**1. Introduction**

The effect of plant integrity and of aboveground/belowground defense signaling on plant resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses is a basic and very important subject of contemporary scientific research.

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Profitable, stable crop varieties demonstrate superior traits for all types of observed charac‐ teristics in all environmental conditions (seeds, roots, shoots). Good varieties in ecologically different conditions usually have superior features for all types of analyzed traits. It is possible to state on the basis of whole plant metabolism, that plants create integrated system units, which are responsible for resistance to adverse environmental conditions on the basis of evaluation of characteristics of their aboveground parts and their roots. This "unit" (root and shoot) has an influence on the formation of seeds, which, by their quality, may affect the subsequent growth and development of the filial generation, and thus is also resistant to external conditions.

The earliest information about "physiological manifestations of plant integrity" was found in ancient Rome, in the era of Gaius Julius Caesar. Plant integrity, regarding the "functionally coordinated whole plant body", was first defined on the basis of scientific knowledge in the Czech Republic by Rudolf Dostál (1885–1973). Properties of the roots significantly affect (especially during drought conditions) growth, development in the aboveground part of the plant, and plant seed growth and development. From the opposite viewpoint, it is known that seed traits affect, in the filial generation, root morphology at the beginning of the vegetation period: especially length, surface, depth of root penetration, and also root weight.

The first description of seeds was presented by the Greek scholar Theophrastus (372–282 B.C.). The main development of seed science began in the 19th century [1]. Seed traits are factors, with different levels of importance, which are given by soil and weather conditions during the sowing and time of emergence. The processes and traits of germination and field emergence of a plant are very important for subsequent growth and development. Genotypes with good seed germination under unfavorable conditions develop, in the filial generation, larger root systems in field conditions. However, the most physiological experiments with green parts of plants do not take into account the fact that "half" of the metabolic processes in plants take place in the roots. This part of the plant has an important influence on the shoot traits and seed production.

Darwin expressed that "roots are as brain of plants", i.e. roots can be taken as a similar body to the brain. Currently, it is known that for transmission signals (changes of potential) between roots and the aboveground parts of the plant, plasmodesma are needed. The root system provides transmission information to other parts of the plant (shoots and seeds under development). Information about pathogen attack or physical stress can be transmitted to the other parts of the plant in order to begin as soon as possible the organisms defense – thanks again to plasmodesma. If the stress is repeated again, the reaction of the plant is more rapid, based upon "plant memory".

In the biology of the seed, especially in seed productions we need to pay attention to plant integrity and adaptability over variable environmental conditions. Adaptability (plasticity) is a feature that allows the plant to return to its original previous physiological state, i.e. to basic metabolic functions, after unusual environmental conditions. Adaptability is fixed on all chromosomes and can be identified in the early stages of growth. Adaptability in a broader sense includes seed quality, especially the quality of sprouting plants, root system adaptability, and issues relating postharvest physiological processes, including the physiological processes during storage. On the basis of entire plant physiology, it is possible to use more than 100 plant characteristics to improve adaptability under variable environmental conditions.

Profitable, stable crop varieties demonstrate superior traits for all types of observed charac‐ teristics in all environmental conditions (seeds, roots, shoots). Good varieties in ecologically different conditions usually have superior features for all types of analyzed traits. It is possible to state on the basis of whole plant metabolism, that plants create integrated system units, which are responsible for resistance to adverse environmental conditions on the basis of evaluation of characteristics of their aboveground parts and their roots. This "unit" (root and shoot) has an influence on the formation of seeds, which, by their quality, may affect the subsequent growth and development of the filial generation, and thus is also resistant to

664 Abiotic and Biotic Stress in Plants - Recent Advances and Future Perspectives

The earliest information about "physiological manifestations of plant integrity" was found in ancient Rome, in the era of Gaius Julius Caesar. Plant integrity, regarding the "functionally coordinated whole plant body", was first defined on the basis of scientific knowledge in the Czech Republic by Rudolf Dostál (1885–1973). Properties of the roots significantly affect (especially during drought conditions) growth, development in the aboveground part of the plant, and plant seed growth and development. From the opposite viewpoint, it is known that seed traits affect, in the filial generation, root morphology at the beginning of the vegetation

The first description of seeds was presented by the Greek scholar Theophrastus (372–282 B.C.). The main development of seed science began in the 19th century [1]. Seed traits are factors, with different levels of importance, which are given by soil and weather conditions during the sowing and time of emergence. The processes and traits of germination and field emergence of a plant are very important for subsequent growth and development. Genotypes with good seed germination under unfavorable conditions develop, in the filial generation, larger root systems in field conditions. However, the most physiological experiments with green parts of plants do not take into account the fact that "half" of the metabolic processes in plants take place in the roots. This part of the plant has an important influence on the shoot traits and seed

Darwin expressed that "roots are as brain of plants", i.e. roots can be taken as a similar body to the brain. Currently, it is known that for transmission signals (changes of potential) between roots and the aboveground parts of the plant, plasmodesma are needed. The root system provides transmission information to other parts of the plant (shoots and seeds under development). Information about pathogen attack or physical stress can be transmitted to the other parts of the plant in order to begin as soon as possible the organisms defense – thanks again to plasmodesma. If the stress is repeated again, the reaction of the plant is more rapid,

In the biology of the seed, especially in seed productions we need to pay attention to plant integrity and adaptability over variable environmental conditions. Adaptability (plasticity) is a feature that allows the plant to return to its original previous physiological state, i.e. to basic metabolic functions, after unusual environmental conditions. Adaptability is fixed on all chromosomes and can be identified in the early stages of growth. Adaptability in a broader sense includes seed quality, especially the quality of sprouting plants, root system adaptability, and issues relating postharvest physiological processes, including the physiological processes

period: especially length, surface, depth of root penetration, and also root weight.

external conditions.

production.

based upon "plant memory".

**Figure 1.** Sampling the root biomass for the evaluation of the relation between above and below ground parts of a plant.

**Figure 2.** Plant roots in the interior of Kateřinská Cave (Moravian Karst, Czech Republic).
