Hydraulic and Chemical Responses of Citrus Seedlings to Drought and Osmotic Stress

In this work we investigated the function of abscisic acid (ABA) as a long-distance chemical signal communicating water shortage from the root to the shoot in citrus plants. Experiments indicated that stomatal conductance, transpiration rates, and leaf water potential decline progressively with drought. ABA content in roots, leaves, and xylem sap was also increased by the drought stress treatment three- to sevenfold. The addition of norflurazon, an inhibitor of ABA biosynthesis, significantly decreased the intensity of the responses and reduced ABA content in roots and xylem fluid, but not in leaves. Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced osmotic stress caused similar effects and, in general, was counteracted only by norflurazon at the lowest concentration (10%). Partial defoliation was able to diminish only leaf ABA content (22.5%) at the highest PEG concentration (30%), probably through a reduction of the active sites of biosynthesis. At least under moderate drought (3–6 days without irrigation), mechanisms other than leaf ABA concentration were required to explain stomatal closure in response to limited soil water supply. Measurements of xylem sap pH revealed a progressive alkalinization through the drought condition (6.4 vs. 7.1), that was not counteracted with the addition of norflurazon. Moreover, in vitro treatment of detached leaves with buffers iso-osmotically adjusted at pH 7.1 significantly decreased stomatal conductance (more than 30%) as much as 70% when supplemented with ABA. Taken together, our results suggest that increased pH generated in drought-stressed roots is transmitted by the xylem sap to the leaves, triggering reductions in shoot water loss. The parallel rise in ABA concentration may act synergistically with pH alkalinization in xylem sap, with an initial response generated from the roots and further promotion by the stressed leaves.     

Predation Life History Responses to Increased Temperature Variability

The evolution of life history traits is regulated by energy expenditure, which is, in turn, governed by temperature. The forecasted increase in temperature variability is expected to impose greater stress to organisms, in turn influencing the balance of energy expenditure and consequently life history responses. Here we examine how increased temperature variability affects life history responses to predation. Individuals reared under constant temperatures responded to different levels of predation risk as appropriate: namely, by producing greater number of neonates of smaller sizes and reducing the time to first brood. In contrast, we detected no response to predation regime when temperature was more variable. In addition, population growth rate was slowest among individuals reared under variable temperatures. Increased temperature variability also affected the development of inducible defenses. The combined effects of failing to respond to predation risk, slower growth rate and the miss-match development of morphological defenses supports suggestions that increased variability in temperature poses a greater risk for species adaptation than that posed by a mean shift in temperature.     

Physiological Responses of Highland Barley Seedlings to NaCl,Drought, and Freeze-Thaw Stress

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Qinghai-Tibet plateau as an alpine and high-altitude area is frequently confronted with freeze-thaw stress. Recently, due to the change of global climate, the...     

干旱和低温胁迫影响烟草幼苗海藻糖代谢的差异比较

为了明确海藻糖代谢在干旱和低温胁迫下的响应及其差异,以及海藻糖在烟草耐旱和耐冷性中的作用,选用烟草品种云烟203幼苗为实验材料,通过对烟草幼苗进行干旱和4℃低温胁迫处理,研究叶片中海藻糖含量及代谢相关酶(海藻糖-6-磷酸合成酶TPS、海藻糖-6-磷酸磷酸酶TPP、海藻糖酶THase)活性及基因表达变化情况。结果表明,在干旱和低温胁迫下,海藻糖含量表现出先升高后降低趋势,均在处理2 d时海藻糖积累达到最大,且干旱胁迫下海藻糖含量高于低温胁迫。TPS、TPP活性在干旱和低温胁迫下先升高后降低,且干旱高于低温;THase活性在干旱和低温胁迫下均不断升高,低温下的THase活性高于干旱。TPS、TPP、THase基因在干旱下的表达量均高于0 d对照,低温下低于0 d对照。以上结果表明,干旱和低温胁迫均能促使烟草体内海藻糖的积累,干旱更能诱导相关基因的表达、相关酶活性及海藻糖含量的升高,表明海藻糖对干旱响应更敏感。     

Effect of Temperature on Phytochrome-mediated Responses in Seedlings of Mustard

Anthocyanin synthesis, hair formation, and the synthesis of ascorbic acid oxidase are all phytochrome-mediated reactions occurring in the hypocotyl of mustard (Sinapis alba L.). An investigation was conducted into the effects of temperature on the light promotion of these three photoresponses. When given prior to a light exposure there was either no difference between a 20 and 30 C temperature treatment, or the 30 C treatment resulted in a greater photoresponse. When given subsequent to a light exposure 20 C was far more effective in promoting the responses than was a 30 C treatment. These results are in accordance with the known effects of low temperature on delaying phytochrome-far red absorbing form (Pfr) destruction, thus resulting in more Pfr being available to promote the responses. The difference between temperature treatments was greatest following a short light exposure, and much smaller following a long light exposure. When light was given as intermittent illumination the difference between subsequent temperature treatments was much less than when the same amount of light was given as continuous illumination.     

