Electronic Library of Scientific Literature
Volume 58/1, 2003
Biologia, Bratislava, 58: 1-7, 2003; ISSN 0006-3088.
There are definite difficulties in using some terms of apomixis. The authors
contribute different meaning to the same term or use different terms for the
same phenomenon. In the present article the terms "pseudogamy" and
"androgenesis" are discussed. Pseudogamy means the stimulation of
development of seed formation by pollination. This term does not concern the
endosperm development. We propose to use the term "centrogamy" for
endosperm formation after fertilization the nucleus (or unfused nuclei) in
central cell of the embryo sac. Androgenesis means the type of apomixis in which
embryo develops from the egg cell but its nucleus eliminated or inactivated
after sperm penetrating in it. Since 1970's genetics started to call as
androgenetic the organisms that have only male heredity, including those which
were obtained from anther tissue and microspores from anther culture. For these
organisms the term "androclinal" was suggested (KHOKHOLOV at al.,
1974). Author prefers to use the term "androclinesis" according to
SELIVANOV (1983) for the process of formation of such organisms.. Author
supports the BATTAGLIA's idea to create "The Code of Biological Terminology
and Nomenclature".
Key words: apomixis, androklinesis, androgenesis, centrogamy, pseudogamy, terminology.
Biologia, Bratislava 58: 9-16, 2003; ISSN 0006-3088.
Richelia siamensis (Antarikanonda) Hindák, a nostoclean
cyanophyte/cyanobacterium, characterised by short trichomes with limited growth
and spherical to shortly oval terminal heterocystes on both ends.
Pro-heterocytes are formed intercalarly from one vegetative cell which divides
into two equal portions. Trichomes split just at the connection of paired
pro-heterocytes. Pro-heterocytes develop into heterocytes at the new end of
trichomes. For the first time in this species, formation of subterminal
cylindrical to broadly oval akinetes of Cylindrospermum-type was observed
in trichomes growing in the littoral of a sand pit lake in SW Slovakia. The
morphology of trichomes from natural population is compared with the type
culture of the species. The taxonomic position of Richelia in the
Nostocaceae is discussed.
Key words: Cyanophyta/Cyanobacteria, Nostocaceae, Richelia siamensis, Cylindrospermum, akoinetes, sand-pit lakes, Slovakia.
Biologia, Bratislava, 58: 17-24, 2003; ISSN 0006-3088.
The water blooms of cyanoprokaryotes Woronichinia naegeliana in a
submontane dam reservoir were observed in autumns: 1995 (October) and 2000
(October-November). The blooms were created during partial turnovers period, the
lowest dammed water levels, the calm, sunny weather and water temperatures of 15
oC. Biomass of Woronichinia naegeliana showed a significant
negative correlation with the dammed water levels and significant negative
correlation with nitrate nitrogen. Nitrate nitrogen achieved the lowest values
during the mass development of cyanoprokaryotes. We concluded that eucaryotic
algae developed before NO3-N depletion. We also concluded that W.
naegeliana replaced Microcystis aeruginosa, species that created
blooms in the Dobczyce reservoir in the past years.
Key words: cyanoprokaryotes, eukaryotic algae, plankton, deep dam reservoir, Poland.
Biologia, Bratislava, 58: 25-27, 2003; ISSN 0006-3088.
The isolation of a rare species - Myxotrichum deflexum Berk. in Slovakia
and results of its antimycotic susceptibility testing to itraconazole,
fluconazole, and amphotericin B are presented. The species was isolated from a
textile sample in an African art museum on Czapek-Dox agar (CDA) and from soil
on Sabouraud agar (SA) and potato-dextrose agar (PDA) with amphotericin B (0.3
µg/mL) added. The number of colony forming units (CFU) in one gram of soil was
45 x 103 CFU/g on SA and 5 x 103 CFU/g on PDA. Based on
the realised tests, the isolates of Myxotrichum deflexum Berk. should be
treated as tolerant to fluconazole and itraconazole and susceptible to
amphotericin B.
