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[Effects of calcium on biological characteristics of wheat seedlings under ultraviolet-B radiation stress].

Under simulated ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B, 280-320 nm), effect of calcium on biological characteristics of wheat seedlings was studied with pot culture experiment. The results showed that the growth indexes of wheat seedlings on ground and underground in calcium concentration 2 mmol/L treated group were obviously reduced than that of wheat seedlings in control treated group (the descending range of 8.1%-36.1%) under UV-B stress (0.35 W/m2, 6 h per day, for 7 day). And the decreasing degree of growth indexes (3.2%-28.6%) for wheat seedlings in calcium concentration 6 mmol/L treated group were lower than in calcium concentration 2 mmol/L treated group. The experiment proved that calcium can mitigate the damage of ultraviolet-B radiation on wheat seedlings, and this effect was related to that calcium affected physiological and biochemical characteristics of wheat seedlings.

Calcium↗

Effects of simulated microgravity on characteristics of photosynthesis in plant seedling.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of simulated microgravity on the characteristics of photosynthesis in some plant seedlings. METHOD: Plant samples were treated on a 1 pi clinostat rotated at 2 gamma/min for 120 h. Then chlorophyll absorption and chlorophyll fast fluorescence induction kinetics were determined. RESULT: After treatment on the clinostat: 1) there were some increase in height and number of leaves per plant; 2) the strawberry seedlings contained 47.5% less chlorophyll and the carnation seedlings contained 4.3% more; 3) there was no change in position of the main absorption peaks of chlorophyll in both seedlings after the rotation, but their intensity was increased; 4) there were significant increase in the parameters of fluorescence induction kinetics in the leaves of both seedlings: there was an increase in Fv/Fo, Fv/Fm and T1/2, except CA/Fo; 5) there were some differences in excitation energy distribution between the two photosystems in the chloroplasts of control and treated samples. CONCLUSION: Simulated microgravity does not have a significant effect on normal photosynthetic function in chloroplasts, so plant seedlings can grow up normally under microgravity.

Chlorophyll↗

A hydroponic rice seedling culture model system for investigating proteome of salt stress in rice leaf.

By using an in vivo hydroponic rice seedling culture system, we investigated the physiological and biochemical responses of a model rice japonica cultivar Nipponbare to salt stress using proteomics and classical biochemical methods. Yoshida's nutrient solution (YS) was used to grow rice seedlings. YS-grown 18-day-old seedlings manifested highly stable and reproducible symptoms, prominently the wilting and browning of the 3rd leaf, reduced photosynthetic activity, inhibition in overall seedling growth, and failure to develop new (5th) leaf, when subjected to salt stress by transferring them to YS containing 130 mM NaCl for 4 days. As leaf response to salt stress is least investigated in rice by proteomics, we used the 3rd leaf as source material. A comparison of 2-DE protein profiles between the untreated control and salt-stressed 3rd leaves revealed 55 differentially expressed CBB-stained spots, where 47 spots were increased over the control. Of these changed spots, the identity of 33 protein spots (27 increased and 5 decreased) was determined by nESI-LC-MS/MS. Most of these identified proteins belonged to major metabolic processes like photosynthetic carbon dioxide assimilation and photorespiration, suggesting a good correlation between salt stress-responsive proteins and leaf morphology. Moreover, 2-DE immunoblot and enzymatic activity analyses of 3rd leaves revealed remarkable changes in the key marker enzymes associated with oxidative damage to salt stress: ascorbate peroxidase and lipid peroxidation were induced, and catalase was suppressed. These results demonstrate that hydroponic culture system is best suited for proteomics of salt stress in rice seedling.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effects of excess copper on growth of wild rice (Zizania palustris) seedlings tested in reconstituted and natural waters.

