Impact of osmotic and matric water stress on germination, growth, mycelial water potentials and endogenous accumulation of sugars and sugar alcohols in Fusarium graminearum

Studies were conducted to determine the effect of osmotic (NaCl, glycerol) and matric (PEG 8000) water stress on temporal germination and growth of two F. graminearum strains over the water potential range of -0.7 to -14.0 MPa at 15 and 25 C. The effect on endogenous water potentials and accumulation of sugars and sugar alcohols also were measured. For both strains, germination occurred rapidly over the same range of osmotic or matric potential of -0.7 to -5.6 MPa after 4-6 h incubation. At lower osmotic and matric potentials (-7.0 to -8.4 MPa), there was a lag of up to 24 h before germination. Optimum germ-tube extension occurred between -0.7 and -1.4 MPa for both strains but varied with the solute used. Growth was optimal at -1.4 MPa and 25 C in response to matric stress, with the minimum being about -8.0 and -11.2 MPa at 15 and 25 C, respectively. In contrast, F. graminearum grew fastest at -0.7 MPa and was more tolerant of solute stress modified with either glycerol or NaCl with a minimum of about -14.0 MPa at 15 and 25 C. A decrease in the osmotic/matric water potential of the media caused a large decrease in the mycelial water potential (Ψ(c)) as measured by thermocouple psychrometry. In general, the concentration of total sugar alcohols in mycelia increased as osmotic and matric potential were reduced to -1.2 MPa. However, this increase was more evident in mycelia from glycerol-amended media. The quality of the major sugar alcohol accumulated depended on the solute used to generate the water stress. The major compounds accumulated were glycerol and arabitol on osmotically modified media and arabitol on matrically modified media. In response to matric stress, the concentration of trehalose in colonies generally was higher in the case of osmotic stress. In each water-stress treatment there was a good correlation between Ψ(c) and total sugar alcohol content.     

Factors controlling plasticity of leaf morphology in Robinia pseudoacacia: III. biophysical constraints on leaf expansion under long-term water stress

In this article, we measured the relative growth rate (RGR) of leaves of Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings under well-watered and water-stressed conditions (mid-day Ψ(w) = leaf water potential estimated with a pressure bomb of -0.48 and -0.98 MPa, respectively). Pressure-volume (PV) curves were done on growing leaves at 25, 50 and 95% of the mature size (growth stage) in order to compute solute potential (Ψ) and turgor pressure (Ψ(P) ) as a function of Ψ(w) . The PV curves and diurnal measurements of Ψ(w) and RGR allowed us to evaluate the parameters (cell wall extensibility m and growth turgor threshold Y) of the Lockhart equation, RGR = m(Ψ(P)-Y), at each growth stage. Our data showed that m and Y did change with leaf age, but the changes were slow enough to evaluate m and Y on any given day. We believe this is the first study to provide evidence that the Lockhart equation adequately quantifies leaf growth of trees over a range of time domains. The value of m linearly declined and Y linearly increased with growth stage. Also, mild drought stress caused a decline in m and increase in Y relative to controls. Although water stress caused an osmotic adjustment which, in turn, increased Ψ(P) in stressed plants relative to controls, the RGR and final leaf sizes were reduced in water-stressed plants because of the impact of water stress on decreased m and increased Y.     

Pseudouridine at position 55 in tRNA controls the contents of other modified nucleotides for low-temperature adaptation in the extreme-thermophilic eubacterium Thermus thermophilus

Pseudouridine at position 55 (Ψ55) in eubacterial tRNA is produced by TruB. To clarify the role of the Ψ55 modification, we constructed a truB gene disruptant (ΔtruB) strain of Thermus thermophilus which is an extreme-thermophilic eubacterium. Unexpectedly, the ΔtruB strain exhibited severe growth retardation at 50 °C. We assumed that these phenomena might be caused by lack of RNA chaperone activity of TruB, which was previously hypothetically proposed by others. To confirm this idea, we replaced the truB gene in the genome with mutant genes, which express TruB proteins with very weak or no enzymatic activity. However the growth retardation at 50 °C was not rescued by these mutant proteins. Nucleoside analysis revealed that Gm18, m(5)s(2)U54 and m(1)A58 in tRNA from the ΔtruB strain were abnormally increased. An in vitro assay using purified tRNA modification enzymes demonstrated that the Ψ55 modification has a negative effect on Gm18 formation by TrmH. These experimental results show that the Ψ55 modification is required for low-temperature adaptation to control other modified. (35)S-Met incorporation analysis showed that the protein synthesis activity of the ΔtruB strain was inferior to that of the wild-type strain and that the cold-shock proteins were absence in the ΔtruB cells at 50°C.     

