Comparative physiological, ultrastructural and proteomic analyses reveal sexual differences in the responses of Populus cathayana under drought stress

Effects of Water Loss Stress under Tidal Effects on the Epiphytic Bacterial Community of Sargassum thunbergii in the Intertidal Zone

Intertidal macroalgae face periodic water loss and rehydration caused by daily tidal changes. However, the effect of water loss stress on algal epiphytic bacteria has not yet been reported. In this study, the effects of water loss stress on the epiphytic bacteria community of Sargassum thunbergii were analyzed, and the different responses of epiphytic bacteria to water loss stress were compared between male and female algae. The results showed that after water loss stress, the diversity of the epiphytic bacterial community of S. thunbergii first decreased and then increased. Among the dominant taxa, the abundance of Cyanobacteria decreased significantly, whereas the abundance of Portibacter and Aquimarina first increased and then decreased. Additionally, the indicator species and the abundance of predicted functional genes related to carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur metabolism both changed significantly. More importantly, when the epiphytic bacteria were analyzed separately according to the algal sex, the changes in algal epiphytic bacterial community structure and indicator species were more significant, and there were sexual differences. Therefore, it was concluded that water loss stress has a significant effect on the community structure and function of the epiphytic bacteria on S. thunbergii. Meanwhile, the epiphytic bacteria community of two sexes of S. thunbergii differed in the response to water loss stress. IMPORTANCE Periodic water loss caused by the tide is an important environmental factor that is faced by intertidal macroalgae, but the impact of periodic water loss on the epiphytic bacterial communities associated with macroalgae is still unknown. Through this study, we found that the diversity, the relative abundance of dominant taxa, the indicator species, and the abundance of the predicted functional genes in the epiphytic bacteria on S. thunbergii changed with the time of water loss. Moreover, male and female S. thunbergii exhibited different responses to water loss stress. This study not only paves the way for the delineation of the interactions between S. thunbergii and its epiphytic bacteria but also provides new insights for the mechanisms of the adaptation and evolution of macroalgae in the intertidal zone.

iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis of heteromorphic leaves reveals eco-adaptability of Populus euphratica Oliv

BACKGROUND

Heterophylly is regard as adaptation to different environments in plant, and Populus euphratica is an important heterophyllous woody plant. However, information on its molecular mechanism in eco-adaptability remains obscure.

RESULTS

In this research, proteins were identified by isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) technology in lanceolate, ovate, and dentate broad-ovate leaves from adult P. euphratica trees, respectively. Besides, chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and peroxidase activity in these heteromorphic leaves were investigated. A total number of 2,689 proteins were detected in the heteromorphic leaves, of which 56, 73, and 222 differential abundance proteins (DAPs) were determined in ovate/lanceolate, dentate broad-ovate/lanceolate, and dentate broad-ovate/ovate comparison groups. Bioinformatics analysis suggested these altered proteins related to photosynthesis, stress tolerance, respiration and primary metabolism accumulated in dentate broad-ovate and ovate leaves, which were consistent with the results of physiological parameters and Real-time Quantitative PCR experiments.

CONCLUSION

This research demonstrated the mechanism of the differential abundance proteins in providing an optimal strategy of resource utilization and survival for P. euphratica, that could offer clues for further investigations into eco-adaptability of heterophyllous woody plants.

Sex Differences in Desiccation Tolerance Varies by Colony in the Mesic Liverwort Plagiochila porelloides

Water scarcity, a common stress factor, negatively impacts plant performance. Strategies to cope with it, such as desiccation tolerance, are becoming increasingly important to investigate. However, phenomena, such as intraspecific variation in stress responses have not received much attention. Knowledge of this variability and the environmental drivers can be leveraged to further investigate the mechanisms of desiccation tolerance. Here we tested for variation in desiccation tolerance in Plagiochila porelloides among colonies and sexes within the same riparian zone. Field-collected dehardened plants were subjected to a desiccation event, under controlled conditions and then rehydrated. Plant water status, photosynthetic rates, net carbon gain, and efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) were assayed to evaluate tissue desiccation, basic metabolic processes and plant recovery. To establish a linkage between plant response and environmental factors, field light conditions were measured. We detected intraspecific variation, where a more exposed colony (high percentage of open sky, large temporal range of light quantity, and high red/far-red ratio) showed sex differences in desiccation tolerance and recovery. Overall, PSII recovery occurred by 72 h after rehydration, with a positive carbon gain occurring by day 30. This within species variation suggests plastic or genetic effects, and likely association with light conditions.

SWATH-MS based quantitive proteomics reveal regulatory metabolism and networks of androdioecy breeding system in Osmanthus fragrans

BACKGROUND

The fragrant flower plant Osmanthus fragrans has an extremely rare androdioecious breeding system displaying the occurrence of males and hermaphrodites in a single population, which occupies a crucial intermediate stage in the evolutionary transition between hermaphroditism and dioecy. However, the molecular mechanism of androdioecy plant is very limited and still largely unknown.

RESULTS

Here, we used SWATH-MS-based quantitative approach to study the proteome changes between male and hermaphroditic O. fragrans pistils. A total of 428 proteins of diverse functions were determined to show significant abundance changes including 210 up-regulated and 218 down-regulated proteins in male compared to hermaphroditic pistils. Functional categorization revealed that the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) primarily distributed in the carbohydrate metabolism, secondary metabolism as well as signaling cascades. Further experimental analysis showed the substantial carbohydrates accumulation associated with promoted net photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency were observed in purplish red pedicel of hermaphroditic flower compared with green pedicel of male flower, implicating glucose metabolism serves as nutritional modulator for the differentiation of male and hermaphroditic flower. Meanwhile, the entire upregulation of secondary metabolism including flavonoids, isoprenoids and lignins seem to protect and maintain the male function in male flowers, well explaining important feature of androdioecy that aborted pistil of a male flower still has a male function. Furthermore, nine selected DEPs were validated via gene expression analysis, suggesting an extra layer of post-transcriptional regulation occurs during O. fragrans floral development.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, our findings represent the first SWATH-MS-based proteomic report in androdioecy plant O. fragrans, which reveal carbohydrate metabolism, secondary metabolism and post-transcriptional regulation contributing to the androdioecy breeding system and ultimately extend our understanding on genetic basis as well as the industrialization development of O. fragrans.

Inbreeding in a dioecious plant has sex- and population origin-specific effects on its interactions with pollinators

We study the effects of inbreeding in a dioecious plant on its interaction with pollinating insects and test whether the magnitude of such effects is shaped by plant individual sex and the evolutionary histories of plant populations. We recorded spatial, scent, colour, and rewarding flower traits as well as pollinator visitation rates in experimentally inbred and outbred, male and female Silene latifolia plants from European and North American populations differing in their evolutionary histories. We found that inbreeding specifically impairs spatial flower traits and floral scent. Our results support that sex-specific selection and gene expression may have partially magnified these inbreeding costs for females, and that divergent evolutionary histories altered the genetic architecture underlying inbreeding effects across population origins. Moreover, the results indicate that inbreeding effects on floral scent may have a huge potential to disrupt interactions among plants and nocturnal moth pollinators, which are mediated by elaborate chemical communication.

