Lycopene β-cyclase expression influences plant physiology, development and metabolism in tobacco plants

Abstract Carotenoids are important isoprenoids produced in the plastids of photosynthetic organisms that play key roles in photoprotection and antioxidative processes. β-carotene is generated from lycopene by the lycopene β-cyclase (LCYB). Previously, we demonstrated that the introduction of the Daucus carota (carrot) DcLCYB1 gene into tobacco (cultivar Xanthi) resulted in increased levels of abscisic acid (ABA) and especially gibberellins (GAs), resulting in increased plant yield. In order to understand this phenomenon prior exporting this genetic strategy to crops, we generated tobacco (cultivar Petit Havana) mutants that exhibited a wide range of LCYB expression. Transplastomic plants expressing DcLCYB1 at high levels showed a wild-type-like growth, even though their pigment content was increased, and their leaf GA content was reduced. RNAi NtLCYB lines showed different reductions in NtLCYB transcript abundance, correlating with reduced pigment content and plant variegation. Photosynthesis (leaf absorptance, Fv/Fm, and ETRII) and plant growth were impaired. Remarkably, drastic changes in phytohormone content also occurred in the RNAi lines. However, external application of phytohormones was not sufficient to rescue their phenotypes, suggesting that altered photosynthetic efficiency might be another important factor explaining their reduced biomass. These results show that LCYB expression influences plant biomass by different mechanisms and suggests thresholds for LCYB expression levels that might be beneficial/detrimental for plant growth.

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Metal Accumulation Profile of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don and Celosia argentea L. with EDTA Co-Application

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr9040598 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 598

Author(s):

Muneeba Qurban ◽

Cyrus Raza Mirza ◽

Aqib Hassan Ali Khan ◽

Walid Khalifa ◽

Mustapha Boukendakdji ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Catharanthus Roseus ◽

Metal Uptake ◽

Metal Accumulation ◽

Metal Tolerance ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid ◽

Ornamental Plants ◽

Environmental Deterioration ◽

Celosia Argentea

The problem of metal-induced toxicity is proliferating with an increase in industrialization and urbanization. The buildup of metals results in severe environmental deterioration and harmful impacts on plant growth. In this study, we investigated the potential of two ornamental plants, Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don and Celosia argentea L., to tolerate and accumulate Ni, Cr, Cd, Pb, and Cu. These ornamental plants were grown in Hoagland’s nutrient solution containing metal loads (50 µM and 100 µM) alone and in combination with a synthetic chelator, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) (2.5 mM). Plant growth and metal tolerance varied in both plant species for Ni, Cr, Cd, Pb, and Cu. C. roseus growth was better in treatments without EDTA, particularly in Ni, Cr, and Pb treatments, and Pb content increased in all parts of the plant. In contrast, Cd content decreased with EDTA addition. In C. argentea, the addition of EDTA resulted in improved plant biomass at both doses of Cu. In contrast, plant biomass reduced significantly in the case of Ni. In C. argentea, without EDTA, root length in Cd and Cu treatments was significantly lower than the control and other treatments. However, the addition of EDTA resulted in improved growth at both doses for Pb and Cu. Metal accumulation in C. argentea enhanced significantly with EDTA addition at both doses of Cu and Cd. Hence, it can be concluded that EDTA addition resulted in improved growth and better metal uptake than treatments without EDTA. Metal accumulation increased with EDTA addition compared to treatments without EDTA, particularly for Pb in C. roseus and Cu and Cd in C. argentea. Based on the present results, C. roseus showed a better ability to phytostabilize Cu, Cd, and Ni, while C. argentea worked better for Ni, Cd, Cu, and Pb.

