Near ultraviolet light inactivation of dihydroxyacid dehydratase in Escherichia coli

The effects of near ultraviolet (NUV) light on a NUV chromophore-containing oxidant-sensitive enzyme, dihydroxyacid dehydratase (DHAD), were measured in seven strains of Escherichia coli. The strains differed in production of the oxidant-defense enzymes, superoxide dismutases (Fe-SOD and Mn-SOD), and catalases HPI and HPII. With the stress of aerobic growth but without NUV exposure, the strains lacking either Fe or Mn SOD or both SODs had 57%, 25%, and 12%, respectively, of the DHAD-specific activity of the parent (K12) strain. Under the same conditions, the catalase strains that were wild type, overproducing, and deficient had comparable DHAD-specific activities. When aerobic cultures were exposed for 30 min to NUV with a fluence of 216 J/m²/s at 310–400 nm, the percentage decreases in DHAD-specific activities were similar (ranging from 75% to 89%) in strains with none, either, or both SODs missing, and in the catalase-overproducing strain. However, the decreases were only 58% and 52% in the strain with catalase missing and in its parent, respectively. The NUV-induced loss of DHAD enzyme activity was not accompanied by any detectable loss of the DHAD protein as measured by polyclonal antibody to DHAD.     

Osmotic relations during elongation growth in hypocotyls of Helianthus annum L.

The relationship between growth, change in cell osmotic pressure and accumulation of osmotic solutes was investigated in hypocotyls of sunflower (Helianthus annum L.) seedlings. During growth in darkness the osmotic pressure decreased by 50% between days 2 and 6 after sowing. After irradiation of dark-grown seedlings with continuous white light (WL) an inhibition of hypocotyl growth was measured, but the osmotic pressure of the growing cells was not lower than in the dark-grown control. Growth in darkness and after WL irradiation was accompanied by an increase in the amount of osmotic substances (soluble sugars) which was proportional to the increase in length of the organ. During growth in continuous WL the cell osmotic pressure decreased by 45 % between days 2 and 6 after sowing. The transfer of WL-grown seedlings to darkness (“re-etiolation”) resulted in a rapid acceleration of hypocotyl growth, but the cell osmotic pressure was the same as that of the WL grown control. Growth in continuous WL was accompanied by a corresponding accumulation of osmotic substances (soluble sugars). The transition from WL to darkness resulted in an enhanced accumulation of osmotica and an increase in cell-wall extensibility. The results indicate that the relative maintenance of cell osmotic pressure during rapid hypocotyl growth in darkness is caused by an enhanced accumulation of soluble sugars into the growing cells of the organ.     

Seed germination traits of Ailanthus altissima,Phytolacca americana and Robinia pseudoacacia in response to different thermal and light requirements

Invasion of alien plant species (IAS) represents a serious environmental problem, particularly in Europe, where it mainly pertains to urban areas. Seed germination traits contribute to clarification of invasion dynamics. The objective of this research was to analyze how different light conditions (i.e., 12-hr light/12-hr darkness and continuous darkness) and temperature regimes (i.e., 15/6°C, 20/10°C and 30/20°C) trigger seed germination of Ailanthus altissima (AA), Phytolacca americana (PA) and Robinia pseudoacacia (RP). The relationship between seed germination and seed morphometric traits was also analyzed. Our findings highlight that temperature rather than light was the main environmental factor affecting germination. RP germinated at all tested temperatures, whereas at 15/6°C seeds of AA and PA showed physiological dormancy. RP had a higher germination capacity at a lower temperature, unlike AA and PA, which performed better at the highest temperatures. Light had a minor role in seed germination of the three species. Light promoted germination only for seeds of PA, and final germination percentage was 1.5-fold higher in light than in continuous darkness. Seed morphometric traits (thickness [T], area [A] and volume [V]) had a significant role in explaining germination trait variations. The results highlight the importance of increasing our knowledge on seed germination requirements to predict future invasiveness trends. The increase in global temperature could further advantage AA and PA in terms of germinated seeds, as well as RP by enhancing the germination velocity, therefore compensating for a lower germination percentage of this species at the highest temperatures.     

Light response in seedlings of a temperate (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus petraea</Emphasis>) and a sub-Mediterranean species (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus pyrenaica</Emphasis>): contrasting ecological strategies as potential keys to regeneration performance in mixed marginal populations

In order to understand better the ecology of the temperate species Quercus petraea and the sub-Mediterranean species Quercus pyrenaica, two deciduous oaks, seedlings were raised in two contrasting light environments (SH, 5.3% full sunlight vs. HL, 70% full sunlight) for 2 years, and a subset of the SH seedlings were transferred to HL (SH–HL) in the summer of the second year. We predicted that Q. pyrenaica would behave more as a stress-tolerant species, with lower specific leaf area (SLA), allocation to leaf mass, and growth rate and less responsiveness to light in these metrics, than Q. petraea, presumed to be more competitive when resources, especially light and water, are abundant. Seedlings of Q. petraea had larger leaves with higher SLA, and exhibited a greater relative growth rate (RGR) in both SH and HL. They also displayed a higher proportion of biomass in stems (SMF), and a lower root to shoot ratio (R/S) in HL than those of Q. pyrenaica, which sprouted profusely, and had higher rates of photosynthesis (A_n) and stomatal conductance (g_wv), but lower whole-plant net assimilation rate (NAR). On exposure to a sudden increase in light, SH–HL seedlings of both species showed a short period of photoinhibition, but fully acclimated photosynthetic features within 46 days after transference; height, main stem diameter, RGR and NAR all increased at the end of the experiment compared to SH seedlings, with these increases more pronounced in Q. petraea. Observed differences in traits and responses to light confirmed a contrasting ecology at the seedling stage in Q. petraea and Q. pyrenaica in consonance with differences in their overall distribution. We discuss how the characteristics of Q. petraea may limit the availability of suitable regeneration niches to microsites of high-resource availability in marginal populations of Mediterranean climate, with potential negative consequences for its recruitment under predicted climatic changes.     

