The role of potassium phosphite in chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic parameters of downy mildew-challenged cucumber Cucumis sativus plants

The effect of potassium phosphite (KPhi) on the photosynthetic parameters of cucumber plants inoculated with Pseudoperonospora cubensis was investigated in the present study. Cucumber plants were treated with KPhi before or after inoculation with P. cubensis and leaf samples were collected at different time courses for assessments. Results showed that in pathogen-inoculated plants Fv/Fm was decreased up to 3%. The rate of quantum photosynthetic was also decreased significantly in inoculated plants. Downy mildew led to a decrease in chlorophyll amount which in turn reduced the efficiency of photosystem II. In the KPhi-treated leaves, chlorophyll a and b decreased by 72% and 68%, respectively. Remarkable reduction in the efficiency of photosystem II as well as increased lipid membrane disruption, led to increased lipid peroxidation rate of the membranes up to 52%. The results of this study indicate the mitigating role of potassium phosphite in reducing the adverse effects of pathogen and maintaining the photosynthetic apparatus efficiency in cucumber plants.     

辐射花粉授粉和胚培养诱导产生黄瓜单倍体植株

以5个基因型的黄瓜(Cucumis sativus L．)为试材,通过γ射线辐射花粉授粉并结合胚培养,从3个基因型中获得了单倍体植株。与正常二倍体植株相比,单倍体植株生长缓慢,花器异常。研究发现辐射剂量、亲本基因型、授粉组合对座果率和单倍体产率有一定影响。     

Effect of benzoic acid hydroxyl- and methoxy-ring substituents on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) root membrane potential

Abstract

The allelopathic effect of some benzoic acid (BA) OH- and OCH₃-ring substituents was studied on cucumber root transmembrane potential difference (Vm). Most of the methoxy-BAs induced a rapid Vm depolarization, followed by a Vm hyperpolarization, with the only exception for p-anisic acid (pA). On the other hand, salicylic acid (SA) and 3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid (DHB) strongly depolarized Vm. A positive correlation was found between Vm hyperpolarization and lipophilicity of methoxylated BAs, whereas a positive correlation was found between lipophilicity and Vm depolarization of hydroxylated BAs. The influence of BAs on K⁺ was studied by means of specific blocking with Cs⁺ indicating a possible direct interaction of SA, gallic acid (GA), vanillic acid (VA) and 3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid (DMB). Interference of BAs with the Vm hyperpolarizing effect of root perfusion with the fungal toxin fusicoccin were also observed.     

Influence of bicarbonate and metal ions on the development of root Fe(III) reducing capacity by Fe-deficient cucumber (Cucumis sativus) plants

The effect of bicarbonate and selected metal ions on the development of enhanced root Fe(III) reducing capacity (a response to Fe deficiency of dicotyledons) was studied in young plants of cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L. cv. Ashley) grown in nutrient solution. Pretreatment of 11-day-old Fe-deficient cucumber plants with 20 m M NaHCO₃, for at least 23 h prior to determination of root Fe(III) reducing capacity, markedly inhibited this response. The inhibitory effect of bicarbonate could be partly reversed by a 4- to 8-h treatment with either 10 μ M MnSO₄, 10 μ M FeEDDHA, 2 μ M ZnSO₄, 0.5 μ M NiCl₂, or 0.25 μ M , or CoSO₄ (final concentrations), added to the nutrient solution. By contrast, the addition of other salts of metal ions, like CuSO₄ and Cd(NO₃)₂, at 0.25, 0.5 or 1 μ M , or MgSO₄, at 0.5, 1 or 2 m M (final concentrations), had no beneficial effect. The results suggest that bicarbonate may inhibit the development of root Fe(III) reducing capacity by diminishing the availability of certain metal ions required for this response.     

Induction of chilling tolerance in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) seedlings by endogenous and applied ethanol

Five-day-old etiolated cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings cv. Marketmore held at 2°C for 72 h developed chilling injury, resulting in desiccation and collapse of the hypocotyl tissue and eventual plant death. Hypoxia-induced accumulation of ethanol and acetaldehyde led to tolerance of subsequent chilling, as evidenced by continued hypocotyl growth and freedom from injury. Attenuated accumulation of volatiles by applied bisulfite reduced the development of hypoxia-induced chilling tolerance in seedlings. In seedlings held in normoxia cold tolerance was induced by applied ethanol vapors, whereas acetaldehyde had a marginal effect, suggesting that hypoxia-induced cold tolerance may arise from the accumulation and activity of ethanol. Cold tolerance was also induced by exposure of seedlings to volatile anesthetics including n -propanol, n -butanol, chloroform and halothane, suggesting that ethanol activity may result from fluidization of membrane lipids. This view is consistent with results which showed that ethanol activity was not associated with lipid metabolism. However, development of cold tolerance in ethanol-enriched tissues was time dependent, indicating that ethanol activity probably also entails biosynthetic event(s).     

