Specialized metabolites: Physiological and biochemical role in stress resistance, strategies to improve their accumulation, and new applications in crop breeding and management

SummaryDissection of the genetic basis of ionome is crucial for the understanding of the physiological and biochemical processes underlying mineral accumulation in seeds, as well as for efficient crop breeding. Most of the elements essential for plants are metals stored in seeds as chelate complexes with phytic acid or sulfur-containing compounds. We assume that the involvement of phosphorus and sulfur in metal chelation is the reason for strong phenotypic associations within ionome. Thus, we adjusted element concentrations for the effect of variation in phosphorus and sulfur seed content. The genetic architecture of wheat grain ionome was characterize by QTL analysis using a cross between durum and wild emmer wheat. Adjustment for variation in P and S drastically changed phenotypic associations within ionome and considerably improved QTL detection power and accuracy, resulting in identification of 105 QTLs and 437 QTL effects for 11 elements. A search for candidate genes revealed some strong functional associations of genes involved in transport and metabolism of ions and elements. Thus, we have shown that accounting for variation in P and S is crucial for understanding of the physiological and genetic regulation of mineral composition of wheat grain ionome and can be implemented for other plants.

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1250-kilovolt scanning transmission electron microscope

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100113007 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

pp. 624-625

Author(s):

T. Imura ◽

S. Maruse ◽

K. Mihama ◽

M. Iseki ◽

M. Hibino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Voltage ◽

Electron Probe ◽

Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope ◽

Pressure Vessels ◽

Practical Applications ◽

Voltage Generator ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

Scanning Transmission ◽

New Applications ◽

High Voltage Generator

Ultra high voltage STEM has many inherent technical advantages over CTEM. These advantages include better signal detectability and signal processing capability. It is hoped that it will explore some new applications which were previously not possible. Conventional STEM (including CTEM with STEM attachment), however, has been unable to provide these inherent advantages due to insufficient performance and engineering problems. Recently we have developed a new 1250 kV STEM and completed installation at Nagoya University in Japan. It has been designed to break through conventional engineering limitations and bring about theoretical advantage in practical applications.In the design of this instrument, we exercised maximum care in providing a stable electron probe. A high voltage generator and an accelerator are housed in two separate pressure vessels and they are connected with a high voltage resistor cable.(Fig. 1) This design minimized induction generated from the high voltage generator, which is a high frequency Cockcroft-Walton type, being transmitted to the electron probe.

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