Application of sodium selenate to cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) increases shoot and grain Se partitioning with strong genotypic interactions

BackgorundCowpea is a crop widely used in developing countries due its rusticity. Besides its rich genotypic variability, most breeding programs do not explore its potential to improve elements uptake. Selenium (Se) is a scarce element in most soils, resulting in its deficiency being common in human diets. This study aimed to evaluate the interaction between biofortification with Se and genotypic variation in cowpea, on the concentrations of Se in roots, leaves + stem and grains.MethodsTwenty-nine cowpea genotypes were grown in a greenhouse in the absence (control) and presence of Se (12.5 μg Se kg⁻¹ soil) as sodium selenate, in fully randomized scheme. The plants were cultivated until grains harvest. The following variables were determined: roots dry weight (g), leaves + stems dry weight (g), grains dry weight (g), Se concentration (mg kg⁻¹) in roots, leaves + stems and grains, and Se partitioning to shoots and grains.ResultsSelenium application increased the Se concentration in roots, leaves + stems and grains in all genotypes. At least twofold variation in grain Se concentration was observed among genotypes. Selenium application did not impair biomass accumulation, including grain dry weight. Genotype “BRS Guariba” had the largest Se concentration in grains and leaves + stems. Genotype MNC04-795 F-158 had the largest partitioning of Se to shoots and grain, due to elevated dry weights of leaves + stems and grain, and high Se concentrations in these tissues.ConclusionThis information might be valuable in future breeding programs to select for genotypes with better abilities to accumulate Se in grain to reduce widespread human Se undernutrition.     

Nickel in Plants: II. Distribution and Chemical Form in Soybean Plants

The gross tissue distribution, intracellular fate, and chemical behavior of Ni²⁺ in soybean plants (Glycine max cv. Williams) were investigated. Following root absorption, Ni was highly mobile in the plant, with leaves being the major sink in the shoots for Ni during vegetative growth. A senescence >70% of the Ni present in the shoot was remobilized to seeds. Fractionation of root and leaf tissues showed >90% of the Ni to be associated with the soluble fraction of tissues; ultrafiltration of the solubles showed >77% of the Ni to be associated with the 10,000 to 500 molecular weight components of both roots and leaves. Chemical characterization of the soluble components (10,000 to 500 and >500 molecular weight) by thin layer chromatography and electrophoresis resolved a number of Ni-containing organic complexes. Major Ni-containing components formed in the root are transported in the xylem stream, and undergo partial modification on deposition in leaves. Nickel accumulated in seeds is primarily associated with the cotyledons. Chemical fractionation of cotyledon components showed 80% of the Ni to be associated with the soluble whey fraction, while 70% of this fraction was composed of Ni-containing components with molecular weight <10,000.     

Cadmium distribution and chemical fate in soybean plants

The distribution and chemical behavior of Cd²⁺ in tissues and its chemical form in xylem water of soybean plants (cv. Williams) were investigated. Following root absorption, Cd is strongly retained by roots, with only 2% of the accumulated Cd being transported to leaves; as much as 8% was transported to seeds during seed filling. In vivo xylem exudates contained two anionic Cd complexes in addition to inorganic forms of Cd. Once accumulated in root and leaf tissues, Cd rapidly equilibrated between the insoluble, soluble, and organelle fractions. Of the solubles, which contain 50% of the Cd, >50% was associated with components of >10,000 molecular weight, and <8% was associated with <500 molecular weight components. Cadmium accumulated in soybean seeds was primarily associated with cotyledons. Fractionation of seeds showed the soy proteinate and soy whey to contain 32 and 50% of the accumulated Cd, respectively.     

Components of fast and slow phases of axoplasmic flow

Abstract— Cat ventral roots removed at times from hours to days after injection of [³H]leucine into the seventh lumbar and first sacral spinal cord segments were homogenized and subjected to sub-cellular fractionation. The soluble fraction was further analysed for protein content by column chromatography with Sephadex. The fast phase of axoplasmic flow carries down labelled free leucine, polypeptide, and soluble protein. The slow phase of axoplasmic flow carries down labelled soluble protein. The sub-cellular components were labelled with the small particulate fraction showing a higher specific activity than the other sub-cellular fractions.     

