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Heredia A, Benítez JJ, González Moreno A, Domínguez E. Revisiting plant cuticle biophysics. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 244:65-73. [PMID: 39061101 DOI: 10.1111/nph.20009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
The plant cuticle is located at the interface of the plant with the environment, thus acting as a protective barrier against biotic and abiotic external stress factors, and regulating water loss. Additionally, it modulates mechanical stresses derived from internal tissues and also from the environment. Recent advances in the understanding of the hydric, mechanical, thermal, and, to a lower extent, optical and electric properties of the cuticle, as well as their phenomenological connections and relationships are reviewed. An equilibrium based on the interaction among the different biophysical properties is essential to ensure plant growth and development. The notable variability reported in cuticle geometry, surface topography, and microchemistry affects the analysis of some biophysical properties of the cuticle. This review aimed to provide an updated view of the plant cuticle, understood as a modification of the cell wall, in order to establish the state-of-the-art biophysics of the plant cuticle, and to serve as an inspiration for future research in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Heredia
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea "La Mayora", Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Málaga, E-29010, Málaga, Spain
| | - José J Benítez
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Sevilla, Centro Mixto Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad de Sevilla, E-41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Ana González Moreno
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea "La Mayora", Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Málaga, E-29010, Málaga, Spain
| | - Eva Domínguez
- Departamento de Mejora Genética y Biotecnología, Estación Experimental La Mayora, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea "La Mayora", Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, E-29750, Málaga, Spain
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Asadyar L, de Felippes FF, Bally J, Blackman CJ, An J, Sussmilch FC, Moghaddam L, Williams B, Blanksby SJ, Brodribb TJ, Waterhouse PM. Evidence for within-species transition between drought response strategies in Nicotiana benthamiana. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 244:464-476. [PMID: 38863314 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Nicotiana benthamiana is predominantly distributed in arid habitats across northern Australia. However, none of six geographically isolated accessions shows obvious xerophytic morphological features. To investigate how these tender-looking plants withstand drought, we examined their responses to water deprivation, assessed phenotypic, physiological, and cellular responses, and analysed cuticular wax composition and wax biosynthesis gene expression profiles. Results showed that the Central Australia (CA) accession, globally known as a research tool, has evolved a drought escape strategy with early vigour, short life cycle, and weak, water loss-limiting responses. By contrast, a northern Queensland (NQ) accession responded to drought by slowing growth, inhibiting flowering, increasing leaf cuticle thickness, and altering cuticular wax composition. Under water stress, NQ increased the heat stability and water impermeability of its cuticle by extending the carbon backbone of cuticular long-chain alkanes from c. 25 to 33. This correlated with rapid upregulation of at least five wax biosynthesis genes. In CA, the alkane chain lengths (c. 25) and gene expression profiles remained largely unaltered. This study highlights complex genetic and environmental control over cuticle composition and provides evidence for divergence into at least two fundamentally different drought response strategies within the N. benthamiana species in < 1 million years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Asadyar
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Qld, 4000, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia
| | - Felipe Fenselau de Felippes
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Qld, 4000, Australia
| | - Julia Bally
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Qld, 4000, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia
| | - Chris J Blackman
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania (UTAS), Sandy Bay, Hobart, Tas., 7005, Australia
| | - Jiyuan An
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Qld, 4000, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia
| | - Frances C Sussmilch
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania (UTAS), Sandy Bay, Hobart, Tas., 7005, Australia
| | - Lalehvash Moghaddam
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Qld, 4000, Australia
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Central Analytical Research Facility, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Qld, 4000, Australia
| | - Brett Williams
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Qld, 4000, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia
| | - Stephen J Blanksby
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Central Analytical Research Facility, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Qld, 4000, Australia
| | - Timothy J Brodribb
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania (UTAS), Sandy Bay, Hobart, Tas., 7005, Australia
| | - Peter M Waterhouse
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Qld, 4000, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, Qld, 4072, Australia