Aluminium effect on nitrate assimilation in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) roots

In vivo effect of aluminium on nitrate uptake and reduction by cucumber seedlings was investigated. The high-performance liquid chromatography was used to analyse the rate of nitrate uptake. Low (0.5 mM) concentration of AlCl₃ in the nutrient solution stimulated nitrate uptake during the first 3 h. On the other hand, 6 h exposure of the cucumber seedlings to 1 or 5 mM of AlCl₃ resulted in inhibition of nitrate uptake and at 5 mM concentration of AlCl₃ the efflux of nitrate was observed. Furthermore, the amount of nitrate accumulated in cucumber roots after aluminium treatment was decreased. The noteworthy fact was observed, that at all concentrations of aluminium tested on increase of the nitrate reductase activity. This stimulation was concentration depended, but independent of the source of the enzyme. The activity of both the cytosolic and the plasma membrane bound nitrate reductase activity was enhanced in vivo. On the other hand, AlCl₃ applied in vitro only slighty decreased nitrate reductase activity.     

光合菌对黄瓜光合及抗氧化同工酶的影响

以2种基因型的黄瓜（Cucumis sativus）为材料,研究光合菌（PSB）的喷施对植物生物量、净光合速率（Pn）、叶片PSII的最大光化学效率（Fv／Fm）及抗氧化同工酶代谢的影响。结果表明,喷施PSB均能诱导2种基因型黄瓜的生物量显著增加,并伴随Pn的显著提高。但是,2种基因型黄瓜的Fv/Fm并不受PSB喷施的影响：PSB能使总过氧化物歧化酶（soo）和抗坏血酸过氧化酶（APX）活性提高,并使它们的多数同工酶的活性上调,这些同工酶活性的增加在叶绿体中表现更为明显（如Cu／Zn-SOD、Fe-SOD和sAPX）。研究结果表明,PSB能通过增强黄瓜抗氧化酶体系的活性改善植株的抗氧化能力,从而在植株的生长和光合作用方面起到促进作用。     

Correlation of iron content, spectral forms of chlorophyll and chlorophyll-proteins in iron deficient cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

Leaves and chloroplast suspensions of severely and slightly iron deficient cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.) plants were characterized by low-temperature fluorescence emission spectroscopy and Deriphat polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The emission spectra of the chloroplast suspensions were resolved into Gaussian components and those changes induced by iron deficiency were related to the variations in the chlorophyll-protein pattern. The symptoms described with these methods were also correlated with the iron content of the leaves. It was concluded that the lack of physiologically active iron caused a relative decrease of photosystem I (PSI) and light harvesting complex I (LHCI), together with the long wavelength fluorescence, especially the 740 nm Gaussian component, and. to a much lesser extent, of the photosystem II (PSII) core complexes (relative increase of 685, 695 nm components). However, the relative decrease in the amount of light harvesting complex II (LHCII) was followed by a relative increase in its fluorescence band at 680 nm, showing that energy transfer from LHCII to core complex II (CCII) was partly disturbed. Thus iron deficiency affected the photosynthetic apparatus in a complex way: it decreased the synthesis of chlorophylls (Chls) and influenced the expression and assembly of Chl-binding proteins.     

黄瓜种子萌发过程中Ca~(2 )分布的变化

采用细胞化学方法 ,研究了黄瓜种子中贮藏Ca2 的分布特点及其在萌发过程中的变化动态。干种子的子叶细胞中贮藏有大量的蛋白体、油脂体 ,Ca2 沉淀颗粒大量分布于胞质、胞间隙以及细胞质膜上。大多数蛋白体中有 1至数个圆球形或椭圆体形含Ca2 的球状晶体。相比之下 ,胚芽和胚根细胞中Ca2 较少。种子萌发早期 ,子叶中的贮藏钙及晶体溶解释放出的Ca2 部分转运到生长发育中的胚芽和胚根中。随着萌发的继续 ,胚根和胚芽细胞中的Ca2 不会持续增多 ,反而下降     

Quantitative trait locus analysis of lateral branch– related traits in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) using recombinant inbred lines