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Growth Promotion or Osmotic Stress Response: How SNF1-Related Protein Kinase 2 (SnRK2) Kinases Are Activated and Manage Intracellular Signaling in Plants

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10071443 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1443

Author(s):

Yoshiaki Kamiyama ◽

Sotaro Katagiri ◽

Taishi Umezawa

Keyword(s):

Protein Kinase ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Osmotic Stress ◽

Protein Function ◽

Intracellular Signaling ◽

Growth Promotion ◽

Research Field ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Related Protein ◽

Wide Range

Reversible phosphorylation is a major mechanism for regulating protein function and controls a wide range of cellular functions including responses to external stimuli. The plant-specific SNF1-related protein kinase 2s (SnRK2s) function as central regulators of plant growth and development, as well as tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses. Although the activity of SnRK2s is tightly regulated in a phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent manner, recent investigations have revealed that SnRK2s can be activated by group B Raf-like protein kinases independently of ABA. Furthermore, evidence is accumulating that SnRK2s modulate plant growth through regulation of target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling. Here, we summarize recent advances in knowledge of how SnRK2s mediate plant growth and osmotic stress signaling and discuss future challenges in this research field.

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BloodGen3Module: Blood transcriptional module repertoire analysis and visualization using R

Bioinformatics ◽

10.1093/bioinformatics/btab121 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Darawan Rinchai ◽

Jessica Roelands ◽

Mohammed Toufiq ◽

Wouter Hendrickx ◽

Matthew C Altman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transcript Abundance ◽

R Package ◽

Supplementary Information ◽

Illustrative Case ◽

Bioinformatic Tools ◽

Transcriptional Module ◽

Wide Range ◽

Downstream Analysis ◽

Computing Module ◽

Parallel Workflow

Abstract Motivation We previously described the construction and characterization of generic and reusable blood transcriptional module repertoires. More recently we released a third iteration (“BloodGen3” module repertoire) that comprises 382 functionally annotated gene sets (modules) and encompasses 14,168 transcripts. Custom bioinformatic tools are needed to support downstream analysis, visualization and interpretation relying on such fixed module repertoires. Results We have developed and describe here a R package, BloodGen3Module. The functions of our package permit group comparison analyses to be performed at the module-level, and to display the results as annotated fingerprint grid plots. A parallel workflow for computing module repertoire changes for individual samples rather than groups of samples is also available; these results are displayed as fingerprint heatmaps. An illustrative case is used to demonstrate the steps involved in generating blood transcriptome repertoire fingerprints of septic patients. Taken together, this resource could facilitate the analysis and interpretation of changes in blood transcript abundance observed across a wide range of pathological and physiological states. Availability The BloodGen3Module package and documentation are freely available from Github: https://github.com/Drinchai/BloodGen3Module Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

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The Coevolution of Plants and Microbes Underpins Sustainable Agriculture

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9051036 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 1036

Author(s):

Dongmei Lyu ◽

Levini A. Msimbira ◽

Mahtab Nazari ◽

Mohammed Antar ◽

Antoine Pagé ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Community ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Stress Resistance ◽

Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽

Plant Tissues ◽

Terrestrial Plants ◽

Plant Host ◽

Symbiotic Relationships ◽

Wide Range ◽

Terrestrial Environments

Terrestrial plants evolution occurred in the presence of microbes, the phytomicrobiome. The rhizosphere microbial community is the most abundant and diverse subset of the phytomicrobiome and can include both beneficial and parasitic/pathogenic microbes. Prokaryotes of the phytomicrobiome have evolved relationships with plants that range from non-dependent interactions to dependent endosymbionts. The most extreme endosymbiotic examples are the chloroplasts and mitochondria, which have become organelles and integral parts of the plant, leading to some similarity in DNA sequence between plant tissues and cyanobacteria, the prokaryotic symbiont of ancestral plants. Microbes were associated with the precursors of land plants, green algae, and helped algae transition from aquatic to terrestrial environments. In the terrestrial setting the phytomicrobiome contributes to plant growth and development by (1) establishing symbiotic relationships between plant growth-promoting microbes, including rhizobacteria and mycorrhizal fungi, (2) conferring biotic stress resistance by producing antibiotic compounds, and (3) secreting microbe-to-plant signal compounds, such as phytohormones or their analogues, that regulate aspects of plant physiology, including stress resistance. As plants have evolved, they recruited microbes to assist in the adaptation to available growing environments. Microbes serve themselves by promoting plant growth, which in turn provides microbes with nutrition (root exudates, a source of reduced carbon) and a desirable habitat (the rhizosphere or within plant tissues). The outcome of this coevolution is the diverse and metabolically rich microbial community that now exists in the rhizosphere of terrestrial plants. The holobiont, the unit made up of the phytomicrobiome and the plant host, results from this wide range of coevolved relationships. We are just beginning to appreciate the many ways in which this complex and subtle coevolution acts in agricultural systems.

