^*Author for Correspondence.
Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ankara, 06110 Diskapi, Ankara, Turkey.
Tel: +90-312-3179815; Fax: +90-312-3179815;
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Key words: Ludwigia repens, micropropagation, thidiazuron (TDZ), 6-benzylaminopurine, and carry over effect

Abstract.
Apical meristems, first, second and third-fourth axillary buds of Ludwigia repens were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing various concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), thidiazuron (TDZ) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) for micropropagation. Micropropagation was best achieved from apical meristem on MS medium containing 0.05 mg dm^-3 TDZ and 0.1 mg dm^-3 NAA. It was noted that TDZ or BAP had inhibitory effect on shoot elongation, which was overcome by subculturing shoots on half-strength MS media without growth regulators after 4 weeks of culture. This also served as rooting media. Rooted plantlets were finally transferred to aquariums containing fresh water with 100% adaptation.

^*Author for Correspondence.
Science Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, 4001, Australia;
Tel: 0061-7-38642557; Fax: 0061-7- 38645100;
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Key words: BBTV, begomovirus, CMV, survey, PCR, PRSV.

Abstract.
Between 1998 and 2002, we conducted PCR-based plant virus disease surveys throughout Vietnam, on banana, papaya, and several cucurbit crops, namely pumpkin, cucumber, gourds and loofa. Banana bunchy top virus in banana and Papaya ringspot virus in both papaya and cucurbits were widespread. Squash leaf curl virus-Vietnam and Cucumber mosaic virus were also widespread, predominantly infecting pumpkin and cucumber respectively.

^*Author for Correspondence.
Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur.
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Key words: MHC Class I, Papillomavirus, Expression, Naringenin.

Abstract.
This study describes the effect of Naringenin on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I heavy chain gene expression in the presence of low risk or high risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 genes. Northern blot analysis showed that, in the presence of Naringenin, steady-state levels of MHC class I heavy chain mRNA transcripts were elevated in rat fibroblast (3Y1) cells. In transient expression assays of MHC class I heavy chain (H-2K^b) promoter activity, it was observed that there was a down-regulation of MHC class I promoter activity in 3Y1 cells co-transfected with either high risk HPV 16 E6 and E7 or low risk HPV 6 E6 and E7 expression plasmids. Treatment of control 3Y1 cells and cells cotransfected with high or low risk HPV E6 and E7 plasmids with 300µg/ml of Naringenin for 24 hours led to an increase in H-2K^b-driven CAT (chloramphenicol acetyl transferase) reporter gene activity. Thus, Naringenin retained the ability to increase H-2K^b promoter activity in the presence of either E6 or E7 expression constructs, indicating that Naringenin can over-ride the transcriptional repressor effects of HPV oncoproteins and may therefore have some potential immunostimulatory properties in HPV-associated malignancy.

^*Author for Correspondence.
Institute of Agriculture and forestry, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572.
Tel and Fax: +81-29-8536692;
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Key words: Lilium auratum Lindl, ovule culture, embryo culture, propagation, genetic diversity

Abstract.
An in vitro culture system for Lilium auratum Lindl. zygotic embryos was established to accelerate the development of bulblets. High rates of germination were observed on 50 days after pollination (DAP) or later, while the rate of normal growth increased after 70 DAP. Peeling of the seed coats was necessary for rapid in vitro germination, indicating inhibition by the seed coats. We found that embryos obtained from 90 DAP capsules were the best materials for suppressing dormancy. Further development of bulblets was accelerated by culturing them in the presence of 9 % sucrose. In this culture system, the period for development of mature bulblets was reduced from a couple of years to one year after pollination.