Key words: Myxotrichum deflexum Berk., susceptibility, biodeterioration of artistic monuments, soil.
Hieracium piliferum group (Asteraceae) in the West Carpathians.
Biologia, Bratislava, 58: 29-36, 2003; ISSN 0006-3088.
Taxonomic study of the Hieracium piliferum group revealed that two
species were collected on the territory of the West Carpathians. Several
botanists, including ZAHN, have questioned the historical record of H.
glanduliferum Hoppe published by HAUSSKNECHT from the Vysoké Tatry Mts.
However, the revision of the HAUSSKNECHT's specimens deposited in JE confirmed
the correct determination made by the collector. This single voucher specimen
collected below Mt. Kriváň in 1863 is the only one known to date from the
whole Carpathian range. Other literature data from the West Carpathians are
commented on as well. Based on revised herbarium specimens, the second taxon - H.
piliferum Hoppe has four localities in the West Carpathians. Most recently H.
piliferum was collected by the author of this paper in the Satania dolinka
valley in the Slovak part of the Vysoké Tatry Mts in 2001. An abundant
population of H. piliferum grows here in subalpine-alpine grassy
communities on a large mylonite-granite scree. Karyological analysis revealed
tetraploid chromosome number (2n=36). Some important characteristics, the
illustration including, are added to distinguish it from the morphologically
closely related taxa.
Key words: chorology, chromosome number, Hieracium, Poland, Romania, Slovakia.
Biologia, Bratislava, 58: 37-43, 2003; ISSN 0006-3088.
Chromosome numbers and distribution of two subspecies of Cardamine amara
in Slovenia are presented. Major part of Slovenia is occupied by tetraploid C.
amara subsp. austriaca, the taxon with the distribution centered in
the Eastern Alps. In Slovenia it prevails in the (Pre)alpine and (Pre)dinaric
regions and approaches to southern limit of its known distribution area. Diploid
C. amara subsp. amara is in Slovenia less frequent, it is
concentrated in the northeastern Subpannonian region. Morphological differences
between these two subspecies, especially those in the pollen grains size are
mentioned. Distribution pattern found in Slovenia and the assumed evolutionary
history of the tetraploid subspecies are discussed.
Key words: Alps, autopolyploidy, Cardamine amara subsp. amara, Cardamine amara subsp. austriaca, Dinaric region, distribution map, Subpanonian region.
Biologia, Bratislava, 58: 45-48, 2003; ISSN 0009-3098.
The present paper deals with chromosome number of five Primula taxa. The
studies were carried out plants from the northeast Anatolia (Turkey). The
following chromosome numbers have been detected: Primula vulgaris Huds.
subsp. vulgaris 2n = 22, P. vulgaris subsp. sibthorpii
(Hoffmanns) W. W. Sm. & Forrest 2n = 22, P. elatior subsp. meyeri
(Rupr.) Valentine & Lamond 2n = 16, P. megaseifolia Boiss 2n = 18 and
P. longipes Freyn & Sint. 2n= 16. The chromosome numbers of four of
these five taxa are presented for the first time. The present determination and
previous reports of chromosome numbers of the genus exhibited great variation in
the basic number.
Key words: Primula, chromosome number, Turkey.
Biologia, Bratislava, 58: 49-57, 2003; ISSN 0006-3088.
Seasonal dynamics of weed vegetation and its response to tilling and mulching
was studied in a vineyard in the south-eastern part of the Czech Republic. The
objective of the study was to determine shifts in the diversity of weed
vegetation, associated with the transition from intensive agricultural
management with frequent tilling and herbiciding, to a more environment-friendly
management by mulching. Vegetation was studied in permanent plots of 1 × 1 m.