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Carotenoids from Cyanobacteria: Biotechnological Potential and Optimization Strategies

Biomolecules ◽

10.3390/biom11050735 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 735

Author(s):

Fernando Pagels ◽

Vitor Vasconcelos ◽

Ana Catarina Guedes

Keyword(s):

Energy Dissipation ◽

Industrial Production ◽

Protein Complex ◽

Biosynthetic Pathway ◽

Environmentally Friendly ◽

Potential Candidate ◽

Biotechnological Potential ◽

Photosynthetic Organisms ◽

Orange Carotenoid Protein ◽

Β Carotene

Carotenoids are tetraterpenoids molecules present in all photosynthetic organisms, responsible for better light-harvesting and energy dissipation in photosynthesis. In cyanobacteria, the biosynthetic pathway of carotenoids is well described, and apart from the more common compounds (e.g., β-carotene, zeaxanthin, and echinenone), specific carotenoids can also be found, such as myxoxanthophyll. Moreover, cyanobacteria have a protein complex called orange carotenoid protein (OCP) as a mechanism of photoprotection. Although cyanobacteria are not the organism of choice for the industrial production of carotenoids, the optimisation of their production and the evaluation of their bioactive capacity demonstrate that these organisms may indeed be a potential candidate for future pigment production in a more environmentally friendly and sustainable approach of biorefinery. Carotenoids-rich extracts are described as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumoral agents and are proposed for feed and cosmetical industries. Thus, several strategies for the optimisation of a cyanobacteria-based bioprocess for the obtention of pigments were described. This review aims to give an overview of carotenoids from cyanobacteria not only in terms of their chemistry but also in terms of their biotechnological applicability and the advances and the challenges in the production of such compounds.

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Can repeated soil amendment with biogas digestates increase soil suppressiveness toward non-specific soil-borne pathogens in agricultural lands?

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170520000393 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

L. M. Manici ◽

F. Caputo ◽

G. A. Cappelli ◽

E. Ceotto

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Biomass Production ◽

Soil Amendment ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Amended Soils ◽

Soil Suppressiveness ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Soil Borne Pathogens ◽

The Impact ◽

Plant Biomass Production

Abstract Soil suppressiveness which is the natural ability of soil to support optimal plant growth and health is the resultant of multiple soil microbial components; which implies many difficulties when estimating this soil condition. Microbial benefits for plant health from repeated digestate applications were assessed in three experimental sites surrounding anaerobic biogas plants in an intensively cultivated area of northern Italy. A 2-yr trial was performed in 2017 and 2018 by performing an in-pot plant growth assay, using soil samples taken from two fields for each experimental site, of which one had been repeatedly amended with anaerobic biogas digestate and the other had not. These fields were similar in management and crop sequences (maize was the recurrent crop) for the last 10 yr. Plant growth response in the bioassay was expressed as plant biomass production, root colonization frequency by soil-borne fungi were estimated to evaluate the impact of soil-borne pathogens on plant growth, abundance of Pseudomonas and actinomycetes populations in rhizosphere were estimated as beneficial soil microbial indicators. Repeated soil amendment with digestate increased significantly soil capacity to support plant biomass production as compared to unamended control in both the years. Findings supported evidence that this increase was principally attributable to a higher natural ability of digestate-amended soils to reduce root infection by saprophytic soil-borne pathogens whose inoculum was increased by the recurrent maize cultivation. Pseudomonas and actinomycetes were always more abundant in digestate-amended soils suggesting that both these large bacterial groups were involved in the increase of their natural capacity to control soil-borne pathogens (soil suppressiveness).