Temperature Coefficients for the Oxidative Metabolic Responses to Electrical Stimulation in Cerebral Cortex

Temperature coefficients of both cat and toad brain have been calculated for the active metabolic state induced by electrical stimulation. Values are higher than most of the values previously reported for "rest" metabolism, whether calculated from Arrhenius plots or from linear graphs. Relative rates of oxidative metabolism were obtained by measuring the time course of the transient changes in NADH fluorescence and cytochrome aa3 absorption by reflectance techniques directly from the surface of the exposed cat cerebral cortex in vivo and from the isolated intact toad brain mounted in a cuvet. These findings demonstrate that such optical methods accurately record metabolic processes.     

Responses of Camellia sinensis to Drought and Rehydration

The effects of drought and rehydration on tea seedlings were significant. After five days of drought imposition the contents of chlorophylls, carotenoids, ascorbate and glutathione, and activities of guaiacol peroxidase and glutathione reductase decreased. Simultaneously, contents of proline, H₂O₂ and superoxide anion, lipid peroxidation and activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase increased. These parameters recovered to different degrees during subsequent rehydration.     

缺硼与低温对黄瓜幼苗—些生理反应的影响

营养液培养试验表明,缺硼明显降低黄瓜幼苗植株的生长量,植株叶片细胞质膜K 的渗漏增加,细胞结构受损。此外,叶片中蔗糖和还原糖都明显积累。缺硼的上述反应在低温胁迫（7－8℃,FX25－28℃为对照）时表现更为明显。试验结果表明硼对于细胞膜的完整性具有重要的作用;充分供硼可以减轻低温对细胞膜的伤害。     

Antioxidant Responses of Lentil to Cold and Drought Stress

The effects of cold and drought stress on antioxidant responses and growth parameters in shoots and roots of lentil (Lens culinaris M cv Sultan 1) seedlings were investigated. Ten-day-old hydroponically grown seedlings were subjected to drought and cold (4°C) stress for 5 days. The length and fresh weight of shoots decreased significantly under both stress conditions, contrary to the increase in these growth parameters for roots under the same conditions. The oxidative damage as generation of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide, was markedly higher in shoots under cold. Both stress conditions caused a significant increase in malondialdehyde levels in root tissues. The increase in proline levels was more pronounced under cold stress in shoots and roots. The tested stress conditions had no significant effect on chlorophyll contents. Superoxide dismutase activity was differentially altered in shoot and root tissues under drought and cold stress. The catalase activity was higher in roots under drought stress. On the other hand, ascorbate peroxidase activity increased in root tissues under cold stress. The results indicate that improved tolerance to cold and drought stress in root and shoot tissues of lentil might be correlated to the increased capacity of antioxidative defense system.     

Ethylene and the Responses to Light of Rice Seedlings

The growth of rice seedlings (Oryza satira L.) in the presence of ethylene caused a change in the response to light of coleoptile elongation. In plants grown in air without added ethylene coleoptile elongation was promoted by red, far-red and yellow-green light only in very young seedlings; in older plants irradiation inhibited the growth of the coleoptile. The effect of growing plants in the presence of ethylene was to prolong the period during which light promoted coleoptile growth. Elongation of the first internode was inhibited by light whether or not the seedlings were grown in the presence of ethylene. A correlation existed between the growth effect of an irradiation and the initial decay rate of phytochrome which was established by the treatment. Regardless of wave length, light sources whose intensities were adjusted to produce a decay rate of about 10% per hour or less induced a moderate rate of coleoptile elongation which persisted for a relatively long period. Irradiation with red or yellow-green light of higher intensity which produced a higher rate of phytochrome decay induced a higher rate of coleoptile elongation, but growth stopped after several hours. Other observations, however, showed that one cannot establish a general simple correlation between the rate of elongation of rice coleoptiles under light and the status of measurable phytochrome in the plant.     

