Ploidy level enhances the photosynthetic capacity of a tetraploid variety of Acer buergerianum Miq.

Background Polyploidy plays an important role in plant breeding and has widespread effects on photosynthetic capacity. To determine the photosynthetic capacity of the tetraploid variety Acer buergerianum Miq. ‘Xingwang’, we compared the gas exchange parameters, chloroplast structure, chlorophyll contents, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters between the tetraploid Acer buergerianum ‘Xingwang’ and the diploid ‘S4’. To evaluate the effects of genome duplication on the photosynthetic capacity of Acer buergerianum ‘Xingwang’, the transcriptomes of the autotetraploid ‘Xingwang’ and the diploid ‘S4’ of A. buergerianum were compared. Methods The ploidy of Acer buergerianum ‘Xingwang’ was identified by flow cytometry and the chromosome counting method. An LI-6800 portable photosynthesis system analyzer was used to assess the gas exchange parameters of the tetraploid variety ‘Xingwang’ and diploid variety ‘S4’ of A. buergerianum. We used a BioMate 3S ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer and portable modulated fluorometer to measure the chlorophyll contents and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, respectively, of ‘Xingwang’ and ‘S4’. Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology was used to identify the differences in the genes involved in the photosynthetic differences and determine their expression characteristics. Results The single-cell DNA content and chromosome number of the tetraploid ‘Xingwang’ were twice those found in the normal diploid ‘S4’. In terms of gas exchange parameters, the change in stomatal conductance, change in intercellular CO2 concentration, transpiration rate and net photosynthetic rate of ‘Xingwang’ were higher than those of the diploid ‘S4’. The chlorophyll contents, the maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII and the potential photochemical efficiency of PSII in ‘Xingwang’ were higher than those of ‘S4’. The chloroplasts of ‘Xingwang’ contained thicker thylakoid lamellae. By the use of Illumina sequencing technology, a total of 51,807 unigenes were obtained; they had an average length of 1,487 nt, and the average N50 was 2,034 nt. The lengths of most of the unigenes obtained ranged from 200–300 bp, with an average value of 5,262, followed by those longer than 3,000 bp, with an average value of 4,791. The data revealed numerous differences in gene expression between the two transcriptomes. In total, 24,221 differentially expressed genes were screened, and the percentage of differentially expressed genes was as high as 46.75% (24,224/51,807), of which 10,474 genes were upregulated and 13,747 genes were downregulated. We analyzed the key genes in the photosynthesis pathway and the porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism pathway; the upregulation of HemB may promote an increase in the chlorophyll contents of ‘Xingwang’, and the upregulation of related genes in PSII and PSI may enhance the light harvesting of ‘Xingwang’, increasing its light energy conversion efficiency.

Physiological behavior of Campomanesia xanthocarpa O. Berg. seedlings under flooding and shading

Physiological information about native species, make it possible to know their potential for use in programs to recovery degraded areas. Nowadays climate changes are severe and factors as water and light are involved with plant development and growth. We hypothesized that shading may contribute to adjusting the characteristics of photosynthetic metabolism of Campomanesia xanthocarpa seedlings under flooding. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the flooding times and shading levels for gas exchanges and the maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) in C. xanthocarpa seedlings. Seedlings were grown under two water regimes (control and flooding), three levels of shading (0, 30, and 70%) and 4 evaluation periods (0, 15, 30, and 45 days). We verified damages to the photosynthetic apparatus and reductions in the efficiency of the photochemical process under flooding and at a high level of shading (70%) in a short period (15 days). However, seedlings showed favourable responses to the adjustment over the 45 days of exposure to those conditions. According to the multivariate analysis, it was possible to identify the relation between photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance as the main factor of metabolic adjustments in the tolerance of C. xanthocarpa to flooding and high shading intensity. C. xanthocarpa was more sensitive to short periods of flooding conditions and full sun and high level of shading (70%), however, it presented better adjustment responses to flooding periods when associated with 30% shade.

