Changes in levels of macromolecular constituents and activities of some hydrolases and oxido-reductases have been studied in the developing embryos of okra,Abelmoschus esculentus. The hydrolases include acid and alkaline phosphatases, acylesterase, α- and β-glucosidases. Oxido-reductases studied are malate dehydrogenase, peroxidase and IAA-oxidase.

The effect of various factors uponin vitro germination ofAmaryllis vittata pollen was studied to find out optimum cultural requirements for obtaining high percentage of pollen germination and maximum tube growth. Temperature below −10°C was suitable for the storage ofAmaryllis pollen. Maximum germination was observed in sucrose medium. Pollen germination and the tube growth were maximal at the culture density of 5 mg/ml of the culture medium. The optimum temperature was 28±2°C. Studies on respiration suggested that optimum conditions for maximum O₂ uptake were the same as for optimum pollen germination and pollen tube growth rate.

CO₂ mediated induction of pollen adhesion, germination, tube penetration, tube growth through the stylar tissue and seed set was studied inBrassica campestris L. var. toria following incompatible pollination. This report stresses the effect of CO₂ not at a single step but at various levels which normally prevent and/or hinder successful fertilization and seed set. The possible role of CO₂ in overcoming these barriers is discussed.

Soluble and wall-bound activities of acid phosphatase, β-glucosidase, α-galactosidase and invertase in the ovules ofGossypium arboreum L. andGossypium hirsutum L. are implicated in the hydrolysis and translocation of substrates during pre- and postanthesis phases. The physiological functions of these hydrolytic enzymes are discussed in relation to early ovule development and cotton fibre differentiation.

Exogenous application of 1-amino; 4-sulphonate, β-naphthol; 8-amino; 3–6 disulphonate, γ-naphthol; 1, 3-dihydroxybenzene and 4, 6-Bis (diazonaphthalene sulphonate-resorcinol) 5, 20, 50 ppm) increased number of pods per plant, number of seeds/pod and improved the yield (kg/ha) in chickpea. Some of the compounds enhanced total free amino acids and soluble protein and total soluble sugars. The effects of the phenolic acids on growth and development were independent of their structural configuration.

Plants of spreading type of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea cv. M-13) were given foliar sprays separately with phenolic compound β-naphthol-1-amino, 4-sulphonate (50, 100, 150 μg/ml) and a mixture of aliphatic alcohols—C-24 to C-34 (1 μg/ml) at 30 and 37 days after flowering. In the treated plants, the total number of flowers produced per plant, number of flowers in the initial 3 weeks increased significantly. Both the compounds required lesser number of days for the production of initial 70 flowers as compared with control. With aliphatic alcohols several of the kernel and pod characters increased significantly over the control. Flowering in phase A showed a positive significant correlation with some of the yield characters though it was significantly negatively correlated with harvest index. The compounds were effective in inducing the establishment of early potential sinks and caused efficient mobilization of assimilates for a longer filling period in the pods.