Water potential affects Coniothyrium minitans growth, germination and parasitism of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum sclerotia

Water availability is an important environmental factor which has major effects on fungal activity. The effects of osmotic (KCl amended agar) and matric Polyethylene glycol ((PEG) 8000 amended agar) potentials over the range -0.1 to -5.0MPa on mycelial growth and conidial germination of eight isolates of the sclerotial parasite Coniothyrium minitans was assessed. The influence of soil water potential on the ability of three selected isolates (LU112, LU545, and T5R42i) to parasitise sclerotia of the plant pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum was determined. For all eight C. minitans isolates, decreasing osmotic and matric potentials caused a reduction in mycelial growth and conidial germination. Isolates were more sensitive to decreasing matric potential than osmotic potential. Across the isolates, growth at an osmotic potential of -5.0MPa was 30-70% of the growth seen in the control, whereas less than 20% of the control growth was seen at the corresponding matric potential. Across all isolates no conidial germination was seen at matric potential of -5.0MPa. The C. minitans isolates varied in their sensitivity to decreasing water potentials. Mycelial growth and conidial germination of three isolates (LU112, Conio, and CH1) were more tolerant of low osmotic potential and matric potential with respect to mycelial growth. Isolates T5R42i and LU430 were least tolerant. In contrast, conidial germination of isolates Conio, LU545, and T5R42i were less sensitive to decreasing matric potential. Soil water potential was seen to affect infection and viability of sclerotia by the three C. minitans isolates. Isolate LU545 reduced sclerotial viability over a wider water potential range (-0.01 to -1.5MPa) compared with LU112 (-0.01 to -1.0MPa), with isolate T5R42i being intermediate. Indigenous soil fungi (Trichoderma spp. and Clonostachys rosea) were recovered from sclerotia but did not result in reduction in sclerotial viability. The relevance of these results in relation to biocontrol activity of C. minitans in soil is discussed.     

Noncatalytic fast hydrolysis of wood

Willow without any pretreatment, and water were studied in an optical micro-reactor, diamond anvil cell by rapid heating (7-10°C/s) to high temperatures and high pressures (up to 403°C and 416 MPa), most of willow (89-99%) dissolved and hydrolyzed in water at 330-403°C within 22 s. It was found that low-density water (e.g., 571 kg/m(3)) solubilized almost all willow with particle size less than 200 μm, and subsequently hydrolyzed to hydrolysates in subcritical water at 354°C and 19 MPa within 9 s. These results were further used to propose a flow process to fast hydrolyze wood in seconds to valuable sugars.     

Maize lateral root developmental plasticity induced by mild water stress. I: Genotypic variation across a high‐resolution series of water potentials

Lateral root developmental plasticity induced by mild water stress was examined across a high‐resolution series of growth media water potentials (Ψ_w) in two genotypes of maize. The suitability of several media for imposing near‐stable Ψ_w treatments on transpiring plants over prolonged growth periods was assessed. Genotypic differences specific to responses of lateral root growth from the primary root system occurred between cultivars FR697 and B73 over a narrow series of water stress treatments ranging in Ψ_w from ?0.25 to ?0.40 MPa. In FR697, both the average length and number of first‐order lateral roots were substantially enhanced at a Ψ_w of ?0.25 MPa compared with well‐watered controls. These effects were separated spatially, occurring primarily in the upper and lower regions of the axial root, respectively. Furthermore, first‐order lateral roots progressively increased in diameter with increasing water stress, resulting in a maximum 2.3‐fold increase in root volume at a Ψ_w of ?0.40 MPa. In B73, in contrast, the length, diameter, nor number of lateral roots was increased in any of the water stress treatments. The genotype‐specific responses observed over this narrow range of Ψ_w demonstrate the necessity of high‐resolution studies at mild stress levels for characterization of lateral root developmental plasticity.     