Fractionation of Soluble Copper- and Zinc-Binding Proteins From Cattle Liver

The distribution of copper and zinc among soluble proteins in liver from normal slaughter cattle was examined after gel filtration of the proteins. Gopper- and zinc-binding proteins were mainly separated into three fractions. Varying amounts of zinc were eluted in a fourth fraction of molecular weight less than 2,000. A clear relationship was noted between the amount of copper bound to the low molecular weight fraction (m.w. ~ 10,000) and the total liver zinc concentration. The high molecular weight protein fraction (m.w. > 65,000) dominated in liver with zinc concentrations below 40 µg/g wet weight and total copper concentrations from 16 to 240 µg/g, while in liver with zinc concentrations above 40 µg/g and copper concentrations ranging from 20 to 107 µg/g, the low molecular weight metallothionein-like fraction dominated.     

Subcellular distribution and chemical form of cadmium in bean plants

The subcellular distribution and chemical form of Cd in bean plants grown in nutrient solutions containing Cd were investigated. Cd was accumulated mainly in roots and to a minor extent in leaves. Subcellular fractionation of Cd-containing tissues (pH 7.5) showed that more than 70% of the element was localized in the cytoplasmic fraction in roots as well as in leaves. Little Cd (8 to 14%) was bound either to the cell wall fraction or to the organelles. Gel filtration of the soluble fraction showed Cd to be associated mainly with 5,000 to 10,000 molecular weight components in roots, and 700 to 5,000 molecular weight components in leaves. Small amounts of Cd were found in the high molecular weight proteins (molecular weight 150,000). Only traces of Cd could be detected as a free ion. Chemical characterization of the low molecular weight components resulted in the identification of nine amino acids which were identical in roots and leaves. Cd in bean plants is assumed to be bound to peptides and/or proteins of low molecular weight.     

不同类型镉积累水稻细胞镉化学形态及亚细胞和分子分布

利用水培试验结合亚细胞组分分级分离和凝胶过滤等技术,研究了水稻根和叶中镉的化学结合形态及其亚细胞和分子分布,比较了低镉积累品种“广源占No.3”和高镉积累品种 “珍桂矮”的差异.结果表明：随着营养液中镉浓度的升高,根和叶亚细胞镉含量显著上升,大部分镉积累在细胞壁（F_Ⅰ）和细胞可溶部分（F_Ⅲ）.高镉积累品种“珍桂矮”根和叶中可溶部分镉含量显著高于低镉积累品种“广源占No.3”.根和叶各种形态镉中,以氯化钠提取态占优势,其次是醋酸提取态,盐酸提取态镉含量最低.与“广源占No.3”相比,“珍桂矮”中迁移性较强的去离子水和乙醇提取态镉比例较高.凝胶过滤结果表明,两种类型的水稻可溶部分镉的出峰位置与样品流份中可溶性蛋白的出峰位置大致相同.可溶部分中的镉大多与分子量为3kD的物质结合,属于植物鳌合肽（PCs）或低分子量物质.“广源占No.3” 根系中镉与PCs配合的组分（Cd-PCs）含量远小于“珍桂矮”.“广源占No.3”细胞可溶部分较低的镉含量以及根系中较少的Cd-PCs形成量,降低了镉的移动及其向地上部转运的可能性.     

An electrophoretic analysis of the isozymes of malate dehydrogenase in several different plants

The particulate and soluble fractions of cell-free extracts from seeds, roots, and leaves of 10 different plants were examined electrophoretically for isozymes of malate dehydrogenase. Distinct isozyme patterns were observed for each plant and even for the individual tissues of each species. There were some isozymes in several different plant extracts with equal electrophoretic mobilities, but there was no isozyme band that was common to all tissues or to all plants.     

Protein Synthesis by Free and Bound Paramecium Ribosomes in Vivo and in Vitro

SYNOPSIS. Cytoplasmic extracts of Paramecium aurelia were fractionated by density gradient centrifugation. The gradient fractions were characterized by chemical analysis and electron microscopy. Membrane-bound ribosomes were separated from free polyribosomes and the ability of each of these forms to incorporate C¹⁴-leucine into protein was tested. Incorporation was measured in both in vivo and in vitro systems, and similar results were obtained in both types of experiment except that there was little release of soluble labelled protein in the in vitro system. Paramecium appears to synthesize most of its protein on free polyribosomes but membrane-bound ribosomes constitute an important protein synthetic fraction, perhaps accounting for as much as 30% of the total synthesis. When isolated in the in vitro system, increasing concentration of the ribosome fraction gave increased incorporation, but increasing concentration of the membrane fraction gave decreased incorporation after a critical value. This inhibitory effect can be removed by adding excess cytoplasmic-supernatant to the system. The nature of the association of ribosomes with membranes is discussed.     

