Salinity is one of the major limiting factors for agricultural productivity. In plants, accumulation of osmolytes plays a pivotal role in abiotic stress tolerance. Likewise, exclusion or compartmentation of $Na^+$ ions into vacuoles provides an efficient mechanism to avert deleterious effects of $Na^+$ in the cytosol. Both vacuolar and plasma membrane sodium transporters and $H^+-ATPases$ can provide the necessary ion homeostasis. A variety of crop plants were engineered with respect to the synthesis of osmoprotectants and ion-compartmentation, but there are other cellular pathways involved in the salinity responses that are still not completely explored. Genomics approaches are increasingly used to identify genes and pathway changes involved in salt-tolerance. The new knowledge may be used via guided genetic engineering of multiple genes to create crop plants with significantly increased productivity in saline soils. This review surveys how plants deal with high salt conditions and how salt tolerance can be improved by transgenic approaches.

We have mined each of the five A. thaliana chromosomes for the presence of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and developed custom perl scripts to examine their distribution and abundance in relation to genomic position, local G/C content and location within and around transcribed sequences. The distribution of repeats and G/C content with respect to genomic regions (exons, UTRs, introns, intergenic regions and proximity to expressed genes) are shown. SSRs show a non-random distribution across the genome and a strong association within and around transcribed sequences, while G/C density is associated specifically with the coding portions of transcribed sequences. SSR motif repeat number shows a high degree of variation for each SSR type and a high degree of motif sequence bias reflecting local genome sequence composition. PCR primers suitable for the amplification of identified SSRs have been designed where possible, and are available for further studies.

Eighty-five different cultivars of Brassica rapa, B. juncea, B. nap us, B. carinata, B. oleracea and hexaploid Brassica collected from Bangladesh, Japan, China and Denmark were analyzed by SDS-PAGE for seed and leaf protein variations, using esterase, acid phosphatase and peroxidase isozyme analysis. Ten polymorphic bands were identified from seed protein however no identifiable polymorphic band was found in the leaf protein. Polymorphic markers clearly distinguished the different Brassica species as well as yellow sarson (YS) and brown seeded (BS) cultivars of B. rapa. The $F_1$ cross between YS and brown seeded cultivars showed the existance of all poly-morphic bands of the respective parents. The Bangla-deshi and Japanese cultivars of B. rapa differed in the amount of seed protein. In the case of isozyme analysis, esterase showed the highest number of polymorphic bands (13) followed by acid phosphatase (9) and peroxidase (5). These polymorphic markers were very effec-tive for classification of all the species studied in this experiment. In parentage tests using isozymes, the hybridity of intra-and-interspecific crosses of almost all the seedlings could be identified from their respective cross combinations. Esterase polymorphism showed a clear differentiation between YS and BS types of B. rapa. In addition, two esterase polymorphic markers were iden ified to differentiate some cultivars of B. juncea. Segregation patterns in these two esterase bands showed a simple Mendelian monohybrid ratio of 3:1 in $F_2$, 1:1 in test cross and 1:0 in back cross progenies. No polymorphic band was identified to distinguish different cultivars of the same species by acid phosphatase or peroxidase. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was carried out with seed coat color specific marker of B. juncea. The yellow seeded cultivars produced a strong band at 0.5 kb and weak band 1.2 kb. In the addition of these two specific bands, Japanese yellow-seeded cultivars expressed two more weak bands at 1.0 kb and 1.1 kb. Where the brown seeded cultivars generated a single strong band at 1.1 kb. In segregating population, the yellow seed coat color marker segregated at a ratio 15 (brown) : 1 (yellow), indicating the digenic inheritance pattern of the trait.

Explants of button daisy were screened for their regeneration potential and transient GUS gene expression. Medium containing MS salts minerals and $B_5$ vitamins supplemented with $0.1\;\cal{mg/L}$ BA and $0.1\;\cal{mg/L}$ TDZ showed the best regeneration. Disc florets and receptacles were the most responsive explants in regeneration and transient gene expression respectively. Regenerated plants were successfully rooted and established in the green-house conditions. Infection and co-cultivation of explants with Agrobacterium tumefaciens containing pCAMBIA 1301 resulted in transient GUS foci. Among the different explants, receptacles showed the highest percentage of transient GUS gene expression. Enzymatic and molecular analyses of transformed calli confirmed the integration of GUS gene.

To clone blue and white flower color specific genes, mRNA differential display was carried out with two different Commelina species, C. communis Linne for blue color and C. coreana Leveille for. leucantha Nakai for white color. Fifty two and 100 cDNA clones specific for blue or white flower color, respectively, were ranging from 200 to 700 bp in size. From the reverse northern blot analysis, 12 and 7 positive clones were selected for blue and white flower, respectively. These clones appear to be novel cDNAs for these Commelina plants, but not color specific. This finding was supported by the northern blot analysis. However, two clones, B18 and B19, derived from blue flowered Commelina were highly expressed than in the white Commelina species, implying that further study will be valuable. The results indicated that both mRNA display experiment and dot blot analysis may not sensitive enough to clone color-determining gene from the plant, leading to explore more advanced method, like high-density colony array study (HDCA).