First sampling was done in 1994, when even lanes, between the rows of grapevine,
were still tilled while mulching was newly introduced in odd lanes. After the
entire vineyard had been converted into mulching in 1995, permanent plots were
re-sampled in 1999 and 2000. The plots were repeatedly sampled 5 to 7 times a
year. In this way, three variants could be compared, including tilling, recently
introduced mulching, and mulching lasting for 4-6 years. Redundancy analysis and
variance partitioning showed that 49.5% of the variation in species composition
could be explained by management and 22.6% by seasonal changes. Mulching led to
increased species richness and to an increased proportion of hemicryptophytes at
the expense of therophytes. Species associated with particular management types
and particular seasons were determined.
Key words: management, ordination, plant community, weed control, Czech Republic.
Biologia, Bratislava, 58: 59-68, 2003; ISSN 0006-3088.
In the barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) anther, tapetum and loculus wall cells
undergo programmed cell death (PCD) at the time around the first pollen mitosis,
at the uninucleate stage of microspore development. This is the stage where
androgenesis is most efficiently induced in barley microspores. Induction of
androgenesis is characterized by a switch of the normal pollen developmental
pathway towards an embryogenic route via a stress pre-treatment of anthers for 4
days in mannitol solution. We were interested in studying the involvement of
members of the 14-3-3 family of regulatory proteins during barley androgenesis
induction. With the use of isoform-specific antibodies against the three 14-3-3
isoforms, 14-3-3A, 14-3-3B and 14-3-3C, we have studied their immunolocalization
and expression level in anthers. All isoforms were localized in the microspores
and in anther wall cells at the induction stage. At this period, 14-3-3A
processing was found to take place in tapetum and loculus wall cells, where in
situ DNA fragmentation was detected by TUNEL assay. After 4 days
pre-treatment to induce androgenesis, anther wall cells degenerated and two
types of morphologically distinct microspores were observed, enlarged and
non-enlarged cells. At this stage, 14-3-3 isoforms were mainly localized in the
microspores. 14-3-3A processing was found to be induced by stress and it could
only be detected in non-enlarged cells with decreased viability after
pre-treatment. Viable enlarged cells and pollen under normal in vivo
development showed no visible 14-3-3A processing. The identification of 14-3-3A
processing in anther wall cells and in microspores with decreased viability
represents the first link between the processing of a specific 14-3-3 isoform in
cells undergoing death pathway. The implications of this post-translational
event in barley anthers are discussed.
Key words: barley, androgenesis, microspore, programmed cell death, post-translational modification, 14-3-3.
Biologia, Bratislava, 58: 69-76, 2003; ISSN 0006-3088.
In vitro somatic embryogenesis was achieved from immature zygotic embryos
of Acacia catechu on MS medium supplemented with BA and 2,4-D. The callus
was developed within 2 - 3 weeks of culture initiation. The embryogenic callus
line was developed from non-embryogenic callus on MS basal medium supplemented
with 2.2 - 4.4 µM BA and 4.5 µM 2,4-D within 3 - 4 weeks of subculture. The
frequency of embryogenic callus production varied from 42.2 to 88.6% depending
on the concentration of auxins and cytokinins. The somatic embryos were
germinated on 1 strength MS medium without growth regulators. Biochemical
investigation was carried out at three developmental stages i.e. non-embryogenic
callus line, embryogenic callus line and during germination of somatic embryos.
Phenol content was at maximum in non-embryogenic callus line in comparison with
embryogenic callus and germinated somatic embryos. Soluble protein content was
higher in both embryogenic callus line and germinated somatic embryos. The
maximum protein content in embryogenic callus line was about 0.74 µg/mg fresh
weight after 8 weeks of culture. The results also indicate that the peroxidase
activity was higher in embryogenic callus line and also during embryo
germination. SDS-PAGE protein profile revealed that two new polypeptide
fractions (52.4 and 47.1 kDa) were detected in embryogenic cell line and
remained present during germination of somatic embryos. This study will give
basic knowledge on the developmental pathway of somatic embryogenesis in woody
plants.