Dissolved copper was toxic to wild rice (Zizania palustris) seedlings when exposed in water from the seed collection site of Swamp Creek, Crandon, Wisconsin, USA, and in laboratory-prepared artificial or reconstituted water. Seeds for the study were harvested, then held through a portion of dormancy, in Swamp Creek. After 60 days they were shipped to a laboratory, chilled, and tested with copper after germination. The end point of the tests was net gain in wet weight of the seedlings; additionally, a pronounced reduction in root development was observed. Using measured concentrations, the lowest no-observable-effect concentration (NOEC) in our study was 37 microg/liter in Swamp Creek water and the lowest-observable-effect concentration (LOEC) was 59 microg/liter. However, it appeared that there was a point at which concentrations of copper above 400 microg/liter did not result in any measurable effect or exhibit a definitive dose-response. Because the results in Swamp Creek water were more relevant to the possibility of local metals additions and the association of reduced seedling growth by copper was more powerful in this water, we derived an equation to express the relationship between copper concentration and toxicity for Swamp Creek water. As an example, we would expect a 3.0% reduction in seedling growth at 5.0 microg/liter copper. Seedling roots were particularly affected and the resultant plants may be less well anchored and more susceptible to dislodging than plants not exposed to copper. Further refinement of the methodology may be used to address effects of other contaminants impacting rice beds in North America.

Copper↗

Light differentially regulates the expression of two members of the auxin-induced 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase gene family in mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) seedlings.

Auxin induces the expression of the two ethylene-biosynthetic genes VR-ACS6 and VR-ACS7 in etiolated mung bean hypocotyls. However, while it also enhances VR-ACS6 expression in light-grown tissues, it does not up-regulate VR-ACS7 expression in these tissues. Here we show that transfer of 3-day-old etiolated seedlings into light quickly reduced the auxin-induced expression of both genes. However, while auxin-induced VR-ACS6 expression recovered after 24 h of light, VR-ACS7 transcription continued to reduce and was almost completely absent at 36 h. Thus, light differentially modulates the expression of the auxin-inducible VR-ACS genes. In hormone-treated etiolated seedlings, VR-ACS7 was primarily induced in the rapidly elongating zones of hypocotyl and epicotyl tissues, while auxin-induced VR-ACS6 mRNA was evenly distributed throughout the whole seedling. VR-ACS7 promoter-driven beta-glucuronidase (GUS) activity in auxin-treated etiolated transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings was observed in the highly elongating zones of the hypocotyl. During de-etiolation, the GUS activity gradually declined to become confined to the uppermost region of hypocotyls. In situ mRNA localization studies showed that in etiolated mung bean hypocotyls, the auxin-dependent VR-ACS7 transcript was predominantly present in the epidermis, which is the driving site for auxin-mediated elongation. Thus, it appears that the modulation by light of auxin-induced VR-ACS7 expression may correlate closely with the elongation growth response in early seedling development.

Arabidopsis↗

Constraints to seedling success of savanna and forest trees across the savanna-forest boundary.

Tropical savannas and closed forests are characterized by distinct tree communities, with most species occurring almost exclusively in only one of the two environments. The ecology of these two groups of species will largely determine the structure and dynamics of the savanna-forest boundary, but little is known about the ecological and physiological differences that might control their distributions. We performed field and nursery experiments to compare seedling establishment success, predawn leaf water potential, biomass allocation, and root carbohydrate concentration of congeneric species, each composed of one savanna species and one forest species. Seedling establishment of savanna and forest species responded differently to vegetation cover, with forest species having lowest establishment success in the open savanna and savanna species having lowest success in forest. Subsequent survival followed similar patterns, resulting in even greater differences in cumulative success. The low survival of forest species in the savanna appears related to drought stress, as seedlings of forest species had lower predawn leaf water potential than savanna species. Seedlings of savanna species had greater root: shoot ratios and root total nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) concentration, particularly among evergreen genera. Among evergreen genera, root TNC per shoot mass, which may largely determine resprout capacity, was seven times higher in savanna species than forest species. Although water availability and microclimate may reduce the success of forest species, these factors appear unable to completely exclude forest seedling establishment in savanna. Fire, on the other hand, appears to be a much more absolute constraint to success of forest species in savanna.

Analysis of Variance↗

Females make tough neighbors: sex-specific competitive effects in seedlings of a dioecious grass.

