Stress induced plant resistance and enzyme activity varying in cucumber

Unraveling the expression of differentially expressed proteins and enzymatic activity in response to Phytophthora nicotianae across different flue-cured tobacco cultivars

BACKGROUND

Black shank disease caused by Phytophthora nicotianae is a serious threat to flue-cured tobacco production. Whole-plant resistance is characterized by the expression of a number of pathogenesis-related proteins, genes, and the activity of different defense-related enzymes. In this study, we investigated the activity of defense-related enzymes and expression of differentially expressed proteins through the iTRAQ technique across two flue-cured tobacco cultivars, i.e., K326 and Hongda, in response to the black shank pathogen.

RESULTS

Results showed that the highest disease incidence was recorded in flue-cured tobacco cultivar Hongda compared with K326, which shows that Hongda is more susceptible to P. nicotianae than K326. A total of 4274 differentially expressed proteins were detected at 0 h and after 24 h, 72 h of post-inoculation with P. nicotianae. We found that 17 proteins induced after inoculation with P. nicotianae, including pathogenesis (5), photosynthesis (3), oxidative phosphorylation (6), tricarboxylic acid cycle (1), heat shock (1), and 14-3-3 (1) and were involved in the resistance of flue-cured tobacco against black shank disease. The expression of 5 pathogenesis-related proteins and the activities of defense-related enzymes (PPO, POD, SOD, and MDA) were significantly higher in the leaves of K326 than Hongda after inoculation with P. nicotianae.

CONCLUSION

These results provide new molecular insights into flue-cured tobacco responses to P. nicotianae. It is concluded that differences in protein expressions and defense-related enzymes play an important role in developing resistance in flue-cured tobacco cultivars against black shank disease.

Mechanical stress acclimation in plants: Linking hormones and somatic memory to thigmomorphogenesis

A single event of mechanical stimulation is perceived by mechanoreceptors that transduce rapid transient signalling to regulate gene expression. Prolonged mechanical stress for days to weeks culminates in cellular changes that strengthen the plant architecture leading to thigmomorphogenesis. The convergence of multiple signalling pathways regulates mechanically induced tolerance to numerous biotic and abiotic stresses. Emerging evidence showed prolonged mechanical stimulation can modify the baseline level of gene expression in naive tissues, heighten gene expression, and prime disease resistance upon a subsequent pathogen encounter. The phenotypes of thigmomorphogenesis can persist throughout growth without continued stimulation, revealing somatic-stress memory. Epigenetic processes regulate TOUCH gene expression and could program transcriptional memory in differentiating cells to program thigmomorphogenesis. We discuss the early perception, gene regulatory and phytohormone pathways that facilitate thigmomorphogenesis and mechanical stress acclimation in Arabidopsis and other plant species. We provide insights regarding: (1) the regulatory mechanisms induced by single or prolonged events of mechanical stress, (2) how mechanical stress confers transcriptional memory to induce cross-acclimation to future stress, and (3) why thigmomorphogenesis might resemble an epigenetic phenomenon. Deeper knowledge of how prolonged mechanical stimulation programs somatic memory and primes defence acclimation could transform solutions to improve agricultural sustainability in stressful environments.

Revealing on hydrogen sulfide and nitric oxide signals co-ordination for plant growth under stress conditions

In the recent times, plants are facing certain types of environmental stresses, which give rise to formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxides, superoxide anions and so on. These are required by the plants at low concentrations for signal transduction and at high concentrations, they repress plant root growth. Apart from the ROS activities, hydrogen sulfide (H₂ S) and nitric oxide (NO) have major contributions in regulating growth and developmental processes in plants, as they also play key roles as signaling molecules and act as chief plant immune defense mechanisms against various biotic as well as abiotic stresses. H₂ S and NO are the two pivotal gaseous messengers involved in growth, germination and improved tolerance in plants under stressed and non-stress conditions. H₂ S and NO mediate cell signaling in plants as a response to several abiotic stresses like temperature, heavy metal exposure, water and salinity. They alter gene expression levels to induce the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes, osmolytes and also trigger their interactions with each other. However, research has been limited to only cross adaptations and signal transductions. Understanding the change and mechanism of H₂ S and NO mediated cell signaling will broaden our knowledge on the various biochemical changes that occur in plant cells related to different stresses. A clear understanding of these molecules in various environmental stresses would help to confer biotechnological applications to protect plants against abiotic stresses and to improve crop productivity.

Cadmium tolerance and accumulation characteristics of wetland emergent plants under hydroponic conditions

For the purpose of screening a potential Cd-hyperaccumulator for Cd-contaminated soil in paddy fields, four kinds of wetland emergent plants (Iris sibirica L., Acorus calamus L., Typha orientalis Presl and Cyperus alternifolius L.) were investigated for their cadmium tolerance and accumulation characteristics under hydroponic conditions. The physiological responses of plants, Cd concentration in tissues, Cd accumulation, bioaccumulation factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TCF) were investigated to evaluate the abilities of wetland emergent plants to absorb and accumulate Cd. In comparison with the other selected emergent plants, Iris sibirica L. has the strongest Cd-tolerance for the absence of Cd toxic symptoms and a Cd concentration as high as 127.3 mg kg⁻¹ in shoots. Due to its large biomass, the Cd accumulation could reach up to 9.4 mg per plant in roots and 5.7 mg per plant in shoots, respectively. Iris sibirica L. possesses the highest TCF, and its BCF for Cd increased with increasing concentration of spiked Cd in the hydroponic solutions. The results indicate that Iris sibirica L. is a potential Cd-hyperaccumulator that may have a strong capacity for extracting Cd from Cd-contaminated paddy soils.