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A Meta-Analytical Approach on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation Efficiency on Plant Growth and Nutrient Uptake

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture10090370 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 370

Author(s):

Murugesan Chandrasekaran

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽

Nutrient Uptake ◽

Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽

Host Plants ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽

Growth Responses ◽

Mycorrhizal Plants

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate symbionts of higher plants which increase the growth and nutrient uptake of host plants. The primary objective was initiated based on analyzing the enormity of optimal effects upon AMF inoculation in a comparative bias between mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants stipulated on plant biomass and nutrient uptake. Consequently, in accomplishing the above-mentioned objective a vast literature was collected, analyzed, and evaluated to establish a weighted meta-analysis irrespective of AMF species, plant species, family and functional group, and experimental conditions in the context of beneficial effects of AMF. I found a significant increase in the shoot, root, and total biomass by 36.3%, 28.5%, and, 29.7%, respectively. Moreover, mycorrhizal plants significantly increased phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium uptake by 36.3%, 22.1%, and 18.5%, respectively. Affirmatively upon cross-verification studies, plant growth parameters intensification was accredited to AMF (Rhizophagus fasciculatus followed by Funniliforme mosseae), plants (Triticum aestivum followed by Solanum lycopersicum), and plant functional groups (dicot, herbs, and perennial) were the additional vital important significant predictor variables of plant growth responses. Therefore, the meta-analysis concluded that the emancipated prominent root characteristics, increased morphological traits that eventually help the host plants for efficient phosphorus uptake, thereby enhancing plant biomass. The present analysis can be rationalized for any plant stress and assessment of any microbial agent that contributes to plant growth promotion.

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Acrolein Reduces Biomass and Seed Production of Potamogeton pectinatus in Irrigation Channels

Weed Technology ◽

10.1614/wt-03-101r1 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 605-610 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Diego J. Bentivegna ◽

Osvaldo A. Fernández ◽

María A. Burgos

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Irrigation District ◽

Potamogeton Pectinatus ◽

Individual Plant ◽

Plant Weight ◽

The Third ◽

Irrigation Channels

Chemical weed control with acrolein has been shown to be a lower cost method for reducing submerged plant biomass of sago pondweed in the irrigation district of the Lower Valley of Rio Colorado, Argentina (39°10′S–62°05′W). However, no experimental data exist on the effects of the herbicide on plant growth and its survival structures. Field experiments were conducted during 3 yr to evaluate the effect of acrolein on growth and biomass of sago pondweed and on the source of underground propagules (i.e., rhizomes, tubers, and seeds). Plant biomass samples were collected in irrigation channels before and after several herbicide treatments. The underground propagule bank was evaluated at the end of the third year. Within each treatment, plant biomass was significantly reduced by 40 to 60% in all three study years. Rapid new plant growth occurred after each application; however, it was less vigorous after repeated treatments. At the end of the third year at 3,000 m downstream from the application point, plant biomass at both channels ranged from 34 to 3% of control values. Individual plant weight and height were affected by acrolein treatments, flowering was poor, and seeds did not reach maturity. After 3 yr, acrolein did not reduce the number of tubers. However, they were significantly smaller and lighter. Rhizomes fresh weight decreased by 92%, and seed numbers decreased by 79%. After 3 yr of applications, operational functioning of the channels could be maintained with fewer treatments and lower concentrations of acrolein.

