Physiological Characteristics and Transcriptomic Dissection in Two Root Segments with Contrasting Net Fluxes of Ammonium and Nitrate of Poplar Under Low Nitrogen Availability

To investigate physiological and transcriptomic regulation mechanisms underlying the distinct net fluxes of NH4+ and NO3- in different root segments of Populus species under low nitrogen (N) conditions, we used saplings of P. × canescens supplied with either 500 (normal N) or 50 (low N) μM NH4NO3. The net fluxes of NH4+ and NO3-, and the concentrations of NH4+, amino acids, organic acids and the enzymatic activities of nitrite reductase (NiR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) in root segment II (SII, 35-70 mm to the apex) were lower than those in root segment I (SI, 0-35 mm to the apex). The net NH4+ influxes and the concentrations of organic acids were elevated, whereas the concentrations of NH4+ and NO3-, and the activities of NiR and GS were reduced in SI and SII in response to low N. A number of genes were significantly differentially expressed in SII vs SI and in both segments grown under low vs normal N conditions, and these genes were mainly involved in transport of NH4+ and NO3-, N metabolism, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis. Moreover, the hub gene coexpression networks were dissected and correlated with N physiological processes in SI and SII under normal and low N conditions. These results suggest that the hub gene coexpression networks play pivotal roles in regulating N uptake and assimilation, amino acid metabolism as well as the levels of organic acids from TCA cycle in the two root segments of poplars in acclimation to low N availability.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Increase Pb Uptake of Colonized and Non-Colonized Medicago truncatula Root and Deliver Extra Pb to Colonized Root Segment

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi establish symbiosis and improve the lead (Pb) tolerance of host plants. The AM plants accumulate more Pb in roots than their non-mycorrhizal counterparts. However, the direct and long-term impact of AM fungi on plant Pb uptake has been rarely reported. In this study, AM fungus (Rhizophagus irregularis) colonized and non-colonized roots of Medicago truncatula were separated by a split-root system, and their differences in responding to Pb application were compared. The shoot biomass accumulation and transpiration were increased after R. irregularis inoculation, whereas the biomass of both colonized and non-colonized roots was decreased. Lead application in the non-colonized root compartment increased the R. irregularis colonization rate and up-regulated the relative expressions of MtPT4 and MtBCP1 in the colonized root compartments. Rhizophagus irregularis inoculation increased Pb uptake in both colonized and non-colonized roots, and R. irregularis transferred Pb to the colonized root segment. The Pb transferred through the colonized root segment had low mobility and might be sequestrated and compartmented in the root by R. irregularis. The Pb uptake of roots might follow water flow, which is facilitated by MtPIP2. The quantification of Pb transfer via the mycorrhizal pathway and the involvement of MtPIP2 deserve further study.

Formation of Annual Ring Eccentricity in Coarse Roots within the Root Cage of Pinus ponderosa Growing on Slopes

The coarse roots of Pinus ponderosa included in the cage are the ones most involved in tree stability. This study explored the variations in traits, such as volume, cross-sectional area, and radius length of cage roots, and used those data to develop a mathematical model to better understand the type of forces occurring for each shallow lateral root segment belonging to different quadrants of the three-dimensional (3D) root system architecture. The pattern and intensity of these forces were modelled along the root segment from the branching point to the cage edge. Data of root cage volume in the upper 30 cm of soil showed a higher value in the downslope and windward quadrant while, at a deeper soil depth (>30 cm), we found higher values in both upslope and leeward quadrants. The analysis of radius length and the cross-sectional area of the shallow lateral roots revealed the presence of a considerable degree of eccentricity of the annual rings at the branching point and at the cage edge. This eccentricity is due to the formation of compression wood, and the eccentricity changes from the top portion at the branching point to the bottom portion at the cage edge, which we hypothesize may be a response to the variation in mechanical forces occurring in the various zones of the cage. This hypothesis is supported by a mathematical model that shows how the pattern and intensity of different types of mechanical forces are present within the various quadrants of the same root system from the taproot to the cage edge.

