Phytotoxic action mechanism of hapalocyclamide in lettuce seedlings

What can reactive oxygen species (ROS) tell us about the action mechanism of herbicides and other phytotoxins?

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are formed in plant cells continuously. When ROS production exceeds the antioxidant capacity of the cells, oxidative stress develops which causes damage of cell components and may even lead to the induction of programmed cell death (PCD). The levels of ROS production increase upon abiotic stress, but also during pathogen attack in response to elicitors, and upon application of toxic compounds such as synthetic herbicides or natural phytotoxins. The commercial value of many synthetic herbicides is based on weed death as result of oxidative stress, and for a number of them, the site and the mechanism of ROS production have been characterized. This review summarizes the current knowledge on ROS production in plants subjected to different groups of synthetic herbicides and natural phytotoxins. We suggest that the use of ROS-specific fluorescent probes and of ROS-specific marker genes can provide important information on the mechanism of action of these toxins. Furthermore, we propose that, apart from oxidative damage, elicitation of ROS-induced PCD is emerging as one of the important processes underlying the action of herbicides and phytotoxins.

Monitoring of organophosphorus pesticide residues in plant and vegetable tissues by a novel silver nanocluster probe

More and more attention has been paid to the problem of pesticide residues, especially in plants and vegetables, due to their close relationship with human health and food safety. Compared to conventional detecting techniques, the fluorescence sensing method has achieved good results for pesticides detection. However, most of the reported fluorescent probes needed two or more steps to achieve the detection of pesticide residues, which greatly limited their application for in vivo imaging and in situ analysis of agricultural residues in plants and vegetables. In this paper, an Ag nanoclusters (AgNCs) based fluorescent probe is developed for one-step detection of pesticide residues. The novel nanoprobe displayed impressive advantages, such as a selective response to glyphosate pesticide, rapid response within 1 min and an ultralow detection limit of 21 nM. The sensing mechanism is attributed to the unique coordination interaction between AgNCs and glyphosate, which not only increased the size of AgNCs to form big Ag particles, but also caused the fluorescence quenching of AgNCs system. Due to its favorable properties, the probe has been successfully applied to imaging the organophosphorus pesticide of glyphosate in the leave tissues of Arabidopsis thaliana and the root tip cells of lettuce for the first time.

Physiological and Oxidative Stress Responses of Lettuce to Cleomside A: A Thiohydroximate, as a New Allelochemical from Cleome arabica L

The inclination toward natural products have led the onset for the discovery of new bioactive metabolites that could be targeted for specific therapeutic or agronomic applications. This study aimed to isolate bioactive compounds from Cleome arabica L., and subsequently determine the unexplored mechanism of action of the newly identified compounds on Lactuca sativa L. Chemical investigation of the ethyl acetate fraction of methanolic silique extract of C. arabica afforded seven secondary metabolites belonging to different classes such as flavonoids, triterpene, and a new thiohydroximate derivative, named cleomside A. Among phytotoxic assays, the growth of lettuce was totally inhibited by cleomside A compared to the other identified compounds. This effect was associated with the increased levels of electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide indicating disruption of membrane integrity and induction of oxidative stress. Activities of the antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT, and APX were also elevated, thereby demonstrating the enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species upon identified allelochemical exposure. Thus, the changes caused by cleomside A described herein can contribute to better understanding the allelochemical actions of thiohydroximate and the potential use of these substances in the production of natural herbicides compared to the other identified flavonoids and triterpene.

Physiological and Biochemical Mechanisms Mediated by Allelochemical Isoliquiritigenin on the Growth of Lettuce Seedlings

Isoliquiritigenin, a natural chalcone-type flavonoid, has been recognized as an allelochemical with phytotoxicity to lettuce; however, not enough attention has been paid to the mechanisms of this secondary metabolite. In this work, we investigated the physiological and biochemical mechanisms of isoliquiritigenin on lettuce seedlings. The results show that isoliquiritigenin has a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on radicle elongation of lettuce seedlings, but no significant impact on lettuce germination. Microscopy analyses suggest that the surface morphology of lettuce radicle tips was atrophied and the intracellular tissue structure deformed at high concentrations. Isoliquiritigenin induced the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which led to loss of cell viability in the radicle cells. In addition, malondialdehyde (a product of lipid peroxidation) and free proline levels were found to have increased, while chlorophyll content in lettuce seedlings decreased. All these changes suggest that the primary allelopathic mechanism of isoliquiritigenin by which it inhibits radicle elongation in lettuce seedlings might be due to the overproduction of ROS, which causes oxidative damage to membrane lipids and cell death.

