Seaweed Oligosaccharides Stimulate Plant Growth by Enhancing Carbon and Nitrogen Assimilation, Basal Metabolism, and Cell Division

It is now well established that plant cell wall oligosaccharides can stimulate or inhibit growth and development in plants. In addition, it has been determined that seaweed (marine algae) cell wall polysaccharides and derived oligosaccharides can enhance growth in plants. In particular, oligo-alginates obtained by depolymerization of alginates from brown seaweeds increase growth of different plants by enhancing nitrogen assimilation and basal metabolism. Interestingly, oligo-alginates also stimulate growth of marine and fresh water green microalgae, increasing the content of fatty acids. On the other hand, oligo-carrageenans obtained by depolymerization of carrageenans from red seaweeds increase growth of tobacco plants by enhancing photosynthesis, nitrogen assimilation, basal metabolism, and cell division. In addition, oligo-carrageenans increase protection against viral, fungal, and bacterial infections in tobacco plants, which is determined, at least in part, by the accumulation of several phenylpropanoid compounds (PPCs) with antimicrobial activity. Moreover, oligo-carrageenans stimulate growth of 3-year-old Eucalyptus globulus trees by increasing photosynthesis, nitrogen assimilation, and basal metabolism. Furthermore, oligo-carrageenans induce an increase in cellulose content and in the level of essential oil and some PPCs with antimicrobial activities, suggesting that defense against pathogens may be also enhanced. Thus, seaweed oligosaccharides induce a dual beneficial effect in plants and trees, enhancing growth, which is determined by the increase in carbon and nitrogen assimilation, basal metabolism, and cell division, and defense against pathogens, which is determined by the accumulation of compounds with antimicrobial activities. In this sense, molecular mechanisms that potentially interconnect activation of plant growth and defense responses are discussed.     

Growth Cycle Metabolism of Plants in Relation to Flowering

An examination of the percentages of total carbohydrate, nitrogen (Kjeldahl) and ash has been made at various times in the growth cycle in six plants of varying growth habit. The time of formation of the flower initial in four species (fumitory, leek, radish and yellow water-lily) corresponds to a maximum in the curve showing percentage of total carbohydrate plus percentage of ash in the whole plant. The other two species (pea and bean) make their flower initials very early in the growth cycle, at a time when the amounts of carbohydrate plus ash are high because of the attachment of the plant to the large seed. These two species therefore also make their flower initials at a virtual maximum of carbohydrate plus ash. All six species of plants studied have mobile carbohydrate. The distribution of nutrients after flowering is discussed.     

Heat Shock Proteins in Tobacco Cell Suspension during Growth Cycle

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Wisconsin 38) cells grown in suspension culture at 26°C produce heat shock proteins (HSPs) when exposed to elevated temperature of 34 to 42°C. At 34 and 38°C, synthesis of normal proteins is maintained while HSPs are expressed within 30 minutes after initiation of the shock. At 42°C, HSPs are still expressed but normal proteins are made at a reduced rate or not at all. Exposure of cells to 38°C allows for a full expression of HSPs without inhibition of the synthesis of normal proteins. Induced synthesis of HSPs at 38°C is maximal 1 to 2 hours after elevation of temperature and diminishes thereafter through at least 6 hours. Cells growing asynchronously in the logarithmic phase of growth produce HSPs at a much higher rate than those in the stationary phase. The ability to synthesize HSPs disappears about one generation time before the cells reach a growth plateau.     

Studies on Nitrogen Metabolism in Tobacco Plants,B

Nitrate reductase from the leaves of Burley 21 tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) was partially purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, protamine sulfate treatment and calcium-phosphate gel adsorption.

The enzyme has optimum pH at 7.4 and is specific for reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide (DPNH) as the electron donor. The nitrite formed increased in proportion to the rate at which DPNH disappeared in the reaction mixtures. Addition of flavin adenine dinucleo-tide (FAD) to the assay system enhanced the activity. FAD content in the “highly purified” enzyme was also determined. The enzyme was sensitive to heavy metals and SH-group inhibitors.

Discussions are presented on the metal and the properties of the enzyme in comparison to those published on other higher plants.     

