Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) plays a crucial role in the detoxification of hydrogen peroxide. APX activity is maintained significantly higher in the paraquat­treated leaves of the paraquat-tolerant Rehmannia glutinos. This study was conducted to understand structural and regulatory characteristics of APX gene in R. glutinosa. A putative APX cDNA clone (RgAPX1) was isolated from a leaf cDNA library using a partially sequenced expressed sequence tag clone. RgAPX1 is consisted of 1148 bp nucleotides and contains an open reading frame encoding a 250 amino acid-long polypeptide. Deduced RgAPX1 amino acid sequence shares higher sequence similarity to cytosolic APXs. RgAPX1. expression was higher in the leaf than in the flower and root. Southern blot result indicates the presence of one or two RgAPX1-related genes in R. glutinosa genome. RgAPX1 transcription was affected differentially by various stresses and phytohormone. The results indicate that RgAPXl is constitutively expressed in most tissues and its expression is modulated for the immediate and efficient detoxification of H2O2 under normal and stress conditions.

Seeds and seedlings of Acacia bivenosa D.C. Prod, A. salicina Lindl., A. saligna (Labill.) H. Wendl. and A. tumida F. Muell. ex Benth were germinated and grown in NaCl solutions to investigate the relative salt tolerance among the different species, and t

It is important to accelerate rooting and establishment of seedlings after transplanting for higher dry matter production and tuber yield in sweet potato cultivation. Therefore, this study was conducted to obtain some information about the effects of vine-cutting holding on rooting and plant growth after transplanting. Vines were cut 20-25cm long and stored for 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 days in a shade room at 20~pm 0.5~circC , RH 68~pm,/TEX>1%. Peroxidase activity in the vine cuttings increased as the holding period increased and the highest catalase activity was detected in the 5-day holding. Length of main vine, number of branches and nodes on main vine also increased in the 5-day holding. There was little difference in the diameter of main vine among the various holding periods. The data obtained indicate that transplanting of vine cuttings after 5-day holding could promote rooting and vine growth