Arabidopsis cyclin-dependent kinase gene Cdkg;2 is involved in organogenic responses induced in vitro

The Arabidopsis CDKG;2 gene encodes a putative cyclin-dependent Ser/Thr protein kinase of unknown biological function. This gene shows structural similarity to animal and human cyclin-dependent (PITSLRE) kinases. This study used the homozygous knockout cdkg;2 mutant based on T-DNA insertional line SALK_090262 to study the effect of mutation of the CDKG;2 gene on explant response and in vitro plant regeneration. For callus induction and proliferation, hypocotyls and cotyledons of 3-day-old seedlings of cdkg;2 and A. thaliana ecotype Col-0 were cultured on solid MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D (2 mg l-1). Organogenesis was induced after callus transfer on MS + TDZ (0.5 mg l-1). The initiation time of callus and shoot induction differed between the mutant and control cultures. Shoot regeneration after callus transfer on MS + TDZ was delayed in cdkg;2 (31 days versus 7 days in Col-0). Shoots formed on callus derived from Col-0 hypocotyls but not on cotyledon-derived callus; in cdkg;2, shoots developed on both callus types. Mutant shoots did not form roots, regenerants were dwarfed, and inflorescences had small bud-like flowers with a reduced corolla and generative organs. Abnormalities observed during cdkg;2 organogenesis suggest a role of CDKG;2 as a regulator of adventitious root initiation

Synergids and filiform apparatus in the sexual and apomictic dandelions from section Palustria (Taraxacum, Asteraceae)

An evolutionary trend to reduce “unnecessary costs” associated with the sexual reproduction of their amphimictic ancestors, which may result in greater reproductive success, has been observed among the obligatory apomicts. However, in the case of the female gametophyte, knowledge about this trend in apomicts is not sufficient because most of the ultrastructural studies of the female gametophyte have dealt with amphimictic angiosperms. In this paper, we tested the hypothesis that, in contrast to amphimictic plants, synergids in apomictic embryo sacs do not form a filiform apparatus. We compared the synergid structure in two dandelions from sect. Palustria: the amphimictic diploid Taraxacum tenuifolium and the apomictic tetraploid, male-sterile Taraxacum brandenburgicum. Synergids in both species possessed a filiform apparatus. In T. brandenburgicum, both synergids persisted for a long time without any degeneration, in spite of the presence of an embryo and endosperm. We propose that the persistent synergids in apomicts may play a role in the transport of nutrients to the embryo

The emergence, rise and fall of constitutional justice in Poland

Artykuł przedstawia ewolucje sądownictwa konstytucyjnego w Polsce. Powstanie Trybunału Konstytucyjnego przed uchwaleniem konstytucji miało zalety i wady. Podstawową zaletą było określenie przez Trybunał standardów konstytucyjnych przed ustanoweniem konstytucji. Wadą był brak dyskusji nad modelu sądownictwa konstytucyjnego po 1989 r. Tekst przedstawia rolę Trybunału w ochronie konstytucji oraz podstawowe problemy związane z jego działalnością. Przedstawione zostały relacje Trybunału z innymi organami państwa. Sformułowana została ocena sądownictwa konstytucyjnego do 2016 r. W zakończeniu przedstawiony został przebieg kryzysu praworządności w Polsce. Obecnie Trybunał nie realizuje swych konstytucyjnych zadań. W części zadania te przejęły sądy. Problemy konstytucyjne są też rozstrzygane w ETPCz i TSUE.The article presents the evolution of constitutional justice in Poland. The creation of the Constitutional Tribunal prior to the adoption of the Constitution had its advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage was that the Tribunal had defined constitutional standards before the Constitution was adopted. The disadvantage was the lack of discussion on the model of constitutional justice after 1989. The text presents the role of the Tribunal in the protection of the Constitution and the basic problems it encountered in its activities. The Tribunal's relations with other state authorities are presented. An assessment of constitutional justice up to 2016 is formulated. The article concludes with a presentation of the course of the rule of law crisis in Poland. Currently, the Tribunal does not carry out its constitutional tasks. In part, these tasks were taken over by courts. Constitutional problems are also resolved in the ECtHR and the CJEU

Constitutional importance of the Supreme Court’s resolution of 23 january 2020

Wydana 23.02.2020 r. uchwała Sądu Najwyższego implikuje bardzo wiele problemów natury ustrojowej. Odnosi się wprost do zasady podziału władzy, relacji prawa krajowego i prawa Unii Europejskiej oraz relacji między prawem do sądu a konstytucyjnymi zasadami działania sądów. Ten ostatni aspekt ustrojowy uchwały SN uważam za szczególnie ważny i wymagający głębszej analizy. Kluczowe dla tej analizy jest pytanie czy naruszenie ustrojowych, konstytucyjnych zasad powołania sędziego może prowadzić do naruszenia istoty prawa do sądu? Twierdząca odpowiedź prowadzi do pytania o skutki takiego naruszenia dla sposobu rozpatrywania sprawy przez sąd.The resolution issued by the Supreme Court on 23 January 2020 implies multiple problems of a constitutional nature. It refers directly to the principle of separation of powers, the relation between national law and EU law, as well as the relation between the right to a fair trial and the constitutional principles of operation of courts. I believe that the last constitutional aspect of the Supreme Court's resolution is particularly important and that it requires a more in-depth analysis. The key question in this analysis is whether an infringement of the constitutional principles of appointing judges can lead to a violation of the essence of the right to a fair trial. If answered in the affirmative, this poses a question about the consequences of such a violation for the manner in which the court examines a case