In the terrestrial bromeliad, Puya floccosa, a value of carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) of -22‰ has been previously reported, suggesting the operation of weak and/or intermediate (C3-CAM) crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). In order to characterize the operation of CAM in P. floccosa and its possible induction by drought, plants were grown in Caracas and subjected to four independent drought cycles. Additionally, since plants of this species grow in Venezuela in a large range of elevations, leaf samples were collected at elevations ranging from 725 to 2,100 m a.s.l. in the Venezuelan Andes and the Coastal Range, in order to evaluate the effect of elevation on CAM performance. Even though nocturnal acid accumulation occurred in both watered and droughted plants, mean ΔH+ was higher in droughted than watered plants [ΔH+ = 60.17.5 and 22.9 ± 5.2 μmol g-1(FM), respectively]. The majority of plants from all the natural populations sampled had low values of δ13C not differing significantly from those of C3 plants collected as standards and δ13C did not change with elevation. We conclude that P. floccosa is capable of a weak CAM activity, with a large variability among populations and drought experiments probably due to local and temporal differences in microclimatic variables and drought stress; elevation bears no influence on values of δ13C in this species. and A. Herrera ... [et al.].
We investigated the role of cyclic electron flow around photosystem 1 (CEF1) and state transition (ST) in two soybean cultivars that differed in salt tolerance. The CEF1 and maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) were determined under control and NaCl (50 mM) stress and the NaCl-induced light-harvesting complex 2 (LHC2) phosphorylation in vitro was analysed in light and dark. NaCl induced the increase of CEF1 more greatly in wild soybean Glycine cyrtoloba (cv. ACC547) than in cultivated soybean Glycine max (cv. Melrose). The Fv/Fm was reduced less in G. cyrtoloba than in G. max after 10-d NaCl stress. In G. cyrtoloba, the increase of CEF1 was associated with enhancement of LHC2 phosphorylation in thylakoid membrane under both dark and light. However, in G. max the NaCl treatment decreased the LHC2 phosphorylation. Treatment with photosynthetic electron flow inhibitors (DCMU, DBMIB) inhibited LHC2 phosphorylation more in G. max than in G. cyrtoloba. Thus the NaCl-induced up-regulation in CEF1 and ST might contribute to salt resistance of G. cyrtoloba. and K. X. Lu ... [et al.].
Tobacco plants accumulating high levels of soluble sugars due to the cytosolic expression of an inorganic pyrophosphatase from Escherichia coli were ušed to study adaptation to the osmotic stress that these plants are continuously faced with. In the course of differential RNA screening between wild type and transgenic plants three cDNA dones could be isolated, which after sequencing were identified as pathogenesis-related proteins (PR-proteins). Two cDNAs, PRlb and PR-P, belong to the acidic PRl and PR3 groups of PR-proteins, and the third cDNA, SAR8.2, has so far been associated with systemic acquired resistance in tobacco plants. The expression of PR-proteins transcripts in generál was well correlated with the steady- state level of total soluble sugars present in the tobacco plants. The induction of PR protein transcripts resulted in an accumulation of corresponding proteins. Moreover, the complete set of acidic PR-proteins induced by potato virus Y was also present in the sugar-accumulating transgenic plants. The induction of PR-proteins might be a generál response to the osmotic stress in tobacco plants.
The photodynamic damage of the sensitive plants wheat and mustard, treated with chlorophyll (Chl) precursors 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and glutamic acid (Glu) and with 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen), was caused by tetrapyrroles, which accumulated after 17 h in the dark period, followed by 12 h of irradiation with "white light". The effect of accumulated Chl in mustard plants was accompanied by changes in the amounts of the Chls and carotenoids and by dehydration of the tissues, partial chlorosis, and necrosis. The molecular nature of the specific photodynamic sensitivity of the mustard and wheat plants under the influence of Phen and Chl precursors was important: accumulation of tetrapyrroles was a necessary, but not only reason for photodynamic damage of the plants. The degree of leaf damage was related to the amount and chemical nature of accumulated tetrapyrroles and to the greening group to which the investigated plant belongs. and V. Toneva, T. Gechev, I. Minkov.
The delayed luminescence (DL) of photosystem 2 (PS2) after infiltration of 7-d-old etiolated barley leaves with chlorophyllides (Chlide) a or b followed by 2.5 h dark incubation was studied. Chlide a caused a very weak DL of PS2 just at the beginning of irradiation and the intensity of this DL was not higher when the infiltration medium contained 2 mM of NADPH. Chlide b was a somewhat more efficient inducer of PS2 formation in the dark and NADPH enhanced this efficiency 4.5 times though it did not affect the amount of esterified Chlides. The photoconversion of endogenous Pchlide led to a much higher intensity of the DL in comparison with the infiltration of Chlides, while the total amount of chlorophyll (Chl) formed was almost unchanged. The use of Chlide b together with the acetone extract from green leaves, devoid of pigments, resulted in the DL intensity comparable with that observed after Pchlide photoconversion followed by 2.5 h incubation in the dark. Dark formation of active PS2 in etiolated leaves was shown for the first time. Thus the dark formation of active PS2 may require Chl b, NADPH, and some unidentified water-soluble factor(s), synthesized in the dark after a short irradiation of etiolated leaves and inherent in green leaves. and V. P. Domanskiï, L.I. Fradkin.