Sodium nitroprusside application improves morphological and physiological attributes of soybean (Glycine max L.) under salinity stress

Salinity is among the major abiotic stresses negatively affecting the growth and productivity of crop plants. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) -an external nitric oxide (NO) donor- has been found effective to impart salinity tolerance to plants. Soybean (Glycine max L.) is widely cultivated around the world; however, salinity stress hampers its growth and productivity. Therefore, the current study evaluated the role of SNP in improving morphological, physiological and biochemical attributes of soybean under salinity stress. Data relating to biomass, chlorophyll and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, activities of various antioxidant enzymes, ion content and ultrastructural analysis were collected. The SNP application ameliorated the negative effects of salinity stress to significant extent by regulating antioxidant mechanism. Root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll contents, activities of various antioxidant enzymes, i.e., catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were improved with SNP application under salinity stress compared to control treatment. Similarly, plants treated with SNP observed less damage to cell organelles of roots and leaves under salinity stress. The results revealed pivotal functions of SNP in salinity tolerance of soybean, including cell wall repair, sequestration of sodium ion in the vacuole and maintenance of normal chloroplasts with no swelling of thylakoids. Minor distortions of cell membrane and large number of starch grains indicates an increase in the photosynthetic activity. Therefore, SNP can be used as a regulator to improve the salinity tolerance of soybean in salt affected soils.

Divergence of Phyllosphere Microbial Communities Between Females and Males of the Dioecious Populus cathayana

Females and males of dioecious plants have evolved sex-specific characteristics in terms of their morphological and physiological properties. However, the differentiation of phyllosphere microbiota in dioecious plants remains largely unexplored. Here, the diversity and composition of female and male Populus cathayana phyllosphere bacterial and fungal communities were investigated using 16S rRNA/ITS1 gene-based MiSeq sequencing. The divergences of bacterial and fungal community compositions occurred between females and males. Both females and males had their unique phyllosphere bacterial and fungal microbiota, such as bacterial Gemmata spp. (5.41%) and fungal Pringsheimia spp. (0.03%) in females and bacterial Chitinophaga spp. (0.009%) and fungal Phaeococcomyces spp. (0.02%) in males. Significant differences in the relative abundance of phyla Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes bacteria and phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota fungi (P < 0.05) were also found between females and males. Some bacterial species of genera Spirosoma and Amnibacterium and fungal genera Venturia, Suillus, and Elmerina spp. were significantly enriched in males (P < 0.05). In contrast, levels of fungal genera Phoma and Aureobasidium spp. were significantly higher in females than in males (P < 0.05). The mineral, inorganic, and organic nutrients content contributed differently to the divergence of female and male phyllosphere microbial communities, with 87.08 and 45.17% of the variations being explained for bacterial and fungal communities, respectively. These results highlight the sexual discrimination of phyllosphere microbes on the dioecious plants and provide hints on the potential host-associated species in phyllosphere environments.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.

Effect of summer warming on growth, photosynthesis and water status in female and male Populus cathayana: implications for sex-specific drought and heat tolerances

Effects of climate warming on tree growth and physiology may be driven by direct thermal effects and/or by changes in soil moisture. Dioecious tree species usually show sexual spatial segregation along abiotic gradients; however, few studies have assessed the sex-specific responses to warming in dioecious trees. We investigated the sex-specific responses in growth, photosynthesis, nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC), water-use efficiency and whole-plant hydraulic conductance (KP) of the dioecious tree species Populus cathayana Rehd. under +4 °C elevated temperature with and without supplemental water. For both sexes, high-temperature treatments significantly decreased growth (height and biomass), photosynthetic rate (A), the ratio of A to dark respiration rate, stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate, NSC, leaf water potential and KP, but increased water-use efficiency (estimated from carbon isotope composition). Under warming with supplemental water, most traits of females did not change relative to ambient conditions, but traits of males decreased, resulting in greater sexual differences. Females showed a lower KP, and their gs and A responded more steeply with water-related traits than males. These results show that the effect of summer warming on growth and photosynthesis was driven mainly by soil moisture in female P. cathayana, while male performance was mainly related to temperature. Females may experience less thermal stress than males due to flexible water balance strategy via stomata regulation and water use.

Phosphoproteomic and Metabolomic Analyses Reveal Sexually Differential Regulatory Mechanisms in Poplar to Nitrogen Deficiency

Nitrogen (N) is a key factor impacting physiological processes in plants. Many proteins have been investigated in male and female poplars under N limitation. However, little is known about sex differences in the protein modifications and metabolites that occur in poplar leaves in response to N deficiency. In this study, as compared to N-deficient males, N-deficient females suffered greater damage from N deficiency, including chloroplast disorganization and lipid peroxidation of cellular membranes. Male poplars had greater osmotic adjustment ability than did females, allowing greater accumulation of soluble metabolites. In addition, as compared to that in N-deficient males, glycolysis was less suppressed in N-deficient females for increased enzyme activities to consume excess energy. Moreover, we found that pronounced protein phosphorylation occurred during carbon metabolism and substance transport processes in both sexes of poplar under N-limiting conditions. Sex-specific metabolites mainly included intermediates in glycolysis, amino acids, and phenylpropanoid-derived metabolites. This study provides new molecular evidence that female poplars suffer greater negative effects from N deficiency than do male poplars.

How do vascular plants perform photosynthesis in extreme environments? An integrative ecophysiological and biochemical story

In this work, we review the physiological and molecular mechanisms that allow vascular plants to perform photosynthesis in extreme environments, such as deserts, polar and alpine ecosystems. Specifically, we discuss the morpho/anatomical, photochemical and metabolic adaptive processes that enable a positive carbon balance in photosynthetic tissues under extreme temperatures and/or severe water-limiting conditions in C₃ species. Nevertheless, only a few studies have described the in situ functioning of photoprotection in plants from extreme environments, given the intrinsic difficulties of fieldwork in remote places. However, they cover a substantial geographical and functional range, which allowed us to describe some general trends. In general, photoprotection relies on the same mechanisms as those operating in the remaining plant species, ranging from enhanced morphological photoprotection to increased scavenging of oxidative products such as reactive oxygen species. Much less information is available about the main physiological and biochemical drivers of photosynthesis: stomatal conductance (g_s ), mesophyll conductance (g_m ) and carbon fixation, mostly driven by RuBisCO carboxylation. Extreme environments shape adaptations in structures, such as cell wall and membrane composition, the concentration and activation state of Calvin-Benson cycle enzymes, and RuBisCO evolution, optimizing kinetic traits to ensure functionality. Altogether, these species display a combination of rearrangements, from the whole-plant level to the molecular scale, to sustain a positive carbon balance in some of the most hostile environments on Earth.

Data Integration in Poplar: 'Omics Layers and Integration Strategies

Populus trichocarpa is an important biofuel feedstock that has been the target of extensive research and is emerging as a model organism for plants, especially woody perennials. This research has generated several large ‘omics datasets. However, only few studies in Populus have attempted to integrate various data types. This review will summarize various ‘omics data layers, focusing on their application in Populus species. Subsequently, network and signal processing techniques for the integration and analysis of these data types will be discussed, with particular reference to examples in Populus.

Sexually differential tolerance to water deficiency of Salix paraplesia-A female-biased alpine willow

Salicaceae plants are dioecious woody plants. Previous studies have shown that male individuals are more tolerant to water deficiency than females for male-biased poplars. However, Salix paraplesia is a female-biased species in nature. It is still unknown whether female willows are more tolerant to drought stress than males. To better understand the sexually different tolerance to water deficiency in willows, a greenhouse experiment combined with a field investigation was conducted, and physiological traits were tested in male and female S. paraplesia under a drought-stressed condition (50% of soil water capacity). Our field investigation showed that S. paraplesia was a species with female-biased sex ratio along altitude gradients (2,400 m, 2,600 m and 2,800 m) in their natural habitats. Our results showed that the height growth, biomass accumulation, total chlorophyll pigment content (TChl), and the net photosynthetic rate were higher in female willows than in males at the low and middle altitudes (2,400 m and 2,600 m) rather than at a high altitude (2,800 m) under well-watered conditions. Under drought-stressed conditions, the growth, biomass, and photosynthesis were greatly inhibited in both sexes, while females showed higher biomass and TChl content and suffered less negative effects than did males. Particularly, females that originated from a high altitude showed lower leaf relative electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde content, and less disorder of chloroplast ultrastructures but a higher peroxidase activity (POD) than that of males. Therefore, S. paraplesia females exhibited a better drought tolerance and self-protective ability than males from high altitude. There is a reason to speculate that the population structure of S. paraplesia at a high altitude would be likely to further female biases with the increased drought intensity in the alpine regions.

