Research

The process of plant somatic embryogenesis allows the acquisition of a large number of genetically identical individuals. That fact is used in practice to obtain a rich progeny from a minimal number of seeds. At the same time, somatic embryogenesis is an ideal system for studying the early stages of plant development. Somatic embryogenesis starts by the derivation of embryogenic culture, mostly from zygotic embryos. Embryogenic cultures are cultivated in vitro on precisely defined media, whose composition determines further development of somatic embryos. In conifers the whole process consists of five basic steps - induction of embryogenic culture, proliferation, maturation of somatic embryos, desiccation and germination.

Polyamines (PAs), low molecular mass polycations, are ubiquitous cell components that are essential for normal growth of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Most of the biological functions of PAs can be explained by their polycationic nature, which facilitates interactions with anionic macromolecules (such as DNA and RNA) and negatively charged groups of membranes. They are implicated in a wide range of biological processes including cell division and growth, morphogenesis and differentiation and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. The most abundant PAs in plants are putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm).

• Hebrew University, Institute for Drug Research, Jerusalem, Israel 
• Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Strnady, Czech Republic
• Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Department of Reproductive Sources, Research station Kunovice, Czech Republic

• National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Unit for Improvement, Genetics and Forestry Physiology (UR 0588), Orléans, France
• Institute of Plant Genetics and Biotechnology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Nitra, Slovakia
• Department of Experimental Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Praha, Czech Republic
• Institute of Scientific Instruments of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
• Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Praha, Czech Republic
• Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Science, Czech University of Life Sciences, Praha, Czech Republic

Annotation: 

The aim of the COST Action CA15124 - A new Network of European BioImage Analysts to advance life science imaging (NEUBIAS) is to maximise the outputs of image-based research in life sciences by empowering the international network of bioimage analysis (IA) experts - BIAlysts.

Cultivation and genetic factors affecting efficiency of conifer somatic embryogenesis.

Annotation:

The aim of the project was to evaluate the alterations in polyamine metabolism and in the levels of hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonoids and stilbenes in the stress response of somatic embryos of Norway spruce to drought and high temperature. The determined contents of abscisic acid and auxin contributed to understanding the abscisic acid-auxin cross-talk in the response to stress. The extent of lipid peroxidation (as indicated by MDA levels) in stressed somatic embryos was also investigated. Histochemical tests for the presence of polyphenolic substances on embryo sections after the exposure of somatic embryos to UV-B completed the biochemical analyses.

Cultivation and genetic factors affecting efficiency of conifer somatic embryogenesis.

MŠMT, 2000-2004, Martin Vágner

Annotation:

The aim of the project was to evaluate the alterations in polyamine biosynthetic enzymes and polyamine contents and the levels of hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoids after the exposure of embryogenic tissue cultures of Norway spruce to UV-B radiation. Histochemical tests for the presence of polyphenolic substances (with UV-B protecting character) on embryo sections completed the biochemical analyses.

Výzkumný záměr podporovaný AV ČR

AV0Z50380511 - Mechanisms of regulation of plant growth and development on the level of cells, organs and whole organisms: physiological, genetic and molecular bases

(2005 - 2010)