1
|
Ramírez CF, Cavieres LA, Sanhueza C, Vallejos V, Gómez-Espinoza O, Bravo LA, Sáez PL. Ecophysiology of Antarctic Vascular Plants: An Update on the Extreme Environment Resistance Mechanisms and Their Importance in Facing Climate Change. Plants (Basel) 2024; 13:449. [PMID: 38337983 PMCID: PMC10857404 DOI: 10.3390/plants13030449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Antarctic flowering plants have become enigmatic because of their unique capability to colonize Antarctica. It has been shown that there is not a single trait that makes Colobanthus quitensis and Deschampsia antarctica so special, but rather a set of morphophysiological traits that coordinately confer resistance to one of the harshest environments on the Earth. However, both their capacity to inhabit Antarctica and their uniqueness remain not fully explained from a biological point of view. These aspects have become more relevant due to the climatic changes already impacting Antarctica. This review aims to compile and update the recent advances in the ecophysiology of Antarctic vascular plants, deepen understanding of the mechanisms behind their notable resistance to abiotic stresses, and contribute to understanding their potential responses to environmental changes. The uniqueness of Antarctic plants has prompted research that emphasizes the role of leaf anatomical traits and cell wall properties in controlling water loss and CO2 exchange, the role of Rubisco kinetics traits in facilitating efficient carbon assimilation, and the relevance of metabolomic pathways in elucidating key processes such as gas exchange, nutrient uptake, and photoprotection. Climate change is anticipated to have significant and contrasting effects on the morphophysiological processes of Antarctic species. However, more studies in different locations outside Antarctica and using the latitudinal gradient as a natural laboratory to predict the effects of climate change are needed. Finally, we raise several questions that should be addressed, both to unravel the uniqueness of Antarctic vascular species and to understand their potential responses to climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Constanza F. Ramírez
- Laboratorio Cultivo de Tejidos Vegetales, Centro de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile; (C.F.R.); (V.V.)
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad-IEB, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile;
| | - Lohengrin A. Cavieres
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad-IEB, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile;
- ECOBIOSIS, Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Barrio Universitario s/n, Concepción 4030000, Chile
| | - Carolina Sanhueza
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Vegetal, Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Barrio Universitario s/n, Concepción 4030000, Chile;
| | - Valentina Vallejos
- Laboratorio Cultivo de Tejidos Vegetales, Centro de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile; (C.F.R.); (V.V.)
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad-IEB, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile;
| | - Olman Gómez-Espinoza
- Laboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular Vegetal, Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Medioambiente, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile; (O.G.-E.) (L.A.B.)
| | - León A. Bravo
- Laboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular Vegetal, Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Medioambiente, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile; (O.G.-E.) (L.A.B.)
| | - Patricia L. Sáez
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad-IEB, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile;
- Laboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular Vegetal, Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Medioambiente, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile; (O.G.-E.) (L.A.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Jin H, Yu J, Kaleku J, Lee Y, Park E, Lee H, Kim HW, Lee J. High-Quality Genome Resource of a Novel Venturiaceae sp. KMAF11, Isolated from Diseased Colobanthus quitensis, an Antarctic Flowering Plant. Plant Dis 2023; 107:911-914. [PMID: 36265155 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-03-22-0706-a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hongshi Jin
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21990, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihyeon Yu
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21990, Republic of Korea
| | - Jesse Kaleku
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, U.S.A
| | - Yelim Lee
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21990, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunsook Park
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, U.S.A
| | - Hyoungseok Lee
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21990, Republic of Korea
- Polar Science, University of Science and Technology, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21990, Republic of Korea
| | - Han-Woo Kim
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21990, Republic of Korea
| | - Jungeun Lee
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21990, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