Effects of temperature,pH and water potential on growth of four fungi with disease biocontrol potential

Effects of temperature, pH and water potential on blomass production or hyphal extension of Gliocladium virens (G20) and three Trichoderma isolates were determined in vitro. Optimum blomass production occurred between 20 and 30°C and at pH ranges between 4.6 and 6.8. Two isolates of T. viride grew at 5°C and G. virens grew at 35°C but no isolates grew at 40°C. Hyphal extension rates and conidial germination of all fungi declined with decreasing water potential over the range -0.7 to -14.0 MPa. In general, growth rates for each isolate were lower on potato/dextrose agar with water potential adjusted with polyethylene glycol than when adjusted with NaCl or glycerol. No mycelial growth or spore germination occurred on agar at-14.0 MPa.The authors are with the Microbiology and Crop Protection Department, Horticulture Research International, Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 6LP, UK. J.M. Whipps is the corresponding author     

Growth and lipid accumulation properties of a freshwater microalga Scenedesmus sp. under different cultivation temperature

Microalgal lipid is a promising feedstock for biodiesel production. Effect of cultivation temperature on the growth and lipid accumulation properties of a freshwater microalga Scenedesmus sp. LX1 was studied. Scenedesmus sp. LX1 could grow in a wide range of temperature (10～30°C), and the growth activation energy was 49.3 kJ·mol(-1). The optimal temperature to produce microalgal biomass and lipid was 20°C, and after 15 days of batch cultivation the productivities of 313.3 g biomass·(g P)(-1), 112 g lipid (g P)(-1) and 14.7 g TAGs·(g P)(-1) were obtained. The content of polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased with the increase of cultivation temperature. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels at 10°C and 20°C were higher than that under higher temperature. For the first time the cultivation temperature, ROS level, specific growth rate and lipid content per microalgal biomass were correlated together.     

Temperature induces trade-offs between development and starvation resistance in Aedes aegypti (L.) larvae

Heightened temperature increases the development rate of mosquitoes. However, in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae), the larvae of which commonly experience limited access to food in urban habitats, temperature effects on adult production may also be influenced by changes in the capacity of larvae to survive without food. We carried out experiments to investigate the effects of temperatures increasing at intervals of 2 °C from 20 °C to 30 °C on the growth, maturation rate and longevity of optimally fed larvae placed in starvation. Overall, both growth rate and starvation resistance were lower in the first three larval instars (L1-L3) compared with L4, in which growth of >75% occurred. Although increasing the temperature reduced the duration of each instar, it had a U-shaped impact in terms of the effect of initial growth on starvation resistance, which increased from L1 to L2 at 20 °C and 30 °C, remained constant at 22 °C and 28 °C, and decreased at 24 °C and 26 °C. Growth from L2 to L3 significantly increased starvation resistance only from 26 °C to 30 °C. Increased temperature (>22 °C) consistently reduced starvation resistance in L1. In L2-L4, increments of 2 °C decreased starvation resistance between 20 °C and 24 °C, but had weaker and instar-specific effects at >24 °C. These data show that starvation resistance in Ae. aegypti depends on both instar and temperature, indicating a trade-off between increased development rate and reduced starvation survival of early-instar larvae, particularly in the lower and middle temperatures of the dengue-endemic range of 20-30 °C. We suggest that anabolic and catabolic processes in larvae have distinct temperature dependencies, which may ultimately cause temperature to modify the density regulation of Ae. aegypti populations.     