Growth, Secondary Metabolites and Enzyme Activity Responses of Two Edible Fern Species to Drought Stress and Rehydration in Northeast China

The drought resistance mechanism of Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Todar. and Athyrium multidentatum (Doll.) Ching were measured under natural drought exposure. The results showed that the two edible fern species showed stronger resistance in the early stages of drought, mainly expressed as the decrease of relative leaf water content (RLWC), increase of osmotic substances, secondary metabolites such as flavonoids (FC), total phenols (TPC), proantho cyanidins (PCC) content and enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)). The higher RLWC, FC, TPC, PCC and abscisic acid (ABA) content and lower H2O2 content indicates the stronger non-enzymatic antioxidant system and drought resistance of A. multidentatum. However, the proline (Pro) content changed slowly, and the synthesis of soluble protein (SP), total phenols, proantho cyanidins and ABA, SOD activity of two fern species were inhibited in the late stages of drought stress. This study can provide a scientific basis for the cultivation and utilization of edible fern species under forest in Northeast China.

Climatic Change Can Influence Species Diversity Patterns and Potential Habitats of Salicaceae Plants in China

Salicaceae is a family of temperate woody plants in the Northern Hemisphere that are highly valued, both ecologically and economically. China contains the highest species diversity of these plants. Despite their widespread human use, how the species diversity patterns of Salicaceae plants formed remains mostly unknown, and these may be significantly affected by global climate warming. Using past, present, and future environmental data and 2673 georeferenced specimen records, we first simulated the dynamic changes in suitable habitats and population structures of Salicaceae. Based on this, we next identified those areas at high risk of habitat loss and population declines under different climate change scenarios/years. We also mapped the patterns of species diversity by constructing niche models for 215 Salicaceae species, and assessed the driving factors affecting their current diversity patterns. The niche models showed Salicaceae family underwent extensive population expansion during the Last Inter Glacial period but retreated to lower latitudes during and since the period of the Last Glacial Maximum. Looking ahead, as climate warming intensifies, suitable habitats will shift to higher latitudes and those at lower latitudes will become less abundant. Finally, the western regions of China harbor the greatest endemism and species diversity of Salicaceae, which are significantly influenced by annual precipitation and mean temperature, ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, and the anomaly of precipitation seasonality. From these results, we infer water–energy dynamic equilibrium and historical climate change are both the main factors likely regulating contemporary species diversity and distribution patterns. Nevertheless, this work also suggests that other, possibly interacting, factors (ambient energy, disturbance history, soil condition) influence the large-scale pattern of Salicaceae species diversity in China, making a simple explanation for it unlikely. Because Southwest China likely served as a refuge for Salicaceae species during the Last Glacial Maximum, it is a current hotspot for endemisms. Under predicted climate change, Salicaceae plants may well face higher risks to their persistence in southwest China, so efforts to support their in-situ conservation there are urgently needed.

Photochemistry and Antioxidative Capacity of Female and Male Taxus baccata L. Acclimated to Different Nutritional Environments

In dioecious woody plants, females often make a greater reproductive effort than male individuals at the cost of lower growth rate. We hypothesized that a greater reproductive effort of female compared with male Taxus baccata individuals would be associated with lower female photochemical capacity and higher activity of antioxidant enzymes. Differences between the genders would change seasonally and would be more remarkable under nutrient deficiency. Electron transport rate (ETRmax), saturation photosynthetic photon flux corresponding to maximum electron transport rate (PPFsat), quantum yield of PSII photochemistry at PPFsat (ΦPPFsat), and chlorophyll a fluorescence and activity of antioxidant enzymes were determined in needles of T. baccata female and male individuals growing in the experiment with or without fertilization. The effects of seasonal changes and fertilization treatment on photochemical parameters, photosynthetic pigments concentration, and antioxidant enzymes were more pronounced than the effects of between-sexes differences in reproductive efforts. Results showed that photosynthetic capacity expressed as ETRmax and ΦPPFsat and photosynthetic pigments concentrations decreased and non-photochemical quenching of fluorescence (NPQ) increased under nutrient deficiency. Fertilized individuals were less sensitive to photoinhibition than non-fertilized ones. T. baccata female and male individuals did not differ in photochemical capacity, but females showed higher maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm) than males. The activity of guaiacol peroxidase (POX) was also higher in female than in male needles. We concluded that larger T. baccata female reproductive effort compared with males was not at the cost of photochemical capacity, but to some extent it could be due to between-sexes differences in ability to protect the photosynthetic apparatus against photoinhibition with antioxidants.

Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Diverse Cauliflower Cultivars under Mild and Severe Drought. Impaired Coordination of Selected Transcript and Proteomic Responses, and Regulation of Various Multifunctional Proteins

Mitochondrial responses under drought within Brassica genus are poorly understood. The main goal of this study was to investigate mitochondrial biogenesis of three cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) cultivars with varying drought tolerance. Diverse quantitative changes (decreases in abundance mostly) in the mitochondrial proteome were assessed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D PAGE) coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Respiratory (e.g., complex II, IV (CII, CIV) and ATP synthase subunits), transporter (including diverse porin isoforms) and matrix multifunctional proteins (e.g., components of RNA editing machinery) were diversely affected in their abundance under two drought levels. Western immunoassays showed additional cultivar-specific responses of selected mitochondrial proteins. Dehydrin-related tryptic peptides (found in several 2D spots) immunopositive with dehydrin-specific antisera highlighted the relevance of mitochondrial dehydrin-like proteins for the drought response. The abundance of selected mRNAs participating in drought response was also determined. We conclude that mitochondrial biogenesis was strongly, but diversely affected in various cauliflower cultivars, and associated with drought tolerance at the proteomic and functional levels. However, discussed alternative oxidase (AOX) regulation at the RNA and protein level were largely uncoordinated due to the altered availability of transcripts for translation, mRNA/ribosome interactions, and/or miRNA impact on transcript abundance and translation.

Cold and Heat Stress Diversely Alter Both Cauliflower Respiration and Distinct Mitochondrial Proteins Including OXPHOS Components and Matrix Enzymes

Complex proteomic and physiological approaches for studying cold and heat stress responses in plant mitochondria are still limited. Variations in the mitochondrial proteome of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) curds after cold and heat and after stress recovery were assayed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D PAGE) in relation to mRNA abundance and respiratory parameters. Quantitative analysis of the mitochondrial proteome revealed numerous stress-affected protein spots. In cold, major downregulations in the level of photorespiratory enzymes, porine isoforms, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and some low-abundant proteins were observed. In contrast, carbohydrate metabolism enzymes, heat-shock proteins, translation, protein import, and OXPHOS components were involved in heat response and recovery. Several transcriptomic and metabolic regulation mechanisms are also suggested. Cauliflower plants appeared less susceptible to heat; closed stomata in heat stress resulted in moderate photosynthetic, but only minor respiratory impairments, however, photosystem II performance was unaffected. Decreased photorespiration corresponded with proteomic alterations in cold. Our results show that cold and heat stress not only operate in diverse modes (exemplified by cold-specific accumulation of some heat shock proteins), but exert some associations at molecular and physiological levels. This implies a more complex model of action of investigated stresses on plant mitochondria.

