Exposure of Catasetum fimbriatum aerial roots to light coordinates carbon partitioning between source and sink organs in an auxin dependent manner

Root photosynthesis prevents hypoxia in the epiphytic orchid Phalaenopsis

Orchids (Phalaenopsis spp.) growing in tropical and subtropical regions are epiphytes. As such, they grow on trees with the root system utilised to anchor themselves to tree branches. These roots are highly specialised, display a large diameter and are often green, suggesting the ability to carry out photosynthesis. However, the role of photosynthesis in orchid roots is controversial. Orchids that are leafless can photosynthesise in their roots, thus indicating that some orchid roots carry out photosynthesis in a similar manner to leaves. However, the primary site of photosynthesis in orchids are in their leaves, and the roots of epiphytic orchids may mostly conduct internal refixation of respiratory CO2 . Besides contributing to the overall carbon metabolism of orchid plants, oxygen produced through root photosynthesis may also be important by alleviating potential root hypoxia. The bulky tissue of most epiphytic orchid roots suggests that oxygen diffusion in these roots can be limited. Here, we demonstrate that the bulky roots of a widely commercially cultivated orchid belonging to the genus Phalaenopsis are hypoxic in the dark. These roots are photosynthetically active and produce oxygen when exposed to light, thus mitigating root hypoxia.

Comparative analysis of endophyte diversity of Dendrobium officinale lived on rock and tree

Dendrobium officinale usually lives on rock or tree, but their endophyte diversity has not yet been fully revealed? In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to investigate the endophyte diversity of the roots of D. officinale lived on tree (Group 1-3, arboreal type) and rock (Group 4, lithophytic type). The results showed that their composition of endophytic fungi and bacteria were similar at phylum level, while their relative abundance were different. Their taxa composition and abundance of endophytes differed significantly among groups at the genus level. Alpha diversity of endophytic fungi of lithophytic type was higher than those from arboreal type, while there was no advantage in endophytic bacteria. Beta diversity revealed that the endophytic fungi tended to cluster in each group, but the endophytic bacteria were dispersed among the groups. LEfSe analysis found that the numbers of predicted endophyte biomarkers of lithophytic type were more than arboreal types at genus level, and the biomarkers varied among groups. Microbial network analysis revealed similarities and differences in the taxa composition and abundance of shared and special endophytes in each group. These results suggested that the root endophytes of lithophytic and arboreal D. officinale differed in diversity.

Role of sugar and auxin crosstalk in plant growth and development

Under the natural environment, nutrient signals interact with phytohormones to coordinate and reprogram plant growth and survival. Sugars are important molecules that control almost all morphological and physiological processes in plants, ranging from seed germination to senescence. In addition to their functions as energy resources, osmoregulation, storage molecules, and structural components, sugars function as signaling molecules and interact with various plant signaling pathways, such as hormones, stress, and light to modulate growth and development according to fluctuating environmental conditions. Auxin, being an important phytohormone, is associated with almost all stages of the plant's life cycle and also plays a vital role in response to the dynamic environment for better growth and survival. In the previous years, substantial progress has been made that showed a range of common responses mediated by sugars and auxin signaling. This review discusses how sugar signaling affects auxin at various levels from its biosynthesis to perception and downstream gene activation. On the same note, the review also highlights the role of auxin signaling in fine-tuning sugar metabolism and carbon partitioning. Furthermore, we discussed the crosstalk between the two signaling machineries in the regulation of various biological processes, such as gene expression, cell cycle, development, root system architecture, and shoot growth. In conclusion, the review emphasized the role of sugar and auxin crosstalk in the regulation of several agriculturally important traits. Thus, engineering of sugar and auxin signaling pathways could potentially provide new avenues to manipulate for agricultural purposes.

Sucrose Utilization for Improved Crop Yields: A Review Article

Photosynthetic carbon converted to sucrose is vital for plant growth. Sucrose acts as a signaling molecule and a primary energy source that coordinates the source and sink development. Alteration in source-sink balance halts the physiological and developmental processes of plants, since plant growth is mostly triggered when the primary assimilates in the source leaf balance with the metabolic needs of the heterotrophic sinks. To measure up with the sink organ's metabolic needs, the improvement of photosynthetic carbon to synthesis sucrose, its remobilization, and utilization at the sink level becomes imperative. However, environmental cues that influence sucrose balance within these plant organs, limiting positive yield prospects, have also been a rising issue over the past few decades. Thus, this review discusses strategies to improve photosynthetic carbon assimilation, the pathways actively involved in the transport of sucrose from source to sink organs, and their utilization at the sink organ. We further emphasize the impact of various environmental cues on sucrose transport and utilization, and the strategic yield improvement approaches under such conditions.