This study is to identify the physiological traits of submergence-tolerant varieties of rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) in Yeongnam area, southeastern part of Korea, where the reduction of rice yield due to submergence is remarkably severe. In the present study, two tolerant varieties of rice plants were selected from over 30 rice varieties grown in under a 10-day period. The tolerant varieties selected from a submerged paddy field. As a control, one intolerant variety of rice plant was chosen. Of the tolerant variety Samgangbyeo, rather than Haepyungbyeo, had a lower dissolved oxygen consumption and maintained a higher dry weight than the intolerant variety. The leaf photosynthetic rates (LPS) of the two tolerant varieties were significantly higher than that of the intolerant-variety after four days of submergence treatment. These results indicate that lower dissolved oxygen consumption in a limited pool is prevented by ethylene formation in the tolerant varieties, which may be a mechanism of submergence tolerance.

The performance of 7 sugary (su) and 12 shrunken-2 (sh2) sweet com hybrids which are commercially grown in the United States was tested in Korea. The 100-seed weight of su hybrids (16.5-23.6 g) was much heavier compared to that of sh2 hybrids (10.9-17.5 g). The germination rate of su and sh2 hybrids at 25~circC ranged 93.3-100% and 86.7-98.9%, the emergence rate of su and sh2 hybrids in cold test ranged 78.9-97.8% and 62.2-97.8%, and field emergence rate of su and sh2 hybrids ranged 74.4-100.0% and 79.9-98.2%, respectively. In su hybrids, there was a significantly positive correlation between germination rate at 25~circC and emergence rate in cold test or early growth. In contrast, in sh2 hybrids seed weight was positively correlated with early plant growth, while not with the germination rate at 25~circC or emergence rate in cold test and field. Most sh2 hybrids produced larger and more marketable ears compared to su hybrids although there were significant differences among the hybrids in the same genotype. At harvest (24 days after pollination) soluble solids content of su hybrids (24.3-27.1 Brix %) was much higher than that of sh2 hybrids (13.8-18.0 Brix %), while total sugars of sh2 hybrids (21.4-28.6% on the dry weight basis) was much higher compared to su hybrids (2.4-15.9%). Considering germination and emergence rates, marketable ear production, and total sugar content, 'GCB 70' and 'Sweet Satin' in su hybrids and 'Ice Queen', 'Aspen', 'Sweet Magic', 'Bandit', 'Xtrasweet 82', 'Aspen', and 'Cambella 90' in sh2 hybrids performed better than other hybrids.

Developmental changes of chlorophyll-protein complexes (CPs) and plastid membrane proteins in greening mung bean cotyledons and the effect of spermine thereon were examined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The changes in the amounts of CPs became larger with the progress of greening and light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein (LHCP) was the main CP in the early greening stage up to 48 h. As the greening proceeded, chlorophyll-protein of the photosystem I (CPI) accumulated. Application of spermine were effective in accumulating CPs of the thylakoid membrane in the early phase of greening. In the profiles of the plastid membrane proteins, quantitative and qualitative changes were observed with the onset of greening up to 72 h. 56 kD protein of major intensity was observed in all greened chloroplasts and 24 kD protein increased remarkablly in both control and spermine-treated cotyledons. The thylakoids from spermine-treated cotyledons showed higher amounts of thylakoid proteins as compared to the controls. The results suggest that spermine may play a role in the regulation of plastid development and stabilizes the membrane function during greening.

Effects of polyamines on chlorophyll and protein content, and δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase(ALAD) activity were investigated during the greening of mung bean cotyledons. Polyamines stimulated chlorophyll formation in greening cotyledons, and this effect was enhanced by KCl. The changes in protein content were similar to the changes for chlorophyll content. The excision entailed an increase in ALAD activity. Then a decrease appeared after 48 h incubation on water in the dark. It was more precocious in the light, but was accelerated when the cotyledons were illuminated after a dark preincubation. Putrescine had little effect on ALAD activity in the dark. In the light, putrescine prevented the decrease in ALAD activity and enhanced this activity when a dark preincubation preceded illumination. KCl had a slight stimulating effect in the dark, but was uneffective in the light. The combination putrescine+KCl was devoid of stimulating effect. The results obtained suggest that plastid development of mung bean cotyledons during greening was affected by polyamines and light and that polyamines may play a role in the regulation of plastid development.