CHANGES OF ENDOGENOUS HORMONE CONTENTS DURING FLORAL BUD AND VEGETATIVE BUD DIF FERENTIATION IN THIN CELL LAYER CULTURE OF CICHORIUM INTYBUS L. EXPLANT

The sectioned thin cell layers (TCL) of flower stalk of Cichorium intybus L. were cultured in MS medium supplemented with NAA and BA or IAA and BA where floral and vegetative buds were developed from the explant. Endogenous IAA, DHZ+DHZR, iPA increased significantly during the floral bud formation, while Z+ZR remained changed. The levels of cytokinins, DHZ+DHZR, iPA, and Z+ZR all increased significantly during the vegetative bud formation, however IAA level was reduced during the first 7 days of culture and increased to two thirds of initial values on the day when the bud primordia were formed. The results suggested that the initiation of floral buds was associated with a high IAA/CTK ratio, whereas the induction of vegetative bud differentiation was related to a low IAA/CTK ratio.

Respiratory Response of Dormant Nectarine Floral Buds on Chilling Deficiency

Changes in main biochemical respiratory pathways in dormant nectarine floral buds were studied with nectarine trees （Prunus persica.var, nectariana cv. Shuguang） in order to determine the function of respiration in dormancy release. Oxygen-electrode system and respiratory inhibitors were used to measure total respiratory rates and rates of respiratory pathways. Results showed that chilling deficiency blocked the transition of respiratory mode, and made buds stay in a state of high level pentose phosphate pathway （PPP） and low level tricarboxylie acid cycle （TCA）. The decline of PPP and activation of TCA occurred synchronously with the release of dormancy. In addition, the inhibition of PPP stimulated a respiration increase related with TCA. It could be concluded that the function of PPP activation in dormancy release might be limited and PPP declination inducing TCA activation might be part of respiration mode transition mechanism during bud sprouting.

Floral gradient in flowering tobacco in relation to free amino acids

By employing TCLs (thin cell layers) culture, the floral gradient in flowering tobacco of different developmental stages was confirmed. The TCLs from early flowering tobacco regenerated more floral buds than those from the tobacco plants in full blooming or fruiting stages. Analysis of free amino acid levels revealed the acropetal gradient of Pro in flowering tobacco stem. L-Pro. L-Trp. D,L-Met and L-Arg were respectively added into the culture medium for testing their influence on floral bud formation from tobacco pedicel segments. Only L-Trp evidently enhanced the floral bud neoformation.

Effect of Different Growth State of Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) on Low Temperature Induction

In order to study the responding of different growth state on low temperature in Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica), we took prematurity broccoli hybrid as the objects. It was found that growth state was varied under different sowing time , moreover, stem became wider with the increasing of light density at the same leaf age. Seedling age of responding to low temperature vernalization only when they grew five leaves above and with over 3.03 ±0.07 centimeter stalk width in 'Qingfeng Broccoli 103'. The older leaf age was and the stronger plant was, the more sensitive and the shorter demanded duration time on low temperature was, and the shorter time required when the plants entered into critical period of floral bud differentiation.

Flower Development and Anatomy of Agapanthus praecox ssp. orientalis (Leighton) Leighton

Floral buds of Agapanthus praecox ssp. orientalis were observed under dissecting and optical microscope to characterize floral organs development and to study relationships between anther development and microsporogenesis. Floral organs differentiation was comprised of 6 distinct stages including nought differentiation, inflorescence bud differentiation, floret primordia differentiation, tepal primordia differentiation, stamen primordia differentiation, and pistil primordia differentiation. Six tepals differentiated almost simultaneously which cross arranged in space and appeared in hexagonal distribution pattern. Six stamens were differentiated inside the tepals at the same time. Finally, 3 carpel primordia differentiated and formed syncarpous pistil. The whole process of floral bud differentiation took approximately 40 d with the first 3 stages developing more slowly than the later 3 stages. Morphology and color of the anther underwent obvious changes during the period between stamen primordia differentiation and anther maturation. Microspores also underwent significant development during this same interval. The relationship between the process of microsporogenesis and anther development has already been made clear by the sauash techniaue.

Morphogenetic responses of Populus alba L. under salt stress

The morphogenetic responses to salt stress of TunisianPopu-lus alba clones were studied in order to promote their plantation in dam-aged saline areas. One year-old plants of threeP. alba clones （MA-104, MA-195 and OG） were subjected to progressive salt stress by irrigation during two consecutive years. The plants were grown in a nursery, inside plastic receptacles containing sandy soil and were irrigated with tap water （control） or 3-6 g/l NaCl solution. During this study, leaf epinasty, elongation rate, vigor, internode length, plant architecture, and number of buds were evaluated. Test clone response was highly dependent on the applied treatment and degree of accommodation.The most pronounced alterations were induced under 6g/l of NaCl treatment including leaf epinasty, leaf elongation rate delay, vigor decrease, internode length shortening, and morphogenetic modifications. These responses were less noticeable in the MA-104 clone with respect to the two other clones. The salt effect induced a delay in the leaf elongation rate on the MA-195 and OG clones leading to an early leaf maturity. The vigour and internode length of the MA-104 clone was less affected than the other clones. The OG clone was the most salt-sensitive thus, it developed shorter branches and more buds number than MA-195 and MA-104. The effect of long-term salt stress was to induce early flowering of theP. alba clones which suggests that mechanism of salt accommodation could be developed.

Immunolocalization of Arabinogalactan Proteins and Pectins in Floral Buds of Cucumber （Cucumis sativus L.） During Sex Determination

Abstract: Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) and pectins were detected in the floral buds of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) during its sex determination using the following monoclonal antibodies: MAC 207 (recognizes AGP epitopes); JIM 8 (recognizes a subset of AGP epitopes); and JIM 5 and JIM 7 (epitopes of pectins esterified to various degrees). In the stem apex meristem (SAM) of the cucumber, epitopes of MAC 207, JIM 7, and JIM 5 were localized in the cells from second to third peripheral layers when the sex organ primodium began to differentiate; epitopes of MAC 207 and JIM 5 were also detected in the ragged edge cells. A very dense labeling signal with MAC 207 was observed in the carpel and pistil primodium. The AGP epitopes recognized by JIM 8 were localized in the anther of the male flower and the anther-like portion of the stagnant stamen of the female flower. This suggests that the AGPs and pectins in the SAM of the cucumber are closely associated with the differentiation of the SAM, from meristematic cells to floral primodium. The subset of AGPs recognized by JIM 8 may play an important role in stamen formation.