Sex-Specific Response to Stress in Populus

Populus is an effective model for genetic studies in trees. The genus Populus includes dioecious species, and the differences exhibited in males and females have been intensively studied. This review focused on the distinctions between male and female poplar and aspen plants under stress conditions, such as drought, salinity, heavy metals, and nutrient deficiency on morphological, physiological, proteome, and gene expression levels. In most studies, males of Populus species were more adaptive to the majority of the stress conditions and showed less damage, better growth, and higher photosynthetic capacity and antioxidant activity than that of the females. However, in two recent studies, no differences in non-reproductive traits were revealed for male and female trees. This discrepancy of the results could be associated with experimental design: different species and genotypes, stress conditions, types of plant materials, sampling sizes. Knowledge of sex-specific differences is crucial for basic and applied research in Populus species.

Root-mediated sex recognition in a dioecious tree

Recent studies have demonstrated that plants can determine the identity of neighbouring roots (e.g., self and non-self, kin and non-kin), but whether they can discriminate by sex remains an open question. Here, we predict that dioecious plants can modulate their root performance in response to local root conditions related to sex. Female and male Populus cathayana cuttings were planted in a greenhouse in root-owner (one individual without a root neighbour) or root-sharer pairs (two individuals with roots neighbouring each other) with equal amounts of nutrients and space per plant in three combinations (females-females, males-males or females-males); root morphology, biomass and allocation were investigated. P. cathayana root-sharers altered their root growth in same-sex but not in different-sex combinations. Females enhanced root growth and allocation but decreased root proliferation (greater diameter with reduced branching and specific root length) in the presence of a female root neighbour, while males reduced root growth but increased root morphological proliferation in contact with another male. Therefore, the effect of a neighbour of the same sex differed from that of a neighbour of the opposite sex, which suggests that these plants can recognize the sexual identity of their neighbours.

Different Proteome Profiles between Male and Female Populus cathayana Exposed to UV-B Radiation

With increasing altitude, solar UV-B radiation is enhanced. Based on the phenomenon of male-biased sex ratio of Populus cathayana Rehder in high altitude alpine area, we hypothesized that males have a faster and more sophisticated responsive mechanism to high UV-B radiation than that of females. Our previous studies have shown sexually different responses to high UV-B radiation were existed in P. cathayana at the morphological, physiological, and transcriptomic levels. However, the responses at the proteomic level remain unclear. In this study, an isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ)-based quantitative proteome analysis was performed in P. cathayana females and males. A total of 2,405 proteins were identified, with 331 proteins defined as differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Among of these, 79 and 138 DEPs were decreased and 47 and 107 DEPs were increased under high solar UV-B radiation in females and males, respectively. A bioinformatics analysis categorized the common responsive proteins in the sexes as related to carbohydrate and energy metabolism, translation/transcription/post-transcriptional modification, photosynthesis, and redox reactions. The responsive proteins that showed differences in sex were mainly those involved in amino acid metabolism, stress response, and translation/transcription/post-transcriptional modification. This study provides proteomic profiles that poplars responding to solar UV-B radiation, and it also provides new insights into differentially sex-related responses to UV-B radiation.

Does selective logging stress tropical forest invertebrates? Using fat stores to examine sublethal responses in dung beetles

The increased global demand for tropical timber has driven vast expanses of tropical forests to be selectively logged worldwide. While logging impacts on wildlife are predicted to change species distribution and abundance, the underlying physiological responses are poorly understood. Although there is a growing consensus that selective logging impacts on natural populations start with individual stress-induced sublethal responses, this literature is dominated by investigations conducted with vertebrates from temperate zones. Moreover, the sublethal effects of human-induced forest disturbance on tropical invertebrates have never been examined. To help address this knowledge gap, we examined the body fat content and relative abundance of three dung beetle species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) with minimum abundance of 40 individuals within each examined treatment level. These were sampled across 34 plots in a before-after control-impact design (BACI) in a timber concession area of the Brazilian Amazon. For the first time, we present evidence of logging-induced physiological stress responses in tropical invertebrates. Selective logging increased the individual levels of fat storage and reduced the relative abundance of two dung beetle species. Given this qualitative similarity, we support the measurement of body fat content as reliable biomarker to assess stress-induced sublethal effects on dung beetles. Understanding how environmental modification impacts the wildlife has never been more important. Our novel approach provides new insights into the mechanisms through which forest disturbances impose population-level impacts on tropical invertebrates.

Seasonal, Sex- and Plant Size-Related Effects on Photoinhibition and Photoprotection in the Dioecious Mediterranean Dwarf Palm, Chamaerops humilis

In Mediterranean-type ecosystems plants are exposed to several adverse environmental conditions throughout the year, ranging from drought stress during the warm and dry summers to chilling stress due to the typical drop in temperatures during winters. Here we evaluated the ecophysiological response, in terms of photoinhibition and photoprotection, of the dioecious Mediterranean palm, Chamaerops humilis to seasonal variations in environmental conditions. Furthermore, we considered as well the influence of plant size, maturity, and sexual dimorphism. Results showed evidence of winter photoinhibition, with a marked decrease of the F v /F m ratio below 0.7 between January and March, which was coincident with the lowest temperatures. During this period, the de-epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle and zeaxanthin levels increased, which might serve as a photoprotection mechanism, owing the full recovery from winter photoinhibition during spring. Furthermore, mature plants showed lower chlorophyll levels and higher β-carotene levels per unit of chlorophyll than juvenile plants, and females displayed lower leaf water contents and higher photoinhibition than males during summer, probably due to increased reproductive effort of females. However, neither low temperatures during winter nor reproductive events in females during the summer led to irreversible damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. We conclude that (i) the Mediterranean dwarf palm, C. humilis, suffers from photoinhibition during winter, but this is transient and does not lead to irreversible damage, and (ii) females from this plant species are more sensitive than males to photoinhibition during reproductive events.

Physiological and proteomic analysis reveals the different responses of Cunninghamia lanceolata seedlings to nitrogen and phosphorus additions

Both nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) additions in soils can increase tree photosynthetic rate (Pn), biomass accumulation and further increase primary production of plantation. However, the improved photosynthetic ability is varied from the added nutrient types and the mechanisms are sophisticated. In this study, an iTRAQ-based quantitative proteome combined with physiological analysis of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) leaves was performed to determine the common and different responses on photosynthetic process to the N and P additions. The results showed that, either N or P added in soils significantly increased Pn, but N addition had more positive effects than P addition in improving photosynthetic ability. Physiologically, N addition caused more in improving photosynthetic rate than P addition, which attributes to higher leaf N and chlorophyll contents, enlarged chloroplast size and more number of thylakoids. Proteomic data revealed that the increased Pn to N and P additions may attribute to the increased abundance of proteins involved in carbon fixation and RuBP regeneration during the light-independent reactions. However, N addition increased the abundance of photosystem II related proteins and P addition increased the abundance of photosystem I related proteins. Additionally, proteomic data also gave some clues on the different metabolic processes caused by N and P additions on glycolysis and TCA cycle, which were potentially related to higher growth and developmental rates of C. lanceolata. Therefore, this study provides new insights into the different photosynthesis and metabolic processes of Chinese fir in response to N and P additions.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Fertilization is an important management measure to improve timber yield and primary production of Cunninghamia lanceolata, which is the largest planted coniferous species in southeast China. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) additions into soils can improve tree photosynthesis, and further increase plantation production. However, the mechanism of N and P additions in improving photosynthesis is still unclearly. In this study, a physiological measurement combined with proteomic analysis was performed on a controlled experiment in the greenhouse. These results improve understanding of the essentially photosynthetic activity and metabolic process of C. lanceolata responding to N and P fertilization.

