Detecting the Different Responses of Roots and Shoots to Gravity in Salix matsudana (Koidz)

The study of the gravity response of roots and shoots is of great significance when exploring the polarity of plants and the development of the forest industry. In our study, normal and inverted cuts of Salix matsudana (Koidz) were cultured. The total RNAs of roots and shoots were extracted. Based on the comparative transcriptome, 412 and 668 genes were differentially expressed. The plasma membrane-, cell wall-, and extracellular region-related genes were up-regulated in the shoots, while the carbon metabolism and the nitrogen metabolism were up-regulated in the roots. Combining the alternative splicing genes, we found a potential gravity response network: in the shoots, LecRLKs were highly sensitive to gravity and further affected the alternative splicing of SNARE, as well as inducing an inhomogeneous distribution of auxin and a negative geotropism curve. In the roots, AP2/ERFs and STRKs were highly sensitive to gravity and regulated the expression level of STPKs and WAKs, finally resulting in a geotropism curve. Moreover, cell division was suppressed in both the roots and the shoots under inverted conditions with different mechanisms. Cell division inhibitors (KRPs) were up-regulated in the roots, while DNA helicase MCMs were down-regulated in the shoots. These results provide an important foundation for further studies of the molecular mechanisms and genetic regulation of plant responses to gravity and the plant polarity of forest trees.

The Mildew Resistance Locus O 4 Interacts with CaM/CML and Is Involved in Root Gravity Response

The plant-specific mildew resistance locus O (MLO) proteins, which contain seven transmembrane domains and a conserved calmodulin-binding domain, play important roles in many plant developmental processes. However, their mechanisms that regulate plant development remain unclear. Here, we report the functional characterization of the MLO4 protein in Arabidopsis roots. The MLO4 was identified as interacting with CML12 in a screening for the interaction between the proteins from Arabidopsis MLO and calmodulin/calmodulin-like (CaM/CML) families using yeast two hybrid (Y2H) assays. Then, the interaction between MLO4 and CML12 was further verified by Luciferase Complementation Imaging (LCI) and Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC) assays. Genetic analysis showed that the mlo4, cml12, and mlo4 cml12 mutants displayed similar defects in root gravity response. These results imply that the MLO4 might play an important role in root gravity response through interaction with CML12. Moreover, our results also demonstrated that the interaction between the MLO and CaM/CML families might be conservative.

Tectonic insight and 3-D modelling of the Lusi (Java, Indonesia) mud edifice through gravity analyses

SUMMARY Lusi is a sediment-hosted hydrothermal system located near Sidoarjo in Central Java, Indonesia, and has erupted continuously since May 2006. This mud eruption extends over a surface of ∼7 km2, and is framed by high containment dams. The present study investigates the geometry of the subsurface structures using a detailed gravimetric model to visualize in 3-D the Lusi system and surrounding lithologies. The obtained residual Bouguer anomaly map, simulated through geostatistical interpolation methods, supports the results of previous deformation studies. The negative gravity anomaly zones identified at Lusi are interpreted as fractured areas through which fluids can ascend towards the surface. A 3-D detailed geological model of the area was constructed with Geomodeller™ to highlight the main features. This model relies on the structures’ density contrasts, the interpreted residual Bouguer anomaly map, and geological data from previous authors. 3-D algorithms were used to calculate the gravity response of the model and validate it by inverse methods. The final output is a gravity constrained 3-D geological model of the Lusi mud edifice. These results provide essential details on the Lusi subsurface and may be useful for possible future geothermal resource exploitation and for the risk mitigation plans related to the maintenance of the man-made framing embankment.

Gravity Effect of Alpine Slab Segments Based on Geophysical and Petrological Modelling

We study the potential gravity effect of suggested slab configurations beneath the Alpine mountain belt. The opposing slab configurations are based on seismic crustal thickness estimates and high-resolution upper mantle tomographies. Direct conversion of upper mantle seismic velocities to densities results in a gravity response that reflects results in a gravity field that may be interpreted as related to the effect of subducting lithosphere, however the different contributing slab segments cannot be clearly identified. Therefore, we define the geometry of the upper slab interface by using the crustal thickness at 40 km depth as upper starting point. Based on seismic tomography, the slab interface is followed down to 200 km depth. We define two alternative models for the slab configuration in the Alpine region in line with recently proposed hypotheses. The gravity effect of these alternative models is calculated for (i) a simple constant density distribution in the slab and (ii) accounting for compositional and thermal variations with depth. The forward calculations predict a gravity effect of the slab up to 40 mGal and significant differences in the pattern of the anomalies.

Settling for Less: Do Statoliths Modulate Gravity Perception?

Plants orientate their growth either towards (in roots) or away from (in shoots) the Earth’s gravitational field. While we are now starting to understand the molecular architecture of these gravity response pathways, the gravity receptor remains elusive. This perspective looks at the biology of statoliths and suggests it is conceivable that their immediate environment may be tuned to modulate the strength of the gravity response. It then suggests how mutant screens could use this hypothesis to identify the gravity receptor.