ALBERT

Notes: Summary. The influence of light, potassium nitrate and temperature on the germination of two samples of black seeds of Chenopodium albian L. was investigated. At constant temperature (23°C), light and nitrate together promoted germination of the younger (8–11-month-old) seed, which was insensitive to cither factor applied separately. Germination of older (32–35-month-old) seed was increased by both light and nitrate applied either separately or together, but there was no consistent interaction.While the older seed was generally indifferent to light, germination of the younger seed treated with nitrate was greatly promoted by relatively short periods of white light. Four minutes of light 36 hr after the initial moistening was as effective as 16 min and almost as effective as daily light exposure, in promoting germination of the younger seed. Long photoperiods slightly inhibited germination as compared with short photoperiods.Sensitivity of the younger seed to light varied with nitrate concentration, temperature, duration of imbibition in the dark prior to exposure, and time of nitrate application. Alternating temperatures (10–30°C daily) increased the sensitivity to light and to nitrate given either separately or together. Drying the younger seed for short periods after treatment with light and nitrate did not influence the response to either factor. Influence de la lumière, du nitrate de potassium et de la température sur la germination de Chenopodium album L.Résumé. L'influence de la lumiére, du nitrate de potassium et de la température sur la germination de deux lots de graines noires de Chenopodium album L. a étéétudiée. A température constante (23°C), la lumière et le nitrate appliqués ensemble provoquérent la germination des plus jeunes semences (agées de 8 à 11 mois), lesquelles ne réagirent pas à chacun des deux faeteurs appliqué séparément. La germination de semences plus âgées (32 à 35 mois) fut accrue par la lumière et par le nitrate, appliqués soit séparément, soit ensemble, mais il n'y eut pas d'interaction logique entre ces deux faeteurs.Alors que les semences les plus âgées furent généralement indifférentes à la lumiére, la germination des semences plus jeunes traitées par le nitrate fut fortement augmentée par des périodes relativement courtes d'éclairage en lumière blanche. Trente-six heures après l'humidification initiale, quatre minutes de lumiére furent aussi efficaces que seize minutes et presque aussi eflicaces que l'exposition à la lumiére du jour, pour provoquer la germination des jeunes semences. De longues photopériodes inhibérent légérement la germination par rapport á des photopériodes courtes.La sensibilite des jeunes semences à la lumière varia avec la teneur en nitrate, la concentration, la temperature, la durée de l'inhibition à l'obscurité avant l'exposition à la lumiére et l'epoque d'application du nitrate. Les variations de températures (entre 10 et 30°C dans la même journée) accrurent la senaibilitéà la lumière et au nitrate, appliquéés soit séparément soit ensemble. Le séchage des semences les plus jeunes pendant de courtes périodes après le traitement au nitrate et l'exposition à la lumière n'eut pas d'influence sur la résponse à I'un ou l'autre de ces facteurs. Einfluss von Licht, Kaliumnitrat und Temperatur auf die Keimung von Chenopodium album L.Zusammenfassung. Der Einfluss von Licht, Kaliumnitrat und Temperatur auf die Keimung zweier Proben schwarzer Samen von Chenopodium album wurde untersucht. Bei konstanter Temperatur (23°C) fordertcn Licht und Nitrat zusammen, nicht jedoch die beiden Faktoren fur sich allein, die Keimung der jüingeren Samen (8–11 Monatealt). Die Keimung älterer Samen (32–35 Monate alt) wurde durch Licht und Nitrat sowohl bei gemeinsamer als auch bei getrennter Anwendung erhiiht, wobei zwischen beiden Faktoren keine sichere Interaktion bestand.Während die ältercn Samen normalerweise gegenüber Licht indifferent waren, wurde die Keimung der jungeren mit Nitrat behandelten Samen durch verhaltnismässig kurze Perioden weissen Lichts stark gefördert. Eine Belichtungsdaucr von 4 Minuten, gegeben 36 Stunden nach Beginn des Einquellcns, fordcrtc die Keimung der jungeren Samen gleich stark wie eine solche von 16 Minuten und nahezu so stark wie eine tägliche Bclichtung. Lange Photoperioden hemmten die Keimung im Vergleich zu kurzen etwas.Die Reaktion der jungeren Samen aufdas Lieht hing von der Nitratkonzentration, der Temperatur, der Einquclldauer im Dunkeln vor der Bclichtung und dem Zeitpunkt der Nitratapplikation ab, Tamperaturweehsel (täiglicher Wechsel zwischen 10 und 30°C) erhohte die Empfindlichkeit gegenüber Licht und Nitrat sowohl bei gcmeinsamer als auch bei alleiniger Anwendung. Kurzzeitiges Rücklrocknen der Samen nach Licht- und Nitratapplikation beeinflusste die Reaktion der Samen auf diese beiden Faktoren nicht.

Notes: Variation in the ability o) 60 rice (Oryza saliva L.) varieties and three wild species to accumulate abscisic acid (ABA) in response to drought stress, drought-induced ABA accumulation (DIAA), was assessed using a standard detached-leaf lest. The range in DIAA amongst these genotypes was compared with the range amongst F2 plants and F6, lines derived from the O. saliva cross ‘IR20’ב63–83’ which were selected through several generations solely on the basis of differences in DIAA. ABA was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) or by gas chromatography (GC).DIAA in the 60 varieties was normally distributed with a six-fold range, from 245 to 1580 ng g−1 FW. Wild species varied two-fold in DIAA, from 375 to 889 ng g−1 FW. DIAA in F2 plants from the ‘1R20’ב63–83’ cross was also normally distributed. The extremes of DIAA for the low-ABA and higb-ABA F6 lines (330 and 1435ng g−1 FW) were similar to those for the varieties. Measurements by RIA and GC gave similar results.These findings are discussed in the context of producing further sets of closely-related genotypes with similar leaf areas to study the association between DIAA and water-use efficiency.