Key words: Acacia catechu, biochemical analysis, gel-electrophoresis, in vitro, somatic embryogenesis.
Biologia, Bratislava 58: 77-81, 2003; ISSN 0006-3088.
This paper shows the effect of organic matter in the rooting media on the
proportion of rhizome cortex (including epidermis) and central cylinder in
canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea (L.) Rauschert). The plants were
cultivated in rooting media composed of sand and separated sludge in different
volume ratios (25, 50, and 75% of sludge) and in pure sand as a control. The
plant growth was promoted by sludge, but the plants were negatively affected by
reducing conditions in the rooting media with 75% of sludge. Transversal
sections of rhizomes were analysed by image analysis. The plants growing in
rooting media with high amount of separated sludge (50% and 75%) had larger
central cylinder area than rhizomes growing in sand or 25% separated sludge. The
proportion of rhizome central cylinder increased together with the total
diameter of the rhizomes.
Key words: anatomy, canary grass, organic load, image analysis, redox potential, rhizomes.
Biologia, Bratislava 58: 83-87, 2003; ISSN 0006-3088.
A method for the induction and continuous propagation of beech (Fagus
sylvatica L.) embryogenic callus from immature zygotic embryos of three
mother trees was established. Out of 420 zygotic embryos 33 embryogenic lines
(7.9%) from two mother trees after one year of culture are still proliferating.
Conditions for continuous culture of embryogenic lines using solid and liquid
media were elaborated. Somatic embryos regenerated from four lines. These
embryos were transferred to maturation and rooting media, and then to the soil.
Key words: beech, embryogenic lines, Fagus sylvatica L., somatic embryos.
Biologia, Bratislava, 58: 89-94, 2003; ISSN 0006-3800.
Differences in root morphology of Karwinskia humboldtiana and Karwinskia
parvifolia seedlings cultivated in greenhouse were analyzed every three
weeks up to the age of five months, and then in the age of seven months. The
increase in total root length and number of lateral roots of all orders was
significantly higher for K. humboldtiana. Branching pattern of roots in K.
humboldtiana was irregular, but in the majority of plants lateral roots were
developed along the whole axis of the main root. In K. parvifolia the
most intensive branching occurred on the base of the main root. Rooting of stem
cuttings in vivo was low and occurred only after application of growth
regulators - auxinoids. Inter-species variation in the effect of these compounds
was observed. Differences in rooting of shoots (on WPM medium supplemented with
NAA) and root morphology were observed also under in vitro conditions. In
K. humboldtiana the development of adventitious roots on isolated shoots
started earlier and the percentage of rooted shoots was higher than in K.
parvifolia. The formation of lateral roots in vitro was observed only
in K. humboldtiana.
Key words: Karwinskia, rooting, root morphology, shoot cultures in vitro.
Biologia, Bratislava, 58: 95-102, 2003; ISSN 0006-3088.
From the period of pollen capture (second week of April) to the formation of
pollen tubes (late May), behaviour of the pollen grains and ovules was observed
in European larch (Larix decidua MILL.) growing under conditions of a
seed orchard. At the time of the pollination, most of the observed preparations
of ovules were characterized by the occurrence of a deeply staining substance on
the papillate stigmatic apparatus with the attached pollen. After the definitive
closing of micropyle, the pollen grains were engulfed into the distal part of
micropylar canal, approximately 300 µm from the nucellus of the inverted ovule.
Exine of the pollen grains was broken and shed, whereas the tube cell and intine
became moderately swollen. Approximately 4 weeks after the loss of exine, the
pollen grains were brought upwards into the tip of the nucellus. Before the
start of the germination in a very flat pollen chamber, the pollen grains became
increased in length and their body cell was characterized by the markedly
optically dense cytoplasm.
Despite this usual way of the pollen behaviour between pollination and
fertilization, relatively high percentage of the ovules (19.8 % on average)
remained unfertilized, although their previous pollination had been successful.
