Root-to-shoot signalling: integration of diverse molecules, pathways and functions

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergey Shabala ◽  
Rosemary G. White ◽  
Michael A. Djordjevic ◽  
Yong-Ling Ruan ◽  
Ulrike Mathesius
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Dynamic Environment ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Plant Roots ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Efficient Communication ◽  
Communication Modes ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Signalling Systems

Plant adaptive potential is critically dependent upon efficient communication and co-ordination of resource allocation and signalling between above- and below-ground plant parts. Plant roots act as gatekeepers that sense and encode information about soil physical, chemical and biological factors, converting them into a sophisticated network of signals propagated both within the root itself, and also between the root and shoot, to optimise plant performance for a specific set of conditions. In return, plant roots receive and decode reciprocal information coming from the shoot. The communication modes are highly diverse and include a broad range of physical (electric and hydraulic signals, propagating Ca2+ and ROS waves), chemical (assimilates, hormones, peptides and nutrients), and molecular (proteins and RNA) signals. Further, different signalling systems operate at very different timescales. It remains unclear whether some of these signalling systems operate in a priming mode(s), whereas others deliver more specific information about the nature of the signal, or whether they carry the same ‘weight’. This review summarises the current knowledge of the above signalling mechanisms, and reveals their hierarchy, and highlights the importance of integration of these signalling components, to enable optimal plant functioning in a dynamic environment.

Drought Stress alters Solute Allocation in Broadleaf Dock (Rumex obtusifolius)

Weed Science ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Katarina Gilgen ◽  
Urs Feller
Keyword(s):  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Drought Stress ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Rumex Obtusifolius ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Source Sink

According to climate models, drier summers must be expected more frequently in Central Europe during the next decades, which may influence plant performance and competition in grassland. The overall source–sink relations in plants, especially allocation of solutes to above- and below-ground parts, may be affected by drought. To investigate solute export from a given leaf of broadleaf dock, a solution containing57Co and65Zn was introduced through a leaf flap. The export from this leaf was detected by analysing radionuclide contents in various plant parts. Less label was allocated to new leaves and more to roots under drought. The observed alterations of source–sink relations in broadleaf dock were reversible during a subsequent short period of rewatering. These findings suggest an increased resource allocation to roots under drought improving the functionality of the plants.

scholarly journals Potential antidiabetic phytochemicals in plant roots: a review of in vivo studies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamidreza Ardalani ◽  
Fatemeh Hejazi Amiri ◽  
Amin Hadipanah ◽  
Kenneth T. Kongstad
Keyword(s):  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Natural Compounds ◽  
Plant Roots ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Antidiabetic Activity ◽  
Scientific Databases ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Plant Families ◽  
Promising Source

Abstract Background Medicinal plants are used to treat various disorders, including diabetes, globally in a range of formulations. While attention has mainly been on the aerial plant parts, there are only a few review studies to date that are focused on the natural constituents present in the plant roots with health benefits. Thus, the present study was performed to review in vivo studies investigating the antidiabetic potential of the natural compounds in plant roots. Methods We sorted relevant data in 2001–2019 from scientific databases and search engines, including Web of Knowledge, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Medline, Reaxys, and Google Scholar. The class of phytochemicals, plant families, major compounds, active constituents, effective dosages, type of extracts, time of experiments, and type of diabetic induction were described. Results In our literature review, we found 104 plants with determined antidiabetic activity in their root extracts. The biosynthesis pathways and mechanism of actions of the most frequent class of compounds were also proposed. The results of this review indicated that flavonoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, and phytosteroids are the most abundant natural compounds in plant roots with antidiabetic activity. Phytochemicals in plant roots possess different mechanisms of action to control diabetes, including inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes, oxidative stress reduction, secretion of insulin, improvement of diabetic retinopathy/nephropathy, slow the starch digestion, and contribution against hyperglycemia. Conclusion This review concludes that plant roots are a promising source of bioactive compounds which can be explored to develop against diabetes and diabetes-related complications. Graphical abstract

Bark in Woody Plants: Understanding the Diversity of a Multifunctional Structure

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 535-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julieta A Rosell
Keyword(s):  
Woody Plants ◽  
Fire Regime ◽  
Soluble Sugars ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Functional Ecology ◽  
Bark Thickness ◽  
Outer Bark ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Selective Forces ◽  
Plant Ecological