Evaluation of Bacteriological Profile in the Apical Root Segment of the Patients with Primary Apical Periodontitis

ABSTRACT Introduction Apical periodontitis usually results from bacterial accumulation and contamination occurring in the root-canal system, and extending beyond the apical foramen to involve the periapical tissues. Literature has a paucity of the studies that stress on the division and analysis of the pulp canal segments. The reason for this disparity might be the technique used for collecting the samples from the pulp canals. Hence, we carried out the present study to evaluate the microbial flora in the apical part of the roots with necrotic pulp canals. Materials and methods The present study included the assessment of 40 freshly extracted teeth that had necrotized pulpal tissue along with the presence of periapical periodontal lesions. Removal of the soft tissue lesions attached to the root portion of the teeth along with apical periodontal lesions was done with the help of scalpel blade, after rinsing them with a sterile solution of saline. Thorough cleaning of the root surfaces was done with hydrogen peroxide followed by rapid disinfection with the help of sodium hypochlorite at varying concentrations. Sectioning of the root portion of all the specimens with the help of a disk was done perpendicular to the long axis of the teeth at a distance of roughly 5 to 6 mm from the teeth's apicalmost point. Cryotubes were used for transferring the specimens of apical portions containing 1 mL of buffer and were subjected to immediate frozen processing at a temperature of –20°C. A 10 K-type file was used for the initial collection of the samples followed by subsequent incubation of the files and paper pints in the incubation cabinet. Subsequent deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction from the samples was done following the procedure described by Siqueira et al. Paster et al's modification of the reverse-capture checkerboard assay was used in the present study. Semiquantitative data were used for overcoming the difficulties arising due to obtaining the counts of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based analysis of specimens. Results A positive result for the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene primer was observed only in two examined specimens of all the samples of the apical portion of the root canals in the present study. Negative result was shown by all the control group specimens, which were sterile samples. Presence of bacteria was confirmed by PCR in 38 out of 40 examined specimens. Amount of bacterial taxa, out of these 24 samples, ranged up to 6. Pseudoramibacter alactolyticus, Porphyromonas endodontalis, Dialister oral species, Bacteroidetes species, Streptococcus species, Olsenella uli, Synergistes species, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Parvimonas micra, Treponema denticola, and Filifactor alocis were the specific species detected. Bacteroidetes species was the only species that were detected at levels at or above 105. Heavy bacterial infections were noticed in more than 45% of the cases at the periradicular part of the root canals. Conclusion Microbial flora of the apical segment of the root with necrotized pulp tissue comprises a vast variety of pathogenic bacteria. Clinical significance For better prognosis of the treatment of such cases, adequate knowledge of the microbial flora of the root, especially the apical portion is necessary. How to cite this article Tatikonda A, Sudheep N, Biswas KP, Gowtham K, Pujari S, Singh P. Evaluation of Bacteriological Profile in the Apical Root Segment of the Patients with Primary Apical Periodontitis. J Contemp Dent Pract 2017;18(1):44-48.

VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION Of VITEX DONIANA SWEET fROM ROOT SEGMENT CuTTINGS

