In the phytotron experiment, the effect of elevated atmospheric CO2 (EC, 750 μmol mol-1) on the drought tolerance was studied in two winter varieties (Mv Mambo, tolerant; Mv Regiment, moderately tolerant) and in one spring variety of wheat (Lona, sensitive to drought). Changes in net photosynthetic rate (P N), stomatal conductance, transpiration, wateruse efficiency, effective quantum yield of photosystem II, and activities of glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-Stransferase (GST), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were monitored during water withdrawal. Drought caused a faster decline of PN at EC, leading to the lower assimilation rates under severe drought compared with ambient CO2 (NC). In the sensitive variety, PN remained high for a longer period at EC. The growth at EC resulted in a more relaxed activation level of the antioxidant enzyme system in all three varieties, with very low activities of GR, GST, APX, and POD. The similar, low values were due to decreases in the varieties which had higher ambient values. A parallel increase of CAT was, however, recorded in two varieties. As the decline in PN was faster at EC under drought but there was no change in the rate of electron transport compared to NC values, a higher level of oxidative stress was induced. This triggered a more pronounced, general response in the antioxidant enzyme system at EC, leading to very high activities of APX, CAT, and GST in all three varieties. The results indicated that EC had generally favourable effects on the development and stress tolerance of plants, although bigger foliage made the plants more prone to the water loss. The relaxation of the defence mechanisms increased potentially the risk of damage due to the higher level of oxidative stress at EC under severe drought compared with NC., S. Bencze, Z. Bamberger, T. Janda, K. Balla, B. Varga, Z. Bedõ, O. Veisz., and Obsahuje bibliografii
In order to evaluate the combined effects of simulated acid rain (SAR) and salinity on the physiological responses of macroalgae, Ulva prolifera was cultured under three salinity treatments (5, 10,
25‰) and at different pH, i.e., at pH 4.4 (C), pH 4.4(F), where the pH of the culture increased from 4.4 to approximately 7.8 during the cultivation period, or in absence of SAR at pH 8.2(C), at 100 μmol(photon) m-2 s-1 and 20°C. Compared to 25‰ salinity, Relative growth rate (RGR) of U. prolifera was enhanced by 10‰ salinity, but decreased by 5‰ salinity. No significant differences in RGR were observed between the pH 8.2(C) and pH 4.4(F) treatments, but the chlorophyll a content was reduced by SAR. Negative effects of SAR on the photosynthesis were observed, especially under low salinity treatments. Based on the results, we suggested that the U. prolifera showed a tolerance to a wide range of salinity in contrast to the low pH induced by acid rain., Y. H. Li, D. Wang, X. T. Xu, X. X. Gao, X. Sun, N. J. Xu., and Obsahuje použitou literaturu
a1_The halophytic C4 grass, Aeluropus littoralis, was cultivated under low (50 mM) and high (200 mM) NaCl salinity and inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Claroideoglomus etunicatum in a sand culture medium for 20 weeks. Shoot and root dry mass increased under salinity conditions up to 24 and 86%, respectively. Although the root colonization rate significantly decreased in the presence of salt, AMF-colonized (+AMF) plants had higher biomass compared with plants without AMF colonization (-AMF) only under saline conditions. Net CO2 assimilation rate increased significantly by both salinity levels despite stable stomatal opening. In contrast, AMF-mediated elevation of the net CO2 assimilation rate was associated with a higher stomatal conductance. Unexpectedly, leaf activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase decreased by salinity and AMF colonization. Transpiration rate was not affected by treatments resulting in higher water-use efficiency under salinity and AMF conditions. Concentrations of soluble sugars and free α-amino acids increased by both salinity and AMF treatments in the shoot but not in the roots. Proline concentration in the leaves was higher in the salt-treated plants, but AMF colonization did not affect it significantly. Leaf activity of nitrate reductase increased by both salinity and AMF treatments. Mycorrhizal plants had significantly higher Na+ and K+ uptake, while Ca2+ uptake was not affected by salt or AMF colonization. The ratio of K+/Na+ increased by AMF in the shoot while it decreased in the roots. Leaf osmotic potential was lowered under salinity in both +AMF and -AMF plants. Our results indicated that higher dry matter production in the presence of salt and AMF could be attributed to higher CO2 and nitrate assimilation rates in the leaves., a2_Higher leaf accumulation of soluble sugars and α-amino acids but not proline and elevated water-use efficiency were associated with the improved growth of A. littoralis inoculated with AMF., R. Hajiboland, F. Dashtebani, N. Aliasgharzad., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Macroalgae must be able to survive in conditions of different light intensities with no damage to their physiological performance or vital processes. Irradiance can stimulate the biosynthesis of certain photoprotective compounds of biotechnological interest, such as pigments and proteins. Pterocladiella capillacea is a shade-grown alga, which play a role key in the balance of marine ecosystems. In addition, it is considered one of the best sources of bacteriological agar and agarose with a wide pharmacological potential. In order to evaluate the photosensitivity in P. capillacea under 60 (control) and moderate light intensity of 300 μmol(photon) m-2 s-1, photosynthetic performance and chemical composition were assessed. P. capillacea showed photosensitivity without evidence of photodamage. The results indicate the possibility to increase a growth rate and probably infer productivity in long-term cultivation by stimulation at moderate light intensity. Increasing photosynthetic pigment and protein contents were also observed under medium light, an interesting result for functional ingredient approaches., T. B. Harb, A. Nardelli, F. Chow., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Permanent plastid-nuclear complexes (PNCs) exist in tobacco cells from their mitosis up to programmed cell death (PCD). PNCs in senescing cells of tobacco leaves were typical by enclosure of peroxisomes and mitochondria among chloroplasts which were in contact with nucleus. Such a complex position provides simultaneous interaction of these organelles and direct regulation of metabolism and PCD avoiding the cytosol. and T. Selga, M. Selga, A. Ozoliņa.
