The objective of this study was to assess the regeneration response of in vitro cultured Magnolia × soulangeana ‘Alexandrina’ and Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’ to nutrient medium composition. In the primary culture (initiated from dormant axillary buds) combinations of Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal salts with 6-benzylaminopurine and α-naphthaleneacetic acid were tested. The primary explants of cv. ‘Alexandrina’ expressed higher regeneration rate than cv. ‘Nigra’. For both species, the regen eration was most strongly potentiated at addition of 0.25 mg dm−3 of the cytokinin alone. The auxin exerted undesir–able effects. Several basal salts media were applied in proliferation stage and their physiological effects were evaluated in reference to traditionally used MS. At culturing on Chée & Pool C2d Vitis Medium (VM) that is for the first time introduced to magnolia and on MS, M. liliiflora formed more but less elongated shoots than M. soulangeana. However, on VM, substantial increase (25-30%) of the number of axillary shoots and leaves, shoot length and fresh and dry weights over MS was established for both species. This suggested VM as promising composition of nutrients in multiplication stage. Microshoots obtained on MS, VM, Rugini Olive Medium and DKW Juglans Medium were successfully rooted in vitro and subsequently established ex vitro. The findings expand the information on magnolia response to culture conditions and contribute to elaboration of innovative elements of protocols for establishing tissue cultures with high regeneration capacity.

Advantages and disadvantages in using functional male sterility (positional sterile -ps, positional sterile 2 -ps 2, and excerted stigma -ex ) in tomato hybrid seed production and attempts to elaborate systems for their more efficacious use in breeding were discussed in this review. It was concluded that the application of one of these types of sterility, (ps 2) in practice, although in a limited number of countries, showed the functional male sterility in tomato was a potential not to be underestimated in developing approaches that aimed at reducting the time and cost associated with hybrid seed production.

In 2008, a series of experiments were performed at the Institute of Ornamental Plants -Sofia in greenhouse conditions that tested the influence of salt stress on species of annual plants -Tagetes patula and Ageratum mexicanum. The plants were cultivated in pots under normal soil conditions and salt stress was induced by adding solutions with different concentrations of NaCl (0.4%, 1.2% and 2.0%). The following results were obtained:• The suppression of plant growth increases with the increase of NaCl concentration.• The plants, treated with NaCl, have earlier and shorter blooming period than non-treated plants.

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