Growth, biomass allocation and photosynthetic responses are related to intensity of root severance and soil moisture conditions in the plantation tree Cunninghamia lanceolata

We employed the warm temperate conifer Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. as a model of plantation forest species to investigate ecophysiological responses to root treatments (control (0%), and ∼25, 50 or 75% of the initial root mass) under well-watered and water-limited conditions. Our results indicated that total root dry mass accumulation was negatively associated with the severity of root pruning, but there was evidence of multiple compensatory responses. The plants exhibited higher instantaneous and long-term (assessed by carbon isotope composition, δ(13)C) water-use efficiency in pruning treatments, especially under low water availability. Root pruning also increased the fine root/total root mass ratio, specific root length and fine root vitality in both water availability treatments. As a result of the compensatory responses, under well-watered conditions, height, stem dry mass accumulation, leaf/fine root biomass ratio (L/FR), transpiration rate, photosynthetic capacity and photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency (EN) were the highest under 25% pruning. Yet, all these traits except L/FR and foliage nitrogen content were severely reduced under 75% pruning. Drought negatively affected growth and leaf gas exchange rates, and there was a greater negative effect on growth, water potential, gas exchange and EN when >25% of total root biomass was removed. The stem/aboveground mass ratio was the highest under 25% pruning in both watering conditions. These results indicate that the responses to root severance are related to the excision intensity and soil moisture content. A moderate root pruning proved to be an effective means to improve stem dry mass accumulation.

Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Reveals Populus cathayana Females Are More Sensitive and Respond More Sophisticatedly to Iron Deficiency than Males

Previous studies have shown that there are significant sexual differences in the morphological and physiological responses of Populus cathayana Rehder to nitrogen and phosphorus deficiencies, but little is known about the sex-specific differences in responses to iron deficiency. In this study, the effects of iron deficiency on the morphology, physiology, and proteome of P. cathayana males and females were investigated. The results showed that iron deficiency (25 days) significantly decreased height growth, photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, and tissue iron concentration in both sexes. A comparison between the sexes indicated that iron-deficient males had less height inhibition and photosynthesis system II or chloroplast ultrastructural damage than iron-deficient females. iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analysis revealed that 144 and 68 proteins were decreased in abundance (e.g., proteins involved in photosynthesis, carbohydrate and energy metabolism, and gene expression regulation) and 78 and 39 proteins were increased in abundance (e.g., proteins involved in amino acid metabolism and stress response) according to the criterion of ratio ≥1.5 in females and males, respectively. A comparison between the sexes indicated that iron-deficient females exhibited a greater change in the proteins involved in photosynthesis, carbon and energy metabolism, the redox system, and stress responsive proteins. This study reveals females are more sensitive and have a more sophisticated response to iron deficiency compared with males and provides new insights into differential sexual responses to nutrient deficiency.

iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analysis gives insight into sexually different metabolic processes of poplars under nitrogen and phosphorus deficiencies

Male and female poplars (Populus cathayana Rehd.) respond differently to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deficiencies. In this study, an iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analysis was performed. N and P deficiencies caused 189 and 144 proteins to change in abundance in males and 244 and 464 in females, respectively. Compared to N- and P-deficient males, both N- and P-deficient females showed a wider range of changes in proteins that are involved in amino acid, carbohydrate and protein metabolism, and the sexual differences were significant. When comparing the effects of N- and P-deficiencies, N-deficient females expressed more changes in proteins that are involved in stress responses and gene expression regulation, while P-deficient females showed more changes in proteins that are involved in energy and lipid metabolism, stress responses and gene expression regulation. The quantitative RT-PCR analysis of stress-related proteins showed that males have a better expression correlation between mRNA and protein levels than do females. This study shows that P. cathayana females are more sensitive and have more rapid metabolic mechanisms when responding to N and P deficiencies than do males, and P deficiency has a wider range of effects on females than does N deficiency.

Photosynthetic Response of an Alpine Plant, Rhododendron delavayi Franch, to Water Stress and Recovery: The Role of Mesophyll Conductance

Rhododendron delavayi Franch is an evergreen shrub or small tree with large scarlet flowers that makes it highly attractive as an ornamental species. The species is native to southwest China and southeast Asia, especially the Himalayan region, showing good adaptability, and tolerance to drought. To understand the water stress coping mechanisms of R. delavayi, we analyzed the plant's photosynthetic performance during water stress and recovery. In particular, we looked at the regulation of stomatal (g s) and mesophyll conductance (g m), and maximum rate of carboxylation (Vcmax). After 4 days of water stress treatment, the net CO2 assimilation rate (AN) declined slightly while g s and g m were not affected and stomatal limitation (SL) was therefore negligible. At this stage mesophyll conductance limitation (MCL) and biochemical limitation (BL) constituted the main limitation factors. After 8 days of water stress treatment, AN, g s, and g m had decreased notably. At this stage SL increased markedly and MCL even more so, while BL remained relatively constant. After re-watering, the recovery of AN, g s, and g m was rapid, although remaining below the levels of the control plants, while Vcmax fully regained control levels after 3 days of re-watering. MCL remained the main limitation factor irrespective of the degree of photosynthetic recovery. In conclusion, in our experiment MCL was the main photosynthetic limitation factor of R. delavayi under water stress and during the recovery phase, with the regulation of g m probably being the result of interactions between the environment and leaf anatomical features.

Male poplars have a stronger ability to balance growth and carbohydrate accumulation than do females in response to a short-term potassium deficiency

Potassium (K) deficiency influences plant performance, such as ion uptake and carbohydrate transport. However, little is known about differences between males and females in response to K deficiency. In this study, dry matter accumulation, photosynthetic capacity, allocation patterns of K(+) , Na(+) and carbohydrates, and ultrastructural changes in males and females of Populus cathayana exposed to K deficiency were investigated. The results indicated that males maintained a significantly higher K(+) content and K(+) /Na(+) ratio in leaves and stems than did females under K deficiency. Moreover, K deficiency significantly increased the sucrose content of females, whereas no significant effect on males was detected. In addition, a comparative analysis showed that males allocated more resources to roots, while females allocated more to leaves, which resulted in sexually different root/shoot (R/S) ratios. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) observations showed that males suffered fewer injuries than did females. These results suggested that males have a better ability to cope with K deficiency. In addition, the combined effects of salinity and K deficiency on poplars were studied. The results indicated that salt stress aggravates the negative effects caused by K deficiency. Taken together, our study provided evidence for gender-specific strategies in ion and carbohydrate allocation in poplars exposed to a short-term K deficiency. In leaves and stems, the lower K(+) accumulation inhibited sucrose translocation and resulted in a decreased R/S ratio, which may contribute to males having a stronger ability to balance growth and carbohydrate accumulation when compared with females.

Sex-related differences in stress tolerance in dioecious plants: a critical appraisal in a physiological context

Sex-related differences in reproductive effort can lead to differences in vegetative growth and stress tolerance. However, do all dioecious plants show sex-related differences in stress tolerance? To what extent can the environmental context and modularity mask sex-related differences in stress tolerance? Finally, to what extent can physiological measurements help us understand secondary sexual dimorphism? This opinion paper aims to answer these three basic questions with special emphasis on developments in research in this area over the last decade. Compelling evidence indicates that dimorphic species do not always show differences in stress tolerance between sexes; and when sex-related differences do occur, they seem to be highly species-specific, with greater stress tolerance in females than males in some species, and the opposite in others. The causes of such sex-related species-specific differences are still poorly understood, and more physiological studies and diversity of plant species that allow comparative analyses are needed. Furthermore, studies performed thus far demonstrate that the expression of dioecy can lead to sex-related differences in physiological traits-from leaf gas exchange to gene expression-but the biological significance of modularity and sectoriality governing such differences has been poorly investigated. Future studies that consider the importance of modularity and sectoriality are essential for unravelling the mechanisms underlying stress adaptation in male and female plants growing in their natural habitat.