The aim of our study was to answer whether any positive correlation exists between K+ uptake and salt tolerance in wheat. We carried out a sand-culture experiment with salt-tolerant, DK961 (ST), and salt-sensitive, JN17 (SS), wheat cultivars, where photosynthesis, the K+/Na+ ratio, growth, and the biomass yield were examined. The seeds were exposed for four weeks to six NaCl concentrations (50, 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 mM), which were embodied in the Hoagland solution. Salinity-induced decrease of K+ or increase in the Na+ content was much smaller in ST than that in SS. The reductions in the light-saturated photosynthetic rate (P Nmax) and chlorophyll content caused by salinity were smaller in the ST compared to SS. Stomatal conductance decreased in both cultivars under saline conditions; nevertheless, it was lower in SS than in ST. The antioxidative capacity was higher in ST than that in SS under saline conditions. Significant positive correlations were observed in both cultivars between K+ contents and P Nmax/biomass yields. We suggest that higher-affinity K+ uptake might play a key role in higher salt tolerance and it might be a reliable indicator for breeding new species of salt-tolerant wheat., D. Cheng, G. Wu, Y. Zheng., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
We conducted an experiment to assess the predictive capability of a leaf optical meter for determining leaf pigment status of Acer mono Maxim., A. ginnala Maxim., Quercus mongolica Fisch., and Cornus alba displaying a range of visually different leaf colors during senescence. Concentrations of chlorophyll (Chl) a, Chl b, and total Chl [i.e., Chl (a+b)] decreased while the concentration of carotenoids (Car) remained relatively static for all species as leaf development continued from maturity to senescence. C. alba exhibited the lowest average concentration of Chl (a+b), Chl a, and Car, but the highest relative anthocyanin concentration, while Q. mongolica exhibited the highest Chl (a+b), Chl b, and the lowest relative anthocyanin concentration. A. mono exhibited the highest Chl a and Car concentrations. The relationships between leaf pigments and the values measured by the optical meter generally followed an exponential function. The strongest relationships between leaf pigments and optical measurements were for A. mono, A. ginnala, and Q. mongolica (R2 ranged from 0.64 to 0.95), and the weakest relationships were for C. alba (R2 ranged from 0.13 to 0.67). Moreover, optical measurements were more strongly related to Chl a than to Chl b or Chl (a+b). Optical measurements were not related to Car or relative anthocyanin concentrations. We predicted that weak relationships between leaf pigments and optical measurements would occur under very low Chl concentrations or under very high anthocyanin concentrations; however, these factors could not explain the weak relationship between Chl and optical measurements observed in C. alba. Overall, our results indicated that an optical meter can accurately estimate leaf pigment concentrations during leaf senescence - a time when pigment concentrations are dynamically changing - but that the accuracy of the estimate varies across species., Future research should investigate how species-specific leaf traits may influence the accuracy of pigment estimates derived from optical meters., G. Y. Li, D. P. Aubrey, H. Z. Sun., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Flóra velkých měst je ve srovnání s okolní krajinou druhově bohatá. Cílem výzkumu, který proběhl ve 32 velkoměstech střední a západní Evropy, bylo zjistit, které faktory ovlivňují výskyt rostlin ve městech a kolik druhů a které rostou v sedmi vybraných sekundárních městských biotopech. Ukázalo se, že garnitura zavlečených druhů, zejména archeofytů, je ve všech městech velmi podobná, a to bez ohledu na klimatické podmínky. Synantropizace flór tedy vede ke vzrůstající podobnosti mezi flórami měst; hlavní rozdíly ve složení jednotlivých městských květen tak způsobují ostrůvky přirozené a polopřirozené vegetace., The flora of large cities is very rich in species. During our research in 32 central and western European cities in four climatically defined zones, we aimed at the floristic inventories of 7 largely man-made habitats, such as historical squares, main boulevards, recently disturbed ruderal sites, abandoned sites with perennial vegetation, city parks, residential areas with blocks of flats or with family houses. Based on the data collected, we tried to identify factors responsible for the high species richness and taxonomic composition of city floras. Our results show that the pool of alien species is quite similar in all cities studied and that introductions of alien species reduce the differences between the floras of particular cities. Consequently, the differences are mainly due to remaining patches of natural and semi-natural habitats, which harbour indigenous species., and Zdeňka Lososová, Jiří Danihelka.