If males and females of a species differ in their effect on intraspecific competition then this can have significant ecological and evolutionary consequences because it can lead to size and mortality disparities between the sexes, and thus cause biased population sex ratios. If the degree of sexual dimorphism of competitive effect varies across environments then this variation can generate sex ratio variation within and between populations. In a California population of Distichlis spicata, a dioecious grass species exhibiting extreme within-population sex ratio variation (spatial segregation of the sexes), I evaluated the intraspecific competitive effects of male and female D. spicata seedlings in three soil types. The sex of seedlings was determined using a RAPD-PCR marker co-segregating with female phenotype. Distichlis spicata seedlings, regardless of sex, were six times larger when grown with male versus female conspecific seedlings in soil from microsites where the majority of D. spicata plants are female, and this sexual dimorphism of competitive effect was weaker or did not occur in other soil types. This study suggests that it is not just the higher costs of female versus male reproduction itself that cause spatial segregation of the sexes in D. spicata, but that differences in competitive abilities between the sexes--which occur as early as the seedling stage--can generate sex ratio variation.

Agriculture↗

The role of below-ground competition during early stages of secondary succession: the case of 3-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings in an abandoned grassland.

In abandoned or extensively managed grasslands, the mechanisms involved in pioneer tree species success are not fully explained. Resource competition among plants and microclimate modifications have been emphasised as possible mechanisms to explain variation of survivorship and growth. In this study, we evaluated a number of mechanisms that may lead to successful survival and growth of seedlings of a pioneer tree species (Pinus sylvestris) in a grass-dominated grassland. Three-year-old Scots pines were planted in an extensively managed grassland of the French Massif Central and for 2 years were either maintained in bare soil or subjected to aerial and below-ground interactions induced by grass vegetation. Soil temperatures were slightly higher in bare soil than under the grass vegetation, but not to an extent explaining pine growth differences. The tall grass canopy reduced light transmission by 77% at ground level and by 20% in the upper part of Scots pine seedlings. Grass vegetation presence also significantly decreased soil volumetric water content (Hv) and soil nitrate in spring and in summer. In these conditions, the average tree height was reduced by 5% compared to trees grown in bare soil, and plant biomass was reduced by 85%. Scots pine intrinsic water-use efficiency (A/g), measured by leaf gas-exchange, increased when Hv decreased owing to a rapid decline of stomatal conductance (g). This result was also confirmed by delta 13C analyses of needles. A summer 15N labelling of seedlings and grass vegetation confirmed the higher NO3 capture capacity of grass vegetation in comparison with Scots pine seedlings. Our results provide evidence that the seedlings' success was linked to tolerance of below-ground resource depletion (particularly water) induced by grass vegetation based on morphological and physiological plasticity as well as to resource conservation.

Carbon Dioxide↗

Spatiotemporal transfer of carbon-14-labelled photosynthate from ectomycorrhizal Pinus densiflora seedlings to extraradical mycelia.

Seedlings of Pinus densiflora colonized by an unidentified ectomycorrhizal fungus (T01) were labelled photosynthetically with 14C. Movement of 14C-labelled photosynthates within the underground part of the seedlings was investigated by temporal autoradiography using an imaging plate. Within 1 day, 14C was transferred from the shoot to the underground part that included roots, mycorrhizae, and the extraradical mycelium; within 3 days, the 14C in the underground part reached its maximum density. Mycorrhizae and actively growing root tips were large C sinks. Three days after 14C labelling, counts of 14C radioactivity in the underground part of the mycorrhizal seedlings were 2.6 times those of nonmycorrhizal seedlings. The mycorrhizae of mycorrhizal plants accumulated 5.2 times the 14C counts in the short-root tips of nonmycorrhizal plants. 14C counts in various areas of the extraradical mycelium demonstrated that all 14C-photosynthate transfer from the host root to the extraradical mycelium occurred within 3 days after 14C labelling, and that there was only a short lag of < 1 day between 14C accumulation in the basal and distal parts of the mycelium. Although more 14C accumulated in the distal than in the basal parts, 14C counts per unit hyphal biomass were similar between the two. These results suggest that 14C spread rapidly throughout the entire mycelium. Thirteen days after 14C labelling, we estimated 14C allocation to extraradical mycelia by taking autoradiographs after removing host roots. About 24% of 14C counts in the underground part of the mycorrhizal seedlings had been allocated to extraradical mycelia in this system, indicating that the fugal mycelium is an important sink for photosynthates.