Transcriptional profiling in dioecious plant Populus cathayana reveals potential and sex-related molecular adaptations to solar UV-B radiation

There is increasing evidence confirming that dioecious plants have evolved a series of sex-related physiological mechanisms allowing acclimation to environmental stresses, but few studies have attempted to thoroughly uncover the potential molecular regulation underlying these responses. Recently, we found in the dioecious plant, Populus cathayana, that males possess a greater tolerance to enhanced UV-B radiation than do females. To continue this work further, comparative transcriptome analyses were carried out. A total of 362 and 296 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in males and females, respectively. Similarly, as shown in previous studies, these DEGs were involved in a set of conserved functions and pathways related to UV-B stress, regardless of the sex. On the other hand, sex-related responses via transcriptome remodeling were detected, as changes in sex-related gene expression occurred in some pathways. For example, many DEGs involved in amino acid metabolism were mainly upregulated in males but downregulated in females. In some pathways, DEGs were expressed predominantly or exclusively in one sex. This may directly contribute to sex-related physiological responses. Taken together, our results not only provide strong evidence that males and females have adopted sex-related molecular strategies in response to solar UV-B radiation but also suggest many new insights, in particular into molecular regulation, via sex-biased gene expression. We conclude that these results can further enhance the sustainable exploitation and management of P. cathayana plants.

Molecular and physiological responses to abiotic stress in forest trees and their relevance to tree improvement

Abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity and cold, are the major environmental stresses that adversely affect tree growth and, thus, forest productivity, and play a major role in determining the geographic distribution of tree species. Tree responses and tolerance to abiotic stress are complex biological processes that are best analyzed at a systems level using genetic, genomic, metabolomic and phenomic approaches. This will expedite the dissection of stress-sensing and signaling networks to further support efficient genetic improvement programs. Enormous genetic diversity for stress tolerance exists within some forest-tree species, and due to advances in sequencing technologies the molecular genetic basis for this diversity has been rapidly unfolding in recent years. In addition, the use of emerging phenotyping technologies extends the suite of traits that can be measured and will provide us with a better understanding of stress tolerance. The elucidation of abiotic stress-tolerance mechanisms will allow for effective pyramiding of multiple tolerances in a single tree through genetic engineering. Here we review recent progress in the dissection of the molecular basis of abiotic stress tolerance in forest trees, with special emphasis on Populus, Pinus, Picea, Eucalyptus and Quercus spp. We also outline practices that will enable the deployment of trees engineered for abiotic stress tolerance to land owners. Finally, recommendations for future work are discussed.

A morpho-physiological approach differentiates bread wheat cultivars of contrasting tolerance under cyclic water stress

Leaf micromorphological traits and some physiological parameters with potential relevance to drought tolerance mechanisms were investigated in four selected winter wheat varieties. Plants were subjected to two cycles of drought treatment at anthesis. Yield components confirmed contrasting drought-sensitive and -tolerant behavior of the genotypes. Drought tolerance was associated with small flag leaf surfaces and less frequent occurrence of stomata. Substantial variation of leaf cuticular thickness was found among the cultivars. Thin cuticle coincided with drought sensitivity and correlated with a high rate of dark-adapted water loss from leaves. Unlike in Arabidopsis, thickening of the cuticular matrix in response to water deprivation did not occur. Water stress induced epicuticular wax crystal depositions preferentially on the abaxial leaf surfaces. According to microscopy and electrolyte leakage measurements from leaf tissues, membrane integrity was lost earlier or to a higher extent in sensitive than in tolerant genotypes. Cellular damage and a decline of relative water content of leaves in sensitive cultivars became distinctive during the second cycle of water deprivation. Our results indicate strong variation of traits with potential contribution to the complex phenotype of drought tolerance in wheat genotypes. The maintained membrane integrity and relative water content values during repeated water limited periods were found to correlate with drought tolerance in the selection of cultivars investigated.

Transcriptome differences between two sister desert poplar species under salt stress

BACKGROUND

Populus euphratica Oliv and P. pruinosa Schrenk (Salicaceae) both grow in dry desert areas with high summer temperatures. However, P. euphratica is distributed in dry deserts with deep underground water whereas P. pruinosa occurs in deserts in which there is underground water close to the surface. We therefore hypothesized that these two sister species may have evolved divergent regulatory and metabolic pathways during their interaction with different salt habitats and other stresses. To test this hypothesis, we compared transcriptomes from callus exposed to 24 h of salt stress and control callus samples from both species and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and alternative splicing (AS) events that had occurred under salt stress.

RESULTS

A total of 36,144 transcripts were identified and 1430 genes were found to be differentially expressed in at least one species in response to salt stress. Of these DEGs, 884 and 860 were identified in P. euphratica and P. pruinosa, respectively, while 314 DEGs were common to both species. On the basis of parametric analysis of gene set enrichment, GO enrichment in P. euphratica was found to be significantly different from that in P. pruinosa. Numerous genes involved in hormone biosynthesis, transporters and transcription factors showed clear differences between the two species in response to salt stress. We also identified 26,560 AS events which were mapped to 8380 poplar genomic loci from four libraries. GO enrichments for genes undergoing AS events in P. euphratica differed significantly from those in P. pruinosa.

CONCLUSIONS

A number of salt-responsive genes in both P. euphratica and P. pruinosa were identified and candidate genes with potential roles in the salinity adaptation were proposed. Transcriptome comparisons of two sister desert poplar species under salt stress suggest that these two species may have developed different genetic pathways in order to adapt to different desert salt habitats. The DEGs that were found to be common to both species under salt stress may be especially important for future genetic improvement of cultivated poplars or other crops through transgenic approaches in order to increase tolerance of saline soil conditions.

Long-term sulphur starvation of Arabidopsis thaliana modifies mitochondrial ultrastructure and activity and changes tissue energy and redox status

Sulphur, as a constituent of amino acids (cysteine and methionine), iron-sulphur clusters, proteins, membrane sulpholipids, glutathione, glucosinolates, coenzymes, and auxin precursors, is essential for plant growth and development. Absence or low sulphur concentration in the soil results in severe growth retardation. Arabidopsis thaliana plants grown hydroponically for nine weeks on Knop nutrient medium without sulphur showed morphological symptoms of sulphur deficiency. The purpose of our study was to investigate changes that mitochondria undergo and the role of the highly branched respiratory chain in survival during sulphur deficiency stress. Ultrastructure analysis of leaf mesophyll cells of sulphur-deficient Arabidopsis showed heterogeneity of mitochondria; some of them were not altered, but the majority had swollen morphology. Dilated mitochondria displayed a lower matrix density and fewer cristae compared to control mitochondria. Disintegration of the inner and outer membranes of some mitochondria from the leaves of sulphur-deficient plants was observed. On the contrary, chloroplast ultrastructure was not affected. Sulphur deficiency changed the respiratory activity of tissues and isolated mitochondria; Complex I and IV capacities and phosphorylation rates were lower, but external NAD(P)H dehydrogenase activity increased. Higher external NAD(P)H dehydrogenase activity corresponded to increased cell redox level with doubled NADH/NAD ratio in the leaf and root tissues. Sulphur deficiency modified energy status in the tissues of Arabidopsis plants. The total concentration of adenylates (expressed as ATP+ADP), measured in the light, was lower in the leaves and roots of sulphur-deficient plants than in the controls, which was mainly due to the severely decreased ATP levels. We show that the changes in mitochondrial ultrastructure are compensated by the modifications in respiratory chain activity. Although mitochondria of Arabidopsis tissues are affected by sulphur deficiency, their metabolic and structural features, which readily reach new homeostasis, make these organelles crucial for adaptation of plants to survive sulphur deficiency.