Abstract Most biological structures carry out multiple functions. Focusing on only one function to make adaptive inferences overlooks that manifold selection pressures and tradeoffs shape the characteristics of a multifunctional structure. Focusing on single functions can only lead to a partial picture of the causes underlying diversity and the evolutionary origin of the structure in question. I illustrate this discussion using bark as a study case. Bark comprises all the tissues surrounding the xylem in woody plants. Broadly, bark includes an inner and mostly living region and an outer, dead one. Of all plant structures, bark has the most complex anatomical structure and ontogenetic origin involving two (and often three) different meristems. Traditionally, the wide diversity in bark traits, mainly bark thickness, has been interpreted as the result of the selective pressures imposed by fire regime. However, recent research has shown that explanations based on fire regime cannot account for salient patterns of bark variation globally including the very strong inner bark thickness–stem diameter scaling, which is likely due to metabolic needs, and the very high intracommunity variation in total, inner, and outer bark thickness, and in inner:outer proportions. Moreover, explanations based on fire disregard that in addition to fire protection, bark carries out several other crucial functions for plants including translocation of photosynthates; storage of starch, soluble sugars, water, and other compounds; protection from herbivores, pathogens, and high temperatures; wound closure, as well as mechanical support, photosynthesis, and likely being involved in xylem embolism repair. All these functions are crucial for plant performance and are involved in synergistic (e.g., storage of water and insulation) and trade-off relationships (e.g., protection from fire vs photosynthetic activity). Focusing on only one of these functions, protection from fire has provided an incomplete picture of the selective forces shaping bark diversity and has severely hindered our incipient understanding of the functional ecology of this crucial region of woody stems. Applying a multifunctional perspective to the study of bark will allow us to address why we observe such high intracommunity variation in bark traits, why some bark trait combinations are ontogenetically impossible or penalized by selection, how bark is coordinated functionally with other plant parts, and as a result, to understand how bark contributes to the vast diversity of plant ecological strategies across the globe.

Fungi and fire in Australian ecosystems: a review of current knowledge, management implications and future directions

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sapphire J. M. McMullan-Fisher ◽  
Tom W. May ◽  
Richard M. Robinson ◽  
Tina L. Bell ◽  
Teresa Lebel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Community ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Trophic Group ◽  
Fire Intensity ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Essential Components

Fungi are essential components of all ecosystems in roles including symbiotic partners, decomposers and nutrient cyclers and as a source of food for vertebrates and invertebrates. Fire changes the environment in which fungi live by affecting soil structure, nutrient availability, organic and inorganic substrates and other biotic components with which fungi interact, particularly mycophagous animals. We review the literature on fire and fungi in Australia, collating studies that include sites with different time since fire or different fire regimes. The studies used a variety of methods for survey and identification of fungi and focussed on different groups of fungi, with an emphasis on fruit-bodies of epigeal macrofungi and a lack of studies on microfungi in soil or plant tissues. There was a lack of replication of fire treatment effects in some studies. Nevertheless, most studies reported some consequence of fire on the fungal community. Studies on fire and fungi were concentrated in eucalypt forest in south-west and south-eastern Australia, and were lacking for ecosystems such as grasslands and tropical savannahs. The effects of fire on fungi are highly variable and depend on factors such as soil and vegetation type and variation in fire intensity and history, including the length of time between fires. There is a post-fire flush of fruit-bodies of pyrophilous macrofungi, but there are also fungi that prefer long unburnt vegetation. The few studies that tested the effect of fire regimes in relation to the intervals between burns did not yield consistent results. The functional roles of fungi in ecosystems and the interactions of fire with these functions are explained and discussed. Responses of fungi to fire are reviewed for each fungal trophic group, and also in relation to interactions between fungi and vertebrates and invertebrates. Recommendations are made to include monitoring of fungi in large-scale fire management research programs and to integrate the use of morphological and molecular methods of identification. Preliminary results suggest that fire mosaics promote heterogeneity in the fungal community. Management of substrates could assist in preserving fungal diversity in the absence of specific information on fungi.

The impact of biomass harvesting on phosphorus uptake by wetland plants

2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 61-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
S-Y. Kim ◽  
P.M. Geary
Keyword(s):  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Phosphorus Uptake ◽  
P Uptake ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Biomass Harvesting ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Total P ◽  
Better Than ◽  
P Removal

Two species of macrophytes, Baumea articulata and Schoenoplectus mucronatus, were examined for their capacity to remove phosphorus under nutrient-rich conditions. Forty large bucket systems with the two different species growing in two types of substrate received artificial wastewaters for nine months, simulating a constructed wetland (CW) under high loading conditions. Half of the plants growing in the topsoil and gravel substrates were periodically harvested whereas the other half remained intact. Plant tissue and substrate samples were regularly analysed to determine their phosphorus concentrations. With respect to phosphorus uptake and removal, the Schoenoplectus in the topsoil medium performed better than the Baumea. Biomass harvesting enhanced P uptake in the Schoenoplectus, however the effect was not significant enough to make an improvement on the overall P removal, due to the slow recovery of plants and regrowth of biomass after harvesting. From P partitioning, it was found that the topsoil medium was the major P pool, storing most of total P present in the system. Plant parts contributed only minor storage with approximately half of that P stored below ground in the plant roots. The overall net effect of harvesting plant biomass was to only remove less than 5% of total phosphorus present in the system.