不同温度对烟草生长发育及光合作用的影响

该试验通过人工气候室模拟相对低温(日均温16.5℃)、常温(日均温23.5℃)和相对高温(日均温30.5℃)3种日动态温度,研究了不同温度对烟草生长发育及光合作用的影响。结果表明:(1)与常温下生长的烟草相比,相对低温和高温处理均降低了烟株的株高、叶长和叶宽,在一定程度上抑制了烟草的生长。(2)相对低温和高温处理比常温处理下有较低的烟叶净光合速率(Pn)、胞间CO_2浓度(Ci)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、PSⅡ最大光化学量子效率(F_v/F_m)、PSⅡ实际光化学量子效率(ΦPSⅡ)、光化学猝灭系数(qp)、Rubisco羧化酶活性和相对较高的初始荧光强度(F0)。长期较高或较低的温度均会对烟草的生长发育产生抑制,这可能因其在一定程度上抑制了烟叶的光合机构活性并对反应中心造成了损伤,从而降低了烟草的光合作用,抑制了烟株的生长,长期日均温23.5℃有利于烟草的生长和光合作用。     

Photosynthesis in Salt-Adapted Heterotrophic Tobacco Cells and Regenerated Plants

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cells growing heterotrophically in the light on supplied sucrose (S0) have previously been adapted to grow in 428 mM NaCl (S25). Among the changes occurring in salinity-adapted cell cultures are (a) elevated levels of chlorophyll compared to unadapted cells; (b) decreased levels of starch; (c) alterations in chloroplast ultrastructure, including loss of starch grains, increased thylakoid membrane structure, and the presence of plastoglobules; and (d) increased rates of O2 evolution, CO2 fixation, and photophosphorylation relative to S0 cells. These latter changes apparently derive from the fact that thylakoid membranes in S25 cells contain higher levels of photosystem I- and II-associated proteins as well as thylakoid ATPase components. S25 chloroplasts contain immunologically detectable levels of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, whereas S0 completely lack the enzyme. These changes taken together suggest that even in the presence of sucrose, S25 cells have acquired a significant degree of salt-tolerant photosynthetic competence. This salt-tolerant photoysynthetic capability manifests itself in plants backcrossed with normal plants for three generations. These plants contain chloroplasts that demonstrate in vitro more salt-tolerant CO2 fixation, O2 evolution, and photophosphorylation than do backcross progeny of plants regenerated from S0 cultures.     

Studies on the Nitrogen Metabolism in Tobacco Plants. A.

The nitrogenous compounds of tobacco saps have been studied both qualitatively and quantitatively and the following results were obtained.

(1) Nitrate nitrogen accounts for 40 to 70% of the total nitrogen and the rest is composed mostly of amino and alkaloid nitrogen.

(2) Amides and basic amino acids compose a large part of the amino and amide nitrogen. Among the amino acids and amides of the tobacco saps glutamine is the highest in the content and asparagine, lysine, leucine and serine follow glutamine.

(3) Topping procedure increased remarkably the alkaloid contents in the sap but decreased the amino acid nitrogen as compared with those of the untopped plant sap.     

Analysis of the Relationships between Growth, Photosynthesis and Carbohydrate Metabolism Using Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) in Young Maize Plants Subjected to Water Deprivation

One hundred to 120 maize recombinant inbred lines at the mature fourth leaf stage derived from F-2 and Io parental lines were grown in a glasshouse and were deprived of water for 9 days in order to detect pertinent markers of the physiological response to water stress which may be used for breeding. Carbohydrate metabolism QTLs were compared to photosynthesis gas exchange QTLs. The locations of these QTLs were further compared with those of morphological trait QTLs when water availability varied. The traits ranged from three enzyme activities (invertase, sucrose-P synthase, ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase) and hexose, sucrose, starch content to CO₂ uptake and stomatal conductance, water status, leaf size, root/shoot ratio, and ABA (leaf, root and xylem sap). Four main results were obtained (1) only 14 % of QTLs were common to both drought and watered treatments, confirming the existence of stress specific chromosome regions, (2) the QTLs tended to form clusters, frequently consisting of QTLs from different classes (growth, photosynthesis, water status, carbohydrate metabolism and ABA), (3) carbohydrate metabolism trait QTLs were more frequently co-located with growth trait QTLs than photosynthesis related ones, especially in control conditions, (4) one co-location was observed between the three enzyme activities implied in sucrose and starch metabolism and a corresponding structural gene, which can be considered as a candidate gene for explaining part of the variability of each enzymatic trait (invertase, sucrose-P synthase, ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase). It is concluded that, carbohydrate metabolism provides valuable traits for understanding and improving maize responses to water stress.     

