts. However, a positive relationship wasfound between salt content and the original germination of thefruit lines. This relationship could have important consequencesfor assessment of fruit maturity and subsequent germinationbehaviour at harvest. The causes of poor germination in rubbedfruit lie not in the presence of inhibitory compounds in thefruit coat but in some other property of the fruit. Key words: Germination, Sugar beet: Inhibitors     

Potassium Deficiency-induced Changes in Stomatal Behavior, Leaf Water Potentials, and Root System Permeability in Beta vulgaris L

Studies of the water relations of potassium deficient sugarbeet plants (Beta vulgaris L.) revealed two factors for stomatal closure. One component of stomatal closure was reversible by floating leaf discs on distilled water to relieve the water deficit in the leaves; the other component was reversible in the light by floating the leaf discs on KCl solution for 1 hour or more. Potassium-activated stomatal opening in the light was observed when the guard cells were surrounded by their normal environment of epidermal and mesophyll cells, just as observed by previous workers for epidermal strips. Leaf water potentials, like stomatal apertures, appear to be strongly related to leaf potassium concentration. Potassium-deficient plants have a greatly decreased root permeability to water, and the implications of this effect on stomatal aperture and leaf water potential are discussed. In contrast, petiole permeability to water is unaffected by potassium treatment.     

Characterization of glutamine-synthetase from Beta vulgaris

Glutamine-synthetase (GS) from Beta vulgaris seedlings, purified 150-fold, was characterized with regard to its physiological substrate NH₃. The data were compared to the unphysiological substrate NH₂−OH frequently used in the assay (both synthetase and transferase reaction). The pH-optimum was found at pH 7.5 for the synthetase and at pH 6.3 for the transferase reaction. Through plots of pKm vs pH, the pKe values for dissociable groups in the reaction center were found to be in the range from pH 7–8. Mg²⁺-ion serves as an allosteric effector with a Hill coefficient of 4.2. The results are discussed in relation to the control of nitrogen metabolism in Beta .     

Synthesis of a Vacuolar Acid Invertase in Washed Discs of Storage Root Tissue 11Beta vulgaris L)

The synthesis of acid invertase during washing of red beet storageroots has been investigated using protein synthesis inhibitors,antibiotics, and antibodies raised against the purified invertase.Acid invertase increased during the first 3 d of washing thendecreased, with the rates of both processes dependent on temperature.Concomitantly, acid phosphatase declined throughout this period.Activity gels confirmed the increase in the level of activeinvertase protein. The increase in activity was prevented bycycloheximide, monensin, tunicamycin, and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone.Leakage of betanin was measured and ultrastructural observationsundertaken to ensure these compounds had no non-specific effects.Immunoblotting confirmed the synthesis of a new 65 kDa invertaseduring washing and its subsequent loss. The location of theinvertase was investigated by immunoblotting of proteins invacuoles isolated from fresh and washed storage root discs,and indicated that the invertase is localized in the vacuole.The results are discussed in relation to the synthesis and targetingof invertase during the changes induced by washing. Key words: Acid invertase, Beta vulgaris L., protein synthesis, protein targeting, vacuole     

Water Flow in Beta vulgaris Storage Tissue

The relative magnitudes of the hydraulic resistances, water capacities, and water potential equilibration time constants for the single cell, for the apoplast, and for the symplast in higher plant tissue are assessed. Swelling of beetroot (Beta vulgaris, var. `Detroit Red') storage tissue sections in pure water is measured using a displacement transducer. This method of measurement avoids the difficulty of solute diffusion in the apoplast. Theoretical analysis of the experimental results shows that the main path of water flow into the tissue is the apoplast rather than the symplast, that the main resistance to water flow into the cells is usually the cell membrane rather than the apoplast, but that in some cases the apoplast resistance and water capacity can contribute significantly to the water potential equilibration time constant of the tissue.