You can't always get what you want? Leadership expectations of intrapreneurs

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 430-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Deprez ◽  
Martin Euwema
Keyword(s):  
Role Model ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Dynamic Environment ◽  
Leadership Theory ◽  
Implicit Leadership ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Personal Connection ◽  
Firm Data ◽  
Consultancy Firm

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the leadership expectations of young employees in intrapreneurial jobs. Design/methodology/approach Group interviews were conducted with 42 young intrapreneurs and 13 leaders of a Dutch ICT consultancy firm. Data were coded and analyzed using qualitative data analysis software. Findings The authors find ten different expectations on leadership. Young intrapreneurs expect to have a personal connection, sufficient feedback, ample freedom, and trust, clear directions when asked and a leader who is a role model. Research limitations/implications This qualitative study was conducted in one organization. It however sheds a first light on expectations of employees with intrapreneurial job requirements. Practical implications In order to motivate and guide young intrapreneurs, direct supervisors should aim not to breach expectations. By getting to know their employees on a personal basis, taking the time to coach them in their career goals, showing intrapreneurship themselves, focusing on an open relationship, and providing a challenging and dynamic environment, direct supervisors build a strong and cooperative relationship. Originality/value This paper is one of the first to look at the relationship between direct supervisors and intrapreneurial employees. Doing so, it also expands the current knowledge of Implicit Leadership Theory by exploring expectations of young intrapreneurs and adds to the full-range leadership theory by showing the importance of investigating its subdimensions.

scholarly journals Entomopathogenic nematodes: can we use the current knowledge on belowground multitrophic interactions in future plant protection programmes? – Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 242-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anamarija Jagodič ◽  
Stanislav Trdan ◽  
Žiga Laznik
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Entomopathogenic Nematodes ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Plant Protection ◽  
Multitrophic Interactions ◽  
Herbivore Attack ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Chemical Stimuli

Plants under herbivore attack emit mixtures of volatiles that can attract the natural enemies of the herbivores. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are organisms that can be used in the biological control of insect pests. Recent studies have shown that the movement of EPNs is associated with the detection of chemical stimuli from the environment. To date, several compounds that are responsible for the mediation in below ground multitrophic interactions have been identified. In the review, we discuss the use of EPNs in agriculture, the role of belowground volatiles and their use in plant protection programmes.

scholarly journals What Can Machine Learning Approaches in Genomics Tell Us about the Molecular Basis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 247
Author(s):  
Christina Vasilopoulou ◽  
Andrew P. Morris ◽  
George Giannakopoulos ◽  
Stephanie Duguez ◽  
William Duddy
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Genetic Architecture ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Learning Models ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis ◽  
Machine Learning Models

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is the most common late-onset motor neuron disorder, but our current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms and pathways underlying this disease remain elusive. This review (1) systematically identifies machine learning studies aimed at the understanding of the genetic architecture of ALS, (2) outlines the main challenges faced and compares the different approaches that have been used to confront them, and (3) compares the experimental designs and results produced by those approaches and describes their reproducibility in terms of biological results and the performances of the machine learning models. The majority of the collected studies incorporated prior knowledge of ALS into their feature selection approaches, and trained their machine learning models using genomic data combined with other types of mined knowledge including functional associations, protein-protein interactions, disease/tissue-specific information, epigenetic data, and known ALS phenotype-genotype associations. The importance of incorporating gene-gene interactions and cis-regulatory elements into the experimental design of future ALS machine learning studies is highlighted. Lastly, it is suggested that future advances in the genomic and machine learning fields will bring about a better understanding of ALS genetic architecture, and enable improved personalized approaches to this and other devastating and complex diseases.

Improvement of plant performance under water deficit with the employment of biological and chemical priming agents

2018 ◽  
Vol 156 (5) ◽  
pp. 680-688 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Balestrini ◽  
W. Chitarra ◽  
C. Antoniou ◽  
M. Ruocco ◽  
V. Fotopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Plant Tolerance ◽  
Climate Change Research ◽  
Chemical Agents ◽  
Chemical Priming

AbstractDrought represents one of the major constraints on agricultural productivity and food security and in future is destined to spread widely as a consequence of climate change. Research efforts are focused on developing strategies to make crops more resilient and to mitigate the effects of stress on crop production. In this context, the use of root-associated microbial communities and chemical priming strategies able to improve plant tolerance to abiotic stresses, including drought, have attracted increasing attention in recent years. The current review offers an overview of recent research aimed at verifying the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and chemical agents to improve plant tolerance to drought and to highlight the mechanisms involved in this improvement. Attention will be devoted mainly to current knowledge on the mechanisms involved in water transport.

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