Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Plant Development (plant + development)
Selected AbstractsAbscisic Acid-mediated Epigenetic Processes in Plant Development and Stress ResponsesJOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2008Viswanathan Chinnusamy Abstract Abscisic acid (ABA) regulates diverse plant processes, growth and development under non-stress conditions and plays a pivotal role in abiotic stress tolerance. Although ABA-regulated genetic processes are well known, recent discoveries reveal that epigenetic processes are an integral part of ABA-regulated processes. Epigenetic mechanisms, namely, histone modifications and cytosine DNA methylation-induced modification of genome give rise to epigenomes, which add diversity and complexity to the genome of organisms. Histone monoubiquitination appears to regulate ABA levels in developing seeds through histone H2B monoubiquitination. ABA and H2B ubiquitination dependent chromatin remodeling regulate seed dormancy. Transcription factor networks necessary for seed maturation are repressed by histone deacetylases (HDACs)-dependent and PICKLE chromatin remodeling complexes (CRCs), whereas ABA induces the expression of these genes directly or through repression of HDACs. Abiotic stress-induced ABA regulates stomatal response and stress-responsive gene expression through HDACs and HOS15-dependent histone deacetylation, as well as through the ATP-dependent SWITCH/SUCROSE NONFERMENTING CRC. ABA also probably regulates the abiotic stress response through DNA methylation and short interfering RNA pathways. Further studies on ABA-regulated epigenome will be of immense use to understand the plant development, stress adaptation and stress memory. [source] Gibberellin Biosynthesis and the Regulation of Plant DevelopmentPLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006M. J. Pimenta Lange Abstract: Gibberellins (GAs) form a large family of plant growth substances with distinct functions during the whole life cycle of higher plants. The rate of GA biosynthesis and catabolism determines how the GA hormone pool occurs in plants in a tissue and developmentally regulated manner. With the availability of genes coding for GA biosynthetic enzymes, our understanding has improved dramatically of how GA plant hormones regulate and integrate a wide range of growth and developmental processes. This review focuses on two plant systems, pumpkin and Arabidopsis, which have added significantly to our understanding of GA biosynthesis and its regulation. In addition, we present models for regulation of GA biosynthesis in transgenic plants, and discuss their suitability for altering plant growth and development. [source] Scaling up evolutionary responses to elevated CO2: lessons from ArabidopsisECOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 5 2004Joy K. Ward Abstract Results from norm of reaction studies and selection experiments indicate that elevated CO2 will act as a selective agent on natural plant populations, especially for C3 species that are most sensitive to changes in atmospheric CO2 concentration. Evolutionary responses to CO2 may alter plant physiology, development rate, growth, and reproduction in ways that cannot be predicted from single generation studies. Moreover, ecological and evolutionary changes in plant communities will have a range of consequences at higher spatial scales and may cause substantial deviations from ecosystem level predictions based on short-term responses to elevated CO2. Therefore, steps need to be taken to identify the plant traits that are most likely to evolve at elevated CO2, and to understand how these changes may affect net primary productivity within ecosystems. These processes may range in scale from molecular and physiological changes that occur among genotypes at the individual and population levels, to changes in community- and ecosystem-level productivity that result from the integrative effects of different plant species evolving simultaneously. In this review, we (1) synthesize recent studies investigating the role of atmospheric CO2 as a selective agent on plants, (2) discuss possible control points during plant development that may change in response to selection at elevated CO2 with an emphasis at the primary molecular level, and (3) provide a quantitative framework for scaling the evolutionary effects of CO2 on plants in order to determine changes in community and ecosystem productivity. Furthermore, this review points out that studies integrating the effects of plant evolution in response to elevated CO2 are lacking, and therefore more attention needs be devoted to this issue among the global change research community. [source] Different portions of the maize root system host Burkholderia cepacia populations with different degrees of genetic polymorphismENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2000Luigi Chiarini In order to acquire a better understanding of the spatial and temporal variations of genetic diversity of Burkholderia cepacia populations in the rhizosphere of Zea mays, 161 strains were isolated from three portions of the maize root system at different soil depths and at three distinct plant growth stages. The genetic diversity among B. cepacia isolates was analysed by means of the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. A number of diversity indices (richness, Shannon diversity, evenness and mean genetic distance) were calculated for each bacterial population isolated from the different root system portions. Moreover, the analysis of molecular variance ( amova) method was applied to estimate the genetic differences among the various bacterial populations. Our results showed that, in young plants, B. cepacia colonized preferentially the upper part of the root system, whereas in mature plants, B. cepacia was mostly recovered from the terminal part of the root system. This uneven distribution of B. cepacia cells among different root system portions partially reflected marked genetic differences among the B. cepacia populations isolated along maize roots on three distinct sampling