Physiological Response of Cape Gooseberry Plants to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. physali, Fusaric Acid, and Water Deficit in a Hydrophonic System

Cape gooseberry production has been limited by vascular wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. physali (Foph). Fusaric acid (FA) is a mycotoxin produced by many Fusarium species such as F. oxysporum formae speciales. The effects of the interaction between this mycotoxin and plants (such as cape gooseberry) under biotic stress (water deficit, WD) have been little explored. Three experiments were carried out. The objectives of this study were to evaluate (i) different Foph inoculum densities (1 × 104 and 1 × 106 conidia ml−1; experiment (1); (ii) the effect of times of exposure (0, 6, 9, and 12 h) and FA concentrations (0, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mg L−1; experiment (2), and (iii) the interaction between Foph (1 × 104 conidia mL−1) or FA (25 mg L−1 × 9 h), and WD conditions (experiment 3) on the physiological (plant growth, leaf stomatal conductance (gs), and photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm ratio) and biochemical [malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline] responses of cape gooseberry seedling ecotype Colombia. The first experiment showed that Foph inoculum density of 1 × 106 conidia ml−1 caused the highest incidence of the disease (100%). In the second experiment, gs (~40.6 mmol m−2 s−1) and Fv/Fm ratio (~0.59) decreased, whereas MDA (~9.8 μmol g−1 FW) increased in plants with exposure times of 9 and 12 h and an FA concentration of 100 mg L−1 compared with plants without FA exposure or concentrations (169.8 mmol m−2 s−1, 0.8, and 7.2 μmol g−1 FW for gs, Fv/Fm ratio and MDA, respectively). In the last experiment, the interaction between Foph or FA and WD promoted a higher area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) (Foph × WD = 44.5 and FA × WD = 37) and lower gs (Foph × WD = 6.2 mmol m−2 s−1 and FA × WD = 9.5 mmol m−2 s−1) compared with plants without any interaction. This research could be considered as a new approach for the rapid scanning of responses to the effects of FA, Foph, and WD stress not only on cape gooseberry plants but also on other species from the Solanaceae family.

Biochemical and Molecular Effects Induced by Triacontanol in Acquired Tolerance of Rice to Drought Stress

To assess the effect of triacontanol (TRIA) on rice plants grown under normal or drought conditions, rice seeds were presoaked in TRIA (35 ppm) for two hours. After 20 days of sowing, rice seedlings developed from TRIA-treated or untreated seeds were subjected to drought stress. After 10 days of plant exposure to drought stress, data of major growth attributes and the content of photosynthetic pigments were recorded. Moreover, the effect of drought stress on stomatal conductance and the photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) were followed. The data obtained indicated that the species of rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar Giza 177 under investigation was sensitive to drought stress where there were significant decreases in the fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots and in stomatal conductance, as well as in the content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids. Seed priming with TRIA enhanced both growth and acquired plant tolerance to drought stress. Thus, TRIA via the enhancement of stomatal conductance through the regulation of stomatal closure, the rate of water loss, ABA metabolism, the accumulation of osmolytes, and the regulation of aquaporins genes improved the water status of plants grown under water scarcity. Moreover, TRIA via increasing the content of free amino acids and sugars under drought stress may increase the chance of plant tissues to retain more water under scarcity conditions.

Frozen in the dark: night activity of xanthophyll cycle, xylem attributes and desiccation-tolerance interplay in fern resistance to winter

While most ferns avoid freezing by living in the tropics or shedding their fronds, wintergreen species in temperate and boreoalpine ecosystems deal with sub-zero temperatures. Increasing evidence has revealed overlapping mechanisms of desiccation and freezing-tolerance in angiosperms, but physiological mechanisms behind freezing tolerance in ferns are far from clear. We evaluated photochemical and hydraulic parameters in five wintergreen fern species, differing in their ability to tolerate desiccation. We assessed frond freezing tolerance, ice nucleation temperature and propagation pattern, and xylem anatomical traits. Dynamics of photochemical performance and xanthophyll cycle were evaluated during freeze-thaw events under controlled conditions and, in selected species, in the field. Only desiccation-tolerant species, which possessed greater fractions of narrow tracheids (<18 μm) than sensitive species, tolerated freezing. Frond freezing occurred in the field at –3.4 ± 0.9 ºC (SD) irrespective of freezing-tolerance, freezable water content or tracheid properties. Even in complete darkness, maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII was down-regulated concomitantly with zeaxanthin accumulation in response to freezing. This was reversible upon re-warming in tolerant species only. Our results suggest that adaptation to freezing-tolerance is associated with desiccation-tolerance, by means of complementary xylem properties (that may prevent risk of irreversible cavitation) and effective photoprotection mechanisms. The latter includes de-epoxidation of xanthophylls in darkness, a process evidenced for the first time directly in the field.

