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PubMed2005

A soil alteration index based on phospholipid fatty acids.

Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis has gained great importance in the study of soil microbial community structure. This structure can give indication of the soil status. Purpose of the present paper is to analyse PLFA patterns in altered agricultural soils in order to develop a soil status alteration index. Soils subjected either to intensive agricultural exploitation, or to overflow by municipal and industrial wastes, or to irrigation with saline waters were analysed for PLFA content and compared to adjacent untreated soils by means of different statistical techniques. Principal component analysis separated PLFAs in three groups: unsaturated PLFAs (first axis, 48% of total variance), monounsaturated and cyclopropane PLFAs (second axis, 28% of total variance) and polyunsaturated PLFAs (third axis, 24% of total variance). By means of canonical discriminant analysis, a soil alteration index (SAI) was produced from 15 PLFAs using two data sets. A third data set was used to test the SAI general validity together with other data sets reported in literature. The index validity was confirmed in most cases: SAI gave higher scores for control soils and was generally able to classify soils according to their reported degree of alteration.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1985

Oxygen-Dependent Exclusion of Sodium Ions from Shoots by Roots of Zea mays (cv Pioneer 3906) in Relation to Salinity Damage.

Using radio-tracers, we measured Na(+) and K(+) accumulation in roots and transport to shoots in Zea mays (cv Pioneer 3906) as a function of NaCl concentration and O(2) partial pressure in the nutrient solution. Under fully aerobic conditions, roots partially excluded Na(+) from the shoots over a wide range of NaCl concentration (0.2-200 millimolar). With root anoxia, the exclusion mechanism broke down so that much greater amounts of Na(+) reached the shoots, with simultaneous inhibition of K(+) transport. The ratio Na(+)/K(+) entering the shoot consequently increased 90 to 200 times. Increases in Na(+) transport were first detected when the O(2) partial pressure was reduced from ambient (21% v/v) to 15%, whereas K(+) transport was not inhibited until O(2) concentrations were <5%. Since soil O(2) deficiency can often accompany high salinity in irrigation agriculture, failure of the Na(+) exclusion mechanism may be a contributory factor in salinity damage of salt-sensitive glycophytes.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Arbuscular mycorrhizal relations of mangrove plant community at the Ganges river estuary in India.

Mangroves are climax formation of hydrohalophytes inhabiting estuarine or marine salt marshes in the tropics and subtropics. As a terrestrial plant community inhabiting tidally inundated estuarine or marine sediments, mangroves show considerable adaptation to salinity, water-logging and nutrient stress. Thirty-one species of mangrove and mangrove associates and 23 species of transported flora, belonging to 25 families at four physiographic stages of succession of the mangrove plant community at the terminal part of the Ganges river estuary in India were examined for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) root association. Dominant members of the mangrove plant community were all AM, mostly with 'Paris' type structures. Many of the known non-mycotrophic plant families, except the Cyperaceae, also showed AM association, with intracellular hyphae and vesicles as the most discernible endophyte structures. Intensity of AM colonization varied both with the species and situations of their occurrence, being more intense and also more extensive in less saline dry ridge mangroves than in more saline formative and developed swamp mangroves. Introduced exotic trees on the ridges and embankments were infected by AM, but less than the declining mangroves in the same location. Seven species of AM fungi in common with those of the upstream mesophytic plants were isolated from root-free rhizosphere soils of the mangroves, three of which predominated in root association. These species, individually and as mixtures, infected roots of salinity tolerant herbs and trees in both locational silt and upstream alluvial soil with obvious improvements in their biomass yield and phosphorus nutrition. AM infective potential of root-free rhizosphere soils of the dominant members of the mangrove community were negatively related to salinity level of the sediment soil of the successional stages. The evidences of AM association of mangroves and other salt marsh plants obtained here and those reported elsewhere are discussed.

Avicennia↗
PubMed1975

Wound cleansing by high pressure irrigation.

All traumatic wounds are contaminated to some degree by both soil and bacteria. Specific infection potentiating factors in soil impair the defenses of the tissue and invite infection. These factors are small in size and resist removal by low pressure irrigation. The efficiency of wound irrigation is markedly improved by delivering the irrigant to the wound under continuous high pressure. Irrigation of the wound with saline solution delivered at 15 pounds per square inch removed 84.8 per cent of the soil infection potentiating factors from the wound. The residual infection potentiating factors remaining in the wound did not significantly impair tissue defenses. On the basis of these experimental studies, clinical studies are now being initiated to test the therapeutic value of high pressure irrigation in traumatic wounds in humans.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Kinetics of phenol biodegradation in high salt solutions.