occasions. In fact, all the diversity indices calculated indicated that genetic diversity increased during plant development and that the highest diversity values were found in mature maize plants, in particular in the middle and terminal portions of the root system. Moreover, the analysis of RAPD patterns by means of the amova method revealed highly significant divergences in the degree of genetic polymorphism among the various B. cepacia populations. [source] The allene oxide cyclase family of Arabidopsis thaliana , localization and cyclizationFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 10 2008Florian Schaller Jasmonates are derived from oxygenated fatty acids (oxylipins) via the octadecanoid pathway and are characterized by a pentacyclic ring structure. They have regulatory functions as signaling molecules in plant development and adaptation to environmental stress. Recently, we solved the structure of allene oxide cyclase 2 (AOC2) of Arabidopsis thaliana, which is, together with the other three AOCs, a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of jasmonates, in that it releases the first cyclic and biologically active metabolite , 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA). On the basis of models for the bound substrate, 12,13(S)-epoxy-9(Z),11,15(Z)-octadecatrienoic acid, and the product, OPDA, we proposed that a conserved Glu promotes the reaction by anchimeric assistance. According to this hypothesis, the transition state with a pentadienyl carbocation and an oxyanion is stabilized by a strongly bound water molecule and favorable ,,, interactions with aromatic residues in the cavity. Stereoselectivity results from steric restrictions to the necessary substrate isomerizations imposed by the protein environment. Here, site-directed mutagenesis was used to explore and verify the proposed reaction mechanism. In a comparative analysis of the AOC family from A. thaliana involving enzymatic characterization, in vitro import, and transient expression of AOC,enhanced green fluorescent protein fusion proteins for analysis of subcellular targeting, we demonstrate that all four AOC isoenzymes may contribute to jasmonate biosynthesis, as they are all located in chloroplasts and, in concert with the allene oxide synthase, they are all able to convert 13(S)-hydroperoxy-9(Z),11(E),15(Z)-octadecatrienoic acid into enantiomerically pure cis(+)-OPDA. [source] Host plant development, water level and water parameters shape Phragmites australis -associated oomycete communities and determine reed pathogen dynamics in a large lakeFEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Anna Wielgoss Abstract In a 3-year-study, we analysed the population dynamics of the reed pathogen Pythium phragmitis and other reed-associated oomycetes colonizing fresh and dried reed leaves in the littoral zone of a large lake. Oomycete communities derived from internal transcribed spacer clone libraries were clearly differentiated according to substrate and seasonal influences. In fresh leaves, diverse communities consisting of P. phragmitis and other reed-associated pathogens were generally dominant. Pythium phragmitis populations peaked in spring with the emergence of young reed shoots, and in autumn after extreme flooding events. In summer it decreased with falling water levels, changing water chemistry and rising temperatures. Another Pythium species was also highly abundant in fresh leaves throughout the year and might represent a new, as-yet uncultured reed pathogen. In dried leaves, reed pathogens were rarely detected, whereas saprophytic species occurred abundantly during all seasons. Saprophyte communities were less diverse, less temperature sensitive and independent of reed development. In general, our results provide evidence for the occurrence of highly specialized sets of reed-associated oomycetes in a natural reed ecosystem. Quantitative analyses (clone abundances and quantitative real-time PCR) revealed that the reed pathogen P. phragmitis is particularly affected by changing water levels, water chemistry and the stage of reed development. [source] Effects of inoculation with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on resident rhizosphere microorganismsFEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 1 2007Susana Castro-Sowinski Abstract Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are exogenous bacteria introduced into agricultural ecosystems that act positively upon plant development. However, amendment reproducibility as well as the potential effects of inoculation upon plant root-associated microbial communities can be sources of concern. To address these questions, an understanding of mutual interactions between inoculants and resident rhizosphere microorganisms is required. Mechanisms used by PGPR can be direct or indirect; the former entails the secretion of growth regulators and the latter occurs through the production of antimicrobial compounds that reduce the deleterious effects of phytopathogens. The different modes of action may lead to different relationships between an inoculant and root microbial communities. Rhizobacterial communities are also affected by the plant, engineered genes, environmental stresses and agricultural practices. These factors appear to determine community structure more than an exogenous, active PGPR introduced at high levels. [source] Site history affects soil and plant 15N natural abundances (,15N) in forests of northern Vancouver Island, British ColumbiaFUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2000S. X. Chang Abstract 1.,About 10 years after establishment, plantations of Western Redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don) on northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia become nutrient deficient and chlorotic, grow slowly, and are susceptible to invasion by the ericaceous shrub Salal (Gaultheria shallon Pursh.). 