Seeds of Bupleurum chinense cultivar, Zhongchai No. 1, were sowed in plastic pots which used the arable layer soil as the nursery bed and putted in the artificial climate incubator at various temperatures (15, 20, 25, 15-25 degrees C) and light (8,12 h) to germinate, respectively. The lower constant temperature (15 degrees ) and the higher constant temperature (25 "C) were not conducive to the sprouting characteristics of B. chinese. While they were able to enhance root activity to some extent; The seeding growth of B. chinese was significantly better in the variable temperature than correspondence in the constant temperature, significantly. The emergence speed, emergence index, vigor index and root activity of Bupleurum were improved under the 12 h of light-time, but the germination rate was not improved. The sprouting of Bupleurum's seeds could be improved to some extent by soaking with hormone, such as gibberellin, cytokinin, salicylic acid. Gibberellin promoted seeds' sprouting and seedings's root activity of Bupleurum, while salicylic acid increased the root activity of seeding. There is a significant influence of light, temperatures and hormone treatment on the germination of Zhongchai No. 1 seeds, and all three are remarkably interacted; It is beneficial to promote seed germination by the temperature (20 + 5) degrees C, lighting (8 h) and gibberellin concentration (10 x 10(-6)).
Bupleurum ; drug effects ; growth & development ; radiation effects ; Germination ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Gibberellins ; pharmacology ; Light ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Seeds ; drug effects ; growth & development ; radiation effects ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo optimize the culture condition of adventitious roots of Panax ginseng.

METHODThe adventitious roots were obtained through tissue culture by manipulation of inoculum, various sucrose concentrations and salt strength. The contents of ginsenosides Re, Rb1 and Rg1 were determined by HPLC while the contents of polysaccharides were determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry.

RESULTThe multiplication of adventitious roots reached the peak when the inoculum was 20 g x L(-1). The effects of sucrose concentration and salt strength on adventitious roots were observed. The contents of polysaccharides were higher when the medium contained more sucrose. 40 g x L(-1) sucrose was favorable for roots growth and biosynthesis of Re, while 30 g x L(-1) was favorable for the biosynthesis of Rb1 and Rg1. 3/4MS medium was benefit for the growth of adventitious roots and the biosynthesis of ginsenosides. The contents of polysaccharides were decreased with the increase of salt strength.

CONCLUSIONThe results showed that inoculum, various sucrose concentrations and salt strength have significant influences on adventitious roots growth, secondary metabolite and polysaccharide synthesis in P. ginseng.

Culture Media ; pharmacology ; Panax ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism

In order to establish a high efficient regeneration system of sunflower, we optimized the process of callus induction, differentiation and rooting by screening the optimum genotype, explant materials, hormone and cytokine concentration and additives. The results indicated that hybrid sunflowers were easier to regenerate than selfing ones; The best explant was four days cotyledon. The optimum induction medium was Murashige and Skoog (MS) + 2.0 mg/L 6-benzyladenine (6-BA) + 0.5 mg/L naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) + 1.0 mg/L kinetin (KT). The maximum rate of callus induction was 100%. The optimum differentiation medium was MS +0.2 mg/L 6-BA + 0.5 mg/L NAA + 0.3 mg/L KT + 0.3 mg/L silver nitrate (AgNO3) + 0.2 g/L active carbon (AC), and the buds differentiation rate was up to 71%. The best rooting culture medium was 1/2 MS + 0.6 mg/L indolebutyric acid (IBA). The highest rooting rate was 77%. The analysis of variance showed that genotype, explants growth time, different kinds and concentration of hormone, AC concentration had a significant effect on sunflower regeneration.
Cotyledon ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Genotype ; Helianthus ; genetics ; physiology ; Hybridization, Genetic ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Plant Roots ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Regeneration ; drug effects ; physiology ; Seedlings ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Tissue Culture Techniques

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the toxicity of photoactivated insecticide K-01 to the larvae of Aedes albopictus and observe the histopathological changes in the larvae.

METHODSThe number of dead larvae was recorded after application of K-01 at different concentrations under different illumination conditions. The content variation of the midgut, malpighian tubules and fat bodies in the larvae was observed microscopically, and the genomic DNA of the larvae was extracted for electrophoresis to identify the target bands.

RESULTSThe maximum larvae-killing effect was achieved with 50 mg/ml K-01 applied under sunlight (100% killing 24 hours after application). Optical microscopic observation of the killed larvae revealed severe damage of the mid-intestinal cells that showed disintegration and elongation. Distinct vacuoles were observed in the fat body cells, in which red droplets were seen to assemble around the cell nuclei. The result of 0.8% agarose gel electrophoresis of the larvae genomic DNA presented typical ladder patterns, suggesting the presence of cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONK-01 is an effective photoactivated insecticide.

Aedes ; drug effects ; growth & development ; radiation effects ; Animals ; Insecticides ; toxicity ; Larva ; drug effects ; growth & development ; radiation effects ; Ultraviolet Rays

The seeds of Rabdosia rubescens were as the materials to research the impacts of different lead (Pb2+) concentrations(0, 135, 270, 540, 1 080 mg x L(-1)) on seed germination and seedling growth. The results show that: Low concentration of lead had no obvious effect on early germination of the seed, the germination vigor and germination speed were lightly higher but not significantly differed at the level of Pb concentration 135 mg x L(-1) with control group; Mid-high concentration of Pb solution (270-1 080 mg x L(-1)) significantly inhibited the seed germination and seedling growth, which reduced the seed germination rate, germination vigor, germination index, embryo root length and shoot length, growth index with increasing of Pb concentrations. There was a inhibitory effect on embryo shoot length and root length at mid-high lead concentrations stress, and stronger inhibitory effect on root , which was more sensitive than shoot to Pb stress(P < 0.05). Pb bioaccumulation coefficient (BC) was 0.76-2.59, increased with concentration of Pb; Pb enrichment in seedling mainly caused the growth inhibition. The fitting model predictive analyses show, the critical concentration of Pb, which causes the germination rate and biomass fresh weight reducing 10%, is 195.18, 101.65 mg x L(-1).
Germination ; drug effects ; Isodon ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Lead ; toxicity ; Seedlings ; growth & development ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Stress, Physiological

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of different factors (temperature, light and germinating beds) on seed germination of Codonopsis tangshen.