Biological treatment of high-salinity industrial wastewaters using halophilic bacteria can be used to remove organic compounds without first decreasing the salt concentration. While halophilic degradation of phenol and other organics has been investigated, there exists a general absence of kinetic data in current literature to allow evaluation of this treatment alternative. Liquid, soil and sediment samples were collected from three distinct saline environments in the western United States. Samples were enriched in media containing 10% (w/v) NaCl at pH 7.0, with phenol as a substrate. Mixed culture batch experiments were conducted at 30 degrees C with initial phenol concentrations of 50 mg/L. Evaluation of phenol degradation and corresponding cell growth data with Monod and Andrews models indicated that the kinetics were zero-order with respect to phenol. Zero-order specific growth rates ranged from 0.22 to 0.32 h(-1), while observed cell yields were 0.18-0.28 mg cell protein/mg phenol for the five cultures. For one of the cultures, phenol degradation rates were also quantified at concentrations of up to 320 mg/L. Under these conditions, specific growth rates ranged from 0.09 to 0.22 h(-1), decreasing with increasing initial phenol concentrations. Cell yields at these higher initial phenol concentrations ranged from 0.20 to 0.29 mg cell protein/mg phenol.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed2005

Changes in microbial and soil properties following amendment with treated and untreated olive mill wastewater.

We investigated the effect of untreated and biologically treated olive mill wastewater (OMW) spreading on the soil characteristics and the microbial communities. The water holding capacity, the salinity and the content of total organic carbon, humus, total nitrogen, phosphate and potassium increased when the spread amounts of the treated or untreated OMW increased. The OMW treated soil exhibited significantly higher respiration compared to the control soil. However, the C-CO2/C(tot) ratio decreased from 1.7 in the control soil to 0.5 in the soil amended with 100 m3 ha(-1) of untreated OMW. However, it slightly decreased to 1.15 in the soil amended with 400 m3 ha(-1) of treated OMW. The treated OMW increased the total mesophylic number while the number of fungi and nitrifiers decreased. Actinomycetes and spore-forming bacteria were neither sensitive to treated nor to untreated OMW. The total coliforms increased with higher doses of treated and untreated OMW. A toxic effect of the untreated OMW appeared from 100 m3 ha(-1). This toxicity was more significant with 200 m3 ha(-1), where microflora of total mesophilic, yeasts and moulds, actinomycetes, and nitrifiers were seriously inhibited except for total coliforms and spore-forming bacteria.

Actinobacteria↗
PubMed2002

Pulmonary toxicity of simulated lunar and Martian dusts in mice: I. Histopathology 7 and 90 days after intratracheal instillation.

NASA is contemplating sending humans to Mars and to the moon for further exploration. Volcanic ashes from Arizona and Hawaii with mineral properties similar to those of lunar and Martian soils, respectively, are used to simulate lunar and Martian environments for instrument testing. Martian soil is highly oxidative; this property is not found in Earth's volcanic ashes. NASA is concerned about the health risk from potential exposure of workers in the test facilities. Fine lunar soil simulant (LSS), Martian soil simulant (MSS), titanium dioxide, or quartz in saline was intratracheally instilled into groups of 4 mice (C57BL/6J) at 0.1 mg/mouse (low dose, LD) or 1 mg/mouse (high dose, HD). Separate groups of mice were exposed to ozone (0.5 ppm for 3 h) prior to MSS instillation. Lungs were harvested for histopathological examination 7 or 90 days after the single dust treatment. The lungs of the LSS-LD groups showed no evidence of inflammation, edema, or fibrosis; clumps of particles and an increased number of macrophages were visible after 7 days but not 90 days. In the LSS-HD-7d group, the lungs showed mild to moderate alveolitis, and perivascular and peribronchiolar inflammation. The LSS-HD-90d group showed signs of mild chronic pulmonary inflammation, septal thickening, and some fibrosis. Foci of particle-laden macrophages (PLMs) were still visible. Lung lesions in the MSS-LD-7d group were similar to those observed in the LSS-HD-7d group. The MSS-LD-90d group had PLMs and scattered foci of mild fibrosis in the lungs. The MSS-HD-7d group showed large foci of PLMs, intra-alveolar debris, mild-to-moderate focal alveolitis, and perivascular and peribronchiolar inflammation. The MSS-HD-90d group showed focal chronic mild-to-moderate alveolitis and fibrosis. The findings in the O(3)-MSS-HD-90d group included widespread intra-alveolar debris, focal moderate alveolitis, and fibrosis. Lung lesions in the MSS groups were more severe with the ozone pretreatment. The effects of O(3) and MSS coexposure appeared to be more than additive. Results for the TiO(2) and quartz controls were consistent with the known pulmonary toxicity of these compounds. The overall severity of lung injury was TiO(2) < LSS < MSS < O(3) + MSS < quartz. Except for TiO(2), the increased duration of dust presence in the lung from 7 to 90 days transformed the acute inflammatory response to a chronic inflammatory lesion. This study showed that LSS and MSS are more hazardous in the lungs than nuisance dusts.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2006