2.,To test the hypothesis that ,15N can be related to site histories (site disturbance, soil N dynamics and plant development), we measured soil and foliar ,15N in the summer of 1992 in 3-year-old (nutrient-sufficient) and 10-year-old (nutrient-deficient) plantations and in old-growth stands. The foliar and soil ,15N values of the plantations and old-growth forests were different and closely reflected site histories. Salal invasion and nutrient deficiency interacted to depress the growth of Redcedar in 10-year-old plantations. 3.,Site preparation destroyed the top soil organic layers (fresh and decaying litter) and forced Salal (ecto- and ericoid mycorrhizal) into the humus layer, where it was in direct competition with Redcedar, thereby disadvantaging arbuscular mycorrhizal/non-mycorrhizal Redcedar in its nutrient acquisition during a period when N and P are severely limited. 4.,There was a large seasonal range of foliar ,15N (5·5 and 4·3, for 10-year-old Redcedar and Salal, respectively), and there was no relationship between foliar ,15N and measured rooting depth, demonstrating that rooting depths cannot be used to explain foliar ,15N variation among coexisting woody taxa. 5.,Foliar and soil ,15N declined with site age and with a presumed change from ,open' to ,closed' N cycling; the 15N-depleting effects of mycorrhizal N transformations contributed to the observed ,15N decline. [source] ANALYSIS ON THE DYNAMICS OF SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION PATTERN OF MIXED SPIDER POPULATION IN RICE FIELDINSECT SCIENCE, Issue 4 2004Zhi Wang Abstract The results make it clear that there are total 11 families, 29 genera and 43 species of spiders in the rice field of Dong Fang Hong Farm. Among them, there are 8 families, 19 genera and 28 species in the early rice field, and 10 families, 27 genera and 36 species in the late rice field. The spatial distribution pattern of mixed spider populations in rice fields was different during different development stages of rice plant. During the prophase, metaphase and anaphase of early rice plant development, the spatial distribution pattern of mixed spider populations was aggregative, random and aggregative respectively. During the prophase, metaphase and anaphase of late rice plant development, the spatial distribution pattern was uniform, aggregative and uniform respectively. [source] Uniformity, Performance and Seed Quality of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) Seed Crops Grown from Sub-samples of One Seed Lot Obtained after Selection for Physical Seed AttributesJOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE, Issue 2 2000R. A. Illipronti Jr In a glasshouse experiment it was examined whether narrow grading and selection from a commercial soybean seed lot cultivar ,IAS-5', could improve the uniformity of the seed crop grown from it and thereby enhance yield, quality and uniformity of seeds produced. The classes created were: Control (original seed lot); Size-graded seeds (projected area measured by image analysis 37,46 mm2); Non-cracked seeds; Yellow seeds; Size-graded sound seeds (size-graded, non-cracked, yellow, non-wrinkled, non-etched). Compared to the control, percentage of emergence, survival and number of yielding plants were enhanced in crops from non-cracked, yellow or size-graded sound seeds. Differences in plant numbers did not result in differences in crop yield. The different seed lots also did not differ in crop uniformity: time interval between stages of plant development, plant height 20 days after sowing, yield components, physical or physiological quality attributes of seeds produced, and respective coefficients of variation were similar. Fewer plants survived in crops showing a larger variation in plant height 20 days after sowing, thus reducing differences in initial plant-to-plant variation. Creating more uniform crops by additional grading or selection of commercial seed lots may therefore not be promising. Zusammenfassung In einem Gewächshausexperiment wurde untersucht, ob Sortierung in engen Werten und Selektion aus einer kommerziellen Sojabohnen-Samenprobe (Kultivar IAS-5) die Einheitlichkeit des Bestandes verbessern und damit Ertrag, Qualität und Einheitlichkeit der Samenproduktion verbessern kann. Die berücksichtigten Klassen waren: Kontrolle (originale Samenprobe); nach Gröie eingeteilte Samen (mit Grenzwerten zwischen 37,46 mm2); nicht geplatzte Samen; gelbe Samen, nach Gröie eingeteilte gesunde Samen (nach Gröie eingeteilt, nicht beschädigt, gelb, nicht runzelige, nicht verätzt). Im Vergleich zur Kontrolle waren Auflaufprozentsatz, Überlebensfähigkeit und Anzahl der Ertrag bringenden Pflanzen bei Beständen aus nicht beschädigten, gelben oder nach Gröie eingeteilten nicht beschädigten Samen erhöht. Unterschiede in der Pflanzenzahl führten nicht zu Unterschieden im Bestandesertrag. Die Unterschiedlichen Samengruppen unterschieden sich auch nicht in der Bestandes-Einheitlichkeit: Zeitintervalle zwischen den Stadien der Pflanzenentwicklung, Pflanzenhöhe zwanzig Tage nach der Aussaat, Ertragskomponenten, äuiere oder physiologische Qualitätseigenschaften der produzierten Samen und Variationskoeffizienten waren vergleichbar. Weniger Pflanzen überlebten in Beständen, die eine gröiere Variation in der Pflanzenhöhe zwanzig Tage nach der Aussaat aufwiesen, wodurch eine Reduzierung der Unterschiede in der Ausgangsvariation von Pflanze zu Pflanze eintrat wurde. Die Erzeugung von mehr einheitlichen Beständen durch zusätzliche Gröieneinordnung oder Selektion von kommerziellen Samenproben könnte daher nicht als zweckmäiig betrachtet werden. [source] Foraging behaviour of Helicoverpa armigera first instar larvae on crop plants of different developmental stagesJOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 5 2005M.-L. Johnson Abstract:, Understanding how insect pests forage on their food plants can help optimize management strategies. Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lep., Noctuidae) is a major polyphagous pest of agricultural crops worldwide. The immature stages feed and forage on crops at all stages of plant development, damaging fruiting and non-fruiting structures, yet very little is known about the influence of host type or stage on the location and behaviour of larvae. Through semi-continuous observation, we evaluated the foraging (movement and feeding) behaviours of H. armigera first instar larvae as well as the proportion of time spent at key locations on mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] and pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh] of differing developmental stages: seedling- and mature (flowering/pod fill)-stage plants. Both host type and age affected the behaviour of larvae. Larvae spent more time in the upper parts of mature plants than on seedlings and tended to stay at the top of mature plants if they moved there. This difference was greater in pigeon pea than in mungbean. The proportion of time allocated to feeding on different parts of a plant differed with host and age. More feeding occurred in the top of mature pigeon pea plants but did not differ between mature and seedling mungbean plants. The duration of key behaviours did not differ between plant ages in either crop type and was similar between hosts although resting bouts were substantially longer on mungbeans. Thus a polyphagous species such as H. armigera does not forage in equivalent ways on different hosts in the first instar stage. [source] Abscisic Acid-mediated Epigenetic Processes in Plant Development and Stress ResponsesJOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2008Viswanathan Chinnusamy Abstract Abscisic acid (ABA) regulates diverse plant processes, growth and development under non-stress conditions and plays a pivotal role in abiotic stress tolerance. Although ABA-regulated genetic processes are well known, recent discoveries reveal that epigenetic processes are an integral part of ABA-regulated processes. Epigenetic mechanisms, namely, histone modifications and cytosine DNA methylation-induced modification of genome give rise to epigenomes, which add diversity and complexity to the genome of organisms. Histone monoubiquitination appears to regulate ABA levels in developing seeds through histone H2B monoubiquitination. ABA and H2B ubiquitination dependent chromatin remodeling regulate seed dormancy. Transcription factor networks necessary for seed maturation are repressed by histone deacetylases (HDACs)-dependent and PICKLE chromatin remodeling complexes (CRCs), whereas ABA induces the expression of these genes directly or through repression of HDACs. Abiotic stress-induced ABA regulates stomatal response and stress-responsive gene expression through HDACs and HOS15-dependent histone deacetylation, as well as through the ATP-dependent SWITCH/SUCROSE NONFERMENTING CRC. ABA also probably regulates the abiotic stress response through DNA methylation and short interfering RNA pathways. Further studies on ABA-regulated epigenome will be of immense use to understand the plant development, stress adaptation and stress memory. [source] PPF1 May Suppress Plant Senescence via Activating TFL1 in Transgenic Arabidopsis PlantsJOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2008Da-Yong Wang Abstract Senescence, a sequence of biochemical and physiological events, constitutes the final stage of development in higher plants and is modulated by a variety of environmental factors and internal factors. PPF1 possesses an important biological function in plant development by controlling the Ca2+ storage capacity within chloroplasts. Here we show that the expression of PPF1 might play a pivotal role in negatively regulating plant senescence as revealed by the regulation of overexpression and suppression of PPF1 on plant development. Moreover, TFL1, a key regulator in the floral repression pathway, was screened out as one of the downstream targets for PPF1 in the senescence-signaling pathway. Investigation of the senescence-related phenotypes in PPF1(,) tfl1-1 and PPF1(+) tfl1-1 double mutants confirmed and further highlighted the relation of PPF1 with TFL1 in transgenic plants. The activation of TFL1 expression by PPF1 defines an important pathway possibly essential for the negative regulation of plant senescence in transgenic Arabidopsis. [source] Syntheses of deuterated jasmonates for mass spectrometry and metabolism studiesJOURNAL OF LABELLED COMPOUNDS AND RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS, Issue 11 2005Patrycja W. Galka Abstract Jasmonic acid and its metabolites play an essential role in the regulation of plant development and systemic defense responses. Isotopically labeled standards are required to quantify plant hormones for metabolism studies using mass spectrometry. A convenient method for the preparation of deuterated analogs of jasmonates is demonstrated. Modification of commercially available methyl jasmonate by base-catalyzed proton/deuterium exchange or Wittig reaction introduces either two or three heavy atoms into a molecule. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Silicon Suppresses Phytophthora Blight Development on Bell PepperJOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 7-8 2010Ronald D. French-Monar Abstract The application of silicon (Si) reduces the intensity of diseases in several economically important crops. This study aimed at determining the potential of this element to decrease the symptoms of Phytophthora blight development on bell pepper, caused by Phytophthora capsici. Bell pepper plants (Sakata Hybrid X pp6115) were initially grown in plastic pots with substrate composed of 1 : 1 mixture of sterile fine sand and Fafard No. 2 peat mix amended with calcium silicate (+Si) or calcium carbonate (,Si). Six weeks later, plants were transplanted to new pots that contained the same +Si and ,Si substrate but were infested with finely ground wheat grains (1- to 2-mm diameter) colonized by two isolates of P. capsici, Cp30 (compatibility type A1) and Cp32 (compatibility type A2). At the end of the experiment, roots and stems from plants of each treatment were collected to determine Si concentration. The presence of lesions on crowns and stems and wilting of plants were monitored up to 9 days after transplanting (DAT). Data obtained were used to calculate the area under diseased plants progress curve (AUDPPC) and area under wilting plants progress curve (AUWPPC). Relative