A group of 224 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was derived from a narrow cross between 2 cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) lines, namely, S94 (Northern China type with weak lateral branch growth potential and early lateral branch sprouting time) and S06 (Northern European type with strong lateral branch growth potential and late lateral branch sprouting time). These lines were then used for investigating lateral branch-related traits. A total of 36 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected for the following 4 lateral branch-related traits: lateral branch average length (LBAL), lateral branch total length (LBTL), lateral branch number (LBN), and first lateral branch node (FLBN). Further, each QTL explained 3.1% (lbtl2.1, spring) to 32.3% (lbn2.3, spring) of the observed phenotypic variance. Eleven QTLs (lbal1.1, lbtl1.1, lbn1.2, flbn1.2, etc.) for different traits were found to be clustered on the e23m18d-ME23EM6c section (7.4 cM) of linkage group (LG) 1; further, 15 QTLs (lbal2.1, lbtl2.1, lbn2.1, flbn2.1, etc.) were found to be clustered on the S94A1-ME4SA4a section (13.9 cM) of LG2. Twenty-one QTLs explained more than 10% of the phenotypic variance. Moreover, lbtl1.3 (autumn, 26.2%, logarithm of odds (LOD) = 17.4; spring, 26.9%, LOD = 17.9) had stable position and contribution in both seasons. Several se-quence-anchor markers (CMBR40, F, CS30, S94A1, CSWTA11B, etc.) were closely linked with some QTLs for LBAL, LBTL, LBN, and FLBN, which can be used for the marker-assisted selection to improve the plant architecture in cucumber breeding.     

Growth enhancement by silicon in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) plants depends on imbalance in phosphorus and zinc supply

Based on results from water culture experiments with tomato and cucumber plants where severe leaf chlorosis and depression in flower and fruit formation occurred without silicon (Si) supply, Miyake and Takahashi (1978; 1983) concluded that Si is an essential mineral element for these two plant species. Using the same nutrient solution which is high in phosphorus (P) but low in zinc (Zn) we could confirm these results. Severe chlorosis occurred in cucumber when Si was omitted, and the addition of Si prevented these visual symptoms. Simultaneously the concentrations of P drastically decreased in the leaves and the proportions of water extractable Zn increased. Normal growth and absence of chlorosis were, however, also obtained without the addition of Si when either the external concentration of P was lowered or of Zn was increased. Short-term experiments revealed that Si has no direct effect on uptake or translocation of P to the shoot. According to these results, the experimental evidences so far are insufficient for the classification of Si as an essential mineral element for cucumber. Instead, Si may act as beneficial element under conditions of nutrient imbalances, for example, in P and Zn supply and corresponding P-induced Zn deficiency. The mechanism by which Si increases the physiological availability of Zn in leaf tissue is not yet clear.     

Role of thermal dissipation in the photoprotection in cucumber plants after exposure to a chill stress

Experiments were carried out to investigate the changes in CO₂ assimilation, photon allocation, and photosynthetic electron flux in leaves of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants after chilling stress. Chilling significantly decreased CO₂ assimilation, the energy flux via linear electron transport (J _PS2) and non-constitutive thermal dissipation (J _NPQ) but increased fluorescence and constitutive thermal dissipation (J _f,D) in chilling-sensitive genotype Jinyan No. 4. In contrast, chilling had little effects on J _NPQ and J _f,D although CO₂ assimilation and J _PS2 were inhibited in chilling-tolerant genotype Jinchun No. 3. In parallel with the reduction in J _PS2, electron flux to oxygenation and carboxylation by ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase all significantly decreased while electron flux to O₂ significantly increased, especially in chilling-sensitive genotype. Thermal and fluorescence dissipation were the main energy dissipation pathways whilst water-water cycle was an important electron sink when photosynthetic carbon reduction was suppressed after chilling. Chilling sensitivity of the photosynthetic apparatus was related to the operation of different photoprotection mechanisms.     

黄瓜花原基的形成及与Ca~(2+)的关系

以黄瓜为试验材料研究了肉眼可见的花原基突起之前 ,花原基早期的分化过程。结果显示花原基分化和开花的起始节位是第一真叶节 ;肉眼可见花原基突起前早期的分化是在叶腋亚表皮部位形成一个球形的花原基起始细胞团 ,此细胞团进一步分裂、扩大形成肉眼可见的花原基突起 ;第一真叶节的花原基起始细胞团分化集中发生于 6～ 7d苗龄时期 ;Ca2 + 在花原基起始细胞团细胞中主要分布在细胞壁和细胞间隙 ,而在非起始细胞团的叶腋亚表皮细胞则主要分布在液泡中 ,并对Ca2 + 在花原基起始细胞团分化中的作用进行了讨论。     

Complex structure of the ribosomal DNA spacer of Cucumis sativus (cucumber)