Evaluation of groundwater quality in northern Indo-Gangetic alluvium region.

The northern Indo-Gangetic alluvium region is known for intensive agricultural and industrial activities. Groundwater is the main source used for drinking, irrigation and industrial purposes in this region. Groundwater quality assessment is an essential component for its safer use. Thus, the measurements on various water quality parameters were carried out on surface water and groundwater samples of dug wells, bore wells and hand pumps at different sites spread over an area of about 2150 km(2). Influence of soil on hydrochemistry of groundwater was investigated through analyzing soil characteristics at selected sites in the region. Water quality classification was investigated through calculating the base-exchange, meteoric genesis, Langelier saturation and Ryznar stability indices. Groundwater sources were evaluated according to various criteria for their drinking and domestic, irrigation (salinity, chlorinity and sodicity), and industrial (saturation index) uses. Soil-water interactions and impact on groundwater quality was evaluated using ion flux coefficient (cf). Results of this study show that the groundwater in the study region is mainly of Na-HCO(3) and shallow meteoric water percolation type. Low cf values observed for NO(3), PO(4), Ca and metals indicate their lower mobility from soil matrix to groundwater. About 4-19% of the groundwater samples showed levels of TDS, hardness, alkalinity, Cl, F, SO(4), Ca, Mn, Pb, Cr and Fe above their respective permissible limits. Majority of samples violating the drinking water guidelines belong to shallow depth aquifer. Correlations between various parameters lead to interpretation of the results of analysis and suggesting the ionic species present in the groundwater sources. Contamination of some groundwater aquifers with F, Pb and Cr indicates natural and anthropogenic influences.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2004

[Amelioration of secondary bare alkali-saline patches in Songnen Plain through inserting cornstalk].

Based on the field experiment on Songnen grassland, a new method was established to ameliorate the secondary bare alkali-saline patches (SAP) through inserting cornstalk. The experiment was rested on the assumption that through inserting cornstalk in the secondary bare alkali-saline patches (SAP) to retain seeds moving over its surface, the necessary seed source could be gained; and these seeds should be able to germinate and survive successfully on the cornstalk itself or in its neighborhood, where should be more fit to grow than other sites in SAP, due to the decomposition of cornstalk and its special role, so that, the aim to restore vegetation of SAP could be achieved at a pretty low cost and rapid speed. The results showed that the seed bank in soil was increased significantly, owing to the inserted cornstalk and its operating processes. The seed number in ameliorated soil was 4020.0 +/- 1773.6 seeds x m(-2), while that in the secondary bare alkali-saline patches (SAP) was only 10.0 +/- 31.6 seeds x m(-2). Although the soil chemical and physical characters in ameliorated zone were improved to some extent, the overall situation of soil was still bad for plant growth, as the pH, soluble saline ion and organic matter were concerned. Most of Chloris virgata grew around or on the cornstalk, the plants around each cornstalk being 3.9 +/- 2.2, and the total being 48.64 +/- 38.72 g x m(-2). Therefore, this method demanded a few resources, and needed simple technology and low cost, which is potentially deserved to popularize.

Alkalies↗
PubMed1994

Plant responses to atmospheric CO2 enrichment with emphasis on roots and the rhizosphere.