lesion extension (RLE) was obtained as the ratio of vertical lesion extension to stem length at 9 DAT. There was a 40% increase in the concentration of Si in the roots but not in the stems of bell pepper plants in the +Si treatment compared to the ,Si treatment. When comparing +Si to ,Si treatments, the AUDPPC was reduced by 15.4 and 37.5%, while AUWPPC was reduced by 29.1 and 33.3% in experiments 1 and 2, respectively. RLE values were reduced by 35% in the +Si treatment. Dry root weights increased by 23.7%, and stem weights were increased by 10.2% in the +Si treatment. Supplying Si to bell peppers roots can potentially reduce the severity of Phytophthora blight while enhancing plant development. [source] Cloning and characterization of a Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cDNA arylalkylamine N -acetyltransferase and its use in the genetic engineering of melatonin content in the Micro-Tom tomatoJOURNAL OF PINEAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2009Masateru Okazaki Abstract:, Melatonin is found in a wide variety of plant species. Several investigators have studied the physiological roles of melatonin in plants. However, its role is not well understood because of the limited information on its biosynthetic pathway. To clarify melatonin biosynthesis in plants, we isolated a cDNA-coded arylalkylamine N -acetyltransferase (AANAT), a possible limiting enzyme for melatonin biosynthesis, from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (designated as CrAANAT). The predicted amino acid sequence of CrAANAT shares 39.0% homology to AANAT from Ostreococcus tauri and lacks cAMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation sites in the N- and C-terminal regions that are conserved in vertebrates. The enzyme activity of CrAANAT was confirmed by in vitro assay using Escherichia coli. Transgenic plants constitutively expressing the CrAANAT were produced using Micro-Tom, a model cultivar of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The transgenic Micro-Tom exhibited higher melatonin content compared with wild type, suggesting that melatonin was synthesized from serotonin via N -acetylserotonin in plants. Moreover, the melatonin-rich transgenic Micro-Tom can be used to elucidate the role of melatonin in plant development. [source] Melatonin in Glycyrrhiza uralensis: response of plant roots to spectral quality of light and UV-B radiationJOURNAL OF PINEAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2006F. Afreen Abstract:, Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is known to be synthesized and secreted by the pineal gland in vertebrates. Evidence for the occurrence of melatonin in the roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis plants and the response of this plant to the spectral quality of light including red, blue and white light (control) and UV-B radiation (280,315 nm) for the synthesis of melatonin were investigated. Melatonin was extracted and quantified in seed, root, leaf and stem tissues and results revealed that the root tissues contained the highest concentration of melatonin; melatonin concentrations also increased with plant development. After 3 months of growth under red, blue and white fluorescent lamps, the melatonin concentrations were highest in red light exposed plants and varied depending on the wavelength of light spectrum in the following order red , blue , white light. Interestingly, in a more mature plant (6 months) melatonin concentration was increased considerably; the increments in concentration were X4, X5 and X3 in 6-month-old red, blue and white light exposed (control) plants, respectively. The difference in melatonin concentrations between blue and white light exposed (control) plants was not significant. The concentration of melatonin quantified in the root tissues was highest in the plants exposed to high intensity UV-B radiation for 3 days followed by low intensity UV-B radiation for 15 days. The reduction of melatonin under longer periods of UV-B exposure indicates that melatonin synthesis may be related to the integrated (intensity and duration) value of UV-B irradiation. Melatonin in G. uralensis plant is presumably for protection against oxidative damage caused as a response to UV irradiation. [source] Nitrate modifies the assimilation pattern of ammonium and urea in wheat seedlingsJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 3 2010Maria Garnica Abstract BACKGROUND: In certain plant species, ammonium or urea nutrition can cause negative effects on plant development which can result in toxic symptoms. Some authors suggest that the presence of nitrate can alleviate these symptoms by increasing ammonium and urea assimilation, avoiding its accumulation. In order to study this hypothesis, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings were grown with various nitrogen supplies containing the main nitrogen forms (ammonium, nitrate and urea). Amino acids content and the activity of the three main enzymes involved in nitrogen assimilation (nitrate reductase, glutamine synthetase and urease) were studied. RESULTS: The application of nitrate along with urea and/or ammonium was not associated with a time-sustained increase in the activity of glutamine synthetase and urease. Amino acid analysis revealed that nitrate induced changes in amino acid metabolism enhancing its concentration. Likewise the content of protein was also higher in nitrate-treated plants. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the effect of nitrate is compatible with a rapid and transient increase in the activity of glutamine synthetase and urease during the first hour after the onset of treatments. Nevertheless, a possible effect of nitrate reducing ammonium accumulation through the activation of alternative metabolic pathways different from that involving glutamine synthetase cannot be ruled out. Finally, nitrate effects on amino acid concentration indicate that, whereas ammonium assimilation takes place principally in the root, urea and nitrate assimilation occurred in the shoot, under the conditions of the experiment. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source] The effect of the time and mode of application of gibberellic acid and inhibitors of gibberellin biosynthesis on the dormancy of potato tubers grown from true potato seedJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 10 2007Alexios A Alexopoulos Abstract Gibberellic acid (GA3) and inhibitors of gibberellin biosynthesis (daminozide and chlormequat chloride) were applied to the foliage of potato plants grown from true seed (TPS) either once at two stages of plant development, 40 and 60 days after transplantation (DAT), or repeatedly at 10 day intervals starting from the same growth stages. When GA3 was applied towards the end of the vegetative cycle (either singly 60 DAT or repeatedly from the same date), it induced rapid breakage of tuber dormancy, a reduction in specific weight, a higher rate of respiration and increased weight loss during storage. Single applications of GA3 early in the vegetative cycle (40 DAT) had no effect on the weight loss and specific weight of tubers during storage, whereas repeated foliar applications of GA3 starting from the same stage resulted in the formation of tubers with a low specific weight and a high rate of weight loss during storage. However, the tubers from these treatments did not break dormancy uniformly, and, although in the early stages of storage they exhibited a high rate of respiration, this declined to the level of the control (no growth regulator applied). Although daminozide and chlormequat chloride did not affect the duration of tuber dormancy and had little or no effect on any of the other metabolic indicators studied, gibberellin is nevertheless implicated in dormancy breakage, and its application late in the growth cycle may be of practical value in cases where tubers are required for planting soon after harvest. Overall, tubers from TPS respond to plant growth regulator treatment in a similar way to those from plants grown from seed tubers. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Rhizoremediation of lindane by root-colonizing SphingomonasMICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 1 2008Dietmar Böltner Summary We used a two-step enrichment approach to isolate root-colonizing hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)-degrading microorganisms. The first step consists of the use of classical liquid enrichment to isolate ,-HCH degraders. The ,-HCH-degrading microbes were attached in mass to corn seeds sown in soil with ,-HCH, and after plant development we rescued bacteria growing on root tips. Bacteria were then subjected to a second enrichment round in which growth on liquid medium with ,-HCH and inoculation of corn seeds were repeated. We then isolated bacteria on M9 minimal medium with ,-HCH from root tips. We were able to isolate four Sphingomonas strains, all of which degraded ,-, ,-, ,- and ,-HCH. Two of the strains were particularly good colonizers of corn roots, reaching high cell density in vegetated soil and partly removing ,-HCH. In contrast, these bacteria performed poorly in unplanted soils. This study supports the hypothesis that the removal of persistent toxic chemicals can be accelerated by combinations of plants and bacteria, a process generally known as rhizoremediation. [source] The roles of plant phenolics in defence and communication during Agrobacterium and Rhizobium infectionMOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY, Issue 5 2010AMITA BHATTACHARYA SUMMARY Phenolics are aromatic benzene ring compounds with one or more hydroxyl groups produced by plants mainly for protection against stress. The functions of phenolic compounds in plant physiology and interactions with biotic and abiotic environments are difficult to overestimate. Phenolics play important roles in plant development, particularly in lignin and pigment biosynthesis. They also provide structural integrity and scaffolding support to plants. Importantly, phenolic phytoalexins, secreted by wounded or otherwise perturbed plants, repel or kill many microorganisms, and some pathogens can counteract or nullify these defences or even subvert them to their own advantage. In this review, we discuss the roles of phenolics in the interactions of plants with Agrobacterium and Rhizobium. [source] Plant programmed cell death: can't live with it; can't live without itMOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2008BRETT WILLIAMS SUMMARY The decision of whether a cell should live or die is fundamental for the wellbeing of all organisms. Despite intense investigation into cell growth and proliferation, only recently has the essential and equally important idea that cells control/programme their own demise for proper maintenance of cellular homeostasis gained recognition. Furthermore, even though research into programmed cell death (PCD) has been an extremely active area of research there are significant gaps in our understanding of the process in plants. In this review, we discuss PCD during plant development and pathogenesis, and compare/contrast this with mammalian apoptosis. [source] Abscisic acid deficiency leads to rapid activation of tomato defence responses upon infection with Erwinia chrysanthemiMOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2008BOB ASSELBERGH SUMMARY In addition to the important role of abscisic acid (ABA) in abiotic stress signalling, basal and high ABA levels appear to have a negative effect on disease resistance. Using the ABA-deficient sitiens tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) mutant and different application methods of exogenous ABA, we demonstrated the influence of this plant hormone on disease progression of Erwinia chrysanthemi. This necrotrophic plant pathogenic bacterium is responsible for soft rot disease on many plant species, causing maceration symptoms mainly due to the production and secretion of pectinolytic enzymes. On wild-type (WT) tomato cv. Moneymaker E. chrysanthemi leaf inoculation resulted in maceration both within and beyond the infiltrated zone of the leaf, but sitiens showed a very low occurrence of tissue maceration, which