Notes: The formula is given for the perturbation matrix elements representing the coupling of normal modes due to ellipticity and boundary perturbations of a transversely isotropic earth.

Notes: Abstract. Factors affecting stomatal conductance (g1) of pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum [L.] Leeke), cultivar BJ 104, were examined in the field in India during the dry season.Diurnal changes in g1 were evaluated for upper expanded leaves at flowering on two occasions using plants subjected to varying degrees of water stress. Except for the most severely stressed treatment, diurnal changes in g1 closely matched changes in irradiance (I), the promotive effect of which largely overcame opposing influences on g1 of increasing atmospheric vapour pressure deficit, and decreasing leaf water and turgor potentials (Ψ, Ψp).Two main effects of water stress on g1 were evident: (i) a decrease in the amplitude of the mid-day peak in g1, and (ii) a decrease in the time over which high g1 was maintained, resulting in early (mid-day) closure and hysteresis in the relationship between g1 and I.Leaf conductance was greatest for upper leaves and decreased down the canopy. At equivalent depths in the canopy g1 was higher in flowering than in photoperiodically-retarded plants of the same age. The magnitude of water stress-induced stomatal closure increased down the plant, and was more marked in retarded than in flowering plants.Within individual stress treatments Ψ of upper leaves decreased linearly as transpiration flux increased. It is concluded that stomatal behaviour of upper leaves of pearl millet at flowering largely operates to maximize assimilation rather than to minimize water loss.

Notes: Abstract. Osmotic adjustment, a mechanism whereby plants maintain positive turgor despite low water potential (ψ), was investigated in pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum [L.] Leeke) in three types of field experiment at Hyderabad, India:〈list xml:id="l1" style="custom"〉1Osmotic adjustment during the growing season was evaluated by comparing solute potential (ψs) of leaves taken at midday from irrigated and droughted plots and allowed to rehydrate in the laboratory. The degree of seasonal adjustment was also estimated by comparing observed values of ψs in the field with those expected if ψs decreased solely in proportion to water loss. Both types of assessment indicated the maximum seasonal adjustment to be about 0.2 MPa. The cultivars BJ 104 and Serere 39 differed in their capacity to adjust osmotically over the season; Serere 39 was least able to osmoregulate.2Measurements of diurnal variations in ψ and ψs in BJ 104 revealed osmotic adjustment during the afternoon hours. At a given value of ψ, turgor (ψp) was about 0.1 MPa higher in irrigated, and over 0.2 MPa higher in droughted plants, in the afternoon, than in the morning.3Osmotic adjustment of different leaves within the canopy was investigated. Upper leaves had lower ψ than basal leaves. Differences in ψ were matched by gradients in ψs, so that turgor was similar for all leaf layers.

Notes: Following a single inductive short day, cytokinin activity in extracts of leaf laminae, buds and root exudate of Xanthium strumarium L. (as measured by the soybean callus bioassay) declined to between 10 and 25% of the level detected under long-day conditions. Additional inductive cycles, up to five, produced little further change. Cytokinin activity of petiole extracts fluctuated and did not decline to the same extent as that of leaf laminae, buds or exudate.

Notes: Summary Lupins (Lupinus angustifolius and L. cosentinii) growing in 321 containers in a glasshouse were exposed to drought by withholding water. Leaf water potential (Ψ1), and leaf osmotic potential (Ψs) were measured daily as soil water became depleted. Leaf water relations were further assessed by a pressure-volume technique and by measuring Ψs and relative water content of leaves after rehydration. Analysis by pressure-volume or cryoscopic techniques showed that leaf osmotic potential at saturation (Ψs100) decreased from -0.6 MPa in well watered to -0.9 MPa in severely droughted leaves, and leaf water potential at zero turgor (Ψzt) decreased from about -0.7 to -1.1 MPa in well watered and droughted plants, respectively. Relative water content at zero turgor (RWCzt) was high (88%) and tended to be decreased by drought. The ratio of turgid leaf weight to dry weight was not influenced by drought and was high at about 8.0. The bulk elastic modulus (ɛ) was approximately halved by drought when related to leaf turgor potential (Ψp) and probably mediated turgor maintenance during drought. The latter was found to be negatively influenced by rate of drought. Supplying the plants with high levels of K salts did not promote adjustment or turgor maintenance.

Notes: Abstract A monoclonal antibody produced to abscisic acid (ABA) has been characterised and the development of a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for ABA using the antibody is described. The antibody had a high selectivity for the free acid of (S)-cis, trans-ABA. Using the antibody, ABA could be assayed reliably in the RIA over a range from 100 to 4000 pg (0.4 to 15 pmol) ABA per assay vial. As methanol and acetone affected ABA-antibody binding, water was used to extract ABA from leaves. Water was as effective as aqueous methanol and acetone in extracting the ABA present. Crude aqueous extracts of wheat, maize and lupin leaves could be analysed without serious interference from other immunoreactive material. This was shown by measuring the distribution of immunoreactivity in crude extracts separated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), or by comparing the assay with physicochemical methods of analysis. Analysis of crude extracts by RIA and either, after TLC purification, by gas chromatography using an electron-capture detector or, after HPLC purification, by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) gave very similar ABA concentrations in the initial leaf samples. However, RIA analysis of crude aqueous extracts of pea seeds resulted in considerable overestimation of the amount of ABA present. Determinations of ABA content by GC-MS and RIA were similar after pea seed extracts had been purified by HPLC. Although the RIA could not be used to analyse ABA in crude extracts of pea seeds, it is likely that crude extracts of leaves of several other species may be assayed successfully.