Warm temperature conditions restrict the sexual reproduction and vegetative growth of the spring ephemeral Gagea lutea (Liliaceae)

Distribution of diatom algae is limited by their tolerance to environmental factors. Although a genus Toxarium has been evolving for more than 100 million years, it is represented by only two species. Toxarium undulatum is widely spread in tropical and subtropical seas, and it can be also found in the Black Sea, the salinity of which is twice lower than the oceanic one. Ecological and psychological characteristics research of this species is of great interest in terms of its relationship to salinity. T. undulatum clonal cultures were sampled in the Donuzlav Lake connected to the Black Sea (southwest of the Crimean Peninsula) and on Gran Canaria coast (Canary Islands archipelago). Experiments on the salinity tolerance limits showed, that the Black Sea clones were viable in a range of at least 30 ‰ (12 to 42 ‰). The same wide range of salinity tolerance with slightly higher values was observed among oceanic clones of this species. Optima of vegetative growth and sexual reproduction were determined. Optima of the Black Sea clones appeared to be 27.8 and 27.2 ‰, respectively, which was significantly higher than salinity observed in population habitat. Similar higher optima of vegetative growth and sexual reproduction, compared with those salinity values, at which natural population developed, were observed for a number of other Black Sea diatoms, which proved their oceanic (Mediterranean) origin. It was concluded that T. undulatum, along with other species, began to populate the Black Sea basin about seven thousand years ago after Mediterranean Sea water started to flow into the freshened Novoevksinsky Sea-Lake through the Bosporus Strait. However, the evolution rate did not allow bringing physiological and ecological characteristics of the species studied into full agreement with environmental conditions. Oceanic origin is evidently seen in its physiological reactions to salinity. Possibility of speciation due to settlement of the Black Sea with oceanic species is discussed.

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Metabolism and Development during Conidial Germination in Response to a Carbon-Nitrogen-Rich Synthetic or a Natural Source of Nutrition inNeurospora crassa

mBio ◽

10.1128/mbio.00192-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Zheng Wang ◽

Cristina Miguel-Rojas ◽

Francesc Lopez-Giraldez ◽

Oded Yarden ◽

Frances Trail ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Sexual Reproduction ◽

Nitrogen Metabolism ◽

Asexual Reproduction ◽

Sexual Development ◽

Vegetative Growth ◽

Synthetic Medium ◽

Conidial Germination ◽

Content Type ◽

Genes Expression

ABSTRACTFungal spores germinate and undergo vegetative growth, leading to either asexual or sexual reproductive dispersal. Previous research has indicated that among developmental regulatory genes, expression is conserved across nutritional environments, whereas pathways for carbon and nitrogen metabolism appear highly responsive—perhaps to accommodate differential nutritive processing. To comprehensively investigate conidial germination and the adaptive life history decision-making underlying these two modes of reproduction, we profiled transcription ofNeurospora crassagerminating on two media: synthetic Bird medium, designed to promote asexual reproduction; and a natural maple sap medium, on which both asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction manifest. A later start to germination but faster development was observed on synthetic medium. Metabolic genes exhibited altered expression in response to nutrients—at least 34% of the genes in the genome were significantly downregulated during the first two stages of conidial germination on synthetic medium. Knockouts of genes exhibiting differential expression across development altered germination and growth rates, as well as in one case causing abnormal germination. A consensus Bayesian network of these genes indicated especially tight integration of environmental sensing, asexual and sexual development, and nitrogen metabolism on a natural medium, suggesting that in natural environments, a more dynamic and tentative balance of asexual and sexual development may be typical ofN. crassacolonies.IMPORTANCEOne of the most remarkable successes of life is its ability to flourish in response to temporally and spatially varying environments. Fungi occupy diverse ecosystems, and their sensitivity to these environmental changes often drives major fungal life history decisions, including the major switch from vegetative growth to asexual or sexual reproduction. Spore germination comprises the first and simplest stage of vegetative growth. We examined the dependence of this early life history on the nutritional environment using genome-wide transcriptomics. We demonstrated that for developmental regulatory genes, expression was generally conserved across nutritional environments, whereas metabolic gene expression was highly labile. The level of activation of developmental genes did depend on current nutrient conditions, as did the modularity of metabolic and developmental response network interactions. This knowledge is critical to the development of future technologies that could manipulate fungal growth for medical, agricultural, or industrial purposes.