never extended the infiltrated zone. A single ABA treatment prior to infection eliminated the effect of pathogen restriction in sitiens, while repeated ABA spraying during plant development rendered both WT and sitiens very susceptible. Quantification of E. chrysanthemi populations inside the leaf did not reveal differences in bacterial growth between sitiens and WT. Sitiens was not more resistant to pectinolytic cell-wall degradation, but upon infection it showed a faster and stronger activation of defence responses than WT, such as hydrogen peroxide accumulation, peroxidase activation and cell-wall fortifications. Moreover, the rapid activation of sitiens peroxidases was also observed after application of bacteria-free culture filtrate containing E. chrysanthemi cell-wall-degrading enzymes and was absent during infection with an out E. chrysanthemi mutant impaired in secretion of these extracellular enzymes. [source] The ups and downs of signalling between root and shootNEW PHYTOLOGIST, Issue 3 2000Christine Beveridge It is becoming increasingly apparent that the long-distance signalling associated with many developmental processes is complex and that novel hormone-like signals may play substantial roles. The past decades have seen several substances (e.g. brassinosteroids, systemin and other polypeptides, mevalonic and jasmonic acids, polyamines, oligosaccharides, flavonoids, and quinones) vie for a place among the classical plant hormones (e.g. Spaink, 1996). Recent microinjection and grafting studies have also shown that RNA may act as a long-distance signal (Jorgensen et al., 1998; Xoconostle-Cázares et al., 1999). In this issue, Hannah et al. describe long-distance signalling and the regulation of root,shoot partitioning in dwarf lethal or dosage-dependent lethal (DL) mutants of common bean (Shii et al., 1980, 1981), and present evidence indicating that substances in addition to classical plant hormones (e.g. cytokinins) may be involved. As in the report by Hannah et al., much of the evidence for roles of unidentified long-distance signals in the control of plant development is indirect. The possibility that a small number of long-distance signals might control a multitude of developmental processes arises through the potential for differences in tissue sensitivity, fluctuations in hormone levels and differences in the nature of responses of different tissues to the same hormone. Consequently, particular hormones may influence numerous processes seemingly simultaneously, yet independently. Even so, long-distance signalling is involved in processes as diverse as root,shoot balance, senescence, branching, flowering, nodulation, stress responses and nutrient uptake. Through comparison of even a few different developmental processes, progress can be made to reveal the true complexity of plant development. Using this approach it is also clear that many unknown signals may be involved. [source] Developmental changes in glutathione S -transferase activity in herbicide-resistant populations of Alopecurus myosuroides Huds (black-grass) in the fieldPEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 12 2001Lucy J Milner Abstract Herbicide-resistant populations of Alopecurus myosuroides Huds (black-grass) have become widespread throughout the UK since the early 1980s. Clear evidence suggests that more than one resistance mechanism exists, and glutathione S -transferases (GSTs) have been implicated in resistance due to enhanced metabolism. This study reports the determination of GST activity in four UK black-grass populations from field sites situated in the East Midlands. Data demonstrate that, as untreated plants in the field mature, there is an accompanying natural elevation of GST activity with natural environmental changes from winter to spring. We speculate that this endogenous change in enzyme activity with plant development in the field contributes to reduced efficacy of some graminicides applied in the spring. These observations are discussed in relation to predicting herbicide efficacy to achieve maximum control of this important grass weed. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry [source] How do UV Photomorphogenic Responses Confer Water Stress Tolerance?,,PHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2003Dennis C. Gitz ABSTRACT Although ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation is potentially harmful, it is an important component of terrestrial radiation to which plants have been exposed since invading land. Since then, plants have evolved mechanisms to avoid and repair UV radiation damage; therefore, it is not surprising that photomorphogenic responses to UV-B are often assumed to be adaptations to harmful radiation. This presupposes that the function of the observed responses is to prevent UV damage. It has been hypothesized that, as with blue light, UV-B provides a signal important for normal plant development and might be perceived within developing plants through nondestructive processes, perhaps through UV-specific signal perception mechanisms. UV signal perception can lead to photomorphogenic responses that may confer adaptive advantages under conditions associated with high-light environments, such as water stress. Plant responses to UV radiation in this regard include changes in leaf area, leaf thickness, stomatal density, photosynthetic pigment production and altered stem elongation and branching patterns. Such responses may lead to altered transpiration rates and water-use efficiencies. For example, we found that the cumulative effect of ambient UV-B radiation upon stomatal density and conductance can lead to altered water-use efficiencies. In field settings, UV might more properly be viewed as a photomorphogenic signal than as a stressor. Hence, it might be insufficient to attempt to fully evaluate the adaptive roles of plant responses to UV-B cues upon stress tolerance by the simultaneous application of UV and drought stress during development. We propose that rather than examining a plant's response to combinations of stressors one might also examine how a plant's