Autoradiography↗

Influence of colonisation by an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus on the growth of seedlings of Banksia ericifolia (Proteaceae).

Tap and primary lateral roots of seedlings of the putatively non-mycorrhizal Banksia ericifolia became marginally colonised when grown in an established mycelium of an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus in the laboratory. A similar degree of colonisation was found in seedlings from an open woodland. All colonies lacked arbuscules. Two factors influencing colonisation and associated growth of host plants were examined experimentally: concentration of P in the soil and organic energy associated with the fungus. While some inoculated seedlings were slightly smaller when colonised by AM fungi, the results were inconsistent and never statistically significant. Seedlings take up insignificant quantities of soil P during early growth, even in the presence of abundant added P. Though colonisation was minor in all cases, an existing mycelium, whether or not connected to a companion plant, slightly increased the amount of root of B. ericifolia colonised by an AM fungus. All seedlings grew slowly. Shoots were significantly larger than roots, until the initiation of proteoid roots which commenced at about 40 days after germination, with both relatively high and low P supply.

Mycorrhizae↗

Growth and survival of seedlings of native plants in an impoverished and highly disturbed soil following inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

We investigated whether arbuscular mycorrhizas influenced growth and survival of seedlings in an extremely impoverished and highly disturbed soil. Seedlings of four plants species native to the site were either inoculated with native sporocarpic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi or fertilised prior to transplanting, and followed over 86 weeks at the site. One treatment was also irrigated with N-rich leachate from the site. In a laboratory experiment, seedlings were fertilised with excess P for 6 weeks, and location of the P store determined. Growth and survival of AM and fertilised seedlings were similar at the site. Inoculated mycorrhizal fungi and roots appeared to extend into the surrounding soil together. P concentration in leaves of all plants was extremely low. Irrigation with leachate increased growth of seedlings. In the laboratory experiment, significantly more P was stored in roots than shoots. We suggest that successful revegetation of extremely disturbed and impoverished sites requires selection of mycorrhizal fungi and plants to suit the edaphic conditions and methods of out-planting.

Cupressaceae↗

Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization and nodulation improve flooding tolerance in Pterocarpus officinalis Jacq. seedlings.

Pterocarpus officinalis (Jacq.) seedlings inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus intraradices, and the strain of Bradyrhizobium sp. (UAG 11A) were grown under stem-flooded or nonflooded conditions for 13 weeks after 4 weeks of nonflooded pretreatment under greenhouse conditions. Flooding of P. officinalis seedlings induced several morphological and physiological adaptive mechanisms, including formation of hypertrophied lenticels and aerenchyma tissue and production of adventitious roots on submerged portions of the stem. Flooding also resulted in an increase in collar diameter and leaf, stem, root, and total dry weights, regardless of inoculation. Under flooding, arbuscular mycorrhizas were well developed on root systems and adventitious roots compared with inoculated root systems under nonflooding condition. Arbuscular mycorrhizas made noteworthy contributions to the flood tolerance of P. officinalis seedlings by improving plant growth and P acquisition in leaves. We report in this study the novel occurrence of nodules connected vascularly to the stem and nodule and arbuscular mycorrhizas on adventitious roots of P. officinalis seedlings. Root nodules appeared more efficient fixing N(2) than stem nodules were. Beneficial effect of nodulation in terms of total dry weight and N acquisition in leaves was particularly noted in seedlings growing under flooding conditions. There was no additive effect of arbuscular mycorrhizas and nodulation on plant growth and nutrition in either flooding treatment. The results suggest that the development of adventitious roots, aerenchyma tissue, and hypertrophied lenticels may play a major role in flooded tolerance of P. officinalis symbiosis by increasing oxygen diffusion to the submerged part of the stem and root zone, and therefore contribute to plant growth and nutrition.