Sex-related differences in lipid peroxidation and photoprotection in Pistacia lentiscus

Sex-related differences in the response of dioecious plants to abiotic stress have been poorly studied to date. This work explored to what extent sex may affect plant stress responses in Pistacia lentiscus L. (Anacardiaceae), a tree well adapted to Mediterranean climatic conditions. It was hypothesized that a greater reproductive effort in females may increase oxidative stress in leaves, particularly when plants are exposed to abiotic stress. Measurements of oxidative stress markers throughout the year revealed increased lipid peroxidation in females, but only during the winter. Enhanced lipid peroxidation in females was associated with reduced photoprotection, as indicated by reduced tocopherol levels and nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) of chlorophyll fluorescence. Enhanced lipid peroxidation in females was also observed at predawn, which was associated with increased lipoxygenase activity and reduced cytokinin levels. An analysis of the differences between reproductive (R) and nonreproductive (NR) shoots showed an enhanced photoprotective capacity in R shoots compared to NR shoots in females. This capacity was characterized by an increased NPQ and a better antioxidant protection (increased carotenoid and tocopherol levels per unit of chlorophyll) in R compared to NR shoots. It is concluded that (i) females exhibit higher lipid peroxidation in leaves than males, but only during the winter (when sex-related differences in reproductive effort are the highest), (ii) this is associated with a lower photoprotective capacity at midday, as well as enhanced lipoxygenase activity and reduced cytokinin levels at predawn, and (iii) photoprotection capacity is higher in R relative to NR shoots in females.

Current perspectives in proteomic analysis of abiotic stress in Grapevines

Grapes are an important crop plant which forms the basis of a globally important industry. Grape and wine production is particularly vulnerable to environmental and climatic fluctuations, which makes it essential for us to develop a greater understanding of the molecular level responses of grape plants to various abiotic stresses. The completion of the initial grape genome sequence in 2007 has led to a significant increase in research on grapes using proteomics approaches. In this article, we discuss some of the current research on abiotic stress in grapevines, in the context of abiotic stress research in other plant species. We also highlight some of the current limitations in grapevine proteomics and identify areas with promising scope for potential future research.

Sexual differences in photosynthetic activity, ultrastructure and phytoremediation potential of Populus cathayana exposed to lead and drought

Lead (Pb) and drought frequently coexist in China's forests and seriously affect their biomass, net primary productivity and biodiversity, particularly among dioecious trees with different sex-related reproduction costs. Here, the effects of Pb, deposited into soil (Pbsoil) and leaves (Pb(leaf)), on the traits related directly or indirectly to photosynthetic activity were evaluated in the dioecious tree, Populus cathayana Rehd. In addition, we analysed the potential of P. cathayana males and females for phytoremediation based on the photosynthetic activity, cellular ultrastructure and phytoremediation-related parameters. The Pb level was 2.7 mmol Pb(NO3)2 kg(-1) dry soil in the Pb(soil) treatment and 1.8 mmol Pb(NO3)2 per plant in the Pb(leaf) treatment. In parallel experiments, two watering regimes, 100 and 50% of the field capacity, were applied. The stress duration was 2 months. Dry mass production, net photosynthetic rate increased in both sexes, particularly in females, when exposed to Pb(leaf) alone, Pb(soil) with drought and Pb(leaf) with drought. The study revealed that males exhibit greater plasticity in the photosynthetic capacity than females. Severe damage to cellular ultrastructure was also observed in the leaves of males and females exposed to Pb(leaf), but more strongly in females. However, the Pb(soil) treatment alone did not affect these traits as significantly compared with other treatments. Moreover, drought significantly increased the sensitivity to Pb stress in both sexes, but more so in females. In addition, changes in the photosynthetic capacity and cellular ultrastructure combined with the analysis of tolerance index, translocation factor, bioconcentration factor and Pb concentration showed that males and females could be employed for different purposes in phytoremediation: females are promising candidates for phytoextraction, whereas males are promising candidates for phytostabilization.

Mapping the leaf proteome of Miscanthus sinensis and its application to the identification of heat-responsive proteins

Miscanthus sinensis is a promising bioenergy crop; however, its genome is poorly represented in sequence databases. As an initial step in the comprehensive analysis of the M. sinensis proteome, we report a reference 2-DE protein map of the leaf. A total of 316 protein spots were excised from the gels, digested with trypsin and subjected to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) or MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. Two hundred and thirty-two protein spots were identified, which are involved in a variety of cellular functions through distinct metabolic pathways. Functional annotation of the proteins revealed a nearly complete C3 and C4 cycle, starch and sugar synthesis pathway, glycolysis pathway, a significant portion of the pentose phosphate pathway, and many enzymes involved in secondary metabolism such as flavonoid/isoflavonoid, kaurene, chalcone, sesquiterpene and lignin biosynthesis. Other proteins belong to primary metabolism, transcription, protein synthesis, protein destination/storage, disease/defense, cell growth/division, transportation and signal transduction. To test the applicability of the constructed map, we studied the effect of heat stress on M. sinensis leaf proteome. Twenty-five protein spots were upregulated, five were newly induced and twenty-five spots were downregulated by heat treatment. The differentially accumulated proteins were involved in photosynthesis, energy metabolism, gene transcription, protein kinases and phosphatases, signal transduction, protein synthesis and heat shock responses. C4-specific pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase, Rubisco large subunit, Rubisco activase and some associated proteins were upregulated during heat stress and tend to restore upon recovery. Identification of these proteins provides some important clues regarding the way M. sinensis copes with hot climate. This work represents the first extensive proteomic description of M. sinensis and provides a reference map and heat-responsive candidates for future molecular and physiological studies of this bioenergy crop.

Evidence of current impact of climate change on life: a walk from genes to the biosphere

We review the evidence of how organisms and populations are currently responding to climate change through phenotypic plasticity, genotypic evolution, changes in distribution and, in some cases, local extinction. Organisms alter their gene expression and metabolism to increase the concentrations of several antistress compounds and to change their physiology, phenology, growth and reproduction in response to climate change. Rapid adaptation and microevolution occur at the population level. Together with these phenotypic and genotypic adaptations, the movement of organisms and the turnover of populations can lead to migration toward habitats with better conditions unless hindered by barriers. Both migration and local extinction of populations have occurred. However, many unknowns for all these processes remain. The roles of phenotypic plasticity and genotypic evolution and their possible trade-offs and links with population structure warrant further research. The application of omic techniques to ecological studies will greatly favor this research. It remains poorly understood how climate change will result in asymmetrical responses of species and how it will interact with other increasing global impacts, such as N eutrophication, changes in environmental N : P ratios and species invasion, among many others. The biogeochemical and biophysical feedbacks on climate of all these changes in vegetation are also poorly understood. We here review the evidence of responses to climate change and discuss the perspectives for increasing our knowledge of the interactions between climate change and life.