Empirical records provide incontestable evidence of global changes: foremost among these changes is the rising concentration of CO(2) in the earth's atmosphere. Plant growth is nearly always stimulated by elevation of CO(2). Photosynthesis increases, more plant biomass accumulates per unit of water consumed, and economic yield is enhanced. The profitable use of supplemental CO(2) over years of greenhouse practice points to the value of CO(2) for plant production. Plant responses to CO(2) are known to interact with other environmental factors, e.g. light, temperature, soil water, and humidity. Important stresses including drought, temperature, salinity, and air pollution have been shown to be ameliorated when CO(2) levels are elevated. In the agricultural context, the growing season has been shortened for some crops with the application of more CO(2); less water use has generally, but not always, been observed and is under further study; experimental studies have shown that economic yield for most crops increases by about 33% for a doubling of ambient CO(2) concentration. However, there are some reports of negligible or negative effects. Plant species respond differently to CO(2) enrichment, therefore, clearly competitive shifts within natural communities could occur. Though of less importance in managed agro-ecosystems, competition between crops and weeds could also be altered. Tissue composition can vary as CO(2) increases (e.g. higher C: N ratios) leading to changes in herbivory, but tests of crop products (consumed by man) from elevated CO(2) experiments have generally not revealed significant differences in their quality. However, any CO(2)-induced change in plant chemical or structural make-up could lead to alterations in the plant's interaction with any number of environmental factors-physicochemical or biological. Host-pathogen relationships, defense against physical stressors, and the capacity to overcome resource shortages could be impacted by rises in CO(2). Root biomass is known to increase but, with few exceptions, detailed studies of root growth and function are lacking. Potential enhancement of root growth could translate into greater rhizodeposition, which, in turn, could lead to shifts in the rhizosphere itself. Some of the direct effects of CO(2) on vegetation have been reasonably well-studied, but for others work has been inadequate. Among these neglected areas are plant roots and the rhizosphere. Therefore, experiments on root and rhizosphere response in plants grown in CO(2)-enriched atmospheres will be reviewed and, where possible, collectively integrated. To this will be added data which have recently been collected by us. Having looked at the available data base, we will offer a series of hypotheses which we consider as priority targets for future research.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1967

Water and salt stresses, kinetin and protein synthesis in tobacco leaves.

The capacity of tobacco (Nicotiana rustica) leaf discs to incorporate l-leucine (14)C into proteins was measured. Leaf discs were obtained from plants which experienced soil water depletion, or which were exposed to a saline or osmotic stress in the root medium. The stresses were brief of relatively short duration and water potential did not decrease below 4 bars in the root media. Leaf discs were sampled 2 hours after stress removal, achieved by reirrigation, or replacement of saline and osmotic solutions with normal nutrient solution. Plants were always turgid when leaves were sampled.All stressed tissues showed reduced capacity to incorporate l-leucine (14)C into protein. The reduction was about 50% and could not be attributed either to reduced uptake into the discs, or to possible isotopic dilution. Incorporation decreased progressively with leaf age in control discs as well as in stressed leaf discs. At all ages tested, incorporation in stressed discs was lower than that of the control. Full recovery of incorporation capacity in stressed discs was obtained when discs were sampled 72 hours after stress removal but not earlier.Kinetin pretreatment prior to incubation with labelled leucine partially restored incorporation in stressed discs. The differences in response to kinetin of stressed and control discs suggest a lower endogenous level of cytokinins in the stressed discs. The results were qualitatively similar regardless of the kind of stress given to the plants during pretreatment. This supports the hypothesis that the normal supply of root cytokinins is important in shoot metabolism.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Extended studies on the viability of Mycobacterium leprae outside the human body.

Very little is known in leprosy regarding the transmission of the infection from the source to the susceptible host. One of the important factors which governs the transmission of the disease is the viability of Mycobacterium leprae outside the human body. In this study M. leprae obtained from untreated patients have been subjected to several adverse conditions. Their viability was verified by their multiplication in the footpads of normal mice. After drying in the shade the organisms were viable up to 5 months. On wet soil, they remained alive for 46 days. Kept in saline at room temperature, the organisms lived for 60 days. Surprisingly on exposure to direct sunlight for 3 hours a day the bacteria survived for 7 days. On refrigeration at 4 degrees C, the bacteria could be preserved for 60 days. On the other hand, keeping at -70 degrees C, the bacteria could be maintained in a living condition for only 28 days. On exposure to antiseptics like Savlon (R) and alcohol, the bacteria were rapidly killed. These results indicate the survival outside the human body of M. leprae under different environmental conditions in India where the disease is endemic. Transmission of infection by indirect contact and occurrence of new cases in the absences of any known source, are consistent with M. leprae being viable outside the human body for varying periods of time. The findings could also be pointers to understand the epidemiology of leprosy.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Use of radium isotopes to determine the age and origin of radioactive barite at oil-field production sites.