Osmotic and matric potential effects on growth, sugar alcohol and sugar accumulation by Aspergillus section Flavi strains from Argentina

AIMS: The effect of osmotic and matric potential stress on growth and sugar alcohols (polyols: glycerol, erythritol, arabitol and mannitol) and sugars (trehalose and glucose) accumulation in toxigenic and nontoxigenic colonies of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus was evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Growth of Aspergillus section Flavi with significant reductions at 20 and 30 degrees C was more sensitive to changes in matric potential, between 60 and 100% in the range of -7 to -14 MPa. No significant differences were found between toxigenic and nontoxigenic strains for both species. Total polyol accumulation in unamended maize meal agar medium (-0.75 MPa water potential) was higher at 30 than 20 degrees C. The major change in concentrations of endogenous sugars and total polyols was in matrically amended medium (with PEG 8000) at -7 and -10 MPa. Accumulation of glucose, arabitol, mannitol and erythritol content of A. flavus and A. parasiticus mycelial colonies was greater in normal unstressed maize meal agar medium (-0.75 Mpa) at 20 degrees C. This was modified by solute and matric stress. CONCLUSIONS: The data showed relative sensitivity to osmotic and matric potential, and temperature, and the impact on growth rates, polyol and sugar accumulation in mycelia of A. flavus and A. parasiticus. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The matric potential effects on growth may be of particular importance for growth and survival in environments with low-matric potential stress. The tolerance of spoilage fungi such as Aspergillus section Flavi to such modifications could increase the potential for spoilage and mycotoxin production in such substrates. This knowledge is important for understanding the relative ecological fitness of these aflatoxigenic species and in the development of prevention strategies for their control.     

Osmotic adjustment in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans.

Aspergillus nidulans was shown to be xerotolerant, with optimal radial growth on basal medium amended with 0.5 M NaCl (osmotic potential [psi s] of medium, -3 MPa), 50% optimal growth on medium amended with 1.6 M NaCl (psi s of medium, -8.7 MPa), and little growth on medium amended with 3.4 M NaCl (psi s of medium, -21 MPa). The intracellular content of soluble carbohydrates and of selected cations was measured after growth on basal medium, on this medium osmotically amended with NaCl, KCl, glucose, or glycerol, and also after hyperosmotic and hypoosmotic transfer. The results implicate glycerol and erythritol as the major osmoregulatory solutes. They both accumulated during growth on osmotically amended media, as well as after hyperosmotic transfer, except on glycerol-amended media, in which erythritol did not accumulate. Furthermore, they both decreased in amount after hypoosmotic transfer. With the exception of glycerol, the extracellular osmotic solute did not accumulate intracellularly when mycelium was grown in osmotically amended media, but it accumulated after hyperosmotic transfer. It was concluded that the extracellular solute usually plays only a transient role in osmotic adaptation. The intracellular content of soluble carbohydrates and cations measured could reasonably account for the intracellular osmotic potential of mycelium growing on osmotically amended media.     

The effects of temperature on the fatty acid and phospholipid composition of four obligately psychrophilicVibrio Spp.

The free fatty acid and phospholipid composition of 4 psychrophilic marineVibrio spp. have been determined in chemostat culture with glucose as the limiting substrate over a temperature range 0–20°C. All the isolates show maximum glucose and lactose uptake at 0°C and this correlates with maximum cell yield. None of the isolates contain fatty acids with a chain length exceeding 17 carbon atoms.Vibrio AF-1 andVibrio AM-1 respond to decreased growth temperatures by synthesizing increased proportions of unsaturated fatty acids (C15:1, C16:1 and C17:1) whereas inVibrio BM-2 the fatty acids undergo chain length shortening. The fourth isolate (Vibrio BM-4) contains high levels (60%) of hexadecenoic acid at all growth temperatures and the fatty acid composition changes little with decreasing temperature. The principal phospholipid components of the four psychrophilic vibrios were phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and diphosphatidylglycerol. Lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine and 2 unknown phospholipids were additionally found inVibrio AF-1. The most profound effect of temperature on the phospholipid composition of these organisms was the marked increase in the total quantities synthesized at 0°C. At 15°C phosphatidylglycerol accumulated in the isolates as diphosphatidylglycerol levels decreased. Additionally inVibrio BM-2 andVibro BM-4 phosphatidylserine accumulates as phosphatidylethanolamine biosynthesis was similarly impaired. The observed changes in fatty acid and phospholipid composition in these organisms at 0°C may explain how solute transport is maintained at low temperature.Abbreviations PS Phosphatidylserine - PE phosphatidylethanolamine - PG phosphatidylglycerol - DPG diphosphatidylglycerol - lyso PE lysophosphatidylethanolamine     

Influence of germination date on Dioon edule (Zamiaceae) seedling tolerance to water stress