response to UV induces tolerance to subsequently applied stresses. [source] Effects of long-term chilling on growth and photosynthesis of the C4 gramineae Paspalum dilatatumPHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM, Issue 1 2003Ana M. Cavaco Dallis grass (Paspalum dilatatum Poir.) is a C4/NADP-ME gramineae, previously classified as semi-tolerant to cold, although a complete study on this species acclimation process under a long-term chilling and controlled environmental conditions has never been conducted. In the present work, plants of the variety Raki maintained at 25/18°C (day/night) (control) were compared with plants under a long-term chilling at 10/8°C (day/night) (cold-acclimated) in order to investigate how growth and carbon assimilation mechanisms are engaged in P. dilatatum chilling tolerance. Although whole plant mean relative growth rate (mean RGR) and leaf growth were significantly decreased by cold exposure, chilling did not impair plant development nor favour the investment in biomass below ground. Cold-acclimated P. dilatatum cv. Raki had a lower leaf chlorophyll content, but a higher photosynthetic capacity at optimal temperatures, its range being shifted to lower values. Associated with this higher capacity to use the reducing power in CO2 assimilation, cold-acclimated plants further showed a higher capacity to oxidize the primary stable quinone electron acceptor of PSII, QA. The activity and activation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC; EC 4.1.1.31) and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco; EC 4.1.1.39) were not significantly affected by the long-term chilling. Cold-acclimated P. dilatatum cv. Raki apparently showed a lower transfer of excitation energy from the light-harvesting complex of photosystem II to the respective reaction centre and enhancement of radiationless energy-dissipating mechanisms at suboptimal temperatures. Overall, long-term chilling resulted in several effects that comprise responses with an intermediate character of both chilling-tolerant and ,sensitive plants, which seem to play a significant role in the survival and acclimation of P. dilatatum cv. Raki at low temperature. [source] The tomato ethylene receptor gene family: Form and functionPHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM, Issue 3 2002Harry Klee Phytohormones are essential for integrating many aspects of plant development and responses to the environment. Regulation of hormonally controlled events occurs at multiple levels: synthesis, catabolism and perception (Trewavas 1983, Bradford and Trewavas 1994). At the level of perception, sensitivity to hormones can be regulated both spatially and temporally during the life cycle. An example of spatial regulation is the differential response to a hormone that occurs during organ abscission. Temporally, sensitivity of an organ to a hormone may change during maturation, as occurs during fruit ripening. In this review, we will focus on the initial event in recognition of one hormone, ethylene. The ethylene receptor was the first plant hormone receptor to be unambiguously identified. Over the last few years, great progress has been made in elucidating the genes involved in ethylene action. Nonetheless, the mechanisms of signal transduction remain to be established. Here, we will address the status of the tomato receptor gene family and the evidence that regulation of receptor gene expression can influence the response of the plant to the hormone. [source] Rapid analysis of Jatropha curcas gene functions by virus-induced gene silencingPLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Issue 9 2009Jian Ye Summary Jatropha curcas L. is a small, woody tree of the Euphorbiaceae family. This plant can grow on marginal land in the tropical and subtropical regions and produces seeds containing up to 30% oil. Several Asian countries have selected Jatropha for large scale planting as a biodiesel feedstock. Nevertheless, Jatropha also possesses several undesirable traits that may limit its wide adoption. An improved understanding of plant development and the regulation of fatty acid (FA) and triacylglyceride biosynthesis in Jatropha is particularly facilitative for the development of elite crops. Here, we show that a tobacco rattle virus (TRV) vector can trigger virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in Jatropha. Our optimized method produced robust and reliable gene silencing in plants agroinoculated with recombinant TRV harbouring Jatropha gene sequences. We used VIGS to investigate possible functions of 13 Jatropha genes of several functional categories, including FA biosynthesis, developmental regulation and toxin biosynthesis, etc. Based on the effects of VIGS on the FA composition of newly emerged leaves, we determined the function of several genes implicated in FA biosynthesis. Moreover, VIGS was able to discriminate independent functions of related gene family members. Our results show that VIGS can be used for high-throughput screening of Jatropha genes whose functions can be assayed in leaves. [source] The molecular analysis of leaf senescence , a genomics approachPLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2003Vicky Buchanan-Wollaston Summary Senescence in green plants is a complex and highly regulated process that occurs as part of plant development or can be prematurely induced by stress. In the last decade, the main focus of research has been on the identification of senescence mutants, as well as on genes that show enhanced expression during senescence. Analysis of these is beginning to expand our understanding of the processes by which senescence functions. Recent rapid advances in genomics resources, especially for the model plant species Arabidopsis, are providing scientists with a dazzling array of tools for the identification and functional analysis of the genes and pathways involved in senescence. In this review, we present the current understanding of the mechanisms by which plants control senescence and the processes that are involved. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||