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Demographic variation of dwarf birch (Betula nana) in communities dominated by Ledum palustre and Vaccinium uliginosum

Biologia ◽

10.2478/s11756-010-0007-9 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 65 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Wojciech Ejankowski

Keyword(s):

Population Growth ◽

Sexual Reproduction ◽

Vegetative Growth ◽

Light Limitation ◽

Permanent Plots ◽

Peat Bogs ◽

Betula Nana ◽

Vaccinium Uliginosum ◽

Ledum Palustre ◽

Dwarf Birch

AbstractThe structure and demographic processes were compared in shrub communities to test the effects of vegetation succession on population growth, fecundity and abundance of the dwarf birch (Betula nana L.), which is a rare and endangered plant species in Poland and a glacial relict in Central Europe. The effects of Ledum palustre L. and Vaccinium uliginosum L. were studied in the Linje nature reserve in Chełmińskie Lake District (northern Poland), in three permanent plots on a peat bog. Vegetative growth and reproduction of B. nana were lower in plant communities dominated by L. palustre and V. uliginosum, than in a reference site. Fecundity was also lower, despite the fact that the percentage share of potentially fertile age groups was similar in all study sites. Mortality of ramets was independent of vegetation, both for juvenile and mature stages. The results confirm that B. nana is intolerant of shade, and it is more abundant in vegetation without competitors. Light limitation can lead to its decline, primarily by a decrease in vegetative growth. Sexual reproduction may be negatively affected by shade, but it plays only small role in population growth. Butterfly larvae can destroy inflorescences, and thus contribute to low effectiveness of sexual reproduction. Increasing density of shrubs and trees in peat bogs can reduce the abundance of dwarf birch, and can lead to the extinction of its local populations.

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The effect of pollination on resource allocation among sexual reproduction, clonal reproduction, and vegetative growth in Sagittaria potamogetifolia (Alismataceae)

Ecological Research ◽

10.1007/s11284-009-0679-1 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 495-499 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Fan Liu ◽

Yi-Ying Liao ◽

Wei Li ◽

Jin-Ming Chen ◽

Qing-Feng Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Resource Allocation ◽

Sexual Reproduction ◽

Vegetative Growth ◽

Clonal Reproduction

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The influence of mycorrhizal colonization on the vegetative growth and sexual reproductive potential of Lythrum salicaria L.

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b01-010 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 79 (4) ◽

pp. 381-388 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Leanne J Philip ◽

Usher Posluszny ◽

John N Klironomos

Keyword(s):

Sexual Reproduction ◽

Vegetative Growth ◽

Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Mycorrhizal Fungus ◽

Reproductive Potential ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽

Lythrum Salicaria ◽

Mycorrhizal Colonization ◽

Purple Loosestrife

Lythrum salicaria L., purple loosestrife, is a heterostylous, perennial plant with prolific and at times invasive vegetative growth and sexual reproduction. Sexual reproduction occurs following pollination and fertilization between two different floral morphs. We investigated the influence of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus aggregatum Schenck and Smith emend. Koske, on the vegetative growth and sexual reproductive potential of L. salicaria. Mycorrhiza decreased plant biomass both aboveground and belowground. Flower production, number of days to anthesis, numbers of flowers per inflorescence, and inflorescence lengths were not significantly different between mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal treatments. However, pollen production per anther and per flower increased with mycorrhizal colonization. Though ovule production was not affected, some aspects of purple loosestrife morphology did change. Plants with mycorrhizae produced inflorescence (in lateral positions) further up the stem. In addition, flower distribution within an inflorescence differed according to morph (short, mid, and long style) such that in the mid and long morphs flower number increased with inflorescence length and was unevenly distributed, while in the short morph this distribution appeared even. The relative biomass of stems, leaves, lateral branches, and reproductive structures were not significantly different in mycorrhizal plants, whereas in the absence of mycorrhizal colonization, stem biomass was higher relative to other structures. This study suggests some vegetative and reproductive characteristics in purple loosestrife change with an association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.Key words: purple loosestrife, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, plant reproduction.

