Extracts fromColletotrichum-infected chilli fruits contain the enzyme endo-PGTE (Polygalacturonatetrans-eliminase) which appears to increase the permeability of chilli and potato cells. This effect is greater in red ripened fruits which are susceptible to rotting than in the green chilli fruits.

Nitrogen assimilation was studied in two rice varieties, Taichung Native I, a high nitrogen tolerant strain and Ponni, a moderate nitrogen feeder. Nitrate and ammonia were supplied to the seedlings of the two strains at 3 levels 21, 42 and 84 μg N/ml of culture medium. Assimilation of nitrate and ammonia was followed by estimating levels of nitrate and nitrite reductases, glutamine synthetase and glutamate dehydrogenase activities. Growth, total nitrogen content, nitrate content and amino acid pool pattern were also determined at different age levels. It turned out that the high nitrogen tolerant variety T(N)1, most probably gets its nitrate reduction and ammonia assimilation done in the leaves with the photosynthetically generated reductant and energy, whereas in Ponni, much of these processes seem to occur in the roots at the expense of translocated photosynthates. Ammonia assimilation is primarilyvia GS/GOGAT pathway rather thanvia GDH and T(N)1 was higher in its assimilatory efficiency than Ponni.