Four kinds of wetland emergent plants (Iris sibirica L., Acorus calamus L., Typha orientalis Presl and Cyperus alternifolius L.) were investigated for their cadmium tolerance and accumulation characteristics under hydroponic conditions.

Preparation of Microencapsulated Bacillus subtilis SL-13 Seed Coating Agents and Their Effects on the Growth of Cotton Seedlings

Inoculation of the bacterial cells of microbial seed coating agents (SCAs) into the environment may result in limited survival and colonization. Therefore, the application efficacy of an encapsulated microbial seed coating agent (ESCA) was investigated on potted cotton plants; the agent was prepared with polyvinyl alcohol, sodium dodecyl sulfate, bentonite, and microencapsulated Bacillus subtilis SL-13. Scanning electron micrography revealed that the microcapsules were attached to ESCA membranes. The ESCA film was uniform, bubble-free, and easy to peel. The bacterial contents of seeds coated with each ESCA treatment reached 10(6) cfu/seed. Results indicated that the germination rate of cotton seeds treated with ESCA4 (1.0% (w/v) sodium alginate, 4.0% polyvinyl alcohol, 1.0% sodium dodecyl sulfate, 0.6% acacia, 0.5% bentonite, and 10% (v/v) microcapsules) increased by 28.74%. Other growth factors of the cotton seedlings, such as plant height, root length, whole plant fresh weight, and whole plant dry weight, increased by 52.70%, 25.13%, 46.47%, and 33.21%, respectively. Further analysis demonstrated that the peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities of cotton seedlings improved, whereas their malondialdehyde contents decreased. Therefore, the ESCA can efficiently improve seed germination, root length, and growth. The proposed ESCA exhibits great potential as an alternative to traditional SCA in future agricultural applications.

In vitro adventitious shoot regeneration via indirect organogenesis from inflorescence explants and peroxidase involvement in morphogenesis of Populus euphratica Olivier

The inflorescences as explants for rapid propagation in vitro remained unknown in Populus euphratica Olivier. Here, we reported that multiple shoots were initiation from calli of both male and female inflorescences. The optimum medium for shoot induction from male inflorescences was lactose sulfite medium containing 1.0 mg L(-1) 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 0.5 mg L(-1) α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) or Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 0.5 mg L(-1) BA and 0.2 mg L(-1) NAA. The optimum medium of shoot induction from female inflorescence calli was the MS medium containing 0.5 mg L(-1) BA and 0.2 mg L(-1) NAA. Rooting of regenerated shoots was obtained on 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 0.5∼1.0 mg L(-1) indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and the highest frequency rooting was on medium containing 0.5 mg L(-1) IBA. No shoots were obtained on medium without BA and NAA. Peroxidase (POD) activity was measured by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis during shoot induction and differentiation stages. The results showed that two bands of POD (2a and 2b) activity appeared lowest during the early 8 days at the dedifferentiation phase of leaves inducing calli, whereas POD 2a, 2b activity appeared to be increasing at the homeochronous dedifferentiation phase of inflorescence. Five most intensive bands, POD 1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, and ab, appeared in 8th and 28th days at the redifferentiation phase during shoot morphogenesis. These results demonstrated that the POD was involved in shoot morphogenesis from both leaf and inflorescence explants of Populus euphratica.

Cadmium tolerance and accumulation characteristics of Bidens pilosa L. as a potential Cd-hyperaccumulator

Recently, researchers are becoming interested in using hyperaccumulators for decontamination of heavy metal polluted soils, whereas few species that hyperaccumulate cadmium (Cd) has been identified in the plant kingdom. In this study, the physiological mechanisms at the seedling stage and growth responses and Cd uptake and accumulation at flowering and mature stages of Bidens pilosa L. under Cd treatments were investigated. At the seedling stage, when soil Cd was lower than 16mgkg(-1), the plant did not show obvious symptom of phytoxicity, and the alterations of chlorophyll (CHL), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and soluble protein (SP) did not have significant differences when compared with the control. At the flowering and mature stages, under low Cd treatments (</=16mgkg(-1)), the application of Cd could facilitate plant growth, resulting in 3.9-11.0% and 5.9-13.8%, respectively, increase in shoots dry biomass compared with the control. The Cd concentrations in stems, leaves and shoots exceeded 100mgkg(-1) when soil Cd was at 8mgkg(-1), and they were positively correlated with Cd concentration in soils, the bioaccumulation factor (BF) and translocation factor (TF) values were all greater than 1.0. Thus, it is clear that B. pilosa has the basic characteristics of a Cd-hyperaccumulator. All the results elementarily indicated that B. pilosa is a potential Cd-hyperaccumulating plant.