METHODThe general germination method was applied.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe optimum seed germination conditions of C. tangshen were as follows: temperature 25 degrees C, light, germinating-beds top of paper (TP) or between of paper (BP). The first seedling--counting time was the 10th day after beginning the test; the final time was the 18th day. The test also showed that gibberellin notably increased the seed germination rate of C. tangshen.

Codonopsis ; drug effects ; growth & development ; radiation effects ; Germination ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Gibberellins ; pharmacology ; Light ; Paper ; Seeds ; drug effects ; growth & development ; radiation effects ; Temperature ; Time Factors

Experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different nitrogen levels on four bread wheat varieties (Triticum aestivum L.) viz. Inqilab-91, Daman-98, Dera-98 and Punjab-96 at Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan (NWFP), Pakistan during 2000 approximatey 2001. The experiment was laid out in split plot design having four replications using a net plot size of 2 m x 5 m. Nitrogen doses used were 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg/ha. The results showed that different nitrogen levels had significant effects on plant height, total number of plants/m(2), number of grains/spike, number of spike/m(2), spike weight, biological yield, grain yield and grain protein content. Maximum plant height, total number of plants/m(2), number of spikes/m(2), spike weight, biological yield and grain protein content were observed at 200 kg N/ha. Among wheat varieties Daman-98 had maximum plant height, spike weight, grains/spike, 1000-grain weight, biological yield and grain yield. Inqilab-91 had heavier grains and the most grain protein content, while Dera-98 had the maximum plant population and spikes/m(2). Grain yield and biological yield were statistically similar at doses of 150 kg N/ha and 200 kg N/ha. However, dose of 200 kg N/ha, compared to dose of 150 Kg N/ha, significantly increased the protein content.
Agriculture ; methods ; Bread ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fertilizers ; Fruit ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Nitrogen ; administration & dosage ; Seeds ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Species Specificity ; Triticum ; drug effects ; growth & development

In order to study the effect of seed soaking with different aluminum solution on seed germination and seedling physiological characteristics of Platycondon grandiflorum, two P. grandiflorum varieties'seed (the white flower and the purple flower) were soaked in Al3+ solution with different concentrations (0, 10, 100, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 mg x L) for 24 h, then germinated in illumination incubator. Results showed that the aluminum toxicity on the trends of the germination rate, germination index and vigor index was positive associated with its concentration, and the Al tolerance of the purple was slightly greater than that of the white. There were some relationships between the physiological indices, which were the leakage rate of electrolyte, the malonaldehyde (MDA) content, the activities of peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) , the free praline(Pro) and the soluble sugar contents, with the concentrations of Al. It was suggested that there was Al tolerance difference between the two P. grandiflorum varieties: the purple flower was greater than the white.
Aluminum ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Germination ; drug effects ; Immersion ; Platycodon ; drug effects ; growth & development ; physiology ; Seedlings ; drug effects ; physiology ; Seeds ; drug effects ; growth & development

A hydroponic experiment carried out to study the effect of five Cd levels on growth and photosynthesis of two tomato cultivars showed that the addition of 0.1 micromol/L Cd induced a slight increase in plant height of Hezuo 903 and the SPAD (the Soil-Plant Analyses Development) value of the 2 cultivars. However, at higher Cd levels, i.e., 1 and 10 micromol/L, root length and volume, plant height, and SPAD value were all significantly reduced. On an average of the 2 cultivars, exposure to 1 and 10 micromol/L Cd for 33 d reduced plant height by 18.9% and 46.4% and SPAD value by 11.2% and 31.6%, compared with control, respectively. Similarly, root length was reduced by 41.1% and 25.8% and root volume by 45.2% and 63.7%, respectively. The addition of Cd in the growth medium also had significant deleterious effect on net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and intracellular CO(2) concentration (Ci), with Pn being reduced by 27.2% and 62.1% at 1 micromol/L and 10 micromol/L Cd treatments compared to the control, respectively, while Ci increased correspondingly by 28.4% and 39.3%.
Cadmium ; toxicity ; Lycopersicon esculentum ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; drug effects ; Plant Leaves ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Seedlings ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the callus induction from leaf, stem segments and stem segments with axillary's bud and the subculture conditions of callus in Camptotheca acuminata.

METHODThe explants were inoculated into the media of MS with different concentrations of 6-BA, NAA and 2, 4-D by orthogonal experiment.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe optimal medium for callus induction was MS with 6-BA 2 mg x L(-1), NAA 2 mg x L(-1) and 2,4-D 2 mg x L(-1). It had better effects in leaf than in other explants. The induction ratio in leaf reached above 80%. The callus subcultured on the medium of MS with 6-BA 1 mg x L(-1) and 2, 4-D 1 mg x L(-1) grew vigorous and more quickly than that in other media. It was loose, friable in consistency and suitable for cell culture.

Camptotheca ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Culture Media ; pharmacology ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Plant Stems ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; methods