Dioon edule seedling mortality is mostly attributed to dehydration by prolonged drought, even when they present xeromorphic characteristics like the adult plants. The effect of germination date (GD) and soil water deficit on seedling tolerance to water stress was assessed. The seedlings germinated and grown from mature seeds every month from December to April GD were selected to evaluate the leaf area, photosynthetic pigment content, crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) activity, stomatal conductance (gs) and leaflet anatomy at soil water potential (Ψs) of 0.0 MPa (day 1), ?0.1 MPa (day 40), ?1.0 MPa (day 90), ?1.5 MPa (day 130), and a control (0.0 MPa at day 130) to recognize differences due to leaf development. The seedlings shifted from C₃ to CAM cycling when exposed to water stress at Ψs of ?1.0 MPa, like adult plants. The March–April GD seedlings with undeveloped sclerified hypodermis and stomata, presented reduced leaf area, lower Chlorophyll a/b ratio, higher CAM activity and midday partial stomatal closure when reached Ψs of ?1.0 MPa. These have higher probability of dehydration during severe drought (February–April) than those of the December–February GD with similar Ψs. Plants used for restoration purposes must have full leaf development to increase the survival.     

Water stress effects on toluene biodegradation by Pseudomonas putida

We quantified the effects of matric and solute waterpotential on toluene biodegradation by Pseudomonasputida mt-2, a bacterial strain originally isolated fromsoil. Across the matric potential range of 0 to – 1.5 MPa,growth rates were maximal for P. putida at – 0.25MPa and further reductions in the matric potentialresulted in concomitant reductions in growth rates.Growth rates were constant over the solute potential range0 to – 1.0 MPa and lower at – 1.5 MPa. First ordertoluene depletion rate coefficients were highest at0.0 MPa as compared to other matric water potentialsdown to – 1.5 MPa. Solute potentials down to – 1.5 MPadid not affect first order toluene depletion ratecoefficients. Total yield (protein) and carbon utilizationefficiency were not affected by water potential, indicatingthat water potentials common to temperate soils were notsufficiently stressful to change cellular energyrequirements. We conclude that for P. putida: (1)slightly negative matric potentials facilitate faster growthrates on toluene but more negative water potentials resultin slower growth, (2) toluene utilization rate per cell massis highest without matric water stress and is unaffected bysolute potential, (3) growth efficiency did not differ acrossthe range of matric water potentials 0.0 to – 1.5 MPa.     

Water potential and ionic effects on germination and seedling growth of two cold desert shrubs

We tested expectations that two desert shrubs would differ in germination and seedling relative growth rate (RGR) responses to Na and Ψ_s stress. The study species, Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. consimilis and Sarcobatus vermiculatus (hereafter referred to by genus), differ in their distribution along salinity gradients, with Chrysothamnus inhabiting only less saline areas. In growth chamber studies, declining Ψ_s (−0.82 to −2.71 MPa) inhibited germination of both species, and Chrysothamnus was less tolerant of Ψ_s stress than Sarcobatus. Germination fell below 10% for Chrysothamnus at −1.64 MPa (NaCl and PEG), and for Sarcobatus at −2.4 MPa PEG. Neither species exhibited ion toxicity. There was substantial ion enhancement for Sarcobatus in lower Ψ_s, allowing for 40% germination in −2.71 MPa NaCl. For seedling RGR, species were not different at −0.29 or −0.82 MPa (0 and 100 mmol/L NaCl, respectively), but Chrysothamnus RGR declined substantially at −1.3 MPa (200 mmol/L NaCl). The greater stress tolerance of Sarcobatus was not associated with a lower RGR under nonsaline conditions. Species differences in seed and seedling Ψ_s stress tolerance probably contribute to the restricted distribution of Chrysothamnus to less saline areas. The Na uptake of Sarcobatus seedlings enhances its ability to deal with declining Ψ_s and establish in more saline areas.     

