No abstract

The effect of traces of sulfamethazine (SMZ) in soil (0.01, 0.1, 0.25, 1, 5, 15, and 20 mM) on cellular distribution of cytochrome c oxidase activity, shoot and root growth, and leachate electroconductivity was analyzed in germinating seeds of yellow lupin, pea, lentil, soybean, adzuki bean, and alfalfa. Results showed that a high activity of cytochrome c oxidase in mitochondria correlated with high seed vigor and viability. The appearance of necroses and root decay was associated with a decrease in the activity of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase but was accompanied by an increase in cytosolic cytochrome c oxidase activity. A short exposure period of seeds (3 and 6 d) to sulfamethazine did not influence germination. Elongation of roots and stems was more sensitive than germination rate as an indicator of soil contamination by sulfamethazine. Among all tested leguminous plants, yellow lupin was the most reliable bioindicator of SMZ contaminated soil.

Seed vigour, viability, the contents of soluble carbohydrates, total protein, albumins, and globulins, as well as seed coat structure, were analysed in yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.) cv. Iryd seeds stored for 20 years at -14°C, 0°C or at room temperature (approx. +20°C). Seed storage at room temperature reduced viability (to 2%) and increased seed leachate electroconductivity. Determinations of total proteins showed that protein content was significantly reduced in seeds stored at +20°C compared to the other storage regimens. Raffinose family oligosaccharides were the main soluble carbohydrates in seeds stored at 0°C and -14°C, whereas sucrose dominated in seeds stored at room temperature. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of seed surface and seed coat sections revealed appearance of an amorphic layer on the surface of seeds stored at room temperature (not observed in other seeds) and distinct shrinking of macrosclereid layer in seeds stored at -14°C. Macrosclereids layer in all seeds was 100 µm thick and accounted for 60% of seed coat thickness. The obtained results suggest that for long term storage of lupin seeds at 0°C is the most advisable temperature if both costs of storage and seed storability are considered.

The paper investigates seed coat characteristics (as a percentage of overall seed diameter) in Lupinus angustifolius L., a potential forage crop. In the study ten L. angustifolius genotypes, including three Polish cultivars, two Australian cultivars, three mutants originated from cv. ‘Emir’, and one Belarusian and one Australian breeding line were evaluated. The highest seed coat percentage was recorded in cultivars ‘Sonet’ and ‘Emir’. The lowest seed coat thickness percentage (below 20%) was noted for breeding lines 11257-19, LAG24 and cultivar ‘Zeus’ (17.87%, 18.91% 19.60%, respectively). Despite having low seed weight, the Australian line no. 11257-19 was characterized by a desirable proportion of seed coat to the weight of seeds. In general, estimation of the correlation coefficient indicated a tendency that larger seeds had thinner coats. Scanning Electron Microscopy images showed low variation of seed coat sculpture and the top of seeds covered with a cuticle. Most of the studied genotypes were characterized by a cristatepapillate seed coat surface, formed by elongated polygonal cells. Only breeding line no. 11267-19 had a different shape of the cells building the surface layer of the coat. In order to illustrate genetic diversity among the genotypes tested, 24 ISSR primers were used. They generated a total of 161 polymorphic amplification products in 10 evaluated narrow-leaved lupin genotypes.

Key words: lu ci fer ase (LUC); phenylalanine ammo nia-lyase (PAL); ul tra vi o let ra di a tion (UV); β-glucuronidase (GUS) Ab stractThe gene fu sion sys tem was used to study UV light-con trol of PS PAL1 and PS PAL2 genes en cod ing phenylalanine am monia-lyase of pea. The in duc tion of pea PAL pro mot ers was analysed in trans gen ic to bacco plants. Bi nary plasmids (de riv atives of pBI101.2 vec tor) con tain ing 5' reg u la tory frag ments of PS PAL1 and PS PAL2 linked to re porter genes (GUS, LUC) were con structed. The anal y ses were per formed with the use of sin gle con structs (con tain ing one vari ant of PS PAL pro moter and one re porter gene) and dual con structs (con tain ing both PS PAL1 and PS PAL2 pro mot ers con nected with dif fer ent reporter genes). The use of dual con structs en abled the eval u ation of both PS PAL pro mot ers ac tiv ity in the same plant. The anal y ses of in vi tro grown plants have shown that both PAL pro mot ers are strongly in duced in leaves sub jected to UV ra dia tion. In some cases, the UV-stim u lated ex pres sion ex ceeded the ex posed ar eas. This phe nom e non was ob served more of ten in the leaves of plants con tain ing the PS PAL1::GUS than PS PAL2::GUS con struct. Re moval of boxes 2, 4, 5 from PS PAL1 pro moter and de le tion of its 5'end re gion (-339 to -1394) decreases the level of gene ex pres sion but does not elim i nate its re spon sive ness to UV.