Vitex doniana Sweet est une espèce à usages multiples d’une grande importance socio-économique et commune en Afrique tropicale. Malgré sa forte utilisation en mi- lieu rural, elle est encore présente à l’état sauvage. Il existe peu de données sur sa domestication. La propagation de cet arbre par bouturage de segments de racine consti- tue une alternative à sa difficile régénéra- tion sexuée. L’objectif de notre travail était d’évaluer deux des facteurs clés (substrat d’enracinement, diamètre des boutures) qui influencent l’aptitude des boutures de segments de racine (BSR) à néoformer des pousses feuillées et des racines. Le système racinaire de 23 arbres a été partiellement excavé sur une profondeur de 20 cm. Des BSR de 15 cm de long ont été disposées hori- zontalement dans des polypropagateurs sur cinq substrats différents, arrosés matin et soir. Le dispositif était un split-plot à trois ré- pétitions. Le traitement principal recouvrait cinq substrats : terre noire (Tn), sable fin (S), sciure de bois (Sc), 50 % Tn/50 % Sc (Tn- Sc) et 50 % Tn/50 % S (Tn-S). Le traitement secondaire distinguait deux classes de dia- mètre (0,5-1cm ; 1,1-2,5 cm). Après la mise en culture des BSR, le temps de latence d’émer- gence était de 8 semaines pour les pousses aériennes et 12 pour les racines. Après 28 semaines, le pourcentage de pousses feuil- lées formées variait de 28 % (Tn) à 55 % (S). Les pousses aériennes se sont développées majoritairement (82 %) sur le pôle distal. Le diamètre des BSR a déterminé le déve- loppement des pousses feuillées (P < 0,01). Le taux de bourgeonnement des BSR oscil- lait entre 21,0 ± 1,8 % pour les BSR de 0,5- 1 cm et 86,0 ± 7,8 % pour la classe 1,1-2,5 cm. Le diamètre a également impacté l’enracine- ment des BSR (P < 0,001). Le taux d’enraci- nement des BSR variait de 12,0 ± 2,3 % pour les petits diamètres à 59,3 ± 4,7 % pour les plus gros. La multiplication végétative par BSR peut améliorer la filière économique de V. doniana dans les hautes savanes gui- néennes du Cameroun.

Comparison of four routinely used methods for assessing root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Quantifying the proportion of roots colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is routine work for researchers conducting AMF studies. However, in practice, the methods are always misused, with their adaptability to different conditions neglected. In this study, four frequently used methods (root segment ±, root segment estimation, grid-line intersect, and magnified intersections) were evaluated and compared. Using the light microscopy based staining technique, we assessed AMF colonization of the roots of five plant species (Trifolium repens Linn., Zea mays Linn., Robinia pseudoacacia Linn., Populus simonii Carr., and Caragana korshinskii Kom.). The results revealed that a root length of at least 150 cm (rather than the usual 30 or 50 cm or 100 to 150 intersections generally used when following these four methods) should be examined to represent a single root sample whatever the method used. All four methods had good reproducibility, even though there was a high level of divergence among the results obtained using the different methods to assess the same root sample. We concluded that when assessing the AMF colonization of roots from the same species, all methods except the root segment ± method can be used; however, when assessing root samples from different species, the root segment estimation and magnified intersections methods give more reliable results. We suggest that the root segment ± method is an effective method for revealing the uniformity of AMF distributed in host roots of a certain length.

Infestation of different garlic varieties by dry bulb mite Aceria tulipae (Keifer) (Acari: Eriophyidae)

The intensity of garlic infestation by dry bulb mite Aceria tulipae (Keifer, 1938) was observed on different garlic varieties in central Moravia. The aim of this study was to determine infestation of different garlic varieties during storage in the winter period 2011–2012. Current studies on 11 garlic varieties from the Centre of the Region Haná at an altitude of 210 m showed high abundance of Aceria tulipae on 10 varieties. Bolting garlic varieties (Bzenecky Mutant VF, Sochi 25, Tiraspol, Zailijskij) were highly infested, non-bolting varieties (Czerga, SIR 10 new breeding, Gjirokaster) were infested weakly or not at all (Kelcyre). The highest abundance of mite was found out in semi-bolting garlic variety (Plovdiv Rogosh) with total number up to 1 500 individuals in one clove. Significant differences in infestation between external and internal part of the clove were observed in 4 of 11 evaluated varieties. Root segment was significantly the most infested part of the clove. The most resistant kinds to mite infestation were the Kelcyre, Gjirokaster and SIR 10 new breeding varieties. The highest mite introduction to inside cloves was observed in the Plovdiv Rogosh variety. The choice of suitable varieties can significantly eliminate occurrence of A. tulipae and their infestation.