植物细胞骨架与细胞生长

文章就微管和肌动蛋白在植物细胞生长中的调节作用以及调节植物细胞骨架的信号途径的研究进展作简单介绍。     

Effects of CO(2) and O(2) on Photosynthesis and Growth of Autotrophic Tobacco Callus

Gas exchange measurements were made on plants from two natural populations differing in salt tolerance of Andropogon glomeratus, a C₄ nonhalophyte, to examine the effect of salinity on components responsible for differences in photosynthetic capacity. Net CO₂ uptake and stomatal conductance decreased with increasing salinity in both populations, but to a greater extent in the inland (nontolerant) population. The intercellular CO₂ concentrations increased with increasing salinity in the inland population, but decreased in the marsh (tolerant) population. Water use efficiency decreased as salinity increased in the inland population, and remained unchanged in the marsh population. Carboxylation efficiency decreased and CO₂ compensation points increased with increasing salinity in both populations, but to a lesser extent in the marsh population. Carboxylation efficiencies were higher with 2% relative to 21% atmospheric O₂ in salt stressed plants, suggesting that a decrease in the carboxylation:oxygenation ratio of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase was partly responsible for the decrease in photosynthetic capacity. Populational differences in photosynthetic capacity were the result of greater salinity-induced changes in carboxylation efficiency in the inland population, and not due to differences in the stomatal limitation to CO₂ diffusion.     

Lead (Pb)-Induced Regulation of Growth, Photosynthesis, and Mineral Nutrition in Maize (Zea mays L.) Plants at Early Growth Stages

The phytotoxic effects of lead (Pb) on seed germinability, seedling growth, photosynthetic performance, and nutrient accumulation (K(+) and Cu(2+)) in two maize genotypes (EV-1098 and EV-77) treated with varying levels of PbSO(4) (0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mg L(-1)) were appraised in this study. In the seed germination experiment, lead stress significantly reduced seed germination percentage and index, plumule and radicle lengths as well as fresh and dry weights in both genotypes. In the second experiment, lengths and fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots decreased due to Pb in both genotypes with increase in plant age. Higher Pb levels also decreased photosynthetic rate (A), water use efficiency (A/E), and intrinsic water use efficiency (A/g(s)), but increased transpiration rate (E) and C(i)/C(a) ratio as a result of increase in stomatal conductance (g(s)). The concentrations of K(+) and Cu(2+) decreased in root, stem, and leaves of both genotypes, which could be a direct consequence of multifold increase in Pb concentration in these tissues. Overall, cv. EV-1098 had better Pb tolerance potential than EV-77 because the former genotype showed less reduction in seed germinability parameters, photosynthetic performance, and K(+) and Cu(2+) accumulation in shoot and root under lead stress.     

miRNA调控药用植物生长发育和次生代谢

microRNA(miRNA)作为一类内源性的短链非编码RNA,广泛存在于真核细胞中,主要通过对转录本剪切和抑制翻译等方式,参与转录后基因的表达调控。近年来研究表明,多种药用植物中鉴定出大量的miRNA。这些miRNA对药用植物的生长发育和次生代谢产物合成具有调控功能。次生代谢产物是药用植物的主要有效成分,研究miRNA对药用植物次生代谢过程的调控作用具有十分重要的意义。本文综述了miRNA在植物中的产生途径、作用方式和体内功能,在此基础上重点介绍了miRNA对药用植物生长发育和次生代谢产物生物合成的调控作用,并对药用植物miRNA的研究进行了展望,以期为提高药用植物产量,高效获得药用植物有效成分以及临床应用开拓新的思路。     

Development of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides (Fron) Deighton var. herpotrichoides and var. acuformis on Wheat Plants Measured by ELISA