A phytotoxic impact of phenolic compounds in olive oil mill wastewater on fenugreek "Trigonella foenum-graecum"

The objective of this study is the determination of the chemical structure of nine phenolic molecules responsible for the phytotoxic action on the germination of the plant species "Trigonella foenum-graecum". The phytotoxic action was evaluated by calculating the germination index of the plant species for a period of 5 days of incubation. The analysis of the physicochemical properties of phenolic molecules shows that hydrophobicity is a key factor in phytotoxicity. The sublethal concentration varies as follows: hydroquinone (0.91 mM), 4-aminophenol (0.85 mM), phenol (0.75 mM), gallic acid (0.59 mM), caffeic acid (0.56 mM), 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (0,45 mM), quercetin (0.33 mM), oleuropein (0.3 mM), and catechol (0.13 mM). Phytotoxicity varies depending on the nature and position of the substituents on the aromatic ring. The reactivity of this type of molecule is partly linked to the presence of catechol function that can play the main role in phytotoxicity of the Fenugreek.

Phytotoxicity of umbelliferone and its analogs: Structure-activity relationships and action mechanisms

Two coumarins, umbelliferone and daphnoretin, were isolated from roots of Stellera chamaejasme L; the former had been identified as one of the main allelochemicals in our previous studies. Both of them have the skeleton of 7-hydroxycoumarin, but showed different phytotoxic effects. Umbelliferone and its analogs were then prepared to investigate the structure-activity relationship of hydroxycoumarins and screened for phytotoxicity. The inhibitory effects varied observably in response to the coumarin derivatives, especially umbelliferone (1), 7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin (3) and coumarin (10) displayed strong inhibition of lettuce and two field weeds, Setaria viridis and Amaranthus retroflexus, and compounds 11 and 12 also exhibited phytotoxic activity with species specificity. The number and location of hydroxyl groups were importantly responsible for the phytotoxicity. A C7 hydroxyl group was considered to be a potentially active site and methyl substitution at the C4 position contributed significantly to the activity. The phytotoxic mechanism was briefly studied with umbelliferone by evaluating the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and chlorophylls level in lettuce seedlings. The results showed that umbelliferone induced the accumulation of ROS in the root tip and significantly decreased the chlorophyll content in the leaves. Thus, a ROS-mediated regulation pathway and the inhibition of photosynthesis were definitely involved in the phytotoxicity of umbelliferone.

Nostoc sp. extract induces oxidative stress-mediated root cell destruction in Mimosa pigra L

BACKGROUND

Mimosa pigra is an invasive weed in some regions of South East Asia and Australia. Our previous study has revealed that a cyanobacterium, Nostoc sp., extract can inhibit root growth in M. pigra seedlings. In this study, some physiological processes involve oxidative stress-mediated cell death and root ultrastructure were investigated to clarify the mechanisms of root growth suppression and bioherbicidal potential of the extract.

RESULTS

Nostoc sp. extract enhanced overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at 24 h, the intensity of red fluorescence increased at 72 h, and caused a slightly increased H₂O₂ consistent with the activation of scavenging enzymes (catalase, ascorbic acid peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and peroxidases). This suggests that oxidative stress occurred in the presence of the extract which was supported by increased cell death and lipid peroxidation at 24 h. Reduction of malondialdehyde content and an increase in cell death at 72 h indicated oxidative damage and cellular leakage. Ultrastructural changes were determined at 72 h by scanning electron micrographs which confirmed the damage of epidermal and root cap cells and the disaggregation and destruction of root tip cells. Transmission electron micrographs showed the dissolution of the middle lamella, deposition of some substances in vacuoles, and abnormal mitochondria (swollen mitochondria and indistinct cristae).

CONCLUSIONS

Nostoc sp. extract enhance oxidative stress by ROS production resulting in lipid peroxidation and massive cell death despite the activation of antioxidative enzymes. Understanding mechanism of action of Nostoc sp. extract will provide information for application of the extract to use as natural herbicide for control of M. pigra.