Reciprocal grafting separates the roles of the root and shoot in sex-related drought responses in Populus cathayana males and females

Drought stress responses and sensitivity of dioecious plants, such as Populus cathayana Rehd., are determined by different mechanisms in each sex. In general, males tend to be more resistant while females are more sensitive. Here, we used reciprocal grafting between males and females to determine the relative importance of roots and shoots when plants are exposed to drought stress. Total dry matter accumulation (DMA), photosynthetic capacity, long-term water-use efficiency (Δ), water potential and ultrastructure of mesophyll cells were evaluated to determine the different roles of root and shoot in sex-related drought responses. Plants with male roots were found to be more resistant and less sensitive to water stress than those with female roots under drought conditions. On the contrary, plants with female shoots grew better than those with male shoots under well-watered conditions. These results indicated that the sensitivity of males and females to water stress is primarily influenced by root processes, while under well-watered conditions sexual differences in growth are primarily driven by shoot processes. Furthermore, grafting female shoot scion onto male rootstock was proved to be an effective mean to improve resistance to water stress in P. cathayana females.

Transcriptional profiling reveals sexual differences of the leaf transcriptomes in response to drought stress in Populus yunnanensis

Populus yunnanensis Dode., a native dioecious woody plant species in Southwest China, plays an important role in commercial forestry and environmental protection. In natural habitats, female P. yunnanensis trees are extremely rare while males are dominant in population. Our previous physiological studies in the species have revealed sex-dependent difference in response to drought stress, and females suffer greater negative effects than males. However, the molecular basis of sex-related differences during drought stress has been poorly characterized. We use the Illumina-Solexa platform to sequence the leaf transcriptomes derived from male and female P. yunnanensis trees grown in normal condition and drought stress. In total, 22,235 transcripts were identified in this study and 6039 genes were differentially expressed (DEGs) during drought stress. Majority of the DEGs were identified in males (92%, 5539); thus, males had greater remodeling of the leaf transcriptome in response to drought compared with females. Furthermore, many genes involved in hormone biosynthesis, photosynthesis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging enzyme system had more transcript changes in males than in females during drought stress, while these genes exhibited higher transcript alteration in females than in males in normal condition. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis of 15 selected genes suggested that during drought treatment the up-regulated DEGs had a quicker increment in their transcript abundances in females than that in males. The sexual differences of gene transcription coincide with the sexual different adaptation of P. yunnanensis in the present natural habitats.

Biochemical and proteomic analyses reveal that Populus cathayana males and females have different metabolic activities under chilling stress

Male and female poplars (Populus cathayana Rehd.) respond differently to environmental stresses. However, little is known about sex-dependent responses to chilling at the proteome level. To better understand these differences, a comparative proteomics investigation combined with a biochemical approach was used in the current study. Three-month-old poplar cuttings were treated at 25 or 4 °C for 14 days. Results revealed significant sexual differences in nitrogen metabolic enzymes and free amino acid components in response to chilling. The chilling-treated males showed higher activities of nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase and higher contents of reduced glutathione, serine, arginine, leucine, glycine, proline and methionine than chilling-treated females. A total of 65 chilling-responsive spots were found, of which 48 showed significant sexual differences. These proteins are involved in photosynthesis, carbon and energy metabolism, metabolic processes of proteins, lipid metabolism, vitamin metabolism, stress defense, and gene expression regulation. The study shows that males have more effective metabolic processes and protective systems to chilling than females.

Photosynthesis, water use efficiency and stable carbon isotope composition are associated with anatomical properties of leaf and xylem in six poplar species

Although fast-growing Populus species consume a large amount of water for biomass production, there are considerable variations in water use efficiency (WUE) across different poplar species. To compare differences in growth, WUE and anatomical properties of leaf and xylem and to examine the relationship between photosynthesis/WUE and anatomical properties of leaf and xylem, cuttings of six poplar species were grown in a botanical garden. The growth performance, photosynthesis, intrinsic WUE (WUE(i) ), stable carbon isotope composition (δ(13) C) and anatomical properties of leaf and xylem were analysed in these poplar plants. Significant differences were found in growth, photosynthesis, WUE(i) and anatomical properties among the examined species. Populus cathayana was the clone with the fastest growth and the lowest WUE(i) /δ(13) C, whereas P. × euramericana had a considerable growth increment and the highest WUE(i) /δ(13) C. Among the analysed poplar species, the highest total stomatal density in P. cathayana was correlated with its highest stomatal conductance (g(s) ) and lowest WUE(i) /δ(13) C. Moreover, significant correlations were observed between WUE(i) and abaxial stomatal density and stem vessel lumen area. These data suggest that photosynthesis, WUE(i) and δ(13) C are associated with leaf and xylem anatomy and there are tradeoffs between growth and WUE(i) . It is anticipated that some poplar species, e.g. P. × euramericana, are better candidates for water-limited regions and others, e.g. P. cathayana, may be better for water-abundant areas.

Influence of drought stress on the cellular ultrastructure and antioxidant system in leaves of drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive apple rootstocks

We compared two apple rootstocks -Malus prunifolia and Malus hupehensis - that differ in their tolerance to this abiotic stress. The former is considered drought-tolerant, the latter, sensitive. We monitored changes in their leaf ultrastructure and responses by their antioxidant defense systems. Irrigation was withheld for 12 d from two-year-old potted plants. Compared with the control, this treatment led to considerable ultrastructural alterations in organelles. Plants of M. prunifolia maintained their structural cell integrity longer than did M. hupehensis. M. hupehensis was more vulnerable to drought than was M. prunifolia, resulting in larger increases in the levels of H(2)O(2), O(2)(-), and MDA from the former. Except for catalase (CAT) and monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) analyzed here were enhanced to a greater extent in M. prunifolia than in M. hupehensis in response to drought. This was also true for levels of ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH). Under well-watered conditions, changes in lipid peroxidation and relevant antioxidant parameters were not significantly different between the two species throughout the experimental period. These results demonstrate that, in order to minimize oxidative damage, both the activities of antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant concentrations are increased in the leaves of M. prunifolia and M. hupehensis in response to water stress. Moreover, plants of M. prunifolia exhibit higher antioxidant capacity and a stronger protective mechanism, such that their cell structural integrity is better maintained during exposure to drought.

Nitrogen nutrient status induces sexual differences in responses to cadmium in Populus yunnanensis

Populus yunnanensis was employed as a model species to detect sexual differences in growth, physiological, biochemical, and ultrastructural responses to cadmium (Cd) stress, nitrogen (N) deposition, and their combination. Compared with the control conditions, Cd decreased plant biomass, damaged the photosynthetic apparatus, visible as a decreased maximum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII; F(v)/F(m)) and effective quantum yield of PSII (Yield), depressed gas exchange capacity, and induced oxidative stress, visible as the disruption of antioxidative enzymes and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), in both sexes. On the other hand, Cd toxicity was mitigated by the recovery of gas exchange capacity, a decrease in ROS, and improvement of the redox imbalance in both sexes when N deposition was applied. However, males showed a higher gas exchange capacity, lower enzyme inhibition and ROS accumulation, stronger abilities to maintain cellular redox homeostasis, and a better maintenance of chloroplast ultrastructure than did females when exposed to Cd stress alone. Although males exhibited a higher Cd content in leaves than did females, males also accumulated higher levels of non-protein thiols (NP-SHs) and free amino acids (FAAs) for detoxification than did females. Sexual differences induced by Cd, visible, for example, in F(v)/F(m), Yield, net photosynthesis rate (A), and stomatal conductance (g(s)), decreased under N deposition, as no significant differences between the sexes existed in these parameters under the combined treatment. The results indicated that females are more sensitive to Cd stress and suffer more injuries than do males. Moreover, N deposition can mitigate Cd toxicity and decrease sexual differences in Cd sensitivity.