Bacillus methylotrophicus M4-96 Stimulates the Growth of Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa ‘Aromas’) Plants In Vitro and Slows Botrytis cinerea Infection by Two Different Methods of Interaction

Bacillus methylotrophicus M4-96 is a beneficial rhizobacterium that has been isolated from the rhizosphere of maize (Zea mays). In this study, we investigated its efficacy as a plant growth promoter for strawberry in vitro, as well as its ability to induce callose deposition in leaves to reduce the severity of Botrytis cinerea infection. Two methods of plant-bacterial interaction were used: inoculation near the root and emission of volatile compounds with no physical contact. Plant biomass increased under both treatments, but with developmental parameters of the plants differentially stimulated by each method. Root inoculation increased petiole number and root length, whereas bacterial volatiles increased petiole length and root number. A chemical analysis of the bacterial culture revealed the presence of indole acetic acid (0.21 μg L⁻¹) and gibberellic acid (6.16 μg L⁻¹). Acetoin was previously identified as the major volatile produced by the bacteria, and its application to strawberry explants increased their growth and development. Furthermore, when acetoin and both phytoregulators were added to the culture media, these positive effects were enhanced. The inoculation method also affected the size and quantity of callose deposits in the leaves. Treatment with volatiles increased callose deposition in the leaves by up to five-fold, which promoted a rapid defense reaction that inhibited the incidence of gray mold by reinforcing cell wall. Taken together, our results show that B. methylotrophicus M4-96 promotes growth and induces systemic resistance in strawberry plants.

     

Enhancement in Iron Absorption on Intake of Chemometrically Optimized Ratio of Probiotic Strain Lactobacillus plantarum 299v with Iron Supplement Pearl Millet

Biological Trace Element Research - This research article aims to establish the intake ratio of probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum 299v with iron supplement pearl millet by central composite design...     

Carbohydrate metabolism and fruit quality are affected in frost-exposed Valencia orange fruit

Exposure of citrus fruit to frost often results in the development of freeze injury during their maturation in planta. This work was aimed to analyze changes in the biochemistry and enzymology of carbohydrate metabolism in freeze-injured orange fruit ( Citrus sinensis var. Valencia late) and the involvement of oxidative stress in frost damage. The activities of pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and several fermentative enzymes increased in frost-exposed (FE) fruit, while NADP-malic enzyme and the mitochondrial isoform of NAD-malate dehydrogenase showed a reduction in their activities. Western blot analysis indicated a correlation between activity levels and protein content. Respiration rate in whole fruit was reduced by 40%, whereas the flavedo showed a more pronounced decline (53%). Volatile compound (i.e. ethanol and acetaldehyde) content was significantly higher in FE fruit than in control, as was that of l -malate (three-fold). Additionally, FE fruit showed a marked decrease in the maturity index (24%) because of a higher titratable acidity (39%). Evidence is presented that oxidative stress is involved in freeze-induced damage of orange fruit, where oxidative damage to lipids and proteins, and a greater electrolyte leakage in the flavedo were also observed. The results suggest that freezing temperatures provoke a notable metabolic switch in citrus fruit toward a fermentative stage, resulting in low-quality fruits.     

Microcollinearity in an ethylene receptor coding gene region of the Coffea canephora genome is extensively conserved with Vitis vinifera and other distant dicotyledonous sequenced genomes

Background  

Coffea canephora, also called Robusta, belongs to the Rubiaceae, the fourth largest angiosperm family. This diploid species (2x = 2n = 22) has a fairly small genome size of ≈ 690 Mb and despite its extreme economic importance, particularly for developing countries, knowledge on the genome composition, structure and evolution remain very limited. Here, we report the 160 kb of the first C. canephora Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) clone ever sequenced and its fine analysis.     

High-fat diet induced adiposity and insulin resistance in mice lacking the myotonic dystrophy protein kinase

Myotonic dystrophy 1 (MD1) is caused by a CTG expansion in the 3′-unstranslated region of the myotonic dystrophy protein kinase (DMPK) gene. MD1 patients frequently present insulin resistance and increased visceral adiposity. We examined whether DMPK deficiency is a genetic risk factor for high-fat diet-induced adiposity and insulin resistance using the DMPK knockout mouse model. We found that high-fat fed DMPK knockout mice had significantly increased body weights, hypertrophic adipocytes and whole-body insulin resistance compared with wild-type mice. This nutrient-genome interaction should be considered by physicians given the cardiometabolic risks and sedentary lifestyle associated with MD1 patients.     

Lopinavir co-induces insulin resistance and ER stress in human adipocytes

HIV-protease inhibitors (PIs) markedly decreased mortality of HIV-infected patients. However, their use has been associated with occurence of metabolic abnormalities the causes of which are not well understood. We report here that lopinavir, one of the most prescribed PI, dose-dependently co-induced insulin resistance and ER stress in human adipocytes obtained from differentiation of precursor cells.Insulin resistance was subsequent to IRS1 phosphorylation defects and resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease of glucose uptake. The major ER stress pathway involved was the phosphorylation of eIF2-α. Salubrinal, a selective eIF2-α dephosphorylation inhibitor, induced insulin resistance by targeting IRS1 phosphorylation at serine 312 and acted synergistically with LPV when both drugs were used in combination.This study points out the key role of eIF2-α phosphorylation in the development of PI-associated insulin resistance and ER stress. Thus, this protein represents a promising therapeutic target for development of new PIs devoid of adverse metabolic effects.