Metabolic Responses to Sulfur in Lucinid Bivalves

SYNOPSIS. Lucinid bivalves occur widely in habitats rangingfrom subtidal to deep ocean basins. The evidence reported todate supports the contention that all lucinids contain intracellular,sulfur-oxidizing bacterial symbionts which contribute substantiallyto the nutrition of the intact association. These burrowingbivalves are found in both high and low sulfide habitats. Examinationsof sulfur compounds in the hemolymph of lucinids reveal thatthiosulfate may be a key intermediate in the metabolism of sulfidein all members of this family. The presence of free sulfidein the hemolymph of both freshly collected and experimentalclams suggests that the total sulfide oxidation/detoxificationcapacity of the lucinids may be substantially lower than thatfound in other sulfur bacteria/invertebrate symbioses. Intracellulargranules catalyze the oxidation of sulfide in L. floridana,one apparent line of sulfide toxicity defense in this species.These electron-dense granules occur in high densities in thebacteriocytes (bacteria-containing gill cells) of all lucinids.Thiosulfate produced during this detoxification may be availablefor further oxidation by the abundant symbionts housed in thesesame cells. Hemolymph thiol and elementalsulfur levels in clamsfrom low sulfide habitats suggest that these animals have evolvedmechanisms for sulfur acquisition. In sulfur-free seawater,sulfur-starved Lucina floridana are infrequent, periodic ventilators,but in the presence of sulfur show a significant increase inventilation frequency. This periodic ventilation may be a traitof all lucinids that plays a substantial role in reducing metaboliccosts during low nutrient availability.     

Responses of Acacia Mangium Seedlings to Different Irradiances

The photosynthetic and growth responses of A. mangium to different photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) during early seedling establishment (36 d after sowing) were investigated. Shade-grown A. mangium seedlings exhibited lower chlorophyll (Chl) a/b ratio, higher Chl and carotenoid (Car) contents, and higher total Chl/Car ratio than sun-grown seedlings. Sun-grown seedlings showed significantly higher photosynthetic capacity and total plant dry mass. High PPFD was crucial for the successful early establishment and robust growth of A. mangium seedlings.     

Mice Lacking the p75NGFR Receptor Exhibit Abnormal Responses to Light

A role for nerve growth factor (NGF) in the mammalian circadian system was assessed in mice using a line of gene targeted animals carrying a null mutation at the low affinity p75 NGFR receptor locus. Receptor-deficient mice exhibited positive phase angles of entrainment to 24 h light-dark cycles. In constant dark, circadian rhythms of behavior were normal but phase shifts induced by brief pulses of light were significantly decreased. These results support the hypothesis that NGF, through an action mediated at least in part by p75 NGFR receptors in the SCN, is involved in the regulation of circadian responses to light.     

Mice Lacking the p75NGFR Receptor Exhibit Abnormal Responses to Light

A role for nerve growth factor (NGF) in the mammalian circadian system was assessed in mice using a line of gene targeted animals carrying a null mutation at the low affinity p75 NGFR receptor locus. Receptor-deficient mice exhibited positive phase angles of entrainment to 24 h light-dark cycles. In constant dark, circadian rhythms of behavior were normal but phase shifts induced by brief pulses of light were significantly decreased. These results support the hypothesis that NGF, through an action mediated at least in part by p75 NGFR receptors in the SCN, is involved in the regulation of circadian responses to light.     

米心水青冈幼苗对光照和养分的响应

在模拟郁闭林下(L1,大约1%～2%的全日照)、林窗(L2,大约18%的全日照)、开阔地(L3,全日照)3个光照水平和每个光照水平下进行施肥(F1)和不施肥(F0)对照的6个实验处理条件下,研究了 2年龄米心水青冈(Fagus engleriana Seem)幼苗在随后的两个生长季里的生长对光照和土壤养分的响应.结果显示:光照和养分对幼苗高度、基径和生物量有显著的影响.经过两个生长季,L1处理下幼苗高度增量极显著地小于L2和L3处理下幼苗高度增量.L1处理下基径和生物量的增量在处理当年秋就极显著地小于L2和L3处理下的增量,并在第二年差异继续扩大.L2和L3处理下的幼苗间的生长没有显著差异.施肥明显地促进了L2和L3处理下的幼苗的生长,但对L1处理下的幼苗没有明显的作用.这些结果说明,虽然2年龄米心水青冈幼苗能够在林下的弱光条件下生存,但生长受到了极大的抑制.幼苗在林窗的中等光照条件下能够与在开阔地全日照条件下生长的一样好或更好,这与许多耐阴的落叶树的响应一样.在比林内光照强度较高的条件下施肥或较高的土壤养分才对米心水青冈幼苗的生长和生存起作用.     

Plant Responses to Drought,Acclimation, and Stress Tolerance

At the whole plant level, the effect of stress is usually perceived as a decrease in photosynthesis and growth. That is why this review is focused mainly on the effect of drought on photosynthesis, its injury, and mechanisms of adaptation. The analysed literature shows that plants have evolved a number of adaptive mechanisms that allow the photochemical and biochemical systems to cope with negative changes in environment, including increased water deficit. In addition, the acquisition of tolerance to drought includes both phenotypic and genotypic changes. The approaches were made to identify those metabolic steps that are most sensitive to drought. Some studies also examined the mechanisms controlling gene expression and putative regulatory pathways.