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Luo N, Wang Y, Liu Y, Wang Y, Guo Y, Chen C, Gan Q, Song Y, Fan Y, Jin S, Ni Y. 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase 19 contributes to the biosynthesis of seed lipids and cuticular wax in Arabidopsis and abiotic stress tolerance. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2024. [PMID: 39041727 DOI: 10.1111/pce.15054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) are essential precursors for plant membrane lipids, cuticular waxes, suberin, and storage oils. Integral to the fatty acid elongase (FAE) complex, 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthases (KCSs) function as crucial enzymes in the VLCFA pathway, determining the chain length of VLCFA. This study explores the in-planta role of the KCS19 gene. KCS19 is predominantly expressed in leaves and stem epidermis, sepals, styles, early silique walls, beaks, pedicels, and mature embryos. Localized in the endoplasmic reticulum, KCS19 interacts with other FAE proteins. kcs19 knockout mutants displayed reduced total wax and wax crystals, particularly alkanes, while KCS19 overexpression increased these components and wax crystals. Moreover, the cuticle permeability was higher for the kcs19 mutants compared to the wild type, rendering them more susceptible to drought and salt stress, whereas KCS19 overexpression enhanced drought and salt tolerance. Disrupting KCS19 increased C18 species and decreased C20 and longer species in seed fatty acids, indicating its role in elongating C18 to C20 VLCFAs, potentially up to C24 for seed storage lipids. Collectively, KCS19-mediated VLCFA synthesis is required for cuticular wax biosynthesis and seed storage lipids, impacting plant responses to abiotic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Luo
- College of Agronomy, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Qingdao Key Laboratory of Specialty Plant Germplasm Innovation and Utilization in Saline Soils of Coastal Beach, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Dongying Key Laboratory of Germplasm Resources Identification and Application of Oil Crops in Saline alkali Land, Academy of Dongying Efficient Agricultural Technology and Industry on Saline and Alkaline Land in Collaboration with Qingdao Agricultural University, Dongying, China
| | - Yulu Wang
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yu Liu
- College of Agronomy, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Dongying Key Laboratory of Germplasm Resources Identification and Application of Oil Crops in Saline alkali Land, Academy of Dongying Efficient Agricultural Technology and Industry on Saline and Alkaline Land in Collaboration with Qingdao Agricultural University, Dongying, China
| | - Yuxin Wang
- College of Agronomy, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Dongying Key Laboratory of Germplasm Resources Identification and Application of Oil Crops in Saline alkali Land, Academy of Dongying Efficient Agricultural Technology and Industry on Saline and Alkaline Land in Collaboration with Qingdao Agricultural University, Dongying, China
| | - Yanjun Guo
- Qingdao Key Laboratory of Specialty Plant Germplasm Innovation and Utilization in Saline Soils of Coastal Beach, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Chunjie Chen
- College of Agronomy, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Dongying Key Laboratory of Germplasm Resources Identification and Application of Oil Crops in Saline alkali Land, Academy of Dongying Efficient Agricultural Technology and Industry on Saline and Alkaline Land in Collaboration with Qingdao Agricultural University, Dongying, China
| | - Qiaoqiao Gan
- College of Agronomy, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Dongying Key Laboratory of Germplasm Resources Identification and Application of Oil Crops in Saline alkali Land, Academy of Dongying Efficient Agricultural Technology and Industry on Saline and Alkaline Land in Collaboration with Qingdao Agricultural University, Dongying, China
| | - Yuyang Song
- College of Agronomy, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Qingdao Key Laboratory of Specialty Plant Germplasm Innovation and Utilization in Saline Soils of Coastal Beach, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Dongying Key Laboratory of Germplasm Resources Identification and Application of Oil Crops in Saline alkali Land, Academy of Dongying Efficient Agricultural Technology and Industry on Saline and Alkaline Land in Collaboration with Qingdao Agricultural University, Dongying, China
| | - Yongxin Fan
- College of Agronomy, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Qingdao Key Laboratory of Specialty Plant Germplasm Innovation and Utilization in Saline Soils of Coastal Beach, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Dongying Key Laboratory of Germplasm Resources Identification and Application of Oil Crops in Saline alkali Land, Academy of Dongying Efficient Agricultural Technology and Industry on Saline and Alkaline Land in Collaboration with Qingdao Agricultural University, Dongying, China
| | - Shurong Jin
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yu Ni
- College of Agronomy, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Dongying Key Laboratory of Germplasm Resources Identification and Application of Oil Crops in Saline alkali Land, Academy of Dongying Efficient Agricultural Technology and Industry on Saline and Alkaline Land in Collaboration with Qingdao Agricultural University, Dongying, China
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Fleetwood SK, Bell S, Jetter R, Foster EJ. Water-Repellent Spray for Textiles Using Plant Waste from Conifer Trees. ACS APPLIED ENGINEERING MATERIALS 2024; 2:1288-1297. [PMID: 38808266 PMCID: PMC11129697 DOI: 10.1021/acsaenm.4c00116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