Using the ELISA method, the development of Pseudocercosporella herpotrtchoides var. herpotrichoides and var. acuformis in a susceptible cultivar of winter wheat was compared under controlled and held conditions. In the greenhouse, var. acufornis grew less vigorously, was slower in penetrating the coleoptile and the successive leaf sheaths and in colonizing the stem tissue than var. herpotrichoides. In the field, these differences were confirmed on the last leaf sheaths and the stem. At ripening stage, however, identical ELISA values were measured for both varieties. Moreover, a significant variation was observed between the individual isolates of each variety. Comparison of the effect of both varieties of P. herpotrichoides on 20 wheat cultivars characterized by different resistance levels showed significant interactions. The cultivars carrying the Pch-1 gene always remained the less diseased genotypes. In general, var. acuformis developed less antigen in the cultivars than var. herpotrichoides. It is concluded, that in tests for resistance to P. herpotrichoides mixtures of many highly pathogenic isolates of both fungus varieties should be used. Less complex mixtures or single isolates may result in wrong estimates of resistance.     

Steroid Hormones Stimulate Germination and Tube Growth of in Vitro Matured Tobacco Pollen

A study of the effects of different steroids on germination and tube growth of tobacco pollen (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Petit Havana SR1) matured in vitro is presented. Application of the mammalian steroid sex hormones (testosterone, progesterone, and estradiol) resulted in a stimulation of pollen germination and tube elongation. The presence of both steroids and flavonols in the germination medium strongly enhanced the growth of tobacco male gametophytes.     

微囊化K562细胞生长周期及代谢特性的研究

以K562细胞为模型,分别进行微囊化和游离培养,运用流式细胞术考察两种培养体系下细胞周期和生长代谢变化;建立数学模型,模拟了两种培养体系下细胞的生长活性和代谢特性。实验发现：微囊化培养过程中的K562细胞处于DNA合成期（S期）的百分含量显著高于游离培养,并且细胞保持较高的增殖活性。模型计算表明,所建模型动力学参数能够很好地描述微囊化和游离两种培养体系下细胞的代谢情况;对细胞活性的理论计算表明,微囊化的细胞具有较高的增殖和代谢活性,同时细胞能够较长时间保持此活性;模型参数表明,两种培养体系下,葡萄糖对细胞生长的影响无显著差别 (k^Free_L≈k^APA_L),乳酸对游离培养细胞的生长具有明显抑制作用,但对微囊化培养细胞抑制作用较小(kFreeL>≈kAPAL)。     

Analysis of Growth, Photosynthesis and Light Interception for Single Plants and Stands

The two traditionally distinct treatments of growth analysis,using either relative growth rate (RGR) or crop growth rate(CGR), can be integrated in a single treatment in which RGRis a component of CGR. CGR can alternatively be analysed asthe product of incident light receipt, efficiency of light interception(as determined by leaf area index and extinction coefficient)and efficiency of use of intercepted light in dry-matter productionor in canopy net photosynthesis. Further, the net assimilationrate or net photosynthetic rate can be resolved into two componentswhich quantify the dependence of light interception on leafarea and of CO₂ assimilation on intercepted light. These relationsprovide increased flexibility in the analysis of assimilationand growth in terms of light interception and the structureof plants and stands. The usefulness of growth analysis in elucidatingphysiological mechanisms is discussed in relation to the useof more complex mechanistic models. Crop growth rate, light interception, growth analysis, leaf area index     

Rosiglitazone Suppresses Glioma Cell Growth and Cell Cycle by Blocking the Transforming Growth Factor-Beta Mediated Pathway

Glioma is one of the most malignant tumors in the central nervous system. As a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) activator, the thiazolidinediones (TZDs) induce growth arrest and cell death in a broad spectrum of tumor cells. In this study, we investigated the role of rosiglitazone in glioma cells. We found that rosiglitazone, a member of TZDs, suppresses growth of human glioma cell lines U87 and U251. Rosiglitazone also induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, which may be the mechanism of its anti-proliferation effect. Next, we found that rosiglitazone suppresses the expression of TGF-beta and its receptor TGF-betaR2, and suppresses phosphorylation of Smad3. Rosiglitazone also inhibits formation of the Smad3/Smad4 complex. Furthermore, Rosiglitazone affects the expression of Smad3/Smad4 associated regulators of gene expression, including p21 and c-Myc. These results suggest that rosiglitazone suppresses growth and cell cycle of human glioma cells by blocking the TGF-beta mediated pathway.