Ecophysiological Variability of Alnus viridis (Chaix) DC. Green Alder Leaves in the Bieszczady Mountains (Poland)

Alnus viridis (Chaix) DC., green alder, is a fast-growing shrub that grows expansively in the European mountainside. In Poland, A. viridis naturally occurs only in the Bieszczady Mountains (south-eastern part of the country), above the upper forest border. In this study, we assessed the potential of green alder to expand in post-farming areas in the Bieszczady Mountains. We investigated the effects of topographical, climatic, and edaphic characteristics of four various study sites on the physiological and morphological properties of A. viridis leaves in order to answer the question whether the growth of plants in lower positions improves their physiological condition to such an extent that it increases the species invasiveness. This is the first comprehensive ecophysiological study of this species to be carried out in this part of Europe. The photochemical efficiency of PSII, the chlorophyll content, and leaf 13C and 15N discrimination were analyzed. On the basis of leaf radiation reflection, coefficients such as reflectance indices of anthocyanins, carotenoids, flavonoids (ARI2, CRI1, FRI), photochemical index of reflection (PRI), and the water band index (WBI) were calculated. We observed favorable physiological effects in A. viridis plants growing in locations below the upper forest border compared to plants growing in higher locations. As a result, A. viridis may become an invasive species and disturb the phytocoenotic balance of plant communities of the altitudinal zones in the Polish Western Carpathians.

Chlorophyll fluorescence as a tool to select salinity-tolerant cowpea genotypes

The use of saline water reduces the growth and productivity of crops, so the need for techniques that make possible the use of this resource such as the use of salinity tolerant genotypes and efficient selection methods are of great importance. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the tolerance of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) genotypes to salt stress, through the chlorophyll fluorescence analysis. The experiment was conducted in a protected environment at the Federal University of Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil, using a completely randomized design in a 2 x 10 factorial arrangement, with three replications, consisting of two levels of irrigation water salinity (0.6 and 5.1 dS m-1) and ten cowpea genotypes: (G1: MNCO1-649F-2-1, G2: MNCO3-736F-2, G3: PINGO DE OURO-1-2, G4: BRS GURGUÉIA, G5: BRS MARATAOÃ, G6: MNCO2-676F-3, G7: MNCO2-683F-1, G8: MNCO3-737F-5-4, G9: MNCO3-737F-5-9, and G10: BRS TUMUCUMAQUE). The stem length, stem diameter, SPAD index, and chlorophyll fluorescence transients were evaluated. The G2 and G4 genotypes had the lowest reductions in the growth, stem diameter, initial fluorescence, and primary and maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII, proving to be tolerant to salinity. Chlorophyll fluorescence is a tool that can be used in the selection of salinity-tolerant cowpea genotypes.

THE INFLUENCE OF BIO-ALGEEN S90 ON THE GROWTHOF MULTIFLORA ROSE SEEDLINGS (Rosa multiflora Thunb.)

Striving to intensify horticultural production, new and more effective bio-preparations are being sought to stimulate plant growth and development. Bio-algeen S90 is a natural agent based on sea algae, the high bi- ological activity of which results from the high content of natural growth regulators. The aim of the study was to verify the influence of Bio-algeen S90 on the growth, morphological characteristics and chlorophyll fluorescence of Rosa multiflora seedlings. The bio-preparation was applied one, two and three times at con- centrations: 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg.dm−3. Following parameters were measured to evaluate the response of plants to the bio-preparation: F0 – initial fluorescence, Fm – maximal fluorescence in the dark-adapted state, Fv/Fm – maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII. All concentrations of the bio-preparation and frequency of its application stimulated the number of shoots in a bush, the length of shoots and the diameter of the root crown of plants intended for budding. The most beneficial was the two-fold bio-preparation application at a concentration of 0.4 mg.dm–3. Bio-algeen also positively influenced the chlorophyll fluorescence parame- ters. The highest mean F0 and Fm values were recorded with the two-fold preparation treatment. There was no significant effect of the bio-preparation on the Fv/Fm index, which was within the range of 0.75–0.66.

Photosynthetic performance in Eucalyptus clones cultivated in saline soil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the photosynthetic performance of Eucalyptus clones with the aim of identifying their tolerance to soil saline stress conditions. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with a 3 × 4 factorial arrangement: in five replications, totaling 60 plots, three Eucalyptus clones were used, VC865, I224, and I144, which were exposed to four concentrations of NaCl (0, 1, 2 and 3 g NaCl kg-1 of soil). Clone I144 shows mechanisms of salinity tolerance as smaller reductions in the stomatal conductance, transpiration, photosynthesis, photochemical efficiency of PSII, photosynthetic pigment content and total dry mass. On the other hand, clone I224 presents greater physiological damage, indicating high susceptibility to salt stress, while VC865 shows moderate sensitivity to salinity. Variables related to photosynthetic performance, such as gas exchange, photochemical efficiency of PSII and photosynthetic pigments are potentially reliable physiological indicators for selecting of tolerant Eucalyptus clones to salt stress.