López D, Sanhueza C, Salvo-Garrido H, Bascunan-Godoy L, Bravo LA. How Does Diurnal and Nocturnal Warming Affect the Freezing Resistance of Antarctic Vascular Plants? Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:806. [PMID: 36840154 PMCID: PMC9966323 DOI: 10.3390/plants12040806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The Antarctic Peninsula has rapidly warmed up in past decades, and global warming has exhibited an asymmetric trend; therefore, it is interesting to understand whether nocturnal or diurnal warming is the most relevant for plant cold deacclimation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of diurnal and nocturnal warming on Antarctic vascular plant's freezing resistance under laboratory conditions. This was studied by measuring the lethal temperature for 50% of tissue (LT50), ice nucleation temperature (INT), and freezing point (FP) on Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis plants. Additionally, soluble carbohydrates content and dehydrin levels were analyzed during nocturnal and diurnal temperatures increase. Nocturnal warming led to a 7 °C increase in the LT50 of D. antarctica and reduced dehydrin-like peptide expression. Meanwhile, C. quitensis warmed plants reduce their LT50 to about 3.6 °C. Both species reduce their sucrose content by more than 28% in warming treatments. Therefore, nocturnal warming leads to cold deacclimation in both plant species, while C. quitensis plants are also cold-deacclimated upon warm days. This suggests that even when the remaining freezing resistance of both species allows them to tolerate summer freezing events, C. quitensis can reach its boundaries of freezing vulnerability in the near future if warming in the Antarctic Peninsula progress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dariel López
- Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Medioambiente and Center of Plant, Soil Interactions and Natural Resources Biotechnology, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Carolina Sanhueza
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Vegetal, Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
| | - Haroldo Salvo-Garrido
- Centro de Genómica Nutricional Agroacuícola, Ciencia en Plantas, Temuco 4781158, Chile
| | - Luisa Bascunan-Godoy
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Vegetal, Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
| | - León A. Bravo
- Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Medioambiente and Center of Plant, Soil Interactions and Natural Resources Biotechnology, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bertini L, Proietti S, Fongaro B, Holfeld A, Picotti P, Falconieri GS, Bizzarri E, Capaldi G, Polverino de Laureto P, Caruso C. Environmental Signals Act as a Driving Force for Metabolic and Defense Responses in the Antarctic Plant Colobanthus quitensis. Plants (Basel) 2022; 11:3176. [PMID: 36432905 PMCID: PMC9695728 DOI: 10.3390/plants11223176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
During evolution, plants have faced countless stresses of both biotic and abiotic nature developing very effective mechanisms able to perceive and counteract adverse signals. The biggest challenge is the ability to fine-tune the trade-off between plant growth and stress resistance. The Antarctic plant Colobanthus quitensis has managed to survive the adverse environmental conditions of the white continent and can be considered a wonderful example of adaptation to prohibitive conditions for millions of other plant species. Due to the progressive environmental change that the Antarctic Peninsula has undergone over time, a more comprehensive overview of the metabolic features of C. quitensis becomes particularly interesting to assess its ability to respond to environmental stresses. To this end, a differential proteomic approach was used to study the response of C. quitensis to different environmental cues. Many differentially expressed proteins were identified highlighting the rewiring of metabolic pathways as well as defense responses. Finally, a different modulation of oxidative stress response between different environmental sites was observed. The data collected in this paper add knowledge on the impact of environmental stimuli on plant metabolism and stress response by providing useful information on the trade-off between plant growth and defense mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bertini
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Silvia Proietti
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Benedetta Fongaro
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Aleš Holfeld
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Paola Picotti
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Elisabetta Bizzarri
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Gloria Capaldi
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | | | - Carla Caruso
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Barrera A, Acuña-Rodríguez IS, Ballesteros GI, Atala C, Molina-Montenegro MA. Biological Soil Crusts as Ecosystem Engineers in Antarctic Ecosystem. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:755014. [PMID: 35391734 PMCID: PMC8981465 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.755014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological soil crusts (BSC) are considered as pivotal ecological elements among different ecosystems of the world. The effects of these BSC at the micro-site scale have been related to the development of diverse plant species that, otherwise, might be strongly limited by the harsh abiotic conditions found in environments with low water availability. Here, we describe for the first time the bacterial composition of BSCs found in the proximities of Admiralty Bay (Maritime Antarctica) through 16S metabarcoding. In addition, we evaluated their effect on soils (nutrient levels, enzymatic activity, and water retention), and on the fitness and performance of Colobanthus quitensis, one of the two native Antarctic vascular plants. This was achieved by comparing the photochemical performance, foliar nutrient, biomass, and reproductive investment between C. quitensis plants growing with or without the influence of BSC. Our results revealed a high diversity of prokaryotes present in these soil communities, although we found differences in terms of their abundances. We also found that the presence of BSCs is linked to a significant increase in soils' water retention, nutrient levels, and enzymatic activity when comparing with control soils (without BSCs). In the case of C. quitensis, we found that measured ecophysiological performance parameters were significantly higher on plants growing in association with BSCs. Taken together, our results suggest that BSCs in Antarctic soils are playing a key role in various biochemical processes involved in soil development, while also having a positive effect on the accompanying vascular flora. Therefore, BSCs would be effectively acting as ecosystem engineers for the terrestrial Antarctic ecosystem.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Barrera