Besides some other factors, this phenomenon is explained, above all, by the
disturbances in pollination mechanism (in particular, absence of the liquid in
micropylar canal and restraint of the pollen displacement to the nucellus).
Key words: Larix decidua, pollen, ovule, pollination mechanism.
Biologia, Bratislava 58: 103-107, 2003; ISSN 0006-3088.
Variability of pollen quality was inverstigated for apomictic seedlings of Fragaria
x ananassa Duch., 2n=8x=56 (variety Purpurovaya). Pollen fertility of mother
form is about 13.0%. The variability was shown in sterile, half-sterile,
half-fertile, fertile and high-fertile types. Pollen quality in 71% of apomictic
offsprings was higher than in mother form. The male sterility was established in
26% of seedlings. Differences in microsporogenesis processes in Purpurovaya and
its apomictic seedlings were not established. Meiotic anomalies up to the tetrad
stage were not found. Changes in the development between sterile and fertile
microspores appeared for mono-nuclear microspores stage in the cytoplasm
vacuolization period. The male-sterile seedlings are included into experiments
on researching the genetical determination of garden strawberry pollen
sterility. High-fertile and fertile analogues of the variety can be used to
improve of varieties.
Key words: apomixis, garden strawberry, microsporogenesis, pollen quality, variability.
Biologia, Bratislava, 58: 109-114, 2003; ISSN 0006-3088.
Evaluation of metal pollution in soils and plants is of environmental importance
due to their negative effects. Surface soil and samples of Picea abies
(L.) Karst. needles were collected along two contaminated roadsides from urban
environment and analysed for metal content. Soil cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb)
concentrations in these sites averaged 0.46 and 209.5 ?g.g-1 DW,
respectively. In the unwashed 1-year and 2-year old needles the Cd
concentrations averaged 0.15 and 0.22, and Pb concentrations averaged 58.6 and
84.9 ?g.g-1 DW, respectively. These values lowered in the washed
needle samples. Chlorophyll content, peroxidase activity of the needles and
annual ring width differences were determined to identify toxic damage of
roadside Cd and Pb pollution. Decrease in chlorophyll content and increase in
peroxidase activity were detected in the needles. These results were more
evident in the 2-year old ones due to the time of exposure. We have not observed
a reduction in the annual ring widths related to Cd or Pb, but precipitation may
have an effect on them. We suggest that Cd and Pb concentrations determined in
this investigation affect chlorophyll biosynthesis negatively and induce the
increase in the activity of peroxidase enzyme as a stress response in Picea
abies needles.
Key words: annual rings; cadmium; chlorophyll; lead; needles; peroxidase; Picea abies, Turkey.
Biologia, Bratislava, 58: 115-119, 2003; ISSN 0006-3088.
The aim of this study was to prove the effect of fusariotoxins on maize plants.
Two-week-old plants of two cultivars with different susceptibility to Fusarium
infection were used to study chlorophyll a, b contents after toxins treatment.
Moniliformin (MF), fumonisin B1 (FB1), fusaproliferin
(FP), zearalenone (ZEN) and deoxynivalenol (DON) were added to root medium of
intact plants at concentration 30 µg.mL-1, or directly to
chlorophyll extracts at concentration 20 µg.mL-1. The greatest
decrease in chlorophyll content in vivo caused ZEN and FP in both tested
cultivars and DON only in the susceptible one. On the other hand the treatments
with FB1 and in susceptible cultivar also with MF have led to
increase in chlorophyll content. Depending on toxin, there were slight
differences between the cultivars. When toxins were added directly to the
chlorophyll extracts, the greatest decrease in chlorophyll a content was induced
by MF, followed by FB1 and FP. After treatment with DON and ZEN
chlorophyll content reduction did not reach the level in controls. Recently
isolated FP in vitro acted similarly as toxins with the well known
phytotoxic properties (MF, FB1) and in vivo as DON and ZEN.
Key words: moniliformin, fusaproliferin, fumonisin, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone.
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