Photosynthetic and growth characteristics of Mosla chinensis and M. scabra were compared at three irradiances similar to shaded forest understory, forest edge, and open land. At 25 % full ambient irradiance, M. chinensis and M. scabra had similar photosynthetic characteristics, but saturation irradiance, compensation irradiance, and apparent quantum yield of M. chinensis were higher than those of M. scabra at full ambient irradiance and 70 % full ambient irradiance. At the same irradiance treatment, specific leaf area and leaf area ratio of M. chinensis were lower than those of M. scabra. Photon-saturated photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency of M. chinensis, however, were not significantly higher than those of M. scabra, and the leaf area and total biomass were lower than those of M. scabra. As a sun-acclimated plant, the not enough high photosynthetic capacity and lower biomass accumulation may cause that M. chinensis has weak capability to extend its population and hence be concomitant in the community.

Rice cells were precultured for 10 d in medium containing 60 g/L sucrose and subsequently for 1 d in medium supplemented with 0. 4 M sorbitol. After loading with 25%PVS2 at 22°C for 10 min and dehydration in 100%PVS2 at 0°C for 7. 5 min,they were plunged into liquid nitrogen directly. Survival was 45. 0 ±5.1% (based on the reduction of triphenyl tetrazolium chloride)following warming and unloading. For regrowth, cells were plated on semi-solid medium replenished with 40%(w/v) starch for 2d prior to reculture. Cell suspensions were reestablished and plants were regenerated from recovered cells. Twenty eight plants set seeds in the greenhouse.

Two finely-dispersed, homogeneous and regenerable cell suspension cultures were established from embryogenic callus derived from immature and mature embryos in barley. The quality and viability of suspension cells obtained were determined using differential-interference-contrast microscope and fluorescence microscope. Cell suspension cultures, maintained in modified liquid CC medium, showed a 10-fold increase in dry weight after two weeks with a doubling time of about 3 days. Addition of L-proline and casein hydrolysate in the medium had positive effect on the growth of cell cultures. Subculture interval significantly affected mitotic index. Both cell lines established were able to regenerate plants by somatic embryogenesis, but cell line Z-IM showed much higher regeneration capacity than cell line Z-M. Comparatively high frequencies of variations in chromosome number and structure were found in both lines, and a correlation between karyotype and morphogenic capacity was noticed.

AFTER colchicine treatment of certain varieties of sor-•**• ghum under specific environmental influences both true-breeding and segregating diploid mutants have been obtained instead of the expected polyploids (1, 5, 6, 10, 12). A genotype known to react in this fashion, designated colchicine-reactive, was irradiated with gamma rays to observe its response. This study deals with a description of irradiationinduced mutants in this colchicine-reactive genotype and with a comparison of these mutants with those induced by colchicine treatment of the same genotype.

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