Radium-bearing barite (radiobarite) is a common constituent of scale and sludge deposits that form in oil-field production equipment. The barite forms as a precipitate from radium-bearing, saline formation water that is pumped to the surface along with oil. Radioactivity levels in some oil-field equipment and in soils contaminated by scale and sludge can be sufficiently high to pose a potential health threat. Accurate determinations of radium isotopes (226Ra + 228Ra) in soils are required to establish the level of soil contamination and the volume of soil that may exceed regulatory limits for total radium content. In this study the radium isotopic data are used to provide estimates of the age of formation of the radiobarite contaminant. Age estimates require that highly insoluble radiobarite approximates a chemically closed system from the time of its formation. Age estimates are based on the decay of short-lived 228Ra (half-life = 5.76 years) compared to 226Ra (half-life = 1600 years). Present activity ratios of 228Ra/226Ra in radiobarite-rich scale or highly contaminated soil are compared to initial ratios at the time of radiobarite precipitation. Initial ratios are estimated by measurements of saline water or recent barite precipitates at the site or by considering a range of probable initial ratios based on reported values in modern oil-field brines. At sites that contain two distinct radiobarite sources of different age, the soils containing mixtures of sources can be identified, and mixing proportions quantified using radium concentration and isotopic data. These uses of radium isotope data provide more description of contamination history and can possibly address liability issues.

Barium Sulfate↗
PubMed2004

Pad test by mail for home evaluation of urinary incontinence.

AIMS: To present a simple, cost-effective, and convenient method of home pad test using the mail system and evaluating change in pad weight over time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of nine kinds of commonly available commercial brands of urinary incontinence pads ranging from thin liners less than 10 g in dry weight to large diapers weighing over 100 g each were assembled. Two or three of each variety were individually weighed on an OHAUS LS2000 Portable Standard scale accurate to +/- 1 g. The pads were then wet uniformly with 20 cc of saline, placed individually in sealable plastic bags, sealed, and reweighed. Random groups of three pads were mailed by standard 1st class mail to the Urocenter of New York. The sealed pads were reweighed at 8 and 14 days from the original wetting. Concurrently, ten incontinence pads soiled with urine were similarly examined to confirm that there would be no detectable difference between urine and saline for the purpose of the study. In the second part of the study, 20 pads of the same type (13 inch-long pads with absorbent gel) were divided into 4 groups of 5 pads; each group was uniformly wet with 5, 10, 20, or 50 g of saline. These pads were mailed and reweighed at 7 and 14 days from the initial wetting. RESULTS: Twenty-four pads were used in the first part of the study. The dry weights of 22/24 (92%) of the pads were within 2 g of the average weight for their brand. At the first reweighing, 22 pads (92%) weighed within 2 g of their initial wet weights (Fig. 1). Only two pads on day 8 differed substantially from their initial weights: one pad appeared to have lost 4 g and another one 9 g. On day 14, 23/24 pads remained within 1 g of their day 8 weight and 1 differed by 2 g, and the total weight of the 24 pads on day 14 was only 4 g different from their initial weight (P = 0.71, Fig. 1). The soiled pads exhibited weight changes that were indistinguishable from the saline pads. The average cost of mailing the pads by 1st class mail was $4 and the average length of time in the mail was 5 days +/- 1 day. In the second part of the study, 18/20 pads had lost less than 1 g at 1 week, and at 2 weeks, 19/20 had lost less than 2 g when compared to their initial weights (Fig. 2). One pad had lost 3 g. Pads in the low volume groups (5 and 10 g) lost an average of 1.4 and 1.2 g, respectively, while pads in the high volume groups (20, 50 g) lost an average of 1.8 and 2 g at 2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Dry pads of any single brand have a relatively standard weight that varies insignificantly between pads. Up to 2 weeks of delay in the weighing of individually sealed pads does not significantly affect the clinical measurement of weight at a variety of low (5 g) or high (50 g) volumes of simulated incontinence. Home pad test using the mail system is a feasible, inexpensive, and clinically accurate method of evaluating incontinence. Patients can be instructed in techniques for home pad test, allowing for greater compliance, and convenience for both physicians and patients.