Acclimatization↗

Effects of elevated carbon dioxide and ozone on foliar proanthocyanidins in Betula platyphylla, Betula ermanii, and Fagus crenata seedlings.

Proanthocyanidins (PAs) or condensed tannins are a major group of phenolic compounds in the leaves of birch trees and many other woody and herbaceous plants. These compounds constitute a significant allocation of carbon in leaves and are involved in plant responses to environmental stress factors, such as pathogens or herbivores. In some plants, PA concentrations are affected by atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO(2)) and ozone (O(3)) levels that may influence, for example, species fitness, community structure, or ecosystem nutrient cycling. Therefore, a study on the quantitative response of PAs to elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) and ozone (O(3)) was undertaken in seedlings of Betula platyphylla, Betula ermanii, and Fagus crenata. Seedlings were exposed to ambient or elevated O(3) and CO(2) levels during two growing seasons in the Kanto district in Japan. Ten open-top chambers were used for five different treatments with two replicates: filtered air (FA), ambient air (ambient O(3), 43 ppb; ambient CO(2), 377 ppm), elevated O(3) (1.5 x ambient O(3), 66 ppb), elevated CO(2) (1.5 x ambient CO(2), 544 ppm), and elevated O(3) and CO(2) combined. In addition, seedlings growing in natural conditions outside of chambers were studied. Leaf samples were analyzed for total PA concentrations by butanol-HCl assay and for polymeric PA concentrations by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Total PA concentrations in leaves of all species were similarly affected by different treatments. They were significantly higher in seedlings treated with elevated CO(2) and O(3) combined, and in seedlings growing outside chambers compared with the FA controls. F. crenata contained only traces of polymeric PAs, but significant species x treatment interaction was observed in the polymeric PA concentrations in B. ermanii and B. platyphylla. In B. platyphylla, leaves treated with elevated CO(2) + O(3) differed significantly from all other treatments. It was suggested that the strongest effect of elevated CO(2) and O(3) combined on leaf PA contents resulted from the additive effect of these environmental factors on phenolic biosynthesis.

Adaptation, Biological↗

Isolation and analysis of water stress induced genes in maize seedlings by subtractive PCR and cDNA macroarray.

In order to identify genes induced during the water stress response in maize (Zea mays) seedlings, suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was performed using mixed cDNAs prepared from maize seedlings treated with 20% PEG as testers and cDNAs from unstressed maize seedlings as drivers. A forward subtractive cDNA library was constructed, from which 960 recombinant colonies were picked and amplified. Through differential screening of the subtractive cDNA library, 533 clones were identified as water stress induced. After sequencing, 190 unique expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were obtained by clustering and blast analysis, which included transcripts that had previously been reported as responsive to stress as well as some functionally unknown transcripts. The ESTs with significant protein homology were sorted into 13 functional categories. A cDNA marcoarray containing the 190 unique ESTs was used to analyze their expression profiles in maize seedling during both PEG treatment and natural drought. The results indicated that 67 ESTs in leaves and 113 ESTs in roots were significantly up-regulated by PEG-stress. 123 ESTs were found to be up-regulated for at least one time-course point in either maize leaves or roots. Correspondingly, 163 ESTs were significantly up-regulated by drought stress. Results from the hierarchical cluster analysis suggest that the leaves and roots of maize seedlings had different expression profiles after PEG treatment and that there was a lot of overlap between PEG- and drought-stress induced up-regulated transcripts. A set of transcripts has been identified, which have significantly increased expression and probably involved in water stress signaling pathway based on data analysis.

Cluster Analysis↗

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) core and rice hulls as components of container media for growing Pinus halepensis M. seedlings.