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | | | | | - Cristian Atala
- Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Marco A. Molina-Montenegro
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
- Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
- Centro de Investigación en Estudios Avanzados del Maule (CIEAM), Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Tapia J, Molina-Montenegro M, Sandoval C, Rivas N, Espinoza J, Basualto S, Fierro P, Vargas-Chacoff L. Human Activity in Antarctica: Effects on Metallic Trace Elements (MTEs) in Plants and Soils. Plants (Basel) 2021; 10:plants10122593. [PMID: 34961063 PMCID: PMC8708839 DOI: 10.3390/plants10122593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Colobanthus quitensis (Kunt) is one of the two vascular plant species present in Antarctica and develops under severe environmental conditions, being found in both pristine and human-threatened environments. We determined the Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn levels in C. quitensis roots, leaves, and soils of origin using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. In January 2017, we collected samples from four geographical zones on the longitudinal gradient along which C. quitensis is distributed, starting from Punta Arenas (PAR) at the extreme south of mainland Chile and moving southwards to the Antarctic territory from King George Island (KGI) to Hannah Point Peninsula (PHA) and finally Lagotellerie Island (LAT). We used certified reference material to validate the plant tissues and soil samples we collected. The highest concentrations of metals that we measured in the soils and in the C. quitensis roots and leaves were in samples we collected at the KGI station, the zone with the greatest human activity. The lowest concentrations we measured were at the LAT station, an island with little human intervention and scarce fauna. The mean concentrations of metals in the roots and leaves of C. quitensis followed a similar order at all sampling locations: Mn > Zn > Cu > Ni > Pb > Cr > Cd. In contrast, in soil, they followed the following order: Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cd. The concentration levels obtained for the different metals in the soil and plants tissue samples in this region of Antarctica indicated that the area was non-polluted. However, the metallic trace element (MTE) concentrations may be at an early stage of contamination, as described in other areas of the Antarctic, being a new threat to this continent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Tapia
- Institute of Natural Resources Chemistry, University of Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile;
| | - Marco Molina-Montenegro
- Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile; (M.M.-M.); (C.S.); (N.R.)
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas, CEAZA, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo 1780000, Chile
| | - Camila Sandoval
- Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile; (M.M.-M.); (C.S.); (N.R.)
| | - Natalia Rivas
- Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile; (M.M.-M.); (C.S.); (N.R.)
| | - Jessica Espinoza
- Institute of Natural Resources Chemistry, University of Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile;
| | - Silvia Basualto
- EULA Center, University of Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile;
| | - Pablo Fierro
- Institute of Marine Science and Limnology, University Austral of Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile
| | - Luis Vargas-Chacoff
- Institute of Marine Science and Limnology, University Austral of Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile
- Centro Fondap de Investigación de Altas Latitudes, FONDAP-IDEAL Center, University Austral of Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems, BASE, University Austral of Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bertini L, Cozzolino F, Proietti S, Falconieri GS, Iacobucci I, Salvia R, Falabella P, Monti M, Caruso C. What Antarctic Plants Can Tell Us about Climate Changes: Temperature as a Driver for Metabolic Reprogramming. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1094. [PMID: 34439761 DOI: 10.3390/biom11081094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Global warming is strongly affecting the maritime Antarctica climate and the consequent melting of perennial snow and ice covers resulted in increased colonization by plants. Colobanthus quitensis is a vascular plant highly adapted to the harsh environmental conditions of Antarctic Peninsula and understanding how the plant is responding to global warming is a new challenging target for modern cell physiology. To this aim, we performed differential proteomic analysis on C. quitensis plants grown in natural conditions compared to plants grown for one year inside open top chambers (OTCs) which determine an increase of about 4 °C at midday, mimicking the effect of global warming. A thorough analysis of the up- and downregulated proteins highlighted an extensive metabolism reprogramming leading to enhanced photoprotection and oxidative stress control as well as reduced content of cell wall components. Overall, OTCs growth seems to be advantageous for C. quitensis plants which could benefit from a better CO2 diffusion into the mesophyll and a reduced ROS-mediated photodamage.