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Monitoring and Control Systems in Agriculture Using Intelligent Sensor Techniques: A Review of the Aeroponic System

Journal of Sensors ◽

10.1155/2018/8672769 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Imran Ali Lakhiar ◽

Gao Jianmin ◽

Tabinda Naz Syed ◽

Farman Ali Chandio ◽

Noman Ali Buttar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Nutrient Solution ◽

Wireless Sensors ◽

Fault Detection And Diagnosis ◽

Monitoring And Control ◽

Complete Control ◽

Intelligent Sensor ◽

Plant Cultivation ◽

Wide Range ◽

Detection And Diagnosis

In recent years, intelligent sensor techniques have achieved significant attention in agriculture. It is applied in agriculture to plan the several activities and missions properly by utilising limited resources with minor human interference. Currently, plant cultivation using new agriculture methods is very popular among the growers. However, the aeroponics is one of the methods of modern agriculture, which is commonly practiced around the world. In the system, plant cultivates under complete control conditions in the growth chamber by providing a small mist of the nutrient solution in replacement of the soil. The nutrient mist is ejected through atomization nozzles on a periodical basis. During the plant cultivation, several steps including temperature, humidity, light intensity, water nutrient solution level, pH and EC value, CO2concentration, atomization time, and atomization interval time require proper attention for flourishing plant growth. Therefore, the object of this review study was to provide significant knowledge about early fault detection and diagnosis in aeroponics using intelligent techniques (wireless sensors). So, the farmer could monitor several paraments without using laboratory instruments, and the farmer could control the entire system remotely. Moreover, the technique also provides a wide range of information which could be essential for plant researchers and provides a greater understanding of how the key parameters of aeroponics correlate with plant growth in the system. It offers full control of the system, not by constant manual attention from the operator but to a large extent by wireless sensors. Furthermore, the adoption of the intelligent techniques in the aeroponic system could reduce the concept of the usefulness of the system due to complicated manually monitoring and controlling process.

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Carotenoid Profiling of a Red Seaweed Pyropia yezoensis: Insights into Biosynthetic Pathways in the Order Bangiales

Marine Drugs ◽

10.3390/md16110426 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 16 (11) ◽

pp. 426 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jiro Koizumi ◽

Naoki Takatani ◽

Noritoki Kobayashi ◽

Koji Mikami ◽

Kazuo Miyashita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

1H Nmr ◽

Metabolic Pathways ◽

Pyropia Yezoensis ◽

Biosynthetic Pathways ◽

Red Seaweed ◽

Red Seaweeds ◽

Natural Pigments ◽

Photosynthetic Organisms ◽

Metabolic Products ◽

Β Carotene

Carotenoids are natural pigments that contribute to light harvesting and photo-protection in photosynthetic organisms. In this study, we analyzed the carotenoid profiles, including mono-hydroxy and epoxy-carotenoids, in the economically valuable red seaweed Pyropia yezoensis, to clarify the detailed biosynthetic and metabolic pathways in the order Bangiales. P. yezoensis contained lutein, zeaxanthin, α-carotene, and β-carotene, as major carotenoids in both the thallus and conchocelis stages. Monohydroxy intermediate carotenoids for the synthesis of lutein with an ε-ring from α-carotene, α-cryptoxanthin (β,ε-caroten-3’-ol), and zeinoxanthin (β,ε-caroten-3-ol) were identified. In addition, β-cryptoxanthin, an intermediate in zeaxanthin synthesis from β-carotene, was also detected. We also identified lutein-5,6-epoxide and antheraxanthin, which are metabolic products of epoxy conversion from lutein and zeaxanthin, respectively, by LC-MS and 1H-NMR. This is the first report of monohydroxy-carotenoids with an ε-ring and 5,6-epoxy-carotenoids in Bangiales. These results provide new insights into the biosynthetic and metabolic pathways of carotenoids in red seaweeds.

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