缺氮和复氮对菘蓝幼苗生长及氮代谢的影响

对基质育苗后水培的菘蓝进行缺氮与复氮处理,分析其生长情况及氮代谢产物含量的变化,探讨缺氮和复氮对菘蓝幼苗生长及氮代谢的影响,以提高菘蓝产量和品质以及栽培过程中的氮素利用效率。结果显示:(1)正常供氮条件下,菘蓝幼苗的叶绿素含量、谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)活性、硝态氮含量、靛玉红含量为最高,而其株高、主根直径、根的鲜重与干重、叶的鲜重与干重、根系活力均最小。(2)缺氮处理增加了菘蓝幼苗的主根直径和根干重,提高其根系活力和硝酸还原酶(NR)活性,促进游离氨基酸在叶中的积累;但降低了GS的活性,也降低了叶中硝态氮、可溶性蛋白、靛玉红及根中游离氨基酸的含量;缺氮对叶中靛蓝的含量无明显影响。(3)复氮处理增加了菘蓝幼苗的株高、主根长、根鲜重、叶鲜重、叶干重,提高了其根系活力,降低了NR和GS的活性;与对照相比,复氮降低了叶中硝态氮含量,提高了叶中可溶性蛋白、靛蓝及根中游离氨基酸的含量,但对叶中游离氨基酸和靛玉红含量影响较小。研究表明,缺氮后再复氮有利于菘蓝幼苗叶的生长,同时有利于增加其叶内靛蓝含量,从而提高其产量和品质。     

The response ofPlantago lanceolata L. andP. major L. spp.major to nitrate depletion

To study aspects of the ecology of grassland species, in a comparative experiment, plants ofP. lanceolata andP. major were grown in pots in a greenhouse, and subjected to a gradual nitrate depletion for several weeks. Control plants were weekly supplied with nitrate. Growth, leaf appearance and disappearance, concentrations of cations and inorganic anions, soluble and insoluble reduced nitrogen concentrations,in vivo nitrate reductase activity (NRA) and the concentration of non-structural carbohydrates in several parts of the plants were followed. Depletion of nitrate caused a reduction of shoot growth, both in biomass and number of leaves. Withering of leaves increased. Accumulation of root dry matter was little (P. lanceolata), or not (P. major) affected. The concentration of reduced nitrogen in all tissues also decreased, both that of the soluble and that of the insoluble fraction. As a result, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE, g dry matter produced per mmol N incorporated) increased by nitrate depletion. NRA was higher in the roots than in the leaves, and decreased with increasing nitrate depletion. In control plants, nitrate became also limiting. This resulted in decreasing nitrate concentrations in leaves and roots. In the leaves, the decrease in nitrate concentration was preceded by a decrease in NRA. The decrease of the nitrate concentration was parallelled by an increase in the concentration of soluble sugar. No major differences in the response towards nitrate depletion were observed between the two species. Grassland Species Research Group, publication no. 129     

Carbohydrate and Proline Contents in Leaves, Roots, and Apices of Salt-Tolerant and Salt-Sensitive Wheat Cultivars1

Intra-specific variations in nonstructural carbohydrates and free proline were determined in leaves, apices, roots, and maturing seeds of two salt-tolerant cultivars (CR and Kharchia-65) and one salt-sensitive cv. Ghods of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in sand culture at various levels of salinity (0, 100, 200, and 300 mM NaCl and CaCl₂ at 5 : 1 molar ratio) under controlled environmental conditions. The levels of leaf, apex, and root ethanol-soluble carbohydrates, fructans, starch, and proline increased in line with elevating level of salinity in all three cultivars under investigation. The contents of proline, soluble and insoluble carbohydrates in the apex increased to levels exceeding those in the leaves and roots. Soluble carbohydrate content of salt-sensitive cv. Ghods was higher in the leaves, apices, and roots and lower in the maturing seeds than in the other cultivars at all levels of salinity except at 300 mM. The results show considerable variation in the amount of soluble, insoluble sugars, and proline among plant tissues and wheat genotypes in response to salinity. Higher soluble carbohydrates and fructan in leaves, roots and maturing seeds of stressed plants indicate that their accumulation may help plant to tolerate salinity. Salt-sensitive cv. Ghods accumulated less soluble sugars in the maturing seeds and higher soluble sugars in the apices, which might be used as an indicator in screening wheat genotypes for salinity tolerance.     