DNA-protein cross-links involved in growth inhibition of rice seedlings exposed to Ga

Hydroponic experiments were conducted with rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L. cv. XZX45) exposed to gallium nitrate (Ga(3+)) to investigate the accumulation of Ga in plant tissues and phytotoxic responses. Results showed that phyto-transport of Ga was apparent, and roots were the dominant site for Ga accumulation. The total accumulation rates of Ga responded biphasically to Ga treatments by showing increases at low (1.06-8.52 mg Ga/L) and constants at high (8.52-15.63 mg Ga/L) concentrations, suggesting that accumulation kinetics of Ga followed a typical saturation curve. Higher amount of Ga accumulation in plant tissues led to significant inhibition in relative growth rate and water use efficiency in a dose-dependent manner. DNA-protein cross-links (DPCs) analysis revealed that overaccumulation of Ga in plant tissues positively stimulated formation of DPCs in roots. Likewise, the measure of root cell viability evaluated by Evan blue uptake showed a similar trend. These results suggested that Ga can be absorbed, transported, and accumulated in plant materials of rice seedlings. Overaccumulation of Ga in plant tissues provoked the formation of DPCs in roots, which resulted in cell death and growth inhibition of rice seedlings.

Mechanism of artemisinin phytotoxicity action: induction of reactive oxygen species and cell death in lettuce seedlings

Artemisinin has been recognized as an allelochemical that inhibits growth of several plant species. However, its mode of action is not well clarified. In this study, the mechanism of artemisinin phytotoxicity on lettuce seedlings was investigated. Root and shoot elongation of lettuce seedlings were inhibited by artemisinin in a concentration-dependent manner. The compound effectively arrested cell division and caused loss of cell viability in root tips of lettuce. Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was induced by artemisinin. Lipid peroxidation, proline overproduction and reduction of chlorophyll content in lettuce seedlings were found after treatments. These results suggested that artemisinin could induce ROS overproduction, which caused membrane lipids peroxidation and cell death, and impacted mitosis and physiological processes, resulting in growth inhibition of receptor plants.

Phytotoxic action of naphthoquinone juglone demonstrated on lettuce seedling roots

Juglone, 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, is the plant secondary metabolite with allelopathic properties, which was isolated especially from the plant species belonging to family Juglandaceae A. Rich. ex Kunth (walnut family). The mechanism of phytotoxic action of juglone was investigated on lettuce seedlings Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata L. cv. Merkurion by determining its effect at different levels. We have found that juglone inhibits mitosis (mitotic index 8.5 ± 0.6% for control versus 2.2 ± 0.9% for 250 μM juglone), changes mitotic phase index with accumulation of the cells in prophase (56.5 ± 2.6% for control versus 85.3 ± 5.0% for 250 μM juglone), and decreases meristematic activity in lettuce root tips (51.07 ± 3.62% for control versus 5.27 ± 2.29% for 250 μM juglone). In addition, juglone induced creation of reactive oxygen species and changed levels of reactive nitrogen species. Amount of malondialdehyde, a product of lipid peroxidation, increased from 24.0 ± 4.0 ng g(-1) FW for control to 55.5 ± 5.4 ng g(-1) FW for 250 μM juglone. We observed also changes in cellular structure, especially changes in the morphology of endoplasmic reticulum. Reactive oxygen species induced damage of plasma membrane. All these changes resulted in the disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential, increase in free intracellular calcium ions, and DNA fragmentation and programmed cell death that was revealed by two methods, TUNEL test and DNA electrophoresis. The portion of TUNEL-positive cells increase from 0.96 ± 0.5% for control to 7.66 ± 1.5% for 250 μM juglone. Results of the study indicate complex mechanism of phytotoxic effect of juglone in lettuce root tips and may indicate mechanism of allelopathic activity of this compound.

Balgacyclamides, antiplasmodial heterocyclic peptides from Microcystis aeruguinosa EAWAG 251

The isolation and structural characterization of three new heterocyclic and macrocyclic peptides, balgacyclamides A-C, from Microcystis aeruginosa EAWAG 251 are reported. The constitutions were determined by 2D-NMR methods and mass spectrometry, and the configurations were assigned after ozonolysis and hydrolysis by HPLC-MS methods using Marfey's method as well as GC-MS using authentic standards. Balgacyclamides A and B were active against Plasmodium falciparum K1 in the low micromolar range, while displaying low toxicity to rat myoblasts.