Many cloning vectors in which cDNAs can be inserted to the sense orientation have been developed. Uni-ZAP XR vector (Stratagene) should contain clones that are oriented to sense direction with respect to T3 RNA polymerase primer. Unexpectedly, large portions of cDNAs in Chinese cabbage cDNA library showed unusual insertions, antisense orientation and a hybrid of two different clones. Using two clones, 4H03 and 53-B10, derived from different cDNA libraries, we proposed and demonstrated the possibility of unusual-construct formation by in vitro translation and northern blot analysis. The 4H03 clone was inserted with inverse direction, and its transcript and translation product could be produced by T7 RNA polymerase, indicating that this clone is definitely inserted into inverse orientation. The 53-B10 that contains two independent genes was turned out to be a hybrid in which two genes are inserted to opposite direction each other. All unusual constructs might be due to the presence of small fragments of DNA, like adapter. However, the mechanism underlined the formation of unusual constructs is still remain to be solved.

The $F_1$ hybrid Red Coat is one of the most highly sought after cultivars of tomato in Australia and yields up to 7.5 $\cal{kg/plant}$. An experiment was conducted to de-termine the optimal strength and type of growth medium and sucrose concentration for shoot organogenesis of the Red Coat cultivar using cotyledonary explants. Two basal growth media, viz. MS and Gamborg' s $B_5$ at 0, 1/4, 1/2, full or double strength along with sucrose concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1.5, 3 or $5\%$, were evaluated using 25 replications. The main effects of treatment and their mutual interactions were evaluated for the proportion of explants that produced callus and/or shoots, number of shoots produced per explant, callus diameter and shoot height. The explants failed to produce shoots in the absence of mineral nutrient. Only a small proportion of the explants ($6\%$ with $B_5\;and\;3\%$ with MS) regenerated shoots in the absence of sucrose. Lower sucrose concentrations ($0.5-1.5\%$) along with full strength media were optimal for most of the traits studied. The $B_5$ medium outperformed MS medium for shoot organogenesis. For all the traits examined, significant differences in main effects (P < 0.05) and two-way interactions were detected, but no three-way interactions (medium type $\times$ medium concentration $\times$ sucrose concentration) were observed. Sucrose was found essential for the development of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll content increased with an increase in sucrose concentration up to $3\%$ and decreased at $5\%$ sucrose.

To overcome various disadvantages of conventional cul-ture vessels for micropropagation, a novel disposable vessel, the 'Vitron', made of a multi-layered $OTP^{(R)}$ film and supported by a polypropylene frame, was developed. The film possesses superior properties such as: high light transmittance, low water vapor transmittance and thermal stability and in particular, high gas-permeability. Single nodal explants, which were excised from the multiple shoots derived from shoot-tip culture, were cultured in Vitron and polycarbonate vessels on $3\%$ sugar-containing agar on MS medium and placed at 3000 ppm $CO_2$-enrichment at a low photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) ($45{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$). The in vitro and ex vitro growth, and the net photosynthetic rate of in vitro and ex vitro plantlets were significantly enhanced in the Vitron compared to those cultured in a polycarbonate vessel. Explants that were cultured on the same MS medium under low PPFD at various $CO_2$ concentrations were also cultured at 3000 ppm $CO_2$- enrichment at various PPFD: 30, 45, 60, 75 and $90{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$. The best in vitro and ex vitro growth obtained for 3000 ppm $CO_2$-enrichment at $75{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$ PPFD. The novel Vitron vessel, when placed under the two conditions, may replace conventional culture vessels for the successful micropropagation of sweetpotato.

Eleutherococcus senticosus (also called Acanthopanax senticosus), belonging to Araliaceae family, has been used as an important medicinal woody plant. Mature seeds of Eleutherococcus senticosus have rudimentary (extremely immature) zygotic embryos and require a long-term stratification for about 18 months to induce germination. Here, through the methods of endosperm removal and other exogenous treatments, we investigated the factors for inducing rudimentary embryos by in vitro culture, Rudimentary zygotic embryos in seeds were at globular to heart-shaped stage at about $250{\mu}m$ in length just after harvest of fruits. When the seeds without testa were cultured on 1/2 MS (Murashige and Skoog 1962) medium, they did not germinate regardless of medium and sucrose concentrations but the removal of endosperm tissue markedly stimulated the growth of rudimentary zygotic embryos. The embryo reached ear-lier maturation, once when the endosperm surrounding the rudimentary embryos was removed. Rudimentary zygotic embryos developed cotyledons within 3 weeks of culture after endosperm emoval. However, post-mature zygotic embryos failed to germinate though they were morphologically normal, indicating another dormancy of embryos. $GA_3\;(2.0\;\cal{mg/L})$ and/or charcoal ($0.2\%$) treatment rapidly enhanced the germination of zygotic embryos. These results suggest that E. senticosus seeds have double dormancy; i. e. morphological rudimentary dormancy influenced by surrounding endosperm and physiological dormancy after post-maturation of zygotic embryos. Based on the above findings, we established the rapid germination of rudimentary zygotic embryos by in vitro culture of excised seeds with endosperm removal and $GA_3$ treatment.