重金属镉在番茄及其害虫西花蓟马中的积累与传递

重金属镉(Cd)是农田土壤中的重要污染源,可在植物和植食性昆虫中积累与传递。本文采用水培法,研究了不同浓度的Cd在番茄Solanum lycopersicum不同组织和在其重要害虫西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis体内的积累量。结果表明,随着水培营养液中Cd浓度的增加,番茄植株的根、茎和叶中Cd含量呈增长趋势。根中Cd的积累量远高于茎和叶,当水培溶液中Cd含量为20 mg/L时,根、茎和叶中的积累量分别达19 333.67±233.38、122.67±6.84和147.33±2.96 mg/Kg(干重)。随着Cd浓度的增加,番茄根、茎和叶的鲜重和干重均显著下降。西花蓟马取食Cd处理的番茄叶片后,体内Cd显著积累,最高达1.95±0.36 mg/Kg。同时,Cd积累量的提高进一步影响了以番茄叶片为食的西花蓟马的适合度,降低了其存活率。除对照外,番茄茎-叶的转移系数和叶片对Cd的富集系数均大于1,叶片表现出较强的富集能力。而在所有的试验浓度处理中,西花蓟马对Cd的富集系数和转移系数均小于1,表明Cd未在其体内产生生物放大作用。研究结果明确了Cd在番茄各组织及其害虫中的积累和传递水平,为揭示重金属在农业生态系统食物链中的富集效应提供了基础数据。     

Polyamine oxidase activity and polyamine content in maize during seed germination

Polyamine oxidase (PAO, EC 1.5.3.3) activity and polyamine content in the cell wall and soluble fractions obtained from embryos, endosperms and shoots and roots of etiolated or green seedlings of maize ( Zea mays L. cv. WF9) during the first 7 days of germination were investigated. Polyamine content was also determined in the trichloroacetic acid-soluble (free polyamines) and trichloroacetic acid insoluble (bound polyamines) fraction obtained from the same tissues. PAO activity, determined by the radiometric method based on the recovery of the labelled reaction product 1-pyrroline, was mostly localized in the cell wall fraction. The activity was very low in embryos and endosperms and present in traces in roots. In etiolated shoots PAO activity increased sharply, while in green shoots it was low and increased slowly. No polyamines were found in the cell wall fraction and only putrescine was detected in the soluble fraction, with the exception of the embryo, where spermidine and spermine were also present. In the TCA-soluble fraction of embryos, putrescine increased during imbibition, while spermidine and spermine decreased; in the endosperm no relevant changes in polyamines occurred. In the same fraction of green and etiolated seedlings, putrescine increased, giving a peak at days 3–5, while spermidine decreased to very low levels. The amount of bound polyamines was 1–4% of the free ones. The pattern of PAO activity seems to be unrelated to endogenous free polyamine content, which is the same in shoots and roots of etiolated and green seedlings. Enzyme activity, very low in ungerminated seeds, increased continuously during the progression of germination, especially in etiolated shoots, indicating a possible involvement in cell wall formation.     

Protein and Peroxidase Modulations in Sunflower Seedlings (Helianthus annuus L.) Treated with a Toxic Amount of Aluminium

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of aluminium treatment on peroxidases activities and protein content in both soluble and cell-wall-bound fractions of sunflower leaves, stems and roots. Fourteen-day-old seedlings, grown in a nutrient solution, were exposed to a toxic amount of aluminium (500 μM AlNO₃) for 72 h. Under stress conditions, biomass production, root length and leaf expansion were significantly reduced. Also, our results showed modulations on soluble and ionically cell-wall-bound peroxidases activities. In soluble fraction, peroxidases activities were enhanced in all investigated organs. This stimulation was also observed in ionically cell-wall-bound fraction in leaves and stems. Roots showed a differential behaviour: peroxidase activity was severely reduced. Lignifying peroxidases activities assayed using coniferyl alcohol and H₂O₂ as substrates were also modulated. Significant stimulation was shown on soluble fraction in leaves, stems and roots. In ionically cell-wall-bound fraction lignifying peroxidases were enhanced only in stems but severely inhibited in roots. Also, aluminium toxicity caused significant increase on cell wall protein content in sunflower roots.     