Collapse
|
8
|
Araya MA, Valenzuela T, Inostroza NG, Maruyama F, Jorquera MA, Acuña JJ. Isolation and Characterization of Cold-Tolerant Hyper-ACC-Degrading Bacteria from the Rhizosphere, Endosphere, and Phyllosphere of Antarctic Vascular Plants. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1788. [PMID: 33202619 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8111788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
1-Aminociclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)-degrading bacteria having been widely studied for their use in alleviating abiotic stresses in plants. In the present study, we isolated and characterized ACC-degrading bacteria from the rhizosphere, phyllosphere, and endosphere of the Antarctic vascular plants Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis. One hundred and eighty of the 578 isolates (31%) were able to grow on minimal medium containing ACC, with 101 isolates (23, 37, and 41 endosphere-, phyllosphere- and rhizosphere-associated isolates, respectively) identified as being genetically unique by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR. Subsequently, freeze/thaw treatments and ice-recrystallization-inhibition (IRI) activity assays were performed, the results of which revealed that 77 (13%) of cold-tolerant isolates exhibited putative ACC deaminase activity. Significant (p ≤ 0.05) differences in IRI activity were also observed between the studied plant niches. Surprisingly, all the cold-tolerant isolates showed ACC deaminase activity, independent of the plant niches, with 12 isolates showing the highest ACC deaminase activities of 13.21-39.56 mmol α KB mg protein-1 h-1. These isolates were categorized as 'cold-tolerant hyper-ACC-degrading bacteria', and identified as members of Pseudomonas, Serratia, and Staphylococcus genera. The results revealed the occurrence of cold-tolerant hyper-ACC-degrading bacteria in diverse plant niches of Antarctic vascular plants, that could be investigated as novel microbial inoculants to alleviate abiotic stresses in plants.
Collapse
|
9
|
Zhang Q, Acuña JJ, Inostroza NG, Duran P, Mora ML, Sadowsky MJ, Jorquera MA. Niche Differentiation in the Composition, Predicted Function, and Co-occurrence Networks in Bacterial Communities Associated With Antarctic Vascular Plants. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1036. [PMID: 32582056 PMCID: PMC7285837 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change directly affecting the Antarctic Peninsula has been reported to induce the successful colonization of ice-free lands by two Antarctic vascular plants (Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis). While studies have revealed the importance of microbiota for plant growth and stress tolerance in temperate climates, the role that plant-associated microbes play in the colonization of ice-free lands remains unknown. Consequently, we used high-throughput DNA sequence analyses to explore the composition, predicted functions, and interactive networks of plant-associated microbial communities among the rhizosphere, endosphere, and phyllosphere niches of D. antarctica and C. quitensis. Here we report a greater number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs), diversity, and richness in the microbial communities from the rhizosphere, relative to endosphere and phyllosphere. While taxonomic assignments showed greater relative abundances of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria in plant niches, principal coordinate analysis revealed differences among the bacterial communities from the other compartments examined. More importantly, however, our results showed that most of OTUs were exclusively found in each plant niche. Major predicted functional groups of these microbiota were attributed to heterotrophy, aerobic heterotrophy, fermentation, and nitrate reduction, independent of plant niches or plant species. Co-occurrences network analyses identified 5 (e.g., Microbacteriaceae, Pseudomonaceae, Lactobacillaceae, and Corynebacteriaceae), 23 (e.g., Chitinophagaceae and Sphingomonadaceae) and 7 (e.g., Rhodospirillaceae) putative keystone taxa present in endosphere, phyllosphere, and rhizosphere, respectively. Our results revealed niche differentiation in Antarctic vascular plants, highlighting some putative microbial indicators and keystone taxa in each niche. However, more studies are required to determine the pivotal role that these microbes play in the successful colonization of ice-free lands by Antarctic plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- The BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, United States
| | - Jacquelinne J Acuña
- Laboratorio de Ecología Microbiana Aplicada (EMALAB), Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.,Network for Extreme Environment Research (NEXER), Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Nitza G Inostroza
- Laboratorio de Ecología Microbiana Aplicada (EMALAB), Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.,Network for Extreme Environment Research (NEXER), Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Paola Duran
- Network for Extreme Environment Research (NEXER), Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - María L Mora
- Network for Extreme Environment Research (NEXER), Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Michael J Sadowsky
- The BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, United States.,Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, and Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, United States
| | - Milko A Jorquera