Summary The nuclear 18 S, 5.8 S and 25 S ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) of Cucumis sativus (cucumber) occur in at least four different repeat types of 10.2, 10.5, 11.5, and 12.5 kb in length. The intergenic spacer of these repeats has been cloned and characterized with respect to sequence organization. The spacer structure is very unusual compared to those of other eukaryotes. Duplicated regions of 197 bp and 311 bp containing part of the 3 end of the 25 S rRNA coding region and approximately 470 bp of 25 S rRNA flanking sequences occur in the intergenic spacer. The data from sequence analysis suggest that these duplications originate from recombination events in which DNA sequences of the original rDNA spacer were paired with sequences of the 25 S rRNA coding region. The duplicated 3ends of the 25 S rRNA are separated from each other mostly by a tandemly repeated 30 bp element showing a high GC-content of 87.5%. In addition, another tandemly repeated sequence of 90 bp was found downstream of the 3flanking sequences of the 25 S rRNA coding region. These results suggest that rRNA coding sequences can be involved in the generation of rDNA spacer sequences by unequal crossing over.     

多胺对离体黄瓜子叶花芽构建的影响

研究了外源多胺对离体黄瓜(CucumissativusL.)子叶内在多胺含量和花芽构建的影响。在MS培养基中添加5×10-2mmol·L-1亚精胺(Spd)、精胺(Spm)能明显提高子叶内Spd含量和SpdPut值,子叶成花率也明显高于对照组,而添加5×10-2mmol·L-1Put、5mmol·L-1环己胺硫酸盐(CHAS)培养的结果则相反。表明子叶内Spd含量和SpdPut与成花率呈正相关关系。在添加5mmol·L-1D精氨酸(DArg)处理后,子叶内SpdPut高于Spd处理,但子叶成花率低于对照组,表明Put、Spd含量也影响离体子叶花芽的构建。在实验中添加CHAS处理后子叶内Spm含量高出对照组10倍,子叶成花率却为0,其它各处理与对照组的内源Spm变化基本一致,成花率却差别明显,表明子叶内Spm含量与黄瓜子叶花芽构建之间无明显相关性。     

离体培养黄瓜子叶诱导雌花的研究

采用添加Spd和IAA的MS培养基培养离体黄瓜子叶,研究了Spd和IAA对雌花诱导的协同作用,及昼夜温差、培养基中N素和pH值对雌花诱导的影响。结果表明,分别添加Spd、IAA时的雌花诱导率和单株雌花数偏低或为0,12 mg·L^-1 Spd与0.01mg·L^-1 IAA 配合时的诱导效果明显高于单独处理的,而对照组未见雌花,说明Spd和IAA对雌花诱导的协同作用显著。在0、2、6、10℃昼夜温差,60、70、80、90 mmol·L^-1的N素含量和pH 5.4、5.8、6.2、6.6的培养条件下,70 mmol·L^-1 N、6℃温差和pH 6.2时的雌花诱导效果较好,表明适当提高昼夜温差、培养基中N素和pH值有利于黄瓜子叶的雌花诱导。     

Auxin,biosynthesis of ethylene and sex expression in cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

Ethylene production, level of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) and activity of the ethylene forming enzyme (EFE) were higher in apices of gynoecious cucumber (Cucumis sativus cv. Alma) as compared to monoecious cucumber (C. sativus cv. Elem). Application of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) enhanced ethylene and ACC production in both cultivars. The stimulatory effect of IAA was more pronounced in gynoecious apices. Induction of ethylene production and accumulation of ACC resulting from treatment with IAA were effectively blocked by aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG). Content of endogenous IAA, measured by an enzyme immunoassay, was lower in gynoecious cucumber as compared to monoecious one. Treatment of gynoecious plants with the antiauxins -(p-chlorophenoxy)isobutyric acid (PCIB) and -naphthaleneacetic acid (-NAA) did not inhibit female sex expression.It appears that although exogenous IAA enhances ACC and ethylene production, endogenous IAA might not have a major role in the control of sex expression in cucumber of the Beit-Alfa type.Prof. Rudich passed away in May 1986.     

Modulation of enzyme activities and expression of genes related to primary and secondary metabolism in response to UV-B stress in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Abstract

Exposure to UV-B at ambient or enhanced levels is known to trigger a variety of responses in all living organisms, including higher plants. Here we show that in Cucumis sativus L. UV-B radiation affects enzyme activity of key oxydative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP) enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6P-DH) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGlu-DH), of key phenolic compounds enzyme phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) as well as erythrose-4-phosphate, tryptophan and tyrosine levels. Furthermore, we found an increased activity of antioxidant enzymes such as peroxidase (POX) and catalase (CAT) in treated plants, with respect to the controls. In order to confirm the biochemical results, we isolated total RNA from both controls and UV-B treated plants to be used for gene expression analysis. We demonstrated that UV-B increases the gene expression level of peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT) and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL). Finally, our results are useful for understanding protective strategies against UV-B radiation and for elucidating what components are involved in stress-induced signals within the plant.