The feasibility of replacing peat or perlite with rice hulls and ground kenaf core to grow a Mediterranean species (Pinus halepensis M.), was investigated. Treatments involved the following growing media: 70 peat:30 perlite as a control, 70 peat:30 rice hulls, 50 peat:50 rice hulls, kenaf (100%) and 60 kenaf:20 peat:20 rice hulls. The seedlings' quality and the physical and chemical properties of the substrates were evaluated. After this, the seedlings were planted in the field and their field performance was recorded. The results showed that the growth medium 70 peat:30 rice hulls can successfully be used for the production of P. halepensis, since the seedlings' nursery and field performance were similar to, or even better than those obtained with the control medium. The seedlings produced in the growth media containing kenaf did not attain a suitable planting size and showed poorer field performance than control seedlings.

Biomass↗

Effects of exposure time and co-existing organic compounds on uptake of atrazine from nutrient solution by rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.).

Root uptake of atrazine (ATR) by rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.) from nutrient solution was investigated with exposure periods of 48, 96, and 240h. A similar ATR uptake was carried out with two co-existing organic compounds (o-chlorophenol (CP) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP)) with 48h exposure. In contact with the seedlings, the ATR level in nutrient solution decreased sharply during the early exposure and then reached relatively steady levels after 48h. It was observed that the ATR levels within whole seedlings approached the estimated equilibrium partition limits in about 48h, according to the partition-limited model utilizing the measured plant water and organic matter contents and the ATR partition coefficients with whole seedlings. However, when roots and shoots were consisted separately, the detected ATR levels in roots were lower than estimated equilibrium limit while the levels in shoots exceeded the equilibrium limit. The data with roots suggested the occurrence of rapid ATR degradation in roots. The results with shoots are intrinsically consistent with the suggested complex formation of ATR with free metal ions in shoots. The ATR levels in roots and shoots varied to a moderate extent when the seedlings were exposed to different levels of ATR-CP-DCP mixtures. The variation results presumably from the interference of coexisting CP and DCP and the phytotoxicity of the mixed chemicals.

Atrazine↗

Light induces expression of a dehydrin-encoding gene during seedling de-etiolation in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).

The effects of light quality on the expression of a sunflower dehydrin-encoding gene, HaDhn1, were studied during seedling de-etiolation. Seeds were germinated in the dark and, after 5 days, seedlings were maintained well watered and de-etiolated under different lights for 3, 6, 12, and 24h. Exposure to white light stimulated HaDhn1 transcript accumulation in the cotyledons of these seedlings, contrary to seedlings grown in the dark. HaDhn1 transcripts increased also treating plantlets with monochromatic lights, especially red light. The increase of HaDhn1 transcripts is provoked by the formation of the active form of phytochrome. Further experiments, performed saturating active phytochrome by yellow light, in combination or not with blue light, showed that also cryptochrome can increase HaDhn1 transcripts accumulation after exposure to light. In situ analysis of HaDhn1 expression domains in cotyledons of light-treated seedlings showed a hybridisation signal spread in all mesophyll cells, especially in the basal portion and in the vascular tissue. In the distal portion of the cotyledons, less intense signal was observed. Western blot analysis indicated that HaDhn1 transcription is not followed by dehydrin-protein accumulation. The isolated putative promoter sequence of the HaDhn1 gene showed that different putative cis-elements recognisable by transcription factors occur in the isolated sequence, including a putative light-responsive G-box. On the whole, our results indicate that HaDhn1 gene expression is induced by light during de-etiolation, in absence of water stress.

Base Sequence↗

Red/far-red light modulates phospholipase D activity in oat seedlings: relation of enzyme photosensitivity to photosynthesis.

Phospholipase D (PLD) activity was found to be higher in etiolated oat seedlings than in green seedlings. White and red (R) light exposure inhibited PLD activity in etiolated seedlings. Far-red light eliminated R-light-induced decrease in PLD activity, indicating phytochrome participation in observed photomodulation. Inhibitor of electron transport in chloroplast 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea stimulated and glucose suppressed PLD activity in green and etiolated oat seedlings, respectively. These results suggest that PLD activity in oat seedling is regulated by light with involvement of phytochrome photoreceptor, and associated with photosynthesis process.

Avena↗