- Laboratorio de Ecología Microbiana Aplicada (EMALAB), Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.,Network for Extreme Environment Research (NEXER), Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Hereme R, Morales-Navarro S, Ballesteros G, Barrera A, Ramos P, Gundel PE, Molina-Montenegro MA. Fungal Endophytes Exert Positive Effects on Colobanthus quitensis Under Water Stress but Neutral Under a Projected Climate Change Scenario in Antarctica. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:264. [PMID: 32184767 PMCID: PMC7058981 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional symbiosis is considered one of the successful mechanisms by which plants that inhabit extreme environment improve their ability to tolerate different types of stress. One of the most conspicuous type of symbiosis is the endophyticism. This interaction has been noted to play a role in the adaptation of the native vascular plant Colobanthus quitensis to the stressful environments of Antarctica, characterized by low temperatures and extreme aridity. Projections of climate change for this ecosystem indicate that abiotic conditions will be less limiting due to an increase in temperature and water availability in the soil. Due to this decrease in stress induced by the climate change, it has been suggested that the positive role of fungal endophytes on performance of C. quitensis plants would decrease. In this study, we evaluated the role of endophytic fungi on osmoprotective molecules (sugar production, proline, oxidative stress) and gene expression (CqNCED1, CqABCG25, and CqRD22) as well as physiological traits (stomatal opening, net photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance) in individuals of C. quitensis. Individual plants of C. quitensis with (E+) and without (E-) endophytic fungi were exposed to simulated conditions of increased water availability (W+), having the current limiting water condition (W-) in Antarctica as control. The results reveal an endophyte-mediated lower oxidative stress, higher production of sugars and proline in plants. In addition, E+ plants showed differential expressions in genes related with drought stress response, which was more evident in W- than in W+. These parameters corresponded with increased physiological mechanisms such as higher net photosynthesis, stomatal opening and conductance under presence of endophytes (E+) as well as the projected water condition (W+) for Antarctica. These results suggest that the presence of fungal endophytes plays a positive role in favoring tolerance to drought in C. quitensis. However, this positive role would be diminished if the stress factor is relaxed, suggesting that the role of endophytes could be less important under a future scenario of climate change in Antarctica with higher soil water availability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rasme Hereme
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | | | | | - Andrea Barrera
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Patricio Ramos
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
- Núcleo Científico Multidisciplinario-DI, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Pedro E. Gundel
- IFEVA, CONICET, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marco A. Molina-Montenegro
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
- Centro de Investigación en Estudios Avanzados del Maule, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Sierra-Almeida A, Cavieres LA, Bravo LA. Warmer Temperatures Affect the in situ Freezing Resistance of the Antarctic Vascular Plants. Front Plant Sci 2018; 9:1456. [PMID: 30349551 PMCID: PMC6187968 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Although positive effects on growth and reproduction of Antarctic vascular plants have been reported under warmer temperatures, it could also increase the vulnerability of these plants to freezing. Thus, we assessed in situ whether warming decreases the freezing resistance of Colobanthus quitensis and Deschampsia antarctica, and we compared the level and mechanism of freezing resistance of these species in the field with previous reports conducted in lab conditions. We assessed the freezing resistance of C. quitensis and D. antarctica by determining their low temperature damage (LT50), ice nucleation temperature (NT) and freezing point (FP) in three sites of the King George Island. Plants were exposed during two growing seasons to a passive increase in the air temperature (+W). +W increased by 1K the mean air temperatures, but had smaller effects on freezing temperatures. Leaf temperature of both species was on average 1.7K warmer inside +W. Overall, warming decreased the freezing resistance of Antarctic species. The LT50 increased on average 2K for C. quitensis and 2.8K for D. antarctica. In contrast, NT and FP decreased on average c. 1K in leaves of warmed plants of both species. Our results showed an averaged LT50 of -15.3°C for C. quitensis, and of -22.8°C for D. antarctica, with freezing tolerance being the freezing resistance mechanism for both species. These results were partially consistent with previous reports, and likely explanations for such discrepancies were related with methodological differences among studies. Our work is the first study reporting the level and mechanisms of freezing resistance of Antarctic vascular plants measured in situ, and we demonstrated that although both plant species exhibited a great ability to cope with freezing temperatures during the growing season, their vulnerability to suffer freezing damage under a warming scenario increase although the magnitude of this response varied across sites and species. Hence, freezing damage should be considered when predicting changes in plant responses of C. quitensis and D. antarctica under future climate conditions of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angela Sierra-Almeida
- Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lohengrin A. Cavieres
- Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Santiago, Chile
| | - León A. Bravo
- Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Forestales and Center of Plant, Soil Interactions and Natural Resources Biotechnology, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kang Y, Lee H, Kim MK, Shin SC, Park H, Lee J. The complete chloroplast genome of Antarctic pearlwort, Colobanthus quitensis (Kunth) Bartl. (Caryophyllaceae). Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal 2015; 27:4677-4678. [PMID: 26607817 DOI: 10.3109/19401736.2015.1106498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
We determined the complete chloroplast DNA sequence of an extremophile plant, Colobanthus quitensis (Antarctic pearlwort), by de novo assembly based on the sequencing results from Illumina MiSeq platform (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA). The chloroplast genome of C. quitensis (NCBI accession no. KT737383) is a sequence of 151 276 bp long with a typical quadripartite structure composed of a large single copy region, a small single copy region and a pair of inverted repeats. The overall GC content of C. quitensis genome is 36.7% and it has 66 simple sequence repeats. It contains a total 112 genes including 78 protein coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoonjee Kang
- a Division of Life Sciences , Korea Polar Research Institute , Incheon , South Korea and
| | - Hyoungseok Lee
- a Division of Life Sciences , Korea Polar Research Institute , Incheon , South Korea and
| | - Mi-Kyeong Kim
- a Division of Life Sciences , Korea Polar Research Institute , Incheon , South Korea and
| | - Seung Chul Shin
- a Division of Life Sciences , Korea Polar Research Institute , Incheon , South Korea and
| | - Hyun Park
- a Division of Life Sciences , Korea Polar Research Institute , Incheon , South Korea and.,b Department of Polar Sciences , University of Science and Technology , Incheon , South Korea
| | - Jungeun Lee
- a Division of Life Sciences , Korea Polar Research Institute , Incheon , South Korea and
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Day TA, Ruhland CT, Grobe CW, Xiong F. Growth and reproduction of Antarctic vascular plants in response to warming and UV radiation reductions in the field. Oecologia 1999; 119:24-35. [PMID: 28308156 DOI: 10.1007/s004420050757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Along the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula springtime ozone depletion events can lead to a two-fold increase in biologically effective UV-B radiation (UV-BBE) and summer air temperatures have risen ≈1.5°C during the past 50 years. We manipulated levels of UV radiation and temperature around Colobanthus quitensis (a cushion-forming plant, Caryophyllaceae) and Deschampsia antarctica (a tussock grass) along the Peninsula near Palmer Station for two field seasons. Ambient levels of UV were manipulated by placing filters that either transmitted UV (filter control), absorbed UV-B (reducing diurnal levels of UV-BBE by about 82%), or absorbed both UV-B and UV-A (reducing UV-BBE and UV-ABE by about 88 and 78%, respectively) on frames over naturally growing plants from November to March. Half the filters of each material completely surrounded the frames and raised diurnal and diel air temperatures around plants by an average of 2.3°C and 1.3°C, respectively. Reducing UV or warming had no effect on leaf concentrations of soluble UV-B absorbing compounds, UV-B absorbing surface waxes or chlorophylls. Warming had few effects on growth of either species over the first season. However, over the second field season warming improved growth of C. quitensis, leading to a 50% increase in leaf production (P < 0.10), a 26% increase in shoot production, and a 6% increase in foliar cover. In contrast, warming reduced growth of D. antarctica, leading to a 20% decline in leaf length, a 17% decline in leaf production (P < 0.10), and a 5% decline in foliar cover. Warming improved sexual reproduction in both species, primarily through faster development of reproductive structures and greater production of heavier seeds. Over the second field season, the percentage of reproductive structures that had reached the most developed (seed) stage in C. quitensis and D. antarctica was 20% and 15% higher, respectively, under warming. Capsules of C. quitensis produced 45% more seeds under warming and these seeds were 11% heavier. Growth of D. antarctica was improved when UV was reduced and these effects appeared to be cumulative over field seasons. Over the second season, tillers produced 55% more leaves and these leaves were 32% longer when UV-B was reduced. Tillers produced 137% more leaves that were 67% longer when both UV-B and UV-A were reduced. The effects of UV reduction were not as pronounced on C. quitensis, although over the second season cushions tended to be 17% larger and produce 21% more branches when UV-B was reduced, and tended to be 27% larger and produce 38% more branches when both UV-B and UV-A were reduced (P < 0.10). Few interactions were found between UV reduction and warming, although in the absence of warming, reducing UV led to slower development of reproductive structures in both species. The effects of warming and UV reduction were species specific and were often cumulative over the two field seasons, emphasizing the importance of long-term field manipulations in predicting the impacts of climate change.
Collapse
|