A superhydrophobic textile coating, applied by using a home drying machine, was developed as an aqueous dispersion of waxes that were extracted from recycled Christmas trees. Because the bulk extraction of waxes yielded a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic compounds, a purification process was tested to determine if removing noncrystallizing wax components would enhance the performance of the coating. The performances of coatings created from the crude and enriched extracts were compared, and no significant difference in hydrophobicity was found. Moreover, although the enriched coating was slightly more breathable, there was not enough of an improvement to justify the additional purification steps, rendering the crude extract more industrially viable. Overall, Christmas tree waxes are readily sourced and are capable of producing superhydrophobic coatings without the need for a costly purification step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara K. Fleetwood
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering 421, University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Sydney Bell
- Department
of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Reinhard Jetter
- Department
of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
- Department
of Botany, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - E. Johan Foster
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering 421, University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
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Cheng G, Ye C, Zhang J, Li H, Jiang Y, Duan X. Water permeability of different aerial tissues of carnations is related to cuticular wax composition. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2023; 175:e13883. [PMID: 36840510 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.13883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Cuticular wax protects aerial plant tissues against uncontrolled water loss. To compare the differences among tissues, cultivars, and postharvest stages, we characterized the surface morphology, water permeability, and chemical composition of cuticular wax on the leaf, calyx, and petals of two carnation cultivars ('Master' and 'Lady green') at two postharvest stages. Obvious differences in these characteristics were found among tissues but not among cultivars or postharvest stages. The leaf surface was relatively smooth, whereas convex cells were observed on the petals. The mean minimum conductance of leaves was significantly higher than that of the calyx, followed by that of petals. It ranged between 8.8 × 10-4 m s-1 for 'Lady green' leaves at Stage II and 3.6 × 10-5 m s-1 for 'Master' petals at Stage I. Petal wax contained high concentrations of n-alkanes, whereas primary alcohols dominated in leaf wax. The weighted average chain length (ACL) was higher in petal wax than in leaf wax; it ranged from 19.6 in 'Lady green' leaves to 24.14 in 'Lady green' petals at Stage I. In conclusion, carnation petals are characterized by numerous convex cells on both the adaxial and abaxial surfaces, and their main cuticular wax components, alkanes, have a higher ACL than leaf cuticular wax, which contributes to their higher water barrier property. The results provide further evidence for the association between cuticular chemical composition and the physiological function of the cuticle in blocking water transpiration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiping Cheng
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Changchun Ye
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiajun Zhang
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongmei Li
- College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yueming Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuewu Duan
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
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Yan J, Chen F, Sun P, Liu W, Xie D, Qian Y, Jiang B. Genome-wide association study and genetic mapping of BhWAX conferring mature fruit cuticular wax in wax gourd. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 22:539. [PMID: 36401157 PMCID: PMC9675113 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-022-03931-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wax gourd [Benincasa hispida (Thunb) Cogn. (2n = 2x = 24)] is an economically important vegetable crop of genus Benincasa in the Cucurbitaceae family. Fruit is the main consumption organ of wax gourd. The mature fruit cuticular wax (MFCW) is an important trait in breeding programs, which is also of evolutionary significance in wax gourd. However, the genetic architecture of this valuable trait remains unrevealed. RESULTS In this study, genetic analysis revealed that the inheritance of MFCW was controlled by a single gene, with MFCW dominant over non-MFCW, and the gene was primarily named as BhWAX. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) highlighted a 1.1 Mb interval on chromosome 9 associated with MFCW in wax gourd germplasm resources. Traditional fine genetic mapping delimited BhWAX to a 0.5 Mb region containing 12 genes. Based on the gene annotation, expression analysis and co-segregation analysis, Bhi09G001428 that encodes a membrane bound O-acyltransferase (MBOAT) was proposed as the candidate gene for BhWAX. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the efficiency of a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequences (CAPS) marker in the determination of MFCW in wax gourd reached 80%. CONCLUSIONS In closing, the study identified the candidate gene controlling MFCW and provided an efficient molecular marker for the trait in wax gourd for the first time, which will not only be beneficial for functional validation of the gene and marker-assisted breeding of wax gourd, but also lay a foundation for analysis of its evolutionary meaning among cucurbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinqiang Yan
- Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, China
| | - Piaoyun Sun
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenrui Liu
- Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, China
| | - Dasen Xie
- Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, China
| | - Yulei Qian
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, China
| | - Biao Jiang
- Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Guangzhou, 510640, Guangdong, China.