Ecology of seed germination of eight non-pioneer tree species from a tropical seasonal rain forest in southwest China

We compared various aspects of the seed biology of eight non-pioneer tree species from a tropical seasonal rain forest in Xishuangbanna, SW China, that differ in time of dispersal, size and fresh seed moisture content (MC). Seeds were tested for germination under laboratory conditions after dehydration to different moisture levels and under 3.5, 10 and 30% solar irradiances in neutral-shade houses. For six species, germination was also compared in forest understory (3.5% light) and center of a forest gap (32.5% light). Under continuous dehydration over activated silica gel, 100% of seeds of four species had lost the ability to germinate after 48 h, and those of all species except Castanopsis hystrix (decreased from >90 to 30% germination) had lost the ability to germinate after 120 h. Four species did not differ in final germination percentages at the three irradiances (i.e. uniform germination). However, final germination percentages of Horsfieldia pandurifolia and Litsea pierrei var. szemaois were significantly lower in 30% than in 10 or 3.5% light, and seeds of Antiaris toxicaria and C. hystrix germinated to higher percentages in 30 and 10% than in 3.5% light. Mean time to germination (MTG) of the eight species (forest and shade house data combined) ranged from 5–5 days for Pometia tomentosa to 72–207days for L. pierrei; MTG for four species was ≤21 days. There was no obvious relationship between relative desiccation resistance and either time of dispersal, MTG or uniformity of germination at the three light levels, or between seed size and MC or MTG. However, the relationship between seed MC at maturity (25–60% fresh mass basis) and MC at 50% loss of seed viability (12.4–42.5%) was significant. Seven of the species fit Garwood’s (Ecol Monogr 53:159–181, 1983) rapid-rainy germination syndrome and one, L. pierrei, either her delayed-rainy or intermediate-dry germination syndrome. However, fresh, non-dehydrated seeds of all eight species germinated in ≤30 days at constant 30°C in light.     

Recent findings in pulsed light disinfection

Nonthermal disinfection technologies are gaining increasing interest in the field of minimally processed food in order to improve the microbial safety or to extend the shelf life. Especially fresh‐cut produce or meat and fish products are vulnerable to microbial spoilage, but, due to their sensitivity, they require gentle preservation measures. The application of intense light pulses of a broad spectral range comprising ultraviolet, visible and near infrared irradiation is currently investigated as a potentially suitable technology to reduce microbial loads on different food surfaces or in beverages. Considerable research has been performed within the last two decades, in which the impact of various process parameters or microbial responses as well as the suitability of pulsed light (PL) for food applications has been examined. This review summarizes the outcome of the latest studies dealing with the treatment of various foods including the impact of PL on food properties as well as recent findings about the microbicidal action and relevant process parameters.     

Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase 3 Is Required for Regulation during Dark-Light Transition

Plant growth and development are coordinately orchestrated by environmental cues and phytohormones. Light acts as a key environmental factor for fundamental plant growth and physiology through photosensory phytochromes and underlying molecular mechanisms. Although phytochromes are known to possess serine/threonine protein kinase activities, whether they trigger a signal transduction pathway via an intracellular protein kinase network remains unknown. In analyses of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK, also called MKK) mutants, the mkk3 mutant has shown both a hypersensitive response in plant hormone gibberellin (GA) and a less sensitive response in red light signaling. Surprisingly, light-induced MAPK activation in wild-type (WT) seedlings and constitutive MAPK phosphorylation in dark-grown mkk3 mutant seedlings have also been found, respectively. Therefore, this study suggests that MKK3 acts in negative regulation in darkness and in light-induced MAPK activation during dark-light transition.     

Light energy supply in plate-type and light diffusing optical fiber bioreactors

The light distribution profiles of plate-type photobioreactors were investigated. Light reaching individual channels of a plate module is dependent on the orientation of the module to the sun, the position of the channel within a plate and the position of the plate. The highest incident radiation was measured at the south oriented side of the first channel of the front plate. The light intensity decreased from top to ground channels. Different types of light diffusing optical fibers (LDOF) were characterized with respect to their applicability in photobioreactor systems.     

动态适应性生态经济区划模型及其应用

提高城市生态经济区划的精确性和动态性,对科学指导城市化发展具有重要的理论意义和应用价值。利用夜间灯光数据与人口密度建立线性模型,探索了以往用行政区域为最小统计单元数据的模拟细化问题;然后通过引入可变参数构建了动态适应性生态经济区划模型,在增强模型动态适应性的同时,将一级区划结果统一划分为生态管控区域、生态优先区域、优化开发区域和重点开发区域4个区域。以广州市增城区为典型案例,通过改进的动态适应性生态经济区划模型,运用GIS将增城区在两种情景下进行了模拟和对比,并提出了政策建议。区划结果符合当地发展特征,也为其他城市与区域的生态经济区划研究提供了科学方法。