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Rapid expansion of Ulva blooms in the Yellow Sea, China through sexual reproduction and vegetative growth

Marine Pollution Bulletin ◽

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.03.036 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 130 ◽

pp. 223-228 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Jianjun Cui ◽

Jinting Shi ◽

Jianheng Zhang ◽

Lintao Wang ◽

Shaoying Fan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Reproduction ◽

Yellow Sea ◽

Vegetative Growth ◽

Rapid Expansion ◽

The Yellow Sea

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Analysing time series data of phenotypic measurements - trade-off in sexual reproduction and vegetative growth of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)?

CAB Reviews Perspectives in Agriculture Veterinary Science Nutrition and Natural Resources ◽

10.1079/pavsnnr20127020 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 7 (020) ◽

Author(s):

J Thiele

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Sexual Reproduction ◽

Lolium Perenne ◽

Perennial Ryegrass ◽

Vegetative Growth ◽

Time Series Data ◽

Series Data ◽

Trade Off

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Functional roles of α 1 -, α 2 -, β 1 -, β 2 -tubulin in vegetative growth, microtubule assembly and sexual reproduction of Fusarium graminearum .

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.00967-21 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yuanye Zhu ◽

Yuanshuai Zhang ◽

Yabing Duan ◽

Dongya Shi ◽

Yi ping Hou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Reproduction ◽

Fusarium Graminearum ◽

Vegetative Growth ◽

Microtubule Assembly ◽

Mitochondrial Outer Membrane ◽

Deletion Mutants ◽

Voltage Dependent Anion Channel ◽

Microtubule Cytoskeleton ◽

Functional Roles ◽

Β Tubulin

The plant pathogen Fusarium graminearum contains two α-tubulin (α 1 and α 2 ) isotypes and two β-tubulin isotypes (β 1 and β 2 ). The functional roles of these tubulins in microtubule assembly are not clear. Previous studies showed that α 1 - and β 2 -tubulin deletion mutants showed severe growth defects and hypersensitivity to carbendazim, which have not been well explained. Here, we investigated the interaction between α- and β-tubulin of F. graminearum . Co-localization experiments demonstrated that β 1 - and β 2 -tubulin are co-localized. Co-immunoprecipitation experiment suggested that β 1 -tubulin binds to both α 1 - and α 2 -tubulin and β 2 -tubulin can also bind to α 1 - or α 2 -tubulin. Interestingly, deletion of α 1 -tubulin increased the interaction between β 2 -tubulin and α 2 -tubulin. Microtubule observation assays showed that deletion of α 1 -tubulin completely disrupted β 1 -tubulin-containing microtubules and significantly decreased β 2 -tubulin-containing microtubules. Deletion of α 2 -, β 1 - or β 2 -tubulin respectively had no obvious effect on the microtubule cytoskeleton. However, microtubules in α 1 - and β 2 -tubulin deletion mutants were easily depolymerized in the presence of carbendazim. The sexual reproduction assay indicates that α 1 - and β 1 -tubulin deletion mutants could not produce asci and ascospores. These results implied that α 1 -tubulin may be essential for the microtubule cytoskeleton. However, our Δα 1 -2×α 2 mutant (α 1 -tubulin deletion mutant containing two copies of α 2 -tubulin) exhibited a normal microtubule network, growth and sexual reproduction. Interestingly, the Δα 1 -2×α 2 mutant was still hypersensitive to carbendazim. In addition, both β 1 -tubulin and β 2 -tubulin were found to bind the mitochondrial outer membrane voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC), indicating they could regulate the function of VDAC. Importance: In this study, we found that F. graminearum contains four different α-/β-tubulin heterodimers (α 1 -β 1 , α 1 -β 2 , α 2 -β 1 and α 2 -β 2 ) and they assemble together into a single microtubule. Moreover, α 1 -, α 2 -tubulins are functionally interchangeable in microtubule assembly, vegetative growth and sexual reproduction. These results provide more insights into functional roles of different tubulins of F. graminearum which could be helpful for purification of tubulin heterodimers and developing new tubulin-binding agents.

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