Our experiment was carried out in order to explore effects of plant growth regulators (PGR; thidiazuron, paclobutrazol, and ascorbic acid) on physiological traits of wheat genotypes under water surplus and deficit conditions. Study revealed that relative water content, membrane stability index, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate (PN), and maximal quantum yield of PSII improved with PGRs application across the genotypes both under irrigation and water stress. The response of HD 2733 genotype was more positive toward PGRs treatment as compared to other genotypes under water stress. Higher PN and chlorophyll contents were observed in HD 2987 followed by C 306 genotype under water-stress conditions. Moreover, Rubisco small subunit (SSU) expression was lower in wheat genotypes under water stress as compared to irrigated conditions. Application of PGRs led to upregulation of SSU under water stress, while no significant change was found in Rubisco level and activity under irrigated condition in dependence on PGRs treatments. Yield-related traits showed also significant reduction under water-stress conditions, while application of PGRs enhanced the yield and its components. Results indicated that the PGRs exhibited a positive interaction and synergetic effect on water stressed wheat plants in terms of photosynthetic machinery and yield., S. K. Dwivedi, A. Arora, V. P. Singh, G. P. Singh., and Obsahuje bibliografii
We studied the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Glomus constrictum (Trappe), and soil phosphorus (P) on
gas-exchange parameters, growth, and nutrition of soybean plants grown in pots with sterilized soil. Two contrasting concentrations of KH2PO4, i.e. no added and 0.5 g(P) kg-1(soil), were used. Addition of soluble phosphate increased all growth parameters, P and N concentrations, and most of the studied photosynthetic parameters of both the mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal plants. The mycorrhizal inoculation significantly increased plant growth responses, P and N concentrations in shoot and root tissues, acid and alkaline phosphatase activities, and total soluble proteins in root tissues compared with the nonmycorrhizal plants. The stimulations were related to the level of the mycorrhizal colonization in the root tissues. The mycorrhizal plants showed significantly higher net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate than those of nonmycorrhizal plants, especially in soil without added P. The phosphate addition to soil reduced generally the percentage of the mycorrhizal colonization in the root tissues, and consequently the mycorrhizal benefits. In general, growth, nutrition, and photosynthetic parameters of the soybean plants showed a high degree of dependency on the mycorrhizal fungus in nonfertilized soil when compared with the soil fertilized with P. This study confirmed that AM colonization could improve growth and nutrition of the soybean plant through increasing photosynthesis in leaves, particularly at low P in soil., G. M. Abdel-Fattah, A. A. Asrar, S. M. Al-Amri, E. M. Abdel-Salam., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Under boron (B) deficiency, the CO2 exchange rate, chloropliyll (Clil) and oil contents significantly decreased, whereas Clil alb ratio, leaf area ratio and leaf stem ratio significantly increased. When B-deficient plants had been siipplied witli tlie control solution for 3 weeks, there was a partial recoveiy in sonie growtli and yield parameters. In leaves of deficient plants, •^C02 incoiporation in sugars, ainino acids and organic acids decreased, whereas in stems the incoiporation of these three fractions was higher than in the Controls. Upon recovery (3 weeks) the pattenis of '‘*C02 incoiporation in sugars, amino acids and organic acids in leaves and stems were similar to those in conPol plants. In leaves of the B-deficient plants, [U-’‘*C] saccharose incoiporation was very high with respect to Controls, and a major portion was in ethanol soluble fraction. The incoiporation was significantly higher in sugars and organic acids than in amino acids. A substantial portion of labellcd saccharose remained in the stem and it was significantly higher than in control plants. Under B- deficiency, the levels of primaiy metabolites and their partitioiiiiig between leaf and stem significantly influenced the essential oil accumulation.
Light-induced Ca2+ concentration oscillations in cytoplasm of oat protoplasts were shown to be controlled by inhibitors of Ca^"*" pumps, sodium vanadate and tuBHQ. The sources of Ca^'*' released into cytoplasm under the action of radiant energy are vacuole and endoplasmic reticulum, but not mitochondria. The manifestation of Ca^'*' oscillations depends on the concentrations of oat protoplasts in the suspension which suggests the propagation of a signál between the cells and synchronization of their light-induced Ca2+ oscillation response.
Cd2+ and Ni2+ dififerently affected the rates of net photosynthesís (P^) and transpiration (E), chlorophyll (Chl) content, and stomatal conductance (gj in different leaves of wheat. and Chl content in the top leaf were affected more than the lower leaves by Ni2+, whereas the deleterious effect of Cd^"*" was more pronounced in the third leaf. Ni2+ and Cd2+ slightly decreased the relative water content and leaf water potential of all the leaves after 2 d of treatment. However, this reduction was relatively more severe under Cd^^ treatment than with Ni2+ particularly in the top leaf after 4 d of the treatment.