The effect of altered sink-source relations on photosynthetic traits and matter transport during the phase of reproductive growth in the annual herb <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chenopodium album</Emphasis>

Annual plants transport a large portion of carbohydrates and nitrogenous compounds from leaves to seeds during the phase of reproductive growth. This study aimed to clarify how reproductive growth affects photosynthetic traits in leaves and matter transport within the plant in the annual herb Chenopodium album L. Plants were grown in pots and either reproductive tissues or axillary leaves were removed at anthesis. Matter transport was evaluated as temporal changes in dry mass (as a substitute of carbohydrates) and nitrogen content of aboveground organs: leaves, axillary leaves, stems and reproductive tissues. Photosynthetic capacity (light-saturated photosynthetic rate under ambient CO₂ concentration), nitrogen, chlorophyll and soluble protein content were followed in the 20^th leaf that was mature at the start of the experiment. Removal of reproductive tissues resulted in accumulation of dry mass in leaves and axillary leaves, and accumulation of nitrogen in stem as nitrogen resorption from leaves and axillary leaves proceeded with time. Removal of axillary leaves proportionally reduced dry mass and nitrogen allocation to reproductive tissues, thus affecting the quantity but not quality of seeds. Removal treatments did not alter the time course of photosynthetic capacity, nitrogen, chlorophyll or soluble protein content during senescence in the 20^th leaf, but changed the photosynthetic capacity per unit of leaf nitrogen according to demand from reproductive tissues. Together, the results indicate that reproductive tissues affected carbon and nitrogen economy separately. The amount of carbon was adjusted in leaves through photosynthetic capacity and carbohydrate export from them, and the amount of nitrogen was adjusted by transport from stem to reproductive tissues. The plant’s ability to independently regulate carbon and nitrogen economy should be important in natural habitats where the plant carbon-nitrogen balance can easily be disturbed by external factors.     

氯化胆碱浸种对烟草幼苗某些生理特性的影响

烟草种子经氯化胆碱(CC)溶液浸种后,萌发种子的呼吸速率和α-淀粉酶活性提高,烟苗茎高和根系伸长受抑制,但根系活力和单位长度内苗干重显著增加;幼苗叶片中可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白质和叶绿素含量提高;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和硝酸还原酶(NR)活性也随氯化胆碱浓度的增大而明显提高.     

Zinc distribution and zinc-binding forms in Phragmites australis under zinc pollution

The influence of zinc (Zn) on physiological and biochemical parameters was studied to elucidate the mechanism of Zn resistance in Phragmites australis. Zn concentrations in roots, stems and leaves increased with exogenous Zn concentration, while Zn content in roots was much higher than in shoots. X-ray microanalysis was used to reveal compartments in which Zn accumulated in root cortex. Zinc concentrations followed a gradient with the sequence: intercellular space>cell wall >vacuole >cytoplasm, indicating that most Zn was immobilized in the apoplast or sequestered into the vacuolar lumen. Sequential extraction of various Zn chelates revealed that the ratio of Zn extracted with different extraction media was markedly different. Ethanol, HAc (acetic acid) and NaCl-extractable Zn were dominant in both roots and leaves of P. australis. Zn-binding protein fractions were found in the roots and leaves after gel filtration chromatography, among which a polypeptide with an apparent molecular mass of 14kDa bound Zn most effectively. Two newly synthesized polypeptides of 58 and 45kDa appeared under Zn pollution, whereas a prominent fraction of 72kDa disappeared. The involvement of Zn distribution in plant tissues, subcellular compartments and chelates and Zn-inducing proteins in the acclimation mechanism of P. australis to Zn pollution is discussed.     

镉在旱柳中亚细胞分布及存在的化学形态

以2个旱柳无性系幼苗为材料,通过营养液培养并结合差速离心与化学试剂提取法,分析了不同浓度Cd2+胁迫下旱柳叶和根中Cd的亚细胞分布及其存在的化学形态.结果显示,(1)随着培养介质Cd2+浓度升高,旱柳无性系幼苗叶和根中各亚细胞组分Cd含量随之增加.叶片的Cd主要富集于细胞壁、叶绿体和可溶性部分,它们的含量分别占65%～69%、14%～22%、6.8%～7.7%,仅少量Cd发现于膜部分;而根中Cd主要积累于细胞壁和可溶性部分,其中含量分别占59%～66%和14%～25%,Cd在根亚细胞组分中积累量依次为细胞壁>可溶性部分>质体>膜部分.(2)旱柳体内Cd以不同的化学形态存在,大部分为HCl(FHCl)、NaCl(FNaCl)、醋酸(HAC,FHAC)提取态,极少部分为乙醇(EtOH,FEtOH)和水提取态(Fwater),叶和根中5种Cd提取态含量依次为FHCl>FNaCl>FHAC>Fwater>FEtOH,而叶和根中HCl和NaCl提取态Cd占有比例大于30%以上.研究表明,旱柳无性系中Cd主要与蛋白质和有机酸螯合或以金属磷酸盐沉淀的形态存在,其根、叶的细胞壁和液泡在Cd忍耐与解毒中起到重要作用.