Humans↗
PubMed2006

A fuzzy logic approach to assess groundwater pollution levels below agricultural fields.

A fuzzy logic approach has been developed to assess the groundwater pollution levels below agricultural fields. The data collected for Kumluca Plain of Turkey have been utilized to develop the approach. The plain is known with its intensive agricultural activities, which imply excessive application of fertilizers. The characteristics of the soils and underlying groundwater for this plain were monitored during the years 1999 and 2000. Additionally, an extensive field survey related to the types and yields of crops, fertilizer application and irrigation water was carried out. Both the soil and groundwater have exhibited high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and salinity with considerable spatial and temporal variations. The pollution level of groundwater at several established stations within the plain were assessed using Fuzzy Logic. Water Pollution Index (WPI) values are calculated by Fuzzy Logic utilizing the most significant groundwater pollutants in the area namely nitrite, nitrate and orthophosphate together with the groundwater vulnerability to pollution. The results of the calculated WPI and the monitoring study have yielded good agreement. WPI indicated high to moderate water pollution levels at Kumluca plain depending on factors such as agricultural age, depth to groundwater, soil characteristics and vulnerability of groundwater to pollution. Fuzzy Logic approach has shown to be a practical, simple and useful tool to assess groundwater pollution levels.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2005

Designing principles of an ecological water storage basin on coastal saline: a case study.

The degradation of water source environment becomes serious problems accompanying with rapid urbanization in China. Ecological engineering provides ecologically sound and cost-effective solution to solving this problem. As a case study, a 15 hm2 ecological water storage basin for a water plant was designed and constructed on the TEDA area in Tianjin City. Located on saline, the construction of this project has to face serious difficulties, such as high salinity, scarce seed banks of macrophytes, and strong winds. Freshwater replacement, soil amendation and macrophytes planting at the basinshore, wooden water breaker and plastic membrane installation and other measures were conducted for the assistance of plant community establishment. The result showed that the chloride concentration in the basin water decreased from 11600 mg/L to less than 100 mg/L, and the chloride content in the basin sediment decreased from 2.1 % to 0.35% after freshwater soaking. The introduced macrophytes of 8 species all survived and 11 other macrophytes species were occurred in the basin. A new ecosystem was created with increased biological diversity in the original saline, and the water quality was improved. This ecological water storage basin also provided a pleasing landscape for local people.

China↗
PubMed2006

Expression profiling of the 14-3-3 gene family in response to salt stress and potassium and iron deficiencies in young tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) roots: analysis by real-time RT-PCR.

UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND AND AIMS Mineral nutrient deficiencies and salinity constitute major limitations for crop plant growth on agricultural soils. 14-3-3 proteins are phosphoserine-binding proteins that regulate the activities of a wide array of targets via direct protein-protein interactions and may play an important role in responses to mineral nutrients deficiencies and salt stress. In the present study, the expression profiling of the 14-3-3 gene family in response to salt stress and potassium and iron deficiencies in young tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) roots was investigated in order to analyse the 14-3-3 roles of the proteins in these abiotic stresses. METHODS: Sequence identities and phylogenetic tree creation were performed using DNAMAN version 4.0 (Lynnon Biosoft Company). Real-time RT-PCR was used to examine the expression of each 14-3-3 gene in response to salt stress and potassium and iron deficiencies in young tomato roots. KEY RESULTS: The phylogenetic tree shows that the 14-3-3 gene family falls into two major groups in tomato plants. By using real-time RT-PCR, it was found that (a) under normal growth conditions, there were significant differences in the mRNA levels of 14-3-3 gene family members in young tomato roots and (b) 14-3-3 proteins exhibited diverse patterns of gene expression in response to salt stress and potassium and iron deficiencies in tomato roots. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that (a) 14-3-3 proteins may be involved in the salt stress and potassium and iron deficiency signalling pathways in young tomato roots, (b) the expression pattern of 14-3-3 gene family members in tomato roots is not strictly related to the position of the corresponding proteins within a phylogenetic tree, (c) gene-specific expression patterns indicate that isoform-specificity may exist in the 14-3-3 gene family of tomato roots, and (d) 14-3-3 proteins (TFT7) might mediate cross-talk between the salt stress and potassium and iron-deficiency signalling pathways in tomato roots.

14-3-3 Proteins↗