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Winichayakul S, Macknight R, Le Lievre L, Beechey-Gradwell Z, Lee R, Cooney L, Xue H, Crowther T, Anderson P, Richardson K, Zou X, Maher D, Bryan G, Roberts N. Insight into the regulatory networks underlying the high lipid perennial ryegrass growth under different irradiances. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275503. [PMID: 36227922 PMCID: PMC9560171 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Under favourable conditions, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) engineered to accumulated high lipid (HL) carbon sink in their leaves was previously shown to also enhance photosynthesis and growth. The greater aboveground biomass was found to be diminished in a dense canopy compared to spaced pots. Besides, the underlying genetic regulatory network linking between leaf lipid sinks and these physiological changes remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that the growth advantage was not displayed in HL Lolium grown in spaced pots under low lights. Under standard lights, analysis of differentiating transcripts in HL Lolium reveals that the plants had elevated transcripts involved in lipid metabolism, light capturing, photosynthesis, and sugar signalling while reduced expression of genes participating in sugar biosynthesis and transportation. The plants also had altered several transcripts involved in mitochondrial oxidative respiration and redox potential. Many of the above upregulated or downregulated transcript levels were found to be complemented by growing the plants under low light. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of carbon and energy homeostatic regulatory mechanisms to overall productivity of the HL Lolium through photosynthesis, most of which are significantly impacted by low irradiances.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard Macknight
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Liam Le Lievre
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Robyn Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Luke Cooney
- AgResearch Ltd., Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Hong Xue
- AgResearch Ltd., Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | | | | | | | - Xiuying Zou
- AgResearch Ltd., Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Nick Roberts
- AgResearch Ltd., Palmerston North, New Zealand
- * E-mail: (SW); (NR)
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Effect of Seasonal Variation on Leaf Cuticular Waxes’ Composition in the Mediterranean Cork Oak (Quercus suber L.). FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13081236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Quercus suber L. (cork oak) leaves were analyzed along one annual cycle for cuticular wax content and chemical composition. This species, well adapted to the long dry summer conditions prevailing in the Mediterranean, has a leaf life span of about one year. The cuticular wax revealed a seasonal variation with a coverage increase from the newly expanded leaves (115.7 µg/cm2 in spring) to a maximum value in fully expanded leaves (235.6 µg/cm2 after summer). Triterpenoids dominated the wax composition throughout the leaf life cycle, corresponding in young leaves to 26 µg/cm2 (22.6% of the total wax) and 116.0 µg/cm2 (49% of the total wax) in mature leaves, with lupeol constituting about 70% of this fraction. The total aliphatic compounds increased from 39 µg/cm2 (young leaves) to 71 µg/cm2 (mature leaves) and then decreased to 22 µg/cm2 and slightly increased during the remaining period. The major aliphatic compounds were fatty acids, mostly with C16 (hexadecanoic acid) and C28 (octacosanoic acid) chain lengths. Since pentacyclic triterpenoids are located almost exclusively within the cutin matrix (intracuticular wax), the increase in the cyclic-to-acyclic component ratio after summer shows an extensive deposition of intracuticular waxes in association with the establishment of mechanical and thermal stability and of water barrier properties in the mature leaf cuticle.
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