Temperature affects transport of polysaccharides and proteins in articular cartilage explants

Solute transport phenomena mediate many aspects of the physiology and contrast agent-based clinical imaging of articular cartilage. Temperatures up to 10°C below standard body temperature (37°C) are common in articulating joints during normal activities and clinically (e.g. cold treatment of injuries). Therefore it is of interest to characterize the effects of temperature changes on solute transport parameters in cartilage. A range of fluorescent solutes including fluorescein isothiocyanate, 4 and 40kDa dextrans, myoglobin, insulin and chondroitin sulfate were prepared and used in assays of solute effective partition coefficient and effective diffusivity in bovine intermediate zone articular cartilage explants maintained at 10, 22 or 37°C. Trends for increasing partition coefficient with increasing temperature were evident for all solutes except chondroitin sulfate, with significant changes between 22 and 37°C for 4kDa dextran, insulin and myoglobin. Diffusivities of most solutes tested also tended to increase with increasing temperature, with significant changes between 10 and 22°C for FITC, 40kDa dextran and myoglobin. Oddly, insulin diffusivity decreased significantly as temperature increased from 22 to 37°C while chondroitin sulfate diffusivity exhibited no clear temperature dependence. These results highlight solute-specific temperature dependences of transport phenomena which may depend upon molecular weight, chemical structure, molecular conformation, and solute-matrix and solute-solute interactions. The articular cartilage explants themselves exhibited small but significant changes in water and glycosaminoglycan contents during experiments, underscoring the importance of solute-matrix interactions. Solute transport parameters in cartilage and their temperature dependences are therefore not easily predicted, and case-by-case experimental determination may be essential.     

莴苣叶疫病和茎腐病的病原

2021年3–6月,从甘肃省的生菜(叶用莴苣)叶片和青海省的莴笋(茎用莴苣)茎秆罹病样本上分离得到腐霉属卵菌。通过Koch’s法则明确了分出菌株的致病性。依据形态学和分子生物学特征,将3个菌株鉴定为嗜导管腐霉Pythium tracheiphilum。在核糖体DNA内转录间隔区(rDNA-ITS)、细胞色素氧化酶亚基1(cox1)和核糖体DNA28S大亚基(rDNA-LSU)基因联合系统发育树中,甘肃菌株(LPy-B)和青海菌株(LPy-C和LPy-D)被聚在P. tracheiphilum的不同亚群里,不同菌株的适宜生长温度和产孢特性存在差异。孢子囊顶生、间生或侧生,球形,17.13–53.73μm,或近球形至葫芦状,24.58–56.72×18.62–53.73μm;休止孢球形,6.70–9.68μm;藏卵器光滑,顶生或间生,球形,15.64–23.09μm;每个藏卵器有雄器1–2个,雄器与藏卵器同丝或异丝生;卵孢子满器或近满器,球形,直径13.41–20.11μm,卵孢子壁厚0.74–2.23μm。致病性测定结果表明,除莴苣外,嗜导管腐霉还可侵染菊科的华蒲公英和刺儿菜、十字花科的...     

Critically reduced frost resistance of Picea abies during sprouting could be linked to cytological changes

Frost resistance of sprouting Picea abies shoots is insufficient for survival of naturally occurring late frosts. The cellular changes during sprouting appeared to be responsible for frost damage as frost events that damaged sprouting shoots did not damage older needles and stems. Whilst resting buds showed initial frost damage at ?15.0°C, 20 days later, current year’s growth was damaged at ?5.6°C. The decrease in frost resistance in sprouting shoots of P. abies was accompanied by a significant reduction of the cellular solute concentration, indicated by much less negative Ψ_oSAT values (increase from ?2.8 to ?1.2 MPa). ψ_oSAT decreased again after the final cell volume was reached and cell wall thickening began. After bud break, ice nucleation temperature increased from ?4.7°C to ?1.5°C. This increase was probably caused by the loss of bud scales, the onset of expansion growth of the central cylinder and the development of vascular tissue permitting the spread of ice from the stem into the growing needles. The onset of mesophyll cell wall thickening coincided with the lowest frost resistances. Cell wall thickening caused an increase in the modulus of elasticity, ε, indicating a decrease in tissue elasticity and after that frost resistance increased again. Metabolic and cytological changes that evidently leave little leeway for frost hardening are responsible for the low frost resistance in current year’s growth of P. abies. This low frost resistance will be significant in the future as the risk of frost damage due to earlier bud break is anticipated to even further increase.