Germination, seedling growth and ion accumulation of bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd.) lines under NaCl stress

This study was conducted to compare the effect of NaCl levels on germination and seedling growth, and ion accumulation in five bitter vetch lines. Germination percentage (%), mean germination time (MGT, day), emergence percentage (%), shoot and root length (mm), shoot and root fresh and dry weight (mg/plant) and the Na(+), K(+), Cl(-), and Na(+)/K(+) ratio for both root and shoot were determined at different NaCl salt concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 dS m(-1)). Results of this research showed that NaCl adversely affected germination time and the emergence percentage as compared to final germination percentage in all the lines. Seedling characters decreased with increasing NaCl levels, but the decrease was more acute in the shoots than in the roots. Salinity stress induced a significant increase in shoot and root Na(+), Cl(-) and Na(+)/K(+) ratio. Results show that line 1 was relatively more tolerant than other lines and line 2 was more sensitive. Salinity affected seedling growth especially at 10 dS m(-1) and higher salinity levels

Abiotic factors affecting in vitro pollen grain germination in sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.)

A reliable in vitro method for germination of sainfoin pollen grains has been developed. Highest pollen germination rate of 96% with mean pollen tube length of 223.5 mum was obtained on medium containing of 100 g/l sucrose, 200 mg/l KNO3, 150 mg/l H3BO3, 150 mg/l MgSO4, 150 mg/l Ca(NO3)(2), 175 g/l PEG 4000 and stigma extract at pH 6.5

In vitro crown galls induced by Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain A281 (pTiBo542) in Trigonella foenum-graecum

Transformation of fenugreek ( Trigonella foenumgraecum) was carried out with A281 oncogenic strain of Agrobacterium tumefaciens using root, cotyledon and hypocotyl explants excised from 1-week-old seedlings, which showed that the plant was highly susceptible to transformation. Tumors ( calli) were selected on 50 mg dm(-3) kanamycin. They were analyzed for beta-glucuronidase (GUS) expression. Presence of uidA (gus) gene, was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification

Adventitious shoot regeneration and micropropagation of Plantago lanceolata L.

Shoot regeneration from hypocotyl and cotyledon explants of Plantago lanceolata treated with various concentrations of Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and Indole 3 butyric acid in MS medium was significantly influenced by the amounts of BAP and IBA in concentration and explantdependent manner: Micropropagation was accomplished using various concentrations of BAP + IBA, kinetin + IBA and TDZ + IBA. Micropropagated shoots were rooted on the MS medium containing 2.69 mu M NAA. Plants were acclimatized and transferred to greenhouse, where they flowered and set seed